Tech 21 VT bass DI strange behavior - VTDI

[GisserD]

I just purchased a Tech 21 VT bass Di 2nd hand from eBay. Plugged it in last night and noticed some strange behavior on the blend knob.

I was hoping some of you who also have the pedal can help me sus out if I've bought a lemon.

1. Pedal on, drive at 9 0 clock, With all other at noon, except the blend knob which I turn fully counter clockwise, which should be removing the preamp circuit by my reckoning? My tone is audibly clipping. Badly!
Is my bass output too hot?
But as soon as I turn the blend up past 9 o clock (adding some preamp) it stops.

2. Again controll at noon except the drive at maximum, and blend at minimum, I would expect to hear no drive. Yet it sounds like a wasp in a can over my normal tone.

I'm using a cort A5 custom into the VTDI into an Eden wt800/410

Thanks in advance

 

[Timmy-Watts]

That is a pretty even, forgiving box. Even a hot bass would not do as you describe. I'd call tech 21. Something is wrong with it

 

[Downunderwonder]

I would have thought blend fully ccw would be only the original completely undoctored clean bass. So fubar.

 

[LSMFT6]

I thought I remember hearing some people say that their higher output basses were unwantedly driving their various VT Bass pedals?

The situation with the blend knob does sound like something is amiss

@tech21nyc

 

[simplebassliner]

Just curious, did you try the vtdi with another bass? Or try your bass direct to amps? Just to make sure the problem is in the vtdi and not some other place like weak battery in your bass on board preamp. If everything is fine with out the vtdi then the problem definitely at vtdi. If you suspect your bass output is too hot, maybe you could try bypass the bass on board preamp. If I remember correctly Cort A5 have an active/passive switch. And did you try to lower the Level at vtdi? I don't own vtdi but in my vt bass v.2, I usually set the sound I like with low level first then gradually turn up the level to suits my needs, even then I usually have to reset the drive to compensate. Sorry for my crappy English.

 

[crguti]

if you put the blend fully counter clockwise, there is no sansamp circuitry but the eq still works.
try the VT Bass with another bass.

 

[GisserD]

so I had a little investigation last night and actually solved one of the issues. I had a suspicions that my bass output was too hot, so I lowered my pickups....

to my surprise it solved the first issue of clipping with minimum blend and drive at 9 o clock. so I was clearly over cooking the input? is the Cort A5 known o have hot pickups?

however, with a higher gain and minimum blend, I still experience the wasp in a can issue.