Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

[75lespaul]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

I never used the Vox preamps, but any other like Line 6, Zoom etc. sounded horrible though any amp I used. Very wet blanket over the speaker sort of sound. The only one that worked, and it worked great, was the Marshall JMP-1 preamp through the JTM-45 reissue head and 70s blackback 4X12 I had. Alas, all three were sold years ago.

It's been described to me as a unit that colors sound being put through another unit that colors sound. However, through a PA or power amp they all sounded great.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

I actually think VOX is making a HUGE marketing mistake by giving the AD60vtx and the AD120vtx the same series name as the metal-faced sidekicks. I have both the AD60VTX and an Ad30vt. The cloth-faced 60 & 120 watters are a world above the metal faced versions, both in tones and the amount of versatility and features provided to you. I'm not crackin on the metal faced versions, hey, for the money, you can't beat them for very useable tones.

The cloth faced 60 & 120 versions, though, are MUCH more authenticly tube, and the effects sound much better, and there are many more choices of individual effects. They have overdrive, and fat overdrive, treble boost, plate and room reverb, fuzz face, univibe, octavia and a lot more. You can have a plethora of foot switchable presets instead of just 3. What sold me on them though was the authenticity of, especially, the Vox ac-30 and Fender Bassman tweed tube tone. They also have many more amp models to choose from; a Marshall Bluesbreaker combo, Vox ac30TB (top boost), Vox ac15TB, Fender tweed 1x12, and a Marshall JCM900 series. There is a reason the 60 and 120 watters cost a lot more. They are worth a lot more!!
That's my 2 cents.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

Mr. B, that's pretty much why I bought the AD60VTX. I wanted some serious Vox AC15 and AC30 sounds but couldn't spend thousands of dollars on them. I really dug the AC models, but most of the others I was pleasantly surprised with. I also wanted the extra programming and effects as well. Since I don't own the metal grill, nor have I played one I can't comment on the sound difference. The Vox rep said the cabinets are the only difference between the way the models sound and the speaker. So in theory, a metal faced head will be of the same sound quality of a blue faced head, just with a lot less models, effects and storage.

I wonder if anyone has done a side by side comparison of the two different head models through the same cabinet.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

I have a Vox AC30, so I wasn't in need of the extra amp tones in the 60/120 series. The newer series had everything I wanted at an awesome price. And yes, running the 100-watt head through a cab with V30s sounds fantastic.

- Keith

 

[DankStar]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

Yeah, I love it.

Vox Valvetronix :bowdown:

cool insights. I'm not the type to usually go for the most pricey version of a product in a line, but I think the 60-watter X series would be my amp of all amps for home and a band situation. 8 bones ain't cheap for me, that's for sure, but it appears to be an amp for me to sell some of my nicer gear to get. my halfstack's days are numbered.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

I never used the Vox preamps, but any other like Line 6, Zoom etc. sounded horrible though any amp I used. Very wet blanket over the speaker sort of sound. The only one that worked, and it worked great, was the Marshall JMP-1 preamp through the JTM-45 reissue head and 70s blackback 4X12 I had. Alas, all three were sold years ago.

It's been described to me as a unit that colors sound being put through another unit that colors sound. However, through a PA or power amp they all sounded great.

I'm not sure I get what you re saying... Any modeler (tonelab included) doesn't work too well in front of a tube amp, while it works well through a PA?

Anyway...
I have just noticed that you "HAVE" to buy the vc12 pedalboard to make the valvetronix amps usable live. That adds $280 to the price.

Vox used to have that vc-4 smaller, chaper pedalboard but discontinued it, right?

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

Thanks for the info JumpMarine. By good amp you mean a vintage tube amp or a "crystal" clean roland chorus?

As I understand modeling works best with super clean amps. I am not sure if that is the case with the Tonelab boards... Do they compliment a real tube amp? They do have the valve reactor technology but I am not sure what to make of that.

What I have witnessed is that both the tonelab and my 15watt, used as a preamp via the line ou,t work quite well in front of a clean tube amp. My buddy is using his tonelab in front of a '68 Princeton and it sounded great and I used the 15 in front of my 18w TMB head. That said, it may not work for every amp out there. I know that the rule of thumb with modelers is that they sound best with a super clean solid state amp(Roland) or pa. And I would agree with that due to the sterile nature of those set ups. They are great foundations for modelers. But it can be done front of tube amps as well, though on average they sound better with analog pedals.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

What I have witnessed is that both the tonelab and my 15watt, used as a preamp via the line ou,t work quite well in front of a clean tube amp. My buddy is using his tonelab in front of a '68 Princeton and it sounded great and I used the 15 in front of my 18w TMB head. That said, it may not work for every amp out there. I know that the rule of thumb with modelers is that they sound best with a super clean solid state amp(Roland) or pa. And I would agree with that due to the sterile nature of those set ups. They are great foundations for modelers. But it can be done front of tube amps as well, though on average they sound better with analog pedals.

