You might as well, what with your plan to get a bigger board.I saw a couple of these the other day when I bought my DD-20
Seriously thinking about it
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Tech 21 VT Bass
- Thread starter Bob Moulton
- Start date
- Status
This pedal just gets better and better. Today I decided to see how it sounded with my SG (guitar), and was very pleased with the results.
Now, I've never played an Ampeg guitar amp. As far as they go, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Fender and Hughes and Kettner are all I really have experience with. But from a quick 10 minute experiment, I'd say the gigable sounds I coaxed out of it, were closest to the British (Marshall) setting on the GT2.
Disclaimer: I'd had a couple of beers and was (still am) on prescription medication of the sedating kind. But from what I was hearing, the VT Bass sounds just as gigable on guitar as the GT2. Not as versatile sure, but the dirt and clean sounds both sounded pretty sweet to my ears at least.
Of course, I now risk crucifixion, by admitting I'd gig with a GT2, but screw it. It's a hell of a lot better than using a Valvestate, Mode Four or some other cheap hybrid pap preamp. IMO of course I really wanna try a V-22 now, to compare.
My apologies for the guitard post
Now, I've never played an Ampeg guitar amp. As far as they go, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Fender and Hughes and Kettner are all I really have experience with. But from a quick 10 minute experiment, I'd say the gigable sounds I coaxed out of it, were closest to the British (Marshall) setting on the GT2.
Disclaimer: I'd had a couple of beers and was (still am) on prescription medication of the sedating kind. But from what I was hearing, the VT Bass sounds just as gigable on guitar as the GT2. Not as versatile sure, but the dirt and clean sounds both sounded pretty sweet to my ears at least.
Of course, I now risk crucifixion, by admitting I'd gig with a GT2, but screw it. It's a hell of a lot better than using a Valvestate, Mode Four or some other cheap hybrid pap preamp. IMO of course
I really wanna try a V-22 now, to compare.My apologies for the guitard post
Oh another thing I forgot to mention, I got my Ashdown James Lomenzo Hyper Drive through today.
Lomenzo Hyper Drive running into VT Bass = MASSIVE ALL CAPS BOLD UNDERLINE WIN
Sorry, but it really does
Lomenzo Hyper Drive running into VT Bass = MASSIVE ALL CAPS BOLD UNDERLINE WIN
Sorry, but it really does
Just got back from buying the last one they had
It was buried under some behringer effects to LOL
I decided, after reading all 32 pages of this thread, that I NEED one of these. I"ve got a very bright sounding rig right now (Aguilar AG500 thru Epifani UL410 S1), and rather than change cabs, I"m thinking this little tone-box just might warm things up where I need it, but still allow me the flexibility to go bright and modern if I need too. Dang Talkbass!!!!!! DOES IT EVER END!!!!!!
Those are some awesome settings for the mid/character/gain:
I boosted the Lows more and Im still messing around with setting up the highs.
I love this pedal, and not for what I thought I would. I love its tone in general, and it makes my amp sound darker than a carload of ******** in comparison
The settings above sound quite awesome and I get some nice snap from pick playing. I actually had to lower the treble and mids on my Muff'n tho But I actually find that the Muff'n sounds better thru the VT, and the VT mids seem to bring out the best of the Muff'n.I've only tryed this thing thru headphones so far, since that's the way Ill mostly be using it, but I plan or running it thru the power section of my 50W 1x15" combo.
Im hooked
My MB CDP102P combo is on the bright side. The VT really helps. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
No, you're wrong! Leave the highs and lows alone!Those are some awesome settings for the mid/character/gain:
I boosted the Lows more and Im still messing around with setting up the highs.
Actually I don't even use that setting when I use the VT to emulate a clean amp. I like more lows and more character knob. Our guitar player likes it better when I have more highs on my amp, but I'm getting to the point where I just can't stand brightness of any kind...just enough to hear the attack and no more.
My current settings:
Level: whatever is close to unity gain
Mid: 2:00
Character: 11:30
Drive: 11:00
Low: 3:00
Hi: 11:45
Level: whatever is close to unity gain
Mid: 2:00
Character: 11:30
Drive: 11:00
Low: 3:00
Hi: 11:45
I STILL can't believe how this makes my Muff'n sound. I have the gain flat on it and its like a thick slab of [illicit drug ]! Well, at least more awesome anyhow The VT Bass is totally my new pre.
I have the level up pretty high (not unity fo sho), but I find if I go any higher I get a "fitzy" sound, like im throwing to much at the input of my DD-20 or something. It doesn't matter if the DD is set to +4 signal or -20. I must admit that I have only tested this thing with headphones at that VT level, so it might just be overloading those
I won't be able to test it out today either. Going to my demented old grandmas house of death (aka the assisted living condo).
I wanna play with my VT
]! Well, at least more awesome anyhow The VT Bass is totally my new pre.I have the level up pretty high (not unity fo sho
), but I find if I go any higher I get a "fitzy" sound, like im throwing to much at the input of my DD-20 or something. It doesn't matter if the DD is set to +4 signal or -20. I must admit that I have only tested this thing with headphones at that VT level, so it might just be overloading those I won't be able to test it out today either. Going to my demented old grandmas house of death (aka the assisted living condo).
