Modeling amp suggestions?

JfromHouston

JfromHouston

New member
I am going to upgrade my Flextone II+ to something different. I am looking for a head that will be pushing a Celestion (V30/H30) loaded 2x12. So far I am thinking about the Vox Valvetronix AD60 or 120 head. I dont really need the 120 watts but I would like to run it in stereo and the 60 doesn't offer the stereo option. I also like the HD147 but am worried that it wont cover vintage tones to well. I want clean, dirty and hi-gain tones out of the amp. I would consider a Vetta but at 1600 bucks new I cant let go of that kind of money for a computer that doesnt play games :). Is there anything else out there worth looking at?

Thanks!

J
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

I hear this monster is badA$$.....but you certainly don't need 300WATTS!!! :laugh2:

http://www.tech21nyc.com/tm300.html


Gearjoneser loves that Vox Valvetronix, so I'm sure you won't go wrong there.

Aside from the ones you listed, I don't know of many modelling heads. I'm gonna build a head box to house my SansAmp PSA-1 & sit it atop my Tech21 Power Engine...basically will give me a 60w modeller that does a TON, while giving that classic look of a 1/2 stack. :)
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

Why not look into the Fender Cyber Twin head? I've had my CT combo now for almost 3 years and absolutely love it..???

John
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

The two heads I have experience with, and like, are the Vox AD60 and Vetta. The Vetta is nice, but expensive, so I opted for the Vox AD60 or 120. Since I'm using a modeling amp as a home/low volume/recording rig, I decided I didn't need the stereo option and extra power, so I bought the AD60 for around $420 out the door new at Sam Ash, which was very reasonable. You may even be able to locate one on Ebay for around $375, which is surprisingly less than the Vox Tonelab. The features I love best about the Vox is that it's laid out like pedals straight into a choice of amps = no scrolling through parameters or menus. Also, the headphone out and rec. line out share a volume control on the back panel. Since you can tailor the gain by balancing between the OD pedals and amp gains, you can get all your distortion tones to sound any way you want. Storing your patches is as simple as hitting two buttons. Also, the cleans on the Vox amp sounds much more tubelike than the SS sounding cleans on lesser modeling amps.
The only feature I wish the AD60 had was stereo recording outs like the AD120 has. If it had that, plus REAL spring reverb, it'd be darn near perfect.
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

If you don't mind the old look of the Vetta I's (silver, not black), they can be had for a fairly reasonable price and be software upgraded to ver. 2.03 the latest. Some Guitar Centers had been blowing them out for $799. Used they should be around that as well. This was for the combo version.

I had the HD 147, and while it was a cool amp, I wanted all the other bells and whistles for low gain stuff too. Way more effects, more amp models and cabs, 2 amps at once, more DSP processing power.
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

The Vetta 1 rules. Maybe I haven't dialed in the Vetta II properly, but the 1st one sounds better to my ears (I know, it doesn't make sense). The Vetta 1 can be found used for a decent price and tonally I prefer it to any other amp in the store, that's including Mesa, Marshall, Fender and Crate. It has great cleans, pretty good inbetween sounds and some great high gain tones. It's really quite amazing once it's dialed in (I tried it out with Fender Teles a while back).

I still can't get along with the Vox Valvetronix at all. Just can't find good distortion, buesy or clean tones (although maybe a custom birch cab like gearjoneser has might help).
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

Thanks guys. Check this out: http://www.zzounds.com/item--VOXAD60VTH

I wonder just how blemished it is. For 359 thats a pretty tough price to beat. I mean if its tolex has a tear big deal but if it looks like a truck ran over it I can do without it. I saw one go off of ebay the other day for a little over 250, but I rarely see them and I've only seen one other used and it was on the gear page.
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

I'm a big fan of using modeling heads on quality cabs, since it always sounds better to me than the combos. I understand when Chris says he couldn't find a good sound out of the Valvetronix. Most modeling amps need to be tinkered with for hours to find the perfect tones. In the store, you have a limited amount of time to dial in tones, and it's hard to find the great ones. Kinda like testing a computer at the store.
If you can afford the Vetta I used, it's definitely a good choice as well.
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

