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New: Tech 21 VT-500 Bass Amp
- Thread starter CharlieC
- Start date
So I got one of these little beasties last week, took it out on its first gig last night.
EPIC
FAIL
It had some sort of intermittent failure, where either I'd lose all speaker output for about 3-5 seconds at random intervals. Apparently the DI to FOH wasn't impacted (which to me says bass and cables were fine) but clearly, this one is going back. I performed the usual trouble shooting (swapped cables, pulled pedals offline, restarted, etc) I'll swap out for another and hope for better luck. GAH!!!!
EPIC
FAIL
It had some sort of intermittent failure, where either I'd lose all speaker output for about 3-5 seconds at random intervals. Apparently the DI to FOH wasn't impacted (which to me says bass and cables were fine) but clearly, this one is going back. I performed the usual trouble shooting (swapped cables, pulled pedals offline, restarted, etc) I'll swap out for another and hope for better luck. GAH!!!!
We would need to examine the amp in question. Please be advised as it states in the VT Bass 500 manual, we do not recommend the use of speakon to 1/4" adapters. These are not rated for 500 watts of power and can cause intermittent signal and possibly damage the amp.
I am very interested comparing PF500 and VT500, my PF500 is dead and I would like to replace it with a VT500. For your experience, which of the two has more volume in a clean output? Which one you met in terms of sound quality?
Thanks
Pulled the trigger yesterday. VT Bass 500 will be here soon. Good info in this thread. This will replace my PF-500 as my primary small / medium gig amp. I will use it through my PF-115HE and PF-210HE temporarily until I decide on a permanent pairing for it. I will keep the PF stuff together for other situations. VT Bass and whatever cabinet will stay in my band's rehearsal space and go out on gigs.
I need to decide on a cabinet or pair of cabinets. Doing a lot of reading but not close to decision. I definitely want one 4 ohm or two 8 ohms. It will be a single 410, a single 212, or two 112's. That is as far as I can get with this decision. This amp will be used to mainly play bars and frequent rehearsals. Two guitars and loud drummer. FOH support with powered subs (usually clean signal from DI from amp or on my board before amp). Pretty much all 80's hair band stuff. Any recommendations on cabinets would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
I need to decide on a cabinet or pair of cabinets. Doing a lot of reading but not close to decision. I definitely want one 4 ohm or two 8 ohms. It will be a single 410, a single 212, or two 112's. That is as far as I can get with this decision. This amp will be used to mainly play bars and frequent rehearsals. Two guitars and loud drummer. FOH support with powered subs (usually clean signal from DI from amp or on my board before amp). Pretty much all 80's hair band stuff. Any recommendations on cabinets would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
I should have a hands-on comparison between these two very soon. For the record, I have used the PF-500 for years without any issues. Recently I decided I should have a backup at least. I'm also too lazy to transport my rig between home and rehearsal space all the time. I will leave one complete rig in each space. VT500 vs PF500 - I should know soon.
I paired mine with two Hartke 112 Hydrives. Two guitars and a loud drummer as well. Hasn't been close to a problem.
Sorry for the up of this old topic.
Can I run this amp as a simple DI box, with no speaker plugged at all ?
I read somewhere that yes, but the answer was just one person saying "yes".
I just want to be sure that I can bring this amp at gig, even if I can't have speaker to plug.
Can I run this amp as a simple DI box, with no speaker plugged at all ?
I read somewhere that yes, but the answer was just one person saying "yes".
I just want to be sure that I can bring this amp at gig, even if I can't have speaker to plug.
From the manual on the Tech21 website:
SansAmp XLR DI Out For recording, the SansAmp XLR output is like having a built-in direct box. You can go direct to the board and get the same sound you hear coming out of the speakers right onto tape or disc. The SansAmp circuitry not only captures the warm, rich, natural harmonics and sweet overdrive characteristics inherent to tube amplifiers, its speaker emulation encompasses all aspects of multiply-miked tube amp rigs. For live gigs, you can use this output direct into the PA system and you won’t need a microphone in front of the amp. And you won’t have to subject the audience to sterile, muddy, or boomy bass tones that are associated with typical direct boxes
English isn't my first language, so I may not understand it well, but they don't say that a speaker load isn't needed?
But as I said, I'm not an English native so I may not understand it perfectly.
Thank you guy !
After a few weeks with my VT-500, I am extremely impressed. For the past four years I have either played through Fender Rumbles (that I don't own), my Ampeg PF-500 with matching 115 @ 210 cabinets, or through my Ampeg SCR-DI and 1964 IEM's. I play in a large worship band with pretty state-of-the-art house sound, outside venues for fund raisers, and in a LOUD 80's classic rock cover band.
