Tech 21 VT Bass Deluxe Owner`s Manual

*Utilizes standard 9V alkaline battery (not included), which will provide a life

POWER REQUIREMENTS

span of approx. 70 hours. NOTE: Input jack activates battery.To conserve
energy, unplug when not in use. Power Consumption: approx. 7mA.

*USE DC POWER SUPPLY ONLY! Failure to do so may damage the

unit and void warranty. DC Power Supply Specifications:

-9V DC regulated or unregulated, 100mA minimum;

-2.1mm female plug, center negative (-).

Optional factory power supply is available: Tech 21 Model #DC2.

WARNINGS:

* Attempting to repair unit is not recommended and may void warranty.
* Missing or altered serial numbers automatically void warranty. For your own

protection: be sure serial number labels on the unit’s back plate and exterior
box are intact, and return your warranty registration card.

ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY. PROOF OF PURCHASE
REQUIRED. Manufacturer warrants unit to be free from defects in materials

and workmanship for one (1) year from date of purchase to the original pur­chaser and is not transferable. This warranty does not include damage resulting
from accident, misuse, abuse, alteration, or incorrect current or voltage. If unit
becomes defective within warranty period, manufacturer will repair or replace
it free of charge. After expiration, manufacturer will repair defective unit for a fee.

ALL REPAIRS for residents of U.S. and Canada: Call Tech 21 for Return
Authorization Number. Manufacturer will not accept packages without

prior authorization, pre-paid freight (UPS preferred) and proper insurance.

FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANCE & SERVICE:

Contact Tech 21 on normal business weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST.

MADE IN THE U.S.A.

SansAmp Character Series - VT Bass Deluxe

T: 973-777-6996 • F: 973-777-9899
E: [e-mail] • www.tech21nyc.com

©2010 Tech 21 USA, Inc.

OWNER’S MANUAL

TECH 21, THE COMPANY

Tech 21 was formed by a guitarist possessing the unusual combination of a trained ear and elec­tronics expertise. In 1989, B. Andrew Barta incorporated Tech 21 and made his invention commer­cially available to players and studios around the world. His highly-acclaimed SansAmp™ pio­neered Tube Amplifier Emulation in professional applications for recording direct and performing
live, and created an entirely new category of signal processing. There have since been many entries
into this niche, yet SansAmp continues to maintain its reputation as the industry standard.

In addition to a full line of SansAmp models, Tech 21 also offers effect pedals; battery operable
MIDI footcontrollers, the MIDI Mouse and MIDI Moose; as well as “traditional” style amplifiers for
guitar and bass. Each product is thoughtfully and respectfully designed by B. Andrew Barta himself
with the player in mind.

Tech 21’s goal is to provide you with flexible, versatile tools to cultivate, control, refine and rede­fine your own individual sound. We take great pride in delivering consistent quality sound, studio to
studio, club to club, arena to arena.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

SansAmp VT Bass Deluxe combines the warmth of a 100% analog signal path with the convenience
of digital programmability in a super simple, player-friendly stomp box format. Our proprietary tech­nology captures the rich, natural harmonics and sweet overdrive characteristics inherent to tube
amplifiers, and does so even at low volume. SansAmp delivers the same dynamics, responsiveness, and
sound quality of massive pro stage rigs in a portable, programmable pedal.

You can explore and custom tailor bass tube amp tones from early '60s to classic super valve. The
ease of operation allows you to make changes on the fly, at the gig, even during your performance

--without having to take this manual with you. There are no complex formulas or numerical calcu­lations to learn, so there’s nothing to get in the way of your creative flow.

Independent footswitches put your favorite tones right at your feet, from warm vintage to Sumo­sized overdrive. Custom actuators provide a smooth transition between channels for instanta­neous switching, so you can dance to the music instead of your gear.

APPLICATIONS

WITH BASS AMP:

power amp input, a.k.a. “effects return” (if applicable), of an amp. This will bypass the tone coloring
section of the pre-amp and will defeat the amp’s master volume.

