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B A S S P L A Y E R |
M A Y 2 0 0 8
SOUNDROOM
Tech 21
SansAmp Character
Series VT Bass
B Y B I L L L E I G H
FO R A B O UT T E N YE A R S , “ A M P M O D E L I N G ”
has ruled the roost of gear buzzwords, as the
emergence of digital technology has given us
players access to multiple virtual amp rigs, by
way of gadgets and software. Digital isn’t the
only way to get a big amp sound from a small
box, though: Tech 21 started emulating amps
nearly 20 years ago, well before the digital rev-
olution. That’s when Andrew Barta created the
innovative SansAmp, a solid-state device that
mimics tube amplification for stompbox tone-
shaping or direct recording. Five new SansAmp
Character Series pedals are the latest in a long
line of descendents from the original SansAmp.
Four emulate specific guitar amps, but the Char-
acter Series VT Bass, which models you-prob-
ably-know-what, is the one for you-certainly-
know-who.
It’s the
CHARACTER
knob that gives this
stompbox series both its name and its, well,
character. Each pedal’s eponymous pot pans
through a choice of amp sounds, affecting fre-
quency response, attack, and drive to produce
a specific amplifier’s sonic sensation. With the
VT Bass, setting
CHARACTER
before 12 o’clock
aims for the powerful Ampeg SVT sound,
around 12 noon it aspires to the tube warmth
of Ampeg’s ’60s studio staple, the B-15 “flip-
top,” and dialing up afternoon clock positions
promises a range of distorto-crunch. The
DRIVE
knob acts as each amp’s input gain would, push-
ing the virtual preamp and eventually pouring
on the overdrive. SVT-like speaker simulation
is part of sonic sauce as well.
I stuck the VT Bass in front of an SWR Red-
head and a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0, sometimes
bypassing the amps’ preamps by plugging into
their effect returns. I also recorded it direct via
a computer-recording interface. The
CHARAC
-
TER
control deftly delivered a full menu of meat,
especially the broad, beefy SVT tones for which
it’s reasonable to assume the pedal is named.
A bit of
DRIVE
boost added wooliness to the
note attack, and more drive brought on a mon-
strous and menacing growl, especially when I
dug in with a pick. Turning
CHARACTER
past 12
o’clock, the grinding overdrive sounds went
from tube-like fuzz to cutting buzz-saw crunch.
Putting down the pick, the flip-top setting was
satisfyingly Motown-like, with the
DRIVE
con-
trol adding a little extra hair on the front of
the note. All the tones were thick and filling
through an amp, but I really loved it for record-
ing direct. That’s where that sweet, fat tube
sound made a huge, track-filling difference.
Between all the settings there are plenty of
scrumptious tube overdrive sounds, but the
VT Bass is far more than a fuzz box. It also
offers big, clean tones, and thick yet fuzz-free
tubey tumescence. The three deliciously sen-
sitive EQ knobs are potent tone-shapers; you
don’t have to tweak them much for substan-
tive results. Small knob turns created distinct
differences, which made it easy to dial up a
giant garden of goodness. At rehearsals, I found
it easy to match my bypassed sound, which I
could then use as a starting point for construct-
ing a specific sonic contrast.
The pedal itself was rugged, with sturdy
jacks and pots, and Tech 21’s quiet, soft-
actuating footswitch. I get a little nervous about
long, thin battery leads, even though they’re
very common in stompboxes. For a clumsy oaf
like me, they just seem so vulnerable to the
accidental yank. Unlike most other SansAmp
bass products, there’s no
XLR
jack for record-
ing direct, but most audio interfaces in proj-
ect and home studio—where you’d really want
that big rig vibe without the big rig—have
instrument inputs or
q
" line-level jacks, both
of which the VT Bass can handle just fine.
The Character Series VT Bass has a defi-
nite bias toward rock sounds, and if overdrive
is your thing, you’ll find a cornucopia of tube-
like flavors. However, this nifty little tone
tweaker is rather versatile, and its big sounds
might surprise you.
BP
TECH 21 SANSAMP VT BASS
List
$195
Street
$150
Pros
Tons of tubey tones, a variety of
overdrives, and a powerful EQ
Cons
None
The Bottom Line
Massive sounds meet
potent tone shaping.
CONTACT
(973) 777-6996
www.tech21nyc.com
TECH SPECS
Jacks
q
" input,
q
" unbalanced output
Controls
LEVEL
,
LOW
(±12dB @ 125 Hz),
MID
(±12dB @ 500 Hz),
HI
(±12dB @ 3.2 kHz),
CHARACTER
,
DRIVE
Input impedance
1M
Ω
Output impedance
1k
Ω
Power source
9-volt battery, or 9VDC
optional power supply (Tech 21 DC2, $12.95)
Dimensions
4
y
" x 3
y
" x 2"
Weight
0.4 lbs
Made in
U.S.A.
Warranty
One year limited
Originally printed in May 2008 issue of
Bass Player
. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of
Bass Player
. Copyright 2008 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights
reserved.
Bass Player
is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com
