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Tech21 VT DI or Tone Hammer V2??

#2
VT Bass/VT DI is going to have some version of the Ampeg SVT or FlipTop sound baked in, especially if there is a cab sim feature in use. I had the original VT Bass from 2009/2010, and tried another with the cab sim defeat. I advise having the option to defeat it for sure. I LOVED it when I really wanted THAT SOUND.... but it didn't work for everything.

I also had a Tone Hammer as well, and it's a much more 'natural' preamp/DI, but it has a definite 'punch' it imparts on the character for sure... but it's much cleaner than the VT Bass, with no speaker sim. For me, unless you specifically need/want the Ampeg flavor specifically, I'd go with the Tone Hammer. It also has sweepable mids which are always nice. It's a more 'versatile' preamp/DI for all basses and situations, IMO.
 
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#3
AObando2002 said:
Which do you think is more versatile and a better bang for your buck?
Click to expand...

I don't think either of them is "versatile", as they each pretty much do one thing. But, between the two of them, I'd either buy the Aguilar or the BDDI. I don't like the tone of the VTDI. It's just personal preference. Every demo I've ever heard of the Aguilar Tone Hammer has made me think, "yeah, I'd use that, if I didn't already have other units that are just as good", and every demo I've ever heard of the VTDI has made me dislike it, while I very much like the BDDIv2.
 
#4
I have and love the THDI, which replaced my also-loved BDDI. Both of those are fantastic. I had the briefest of dalliances with the VTDI and felt it lacked the naturalness of the Aguilar and the attitude of the "original" SansAmp. There are a lot of guys who swear by the VT, though, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

To me,
Tone Hammer: your bass, but warmer, fatter, and a little gritty. Might be a little lean down low.
BDDI: scooped, angry, rock-in-a-box tone. Big down low and sharp up high.
VT Bass: softer, flabbier BDDI, as if it were trying to emulate the THDI without losing the lows but not quite getting it.

Edit: my tone hammer is the V1 without the separate drive control, but the circuit is very similar to the V2. If anything, the V2 is more flexible
 
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#5
If you’re looking for something that keeps it simple and does a little of everything this guy is pretty nice.
Completely solid state.
IMG_0245.jpeg

It does everything I need it to do.
Fits in gig bag easily.
 
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#8
It may or may not be a factor for you, but the BDDI and VT have phantom power capabilities that the Tone Hammer doesn't have...at least not V1. And the TH's run at 18V. I could never get on with my VTDI so I sold it but still love my Tone Hammer after many years!
 
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#11
Tone Hammer sounds miles better, not even a competition.

This is of course exclusively just an opinion based on personal taste, but that is really what this is down to, personal preferences and taste.

They don't sound the same, so it's an apples versus bananas kind of discussion, you pick which is which.

Just don't expect the build in drive of the Tone Hammer being usable for anything else than adding grit/drive to your basic "clean" tone, despite, for unknown reasons, having a dedicated footswitch.
 
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