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Worship Bass Pedalboards

So Ive been in the process of trying new stuff and pretty much overhauling my setup. The only two pedals Im still using are the Keeley super bass (bassist), and the Broughton bass box. Everything else below are new sounds for me.

Sadly, the CabZone LE is not doing it for me with this setup. Ill be posting it in the classifieds, but Im still looking for something to go from the bass box and tie everything together (preferably with a DI). I almost exclusively go DI only. Here are some other options Im considering:

-Broughton HPF/LPF
-MXR M81 Bass Preamp (Thats the one without the drive side)
-Tech 21 Qstrip
-Tech 21 VTBass DI
-RNDI

Any thoughts?

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Shift-Line Olympic MKIII. I feel like a broken record.
 
Shift-Line Olympic MKIII. I feel like a broken record.

This is what scubaduba did to me too....just came in today...and....

sigh.....its pretty dreamy. Im actually conducting a three-way shootout at my house over the next few days with MkIIIS, Tone Hammer, and Subway (not the +) DI's. Should be fun!

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Honestly, they're not much bigger than a regular size pedal. Definitely smaller than the vtdi.
VTBassDI Dimensions: 4.5" x 3.5" x 1.25"
DSM OCSD Dimensions: 4.25"w X 4.68"h X 2.09"t

The OCSD is narrower side to side than the VT, but taller and deeper.
 
Broughton HPF/LPF
-MXR M81 Bass Preamp (Thats the one without the drive side)

I've personally owned a M81. Can't say enough good things about it. Besides being highly adjustable (3-band eq+ sweepable mids) it has input and output control, and a rock solid DI. I've had basses that had grounding issues that the M81 made better. It's pretty uncolored, and the small size makes it a win all the way around.
If you have a 5-String, I kinda think they should just come with the HPF+LPF. No DI to be had there, but real good at un-mudding your Low B String. The LPF is great too add just enough to knock down any unwanted string noise. The rest I have no direct experience with. I currently use a tech-21 para DI. I traded out the the M81 for it because it too has sweepable mids. Has an overdrive with a wet-dry blend. Very handy features is a form factor that is just a little bigger than the M81. I often times think that if it came down to it, I could get by with just that. Now, my Keeley bassist and L+HPF are very welcome and useful, and a blessing to have. Just sayin' if I was answering one of those "if you could only have one pedal"...polls, I could probably get practically everything I need just there.

Hope this helps, and good luck!!!
 
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I will say one thing for the VTBassDI that I recently discovered (though it's not news to anyone else). I used the VTBass a while ago but moved on to other things. Long story short, I recently started using a Zoom MS-60b. I liked the flexibility and the fact that I could get an SVT, Bassman, and Fliptop sim out of the same box. They all sounded different and pretty good. But I decided to simplify and give the VT a try again. I had always known that in theory you can get multiple amp models out of the VT by manipulating the character knob and eq, but never found it to sound great in practice. But since I started using a Rolls PM50 to monitor my sound when practicing instead of the DSM OCSD's headphone amp, I really like how the VT sounds. I compared it directly with the Zoom last night, and with the character around 12:30 or 1:00, I get a great Bassman tone. Around 10:00, and it's a killer SVT sim. 8:00-ish, and you'd think you're playing an actual flip top (when compared to their respective sims on the Zoom, and with EQ adjusted slightly for each patch.) I have a newfound appreciation for it, and it's back to being the core of my sound. And if you're using dirt direct with no amp, you HAVE to have a cab sim, in my humble opinion.
 
