Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

[STRATDELUXER97]

So far this setup has been working out great for me and my band...I'm fortunate that from years of playing,playing through alot of pedals,and tweaking pedals,that I'm able to dial up great guitar sounds from this thing...

Basically I just run into my wah and then into the TLLE....I have a Marshall Jackhammer in the insert(haven't needed it) and I use an external volume pedal to control my overall volume...This is running into my clean set and great sounding 66 Fender Pro Reverb 2x12 combo with Weber speakers....

I use the expression pedal to control things like delay,reverb,modulation mix,etc....The control switch feature is very cool,as it allows me to click a cab emulator in or out on the fly....I've found that if I use a UK 80s Marshall type preset for example, that sounds really good,I can then switch the 4x10 Tweed Bassman cabinet emulator into the Tonelab.This tightens the tone up and changes the mids in a nice way....Lots of versatility for me,less cable,and I don't have a whole bunch of pedals all strung together...Very little noise also...I like this new setup alot! If I want to add another overdrive/distortion pedal,I just take the wah off the board and stick the pedal there...I don't have room for the CM Plexitone but I have used it...Lately I'm finding that the Marshall Jackhammer has been working better in my setup...

Do I still own all of my pedals(Yep)......:naughty:

 

[Bludave]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

Cool! I know Jeffrec has one and he loves it. He also gets some great sounds out of his. He has the older one I think.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

Cool! I know Jeffrec has one and he loves it. He also gets some great sounds out of his. He has the older one I think.

Yes Jeff and I have been back and forth talking about both units....He has the desktop ToneLab unit....I have given him my JCM 800 preset....This preset has worked great in my band,cuts great,sounds very Marshall like also..Haven't tryed running the ToneLab into my Marshall yet...The Fender combo has the clean tone I Like...If I use the Marshall I then have to carry either my 2x12 or a 4x12 cab along also..

We cover alot of ground in our band....This has been really nice,plus it's easy to setup and get running with it.....I have about 8 presets,but find I use about 4....I have a clean tone,An AC 30 tone,Earlier Marshall tone,and a JCM 800 setup....I don't use any more gain than an 800 normally....Mix in or take out effects and I really have alot of tonal choices....It's fun creating the different tones also...It's like having a menu and you pick the main course,then you add the sides and the spices....Pretty cool/powerful peice!

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

Is this the same exact technology that is in the Valvetronix amp series or is it better technology?

Kinda like line6 spider vs. vetta stuff?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

Is this the same exact technology that is in the Valvetronix amp series or is it better technology?

Kinda like line6 spider vs. vetta stuff?

Same technology but with alot of added features....I'm enjoying the thing alot.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

:cool2::cool3:

 

[Aceman]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

Say what you want - any band in America, even those with really signiture tones (VH, Boston, GnR/Slash, etc) could plug one of those up (or a GT-10, Line-6, whatever), and run it to the board direct and you'd never know. Or care.

Very cool!

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

John,
Do either of your amps have an fx loop and if so have you tried running straight into the return? I'm thinking that would be give you a nice tube power amp feel. I may have a line on a trade for one and was thinking this over. I know my GNX sounds best this way but still not good enough for me to enjoy more just as a headphone practice unit or for recording.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

John,

How is the bypassed on this one? some multi effects can't be bypassed out of the signal when you run through them and some have a horrible bypass when you don't use them.

I've started thinking about getting one of these a while ago. I was mostly thinking about getting a unit that would take care of my reverb, delay and tuner needs. How good are they on this unit? how well does the tap delay work on it (if you got to try it)?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

John,
Do either of your amps have an fx loop and if so have you tried running straight into the return? I'm thinking that would be give you a nice tube power amp feel. I may have a line on a trade for one and was thinking this over. I know my GNX sounds best this way but still not good enough for me to enjoy more just as a headphone practice unit or for recording.

I run mine straight into a 66 Fender Pro Reverb 2x12 combo amp.....Sounds great coming right out of my amp.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

John,

How is the bypassed on this one? some multi effects can't be bypassed out of the signal when you run through them and some have a horrible bypass when you don't use them.

