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Tech21 Sansamp VT-bass reviewed

#66
This is all very interesting. I really don't like the sansamp bass drivers, but these are the sort of stuff I could use.

Has anyone compared this to the EBS microbass II? I know the EBS isn't really aiming for the ampeg crowd, but I'd be interested if anyone has any opinions.
 
#70
I literally just ordered one (x-mas gift from my love with my own credit card :smug:) and I'm stoked based on the reviews.
I really love my BDDI and find it hard to believe there is a better sounding, tube-emulating, analog stomp-box. My idead is to utilize both. Running both into my SWR750's effects return, using the BDDI for lows and highs and using the VT for mids and OD. Will this work, or will the BDDI automatically cut the VT's mids when I do this?
 
#71
Wild Trkey- this WILL work I use a VTBASS & a Prog. BDDI but U RERALLY gotta watch the gain/level on 'em. I s'pose as they're BOTH basically pre-amps U gotta back off the level on one or the other. I SOMETIMES use them both at the same time but USUALLY use the VT & switch IT off then use the PBDDI . But when I DO use 'em both at same time, I make sure the VT's level is almost OFF - still get the character FX & EQ etc from it, but YOWEEE LOTSA level there-so be careful.
 
#72
kful said:
Okay, so while I was typing the above, I thought I would try my Strat through the VT and studio monitors. After just a couple of minutes I decided I'm going to sell my Damage Control Womanizer (a guitar pre-amp and distortion unit with two 12ax7 tubes). The VT is giving me the guitard sounds I've been trying unsuccessfully to get with the Womanizer.
Click to expand...

I had a little mess around with the VT Bass and my SG, plugged into my PC a while back. Got a very nice sound out of it (from what I recall), but I was drunk and went to bed after a while and didn't bother to really have a goods go with it until earlier this morning.

This time 'round, I ran it into the power amp of my Ashdown ABM, hooked up to an ABM 210 cab and I'm loving it. As with bass, I don't like it with the drive past 12 o'clock, but with the treble and mid flat (12 o'clock), bass rolled off a bit to about 10 o'clock (and it's still pretty bassy) and character at 9 o'clock I'm really liking it. For clean or mild overdrive, it beats anything I've managed to coax out of my GT2. Just been A/Bing the 2 and I'm struggling to find a reason to keep the GT if I decide to splash out on a British, as I've been considering of late.

So anyway, then I decided to throw my Boss SD-1 infront of it and I fell in love :) Haven't got any distortion or fuzz (other than the GT2) right now, that I can throw infront of it, but I'll definitely be shopping for something in the new year. Probably a muff of some kind, can't wait :bassist:
 
#74
yeniharman said:
when i want to plug to mixer without an amp. what should i use?

(guitar-->efect pedals---->preamp pedal----->di box----->mixer)
will be this set up enough, or should i use a power amp.?
Click to expand...
you could actually skip the di. the impedance is low enough on the output of the vt that they say you can run long lengths of cable and plug in thru the 1/4". of course that won't work with most snakes, but i guess you could buy a 1/4"/xlr transformer. for live work i'd use a di anyway, but for studio i just plug into the board.

however, tonight I'll be winding out my 2nd character pedal, the British. Already gave it a go thru my B-15 on both guitar and bass, and it's now my favorite guitar pedal ever. anything marshall that you want is there. won't know how it works for bass till i either record with it or play with the band, but i found entwistle with a precision tone instantly and copped a good chris squire sound, though his tone seems to need a blend more than entwistle. but who knows? I only spent an hour with it so far.
 
#77
Kipaste said:
This is all very interesting. I really don't like the sansamp bass drivers, but these are the sort of stuff I could use.

Has anyone compared this to the EBS microbass II? I know the EBS isn't really aiming for the ampeg crowd, but I'd be interested if anyone has any opinions.
Click to expand...
sorry...missed this before...

ya, totally apples and oranges. the ebs is more full-range and transparent, plus its drive circuit is a full-on distortion like a rat pedal than a gentle-to-medium overdrive like the vt. i have and use both regularly, but for completely different things.
 
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#79
muddy? MUDDY???? NIAGARA FALLS???!!!

slowly i turn...

:scowl:

you can get sterile grit anywhere. the one pedal that proudly doesn't do sterile grit and that's what you want out of it...go figure.
 
#80
Flongoid said:
I'm considering buying one but the thing is in all the audio samples i've heard it sounds very very muddy. Can it do sterile 'grit' tones?
Click to expand...

The VT can sound muddy.., just like a bass rig can sound muddy: via poor use of its EQ and gain settings.

Set the VT's EQ flat (HIGH @~10:30, LOW, MID & CHARACTER @12:00), set the DRIVE @minimum (turning the DRIVE control up increases the amount of tube-like compression), and the LEVEL control @unity gain (bass' perceived volume is the same whether the VT' is on or off) and one's bass tone will be pounding, punchy, crisp & clear--no mud.

Re grit tones? When set for overdrive (CHARACTER & DRIVE @3:00 or more, LEVEL @unity gain, other EQ to taste) the VT' can make a bass guitar roar & rasp like a cross between the guttural trumpeting of an enraged elephant and a chainsaw ripping through plywood, but it won't sound 'sterile'.

For that one will have to use a pedal which doesn't have a pair. :D
 

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