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Tech 21 VT Bass

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#1,082
If you want to use it as an amp simulator you should put it after the x-blender loop (before your amp). If you want to use it as an overdrive (or other effect) you could put it inside the loop to see if it sounds better with some clean signal added. I would just experiment with it to see what can get you "that" sound (you might also want to try it in front of the compressor for some compressed grit).
 
#1,083
I've run mine before and after a compressor. Before a compressor, then it really can get extra gritty on the lower notes, or when you go all out for dynamics. If you're trying to keep your tone right on the edge of grit/overdrive, then this can be a bad or good thing. Putting it after the compressor helps keep the grit/distortion more even from top to bottom so that the lower notes aren't too heavy. Just depends on what you're after. Most of the time, I don't use the compressor with it at all, and just dial in a bit of SVT style warmth, not distortion.
 
#1,084
Eublet said:
...Putting it after the compressor helps keep the grit/distortion more even from top to bottom so that the lower notes aren't too heavy. Just depends on what you're after. Most of the time, I don't use the compressor with it at all, and just dial in a bit of SVT style warmth, not distortion.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys for the input!!

I should have been more clear about what I was after, but Eublet's quote above is right in the ballpark I have in my mind.

My intent is to add some warmth/fullness and maybe a wee bit of breakup to my existing tone.

With that said, sounds like the best options for my application of the VT would be after compressor (start w/clean) and either (a) inside the X-Blender loop so I can blend w/dry, -or- (b) after the X-Blender loop and before my amp.

I'll have to experiment with both, but (a) sounds most interesting -I like the idea of mixing w/dry. If I put the VT in the Blender's FX loop, I would think it should go before any other processing (chorus, phase) so that if, for example, I'm using the VT and chorus together, the VT effect gets "chorus'd". Make sense?

Thoughts?

Thanks again - hope to order soon!
 
#1,085
Glad to help, but ultimately it's all a matter of what you find most appealing. In a live situation, I don't use any FX at all typically. I have an EBS Mutlicomp that I really dig for certain situations, but usually I don't use it. Then I have the VT which I use to give me a rock or SVT'ish tone which I also seldom need. I use both of these two items either separately or together to get a little more "blur" or obscurity for those times when it makes sense. Usually I use the compressor when I'm trying to get a Marcus-like slap tone going. I use the VT and/or the compressor when I want a grindy P-bass rock tone. I had to experiment with the latter to get what I'm after, but it seems to work well for me. The VT adds a bit of compression on it's own, so I'd advise you to use the compressor lightly or you'll find that there is little authority in the low-end when you want it. A very light 3:1 or less ratio with a medium-knee attack seems to work good for me with the VT. I also have found that running my basses in passive mode works even better since it lessens the headroom in the output signal versus active mode. This keeps the dynamic range a bit more in check and prevents heavily distorted "splats" from sticking out. YMMV.
 
#1,087
JSK5String said:
I had a guy at a boutique pedal store tell me I should run the VT in my FX loop (with my EQ that I use as a volume boost) and my compressor and Sonic Stomp in front of my amp.

Anybody have any experience or thoughts on that suggestion? :help:
Click to expand...
That guy was ********. The Sonic Stomp should go in your effects loop, and the VT should go before your amp. The VT is designed to handle instrument level input, not line-level. It probably won't damage the VT, but it will be really hard to get a clean sound out of it, considering that the input will be 15 or 20db higher than your bass alone.

Your compressor should go wherever you want it to be. There was a bit of discussion on where different people have tried it in relation to the VT. Personally, I think compression sounds best before everything.
 
#1,088
JSK5String said:
I had a guy at a boutique pedal store tell me I should run the VT in my FX loop (with my EQ that I use as a volume boost) and my compressor and Sonic Stomp in front of my amp.

Anybody have any experience or thoughts on that suggestion? :help:
Click to expand...
This guy owns a boutique pedal store? Must be a guitar player. You can run it in the loop, but I see no sonic benefit to doing so. Then again, I see no sonic benefit to ever running effects in the loop, even effects designed for it.
 
#1,090
I too would imagine that running it in the loop would make it overly distort. My active basses push it a bit too hard at instrument level. Passive basses seem to be great and seem to work better if you're after a warm tone with just a little bit of grit.
 
#1,091
Valerus said:
i just got my vt bass. this thing's pretty fun. :D
what are your favorite settings? I'm liking character at noon
Click to expand...
That's what I'm saying in my post about passive and active basses. The output of the instrument wildly changes what "character at noon" sounds like. In active mode on my Lakland 44-02 and 55-02, I have to turn the character knob down to 9 o'clock to keep things clean. In passive mode, I can run it at noon just fine.

It's hard to share settings with other users because of this. You just have to play with the knobs and find what you like. Use the included settings sheet as a starting point.
 
#1,093
Valerus said:
ah right.

and is it just me or when the drive knob is past noon, that it becomes hella loud?
Click to expand...

As the manual states, the drive knob will increase drive AND volume from min to noon. From noon onwards, only drive increases.

That said, if the drive is anywhere past 9:00, depending on your settings, you'll probably have to keep the level knob pretty low in order to maintain unity level.
 
#1,095
Just got mine the other day. I have a 1972 V-4 with a 2-15 Fender cab with Celestion bass speakers in it. My intent for buying this pedal was to run it into my GK 800RB and try to cop my V-4 sound. I think it nails it so close that I canlt really tell which is which. I am running the pedal into the effect return to bypass the preamp. The drive on the GK still works so I have it at 9:00.

My settings are level 10:30
Mid 1:00
Drive 10:15
Low 2:00
High 2:00

Very cool! It lives up to the hype!

Now I can bring my GK and this instead of lugging the 60+ lb V-4 (Which I will NEVER sell, BTW).
 
#1,097
JimmyM said:
Nope, it's physics. Got a little 1/2 lb. box trying to duplicate what an 85 lb. amp into an 810 does. If you use an 810, you can get some of that back, but there really is no substitute for your signal traveling a convoluted path of tubes and transformers. It's why I still lug an SVT or B-15 to my gigs when I have a LMII and VT.
Click to expand...

I don't get it....... That's why I bought this pedal. So I could use it, AND a gk 800rb instead of lugging my V-4. Why have a VT + small amp and leave it home?
 
#1,099
RockBobby said:
I don't get it....... That's why I bought this pedal. So I could use it, AND a gk 800rb instead of lugging my V-4. Why have a VT + small amp and leave it home?
Click to expand...
Ah, but I don't leave them home! The LMII sits under a car seat as a backup, and I use the VT as an OD unit with my SVT and B-15's. The original plan was to use the LMII and VT, but then I got my 64 B-15N all nice and fixed up, then bought a 77 B-15N and went with them until I got my SVT fixed up earlier this year. The reason I lug the heavy stuff now is because while the LMII/VT combo is excellent, it ain't tubes and transformers.

Also, I fly to about half the gigs I play, and the SVT on my rider often gets turned into a GK/Hartke. I used to bring the LMII to all my fly gigs, but now I just bring the VT. If they give me an SVT to use, I use the VT as an OD, otherwise it's a clean Ampeg simulator.

See, I take the opposite viewpoint from you...why have a V4 and leave it at home?
 
#1,100
WOW!!! Finally got to play out with the VT last night, and I was blown away! I've dinked around at home and at practice, but hadn't played live with it...was curious about how it would sound...all I can say is, worth every penny I paid for it. Sound guy and band loved the sound as well. I think I will always have one of these, unless they make something better...lol
 
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