Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

[LooseCannon]

I've played a valvetronix before, but after watching the video posted here I had to give it another go.

I tried the 15, 30 and 50watt versions. The clean sounds was good but I don't play clean so I didn't try them that much, but on to the distortion sounds, especially the uk80's and the us highgain which sounded great on the video, when played without any effects they sounded very dry, dull, and sterile, even with reverb add, and I doubt an external cab would change that drasticlly. Then when added chorus and delay they came to life, and sounded great pretty much like in the video, but still lacked smooth mids and buttom end and the notes weren't fat.

Well I guess these amps are overhyped since they need the effects to sound good, but I guess that's ok for a home practice amp.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

The key is to ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have one of the 3 overdrive models turned on. Even when you're using clean amp tones......did I say ALWAYS??

The Valvetronix does sound a bit dry and lifeless, when the stompbox rotary dial is turned off. I think the OD models are supposed to be a Treble Booster, Tubescreamer, and a sort of Fat tube drive. After finding the amp sound you want, dial in the gain further using one of those 3. It adds more punch. Also, turn the OD volume and amp volume all the way up. Control the overall volume with your master volume, gain, and OD gain.

These aren't amps that you can play for 15 minutes and know it inside and out. And as always.....I suggest buying the blue head versions, and plug them into high quality cabs, like you do with good tube heads.

 

[LooseCannon]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Thanks for the tips. Well the silver grill versions don't have built in stompboxes, so i'll try it next time with an od pedal infront of the amp. BTW I did have the gain and volume maxed and controlled the volume with the master.
The store doesn't have the blue grill models so I won't be able to try them, but I did get to plug in the AD50 to a laney 4x12 and there was an improvement.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

The key is to ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have one of the 3 overdrive models turned on. Even when you're using clean amp tones......did I say ALWAYS??

The Valvetronix does sound a bit dry and lifeless, when the stompbox rotary dial is turned off. I think the OD models are supposed to be a Treble Booster, Tubescreamer, and a sort of Fat tube drive. After finding the amp sound you want, dial in the gain further using one of those 3. It adds more punch. Also, turn the OD volume and amp volume all the way up. Control the overall volume with your master volume, gain, and OD gain.

These aren't amps that you can play for 15 minutes and know it inside and out. And as always.....I suggest buying the blue head versions, and plug them into high quality cabs, like you do with good tube heads.

GJ.....I never use the built in overdrive/distortion effects on my own VTH 120.What I do is use a really nice clean BF Fender tone and I use my effects pedals....I get great tones out of my head that way...This amp has been my number 1 gigging amp now as I like it's other effects and the versatility of it..I've had mine for 2 years now,still love and don't plan on getting rid of it...

The built in overdrive/distortion tones etc...are TS9,Treble Booster,RAT,and a Fuzz...

 

[LooseCannon]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Stratdeluxer do you use any of the gain amp models? What's your opinion bout them?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

GJ.....I never use the built in overdrive/distortion effects on my own VTH 120.What I do is use a really nice clean BF Fender tone and I use my effects pedals....I get great tones out of my head that way...This amp has been my number 1 gigging amp now as I like it's other effects and the versatility of it..I've had mine for 2 years now,still love and don't plan on getting rid of it...

The built in overdrive/distortion tones etc...are TS9,Treble Booster,RAT,and a Fuzz...

You know that amp forward and backward, I'm sure. It's definitely limitless, when it comes to tweakability, especially when you're adding your own analog pedals to the mix.

I've tried a few of the metal grill versions, and they aren't bad for the money, but the blue grill versions do more. I'm disapointed that Vox didn't come out with a new improved version this year. I'd love it if they'd come out with a Valvetronix Pro rack unit and also a head that is as advanced as the Vetta II.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Well, I can tell ya this, I use only the reverb on any of the models that I use and have no problem dialing in a pleasing tone. I use the BF 2x12 for cleans, the UK 80's for rhythm/leads and the US High Gain for the 80's hair metal stuff and leads. My favorite high gain models are those two that I use. I don't care for the UK Modern or Numetal models. Everything else is pretty cool though and fun to mess with.

Now, the key is to not dial them in like a conventional amp. You have to think totally out of the box. I think I sat in the store for about 1/2 an hour with the thing before making up my mind.....with MY OWN GUITAR!!! That is key number 2 to trying out ANY amp...take your own guitar.

Also, you maxed the Volume. Big mistake. Back it down to about 1 or 2 o'clock, get the Master around noon and then reach around back and set the wattage selector to taste. The way I run it with the band (I have the AD50) is I crank that wattage selector all the way up. The Master sits at 2 then. If I go any higher, I'm drowning everyone else out.

