On the VTB-1, is it like most of the other lower end pres, where the tube is not central to the pre-amp, but paralleled off as a saturation circuit?

Actually I just answered my own question by looking at the site - yes, it's a parallel path.

Cool that it has a high-pass switch built in. All recording mics should have that IMO, but if you have it on the pre, you are all set.

I see that the C1 has selectable hi pass filters - also cool.