I wanna play with my VT
I STILL can't believe how this makes my Muff'n sound. I have the gain flat on it and its like a thick slab of [illicit drug
I have the level up pretty high (not unity fo sho
I won't be able to test it out today either. Going to my demented old grandmas house of death (aka the assisted living condo).
That level will be way too loud for your combo amp. Although you do have the gain turned down more than I do.
Played my first gig tonight with my VT pedal through my Marshall VBA 400.
The result was just fantastic , really opened up the sound from the Marshall and put a big smile on mine and our guitarists face !
All in all it's the best pedal purchase I have ever made !
The result was just fantastic , really opened up the sound from the Marshall and put a big smile on mine and our guitarists face !
All in all it's the best pedal purchase I have ever made !
Keep that camera handy, after awhile you'll have nice little photo reference catalog of all the cool settings you'll discover.Im hooked
Keep that camera handy, after awhile you'll have nice little photo reference catalog of all the cool settings you'll discover.
Hehe. Thanks for the idea! Man, I got so much recording to do. Between comparing boosts (LPB vs. SCP), my DD-20, and the VT Bass I got a lot of samples to figure out
I might even string em into video
Anyways, back to the VT
Somebody asked earlier about running one of these into the front of a Shuttle 6.0, which is what I'm considering as well, for overdrive purposes. Anybody do that yet?
It took me a little while, but I managed to get a great Jamerson tone with my Fullerton P with Jamerson flats. The trick was getting the mids just right, at 11:30, after finding 11:00 on the character knob gives the closest overdriven tone with the lows boosted to 2.00, highs right down, and the drive around 10:30. This is with my amp flat and hitting the strings hard. This is great live, but less mids would probably get closer to his recorded tone, by easing up on the character knob or cutting the mids a bit more.
His live sound seems even dirtier, maybe more drive is a way to go, too, but I haven't tried this in a band setting. I like the Jamerson flats even more now I can dirty up the sound enough. This is one tone I could never approach with my SVT, the voicing is just too different and not round enough when cranked that much.
I'm perfectly happy trying to copy others' tones, BTW. It is a good process for me as I have a starting point and I discover a lot about tone along the way. In any case the tones I have in my head are nothing new, and I don't expect to discover anything new that hasn't already been successful in my lifetime...
His live sound seems even dirtier, maybe more drive is a way to go, too, but I haven't tried this in a band setting. I like the Jamerson flats even more now I can dirty up the sound enough. This is one tone I could never approach with my SVT, the voicing is just too different and not round enough when cranked that much.
I'm perfectly happy trying to copy others' tones, BTW. It is a good process for me as I have a starting point and I discover a lot about tone along the way. In any case the tones I have in my head are nothing new, and I don't expect to discover anything new that hasn't already been successful in my lifetime...
just got it this morning 
haven't had too long to play with it yet but the suggested settings were way too loud!
i turned the level knob down a bit and the tone is incredible.
the drive knob is the one that adds slight overdrive like the gain on a real SVT.
it sounds like you are playing thru a real ampeg svt convincingly.
it is slightly harsh on the highs but it does rock tones great. sounds better when you play with pick IMO.
this pedal does increase any hiss a lot though.
its so loud and the EQ is so sensitive i'm not sure if i really need the sadowsky preamp.
the sadowsky does make it slightly clearer sounding and less muddy but volume-wise the VT bass has more than enough.
haven't had too long to play with it yet but the suggested settings were way too loud!
i turned the level knob down a bit and the tone is incredible.
the drive knob is the one that adds slight overdrive like the gain on a real SVT.
it sounds like you are playing thru a real ampeg svt convincingly.
it is slightly harsh on the highs but it does rock tones great. sounds better when you play with pick IMO.
this pedal does increase any hiss a lot though.
its so loud and the EQ is so sensitive i'm not sure if i really need the sadowsky preamp.
the sadowsky does make it slightly clearer sounding and less muddy but volume-wise the VT bass has more than enough.
Mini summary on this pedal:
1. The controls are really sensitive.
2. It will drive a power amp.
3. Don't use the recommended settings.
4. It's awesome.
Well those are my impressions but plenty of other folks would say the same.
1. The controls are really sensitive.
2. It will drive a power amp.
3. Don't use the recommended settings.
4. It's awesome.
Well those are my impressions but plenty of other folks would say the same.
1) OMG Yes. But I view it as an advantage as there is more range than if it took a 1/4 turn for a sonic change. The knobs seems pretty tight, so its definitely NOT a problem IMHO.
2) Haven't really tested it, but there hasn't been anyone who says otherwise IIRC.
3) Haven't done that either, jumped right into using that SVT setting JimmyM posted. Messed with the bass/treble to more suit what I wanted, and boom! Done.
4) There is no way I could expand on this point, other that "Yes, yes it is
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