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VT Bass Version 2 Impression

#61
audiomitch said:
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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Thanks Audiomitch for responding, I'm curious about this myself as I have a Crown XLS1000 and a VT Deluxe but am waiting for my cab to arrive from Europe (still about a month away :scowl:). But in all of my research I did find a couple of complaints regarding this very issue. So I do have some questions for you if you don't mind: If you put the drive down to 7 o'clock, is the VT still powerful enough? You already have the level at 4, wouldn't you have to have the VT level all of the way up?
 
#62
Matthew_84 said:
Thanks Audiomitch for responding, I'm curious about this myself as I have a Crown XLS1000 and a VT Deluxe but am waiting for my cab to arrive from Europe (still about a month away :scowl:). But in all of my research I did find a couple of complaints regarding this very issue. So I do have some questions for you if you don't mind: If you put the drive down to 7 o'clock, is the VT still powerful enough? You already have the level at 4, wouldn't you have to have the VT level all of the way up?
Click to expand...

I still have enough "oomph" with the drive turned down. I like the tone at noon, but I could theoretically set the drive at 7 o'clock and probably turn up the level to around noon and get the same volume. IME, the VT Pedal has plenty of headroom, although I've never pegged the meters on the Crown. That would be ridiculously loud.

I'm using a Gallien-Krueger NEO 212 and 115 on the bridged channel @ 4 ohms.
 
#64
audiomitch said:
I still have enough "oomph" with the drive turned down. I like the tone at noon, but I could theoretically set the drive at 7 o'clock and probably turn up the level to around noon and get the same volume.
Click to expand...

you mean the level of the Crown XLS1000 though right? The VT level would still be at 4? I guess it doesn't matter, I am glad to hear that it is loud enough, and I thank you for answering that question, but I just got a little confused with the part I bolded.
 
#65
Matthew_84 said:
you mean the level of the Crown XLS1000 though right? The VT level would still be at 4? I guess it doesn't matter, I am glad to hear that it is loud enough, and I thank you for answering that question, but I just got a little confused with the part I bolded.
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No, the Crown is dimed. All that knob does is attenuate the signal.

On the VT pedal - if I had the Drive control at around 7 o'clock, I'd need to to turn up the Level control (on the VT pedal) to compensate. I haven't tried it, but from what I have tried I'm pretty confident I'd have enough level. In any case, you shouldn't have any problems. It's loud as hell if you want it to be.
 
#66
If you want to get a clean sound with the VT Bass and get as much output as possible you should turn your bass guitar up full.You can start with the level control at noon or a bit less but don't be afraid to turn it up full if needed. (When running the pedal with low drive settings the level needs to be turned up to compensate for this. That's what the level is for.) Set the Character controls and EQ's for the tone you desire and then turn up the drive until it starts to distort and then back it down slightly. Don't just set it as low as possible it needs to be optimized for your bass guitars output.

Also it's not a bad idea to turn the input gain of your power amp up full and using the VT Bass level control as your master volume. The level control on the front of the power amp is used to keep you from clipping the power amp as well as adjusting the level of the power amp in a daisy chained configuration. It is unlikely you will clip the power amp with a 9 volt pedal versus a mixer that is driving 16-24 channels.

The low, mid and high controls at "noon" can be considered a starting point in terms of EQ as there is no cut or boost but as previously stated the response is "not" flat. Guitar and bass amps are not designed for a flat response. "Flat" response is with the pedal in bypass mode. Don't be afraid to use radical settings to get your tone. As long as you get the tone you desire that is all that matters. Any preconceived notions you have about setting your tone controls in a way that you might on a specific amplifier should be abandoned as the tone controls on our pedals are active and have a much wider range.
 
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#67
Excellent advice here. Tech 21 is really great about staying involved here at TB and addressing our needs and questions. Other companies could take lessons from them about being responsive.
 
#68
audiomitch said:
No, the Crown is dimed. All that knob does is attenuate the signal.

On the VT pedal - if I had the Drive control at around 7 o'clock, I'd need to to turn up the Level control (on the VT pedal) to compensate. I haven't tried it, but from what I have tried I'm pretty confident I'd have enough level. In any case, you shouldn't have any problems. It's loud as hell if you want it to be.
Click to expand...

Okay, thanks again Audiomitch, that's all I really wanted to know
 
#69
I've had the V1 since inception and NEVER turn it off. I've surely noticed its enhanced treble response ('clank'), but consider this something that's available for those who like that sort of tone. For me, it's never been a problem to either dial it down as needed OR to compensate on my amplifier, for truly it is the interaction of VT>amp that can fully tailor the tone to your liking. It took awhile for me to back off of my 'normal' amp settings, and can understand how some users can get stuck with the idea that the VT is all to blame - it is a general tone gooser, and goosed treble will surely be more noticeable to most bassists, but there it is if you need it, and you can cut it if necessary.

