Update 10/10/2018
Quick band jamming report
- if you happy with the output on your Rumble 200/150 or Hartke KB15 combo in your band, there are no problem with this VT 200 .
- The factory FlipTop setting tone just suit for my Pbass + fingerstyle. The factory SVT setting tone are pretty awsome with aggressive pick playing style + roundwound string ( friend's trbx and jazz bass).
- The Meaty and 'kick' low MID voice ( I call it ) make this combo easily get in mix without EQ tweak on FlipTop sound setting. Just dial the bass tone knobs for taste.
- Zero heat on rear amp panel even more than 3 hours playing with volume knob on 2 ～3 o'clock.
Update 7/10/2018
Headphone noise along with thin bass sound
There are serious noise and thin bass sound from headphone out. I try 3 set of headphone I have. Never meet noise issue from Hartke, Rumble and Marshall, and all of them has fuller sound in headphone out quality. I believe this is the factory issue.
For me, this is not a problem. I prefer plug the bass to Korg Pa700 for better headphone listen quality.
Low B string tone quality
A bassist friend meet me last night to try the VT 200. He bring along with his Yamaha TRBX505. Trbx505 are one of the nice 34 scale bass guitar which naturally has clean tone and clear low B sound. No problem to handle B string on VT 200, full and round without muddy sound, but the Hartke KB15 sound a bit better clean and solid in compare.
****Bonus on KB15****
The bassist friend come to test the VT 200 because he interested with the emulate SVT sound and distortion quailty on it.He play heavy rock and metal song.Base on factory fuzz setting, he fine tuning out a very nice fuzz bass tone and he absolutely happy with the VT 200 tone result with his TRBX505.
When he play with factory SVT tone setting, I suddenly have an idea try to tweak that SVT-like tone on KB15. With same bass , I able tweak pretty close to VT 200 SVT-like tone with following setting.
Shape button On, shape knob at 1 o'clock.
Bass 1.30 , Mid 11.00, Treble 3.00.
Yes, just close. The tone still lack some Ommph and less dirty compare to VT 200.
His conclusion
....... he will visit the GC soon to test drive both VT 200 bass combo and VT 500 head+120 or 410 cab side by side. Sure, money no problem with him.
Update 6/10/2018
Side by side compare to Hartke KB15.
Volume -
I prefer set the KB15 volume at 10 o'clock for personal practice. To create similar clean(actually just bake in voice on VT 200) volume tone as KB15, I need set the drive 10 o'clock and level at 12 o'clock on VT 200(flat eq and bite/shift button out) to get equal output. The higher output I can accept in my room from KB15 are 1 o'clock, it is crazy loud. On VT 200 , I have turn the volume till 3.30o'clock to get equal loud. I recall that my previous Fender Rumble V3 200/150 could get similar output as KB15 (volume at noon) with both Gain and Volume knobs at Noon.That's means the Rumble actually louder than it actual 140 watts .
Tone Character-
Compare to nice clean-clear-flatEQ tone from KB15, the VT 200 actually give me bake-in tone even all EQ flat , no bite/shift button engage and drive at 10 o'clock.Surprisingly this flat EQ bake in tone pretty close to Aguilar ToneHammer voice.I love this voice with increase some Treble ～ Juicy Warmth. I can't tell you who win out from the tone, both give me nice and usable bass tone.But the VT 200 has more advantage and flexibility on tone shaping, from SVT, Fat old school vibe to dirty fuzz voice.If you are slapping bassist, the KB15 give you the crystal sparkling tone with Shape Knob.
Aux sound quality
I prefer use the AUX with my digital drum and keyboard arranger on my previous Marshall 450H + 410cab and Rumble V3 200/150. But this VT 200 AUX sound quality just give me HONKY sound. Once again , only the Rumble 200/150 AUX input give me a great CD like natural sound quality with digital drum and keyboard arranger.
12' Vs 15' Paper Vs Hydrive
Because the bake in voice on VT 200, the 12 in driver present a thick low end as nice as 15 in Hydrive driver, even test with roll off tone knob, the VT 200 still sound thicker.But the upper mid and treble on Hydrive are more crisp and open sounding while wide open tone knob.