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I will say one thing for the VTBassDI that I recently discovered (though it's not news to anyone else). I used the VTBass a while ago but moved on to other things. Long story short, I recently started using a Zoom MS-60b. I liked the flexibility and the fact that I could get an SVT, Bassman, and Fliptop sim out of the same box. They all sounded different and pretty good. But I decided to simplify and give the VT a try again. I had always known that in theory you can get multiple amp models out of the VT by manipulating the character knob and eq, but never found it to sound great in practice. But since I started using a Rolls PM50 to monitor my sound when practicing instead of the DSM OCSD's headphone amp, I really like how the VT sounds. I compared it directly with the Zoom last night, and with the character around 12:30 or 1:00, I get a great Bassman tone. Around 10:00, and it's a killer SVT sim. 8:00-ish, and you'd think you're playing an actual flip top (when compared to their respective sims on the Zoom, and with EQ adjusted slightly for each patch.) I have a newfound appreciation for it, and it's back to being the core of my sound. And if you're using dirt direct with no amp, you HAVE to have a cab sim, in my humble opinion.

Does the vt take other drives/fuzz well without getting farty? what about an oc2?
 
Does the vt take other drives/fuzz well without getting farty? what about an oc2?
Trying to find a good direct dirt tone without an amp has been the absolute bane of my existence for a few years now. The VT takes them well. The OCSD takes them better, in my opinion, because of the resonance knob, which I feel is the "secret sauce." But like I said, even with the OCSD, I felt like I needed a good preamp, so I used the VT (with the cabsim bypassed) with the OCSD. The VT can take them well on its own, but it has to be the right dirt, in my experience and opinion. And always something with a clean blend. But YMMV and your opinion may differ. I've had great success so far running it with my MXR M80+. Even though it's a DI/preamp, I use it as a standalone dirt pedal and it's great for that, provided you have a separate cab sim like the VT or OCSD. As well as my Darkglass VMT and the EBS Fuzzmo. I typically run dirt pedals fairly subtly with a clean blend, with only about 25% of dirt compared to 75% clean. I have tried soooooo many other dirt pedals in my quest for a good direct dirt sound. Anything without a clean blend never lasted more than 5 minutes before I flipped it. Can't speak to the OC2, as I don't have one. I have a TC Sub 'n Up, which worked well with the OCSD, but I haven't tried it with the VT bass yet. I have no reason to think it wouldn't sound great. Sub/chorus/drive together makes for a great synth tone.
 
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(Though in this one, they say a Flip-Top is with the character at 12:00. Whatever. Perhaps what I'm equating with a flip-top is actually just a dark SVT. I've never played an actual flip-top to compare it to. All I had was the Zoom sim).


I never liked how the drive sound of the VT bass sounded before. But now that I'm using it with the Rolls, and have had the opportunity to compare it to other things, I really like it a lot. And there's no actual tube to worry about.



You will, of course, get other fantastic recommendations in these here parts. But the VT and OCSD are two of my favorites, and they're "relatively" affordable.
 
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@PraiseBassing Well that is encouraging for sure. Have you tried both 9 volt and 18 volt preamps? No static or high pitched screeching noises?
Used my 55-01(9v Glock preamp)at rehearsal last night. Had the transmitter plugged into the extension cable which was plugged into the bass. Ran the transmitter over the control cavity cover multiple times and didn't hear any noise.

I have to make some setup adjustments before Sunday, so I'll try it again in a quieter environment.
 
After years of gigging the Line 6 G30 system and liking it I finally upgraded to the Shure GLXD Pedal wireless system and I absolutely love it. Best built and the rechargeable battery lasts forever seems like. I've used the same battery for 3 gigs and still shows 11 hours remaining. I love the metal chasis and the tuner option also built in. It is the perfect wireless system IMO.
IMG_1766.jpg
 
After years of gigging the Line 6 G30 system and liking it I finally upgraded to the Shure GLXD Pedal wireless system and I absolutely love it. Best built and the rechargeable battery lasts forever seems like. I've used the same battery for 3 gigs and still shows 11 hours remaining. I love the metal chasis and the tuner option also built in. It is the perfect wireless system IMO.
View attachment 3463535
I've only used mine once, but I was also pleased to see that after 3 sets the battery was barely used.