I mainly use the VT as a tone shaper rather than as a full-on overdrive - usually keep 'drive' around 11 oclock for a bit of edge.

To add hairy overdrive lately I've been running an Xotic BB Bass Preamp before the VT; I set the BB at a low gain/high volume, roll off a bit of BB treble, then mix the BB sound with my clean signal through a Boss LS2, my clean signal set at noon (unity) and the BB signal set at 7:30 oclock (= just a bit). This clean + BB mix then goes into the VT.

Here's the result recorded with my band when my Fender P with a DiMarzio Model P P/U is run through this chain, into the front my Mesa Walkabout, and into a DAW recording console via the WA direct out - There's a bass intro and a bass break at about 1:22:
Bucket Of Bites - BB Preamp + LS2 + VT Bass by Lowbrow on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
 
#71
Slaymus said:
Thanks for that great clip :bassist:
I am looking for an overdrive-distorsion pedal to go with my VT.
Do you have some clips with more distortion from of the Bass BB preamp with the VT?
Click to expand...

I do not - I go for a pretty natural tube OD sound - I use the BB because to my ears the VT at high drive gets into the true distortion zone - the BB is great for low-gain OD.

This is pretty much my "set it, forget it" sound that I use on all tunes - I'm not an effects guy at all and want them to be pretty transparent. But that said, there's LOTS of headroom (like about 90 percent) left on that BB, and it's mixed pretty low with my clean signal - it's a good bet you'd dig it.
 
#72
Lowbrow said:
I've had the V1 since inception and NEVER turn it off. I've surely noticed its enhanced treble response ('clank'), but consider this something that's available for those who like that sort of tone. For me, it's never been a problem to either dial it down as needed OR to compensate on my amplifier, for truly it is the interaction of VT>amp that can fully tailor the tone to your liking. It took awhile for me to back off of my 'normal' amp settings, and can understand how some users can get stuck with the idea that the VT is all to blame - it is a general tone gooser, and goosed treble will surely be more noticeable to most bassists, but there it is if you need it, and you can cut it if necessary.

I mainly use the VT as a tone shaper rather than as a full-on overdrive - usually keep 'drive' around 11 oclock for a bit of edge.

To add hairy overdrive lately I've been running an Xotic BB Bass Preamp before the VT; I set the BB at a low gain/high volume, roll off a bit of BB treble, then mix the BB sound with my clean signal through a Boss LS2, my clean signal set at noon (unity) and the BB signal set at 7:30 oclock (= just a bit). This clean + BB mix then goes into the VT.

Here's the result recorded with my band when my Fender P with a DiMarzio Model P P/U is run through this chain, into the front my Mesa Walkabout, and into a DAW recording console via the WA direct out - There's a bass intro and a bass break at about 1:22:
Bucket Of Bites - BB Preamp + LS2 + VT Bass by Lowbrow on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
Click to expand...

Where do you keep the VT Bass in your signal chain? What's before? What's after? Thanks.
 
#73
kenstee said:
Where do you keep the VT Bass in your signal chain? What's before? What's after? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Bass > LS2, Mode set to A+B mix with BB Preamp in 'A' effect loop > VT Bass >amplifier

effects.jpg
 
#78
The V2 is what has made this pedal a keeper for me. I know the clang others are talking about and it isn't something that can be EQed out. It seems to be inherent to the pedal's sound regardless of the EQ setting. It lead me to sell two V1 pedals Because i just didn't like the sound. The only way I've found to get rid of it is to bypass the sansamp circuit in the pedal. Besides, what good is a speaker simulator when you are running into real speakers?

That being said, I also am thrilled that the sansamp part of the circuit is still there as an option as I also intend to use this pedal to record direct with. It's nice to have both options and intend to use it differently in different situations.

BTW, I never faulted the pedal regarding the clank. Just always figured it was part of the Ampeg sound and just wasn't for me. Glad I gave it another shot with the V2 pedal and couldn't be happier.
 
#80
Got the VTBV2 a couple of weeks ago. Had been on the fence between trying this and the BDDI. So far im very impressed with it. Like others have said its very versatle and very tweakable. Im glad they added the sim switch because while it works with some applications,overall i found it way too bright sounding while engaged. Brought out all string noise on most settings i fooled with. I do hear the clankyness everyones mentioned but it is really subdued with the sim switch off,and can be completely dialed out with extreme drive settings.

That being said I found it easy to dial a few exellent tones. I used it at practice(heavy metal band) and found it blended in very well and shines when i do solos n such. Will record some clips of the VTBV2 sim on/off, clean/distorted if anyone wants to hear...
 

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