Tech21 VT-Bass - where's the magic ?

[77PBass]

Anyone ever try this pedal through a Bergantino IP series cab?

I have used it with an Orange BT and an AE 112 with great results. The VT bass gives me Ampeg tone in this small package.

An interesting thing I noticed is the VT Bass sounds best with passive pickups. I am still experimenting with my Dolphin Pro I and the VT Bass.

 

[greenboy]

After all this time it's pretty much what I thought it was at the start: a fairly flexible overdrive with fixed-point 3-band EQ.

To me the magic is in TrueRTA ; }

 

[77PBass]

In the end the truth is in the sound....and the sound is musical to my ears.

 

[BigBeatNut]

lets now have a look at the Character control... how does it add / shape character.

{SNIP}

Cool, the Character control does not only shape Mids, but adds Harmonics...

Bit of magic here...

But, but, but .... those harmonics are 60 dB down on the fundamental ... would they actually be audible ?

But what about the Drive control ?

{SNIP}

Cool, look at the varying emphasis of even and odd harmonics....

So cranking up the drive varies odd and even harmonics ... how does the character control interact with that ? Because it looks to me like the harmonic content introduced by the character control is inaudible at zero drive, so I'm wondering what impact it has when drive is set to higher levels.

A set of plots for drive at 11 (predominantly odd harmonics) with varying character (which seems to introduce even harmonics) would be very illuminating.

Andy

 

[12bass]

By adjusting the character and drive, the harmonics generated add varying degrees of audible distortion, from subtle to all-out fuzzy. The character control seems to adjust a scoop/boost in the midrange, plus the harmonic balance when overdriven.

 

[77PBass]

After all this time it's pretty much what I thought it was at the start: a fairly flexible overdrive with fixed-point 3-band EQ.

It is the same as taking away the ultra low and ultra high switch. The character knob replaces the three position mid switch. The drive knob is the volume knob.

 

[greenboy]

It's too bad they don't have a 3-choice selectable midrange center - that would open up the flexibility.

 

[GLEN18INCHSPICA]

It's too bad they don't have a 3-choice selectable midrange center - that would open up the flexibility.

Or a parametric midrange like the para driver coupled with a class D poweramp, that would be the bees knees.

 

[greenboy]

I was kinda sticking to the Ampeg model just not to offend anybody ; } - but yeah, when it comes to overdrive tone collecting, more EQ is bettah.

 

[Duke21]

Have anybody done the same tests for the oxford, leeds and the other pedals?

 

[JimmyM]

After all this time it's pretty much what I thought it was at the start: a fairly flexible overdrive with fixed-point 3-band EQ.

To me the magic is in TrueRTA ; }

true rta is cool, no doubt. but whatever the vt is, it's still the pedal of the future.

 

[brothernewt]

but whatever the vt is, it's still the pedal of the future.

Since we all already have one, shouldn't you start calling it the pedal of the present? Just thinking out loud here....

 

[IntrepidCellist]

Since we all already have one, shouldn't you start calling it the pedal of the present? Just thinking out loud here....

Or really the pedal of the past, since it gets us sounds that have been available since 1969 or so!

 

[JimmyM]

um...no.

 

[rpsands]

The VT Deluxe is definitely the pedal of the future. Six channels, all of which can sound completely different and have the FX loop on or off. Pretty sweet.

It's by far the coolest pedal I've ever owned. Definitely changed my attitude toward tailoring my tone to a song.

 

[Eublet]

Summoning this thread from the deep a bit. I've looked all 3 of the threads where folks have scoped the VT. What I don't understand is the Tech21 listing of the mid control as being at 500hz, but the graphs seem to indicate the tuning is much higher. Anyone care to explain what I'm missing? It's obvious the curve they've implemented is highly "customized" to impart a certain voicing, and they do use the word "customized" to describe it in their product literature. Still, I don't see anything closely resmbling a 500hz center on these graphs.

Whatever it is, it sounds great. Just curious.

 

[12bass]

Yeah... don't think 500 Hz is accurate. Not sure what the actual frequencies/slopes are....

 

[OldogNewTrick]

Yeah... don't think 500 Hz is accurate. Not sure what the actual frequencies/slopes are....

It's 1kHz center - see post #1 in this thread. There you will also see that the mid range and the character shape cover the same frequency range.
You will also see that the Q varies depending by degree of attenuation/amplification.


Glad to see someone still looking at this old thread.

 

[klokker]

I have a VT deluxe and have tried to run it through a shuttle 6.0 into a Neox212. I just can't make it work with my band. Too "bottom heavy" and thick, out of balance with our keys and guitar player who have a real clear, clean, sharp sound.

I'm not saying its a bad pedal, I've just never been able to make it work.

 

[JimmyM]

It's not an easy pedal to get the hang of. It requires a lot of knob turning. It also helps to try and find the knob positions that best match your bypassed tone, and work from there. I think settings for near-flat response have been posted in this thread. Made it a lot easier for me to get a sound with it.