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That's my only complaint about the dUg as well. Really wish they would've made it dual channel. You can dial in dUg's amazing dirt OR amazing clean. But you can't get both.
You guys have me thinking I may need to get the Harris pedal as well. 
In the interest of having this information listed in one spot, these are the amps that the Tech21 Character series pedals are designed to emulate.
Tech21 Character series pedals:
VT bass - Ampeg Fliptop/SVT
Leeds - Hiwatt
Oxford - Orange
Liverpool - Vox AC30
British - Marshall Plexi
Blonde - Fender Tweed
California - Mesa Mark II
U.S. Steel - Mesa Recto
Tech21 Character series pedals:
VT bass - Ampeg Fliptop/SVT
Leeds - Hiwatt
Oxford - Orange
Liverpool - Vox AC30
British - Marshall Plexi
Blonde - Fender Tweed
California - Mesa Mark II
U.S. Steel - Mesa Recto
If I was forced to keep only one, it would have to be the BDDI because it's so versatile, although I probably use the VT bass pedal more often. The BDDI has a better sounding range of clean to distortion to my ears, but I think the VT is inherently warmer. While not perfect, it does a respectable job of providing a good "tubey" sound.
For the record, besides the above 2 boxes, I've owned the Leeds, Oxford, Liverpool, and VTDI Deluxe. I reluctantly sold them off because I can't justify having so many pieces of gear that are essentially redundant.
That said, I'm actively looking to get another Leeds pedal because it really is that good at nailing the Entwistle sound that I love so much. An added bonus is I found it to be excellent on guitar. I dabble at playing rhythm guitar and the Leeds pedal comes fairly close to a vintage David Gilmour tone.
I've been itching to try the YYZ pedal.
For the record, besides the above 2 boxes, I've owned the Leeds, Oxford, Liverpool, and VTDI Deluxe. I reluctantly sold them off because I can't justify having so many pieces of gear that are essentially redundant.
That said, I'm actively looking to get another Leeds pedal because it really is that good at nailing the Entwistle sound that I love so much. An added bonus is I found it to be excellent on guitar. I dabble at playing rhythm guitar and the Leeds pedal comes fairly close to a vintage David Gilmour tone.
I've been itching to try the YYZ pedal.
agreed. The Leeds is a killer pedal. Just talking with other bass players over the last year or so tells me there is a new generation of players after that sound so T21 could do a reissue and do very well out of it.
Used prices are are more or less the same as the new price was - But try finding one!
Used prices are are more or less the same as the new price was - But try finding one!
That's my only complaint about the dUg as well. Really wish they would've made it dual channel. You can dial in dUg's amazing dirt OR amazing clean. But you can't get both.
Someone mentioned a slight caveat to the Harris pedal: you can't think of it as two independent channels, given that the EQ applies to both. F'r instance, you can't toggle between warm Motown tone and clank-heavy metal.
That said, the SH1 was never advertised to have the versatility of something like the VT Deluxe, and you can see that the only independent controls for the two channels are Level and Gain. That's perfect for me. Normally when I stack dirt pedals, the last one in the chain is my low-gain always-on tone shaper, then when I need more dirt I'll kick in a neutral dirt pedal in front of it. The SH1 can do that all by itself. I dial in a killer tone with the EQ, then set up two different dirt levels for it. If I do happen to need a wildly different tone at the gig, then I bring another pedal for that.
I've owned several Tech21 pedals:
- Sansamp
- VT Bass
- DP
- Bass Fly Rig
- Q/Strip
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I have owned a few of theirs. Original SansAmp, the VT, a couple of others. The one I have right now is serving me pretty well as an always-on: The YYZ Geddy signature pedal is pretty damned good. Not only does it "Geddy," like crazy, it's versatile enough to warm it up just enough to put some air in the tone. It's a pretty unique way of doing things, but it's really working for me at the moment.
That's my only complaint about the dUg as well. Really wish they would've made it dual channel. You can dial in dUg's amazing dirt OR amazing clean. But you can't get both.
I'll sound like a broken record again, but you can get an amazing dirt and an amazing clean with no button switching - there is a sweet spot awaiting you, or maybe I am the only one!
I've used the Sansamp Bass DI, VT version 1, RBI, and Q/Strip. I used the RBI for many years and really liked it. I could never find my sound with the VT pedal or Sansamp. I've always wanted a Blonde, but settled on a Joyo American Sound, which I much prefer to the VT.
If I had to pick one Tech 21 product, it would have to be the Q/Strip. What a useful piece of kit!
If I had to pick one Tech 21 product, it would have to be the Q/Strip. What a useful piece of kit!
You have to compromise to accomplish that which defeats the purpose of the pedal. Its all about the dual amped dUg tone and in order to get a balance between the clean and dirt you have to drastically reduce the dirty dUg tone. dUg never switches to a "clean" tone and this pedal was designed to get his dirty tone in pedal format so it fits the bill for what dUg was asking for. This pedal is not for everyone. But I'm definitely entertaining the thought of adding the Harris pedal and between the two it would cover pretty much every tone I would want.
honestly you don't have to compromise particularly on either the clean or dirty tone - it is all about what you like of course, and I know it's not for everyone, but it is shining light is not solo'd but being played with other instruments.
I know it was designed for dUg's bi amp's tone, but it is there to achieve clean and filth. Underpinning it all you have to have the clean tone you want and then add in the chunk and drive.
Again, maybe I am lucky, but I can switch between clean and mix and have no knob twiddling and get the pleasing tones I want, same with the amp
I can switch between clean and dirty no problem - using the bypass switch!
- Sep 26, 2005
- 1,955
- 641
- Disclosures
- endorsing artist: Dean guitars, Marshall , Rotosound strings
My train of thought as well. My Oxford needs help in the lowend, and I've been using the Orange Getaway Driver as a righteous replacement.
- Sep 26, 2005
- 1,955
- 641
- Disclosures
- endorsing artist: Dean guitars, Marshall , Rotosound strings
That sounds interesting. How's it hold the lows, and will it give much top end at the same time?
It holds the lows just fine. And it has enough top end but I use a JohnK Peavey preamp in front of it for extra clank.
But I go for extreme amounts of clank.
Listen to Juan Alderete's demo of the Getaway Driver. It's really a supreme pedal, and I like it better than what I've heard from the Bass Butler even.
It sounds like an OR120 in a box. No loss of lows at all. The Oxford was one of my all-time favorite pedals and I don't miss it with the GD.
EDIT: I found it for you. It really sounds that good.
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