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New: Tech 21 VT-500 Bass Amp

#144
All I know is that all the years of using Tech 21 not once have I had a failure or displeasure of using one of their products. I still own a LM300, 410 Cab, VT Deluxe and a Para Driver. Used to own a BDDI and Power Wedge 60.

I have a GB SM 9.2 as my live gigging amp and it is a total beast. I might pick up one of these micros as a back up though.

Love Tech 21!
 
#145
FronTowardEnemy said:
All I know is that all the years of using Tech 21 not once have I had a failure or displeasure of using one of their products. I still own a LM300, 410 Cab, VT Deluxe and a Para Driver. Used to own a BDDI and Power Wedge 60.

I have a GB SM 9.2 as my live gigging amp and it is a total beast. I might pick up one of these micros as a back up though.

Love Tech 21!
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Me neither. And I kinda abused the heck out of my gear at one period of my life. Been keeping better care of everything in my old age.
 
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#151
My hope is to get this, temporarily use it with my cobbled together home made 410, then a bit later mothball the 410 and get an 8ohm Avatar SB210, (eventually two for vert stack)
*would I rather have a Baer, AK, GB, Ff, etc stack? Possibly. Its just not in the cards as of now. Maybe LDS, time and future budget will tell...*

The VT-500 will replace my Programmable BDDI, ( which I only ever really use one or sometimes two presets on), and a Nady poweramp that crapped out on me.
 
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#152
anavar said:
nice. Well, a 3 kilo head, and a 16 kilo cab... could be a winner.

I wonder if the head and matching cab would be loud enough to play with a metal band, and if the cab will survive serious beatings from some darkglass units and heavy gain from the head.
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We can't comment on other manufacturers gear but we did choose a power module that has a true 500 watt output at 4 ohms. Running one of the matching cabs which are 8 ohms will knock down the power to 300 watts. Every situation is different but I would say the amp's power shouldn't be an issue but if you are playing on a really loud stage you'd be better off with a 410 cab. There is no substitute for moving air other than multiple speakers "and" power. If you really want huge power and headroom the VT 1000 or the new dUg Ultra Bass 1000 would be a great choice but both of those are recommended to be used with two 410 cabs.
 
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#153
tech21nyc said:
We can't comment on other manufacturers gear but we did choose a power module that has a true 500 watt output at 4 ohms. Running one of the matching cabs which are 8 ohms will knock down the power to 300 watts. Every situation is different but I would say the amp's power shouldn't be an issue but if you are playing on a really loud stage you'd be better off with a 410 cab. There is no substitute for moving air other than multiple speakers "and" power. If you really want huge power and headroom the VT 1000 or the new dUg Ultra Bass 1000 would be a great choice but both of those are recommended to be used with two 410 cabs.
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Every time I attempt to get the mid shift below 800hz with a active bass on these tech 21 amps they clip like hell unless I was pushing above 300w. And anything above 800hz on the mid shift and it's doesn't cut at all into the mix with less then 300w.
 
#154
Rmackner said:
Every time I attempt to get the mid shift below 800hz with a active bass on these tech 21 amps they clip like hell unless I was pushing above 300w. And anything above 800hz on the mid shift and it's doesn't cut at all into the mix with less then 300w.
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I'm
Rmackner said:
Every time I attempt to get the mid shift below 800hz with a active bass on these tech 21 amps they clip like hell unless I was pushing above 300w. And anything above 800hz on the mid shift and it's doesn't cut at all into the mix with less then 300w.
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Which specific amp are you referring to?
 
#156
Rmackner said:
The landmark 300 head, but seems to be a common issue with the lack of power on the power amp and an active bass pushes it to hard. Just the natural of the beast with SS amps, always chasing that perfect level of sweet grind without clipping.
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I have a Marcus Miller Jazz with a East Marcus Retro that I run through my LM300 and 410 cab and have never experienced the issues you have described. I run it at 8 ohms so 200 watts being pushed through the 410.

3 guitarists, drummer, vocals and occasional keyboard. No PA support with this setup either at rehearsals. I also run the level only half way up. I use the bottom channel (RPM?) only and it cuts really well at any mid position I desire.

Maybe it is your bass or active pre that is the weak link?
 
#158
Rmackner said:
The landmark 300 head, but seems to be a common issue with the lack of power on the power amp and an active bass pushes it to hard. Just the natural of the beast with SS amps, always chasing that perfect level of sweet grind without clipping.
Click to expand...

I think part of my original answer was cut off. On the LM300 the midrange control is before the Drive. That means that the settings of the midrange will change the tone as well as drive characteristics. With an active bass you should disengage the gain switch for more clean headroom. In general you should run the level control at around 3 o'clock (if headroom is an issue) and start with the Drive low and gradually increase the Drive and possibly decrease the Level to find the optimum setting. It's a balancing act. Settings that may "seem" to work at home won't probably work as well with drums and guitars on a loud stage.

What speaker system are you using with the amp?
 

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