VOX Valvetronix & ToneLab Products

[kewlpack]

This is the place to talk about and link to clips of the VOX Valvetronix AMPS (60/120/15/30/50) as well as the ToneLab and ToneLab SE modeling pedal boards.

[MrMike]

I've had mine for a couple of days, although I haven't had a great deal of time to check it out. Here are my initial impressions:
WOW! This thing is very warm sounding, especially for a modeling amp. The Marshall models have that Marshall midrange thing happening. The Recto model is, well, Recto-ish. It's pretty gainy. The UK Blues model, which I'd assume is based on a Bluesbreaker combo, is really nice. It does the "slightly distorted and warm" sound really well. It has the AC-30 and AC-30TB models, but since I've never played through either, I can't comment on their authenticity, but they are very useable sounds. The Fender models, especially the Bassman are very cool.

Complaints? Well, the effects are just a bit limited. You can choose from 10, including a Rat, Tubescreamer, Octave, compressor, Treble Boost, Acoustic Simulator,Wah, Auto Wah, Fuzz, and Uni-Vibe. It's a bit of a drag not being able to use distortion and wah together, but the blow is softened by the fact that most of the amps have more than enough gain on tap so you don't have to have the dist. box. It would also be nice if the wah was available full time, like on the Line 6 stuff. As it is, you have to program it into a patch.

I'd like to hear a bit more low end, but then again, my frame of reference is my old '74 Marshall JMP with 6550's. It would eliminate one's need for a laxative for months at a time. It's probably not fair to expect the Vox to live up to that.

My final beef is that the Tolex is pretty lightweight. I'd had the thing for less than 30 hours and had ripped the covering on the speaker cab. :hissyfit

I forgot to mention that I got the 120 watt (60 per channel stereo) head with the 4x12 and the VC-12 foot controller. The foot controller absolutely ROCKS! It's very spacious (my feet are massive) and it seems to be bulletproof. Very sturdy. The 4x12 is taller than a Marshall cab, by about 7 or 8 inches, but it's about 2" narrower and not quite as deep, and definitely feels lighter.

In summation, these are really nice amps. I'm thrilled. :mrgreen:

[kewlpack]

Grats. From what I've read in various forums, the AD60/120 series are superior to the 15/30/50 series.

[Teleguy]

I'm still greatly enjoying my 15w and 50w Valvetronix units!

They do Vox sounds especially well (with the bass set almost nil), and the 50w does a credible "Tweed" job.

That's all I need!

I just run up the presets to either tweed or vox 30tbx, tweak the settings to taste in about ten seconds, and I'm good with either tele or my Squire 51.

My wife really appreciates the headphone jack too. :roll:

[MrMike]

That's what I really love- the fact that I don't have to scroll through menus, or try to remember where I have to go to locate the parameter I want to adjust. Just grab the knob and give it a twist, store it and rock on.

[MrMike]

I used the amp in the studio all day Saturday. Since we were recording scratch tracks for the drummer, I just took the line out into the board, and boy was I impressed! It sounds amazing. I may very well end up keeping some of the tracks I recorded. Later I did some overdubs with the amp miked in the main part of the studio, and while the sounds were great, I actually preferred the direct sounds. It's official: I LOVE THIS THING!!!!

[Teleguy]

Yeah, my 15w version cuts through live so well, I SOLD the 50watter!

[RainCaster]

I have a 120 and it sounds lousy when hooked up direct, something I've heard alot on a Vox forum. Not a real big problem, as I haven't really needed more power yet. I really love the tones I get when pushed- nice fat tube sounds.

[MrMike]

I'll have to listen to the stuff we recorded on another system, but in the control room in the studio, this thing sounded nice recorded direct.

RC, have you noticed that high gain, palm-muted stuff tends to sound a bit "farty" (for want of a better term) in the low end? I'm not terribly concerned about it since my current gig doesn't require that sort of thing very often, but I'm wondering if it's inherent to the Voxes. I may try running the head through my Marshall cab to see if it still does it.

