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VT Bass Version 2 Impression

#41
Foamy said:
Is the output control still as "touchy"? I love my VT, but I'm too spooked to leave it on the floor should a cable (or stiff wind) brush the output level knob and send the output level sky-high. So it now comes out rarely when I play a set where I leave it on top of my amp.
Click to expand...

The deluxe has presets that you can save on the unit, but a "lock knobs" switch would be an excellent idea IMO. Only problem is, having a bunch of furious idiots who think their pedal is broken when they forget that the knobs are locked...better add an LED on the front to remind them its on ;)
 
#43
Foamy said:
Is the output control still as "touchy"? I love my VT, but I'm too spooked to leave it on the floor should a cable (or stiff wind) brush the output level knob and send the output level sky-high. So it now comes out rarely when I play a set where I leave it on top of my amp.
Click to expand...

The reason the level control can seen a bit touchy is that the pedal needs the ability to go from instrument level to line level. I play out on a regular basis with my Leeds pedal and never have issues with the level control. If you're really worried you can take off the level knob and put a washer under the knob and that will make it much harder to move by accident.
 
#48
How dirty can you get the drive? With less treble and more bass if possible?


Slaymus said:
Thanks for the clarification tech21nyc
I should have said that I prefer to use it
as 3 band EQ with the speaker simulator bypassed !

Here is some quick sound clips of the VT-Bass.
MIA Fender Precision into VT-Bass into JDI into
Sonar Powerstudio 660.
First pass is without VT-Bass and then I
go with the VT-Bass engaged.

VT-Bass-Fender-Precision-divers by Slaymus on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
VT-Bass-Slap-Fender-Precision by Slaymus on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
VT-Bass-Fender-Precision-Crimson by Slaymus on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

I'm open to specific sound clip requests :bassist:
Click to expand...
 
#50
tech21nyc said:
The reason the level control can seen a bit touchy is that the pedal needs the ability to go from instrument level to line level. I play out on a regular basis with my Leeds pedal and never have issues with the level control. If you're really worried you can take off the level knob and put a washer under the knob and that will make it much harder to move by accident.
Click to expand...

Ya know??? Good idea! Thanks!
And, that answers a question to which I'm not sure we've seen an authoritative answer = 'Is this capable of driving a power amp?' Yes, of course one would need to check the specs on the amp's input....but in general, sounds like it is.
Cheers!
 
#51
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#53
Slaymus said:
First time with speaker sim OFF, then ON
VT-Bass-speaker-sim-off-on- by Slaymus on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
Since the pedal is really sensitive, it is possible to dial a great sound with the speaker sim off that will sound meh with the speaker sim On and vice versa.
Click to expand...

Thanks Slaymus. Sounds brighter with the speaker sim on. Is "on" when the button is pushed down?

BTW, I might be hearing a bit of clipping in those audio samples. ;)
 
#57
Foamy said:
Ya know??? Good idea! Thanks!
And, that answers a question to which I'm not sure we've seen an authoritative answer = 'Is this capable of driving a power amp?' Yes, of course one would need to check the specs on the amp's input....but in general, sounds like it is.
Cheers!
Click to expand...

Don't know about all power amps but I've read several comments about its inability to drive some Crown XLS drivecore amps cleanly. Though they require 1.4 VRMS which is a little high, and requires a lot of output from the preamp.

I've read that it can drive it, but apparently you really have to push the VT into distortion to do so. I don't know first hand, I've just heard it from a couple of people. But I would look at some power amps with a lower input sensitivity rating, or a mic preamp to boost the signal to be safe.
 
#59
Matthew_84 said:
Don't know about all power amps but I've read several comments about its inability to drive some Crown XLS drivecore amps cleanly. Though they require 1.4 VRMS which is a little high, and requires a lot of output from the preamp.

I've read that it can drive it, but apparently you really have to push the VT into distortion to do so. I don't know first hand, I've just heard it from a couple of people. But I would look at some power amps with a lower input sensitivity rating, or a mic preamp to boost the signal to be safe.
Click to expand...

We seem to go through this every few weeks. Unfortunately people read a spec like 1.4 VRMS and want to see a similar spec on our products.

Here is the deal. We rate our products fairly conservatively with an instrument level (-10dB) sine wave at 500Hz. When we give a spec of 0dB which is line level it's with the aforementioned signal driving the preamp. We were measuring the output level on one of our vintage bass guitars awhile back. Playing it normally without a pick it put out a level of about -12dB. Playing 8th notes on the low E raised the level to about -8dB. Slapping really hard put the output at close to 0dB. No instrument puts out a spec at a constant voltage except maybe a keyboard holding one note indefinitely. A preamp is basically a gain multiplier. In order to ascertain how much output it is capable of you need 2 pieces of information. The gain of the input source and the gain at the output of the preamp driven by the input source. In essence it depends on the output spec of your bass. What makes this even more difficult is that our products are quite different from say a one knob mic preamp. We have active tone controls which can cut and boost your signal by 10dB as well as a distortion generating circuit. Most specs are arrived at by using a clean sine wave signal.

In general when putting together a component system with products from different manufacturers you need to really do a bit of research and you also need a basic understanding of what the different numbers mean. You also have to face the fact that in the end you won't know for sure until you play the rig in a band situation if it will ultimately work for you. It doesn't matter if it's a vintage SVT with a couple of 810 bottoms or a preamp, power amp and speaker cab.
 
#60
Matthew_84 said:
Don't know about all power amps but I've read several comments about its inability to drive some Crown XLS drivecore amps cleanly. Though they require 1.4 VRMS which is a little high, and requires a lot of output from the preamp.

I've read that it can drive it, but apparently you really have to push the VT into distortion to do so. I don't know first hand, I've just heard it from a couple of people. But I would look at some power amps with a lower input sensitivity rating, or a mic preamp to boost the signal to be safe.
Click to expand...

I'm getting a clean signal from my original VT Bass pedal straight in to a Crown XLS1000 (bridged). The Crown is dimed, the VT level is at about 4, drive at about noon. I'm basically using the SVT configuration. We play LOUD, and any more than that I'm drowning out the band.
 

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