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Tech 21 VT Bass (Part 2)

#43
JimmyM or other VT aficionados:

I jumped on the VT bandwagon and bought one of these that came last night. So I've only used it in my bedroom, no gigging/practicing volumes yet.

I tried the stock settings and then JimmyM's settings and I was not able to get a significantly different tone from my bass plugged straight into my amp (Markbass LM Tube --> Berg AE210). I know the Markbass head is already "kinda" Ampeg-like, so maybe that has something to do with it? Or maybe i have to wait until i actually gig with it?

FWIW, i know that with my Sadowsky preamp/DI pedal, i could really tell a difference with the preamp when at gigging, louder volumes compared to just with headphones, or low volumes. Even so, the 'change' when engaging the sadowsky pre is still more definite than the 'change' when engaging the VT bass pedal, even at low volumes.

Looking for both the slightly overdriven B-15 motown sound and/or the SVT warmness...
 
#47
ac3320 said:
JimmyM or other VT aficionados:

I jumped on the VT bandwagon and bought one of these that came last night. So I've only used it in my bedroom, no gigging/practicing volumes yet.

I tried the stock settings and then JimmyM's settings and I was not able to get a significantly different tone from my bass plugged straight into my amp (Markbass LM Tube --> Berg AE210). I know the Markbass head is already "kinda" Ampeg-like, so maybe that has something to do with it? Or maybe i have to wait until i actually gig with it?
Click to expand...
No, it's more that the Markbass is Ampeg sounding already. I once tried to match the tone of my B-15N with the Markbass 112 combo I used to have, and when I thought I got as close as I could get, I turned off the VT and the sound of the amp by itself set flat was almost identical.

BTW, glad everyone is enjoying my settings...you might have to tweak them a little to get them to work for you in your own amps, but I think they're pretty close to what people expect from those amps.
 
#49
Catalin said:
Great settings Jimmy ! I just got my VT bass yesterday. My prefered setting is SVT with just a little more Character.
Thanks for the settings ! The factory suggested settings sounds bad to my ears.
Click to expand...
They're good if you like certain types of distortion, but I never cared for them either. Glad you liked mine, though!
 
#52
johnnyz said:
Finally got a chance to use my VT last night. Wow, whole band loved it. Brought me back about 20 years to when I had a big old Ampeg rig. This thing is a keeper.
Click to expand...

Somewhere on TB there's a thread about the new Sans Amp VT pedal (edit: here), which has a DI, three presets, an effects loop, etc. It's being shown at NAMM. I don't know what the release date will be. I've stayed away from the VT because it didn't have a DI. I may need to get off the sidelines now. I think I'd like it.

Later edit: I was also pointed somehow to this thread, which is very interesting to me, since I assume that a lot of the original VT pedals will be hitting the classifieds soon. Here.

KO
 
#53
i'll start things off with a question for you VT owners:

do you think the VT Bass makes a good OD for a tube amp?
Click to expand...


YES!!!! At first, I was using this pedal with my lil SWR w'man 12 (practice amp)... but, then decided I'd try it out with my B-15R. WOW. WOW. WOW.

I typically play most gigs with my SVT-CL & 8x10, but a TS9DX on all night long... but, the VT really seemed to open up my B-15. I've since decided to sell the lil SWR & possibly pickup a micro head to have a tiny 'Ampeg' rig.

The VT totally makes me rethink giggin with the B-15R from time to time instead of the big Classic stack.
 
#54
So back in July '09 I get offered a gig in a band that uses in-ear monitors and no backline. I fooled around with a few configurations including my Sadowsky Metro straight into a DI but it wasn't happenin' for me. I decided to try a VT and that did the trick. No amp at all, just my pedalboard: X2 Wireless-EBS Multicomp-VT Bass-Countyman DI....Done. It sounds great through the FOH and in my monitors. It's a killer. And thanks Jimmy M for the settings, I use a tweaked version of your B-15. It's a keeper.
 
#55
ya, the only way i could do a no-backline gig is with the vt. love the countryman but it can sound a little brittle in headphones and pa systems. there's a di mod you can get for the vt for like $50, plus tech 21 is coming out with a deluxe version like the bass driver deluxe. they may also start offering the vt with a di as well.

honestly, though, as long as you have a 1/4" input in your board or snake, you could ditch the countryman. it converts guitar signal to low impedance output and they say it will drive long lengths of cable in the manual. i've recorded with it through a di and right into the recorder and it makes no difference imho.
 
#56
Jimmy, thanks for the info. Interesting opinion about the Countryman being brittle sounding, I haven't found that to be the case with the PA & monitor systems we run through. I even asked both my sound & light guys if they found my tone bright/brittle and they didn't think so. I'm liking the DI mod idea though and will most probably go with it, that's all that's missing from an otherwise great pedal. As I said, with no backline I can't imagine running without it.
 

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