Port
There are 2 ports behind the combo, just like KB15, but the port diameter are larger than KB15. Believe it or not, I can put my hand inside the port and touch the driver.
Cooling System
There are no cooling fan available on this VT 200 combo. Honestly I have worry about the power amp heat problem. But after run for 3 hours do testing and setup, the rear metal panel still in cool condition without any heat when I touch with my hand. I recall the crazy heat experience on my previous Rumble V2 75/120 combo(with no cooling fan), I can feel how hot the top cooling vent after an hour playing.
Build Quality
Right here I would to compare with KB15, Rumble V3 200/150 and V3 100/120. The best build quality belong to KB15, and the black vinyl cover warp pretty nice especially at the curve area. The port shape are best on KB15, second are VT 200. The worst port design belong to both Rumble - Unclean and rough port holes.Thank to beautiful front retro look vent cover, hide the rough port holes and ugly staple pin.
The knobs and pots on KB15 are metal solid and smoother to turn. I can feel some of the knobs are little tight/loose when turning on rumble(which I recall)and VT 200.
The rubber handle are better/solid on both rumble and KB15. The handle on VT 200 look cheap and less solid feel while pick it up, fortunately she is just weight 28lbs.
Durable and stability
..... will update after few months later....
**above are my personal opinion, just for reference , no argument. Tq
Story begin here 4/10/2018
Bring my pbass to GC for final check out between Tech21 VT bass 200 combo Vs Ampeg Micro SVT combo.
Even how I tweak the EQ, I can't get nice low end from the Micro SVT(210 cab) and overall tone a bit dry to my ear. But the VT bass combo tone has more Ampegish-like voice along with nice low end in 70's SVT EQ/character setting.
The VT bass combo has crazy light in weight, just feel like my previous rumble V3 100 combo.
Honestly, I prefer the micro svt retro look, but licking with the tone from VT bass combo. After screw my head for hard decision, I check out with VT bass combo with no regret.
Quick band jamming report
- if you happy with the output on your Rumble 200/150 or Hartke KB15 combo in your band, there are no problem with this VT 200 .
- The factory FlipTop setting tone just suit for my Pbass + fingerstyle. The factory SVT setting tone are pretty awsome with aggressive pick playing style + roundwound string ( friend's trbx and jazz bass).
- The Meaty and 'kick' low MID voice ( I call it ) make this combo easily get in mix without EQ tweak on FlipTop sound setting. Just dial the bass tone knobs for taste.
- Zero heat on rear amp panel even more than 3 hours playing with volume knob on 2 ～3 o'clock.
Update 7/10/2018
Headphone noise along with thin bass sound
There are serious noise and thin bass sound from headphone out. I try 3 set of headphone I have. Never meet noise issue from Hartke, Rumble and Marshall, and all of them has fuller sound in headphone out quality. I believe this is the factory issue.
For me, this is not a problem. I prefer plug the bass to Korg Pa700 for better headphone listen quality.
Low B string tone quality
A bassist friend meet me last night to try the VT 200. He bring along with his Yamaha TRBX505. Trbx505 are one of the nice 34 scale bass guitar which naturally has clean tone and clear low B sound. No problem to handle B string on VT 200, full and round without muddy sound, but the Hartke KB15 sound a bit better clean and solid in compare.
****Bonus on KB15****
The bassist friend come to test the VT 200 because he interested with the emulate SVT sound and distortion quailty on it.He play heavy rock and metal song.Base on factory fuzz setting, he fine tuning out a very nice fuzz bass tone and he absolutely happy with the VT 200 tone result with his TRBX505.
When he play with factory SVT tone setting, I suddenly have an idea try to tweak that SVT-like tone on KB15. With same bass , I able tweak pretty close to VT 200 SVT-like tone with following setting.
Shape button On, shape knob at 1 o'clock.
Bass 1.30 , Mid 11.00, Treble 3.00.
Yes, just close. The tone still lack some Ommph and less dirty compare to VT 200.
