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Tech 21 VT Bass

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#341
Just used the VT bass as a preamp with power amp setup for rehearsal last night. My signal looked like this:

Jazz bass-->VT Bass-->GX3 power amp-->Avatar B410 x2

Usually i run an SVT through the Avatars and it always sounds great. With the VT bass setup however, the experience was fantastic. I was able to get all the tones of the SVT and then some. This is really a great pedal for my purposes, It has made me re think my current SVT setup....
 
#342
My main amp is an SWR WorkingPro400 through an Ampeg SVT-HLF 4x10. It has a really clean sound that I love, but I sometimes wish that I had the ability to add a real tube sound into the mix of things. From what I've read about the VT Bass it is exactly what I've been looking for. I love the idea of the VT Bass pedal, but I really want the flexibility of a programmable rack unit.
It's one of the only things holding me back from getting the VT Bass pedal.

While I was at work I started thinking about what I would want in terms of a rack space VT Bass unit. I would want it to be extremely simple with at least three different choices of tone.
1. Clean tube sound
2. Gritty tube sound
3. Overdrive tube sound

First off, I thought it would be great if the rack unit had a big easy to see/easy to use button to switch each channel. I read that the VT Bass pedal switch is extremely smooth, why not incorporate it into the rack itself? Instead of a single switch that operates each channel I would want a button located on each channel as well as a seperate button to engage the bypass. That way I could easily go back to my amps original tone. No confusion.

I thought that three channels would be more then enough to allow me to mimic my favorite Ampeg/tube sound and switch back and forth between them.

The front of the rack would have an input and an output so that I could plug directly into the input and take the output directly into the input of my amp with the use of a short patch cable so that I wouldn't lose levels due to a long cord.

My last band played three sets every night and I always looked for ways to simplify my bass setup. An optional foot pedal would make playing live even easier. I thought that one button to switch through all of the channels including the bypass would be great.

With all of these ideas I decided to design the unit itself for fun. Ideally I would like it to fit in one singular rack space. This is how I picture the perfect VT Bass rack unit.

VTbassrack2.jpg

Click the link for better detail
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g315/mikeyd74/VTbassrack2.jpg

I thought that since the VT Bass pedal chassis was already in production why not utilize it for the rack controller.

vtbasscontroller3.jpg


I have put some thought into the back of the rack unit, but I thought that you all could give me some input on possible features that you would like to add.
In addition I thought that a "tuner out" would be really cool to add to the unit. Maybe an "effect in/effect out" and an XLR direct out would be cool too.

Hopefully someone at Tech 21 will see this and get inspired to make a rack unit.
If they need someone in R&D I could certainly use the cash lol.
 
#345
Now that I think about it, I guess it was more like, I "read" some stuff and then I "designed" it. It's kind of R&D......still doesn't change the fact that I could use the extra cash though lol
 
#347
I think you could save a lot by using one set of knobs and switching patches. Much like Sansamp does with their PSA's. Which wouldn't surprise me to see something like that. Basically a PSA type unit but VT-bass direction.

I'd prefer to see it slammed into a Pedal though rather then a rack unit.

PSA's numerical display, and either 3 stomp switches, or two for up/down and it would be pretty much done. If went Up/Down they could offer many more patches than just 3.

That's over-simplifying it though.
 
#348
Heh, you got my visual brain working...

It would be a crapload of stuff to cram in and i'm sure would be unrealistic from that standpoint alone. Display would need more juice than 9vDC I'm sure... but it would be cool, and a must-have for me based on my impression of the VT-bass. I'd even be willing to make space on my peddleboard for a wider pedal similar to how the Sansamp BDDIP's are. Feel free to rip the idea apart. :-)

Invalid Link Removed
 
#350
stflbn said:
I think you could save a lot by using one set of knobs and switching patches. Much like Sansamp does with their PSA's. Which wouldn't surprise me to see something like that. Basically a PSA type unit but VT-bass direction.

I'd prefer to see it slammed into a Pedal though rather then a rack unit.

PSA's numerical display, and either 3 stomp switches, or two for up/down and it would be pretty much done. If went Up/Down they could offer many more patches than just 3.

