Valvetronix for me?

[Crunchyriff]

I just got a lead guitarist spot for a, uhh, fairly high-profile group, for lack of a better term. I am not at liberty to discuss that issue whatsoever at the moment, please forgive me, guys; :oops: but, as it is right now, I need something that will mimic (for lack of a better word) my 3-amp rig (w/ my FX); that will suffice in something dependable, tube-sounding, small, but loud; and that can cut through onstage.

The "opening act" spots that the group has booked dictate that I need to get on and offstage quickly, but I ALSO need my sounds. So much for my 350lb "rig" at the present time. I also need this for rehearsals, as I still am in another group, and can't schlep that much gear back and forth all the time. The new group also has a smaller rehearsal location that is NOT friendly to my normal rig.

To up the ante' I am also, at the moment, under budget constraints that limit the capital I might normally spend on something like handwired a Marshall 1974 combo, Aiken Invader, or similar tier all-tube amps.

For me, the POD/Line6 stuff isn't a prospect whatsoever (no offense to anyone using them, I'm just not interested, thanks); so the next logical possibility is the Valvetronix, which comes pretty highly-regarded by ears that I trust, who normally shun anything but all-tube amps.

I hear that the new VTX w/ the neo-dynium speaker is the line to get, better than the VT; but this stuff is so new to me that I'm pretty green regarding the current VOX line.
I DO know I'll want the VC-12 controller, that is not cheap, btw...

Looking for gear suggestions here, gang- esp those of you with Vox VT or VTX experience. Thanks!

[kewlpack]

I had the AD50VT. It was okay - but I do not believe it was of a high enough "caliber" to fill your requirements. :(

The AD120VTX (?) might be a much better choice. I think that is the combo with the neodogs.

I know you said no modelers... but:

The VOX ToneLab SE may be a much better solution as it sounded FAR better than the AD50VT... just run it through a nice clean amp. Trust me on this one. Though the high gain stuff amps all sounded too similar.

Be sure to go in and put whatever you are looking at through the paces!

You may also give a serious look at the Boss GT-8. I dare say it is as good as the VOX ToneLab and has 340 presets :shock: :shock: :shock: (200 factory - most are very usable, and 140 user patches - again, most are usable). Plus it is going for about $445. I just got one today and am running it through a Fender Stage 1000 (SS amp) and my jaw dropped with how many GOOD tones this thing gave me. At least try one. ;) (It took me about three hours to go through all of the patches right out of the box - THAT WAS FUN!) :mrgreen:

A Carvin combo MTS3212 may be a good option as well - all tube, three channels, 2x12.

Hope that helps.
~A~

[Crunchyriff]

Kewl- thanks!

Modelers are not "out of bounds" for me as long as they aren't Line6/POD items.

I mean, the Valvetronix is in fact a modeler, but one that seems to be "done right". It is my understanding that they did a terrific job with the Marshall models,( I think Micter touched on this, too) and this is my target area; then fender clean, etc.

ToneLabs SE, huh? hmm.. I DO have a nice, all-tube 120/120 watt power amp just sitting around....

In this day and age and tech, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect onboard, quality multi-fx, either.

The Carvin MTS is disqualified due to it having two, not three channels, plus I'd need to bring my rack of pedals and fx, too.

I wanted to include that another requirement of mine is that the 'interaction' factor that a guitar has when plugged into a tube amp has to be there. If the guitar feels 'dead' when plugged into said amp, I don't want it.

Thanks again!

[stephen]

I know some who love em, and some who hate em:

Fender Cyber Twin and Cyber Deluxe.

Never tried em myself, so I'm just Passing along what I have heard.

[Crunchyriff]

Thanks Stephen.

I've heard both yea and nay, but ears I trust say they sound too thin- at least the Cyber-Twin. I have not confirmed or negated that for myself.

[Crunchyriff]

Oh, for those Vox users here: from a close friend who is another Vox VT user, I hear the key to get the legit tones outta that thing is to crank the front master all the way, and use the "power level control" on the back to control overall volume; supposedly this is the key to get the maximum "tube goodness" out of this setup- really brings it to life.

If you weren't aware of that, give it a try.

[Teleguy]

I'm very happy with the 15w and 50w Valvetronix amps I have. The 15w gets most of the use for indoors (except when playing with loud guys). :wink:

Sometimes I think I should add the 30w version, because it's the size of the 15w, but has the back level control!

I am quite used to these amps now, after being a tube-snob for decades.
They are user friendly and wide range -tone wise.

