Tech 21 VT Bass

(Originally written by karlos/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
AMPEG SVT amp simulation pedal.

One input and one output on 1/4" jacks.

3-band EQ : low, mid, high.

9-volt PSU or battery operation.

Character and Drive controls.

Master volume and level controls.

Very high quality potentiometers.

High-quality switch.

UTILIZATION

ULTRA easy.

Set the output volume first.

Set drive to 25%.

Set character to 40%.

Set low and high to 70%.

Set mid to 40%.

Now you have the Ampeg sound.

The user's manual is clear and provides setting examples.

SOUND QUALITY

I owned a Bass Driver. It was already very good.

I connected it directly to my Mackie mixer (old US model).

I had a POD but I found it somewhat cold.

And with this one I just couldn't believe what I heard. I couldn't believe that a pedal in this price range could give me the characteristic sound of a SVT amp...

It's simply amazing. It's plug and play with my Musicman and G&L.

It has no XLR output (the Bass Driver had one) but I don't really miss it.

The low-end response is very faithful.

Connected to the return path of my Hughes and Kettner amp the sound is also very good.

Direct connection to a mixer: excellent

Direct connection to a sound card: excellent

The dynamic response is faithful. Don't use too high drive settings.

Once you adjust the EQ and the level you can try different Character settings to get an idea of what you can do with this option.

OVERALL OPINION

When I bought mine it was the last in the store...

The three other ones had already been reserved (one of them was for Laurent VERNEREY, a very popular studio bassist).

Laurent COKELAERE owns two of them which he uses connected directly into the mixer during live gigs.

This shows the high quality of the unit.

I've had mine for two days and I had never been so satisfied with a purchase. And the value for money is great. What a sound... I rediscovered my bass.

I don't play live so I don't want to buy an Ampeg amp head to use only its DI output.

Since I'm also a guitarist I will also test 4 other amp simulation pedals (Fender, VOX, Marshall and Mesa Boogie).

As a summary: This unit sounds very good, is not expensive and you can take it with you everywhere.

Tech 21 is known for their popular line of Sansamp rack mountable units. With the new technology of bass amplification out these days not many guys are using racks, yet rather smaller amp heads that still need a little kick in the pants in the preamp section that Tech 21 is known for delivering.

My friend ended up not using his and let me borrow it to play out with my live rig to see if I dug it. New they cost right around $130. They are very popular right now and pretty tough to find in stock, if you are on the fence grab one, if it is not your cup of tea I am certain you can easily flip it for close to what you paid.

It gets you into the ballpark of an Ampeg SVT tone for about $1000 and 100 pounds less! It can easily be powered by any 9 volt power supply.

You can add just a little grit to simulate some tube breakup or you can this thing into full overdrive mode similar to an Electro Harmonix Big Muff.

I was hoping for just a little more in the sub low end department. They can really make or break you if you are playing a room with big ceilings and concrete floors.

I wish there was an XLR out on it. BTW I have seen mods for this, I just have not done it myself.

A tough aluminum box, a red LED light to let you know if the pedal is on or off. The knobs starting from the top left and moving to the bottom right: Level, Mid, Character, Drive, Low and High. The finish of this is a nice powder coat, if kept well it should last a long time.

A simple and effective way to spice up your bass tone. A great unit to toss in your gig bag in case you need to use a house amp, yet still keep the integrity of 'your tone'

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

All already been said. Only criticism one could make is it the lack of DI but personally I do not need.

UTILIZATION

Easy to use, the knobs are progressive and efficient. The few factory presets are useful and effective, then you turn the knobs ...

SOUND QUALITY

This pedal has literally transformed my amps, a venerable Peavey 115TKO sound a bit flat and a Hartke 3500 head with cab TP410. The sound is simply enriched, it takes a fullness, a grain, impossible to achieve with simple adjustments amps presence.
The record is, however, a low variable to another. I enjoy my 3 bass but especially on my passive fretless (Luthman Wave).

OVERALL OPINION

I always use it since I got it. Only downside for me, the position on the ground, a rack would be more practical to make adjustments. But I do not change that much. It's really more that transforms a merely decent amp, in good amp.

RAS

USE

RAS

SOUND QUALITY

RAS

NOTICE GLOBAL

OCCAZ bought and sold soon, I tried on my branch bassman with a Start, the equal is actually powerful and reactivates the character knob brings its interest the effect and makes mdium lot Introduced and incisive. The big problem with this effect and (all Tech21 effects) is the BLAST !!! A real dries hair !!! I live on my branch Pramp UA6176 played with my bass Gibson SG, even worse than the amp branch, breath galore! Unable suddenly exploit the possibilities of equal etc, really very trsdu, after all opinions logieux I expected much better ... without this breath could be good since rglages are fine and very complete.
I phoned there are three four years with Mojo Paris, I was looking for a good amp simulation, I hsitais between Mister Blue / Mister Gold or a Tech21 Triac, type m had kept these breath problems (he was right) I read this same problem on their Reverb effect, breath problem, I think it is not Tech21 for me, it's like Electroharmonix: a good concept pure analog sound but still something wrong ...