That's over-simplifying it though.
Click to expand...
I totally know what you are saying.
Those ideas are similar to my first thoughts about what the rack would be like.
I started looking at the VT Bass pedal with all of it's retro flair and I started looking at my vintage MXR and Electro Harmonix pedals and thought about how simple and sturdy they are. They have lasted 30 years and they still work and sound great! No digital displays to read, no banks to scroll through, no hitting multiple buttons just to turn some treble down.
I have a Zoom pedal that I used on stage and one of the most annoying things about it was having to kneel down and spend 30 seconds on stage scrolling through the banks to adjust something as simple as the treble or gain. I would rather just have a simple knob to turn within arms reach, that's why a rackmount would be perfect. If I do get the VT Bass pedal it will most likely sit on top of my amp anyway so I can make adjustments on the fly.
 
#352
i got this pedal today morning. i havent yet stopped playing. its total awesome. usualy when i get a pedal it takes me a while to get a decent sounds out of it. this one just sounded so awesome. you'd say ***? but its true, no matter where i am turning the knobs its all sound so darn good! i can get deep ballsy sounds to heavy distortions and to steve harris and everything in between. how i wish there was programmable version to store a lot of settings
 
#353
ok so i am back from a tour with this vt bass pedal. over all its been awesome. sound guys loved my tones as they didnt have to do anything on the board for my sound, it was all set perfect direct to the board through a DI box.
however i noticed something; while playing slap style the pops sound kinda weak/bad. i first thought its maybe because of the little drive i have dialed in but no even with drive at zero pops sound not so good. any clue/ideas?

edit: now i get the phrase.... i meant to say the pops sound tiny through the vt to me
 
#354
This is a tasty pedal. I tried it with my bass, an Ibanez SoundGear 505, through an Ampef 410 HLF cab and through a GK, Aguilar, Eden, and Ampeg head all separately, just to check out the different flavors. Damn, it was sure easy to dial in a nice chunky grit.

This pedal works especially well for me, because I think the Soundgear 505 is a very mid-rangy bass. The Bass VT actually rounded out my sound quite well and warmed it up a bit while at the same time adding a nice grit. I can't say enough good things about t his pedal.
 
#355
I guess I'm just in another "tone space" as I was actually pretty disappointed in the VT. I tried it out for almost a week and took her back to the store. Although there was definately some great tones available from the pedal and it is a huge improvement to the bass Driver DI, I still preferred my tone with the pedal turned off.

I know I'm in the extreme minority here on TB as there is a ton of love for this pedal but I always appreciate honest opinions when contimplating a new gear purchase. here is my list of pros and cons for the new VT bass pedal:

Pros:

1. much better control over the mids and overall eq then the original Bass Driver DI
2. Nice small package and works great on a 9v for many hours
3. Price is appropriate
4. Tons of tweakability. There is a tone in here to please pretty much anyone

Cons:

1. Much more hiss then I expected
2. Bypass clearly sucks a bit of tone. its minor but I hate any tone loss.
3. Bass tone loses a bit of punch in trade for the tuby grind
4. In bypass there is a bit of bleed through if the pedal is cranked up at all.

Of course the bypass issues are no issue at all if you plan to use this as a pre amp or leave it on all the time.

I hope a little constructive critisicsim is welcome as i am in no way trying to flame this pedal. It just wasnt for me.
 
#356
varunkapahi said:
ok so i am back from a tour with this vt bass pedal. over all its been awesome. sound guys loved my tones as they didnt have to do anything on the board for my sound, it was all set perfect direct to the board through a DI box.
however i noticed something; while playing slap style the pops sound kinda weak/bad. i first thought its maybe because of the little drive i have dialed in but no even with drive at zero pops sound not so good. any clue/ideas?

edit: now i get the phrase.... i meant to say the pops sound tiny through the vt to me
Click to expand...
The VT has like a 5k rolloff, so you won't get the super-highs you'd normally get with your average cab w/tweeter.
 
#359
Saturday Night Bump! I'm interested in finding out more about this pedal.

Can it do subtle? I would like to use this pedal to warm up my tone while I'm playing support in my jazz band (which will be my main role), but turning it off when I do solos to get a transparent high end.

Will this theory come to good fruition?
 
#360
The VT can be as subtle as you want it. It does both clean and dirty Ampeg sounds and everything in between. I think the only flaw in your theory is that you may end up liking the sound of it so much that you want it on for everything, even your solos ;)
 
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