I here ya, man. I love the REDDI and it would be great to have one, but that is a hassle also. It's not always easy for me to get AC power for a DI, so that's not something I'm wanting to do either. You're right though in that there is no substitute for the real thing when you want that real tone. The VT is close enough for me if I could just control the treble the way I want to.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Tech21 VT-Bass - where's the magic ?
- Thread starter OldogNewTrick
- Start date
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
yes there are, but that's just the first one i found that did it. but IMO, with the speaker sim on, there really is no flat. and whether you like to 'hear' freqs at 5KHZ or above, the sim does mess with the overtonal balance for me. for a DI that's fine, but i'd prefer to let my cab roll it off for my amp/stage rig.
The speaker sim defeat which I added does act as described above - a lot more treble and a large volume increase. Basically, I used a schematic to bypass the sim part of the circuit. Modded this way, the treble, which is already hard to control, sounds pretty raw. However, from what I've heard, the V2 is different. The tone changes, but the volume remains fairly even. Although I'm not certain, I don't think that they simply bypass... perhaps switch to a different EQ which preserves the relative level?
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
yeah, it looks like i'll have to buy a new one to see if i like it better. if i do, i guess i can always sell my old one.
The Tech 21 guy came on here once and explained the difference between the Tech 21 vs the Putnam speaker sim mod. Definitely not a raw speaker sim removal.
Personally, as much grindy treble as the VT puts out, I'd be hard-pressed to not use the speaker sim.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
Rolling highs of naturally in the cab or through a speaker sim seems to be the same thing to me. What I don't like about the treble control is that you have to cut it so far back to tame that 3.5k peak that it also attenuates the already attenuated highs even further. That is NOT how an SVT/Fridge works at all IME. You can get clear, clean highs on an SVT without that harsh bite.
Yep... the treble EQ on the VT is wonky. Mine is usually set close to all the way off.... and I like a fairly bright/clear tone. FWIW, I changed the capacitor which sets the the treble control's acting frequency to raise it up to ~ 3.9 kHz, which tamed it a little.
I do not own a VT pedal, but my Oxford pedal have speaker sim defeat as well. Same thing good there, more treble with speaker sim on. I can only compare it to my BDDI, which is totally different. I'll love to have a VT bass pedal, bot my dream VT bass should have presence control! 
I have a strange report. I've owned two VT's and one VTD. I know these pedals well. I traded my VTD for a BDDI deluxe a few weeks ago thinking I wanted to go back in that direction. I was sorely wrong because I just couldn't get the sound out of it I wanted. So I ordered a brand new VTD, and the treble on this one is NOT out of control as on older models. I have always cut trouble to at least 10:30 or less on these pedals. On this one I'm actually running treble around 12 or 1, and it's not harsh at all. It sounds perfect.
Could Tech21 have changed something and not announced it? Or did my ears just shift in trying to work with the BDDI deluxe those few weeks? Whatever it is, I'm very happy right now!
Could Tech21 have changed something and not announced it? Or did my ears just shift in trying to work with the BDDI deluxe those few weeks? Whatever it is, I'm very happy right now!
Dude, that treble is pretty noticeable. If you notice the difference, I'd bet money they backed it down after hearing complaints about it on here.
Sorry not sorry for resurrecting this gold mine of a thread, but a couple of years have passed and I have a VT Deluxe on its way which will be replacing my bddi deluxe. What's the deal on this pedal? Has it changed at all since the last posted comment? Which funny enough raised the possibility of it having been changed by Tech21. Cliffhanger.
Cliffhanger indeed...
I'm pretty sure, that the V2 cannot be made as flat (with the speakersim engaged) as shown in the graph on the last page. The bump at 4.5kHz is way too strong.
With the sim off however, there's still a high roll off. Not really noticeable when playing bass alone, but with the highs of the SubT it's pretty obvious.
Ok, some story continues Invalid Link Removed. It's in German, but the graphs are clear I think.
The different versions obviously are quite different. The v1 has the speaker sim, but no peak. The v2 then gets the peak at 4,5kHz, but the VT DI has the peak and the sim somehow separated in two switches, speaker sim and bite.
The VT DI has a rolloff of highs when blend set to minimum compared to the bypass signal. The sim then is a very steep dropoff 4,5kHzish. The v2 also has the rolloff when the sim is disengaged.
I think the pedal gets better and better. Very nice to see.
I fall in love with my v2 more and more.
I'm pretty sure, that the V2 cannot be made as flat (with the speakersim engaged) as shown in the graph on the last page. The bump at 4.5kHz is way too strong.
With the sim off however, there's still a high roll off. Not really noticeable when playing bass alone, but with the highs of the SubT it's pretty obvious.
Ok, some story continues Invalid Link Removed. It's in German, but the graphs are clear I think.
The different versions obviously are quite different. The v1 has the speaker sim, but no peak. The v2 then gets the peak at 4,5kHz, but the VT DI has the peak and the sim somehow separated in two switches, speaker sim and bite.
The VT DI has a rolloff of highs when blend set to minimum compared to the bypass signal. The sim then is a very steep dropoff 4,5kHzish. The v2 also has the rolloff when the sim is disengaged.
I think the pedal gets better and better. Very nice to see.
I fall in love with my v2 more and more.
Last edited:
Ever since I got my MB Fusion 800 head, I just coudnt have VT Bass V1 as my always on pedal... it sucked the punchiness right out, no matter how hard I tried to EQ.
Maybe V2 worth a try? ... Settled down with Bk3 for light grit, no coloring to the head tone what so ever. : )
Maybe V2 worth a try? ... Settled down with Bk3 for light grit, no coloring to the head tone what so ever. : )
Yeah the gk mb heads and VT are not a good match. I tried. One thing that does work is to set the amp flat (not 12 oclock on the mb amps).
Treble = 10:00
Hi Mid = 2:00
Lo Mid = 1:00
Bass = 10:00
Contour = Off
The VT likes a flat sounding amp. Works very well with the markbass stuff.
Treble = 10:00
Hi Mid = 2:00
Lo Mid = 1:00
Bass = 10:00
Contour = Off
The VT likes a flat sounding amp. Works very well with the markbass stuff.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Amazing. Those were exactly my settings tonight—running a piezo (gage) equipped upright->pre-amp (paraDI) into a GK mb800 powering a fEARful 15/6/1. Really!!!
Sounded just like my upright, but louder. Had the tweeter maxed, too.
Didn't try the VT pedal.
Is it fair to say the VTDI has lots low-mids built into its signature sound? I am looking for a new DI box / pedal sized pre, I am thinking of giving this another whirl.
