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Tech 21 VT Bass

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#243
einer von meane said:
Hey Y'all,

I have been reading the thread with great interest.

I am faced with the following dilemma...

I gig about once or maybe twice a month with a rock band ala AC-DC. I just bought an SVT CL and I love it. That being said I also love my lighter weight Ampeg B2RE and one cabinet. (I have two cabs, they are both 8 ohms... so I have to drag both if I want to run the SVT).

Then again I could also use this at the practice and or recording studio. I am fortunate enough to use an Agular 750 for weekly practice but I just can’t get it to sound right to me... I must be the only one in the world who doesn't care for this amp. And recording... forget it I go direct anyway and then send the signal to an amp later, maybe I could eliminate the middle man ;)

I think the Tech 21 VTBass pedal would be a great way to spend $150.00 but I also wonder will anyone even notice? No one pitched a fit before I got the MIA all tube murder machine.

I wonder if my ears will be the only two that can tell?

Not that this has ever stopped me from getting a new hunk of gear.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

You can set it up so that no one will notice, or so that only the deaf won't notice. It can be meaty, or hairy, or barely there at all. I don't own one yet but after playing it recently, it got put on the short list.
 
#246
It's not like 1/4" --> XLR is a hard conversion from a cabling standpoint. If the VT is true preamp out (and by all appearances it appears to be), it shouldn't be a big deal at all.
 
#247
FenderP said:
It's not like 1/4" --> XLR is a hard conversion from a cabling standpoint. If the VT is true preamp out (and by all appearances it appears to be), it shouldn't be a big deal at all.
Click to expand...
Ya but the problem lies in when you want to hook it up to both the DI and your amp. You can only do one or the other. That's OK by me because I usually just use the amp's DI but it's something they should have included. Of course the price would go up another $75.

I have to say, though, that the more I play with the VT, the more it makes me want to use my tube amps. And I mean that in a good way. It is so impressive with the tones that it makes me want to set up my tube gear just to see what the differences are. So far, the only differences I notice are just that physical thing of the tube circuitry impacting the sound. Which means a whole lot to me but zero to anyone else, quite honestly.
 
#248
JimmyM said:
Ya but the problem lies in when you want to hook it up to both the DI and your amp. You can only do one or the other. That's OK by me because I usually just use the amp's DI but it's something they should have included. Of course the price would go up another $75.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. I'd actually have that issue if I tried to use it. The nice thing about the TrueVoice is that it has the XLR out and 1/4", so I can drive both.

JimmyM said:
I have to say, though, that the more I play with the VT, the more it makes me want to use my tube amps. And I mean that in a good way. It is so impressive with the tones that it makes me want to set up my tube gear just to see what the differences are. So far, the only differences I notice are just that physical thing of the tube circuitry impacting the sound. Which means a whole lot to me but zero to anyone else, quite honestly.
Click to expand...

Well, that's led me to my current rig. I've tried solid state. Didn't work. I've done combo amps with tube pres - none sounded great to me. It's a matter of having whatever sound it is you want in your head, and can your equipment achieve it?

Don't get me wrong - I love my B-15 and B-25, but I don't miss the weight nor the fact that I can't get 'em loud enough.
 
#249
JimmyM said:
Ya but the problem lies in when you want to hook it up to both the DI and your amp. You can only do one or the other. That's OK by me because I usually just use the amp's DI but it's something they should have included. Of course the price would go up another $75.
Click to expand...

Most DI's I've used have a daisy-chained 1/4" meant for your amp. Although, traditionally I've always gone into my amp first, then provided the DI from that.

- Andrew
 
#250
FenderP said:
It's not like 1/4" --> XLR is a hard conversion from a cabling standpoint. If the VT is true preamp out (and by all appearances it appears to be), it shouldn't be a big deal at all.
Click to expand...

1/4" unbalanced to XLR balanced is not something that can be solved well with just a cable. Yeah you can plug them in, but signal will be lost. There is no such thing as "true preamp out". Maybe you meant a balanced output? Which I don't believe it has.
 
#251
bongomania said:
1/4" unbalanced to XLR balanced is not something that can be solved well with just a cable. Yeah you can plug them in, but signal will be lost. There is no such thing as "true preamp out". Maybe you meant a balanced output? Which I don't believe it has.
Click to expand...

Good point. I totally spaced on balanced/unbalanced. Most pres I use have either 1/4" and/or XLR balanced out. Generally not both, but at least one.
 
#255
I picked one up a earlier this week - still messing with it - it has some good sounds - but the Markbass is so warm that I wonder if I will use it much. I do like the edge or wooliness it adds - I am going to try recording with it and will get to spend some more time with it this weekend. I have not tried it with all my Basses yet either - only my P-Bass. But it is a keeper.

Anyone in Mass - South Shore Music is where I got mine - they had one left.

It would be cool if people would post their favorite settings indicating how they were using it and with what type of Bass etc...
 
#256
Honk'n_down-low said:
I picked one up a earlier this week - still messing with it - it has some good sounds - but the Markbass is so warm that I wonder if I will use it much.
Click to expand...
Ya, don't know if you saw my post about trying to cop the tone of my B-15 with the LMII and the VT. I get a sound that I think is a good match for the B-15 with the VT, then I turn it off to compare to the LMII, and they're identical ;)

But I use it with the LMII because with the drive slightly on, it adds a nice warm grind to it that you don't really notice until it's gone.
 
#257
JimmyM said:
Ya, don't know if you saw my post about trying to cop the tone of my B-15 with the LMII and the VT. I get a sound that I think is a good match for the B-15 with the VT, then I turn it off to compare to the LMII, and they're identical ;)

But I use it with the LMII because with the drive slightly on, it adds a nice warm grind to it that you don't really notice until it's gone.
Click to expand...

I'm having the same experience with my Markbass combo and the VT.

What's surprised me was how warm the Markbass sounds for a SS amp. I know you have been "waving the warm flag" about this amp for awhile Jimmy and I'm beginning to understand. I guess it's just taking me longer since I've never played through a tube amp (Ampeg or any other).

I've noticed the "grind" you mentioned.

All in all, I'm pleased with the pedal. I bought it to try and rough-up the electronic sound and it seems to be working.

I like the idea of a post your settings thread for the VT.
 
#259
drasticDUB said:
JimmyM..what are your settings for the "exact" B-15 sound?
Click to expand...
Bear in mind that there are several different B-15's out there and they all have their own tones. My favorite is the early double baffle cabs and this is how I copped the tone:

Level: to taste
Mid: 2:00
Character: 11:30
Drive: Anywhere below 9:00 to taste
Low: 12:00
High: 10:00

BTW, the settings in the VT packaging are lame ;)
 
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