It was a little stiff when I first got it but after speaker break-in, it's been sweet. Had I been able to afford one of the blue models, I probably would have gotten one. The shop had a AD60 combo and AD120 head. My budget was limited and I needed an amp quick. This fit the bill better than I expected.

 

[LooseCannon]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

I didn't max the volume it was on about 3 o'clock, and I used settings of bass- 3 o'clock mids- 1 o'clock and treble- 12 o'clock with the us high gain model. I really don't think that I could get that much more out of it without effects since the basic sound is very sterile.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Your EQ'ing that model a little unconventional. It's a model of the Soldano SLO-100. Back the gain down to about 2 o'clock, volume about the same, max the treble, mids at 10-11 o'clock, bass around noon-1 o'clock. Then just dial in some reverb with it. And try my other suggestions too. That model is very gain heavy so it needs to be backed down some. The JCM800 model (UK 80's) has more gain to it than a real stock 2203. To my ears they modelled a hotrodded 2203, which is fine by me.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

I went back to the store after that long thread...

I sat down with the AD50

I sat there for 1 and half hours with it, with my guitar... I was able to get somehow good OD tones, even at relatively low volumes. Also I couldn't plug into a decent speaker cabinet because there wasn't one there...

The OD of the amp is better than its clean tones. It felt a bit stiff when clean. I think the reason for that is because there was fender hotrod deluxe I plugged into earlier!

It's really difficult to get your tone out of it. I was trying to use it as a regular amp and I couldn't do it. Then I started tweaking and tweaking and I barely got there...

I believe with a good speaker and the right settings they would be great, but at the time it just didn't click with me... I really wanted to like it, but I couldn't set my tone on it. Even EQing was difficult...

At one point I was thinking that my ears were messed up, or something was wrong with me! I though that all that practice with the crapy ss amp at home got to me... Either I am completely useless, or my conception of good tone is totally wrong.

For some reason that HR deluxe was nicer with me... Maybe it suited me better, I don't know...

 

[ErikH]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Sorry it didn't work out for ya, fingerace. The speaker in the AD50 is a Celestion 7080 made for those amps. It takes a bit to break in but once it does, it's nice. I agree, the OD stuff is better than the cleans but the cleans are really good for what they are. The Twin model is my favorite in that area. And like I mentioned early, you have to think totally different than with a typical tube or SS amp.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Sorry it didn't work out for ya, fingerace. The speaker in the AD50 is a Celestion 7080 made for those amps. It takes a bit to break in but once it does, it's nice. I agree, the OD stuff is better than the cleans but the cleans are really good for what they are. The Twin model is my favorite in that area. And like I mentioned early, you have to think totally different than with a typical tube or SS amp.

A 7080? I had no idea.. It didn't feel right for some reason though, even not broken in.

I don't know if I ll go back again and try it out again... I felt really bad with myslef the last time for some reason... :laugh2:

I really strugled with it...

I ought to give it another last shot... I read your tips and I ll try to use them. Unfortunately I couldn't get my hands on a blueface model in order to use that OD trick that GJ wrote about.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

The seventy80 is a really middy speaker, surprised they have it in there. Freaking brutal for metal, though \m/

 

[LooseCannon]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Your EQ'ing that model a little unconventional. It's a model of the Soldano SLO-100. Back the gain down to about 2 o'clock, volume about the same, max the treble, mids at 10-11 o'clock, bass around noon-1 o'clock. Then just dial in some reverb with it. And try my other suggestions too. That model is very gain heavy so it needs to be backed down some. The JCM800 model (UK 80's) has more gain to it than a real stock 2203. To my ears they modelled a hotrodded 2203, which is fine by me.

Thanks Erik i'll try that next time. Though i'd say maxing the treble is a bit unconventional too, and I couldn't get it to sound right how I usually set amps' eq, so i'll try it your way.
But I think the sterile sound will still be there, watch the video posted for example, when he demonstrates how to use the noise gate he turns off the effects and you can hear the basic tone is very sterille, at least to my ears.

 

[SOLO GUITAR STEWIE]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

I've played a valvetronix before, but after watching the video posted here I had to give it another go.

I tried the 15, 30 and 50watt versions. The clean sounds was good but I don't play clean so I didn't try them that much, but on to the distortion sounds, especially the uk80's and the us highgain which sounded great on the video, when played without any effects they sounded very dry, dull, and sterile, even with reverb add, and I doubt an external cab would change that drasticlly. Then when added chorus and delay they came to life, and sounded great pretty much like in the video, but still lacked smooth mids and buttom end and the notes weren't fat.