I've started thinking about getting one of these a while ago. I was mostly thinking about getting a unit that would take care of my reverb, delay and tuner needs. How good are they on this unit? how well does the tap delay work on it (if you got to try it)?

I use mine 100% of the time....I have presets setup for really nice Fender clean tones,and I have presets for overdrive/distortion tones....I also have my clean tones setup to where I Just stomp the pedal switch,and it puts a TS9,SD1,or one of the other pedal effects into the mix....I also use either a Marshall Jackhammer or the CM Plexitone with my ToneLab LE.....I have no problems dialing in good tones and it has been working out very nicely in my setup...

I never bypass mine!

I don't use the tap delay or the tuner...I use a Peterson tuner and I only use delay once in awhile....I Like the modulation effects....The Univibe is very good....Some of the effects pedals like the Treble Booster and the Metal distortion,I can't stand...The lower gain and clean presets are happening in this unit. Some of the really high gain stuff(to me) sounds like buzzy, synthetic mud....I'm a classic rock/blues guy....A JCM 800 is more than enough gain for what I play....

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

OK, I'm really GASing for one.

Just want to know - how much does it affect the tone of the tube amp you're using it with? how much of the original tone stays there if you, for example, use only the reverb without the other models?

I'm GASing for a multi affect but I'm a little worried because all of the old Boss or Zoom units I've tried always had some digital presence that took away from the liveliness of the amp...

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

OK, I'm really GASing for one.

Just want to know - how much does it affect the tone of the tube amp you're using it with? how much of the original tone stays there if you, for example, use only the reverb without the other models?

I'm GASing for a multi affect but I'm a little worried because all of the old Boss or Zoom units I've tried always had some digital presence that took away from the liveliness of the amp...

I haven't been running straight into my Fender amp but thought about trying an A/B box.....I Like the tone I hear coming out of the TLLE and into my amp though....I always have a saying..."If it sounds good,it is good"....

Best way to set up a preset is this way....Figure out what kind of tone you're looking for...First pick the amp you want to use,then whether you want a cabinet simulator or no simulator...Once you get the gain structure and tone controls dialed in and you like the dry amp tone,add your reverb if you want it....After that,you can then pick a modulation,add a pedal effect,or add delay...Each pedal from 1 thru 4 can be setup to turn on or off an effect...You basically have 4 stomp box switches for every preset you create....You can either use the TLLE as a stompbox mode or as a program mode...Program mode lets you switch between presets from say preset 1 to preset 2 etc....You can switch between 4 presets within each bank....You can program the expression pedal to program change things like chorus depth,or the speed of the rotary sound,or delay time etc....You also have a control switch that you can use to switch in or switch out the cabinet emulator and other things....I have some great presets that I can share with anyone that wants them....I Love the unit and I Love alot of what Vox has come out with lately....

I have my eyes on that Night Train also! ;o) May have to sell a few more un-used items to scoop one up...

Go online and print out or read through the TLLE manual....It's easy to learn and it's good lookin,fun unit....

Manual Link for ToneLab LE
http://www.americanmusical.com/ItemFiles/Manual/vox/voxtonelable_manual.pdf

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

John,
Do either of your amps have an fx loop and if so have you tried running straight into the return? I'm thinking that would be give you a nice tube power amp feel. I may have a line on a trade for one and was thinking this over. I know my GNX sounds best this way but still not good enough for me to enjoy more just as a headphone practice unit or for recording.

I run mine through the effects loop (setting the switch in the back to "line"). It sounds good straight through amps without FX loops, but I prefer my set-up.

John has been real helpful ( as always). Thanks again, Bro'

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

I run mine through the effects loop (setting the switch in the back to "line"). It sounds good straight through amps without FX loops, but I prefer my set-up.

John has been real helpful ( as always). Thanks again, Bro'

Thanks Jeff....For you,anytime brother! Did you ever try my JCM 800 preset? It's my most used rock preset with my band...I never did find that info on how to adjust the tube in the Desktop model?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

I'm GASing for a multi affect but I'm a little worried because all of the old Boss or Zoom units I've tried always had some digital presence that took away from the liveliness of the amp...

