Tech 21 Club

[Zooberwerx]

That's awesome - I'm admittedly not very familiar with that unit, but the Tech 21 site had a sweet bass demo clip still up for it.

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Well, I know you aren't really given the option with yours, bit as of late I've been of the same mind even with the blend option available!

This is actually pre-PSA...no programming. One thing it does offer is 3 independent EQ bands of overdrive plus high & low shelving further downstream to balance things out. The RBI, RPM, and VTRM don't even come close although they are more than respectable in their own rights.

Riis

 

[Al Kraft]

Thanks, Al. I'm going to try to figure out the GED's D.I. outs, I'm thinking one of it's two channels should give a nice signal to the mixer.

But I'm thinking having a BDDI on hand would be a good thing as a contingency plan, should my rig go haywire during a gig.

I always carry a BDDI with me to every gig as insurance. On the biggest outdoor show I ever played years ago all I had was my bass and a BDDI. The very professional sound crew gave me a monitor feed that was perfect and the sound for FOH was excellent. That little box is very capable, and there is a good reason they, like the SM-58, and Countryman 85, while not the most sophisticated pieces of gear, have survived the test of time.

 

[bigtone23]

I have a bass friend that has been in a few bands with me. He has an older BDDI and has exclusively used it when knowingly going to a venue with great sound and monitoring. He won't bring an amp, just the box and has been doing that for 20 years now. He may have been the guy around here that turned many a sound guy onto the box.

 

[kringle77]

I've been a longtime user of everything tech 21. I've loved some products and not others. I've praised and critiqued most of them. In every case, the company's customer service has been way above average. Within the past year I've gone back to a dual amp rig where one rig is mostly lows and mids feeding a bag end cab and the other is mostly mids and highs feeding a matching cab. Best tone I've ever had, and I've had some good ones. The high side amp tone is mostly shaped by an oxford pedal. The only drawback is that I want to get a 3 foot switcheable tones, gritty, louder gritty and all out distorted. There is no oxford deluxe and tech 21 informed me that the circuit doesn't lend it'self to adapting it to a VT Deluxe format. So Tech21, are there any new products on the way that could help me out? The low end roll-off, grit, etc, from the oxford for my high channel are just awsome. I was actually using the amp section of a trademark 60 into a bass cab as my high channel for awhile but, switched to the oxford because I needed more output than the guitar amp could handle. After alot of experimentation I found the oxford to work, with the above mentioned drawbacks of course. The mids, low roll off and different top end really work much better for me than the VT bass circuit.

 

[John Swartz]

Has anyone who uses an RBI, RPM, or a GED-2112 used it's D.I. into a board on a gig with P.A. support? And how did the person running sound like it?

I'm still in the learning stage with my GED-2112. I've typically had very few gigs with P.A. support, but with the band I'm in now, I'm most likely to be ran into a P.A. when we play summer festivals.

I've found Sound folks typically prefer a no-hassle approach to the bass. Most have had me plug into a Countryman D.I., and I also carry a Radial JDI in my gig bag. I'm wondering if I'll be given two separate channels for my GED, but I have my doubts.

From what I'm reading here the Sansamp D.I. pedal is well regarded from most Sound folks. Maybe I should look into buying one......

I use a GED-2112 and the one time I ran to a house PA from the XLR outs, I was running my rig with the two channels blended because the guy only wanted one channel. Before I got the GED-2112, I had played in a few places where the soundguy ran two inputs to the board (1 for my XLR out, and 1 mic'ing the cab). So, it can vary.

John

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I use a GED-2112 and the one time I ran to a house PA from the XLR outs, I was running my rig with the two channels blended because the guy only wanted one channel. Before I got the GED-2112, I had played in a few places where the soundguy ran two inputs to the board (1 for my XLR out, and 1 mic'ing the cab). So, it can vary.

John

I'm thinking the way the Deep channel is voiced it should work great into the board, if the sound guy insists on a single feed.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I always carry a BDDI with me to every gig as insurance. On the biggest outdoor show I ever played years ago all I had was my bass and a BDDI. The very professional sound crew gave me a monitor feed that was perfect and the sound for FOH was excellent. That little box is very capable, and there is a good reason they, like the SM-58, and Countryman 85, while not the most sophisticated pieces of gear, have survived the test of time.

