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VT Bass Version 2 Impression

Chrisk-K

Chrisk-K

Jan 20, 2010
6,012
7,258
Scottsdale, AZ
#1
I received a VT Bass v2 today. I used to own a v1 but wasn't too impressed by it due to its inherent brightness. I ended up with selling it.

Well, I love the v2. With the speaker sim defeated, it works as a perfect tone-shaping tool for me. Now I can actually use the treble knob. It gives me fat, round, warm tones. Should I ever need a clanky tone, I could simply disengage the sim defeat button. IMO, the v2 is worth extra $20.
 
#2
Never been clear on the impact of the speaker simulation defeat. I thought that the idea was that new VT would sound the same as the original with the simulation engaged, and brighter with the simulator disengaged. If so, it shouldn't be any less trebly than the old version.

Frankly, I'm not sure why Tech 21 doesn't just adjust the EQ circuit parameters so that the tone controls are more usable. As is, I seldom go over 9:00 on the treble control, and find that the controls are overly touchy. What would be better is if the tone controls had less drastic range, but allowed for more subtle adjustment around the "sweet spot".
 
#5
I really like my VT Bass (original). I'm very interested to hear they made some changes.

What exactly are the differences between the two?

So far I have read that:

1. the v2 is less bright
2. you can turn off the simulation.

Anything else?


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#8
From our manual:

If desired, however, you can defeat the speaker simulation by disengaging the speaker switch (up
position). This will provide a slight 6dB per octave high-rolloff. As many amplifiers have a pre-amp
section with highs emphasized, this compensation will provide a more natural pre-amp sound
when going into the front of such an amp. Conversely, when going directly into a power amp or
an amp without highs emphasized, you may need to increase the High control on the pedal to
compensate for the lack thereof.

The tone controls on our Character Series pedals are post SansAmp circuitry. The sound of the pedal itself is really the Character and Drive controls. Everything else is after. The tone controls at noon are flat. The treble control is not adding anything. The treble control like the other controls allows you to boost or cut. The mids are fixed at 500 Hz.

The reason people sometimes "think" the pedal is bright is that they assume that their amp is flat. Most amps are anything but flat. There is no way for us or any other manufacturer to anticipate how a given player will set their amp's tone controls. Some pedals utilize a simple passive filter and we use active EQ as it gives you a wider range of control.

If the sound "works" with the treble control at 9 o'clock then there really is no problem.

The reason for the lack of DI on the VT Bass was it was designed to be a simple plug in and go stompbox. If you want a pedal with DI capabilities you could try our Bass Driver, Paradriver DI's or VT Bass Deluxe.

The other option is just buy an inexpensive DI (Buy Nady DB-1 Direct Box | Direct Boxes | Musician's Friend) and that why you have a DI to use for other sources as well. Plus if you want to add other effects "after" the VT Bass you have that flexibility.

Or just get the Putnam mod. Lots of options.
 
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#12
"The reason people sometimes "think" the pedal is bright is that they assume that their amp is flat."

I have a VT Deluxe and, while there are a lot of things I like about it, I find it bright and clanky through the DI into any PA or studio playback speaker system I've played it through, even with the treble control all the way down. I use an eq in the effects loop to try to tame the clankiness down, but that is only a partial solution. Will you be adding the speaker sim defeat on the Deluxe?
 
#13
There are no plans to add the speaker sim defeat switch to the VT Bass Deluxe. Though the speaker sim defeat will make the pedal seem less bright into the front of a bright amp, that switch will really not be a benefit for going direct.

What type of bass are you using the pedal with? Active, passive?
 
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#14
tech21nyc said:
There are no plans to add the speaker sim defeat switch to the VT Bass Deluxe. Though the speaker sim defeat will make the pedal seem less bright into the front of a bright amp, that switch will really not be a benefit for going direct.

What type of bass are you using the pedal with? Active, passive?
Click to expand...

Having experienced the clank, I'll answer:
Ric 4003>>VTD>>>to front of DB750, Gain around 10 o'clock Treble and Bass boost off, three tone knobs all @ noon>>>NV610. I really dug the tone I was getting with the same setup and the PBDDI. Thought the VTD might even be better. Unless those highs can be dialed back/out, I'm going back to the PBDDI.
 
#16
SirGrotius said:
Anyone have experience with either of these VT pedals with an active bass? I had assumed that it'd be overkill, but now that I think about it maybe it'd be awesome!!
Click to expand...

I have used my EMG equipped Fender Prodigy with my VT Bass pedal version 1. The bass sounds great and sounded even better through the pedal. I'm pretty much using the pedal as a preamp, so it's always on and everything goes through it.
 
#17
Here's something that I'd like to see clarified:

With the speaker simulation engaged, is the VT Bass 2 any different than the original (as in, does it sound exactly the same with the knobs in the same position)? Or has the baseline treble EQ been changed? The speaker sim should be rolling off highs similarly to a speaker, causing the sound to become somewhat darker, with the harsh edges rounded off. What happens when the speaker sim is disabled? Does it get brighter or darker with the sim disabled? Removing the speaker simulation should make the sound somewhat brighter, as it would allow more of the highs to come through.

From what's been written, it appears that Tech21 may have lowered the VT's nominal treble output level somewhat. If so, that would be fine for most users, as most of us have been seriously dialing a the highs back anyway, as the original was overly bright.
 
#18
Nice! Great that they've made good product even better.

I've never had a problem with the clankiness of my v1, but I'm using it as a stomp-box ahead of my rig (and my rig's direct out). I typically use passive basses with the tone rolled off some, and I've always been able to tweak the knobs to get what I like to hear. I can't honestly say where the knobs are set by memory because I just tweak until it sounds right at soundcheck and then leave it alone.

Still, I can appreciate having the ability to turn off the speaker sim. I might get the mod done anyway, just to have that flexibility.
 
#20
SirGrotius said:
Anyone have experience with either of these VT pedals with an active bass? I had assumed that it'd be overkill, but now that I think about it maybe it'd be awesome!!
Click to expand...

Works great with my SR5. Actually tames it down a bit with the right settings.

The only way I can see the VT Bass being "clanky" is user error. I use one on occasion with everything from an SR5 to fretted and fretless G&L L2500s to P and J basses with rounds and flats. Yes, you have to turn the knobs accordingly for each instrument, but I've never had an issue with it being too harsh or clanky as long as I actually paid attention to how I was dialing it in.
 
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