[Crunchyriff]

Teleguy: a close friend of mine across the USA from me initially bought the 15 watt version, and returned it for the 30 watt job with the rear power level control; and he told me that it is a totally different beast than the 15 watt because of that feature alone. It takes that amp to the next level.

I'm not saying your 15 watt is "bad" by any means; what I AM saying is the rear control is the key to getting the maximum goods out of that amp series that it was designed to deliver. My pal had a good working relationship with Ken Bran and some other cats at Marshall during the 80's; and he's got a good ear for great tone, and what the different Marshall variants should sound like.

So when he tells me that the VOX Valvetronix (properly dialed-in with the rear control) will cop an admirable take on the Marshall JCM, JMP, and so forth, and have the kind of CUT for live playing that the Line6/Pod products (and just about all the other modelers) lack; that gets my attention real quick! :mrgreen:

Futhermore, it's my understanding that VOX really did their homework with the pedal models; proper placement in the signal chain; and the onboard FX.

Kewlpack- I just visited the Roland and Boss websites....very interesting, indeed...I was sad to see that it appears Roland has totally removed themselves from the rack FX mkt. They had some of the finest pieces (aside from Lexicon), IMHO for delays and reverbs. My SDE3000 is still one of THE best DD's I've ever heard. But I digress...

$445 seems pretty reasonable for that amt of power (GT8). The rack version (GT-pro) looks real interesting, too. I wish they had some soundbites on the site, aside from that NAMM clip.

Ya know, one of those critters, or the VOX ToneLabs, straight into my old JMP might be kinda cool...

I'm kinda getting excited about this. I just hate spending more dough on gear...

[kewlpack]

I have been using the GT-8 all weekend and the tones are pretty hot! It's one of those tools that "inspires" you to play because you can find just about every tone you could want. It's mad fun! :mrgreen:

The Digitech GNX4 was like that too, although it wasn't too great on a few amp models. I believe that could've been because of the amps I was running through (they didn't compliment the modeling).

You are correct in the point that the Master Volume on the Valvetronix makes the most difference. It is what controls the power amp (i.e. tube Valve Reactor technology) saturation. I found the best results on the AD50VT were heard when I had it set to about 3 o'clock.

The wattage dial on the back is essentially a free-dialing attenuator. I found the best tones came with that set to at least 12:00 (or half way up). The speaker has to move a bit to get the tone - of course. ;)

The ToneLab SE blew away the Valvetronix amps however. If you are gonna spend the dough, do it right. Get the TLSE and run it through a SINGLE clean channel SS or Tube amp. Both will give you very good results - and you will be able to tap a button to "change the channel" all you want.

I didn't like the way it did the Marshall tones (or most of the high gain tones) after I used it awhile. They all seemed to sound pretty much the same and had the "swarm of bees" buzzy overdrive syndrome. It was hard to mitigate.

So I moved on to the Boss GT-8. I'm quite satisfied and believe the tones I'm getting easily rival everything else I've tried - even the VOX. It's cheaper to boot.

I am running through a Fender Stage 1000 which is a much better SS amp that any I've had to date as well. That counts for a lot of the good tone. The Celestion G12T-100 is a fine fine speaker.

YMMV - hope this helps.
~A~

[Crunchyriff]

Kewl-

The GT-8 and/or GT-Pro thing is looking VERY enticing...

It's unfortunate that the only video/audio available at this point is from that 7 minute NAMM clip- in which you get some 'chum', but no real substance. You get a smattering of its 'features' more than its tones (which I always find suspect); in short, just enough to make you ....yeah...go down to yer local BOSS dealer....

crimeny, I'm gonna have to check it out. Our other guitarist/keyboardist in "23Hundred", the band I've been in for almost seven years, is using a GT-6 into the front end of my Soldano (that I sold him). Frankly, I can't stand the sound of either; but I suspect the GT-6 could sound better than it does with some proper setup/tweaking. I would hope so, anyway.

The NAMM GT-8 'chum' sounded promising...
that thing might do a bang-up job into my old Marshall JMP.

Hmmmm.......

[kewlpack]

I just laid down a two-tone lead over a backing track at the LPF. These are raw tones right into the PC direct. I thought it sounded pretty good. THrough a clean amp, it sounds much more dimensional (obviously 'cause of the REAL speaker).

Evidently, from the users at www.bossgtcentral.com, the GT-8 has revamped the amp models as well as effects. People are raving.

Here's that sound clip:
http://www.kewlpack.com/misc_files/music/kp_bfsswing.mp3