Tech 21 VT Bass + Other Pedals

[dalahorse]

It took me a long time to really appreciate the speaker sim on the v2. These days, I keep it on. It seems to help get a certain grind that doesn't happen without it.

I'm also looking forward to the analysis!

 

[scottfeldstein]

I think they like the grit, but don't always want the scooped cab sim.

 

[JimmyM]

I don't really get why people prefer the vt bass with the speaker sim off. To me, that's the main feature of the pedal. With it off, it just sounds like an exaggerated eq shape that I could dial in at the amp. If its the treble you don't like, then try another setting for the high knob or reduce the treble on ur amp. My two cents.

I hear you. One of the best features of it is getting a highs rolloff when using distortion.

 

[kenstee]

My daughter gave me an Amazon gift certificate for Christmas, which I applied to a VT Bass v2 purchase.
Amazon offers free shipping, this combined with the gift certificate made the retail price a bit more palatable.

For starters, it will probably be used only for footswitch controlled grind on demand.
I'm looking forward to doing a full RTA analysis of this pedal.

Maybe you should consider one of the Darkglass OD pedals instead....NOT on Amazon though I believe...

 

[kenstee]

Where do you guys have the VT pedal in your effects chain? What's it before and what's after it?

 

[JimmyM]

Mine's last.

 

[Road Bull]

My VT is always on. I use it for tone shaping and keep the gain set such that I get a bit of OD when I dig in. That then feeds my Markbass Distorsore which blends the input signal with tube distortion. I've been using this setup for just over a week and am really happy with the tone.

The VT goes well into distortion on its own. In fact, it doesn't loose much bass at all when the drive is cranked. But I didn't like that it couldn't blend the clean signal with the distorted signal without external hardware/software.

+1 on all fronts.

Although I don't run the VT as an "always on" pedal, I do like it when I run it into my Darkglass B3K. Tweaked to my liking, it can achieve a nice grindy tone. To me, they seems to be two pedals that work very well together. And to me, I really wish that i could maintain the clean signal as well. I guess if I really wanted to, I could get a blender pedal to accomplish this task.

 

[Thir13teen]

Here's my settings;

 

[P-oddz]

Where do you guys have the VT pedal in your effects chain? What's it before and what's after it?

Mine is last in the chain as well.
IME (and also to my ears, personally), that is where it sits best. I've tried running pedals after it and never quite liked how it affects them.

It's kind of a bummer in a way (although the tone is quite preferable), since I also run a Tone Hammer for its EQ and for its XLR capability in case I get in a pinch with my amp - but I've just found that the Tone Hammer after the VT doesn't sound as good. Tone Hammer INTO the VT = awesome, which cancels out my DI capability of the Tone Hammer (at least in preserving my desired tone anyway).

 

[FromTheBassMent]

Like many other respondants, my VT Bass is last in the chain, always on. I have the original version where the speaker sim cannot be turned off. Tried the new one to see if it sounded better without the speaker sim. To my ears, it did not.

I keep the Character and Drive low (10:00 and 8:00 respectively), mid flat and the slightest boost to low and high. Magic sauce... my rig sounds great when it's turned on, and just okay when it's turned off. Love it.

For a bit of grind I use an Xotic Bass BB, which is brilliant running into the VT. For a LOT of grind I use a DMB Bumble fuzz, which is simply terrifying with the clean and fuzz mixed "just so."

 

[Thir13teen]

I also prefer the original pedal where you cannot turn off the speaker sim. Everyone should at least try this pedal to see if it makes sense for your situation.