I'm definitely going to buy one.

 

[Al Kraft]

I'm definitely going to buy one.

If you want more control over your mids and little deeper, more creamy bass, the V2 is the way to go IME. I kept my previous version because it is different enough that the two are not redundant. The previous version has a little more clank and roughness in the top end to my ear and is not as well defined and smooth down low. If you like that rougher quality and use more distortion/overdrive, I can see where a case could be made for this one over the V2.

If it means anything, the BDDI V2 and Countryman 85 are always in my gig bag. The Tone Hammer, VT Bass V2, previous versions of the BDDI and Paradriver (PDDI), Xotic Bass RC Booster, and MXR M-80 only come out occasionally. That's how much I like the BDDI V2.

 

[michael_t]

If you want more control over your mids and little deeper, more creamy bass, the V2 is the way to go IME.

Agreed.

I've been trying out the BDDI v.2 for the last couple months after having used the VT Bass DI for three years. The VTBDI was a definite improvement over the BDDI v.1, but I'm starting to like the BDDI v.2 even better than my trusted VTBDI.

 

[Kro]

If you want more control over your mids and little deeper, more creamy bass, the V2 is the way to go IME. I kept my previous version because it is different enough that the two are not redundant. The previous version has a little more clank and roughness in the top end to my ear and is not as well defined and smooth down low. If you like that rougher quality and use more distortion/overdrive, I can see where a case could be made for this one over the V2.

If it means anything, the BDDI V2 and Countryman 85 are always in my gig bag. The Tone Hammer, VT Bass V2, previous versions of the BDDI and Paradriver (PDDI), Xotic Bass RC Booster, and MXR M-80 only come out occasionally. That's how much I like the BDDI V2.

Interesting. I've used BDDIs for recording in the past, but I'm not really sure what versions. Now I'm kind of itching to take a V2 for a test drive.

 

[Al Kraft]

Interesting. I've used BDDIs for recording in the past, but I'm not really sure what versions. Now I'm kind of itching to take a V2 for a test drive.

I was one of those folks who found peace with the original BDDI. Between backing down the blend control and dropping bass and treble while increasing the level I was able to manage the mids effectively. However, I always found the taper on the presence to be a little twitchy and gave me too much too soon.

The BDDI V2 adds more control across all EQ areas and a much smoother and useful (to me) presence control taper. For anyone using the BDDI as a stomp box in front of their head the V2 will be flatter right off the bat and offers a lot more tone shaping options and control. It feels fuller in the bottom end and just a little more refined/sophisticated overall. I think both do quite well when being used as pre-amp or going direct to a mixer/board.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

If you want more control over your mids and little deeper, more creamy bass, the V2 is the way to go IME. I kept my previous version because it is different enough that the two are not redundant. The previous version has a little more clank and roughness in the top end to my ear and is not as well defined and smooth down low. If you like that rougher quality and use more distortion/overdrive, I can see where a case could be made for this one over the V2.

If it means anything, the BDDI V2 and Countryman 85 are always in my gig bag. The Tone Hammer, VT Bass V2, previous versions of the BDDI and Paradriver (PDDI), Xotic Bass RC Booster, and MXR M-80 only come out occasionally. That's how much I like the BDDI V2.

Thanks again, Al! I definitely like to have control of my mids. V2 it is!!

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I've been a longtime user of everything tech 21. I've loved some products and not others. I've praised and critiqued most of them. In every case, the company's customer service has been way above average. Within the past year I've gone back to a dual amp rig where one rig is mostly lows and mids feeding a bag end cab and the other is mostly mids and highs feeding a matching cab. Best tone I've ever had, and I've had some good ones. The high side amp tone is mostly shaped by an oxford pedal. The only drawback is that I want to get a 3 foot switcheable tones, gritty, louder gritty and all out distorted. There is no oxford deluxe and tech 21 informed me that the circuit doesn't lend it'self to adapting it to a VT Deluxe format. So Tech21, are there any new products on the way that could help me out? The low end roll-off, grit, etc, from the oxford for my high channel are just awsome. I was actually using the amp section of a trademark 60 into a bass cab as my high channel for awhile but, switched to the oxford because I needed more output than the guitar amp could handle. After alot of experimentation I found the oxford to work, with the above mentioned drawbacks of course. The mids, low roll off and different top end really work much better for me than the VT bass circuit.