[RainCaster]

MrMike,
I guess I never noticed. I am more likely to do palm muting / thumping with my acoustics so I never gave it much thought. Also, I have a custom tele w/ humbuckers, and I just don't like how they sound through higain setups. (gave up Zepplin in the 70s)

BTW, before I bought the full Vox rig, I did try out the 120 head on a Marshall 1960 cab and it did have a tad more midrange than the Vox cab. Not enough for me to justify the extra $ though. Try out your Marshall cab- might be the difference in drivers.

[Teleguy]

The Vox Valvetronix series does seem to be bassy.
I tweak the bass almost completely down on most settings I use.
Treb and mids stay up though.
Mine get the most authentic "tweed" and BF Fender sounds, and the Vox settings are great.
I don't use much hi-gain distortion sounds except goofin' around at rehearsal or home.

[kewlpack]

I found the AD50VT to be quite boomy and the metal grille vibrated quite a bit when you cranked it up. I made sure it was all screwed in nice and tight, but the grille pattern is just wide enough to pick up the air motion and get to wobblin'.

The high gain stuff can get a little fizzy.

I would expect the head/cab versions are much better rigs.

[kewlpack]

(originally posted Feb 2, 2005 - moved from old, redundant thread)

In answer to the question I was asked: "What exactly did you not like about the ToneLab SE?"

--------------

Briefly,

It wasn't all bad - the VOX ToneLab SE is fantastic and fun - but:

1) The mid and high gain amp models sounded very similar regardless of what I tried (and I tweaked like mad). Yes, the EQing was different and there were some variations from amp to amp - but overall it was not like having 16 (?) different amps. Maybe just three or four (not bad, but not worth $600 at the moment). The overdrive got fizzy pretty quick. :(

2) I couldn't get a "wow" clean tone from it. The Bassman and Dumble tones are pretty good, but again, didn't make me think "wow" when I played. I know they are in there somewhere...

3) I was running it through a keyboard amp. I think this could be one of the problems - it was almost "too clean" of an amp. So most of the time, the tones got very bright/piercing/shrill quickly. It didn't sound "quite right" to my ears... a different amp may have solved this bright problem. Note: this was running with output set to both AP or LN - both weren't quite right.

4) My budget constrains me to have an all-in-one approach. The $$$ for the TLSE forced me to settle with a low end amp... so the combination wasn't right. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. So I had to take the whole enchilada back to Guitar Center to have enough working credit to purchase another rig.

Again - the TLSE is sweet and I probably would've kept it if I could. But my budget just couldn't do it for now. I imagine I will pick one up again, after they drop the price quite a bit...or I'll go back to a GNX4 (price dropping on it) because it did have a great drum machine.

It was more a case of not being 100% satisfied and wanting to see if there was a better rig for my purposes out there. Try a TLSE out and see what you think - you may have the right combination of gear to get awesome tone from it.

My 2¢.

(moved 6/17/2005 from old thread).

[kewlpack]

Well - I am back to the TLSE. I am running through a much better Keyboard amp now - Behringer KX1200 (3 way full range). The results are very good so far.

I'm running the TLSE in the FX Loop of the GT8 via 4CM which allows me to use either the TLSE or the GT8's preamps as I want to.

Now that I have it back in the rig - I didn't realize how much I missed it! ;)

[smailliWcMnahtE]

any links to videos of ppl using the TLSE?

ive heard all the vox recordings, but id like to hear some other ppls recordigns of it

[refin]

I love my 15 watt Valvetronix---stick a mic on 'er and let her hop around!

[MrMike]

any links to videos of ppl using the TLSE?

ive heard all the vox recordings, but id like to hear some other ppls recordigns of it

There are some samples to be heard at www.valvetronix.net

Click on the image of the TLSE, and it will take you a bunch of different patches.

[SoulShade]

I've been using a AD30, and it's working out well, miked and on the Black 2x12 setting most of the time. -s

[MDK2323]

Well, I got rid of my XTL and I purchased a TLSE. WOW! The amp models although fewer in number than the XTL are far better in sound quality. I've only messed with it a little bit, and the effects seem OK, I'll need to compensate for the learning curve with the effects setup as I'm an old Boss guy. But this guy looks like a keeper. No aliasing or crap like the XTL, and warm amp models that won't let me put my guitar down.

