Valve Drive- not that I have anything against the VT pedal, except that it's too popular for my tastes, but the VD will certainly do what you want.
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Warming up solid state
- Thread starter BabyBoyShafe
- Start date
Valve Drive- not that I have anything against the VT pedal, except that it's too popular for my tastes, but the VD will certainly do what you want.
This was my thought as well. Those B2Rs are notoriously anemic sounding. If you're ready to drop $500 you can get one of the older Genz Benz models that have a tube pre used on the classifieds. Plus if you sell the Ampeg you have the cash that can go toward a new amp. That's a no-brainer for me.
Thanks a lot. Im right there with you on avoiding the VT. Im afraid to try another Sansamp pedal after using the Bass Driver......ew
What is the best way to connect it to a Preamp (an Ashly SC40)? thru the effects loops using the in and out of the MP?
YESSSS +100 to this
The only way you can fully understand is doing an A/B test with one. Like Motorheadbanger said, even set clean they do amazing things to your tone. Honestly, I like mine on SVT level character with a SLIGHT hint of grit when picking or digging in hard and its a very noticeable change in tone compared to my amp.
The other nice thing is that it doesn't fight your OD/Fuzz pedals (actually, it makes them WAY better if EQ'd right) or your amp's preamp section. Get the VT bass where you want it and use your amp's EQ section to shape it for the environment you are in/cab you are using. Can't beat the ease of the deluxe though, I would strongly suggest spending the extra money and getting the deluxe, those 6 presets come in far more handy than you'd think....just ONE tone on the VT bass doesn't do it for me, too many great tones to choose from!
+1 (especially in the "warm bass setting")
The VT is definetely worth considering and far more variable!
Another +1 to the Art Tube MP. Inexpensive and functional. You can buy two, so you have a backup. An irish band local to me uses several of them to warm up their acoustic instrument pickups. They have been actively gigging for 10 years and making money at it, so I figure if THEY trust it, it must be something worth checking out. I used one as a harmonica mic pre-amp for a few years.
I have a sansamp RBI which is basically the BDDI with a dedicated mid control added. Oodles of warmth, mids no problem.
I haven't heard a VT in the flesh but it sure has good rep and I'm inclined to believe it. It looks like they took the best of the RBI and put it in a pedal minus the pre eq DI.
I haven't heard a VT in the flesh but it sure has good rep and I'm inclined to believe it. It looks like they took the best of the RBI and put it in a pedal minus the pre eq DI.
It's not a pedal, but you should get a used Avalon U5. They've been selling in the mid $400's in the TB classifieds lately and that's just preposterous for an industry-standard pre/di that makes your sound just as warm and fat as possible. Throw it in a rack with your Ampeg and you've got a nice combo rig.
Or you could sell your Ampeg and get something with a nice tube-pre section like a GenzBenz Shuttle, Shuttlemax, Streamliner, or even the TC RH450 has a nice tube emulation circuit.
I'm really happy with the Catalinbread SFT. I have it going into my B50R and I'm getting a much rounder, warmer sound out of it, almost like a Tube 15" IMO.
+1 for the VT Bass! I run a Genz 6.0 with a VT Bass Deluxe in front of it. Genz was bought used for $350 and the VT Bass brand new for $260. $610 total investment. Tubey sounding goodness!
dude, VT Bass is a WHOLE different creature. Mid control and character knob (apparently its meant to model different ampeg amps, but it just seems to bring out the high mids for more agressive clank, but you can keep it as smooth as you want).
I've got nothing against the valve drive though, but not tried it personally.
I used to own the Bassdriver, then sold it to get the VTbass (because I hated what the BDDI did to my mids too) and never looked back. I did once pick up a BDDI again for overdrive purposes (like a dirty channel to my VTbass) but it sucked hard.
I'd honestly recommend the VT.
If you want an affordable preamp pedal that warms up your amp and have tone-shaping capabilities, the hartke vxl bass attack preamp pedal would be a good choice. I own one and it sounded pretty cool. especially when I use my effects with it. it's sounds pretty similar to a tech 21 sansamp bass driver and it has hartke's famous shape control(which adds character to your sound). there's also a button to active the shape control. that way the shape control button can be used an as eq boost. in my opinion, it's totally worth the dough if you want to warm up your sound and add some character to your set-up.
+2
Love the tone and warmth mine gives me- but it has a lot of other tone shaping capabilities. Big power supply- not so much. But it's worth it in my opinion. I think there is one for sale in the classified too.