I would highly recommend the ORIGINAL POD PRO with a very high quality power amp... I use a BRYSTON 3B-ST.
I am a vintage amp collector and have the luxury of A/B'ing the classics through the same cabinet against the various modeling amps and none of them really pull it off except for the POD PRO/BRYSTON combo...
BOTTOM LINE is that Line 6 had it right the first go-round... the newer stuff has that "fake" sound to my ear...
The original POD PRO is an OUTSTANDING piece of gear and used much better quality A/D & D/A converters that the Flextone combos and the regular Pod... do not be mistaken and think that the POD PRO was just a rack mount version of the POD... it has signifigantly better sound quality... when paired with a high quality power amp it sounds like tone heaven!
The combos... besides lesser quality converters also have VERY CHEAP power amp sections and speakers to keep them at a mass marketable price...

THE KEY TO USING THE POD PRO is the defeat the "CABINET" models on all patches... this is what most people hear as un-natural about the Line 6 products... they have pusued this avenue even further in the recent offerings which is why they sound even less true to the amp sounds they are trying to recreate... TOO MANY COOKS IN THE KITCHEN!
 
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Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

Bach, you'll need to try the new Atomic Amp. Mine will be here this Friday. It's an 18w tube amp 1x12 that was made explicitly for modellers, such as the POD. It uses JJ tubes..l EL84 and 12AX& I believe. It's designed my master amp builder Harry Kolbe out of NYC. I've got a product review of it on my site below. You can also run it with other preamps, but I haven't tried that yet. This thing rips with tone!
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

I think as far as modelling amps go the vox valvetronix and tech21 stuff is pretty top notch, but if it applies the pod 2.0 is pretty dam nice!
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

After a lot of thought I've considered purchasing a modeling amp, but I was wondering:

Is it possible to use regular stand alone effects pedals with modeling amps?

I'd buy it mainly to use the amp models, and whatever other effects I don't feel like buying, but other than that I'd leave the effects options on the amp alone.
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

InstituteOfNoise said:
Bach, you'll need to try the new Atomic Amp. Mine will be here this Friday. It's an 18w tube amp 1x12 that was made explicitly for modellers, such as the POD. It uses JJ tubes..l EL84 and 12AX& I believe. It's designed my master amp builder Harry Kolbe out of NYC. I've got a product review of it on my site below. You can also run it with other preamps, but I haven't tried that yet. This thing rips with tone!
Click to expand...
I will have enough money for a podxt and an atomic amp soon. This is definitely my next investment. You have to give me a follow up review once it arrives, I havn't been able to talk to anyone who has one yet.
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

Try a Boss GT-6 and a tube power amp. It works for me! You get most of the Boss and some Roland effects with good amp models in a rugged floor board. Play it thru a quality tube power section (Carvin make a good one for about $600) and you're set.
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

Presa Tito, I can tell you now it rocks! I've already played it. I also played in their booth at NAMM this past January using it in stereo. It killed! This week they asked me to be their in-store demo guy for a huge sale at one of the bigger independant music stores here in LA this weekend. They are already getting some name players on tour asking for it. For the quality going into this amp, I'd say that an equivalent amp (non-modeller based) would sell for hundreds more than this. All the dealers I've heard have been extremely impressed with it so far.
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

Closed Eye said:
After a lot of thought I've considered purchasing a modeling amp, but I was wondering:

Is it possible to use regular stand alone effects pedals with modeling amps?

I'd buy it mainly to use the amp models, and whatever other effects I don't feel like buying, but other than that I'd leave the effects options on the amp alone.
Click to expand...

ABSOLUTELY!!!....but the trick is to use them on the best clean setting you can find.

BTW...is "SA/TX" San Antonio? If so, lovely city!!!! :)
 
Re: Modeling amp suggestions?

Benjy_26 said:
Try a Boss GT-6 and a tube power amp. It works for me! You get most of the Boss and some Roland effects with good amp models in a rugged floor board. Play it thru a quality tube power section (Carvin make a good one for about $600) and you're set.
Click to expand...


I'm trying to stay away from more "tube" amps. I like my DSL but it has to get pretty loud before I like the sound and I would imagine the Carvin would be the same way. My whole point of getting another modeling amp is to limit the volume.

J
 
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