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Tiny VT Alternative?

behndy

behndy

Inactive
Nov 1, 2008
8,860
117
California
#1
hey y'all.

so, loved the VT for awhile. totally into the SansAmp stuff, and thought the VT Deluxe would be super delicious. it is, but it's more than i need in some ways and takes up way too much space. i've found that i don't love the overdriven tones, just the main base (see what i did there?) tone, and i don't use but one of the save spots, since i prefer to use the same bass all the time.

what are some recommendations for a replacement preamp with a nice overdrive section or a preamp + overdrive pedal that are both small? even with two pedals there's a chance it'll take up less real estate than the VT Deluxe.

i DO need a preamp with a DI though. i go DI to FOH a fair bit.

thanks!
 
#3
EBS Makes a pedal called the MicroBassII

Eden just released their preamp/DI that has a compressor on it...

...There are LOTS of options out there.

IMHO, compression is more crucial than drive going FOH because your speakers act as a compressor while a hot signal is often unprocessed and sounds harsh/brittle compared to tone from your speakers.
 
#4
hur. what you say is interesting. in fact, YOU'RE very interesting. i already gave away my VT normal to a friend. and i kinda don't dig the OD tones that the VT/SansAmp stuff gives. but do like the clean tone.

kinda looking for something SansAmp'edy, but tiny. then a good, nice, tiny OD to complement it. going to check out an Xotic BB Bass Pre tomorrow for the OD.
 
#8
wassuppers mike!

yeah, the thing is i'm trying to downsize to get a pedal or two more room on my board. so i would love to find either a preamp that i like that has DI and a nice OD pedal to complement it, or a preamp DI that has a good OD in it.

i. want. EVERYThING.
 
#10
lol. that's funny Mingus'e. i was just reading up as much as i could find on the M-80 and it seems to get very good reviews for the DI, the distortion seems pretty useable, and it is the right size.

gonna check one out tomorrow i think.

anybody here use one? in OD kinda trying to get the sorta grindy, not full on distorted.
 
#11
behndy said:
anybody here use one? in OD kinda trying to get the sorta grindy, not full on distorted.
Click to expand...

haha. Yeah I use one and it is overall just ok. The eq is pretty decent. The DI is fine. The distortion is grindy and trebly but has a gate and blend. Most people agree it ain't worth much, but you might be able to add a small amount of bite. I use the dist channel as a second volume preset.

I can bring it over tomorrow, let me know. i'd love to try out the oxide once more too. Bay area pedal geeks FTW!
 
#14
i had a SFT for a hinute. didn't like it that much. i think that i'm not really into the "Ampeg Tone" i guess. i've not used Ampeg's that much though, so i'm just going off the Ampeg sim pedals. LIS, i do dig the clean tone i get with the VTD, just not into the dirty side.

i'm gonna take a look at the BB when i make it out to Starving Musician's. hear the good things about that'un. do you just run it for angry full-on dirt or can you get a more subtle grindiness out of it? thanks!
 
#15
behndy said:
hur. what you say is interesting. in fact, YOU'RE very interesting. i already gave away my VT normal to a friend. and i kinda don't dig the OD tones that the VT/SansAmp stuff gives. but do like the clean tone.

kinda looking for something SansAmp'edy, but tiny. then a good, nice, tiny OD to complement it. going to check out an Xotic BB Bass Pre tomorrow for the OD.
Click to expand...

Tone hammer? Or a dedicated passive Di box like a Radial JDI + a Xotic BB Bass Pre?

btw, did I spot a sample that was used in the first Mr Bungle album? :D
 
#16
meeeeeeeeeeebeeeeee. i DO love me some Bungle. saw Patton drink his own pee out of somebody else's shoe at a show of theirs. they threw it up on stage, the band stopped mid-song, did a nice impromptu build up/break down as Patton filled the show and lifted it by stages, then emptied it in his mouth. disgusting and impressive all at the same time. which.... is not a bad description of Bungle come to think of it.

there's a gent selling a Radial Bassbone (always wanted one of thems) in the classified's that pimp-daddy CltrVltr pointed me at that i just contacted. that is an AWESOME DI/EQ, so with that i'd just need to look for some appropriate dirt.

i've heard... not good things about the Tone Hammer OD section. you like it?
 
#18
Tone hammer overdrive is just fine IMO soundwise....

problem with it is this :D:

(clean) dum dum dum dum dum dum (foot on overdrive button) DUUUUM DUUUM DUUUUM

A volume peak that would put the Mount Everest to shame :p

And yeah, long live mr B.
Their first album just sucked me into this whole experimental thingy..
 
#19
yeah, the volume jump thing would make in unusable for me. i DO lurv Aggy gear tho.

every Bungley album has been pure fire win. have you heard Secret Chiefs 3? kinda instrumental Bungle from a bunch of them. good stuff.
 

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