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RH450 and VT Deluxe Pedal

C

chjohnst

Nov 24, 2008
465
3
#1
I just got my RH450 about a week ago and have been playing with it a little on my GK cabinet (waiting for my TC cabs to get here). I also have a VT pedal on pre-order from a few months ago back and at the time I was not expecting to get a a new head but I have changed plans.

Curious has anyone ran this pedal into their RH450? I have been playing with the tubetone knobs a little to get a bit of dirt/overdrive and it sounds OK, but I am not convinced yet that it would be something I would use for overdrive. I have a Boss ODB-3 that I use sparingly but I have not been a huge fan of it other then to use as a boost pedal. Are my expectations a bit too high for the VT pedal and not something I necessarily need?
 
#3
Let me rephrase, I have a deluxe on pre-order but has anyone used a VT pedal in their RH450. (yes I know the deluxe is not out yet..). The deluxe and current VT offering are supposed to be near identical in terms of sound with the exception of stored presets and a few other add-ons.

My RH450 supposedly already has an "ampeg" tone from my understanding, I have not really played on many ampegs, maybe once or twice at a studio rental so I have nothing to go off of. I am quite happy with the EQ in the RH450 so far, but I am looking to add a bit more grit to my sound. So far the tube tone "grit" that I get by turning it up a little is not really what I am going for.

Any who being curious here... maybe I should look for another overdrive to replace my ODB3 instead...
 
#5
My current rig involves an RH450 with the RS210, running the standard VT Bass pedal into it. I haven't tried to A/B the VT vs. Tubetone, but my impression from tweaking them individually is that the two are distinct. At lower settings (I usually run the VT Drive at 11:00), it gives my tone a "furry" quality that I haven't been able to dial in with the RH450. I suspect that the VT offers a bit more warmth than the RH450, but I've relied on the VT for this tone, so haven't worked hard enough on the RH450 to be sure.

FWIW, my go-to RH450 settings are aimed at a clean punchy mids tone. I kick the VT on when I want wolly bottom-heavy pillow in my tone, which it delivers nicely.
 
#6
vt: pedal of the future.

tc: eh, it's ok ;)

not a fan of digital ampegging in consumer bass gear. none of them have the computer firepower to compete with plugins or analog devices like the vt. always something a little unnatural and sampled-sounding about it, imho. that said, i haven't actually played the tc amp ;) never will for reasons i won't go into here, either, because of all the whiners who get mad.

but i love love love the vt and have a vt deluxe on pre-order. i think the tc will cop very similar tones, but i've yet to play a digital consumer device that i've liked for amp modeling. something just misses.
 
#7
The TC will do in a pinch, but there are so many awesome overdrive/distortion pedals out there, that if you're going to go the solid state amp route, you will most undoubtedly find something better in pedal form. I haven't tried the VT bass yet, but it doesn't sound up my ally, however so many other people like them, they must be doing something right, so I'd definitely give it a shot.
 
#8
I use them both, at the same time. I generally don't like using the VT as an effect since I have problems getting the gain set right. All the gain I ever will use with my passive P is from about 7 to 9oclock on the dial. Very sensitive. Tonewise, I think different folks will like both.

My TC settings rely heavily on the Spectacomp and Tube Tone to get an Ampeg-like mid heavy tone. I dial in more dirt and low end with the VT. They play pretty nicely together, but honestly, I like the RH tone so much that I could probably be just as happy with a nice OD pedal. I only keep the VT to use as a preamp on no-amp stages.
 
#9
Also, the Deluxe pedal seems like it would be overkill to me if you aren't even sure if you like the old, single channel VT pedal. I'd pick up a used one and see if you like/need more than one sound out of it.
 
#10
Yea I pre-ordered it before I thought of buying a new head (needed more power and modular rig and not an 80lb sled), not that I am stuck with it as I can always sell it I am just kind of curious if people have paired up the existing VT pedal with this head and what their thoughts were.
 
#11
copasetic said:
My current rig involves an RH450 with the RS210, running the standard VT Bass pedal into it. I haven't tried to A/B the VT vs. Tubetone, but my impression from tweaking them individually is that the two are distinct. At lower settings (I usually run the VT Drive at 11:00), it gives my tone a "furry" quality that I haven't been able to dial in with the RH450. I suspect that the VT offers a bit more warmth than the RH450, but I've relied on the VT for this tone, so haven't worked hard enough on the RH450 to be sure.

FWIW, my go-to RH450 settings are aimed at a clean punchy mids tone. I kick the VT on when I want wolly bottom-heavy pillow in my tone, which it delivers nicely.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I am trying to dial my RH450 for, a cleaner punchy middy tone thats good for finger funk on one preset and another preset with some boosted mids for a bit of slap tone. So you aren't bypassing the preamp with your RH450 and just have the VT pedal plugged in direct? using it to provide some warmth to your tone before it hits the preamp?
 
#12
chjohnst said:
This is exactly what I am trying to dial my RH450 for, a cleaner punchy middy tone thats good for finger funk on one preset and another preset with some boosted mids for a bit of slap tone. So you aren't bypassing the preamp with your RH450 and just have the VT pedal plugged in direct? using it to provide some warmth to your tone before it hits the preamp?
Click to expand...

Yep. That's exactly right. VT directly in the line to the RH450. To my ears it works nicely. The only thing I have to watch out for is the volume levels on the VT, which are on a hair trigger.
 

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