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Tech 21 VT Bass Pedal, owner questions?

C

conan8

Dec 17, 2007
57
1
#1
I recently purchased a Tech 21 SansAmp VT Bass Pedal, I have some questions on it and wandering if anybody could answer them.

1. I do not notice a huge amount of difference going from the different style; SVT, Fat Tube, Flip Top. The differences are there but nothing totally different. Is this normal?

2. If I turn up the Character knob or Drive Knob past 12'o'clock and further past 3/4, I got like a hiss/airy sound coming through, Is this normal?

I am running this off a Peavey 450 head with Peavey tour 410. I run it through the effects return or also sometimes run it through the input.

Thanks
 
#2
1. Yes. You want to hear bigger differences? Turn off the drive.

2. Yes, and it says so in the manual. Any time you boost frequencies or add distortion, you add noise, no matter what gear it is.
 
#6
My advice would be to not use the tones from the manual. You can get so many amazing tones from this thing that aren't listed there, just play around. I've had it for two or three months and I am still finding awesome tones on a regular basis.

I typiacally turn down the drive, boost bass and mids, a bit of treble boost too. Then mess with the character knob and see what I can do.

For more agressive Flea-esq tones, turn the character to 1 or 2-o-clock, for more rounded sounds bring it back. Its up to you.

This pedal is always on for me.
 
#7
M@ddest_H@tter! said:
I have a VT bass on the way....finally....and after reading lots of reviews, etc. etc. I get the feeling that this pedal sounds better with little to no distortion.....am I correct in my assumption?
Click to expand...
Not IMHO. Some do feel that way, but I love the VT as a light to medium overdrive. Since I'm already using Ampeg tube amps, OD is about all I use the VT for. Once in a while if I get a really bad supplied backline amp on my fly gigs, I'll use it for a clean sound, but otherwise it's my only grind pedal.
 
#8
M@ddest_H@tter! said:
I have a VT bass on the way....finally....and after reading lots of reviews, etc. etc. I get the feeling that this pedal sounds better with little to no distortion.....am I correct in my assumption?
Click to expand...

I would completely disagree. I use my VT strictly for an overdrive. I would say I don't care for the voicing when the gain or the character are cranked, but it gets nice and dirty in between.
 
#10
M@ddest_H@tter! said:
Right on....I wonder how it will sound with my warwick cab. I know it doesn't have a DI input....but could I run just this pedal through my cab...and skip my head completely? Im just not happy with my ProFet 5.1 anymore...the lows are way to muddy for my taste
Click to expand...
You can use it as your only preamp but you have to have a power amp.
 
#16
Thanks for the answers to my questions.
I am still experimenting with it and I believe this pedal will be a keeper when I figure it out more.
If anybody has any settings that would like to share please do.
 

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