This VT-500 seems perfect. For the first week, i played it through my Ampeg cabinets. Going back and forth between the two amps was quite eye-opening. I didn't realize how much "wasn't there" with the PF-500. All I can say is that the VT-500 sounds fuller, sounds like tubes, and brings these cabinets to life more than the PF-500. The drive/gain on the VT-500 is much more useable than on the PF-500, which just seems to fart out when pushed. Look, the PF-500 has been my workhorse. It has been 100% reliable. It will stay with me as a spare or practice rig that I don't have to break down every time I leave the house. Having experienced the VT-500 now though, I would not buy another PF-500.
I took a chance after some research and ordered an Avatar B410 (4 ohm) to pair with my VT-500. HOLY CRAP! This combination is freaking sick! I am so pissed that I have been missing out on this. The Avatar will stay at my band's rehearsal space and be used for those gigs. The combo more than keeps up with two guitarists playing though EVH heads and Marshall 412s. I never went above 10:00 on the VT-500. There is a ton of thick low end if I need it. Very punchy mids and highs (depending on knob settings) to cut through. The bite button on the amp seems to be the ticket when playing with these guys. I like the drive and character knobs around 11:00 (with my primary bass for that band which uses EMG P/J pickups). The VT-500 also handles fuzz or overdrive signals from my pedal board much better than the PF-500. I now have a use for the Bass Big Muff PI again.
Anyway, I thought I would share my experience so far. I knew there was some interest in the two amps. I'm not dissing the quality of the Ampeg PF products. They work well and sound great for certain applications. I was simply using the wrong tool for this one particular job. The VT-500 and Avatar B410 are certainly a more suitable tool. The guys in my band are pretty stoked about the improvement in our sound as a result.
This VT-500 seems perfect. For the first week, i played it through my Ampeg cabinets. Going back and forth between the two amps was quite eye-opening. I didn't realize how much "wasn't there" with the PF-500. All I can say is that the VT-500 sounds fuller, sounds like tubes, and brings these cabinets to life more than the PF-500. The drive/gain on the VT-500 is much more useable than on the PF-500, which just seems to fart out when pushed. Look, the PF-500 has been my workhorse. It has been 100% reliable. It will stay with me as a spare or practice rig that I don't have to break down every time I leave the house. Having experienced the VT-500 now though, I would not buy another PF-500.
I took a chance after some research and ordered an Avatar B410 (4 ohm) to pair with my VT-500. HOLY CRAP! This combination is freaking sick! I am so pissed that I have been missing out on this. The Avatar will stay at my band's rehearsal space and be used for those gigs. The combo more than keeps up with two guitarists playing though EVH heads and Marshall 412s. I never went above 10:00 on the VT-500. There is a ton of thick low end if I need it. Very punchy mids and highs (depending on knob settings) to cut through. The bite button on the amp seems to be the ticket when playing with these guys. I like the drive and character knobs around 11:00 (with my primary bass for that band which uses EMG P/J pickups). The VT-500 also handles fuzz or overdrive signals from my pedal board much better than the PF-500. I now have a use for the Bass Big Muff PI again.
Anyway, I thought I would share my experience so far. I knew there was some interest in the two amps. I'm not dissing the quality of the Ampeg PF products. They work well and sound great for certain applications. I was simply using the wrong tool for this one particular job. The VT-500 and Avatar B410 are certainly a more suitable tool. The guys in my band are pretty stoked about the improvement in our sound as a result.
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I recently have had my VT500 cut out on me a couple of times while gigging. It reset itself almost immediately most of the time but the other night I had to do a manual on/off to reset and it wasn't immediate as it seemed to take multiple resets and maybe some drive reduction to get it to stay on but its hard to say as I'm sure as you know when the bass drops out you panic and try everything at blistering pace to get it back. I play mostly passive bass and the other night when it went I was playing passive. I was wondering could I be driving the input to hard at time with my compressor as that's usually all I run in front. I try to make sure the output is the same when the compressor is on or off. I cant duplicate this problem while practicing. Should I engage the Pad while using a compressor or any other pedals ? Another thing is I'm in Florida and play some outdoor gigs always out of direct sunlight but with varying amounts of humidity but some of these dropouts have happened in air conditioned venues. Any thoughts ? Could I have a sensitive unit ?
May very well be power issue. Voltage fluctuations might cause what you are describing.
Good thought. I'll get a good power conditioner on order and hopefully have it for this weekends gig.
Define good power conditioner. Most do close to nothing to maintain voltage. A proper UPS is big bucks and weighs like it. I am not aware of anything in between.
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