His conclusion
....... he will visit the GC soon to test drive both VT 200 bass combo and VT 500 head+120 or 410 cab side by side. Sure, money no problem with him.
Update 6/10/2018
Side by side compare to Hartke KB15.
Volume -
I prefer set the KB15 volume at 10 o'clock for personal practice. To create similar clean(actually just bake in voice on VT 200) volume tone as KB15, I need set the drive 10 o'clock and level at 12 o'clock on VT 200(flat eq and bite/shift button out) to get equal output. The higher output I can accept in my room from KB15 are 1 o'clock, it is crazy loud. On VT 200 , I have turn the volume till 3.30o'clock to get equal loud. I recall that my previous Fender Rumble V3 200/150 could get similar output as KB15 (volume at noon) with both Gain and Volume knobs at Noon.That's means the Rumble actually louder than it actual 140 watts .
Tone Character-
Compare to nice clean-clear-flatEQ tone from KB15, the VT 200 actually give me bake-in tone even all EQ flat , no bite/shift button engage and drive at 10 o'clock.Surprisingly this flat EQ bake in tone pretty close to Aguilar ToneHammer voice.I love this voice with increase some Treble ～ Juicy Warmth. I can't tell you who win out from the tone, both give me nice and usable bass tone.But the VT 200 has more advantage and flexibility on tone shaping, from SVT, Fat old school vibe to dirty fuzz voice.If you are slapping bassist, the KB15 give you the crystal sparkling tone with Shape Knob.
Aux sound quality
I prefer use the AUX with my digital drum and keyboard arranger on my previous Marshall 450H + 410cab and Rumble V3 200/150. But this VT 200 AUX sound quality just give me HONKY sound. Once again , only the Rumble 200/150 AUX input give me a great CD like natural sound quality with digital drum and keyboard arranger.
12' Vs 15' Paper Vs Hydrive
Because the bake in voice on VT 200, the 12 in driver present a thick low end as nice as 15 in Hydrive driver, even test with roll off tone knob, the VT 200 still sound thicker.But the upper mid and treble on Hydrive are more crisp and open sounding while wide open tone knob.
Port
There are 2 ports behind the combo, just like KB15, but the port diameter are larger than KB15. Believe it or not, I can put my hand inside the port and touch the driver.
Cooling System
There are no cooling fan available on this VT 200 combo. Honestly I have worry about the power amp heat problem. But after run for 3 hours do testing and setup, the rear metal panel still in cool condition without any heat when I touch with my hand. I recall the crazy heat experience on my previous Rumble V2 75/120 combo(with no cooling fan), I can feel how hot the top cooling vent after an hour playing.
Build Quality
Right here I would to compare with KB15, Rumble V3 200/150 and V3 100/120. The best build quality belong to KB15, and the black vinyl cover warp pretty nice especially at the curve area. The port shape are best on KB15, second are VT 200. The worst port design belong to both Rumble - Unclean and rough port holes.Thank to beautiful front retro look vent cover, hide the rough port holes and ugly staple pin.
The knobs and pots on KB15 are metal solid and smoother to turn. I can feel some of the knobs are little tight/loose when turning on rumble(which I recall)and VT 200.
The rubber handle are better/solid on both rumble and KB15. The handle on VT 200 look cheap and less solid feel while pick it up, fortunately she is just weight 28lbs.
Durable and stability
..... will update after few months later....
**above are my personal opinion, just for reference , no argument. Tq
Story begin here 4/10/2018
Bring my pbass to GC for final check out between Tech21 VT bass 200 combo Vs Ampeg Micro SVT combo.
Even how I tweak the EQ, I can't get nice low end from the Micro SVT(210 cab) and overall tone a bit dry to my ear. But the VT bass combo tone has more Ampegish-like voice along with nice low end in 70's SVT EQ/character setting.
The VT bass combo has crazy light in weight, just feel like my previous rumble V3 100 combo.
Honestly, I prefer the micro svt retro look, but licking with the tone from VT bass combo. After screw my head for hard decision, I check out with VT bass combo with no regret.
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