• 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.

VT Bass Mod (w/pics)

#202
i don't get why people wouldn't want a speaker sim for these pedals. what's the point of getting one of these pedals if you don't want it to do what it's supposed to do?

anyway, i have to think they'll all have a sim-defeat switch since tech 21 likes to use the same chassis for a lot of different products.
 
#203
kraigo said:
I'm approaching the "need" zone with these.
KO
Click to expand...

...need to mod my week old VT. Not have to, want to. Just a DI add on I think. But if I don't, I could totally live with it as is. Saturday nite ran it thru EBS Comp>older Sadowsky Outboard pre>Neopak inst input.

It was a pleasure playing my P5 thru it, was huge sounding. Had some hiss, cause of the EBS multicomp engaged. But it got lost in the music. I am not thru PA in this blues band, so only I could hear it. Guitarist loved the tubey-tone too. He kept looking over at my rig with a grin, nodding his head.

Schweet pedal. :hyper: Oh is the sim that prevalant? Can only tell without it, I guess.
 
#204
johnp352 said:
Question: I don't know exactly what the setup is, but would be possible to use any of the other character pedals inside a programmable tech 21 deluxe model? IOW, somehow take the circuit from a Blonde or Leeds and use that as the tone generator, while still using all the programmable bits/di/loop etc from the VT Deluxe. I prefer the Blonde and don't know if that is ever going to get the VT deluxe treatment. Also, how about being able to shut off the speaker sim, as they are now doing with the new stuff?
Click to expand...

Just a guess from working on these regarding the Tech21 character series pedals:

Deluxe presets: I highly doubt that Tech21 would use the same character series boards with mux switching, although it could be done, not likely a plug-n-play for other character series pedals.

Speaker sim: In an analog opamp circuit, speaker simulation is usually another name for EQ to roll off some highs typical of the response of a large speaker (and possibly some lows on a guitar effect). This is not a bad thing; as long as you get the sound you like you have achieved your goal. As far as a speaker sim bypass goes... a switch to "bypass" the speaker sim EQ can be added but will result in a frequency response of more or less a bright switch. Is it necessary? As a preset-able feature some may desire it, but you could turn up the highs just a touch for a similar response.
 
#205
PutnamGuitars said:
Just a guess from working on these regarding the Tech21 character series pedals:

Deluxe presets: I highly doubt that Tech21 would use the same character series boards with mux switching, although it could be done, not likely a plug-n-play for other character series pedals...
Click to expand...

That's what I was wondering..as I had read on t' intranetz somewhere that the boards WERE laid out the same, which made me think they would be more of a plug 'n' play deal. That would make more sense in this case, sort of like building cars on the same platform? I am a bit over my head in speculating at this point, as industrial design was a class I slept through ;(

The speaker sim cut is something that's useful, at least to me. I have been working both with hardware preamps and software sims for a long time, especially the software side when recording, and being able to cut a speaker sim, and then use a different cab in a chain is something I take for granted. So, in combining the two, hardware and sims..which is still the best option for me..it would be cool to get rid of the sim on a tech 21 pedal and substitute an IR cab at the back end. It's also the only way to practically get an old Magnatone, Silvertone or 15" Jensen cab, which I like for the mag pu on my bass. IR cabs are not just a matter of eq.
 
#212
kraigo said:
This does make me think that a two channel rack unit made of the SVT and British pedal (switchable between the two or "clean") would be pretty fun, either as a preamp or with a power section.

KO
Click to expand...
i'm starting to rethink the british pedal a little. just a little. i still like it, but there were a couple times where i turned it on this past weekend and the low low end seemed to disappear, especially with heavier distortion. so i'm thinking it may end up being more of a guitar pedal for me. still not too sure yet, though. i do like its edginess with just a hint of distortion and a treble boost.

this is where the idea of a speaker sim defeat starts to make sense to me where it didn't before.
 
#213
JimmyM said:
i'm starting to rethink the british pedal a little. just a little. i still like it, but there were a couple times where i turned it on this past weekend and the low low end seemed to disappear, especially with heavier distortion. so i'm thinking it may end up being more of a guitar pedal for me. still not too sure yet, though. i do like its edginess with just a hint of distortion and a treble boost.

this is where the idea of a speaker sim defeat starts to make sense to me where it didn't before.
Click to expand...

Hi JimmyM-
It sounds like there is a capacitor rolling off the lows. If you are really liking every other feature of the pedal, I can change the capacitor for you to make it more useable with a bass.
 
#214
PutnamGuitars said:
Hi JimmyM-
It sounds like there is a capacitor rolling off the lows. If you are really liking every other feature of the pedal, I can change the capacitor for you to make it more useable with a bass.
Click to expand...

Speaking of circuit modifications..... would you know if the VT Bass and other Character pedals share the same PCB, perhaps with some different components? If so, then there might be some possibilities to make a VT Bass into a Leeds or whatever....
 
#217
Might mod mine at some point... I've done a fair bit of surface mount work... perhaps replacing the TLC2264s with something better, and maybe playing with the EQ and volume levels. I like the tonality, but it is a bit harsh in the upper midrange and loses a bit of clarity, so I wouldn't mine to open up the sound.

Just replaced the main output op amp in my Echo Gina 24 with a pair of OPA211s on an SOIC adapter. The OPA2211A sounded good; however there's more clarity and separation with the singles. My Eden WT-500 uses OPA211s and OPA827s which are world's better than the original TL072s. Using better capacitors helps too....
 
#219
12bass said:
Might mod mine at some point... I've done a fair bit of surface mount work... perhaps replacing the TLC2264s with something better, and maybe playing with the EQ and volume levels. I like the tonality, but it is a bit harsh in the upper midrange and loses a bit of clarity, so I wouldn't mine to open up the sound.

Just replaced the main output op amp in my Echo Gina 24 with a pair of OPA211s on an SOIC adapter. The OPA2211A sounded good; however there's more clarity and separation with the singles. My Eden WT-500 uses OPA211s and OPA827s which are world's better than the original TL072s. Using better capacitors helps too....
Click to expand...

Yeah, maybe a little tweek in the mid and lowering the gain would clean it up nicely without even changing the opamps, although there are better chips available you are right, I'll take a look at some data sheets tomorrow.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back