NOTE: BE SURE the BASS GUITAR VOLUME is OFF --BEFORE you turn on
the amp. Then slowly increase the volume of the bass. If it’s too loud overall, check that the 1/4”

Out Boost switch is disengaged (up) and then edit your presets accordingly. If it doesn’t get loud
enough for you, engage (depress) the 1/4” Out Boost switch to add 10dB.

Or, you can run the SansAmp into the front input of an amp. Be sure to keep the Level of
SansAmp close to unity gain, so as not to overload the amp’s input, which could result in undesir­able distortion.

Tips for setting up your amp when using front input:

1. Plug into low gain channel or input.

2. Turn off Bright switch.

3. Turn presence control (if applicable) to 12 o’clock or below.

4. Set tone controls as flat as possible.

Run the 1/4” output of the SansAmp directly into the input of the

TO DRIVE A POWER AMP: Run the output of the SansAmp into the input of a power

amp with an input sensitivity of -10dB to 0dB. Then use the master volume control of the power
amp to adjust your stage volume.

TO RECORD DIRECT: You can plug directly into the input of a mixer/recorder and use

the on-board sounds of the SansAmp. Bear in mind, full-range systems yield a wide frequency
response. Therefore, you may need to adjust the EQ settings of the SansAmp to compensate.

THE INS AND OUTS

Standard Audio Procedure: TURN (

avoid unwanted and potentially speaker-damaging “pops” when connecting or disconnecting any
equipment, always mute mixing board and/or turn down amp volume before plugging or
unplugging!

SansAmp)

ON FIRST. TURN OFF LAST. To

WARNING:

DO NOT run the speaker output of any amp directly into the
SansAmp. Severe damage to the amp and/or SansAmp may result.

SIGNAL LEVEL TO INPUT

SansAmp VT Bass is designed to accommodate instrument level signals to the Input, such as the
output of a bass, the output of distortion pedals, etc. Signal level to Input should be close to that
of a standard electric guitar (approx. -10dB / 250mV). NOTE: Hot pickups will increase the gain
structure of the SansAmp VT Bass.

IN A (MAIN): 1/4-inch 1 megOhm, instrument level. Use as your main input when using a

single instrument. Also switches battery power on/off. To avoid battery drain, unplug when unit is
not in use.

IN B: 1/4-inch 1 megOhm, instrument level. For second instrument.

PARALLEL OUTPUT: 1/4-inch buffered, unbalanced direct output. Instrument signal pass-

es through, Uneffected, to the input of your stage amplification system or tuner.

BALANCED XLR OUTPUT: Balanced 600-Ohm low Z output. Sends effected or

bypassed signal to mixing console/recorder.

XLR Out Pad Switch: -20dB pad to match the output to equipment
with different input level requirements. In the line level (up) position, the
output is 0dB. In the instrument level (down) position, the output is -20dB.

1/4” OUTPUT: Unbalanced 1KOhm low Z output. Sends effected or

bypassed signal to amp rig or power amp.

1/4” Out Boost Switch: +10dB boost to match the output to equipment with different

input level requirements. In the instrument level (up) position, the nominal output is -10dB. In
the line level (down) position, the output is 0dB.

PHANTOM POWER

Allows you to “tap into” the power of a suitably equipped mixer. As the 3-conductor XLR sends
the audio signal to the input of a mixer, the mixer sends voltage back to the unit via the same 3
wires, eliminating the need for an external power supply. Consult your mixer’s owner’s manual for
set-up instructions. For live and studio use, let the engineer know your SansAmp is phantom
power operable.

NOTE: Minimum 24V DC regulated phantom power supply, however, 48V DC regulated is recom-
mended to optimize headroom and illuminate LEDs.

PHANTOM & GROUND CONNECT SWITCH: When engaged (depressed), the

ground connects and unit will accept phantom power through the XLR Output. Disengaged (up),
the ground of your stage system and other interconnected gear is lifted/isolated from the ground
of the mixing console.

With a mixer only: If you are plugging your bass into the VT Bass and taking the XLR Output
to a mixer --and do not have any other grounded equipment connected in the
setup-- you will have to engage (depress) the switch to connect the ground and activate the
phantom power.

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