User Manual

Tech 21, the Company

Tech 21, Inc., was formed by a guitarist possessing the unusual combination

of a trained ear and electronics expertise. In 1989, B. Andrew Barta incorpo-

rated Tech 21 and made his unique invention commercially available to play-

ers and studios around the world. His highly-acclaimed SansAmp™ pio-

neered Tube Amplifier Emulation in professional applications for recording

direct and performing live, and created an entirely new category of signal pro-

cessing. While there have since been many entries into this niche, SansAmp

continues to maintain its reputation as the industry standard.

With a full line of SansAmp models, Tech 21 also offers effect pedals and

MIDI products, as well as “traditional” style amplifiers for guitar and bass.

Each product is thoughtfully and respectfully designed by Andrew himself

with the player in mind. Our goal is to provide you with flexible, versatile tools

to cultivate, control, refine and redefine your own individual sound. Tech 21

takes great pride in delivering consistent professional quality sound, studio to

studio, club to club, arena to arena.

VT Bass 500, an Overview

The VT Bass 500 is a 500-Watt bass amp head with an all-analog

SansAmp™ pre-amp and Class D power amp. Formulated with the

same proprietary technology as our SansAmp Character Series VT Bass

pedals, the VT Bass 500 offers vintage and modern bass tones, ranging from

clean to thick flip-top funk, from indie rock snarl to deep tectonic distortion.

The unique, continuously-variable Character control moves seamlessly

between decades of different voicings. It alters the entire sonic structure of

the sound to achieve some of the most distinctive bass amp tones on the

planet.

Drive adjusts the overall amount of gain and overdrive, similar to when the

output of a tube amp is being pushed. A Blend control allows you to blend

the direct instrument signal with the SansAmp Tube Amplifier Emulation cir-

cuitry. The Bite switch activates a presence boost, which tightens up the

sound when you are in distorted settings. It also adds definition to your

notes when the Drive is set for cleaner tones.

For studio and live applications, our proprietary, 100% analog SansAmp

Tube Amplifier Emulation technology enables you to go straight into the

mixer of a recorder or PA system via the XLR Direct Output.

The VT Bass 500 offers bootylicious tones for fearless pro players yearning

to jump ship from the status quo.