Hi Kringle, after reading this post, I listened to some sound samples on YouTube of the Oxford character pedal. Very impressive tones, IMO. Unfortunately there's no clips of it being used for bass, but I can imagine it works incredibly well. I posted a clip of the Leeds pedal from YouTube, and IMO it also sounds great on bass. So, then I listed to the British and Liverpool clips, and I really think the British pedal would sound great with a bass plugged into it.

I found an excellent clip where a guitarist is comparing his Liverpool pedal to his Vox AC15 and AC30 amps. IMO the Liverpool did an incredible job of duplicating the Vox sound.

I've been playing for ages, and I never experimented with effects pedals. It wasn't really necessary for the material I was covering in those days, but now I'm kicking myself in the backside for not buying a couple of these Character pedals while Tech 21 was still making them.

And kudos to Tech 21! IMO their Character Series pedals did a helluva job copping classic tones.

 

[Al Kraft]

The Tech 21 Character series of pedals are nothing short of impressive. I've never heard a one that didn't live up to its design goals.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

It's guitar, but I'm VERY impressed with how well the Liverpool pedal compares to the real deal.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

The Tech 21 Character series of pedals are nothing short of impressive. I've never heard a one that didn't live up to its design goals.

I agree 100%. And I'm only listening to sound clips through my headphones! I don't like throwing the "Genius" term around much, but IMO Andrew Barta is one.

 

[BillySid]

Exclusive user of Tech 21. VT Bass Rack, GED 2112 and Dug Pinnick pedal. Love them!

 

[Kro]

Happy New Year everybody! Seems like a good time to check in as, unless I find something else that bothers me about it, I've just wrapped up the bass track for our next release and I figured I'd share with the group. As usual, this is just my StingRay 5 with Chromes into my VTDI, and into the audio interface. No other effects or tweaks in post yet, and it won't get them unless it's determined that they're really needed.

Going for a laid back, indie type of vibe with this one. It should work out well given the rest of the mix that's still to come.

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@MDBass , not that I was trying to specifically emulate any one type of amp with this, but given that I'm using a VTDI, I couldn't help but think of your quest in that other mega-thread while laying it down.

 

[MDBass]

Happy New Year everybody! Seems like a good time to check in as, unless I find something else that bothers me about it, I've just wrapped up the bass track for our next release and I figured I'd share with the group. As usual, this is just my StingRay 5 with Chromes into my VTDI, and into the audio interface. No other effects or tweaks in post yet, and it won't get them unless it's determined that they're really needed.

Going for a laid back, indie type of vibe with this one. It should work out well given the rest of the mix that's still to come.

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@MDBass , not that I was trying to specifically emulate any one type of amp with this, but given that I'm using a VTDI, I couldn't help but think of your quest in that other mega-thread while laying it down.

Cool tone! Darker clipping than what I'm after though. Dale thinks that a FlyRig may get me what I'm after, and I heard another bassist live recently who went totally ampless and sounded incredible with one...so I have one on the way

 

[Kro]

Dale thinks that a FlyRig may get me what I'm after, and I heard another bassist live recently who went totally maples and sounded incredible with one...so I have one on the way

That's awesome, and do let us know what Dale comes back to you with - I think it's pretty amazing that you're able to reach out to them, tell them what you're looking for, and have them provide specific recommendations - especially since they have such a wide range of products to work with. I know you're a Tech 21 artist, but honestly, given my most recent communications with them, I bet they'd provide that same level of service to anybody.

I'm also surprised that he potentially felt that the best way to get the B15 tone you're after isn't from their, you know, pedal that's supposed to emulate Ampegs. Did he say why he felt the fly rig would be a better fit? Just more tonal options, or more compression control perhaps?