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Tiny VT Alternative?

#21
I think someone mentioned SFX, and I'd second that as a possible option-Max made me a custom pre (eq+boost/overdrive) and offered to add a DI, which I declined because I didn't need it, but the pre is TINY. I think it may be about as long and slightly slimmer than a regular MXR enclosure. Oh, and it's awesome. He does great work. :)
 
#24
Yes, the BB can be run without any real OD sound out of it. That's how I use it, really. It adds just a touch of grit and bite (and compression) and gives me a little extra EQ in fron of my amp. It also adds a little something to my Aguilar Agro when I kick that in for RAGING distortion. The Agro will also do what you want, but is a little bigger, and no DI there either... The Xotic Tri Logic Pre might do something for you, too.

Never really 'used' one (tried at a store with other gear I didn't like), but will the Hartke Attack do anything for you? It's a little bigg-ish, but seems to get a good amount of love around here.


-JV
 
#25
SteveC said:
I have been tempted by the Xotic stuff. I don't really care for "Ampeg" tones myself, and have tried the SansAmp BDDI but just am not convinced. I'd like to try the Xotic.
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I DO dig Ampeg tones, but the BDDI doesn't really cop them - not nearly as well as the VT anyway. I always had to turn the treble way down to alleviate some of the "clank" and dip the lows a bit to bring the mids back and keep it from being too "muffled". I definitely got some mileage out of my BDDI but it's a whole different animal than the VT IMO.

As for the BB Preamp, it's nice. Probably my favorite TS variant for bass with the Hematoma a close second. The Fulltone might actually sound the best to me but it cuts lows and adding a blender to an already huge pedal doesn't make any sense so it's not in the running for me.

The Xotic keeps all the lows, is tiny and sounds good. I like a flatter response (the BB does have the bump in the mids that you expect from Tubescreamer circuits) but does both low and high gain very nicely IMO.
 
#27
lotsa food for thought. good stuff all. the TB'r sellig his BassBone said it's only 7 inches long, so i might go with that and a BB for dirt.

i run to a poweramp so i do kinda need a preamp/di combo SOMEWHERE in the chain.

thanks all!
 
#30
Chrisk-K said:
I have both the VT Bass and MXR M80. The VT gives me much better tone shaping capabilities and OD than does the M80.

BTW, I'm very interested in the new Eden preamp. The price is only $139.
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the World Traveller right? i'd love to find a store near me that stocked it to try it out. i've never used much Eden gear so i don't know what to expect out of it.

and yes, i'm with the others Jared. you're not a nice man. "i know this isn't really what you're talking about, but it's SO delicious! screw your well-laid plans! THIS is what you want!"

bully.
 
#31
Wud said:
Your a very naughty boy Jared!
Why do you keep showing us these tasty pedal beauties?
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Because I can. :bassist:

behndy said:
the TB'r sellig his BassBone said it's only 7 inches long
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*snicker*

Only on TB.

In all seriousness, would that route save you any space? Like you, I didn't like the VTBass for dirt so between the two options I'd probably go Bassbone/BB over the VT Deluxe but I really think you should look at the Microtubes B7K.

Invalid Link Removed

behndy said:
and yes, i'm with the others Jared. you're not a nice man. "i know this isn't really what you're talking about, but it's SO delicious! screw your well-laid plans! THIS is what you want!"

bully.
Click to expand...

But that's the thing. I really DO think it's what you want.

Trade some PMs or emails with Douglas Castro. I really, really dig the B3K for dirt. And the B7K gives you all of that functionality plus a four band active preamp (I might quibble with their EQ points - I like the bass and low mids to have lower frequency centers) which can be used without any overdrive just by setting the blend all the way dry. Plus it has a DI with Ground Lift/Phantom.

And while the demos and clips of the Darkglass has focused on heavier dirt it really does sound fantastic for subtle grind too. The ad copy even states that it's great for using as a preamp to push a power amp.

Yes, it's expensive but not much more than the dual pedal solutions (Tone Hammer or BassBone plus Xotic) would be and it would be much smaller than going that route.

I really think it could tick all the boxes for you.
 
#34
Mingus Addict said:
The only issue I see with the Microtubes is that it doesn't appear to be foot switchable between a clean and a dirty tone. In behndy's case I think he needs the pedal on all the time to drive his power amp so he would need switch #2 to go between two sounds.
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Good point and one I hadn't thought of. Considering that Douglas built that entire rack setup for another TBer incorporating all the Darkglass pedals I wonder if he'd do an on/off dirt stomp for behndy. Expression control of the blend knob would actually be really cool but adding an expression pedal would mean even more pedalboard real estate than his current setup.

Swift713 said:
If you like the clean tones from the VT Bass then why not get one with the DI mod and a separate dirt box?
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I always had very good results running other dirt (especially the XXLB) into the BDDI. I didn't do as much of it with the VT Bass but from a very small sample size I wasn't nearly as happy with the result.
 
#35
Jared Lash said:
*snicker*

Only on TB.
Click to expand...

THANK you for catching that. "if you're gonna keep lobbing me softballs, you KNOW i'm gonna hit it out of the park!"

Jared Lash said:
In all seriousness, would that route save you any space?
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not very much space, but a RADIAL BASS CENTRIC DI with an MXR sized box would be a LITTLE bit smaller, more Tetris shuffling-able, and get me the slightly distorted tone i'm looking for. i hope.

Jared Lash said:
But that's the thing. I really DO think it's what you want.
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his stuff DOES sound pretty hot fire. i'll get at him and maybe go to that in a bit. i did just commit to the BASS CENTRIC DI FROM RADIAL, and i think even if i end up going with something from DarkGlass it'll be good to have this in the stable. you sir, are PERSUASIVE.

Swift713 said:
If you like the clean tones from the VT Bass then why not get one with the DI mod and a separate dirt box?
Click to expand...
i DO like the clean VT tone i get now, but it's not the BEST THING EVAH. i had a OG VT, gave it to a friend, and would rather try some other stuff out than get another one and wait for it to be modded.

the hypothetical VT 2 pedal is interesting though.

thanks!
 

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