This thing is great for me so far!

[kewlpack]

Yeah - I agree. The TLSE has a small selection of excellent amp models. The VR circuit helps a lot.

In my Head To Head Shoot Out article I don't know that I gave the TLSE a fair shake in the Amp modeling area - because of the few models compared to all the other MFXs on the market. It's a great product. However, it would be nice to see Vox roll out a more "competitive", next generation MFX that blows the doors off of everyone else.

Nevertheless - the TLSE always makes its way back onto my GAS list somehow. ;)

[MDK2323]

I'm really excited about this unit right now. It came down to the TLSE or the GT-8 for me, and I think I picked the right one for once.

I've never been a tube guy, I always thought that tone was in the hands not so much in the equipment. My logic was, get a GOOD solid state amp and then you won't have the recurring cost of re-biasing or re-tubing. And when modelers came around, well it was a no-brainer for me.

But, I'm starting to come around to the idea of a marriage of modeling and tubes. There is something about tube saturation that really sounds pleasing to the ear.

This is a great piece of gear though.

[MDK2323]

Yeah - I agree. The TLSE has a small selection of excellent amp models. The VR circuit helps a lot.

In my Head To Head Shoot Out article I don't know that I gave the TLSE a fair shake in the Amp modeling area - because of the few models compared to all the other MFXs on the market.


I read and really appreciated the shootout KP. I considered alot of what you had to say when deciding on a replacement for the XTL.

It seems to me with alot of the modelers where the unit offers tons of amp models, they either lack in quality or they just all run together somehow. Lots of models that sound very similar, and are not really that accurate or stand apart from each other.

This is true of the Tonelab to some degree also, but not as much. The Bassman sounds like a Bassman, the old Marshalls have that bluesbreaker type feel to them. I can tell a slight difference between the Soldano and the Mesa high gain models. The Blackface sounds really nice and bright like you would expect it to.

I don't really need or have ever used more than 3 to 5 amp models. Mostly I just change effects settings to play certain songs in our worship sets. But I do slightly miss the presence of a Roland JC-120 model, I used that alot. But I can make do with the Blackface, no worries.

Still loving the TLSE.

[John316]

I recently acquired an AD30VT and am really stoked with what I've had the time to go through. It's definitely better than my Roland Cube 30, that's fer sure! :cool:

Definitely believe a speaker change is needed though. On the Valvetronix website someone mentioned replacing the OEM speaker with an Eminence Ramrod. Micter told me about a local speaker shop in OC, think I'll be paing them a visit pretty soon. :mrgreen:

[Surfcaster]

I recently acquired an AD30VT and am really stoked with what I've had the time to go through. It's definitely better than my Roland Cube 30, that's fer sure! :cool:

Definitely believe a speaker change is needed though. On the Valvetronix website someone mentioned replacing the OEM speaker with an Eminence Ramrod. Micter told me about a local speaker shop in OC, think I'll be paing them a visit pretty soon. :mrgreen:

I did that with my AD30VT and was really pretty happy with the results...I would easily recommend that combination. I no longer have the amp, but that's only because I was gassing for something else and a friend offered to buy the 30 off me at virtually what I paid for it...it was kind of hard to let go of and at times I still miss it.

Actually, what I really miss is being able to get good tones out of it at ridiculously low volumes...I've got two tube amps now...and running at volume I love them, but even the 15 watter is too loud to play at night when the kiddies are in bed!...in fact, the volume I like playing the 15 watter at is about the same volume I like to play my 50 watter at...go figure!

[stephen]

Actually, what I really miss is being able to get good tones out of it at ridiculously low volumes...I've got two tube amps now...and running at volume I love them, but even the 15 watter is too loud to play at night when the kiddies are in bed!...in fact, the volume I like playing the 15 watter at is about the same volume I like to play my 50 watter at...go figure!

Most people think that to cut the colume in half from a 100 watt amplifier, thay need to go down to a 50 watt amplifier. Wrong. You'll only get on average a 3db cut from a 50 watter to 100 watter. To drop the db's below 50% of that 100 watter, you have to go a little lower than a 15 watt amp.

