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Tech 21 VT Bass

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#1,126
Seems most people are using this in the same way that they'd use the older sansamp but with better results. I have an RBI. I don't really need another sansamp and I like my tone just fine. How is this thing for gritty, low gain, transparent overdrive?
 
#1,127
jufros said:
Seems most people are using this in the same way that they'd use the older sansamp but with better results. I have an RBI. I don't really need another sansamp and I like my tone just fine. How is this thing for gritty, low gain, transparent overdrive?
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Excellent for that, but for good or bad (depending on your preference) the VT-bass is fairly touch sensitive when playing. Putting a compressor ahead of it can help out with consistently triggering a level of overdrive. At first I was put off by it, but now I'm pretty fond of it. I'm running the VT into a Valvedrive. The Valvedrive has a very slight hair to it's tone, then adding the VT adds the Ampeg vibe... then dig in and it's another level of overdrive/grit.
 
#1,129
BigOldHarry said:
can someone please explain why one little pedal has a thread with THIS many entries?
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Two words: pedal of the future.

Never has a solid state device ever been able to capture the nuances of the world's two greatest tube amps and all their variations until now. It's not quite the same feeling playing it as a tube amp, but it certainly cops the tones.
 
#1,130
Ok cool. The VT caught my eye from day 1 but everything I've heard makes me thing it would be redundant with the RBI. I was thinking about running the RBI with 0 drive since I've been using more effects lately. I already have a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive which sounds absolutely excellent with the drive on the RBI. I love that sound and am currently using it for my OD needs on my band's album in the studio. However, in a live situation, that setup pigeonholes me into having overdrive (RBI's drive) at the end of my signal chain all the time. I could use the VT's drive as my basic overdrive, but then again, I could use the Barber, Cream Pie, Keeley TS, etc. Any particularly reason the VT would be a better choice in this context?
 
#1,133
I just got mine today and everything is clipping and I'm not able to get a clean tone. I'm using my GK backline 10" as my other rig is in our rehearsal space. It sounds tinny.

What am I doing wrong? I've tried dropping the gain and master on the amp and have been using the factory settings.
argh!
 
#1,135
BTW....

I do know a fellow who can convert the Tech 21 Character series pedals, including (presumably) the VT bass into a rack mount enclosure.

Here's the Liverpool pedal racked up:

LiverpoolRack2.gif


LiverpoolRack3.gif


LiverpoolRack.gif


Link Removed

EDIT: Lest you wonder, I am NOT the guy, so please, don't flame me for spamming.
 
#1,136
noahw1 said:
I just got mine today and everything is clipping and I'm not able to get a clean tone. I'm using my GK backline 10" as my other rig is in our rehearsal space. It sounds tinny.

What am I doing wrong? I've tried dropping the gain and master on the amp and have been using the factory settings.
argh!
Click to expand...
The factory settings are a little meh. They're OK, but not what I consider the tones. Take down the drive knob and it'll clean right up.
 
#1,139
JimmyM said:
The factory settings are a little meh. They're OK, but not what I consider the tones. Take down the drive knob and it'll clean right up.
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Thanks. That helped. The drive is very sensitive as are all the knobs which I had read about here.

So many sounds to choose from but playing through my practice amp it's hard to get a good read. I do hear that warmness though.

Do most people keep everything on their amps flat when using the VT?
I play a Hamer Cruise Bass with passive Js and my rig is an SWR SM-400 (early 90s), with two SWR Goliath Jr cabs.
 
#1,140
noahw1 said:
Thanks. That helped. The drive is very sensitive as are all the knobs which I had read about here.

So many sounds to choose from but playing through my practice amp it's hard to get a good read. I do hear that warmness though.

Do most people keep everything on their amps flat when using the VT?
I play a Hamer Cruise Bass with passive Js and my rig is an SWR SM-400 (early 90s), with two SWR Goliath Jr cabs.
Click to expand...

When I first got the VT Bass, I spent a lot of time with it in some headphones in a quiet environment to really hear what was happening, so I knew how it was affecting the tone on its own. I think of it as a preamp first and foremost, so I shape the tone there, and then EQ the amp accordingly. Sometimes that means the amp is flat, sometimes it needs massaging for the room. Even before the VT Bass I kept the amp flat for the most part though unless there was a big demon to reckon with in the room.
 
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