Well I guess these amps are overhyped since they need the effects to sound good, but I guess that's ok for a home practice amp.

I agree the medium and highgain amps sound bad without efx and need a lot of work to muster up the uuummmppphh to gig with.

chris

 

[ErikH]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Thanks Erik i'll try that next time. Though i'd say maxing the treble is a bit unconventional too, and I couldn't get it to sound right how I usually set amps' eq, so i'll try it your way.
But I think the sterile sound will still be there, watch the video posted for example, when he demonstrates how to use the noise gate he turns off the effects and you can hear the basic tone is very sterille, at least to my ears.

Yeah, maxing the treble is unconventional, but with my guitars, that is how I had to set it to get it the way I wanted. The noisegate is set to be so sensitive on that model that it cuts things out. Decrease the sensitivity or just disable it altogether. It'll makes a difference. It'll be much more sensitive to pick attack.

 

[LooseCannon]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

I did disable the noise gate when I tried the amp and it still didn't sound great.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Well, I can tell ya this, I use only the reverb on any of the models that I use and have no problem dialing in a pleasing tone. I use the BF 2x12 for cleans, the UK 80's for rhythm/leads and the US High Gain for the 80's hair metal stuff and leads. My favorite high gain models are those two that I use. I don't care for the UK Modern or Numetal models. Everything else is pretty cool though and fun to mess with.

Now, the key is to not dial them in like a conventional amp. You have to think totally out of the box. I think I sat in the store for about 1/2 an hour with the thing before making up my mind.....with MY OWN GUITAR!!! That is key number 2 to trying out ANY amp...take your own guitar.

Also, you maxed the Volume. Big mistake. Back it down to about 1 or 2 o'clock, get the Master around noon and then reach around back and set the wattage selector to taste. The way I run it with the band (I have the AD50) is I crank that wattage selector all the way up. The Master sits at 2 then. If I go any higher, I'm drowning everyone else out.

It was a little stiff when I first got it but after speaker break-in, it's been sweet. Had I been able to afford one of the blue models, I probably would have gotten one. The shop had a AD60 combo and AD120 head. My budget was limited and I needed an amp quick. This fit the bill better than I expected.

Can't speak for the metal front AD series,but one of the keys to getting great tones out of the blue series(VTH60 and 120) amps "is" to push the master volume up very high,this pushes those 12AX7s hard...

Also going to V30s in the matching AD 2X12 Vox cabinet made my amp magical for my styles...The BF 2x12 setting with some reverb is a great platform for me,from there I can switch in chorus,delay,and or use one of my great sounding overdrive/distortion pedals into that great clean preset....

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

Stratdeluxer do you use any of the gain amp models? What's your opinion bout them?

Pretty much I use a really nice full sounding BF 2x12 setting on my VTH 120 with foot switchable chorus,delay,and a Univibe if needed...I basically run my Plexitone,modded TS 808,Marshall Jackhammer,or a modded DS1 right into this great clean preset...

If I were to run straight into the amp,I Like the Modern Marshall,Boutique Dumble,and the Soldano tones the best....The 59 Bassman,JTM 45,Plexi models,require a treble boost and maybe an added pedal or they don't sound right to me...

I Like my tone to be ballsy in the lows,articulate on notes,and not have too much overall gain...My tones I guess would be a cross between a fat clean BF clean and mixed with about the gain of a JCM 800 or a higher gained up Plexi Marshall amp...The Soldano preset does a great job of that on it's own,but it's easier for me just to toggle back and forth between a great BF clean tone and one of my pedals!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Played a Valvetronix Today- My Impressions

You know that amp forward and backward, I'm sure. It's definitely limitless, when it comes to tweakability, especially when you're adding your own analog pedals to the mix.

I've tried a few of the metal grill versions, and they aren't bad for the money, but the blue grill versions do more. I'm disapointed that Vox didn't come out with a new improved version this year. I'd love it if they'd come out with a Valvetronix Pro rack unit and also a head that is as advanced as the Vetta II.

I'd say I have a pretty decent overall understanding of this amp GJ as I use it about 90% of the time both for gigs,at home,and at our loud band practices...Last night I used my ole Marshall 50 watt NMV head and it sounded wonderful...It's just not as versatile,in that I have to add those time based pedals(if I need them)to the chain...I Like the fact that I can footswitch in things like reverb,chorus,delay,and a univibe and pick and choose those effects on the fly with the Vox...For me the key is ease of use and versatility,plus the people in the crowd don't know why the tone is really good anyway,as long as it inspires me! :laugh2: I absolutely love this Vox amp!