The tube and valve reactor circuitry in the TLab series makes for a warmer,realistic tone....I can't play through anything that sounds too synthetic. I read through a ton of reviews about the unit,but I was also very familiar with the concept,as I've owned a Valvetronix amp(VTH 120 Stereo Head) for quite awhile.

http://www.pickofthericks.com/Valvetronix Series1.htm

I then printed out a manual and got the feel of how to navigate around the TLLE...I also got lucky and grabbed mine for almost half price on E Bay and felt I got a good deal on it...If it sucked,I could have turned around and at least got my money back out of it,but I Love the thing.....I'm an ole stomp box pedal guy,but this thing just has too much stuff within to pass on..

Like any of these multi device effects units,the tones are in there,but you have to know how to dial in the tones you hear in your head.....Some of the tones sound spot on and nobody would know the difference,but some are do-able and just ok....For $230 that I payed for mine,it's got alot to offer,plus you can go direct into a PA or use it to practice through w/headphones,or record direct to your computer with the cab simulators....Nice plug from me I guess for the TLLE. ;O)

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

Thanks Jeff....For you,anytime brother! Did you ever try my JCM 800 preset? It's my most used rock preset with my band...I never did find that info on how to adjust the tube in the Desktop model?

I tried your JCM setting briefly. I have to give it a better ride though. I'm going to try it without the FX Loop, to see if there's a difference. I've also been liking the Recto amp setting.

I'm still loving the Plexi setting with full Bass & Mid, Treble at about 1:00 O'clock, Presence about 3 O'clock. Both Gains up full, and running it through the FX loop.

Thanks again.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

I tried your JCM setting briefly. I have to give it a better ride though. I'm going to try it without the FX Loop, to see if there's a difference. I've also been liking the Recto amp setting.

I'm still loving the Plexi setting with full Bass & Mid, Treble at about 1:00 O'clock, Presence about 3 O'clock. Both Gains up full, and running it through the FX loop.

Thanks again.

That's the problem with giving presets to others....My setup is so very different from your's! My preset sounds great,but could sound like complete a$$ through your setup! :biglaugh:

That preset is with no cabinet simulation and setup to run straight into my clean Fender combo amp with a strat....The Fender amp is at a pretty low volume,to keep the preamp clean..

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

Hey John, how's it going? If you remember, I've got the Valvetronix AD60VTX combo that I run into an Earcandy Buzzbomb 2X12 loaded with a V30 and G12H30, effectively giving me a "3X12" with the Neodog in the Vox.

Can you hear a difference in the tone between your Valvetronix head and the Tonelab which is supposed to be 24 bit compared to twenty on our amps?

Another thing I'm wondering is how you got around the preamp into a preamp thing. I remember many years ago putting a Pod and a Zoom preamp through my 65 twin and never getting a good tone. It always sounded like a blanket was being hung over the speakers. I was told that it was essentially like trying to run an amp through an amp. I put the Zoom through a PA and the difference was night and day--got some really usable tones out of it. Not great, but passable.

I'm really jacked up by this post and was thinking of getting the LE, selling my combo, and putting the LE through my 71 Univox U1246B amp which is a killer amp in its own right, but it's a non-master amp.

Thanks dude,
Mar

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Vox ToneLab LE(My Trimmed Down Setup)

I'm really jacked up by this post and was thinking of getting the LE, selling my combo, and putting the LE through my 71 Univox U1246B amp which is a killer amp in its own right, but it's a non-master amp.

Thanks dude,
Mar

That's a great idea, but why not check an LE out through your amp first to see if there's any real difference. The Valvetronix amps are great. Should be the same electronics as the Desktop, SE, & LE.

I run my Desktop (TT) through a Crate Vintage Club (50W, 2X12) which has an effects loop, but John's setup going through the front end of the Fender is a great way to go too. I haven't tried going through the front end of the Crate yet. Should be similar.

Let us know how you make out with it.

Jeff