Sadowsky Outboard Pre and VT Bass Profile

I've gotten several inquiries lately about some of the gear that I use in my live and studio signal chain so I thought I'd do a short profile of them.

First up in the video is a classic Sadowsky Outboard Preamp, which I use with most any passive bass that I play. I've been a Sadowsky user, at least in the case of the preamp, since 1997. My friend and 'bass brother', Jason Scheff (Chicago), who was the person that really got me headed in the Lakland direction about 4 years ago (he was one of the first professionals to actively endorse Lakland in the late 90s), was an endorser/user of Sadowsky basses and preamps for a good number of years in the early 90s. With that association and with Sadowsky's overall reputation, I picked up my Sadowsky preamp early in my playing days in '97 and it has been indispensable in my 'toolbox' ever since.

As a Lakland endorser I don't use it much since my Laklands are all active, and those are what I play 99% of the time. But, when I have a passive bass in my hands the Sadowsky is there! I've always liked the contour it gives to passive basses and makes them really sing in a mix. After that we walk through the basic sound/effect of the SansAmp VT Bass preamp, which I use ALL the time live and in the studio!

=-Bryan White is a Lakland Basses Endorsing Artist-=

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bryan
• White
• Bass
• Asheville
• NC
• Sadowsky
• Lakland
• live
• funk
• jazz
• bass
• Fender
• 1975
• Jazz

[bassnyc1]

Nice playing and great sound coming out f that SX !!! I also use the Sadowsky outboard pre amp with the VT bass but I'm have trouble getting them to "play nice" with each other. Would you be so kind as to tell me how do you use them together? From your bass to which unit do you plug into and then from which to the amp. Finally, what are your settings on the Sad and VT? Thanks in advance for your help; I've been struggling with this!

[MrLuvBass]

@bassnyc1 I hit the Sadowsky right out of the bass, and typically set it with volume up full, bass anywhere from 10:30 to noon, treble at noon. From there I adjust the tone control on the bass for more or less treble/brightness. My basic setup on the VT Bass is intended to get it as 'flat' as possible but still with the tube coloration. Those settings generally are volume around noon-1:00, bass 12:00, treble 12:00, character 12:00, mid 12:00, and drive at about 9:00.

[MrLuvBass]

That's actually the original VT. I'm not keen on the 'deluxe' version that is programmable. I like the stompbox-style better, but according to reviews the sound/character of the unit has not changed.

[popitn2nd]

Are you selling the sadowsky belt type preamp. Let me know. I'll buy it

[Netspin1]

Very colorful ("dry"..."girthy"..."Marcus Miller the flagship"..."beefy"...etc.) use of language and clarifying presentation.

Would you block out what you had in your instrument drive train when the setup was "dry" i.e. [bass] -> [?] -> [?] -> [?preamp] -> [power amp] -> ... -> [audio input to the camera]?

Your signal sounds great from the get go!

Thanks.

[bassnyc1]

Thanks so much for your response and the information. I'll try out those settings. One more question: how do you adjust your amp? Do you set it flat or EQ it a bit? (FYI: I'm using a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0)

[ratienzo]

That´s the new Tech 21 VT Bass?

[RichNick77]

Thanks for this one. Very informative.