I cant explain all the fine details as to why, but I just know that this is a fact. One very loud amp that I have a lot of GAS for, is the THD UniValve. Its 15 watts of unbelievabley great tone, that'll make your ears squeal for hours afterwards! I think it would keep up with a lot of 50 watt amps out there.

Go figure, huh?

Maybe one of our amp-=guru's might be able to explain the intricacies about cutting volume db's versus wattage ratings of the amps.

[Surfcaster]

Most people think that to cut the colume in half from a 100 watt amplifier, thay need to go down to a 50 watt amplifier. Wrong. You'll only get on average a 3db cut from a 50 watter to 100 watter. To drop the db's below 50% of that 100 watter, you have to go a little lower than a 15 watt amp.

I cant explain all the fine details as to why, but I just know that this is a fact. One very loud amp that I have a lot of GAS for, is the THD UniValve. Its 15 watts of unbelievabley great tone, that'll make your ears squeal for hours afterwards! I think it would keep up with a lot of 50 watt amps out there.

Go figure, huh?

Maybe one of our amp-=guru's might be able to explain the intricacies about cutting volume db's versus wattage ratings of the amps.

Yeah, I understand all that...you have to go to 5W to get half the volume of a 50 watter. What I find interesting though, is that my Mesa F50 is seriously loud...significantly louder than my WoodCross 15 watter...I mean, I can crank the WoodCross 15 watter all the way up and tolerate it for a while and I can't be in the same room with the F50 when it's cranked up much past half way, so there is a significant volume difference when they are cranked. But despite that, they both need to be at about the same volume level to get a really enjoyable tone...and unfortunately that's a bit louder than my wife appreciates...so I don't get to do much of that!! Hence my longing for something like my AD30VT.

[dmock66]

http://www.guitarnuts.com/amps/myths.php

This is where I got a good lesson in the ways of power. I can say that my 40 watt amp is WAAY too much for me to play anywhere at the level I want it to be at. Even my 5 watt Epi Valve Junior Head gets stopped at 10:30 on the volume knob (the one and only knob) when I play at church.

But - this article in that link is well written and does a nice job of explaining things in a way that makes sense.

[MDK2323]

http://www.guitarnuts.com/amps/myths.php

This is where I got a good lesson in the ways of power. I can say that my 40 watt amp is WAAY too much for me to play anywhere at the level I want it to be at. Even my 5 watt Epi Valve Junior Head gets stopped at 10:30 on the volume knob (the one and only knob) when I play at church.

But - this article in that link is well written and does a nice job of explaining things in a way that makes sense.


That was a good read! I thought it was interesting to read about the amps that the Beatles used in thier touring and recording. They didn't really use huge amplifiers either.

Check this out if you are a Beatles fan, it's actually quite an educational site about those vintage amps from the 50's and 60's.

http://www.beatlesgear.com

God bless!

[John316]

http://www.guitarnuts.com/amps/myths.php

This is where I got a good lesson in the ways of power. I can say that my 40 watt amp is WAAY too much for me to play anywhere at the level I want it to be at. Even my 5 watt Epi Valve Junior Head gets stopped at 10:30 on the volume knob (the one and only knob) when I play at church.

But - this article in that link is well written and does a nice job of explaining things in a way that makes sense.


That was a good read! I thought it was interesting to read about the amps that the Beatles used in thier touring and recording. They didn't really use huge amplifiers either.

Check this out if you are a Beatles fan, it's actually quite an educational site about those vintage amps from the 50's and 60's.

http://www.beatlesgear.com

God bless!

Thanks for the link! :-)

[jake]

hey guys, im jake, and new to this forum. anyhow, i see lotsa guys have the tonelab SE! i have one too, and am loving it! does anyone have any of their favourite patches to share? most of the time im using a certain few patches and i'd like to expand, as well as stretch the tonal capacity of my tonelab. :D

[kewlpack]

Welcome to the forum Jake. I have been building numerous patches - just haven't gotten them posted online yet. I'll try to get some stuff up on the site (www.thestompbox.net) this week.

[MrMike]

Here are a couple of sites.

www.patchtronix.com
www.valvetronix.net