Cool... Thanks!

I guess that at that price range instead of a tonelab preamp it's better to get the "power amp" to go with that technology... i.e. just get a Valvetronix amp!

Only when you mentioned it, it occured to me that a tonelab is the same as using the line out of the valvetronix amp... :smack:

Actually I asked Gearjoneser via PM a few days ago, if he knew whether the tubes are before or after the line out of the amp.

Well, he doesn't know and from the search that I did, I couldn't find out for sure either...

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

Cool... Thanks!

I guess that at that price range instead of a tonelab preamp it's better to get the "power amp" to go with that technology... i.e. just get a Valvetronix amp!

Only when you mentioned it, it occured to me that a tonelab is the same as using the line out of the valvetronix amp... :smack:

Actually I asked Gearjoneser via PM a few days ago, if he knew whether the tubes are before or after the line out of the amp.

Well, he doesn't know and from the search that I did, I couldn't find out for sure either...

My guess is that the line out on the Valvetronix comes before the tube. I don't like the tone of the line out nearly as much as I do the tone of the amp when miked, and I'm thinking it's because miking the amp allows the signal to run through the output tube.

- Keith

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

Actually I asked Gearjoneser via PM a few days ago, if he knew whether the tubes are before or after the line out of the amp.

Well, he doesn't know and from the search that I did, I couldn't find out for sure either...

Can't help you there, unfortunatly.:smack:

 

[LooseCannon]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

I actually think VOX is making a HUGE marketing mistake by giving the AD60vtx and the AD120vtx the same series name as the metal-faced sidekicks. I have both the AD60VTX and an Ad30vt. The cloth-faced 60 & 120 watters are a world above the metal faced versions, both in tones and the amount of versatility and features provided to you. I'm not crackin on the metal faced versions, hey, for the money, you can't beat them for very useable tones.

The cloth faced 60 & 120 versions, though, are MUCH more authenticly tube, and the effects sound much better, and there are many more choices of individual effects. They have overdrive, and fat overdrive, treble boost, plate and room reverb, fuzz face, univibe, octavia and a lot more. You can have a plethora of foot switchable presets instead of just 3. What sold me on them though was the authenticity of, especially, the Vox ac-30 and Fender Bassman tweed tube tone. They also have many more amp models to choose from; a Marshall Bluesbreaker combo, Vox ac30TB (top boost), Vox ac15TB, Fender tweed 1x12, and a Marshall JCM900 series. There is a reason the 60 and 120 watters cost a lot more. They are worth a lot more!!
That's my 2 cents.

What cab are you playing the AD60 through? I'd guess the different cab would make the huge difference between the AD30's cab and stock speaker.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

My guess is that the line out on the Valvetronix comes before the tube. I don't like the tone of the line out nearly as much as I do the tone of the amp when miked, and I'm thinking it's because miking the amp allows the signal to run through the output tube.

- Keith

Yeah but how come the tonelab which is a preamp pedal has a functional tube? That's what puzzling me...

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

What cab are you playing the AD60 through? I'd guess the different cab would make the huge difference between the AD30's cab and stock speaker.

When I had my 60H, I played it through 2 -2x12's(V30/Texas Heat, V30/Swamp Thang) It sounded HUGE. Side by side with my buddy's 120 combo with the Celestion Neo's and a v30 2x12, my rig sounded much more refined.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

Yeah but how come the tonelab which is a preamp pedal has a functional tube? That's what puzzling me...

After thinking about it, I don't think that the line out is before the tube for just this reason. If the line out was before the tube section that would defeat the whole purpose of the amp's usefulness. The tube is an intrigal part of the whole valve reactor system. This of course is pure speculation on my part, with nothing to back it up....LOL!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

There are a couple of Vox models on the Silver series...a AC15, and a AC30 Top Boost. The AC 15 I have to admit I like to fool around with for Yardbirds or Jeff Beck Group type sounds..sounds EXCELLENT. The AC30 TB..meh...too compressed...If you like The Edge/U2 type tones tho, it does them very well.

As for the Tonelab....I had that thing for MONTHS and I ran it several ways and fiddled and fiddled and fiddled. No matter what I did, I could NOT get it to sound decent. Whether in "direct" mode or "guitar amp" mode.

1) Through my Atomic: It always sounded small and thin, and had the wet blanket thing going on.

2) Through the front end of my Rivera Chubster: sounded worse than #1

3) Used the chubster as a Slave (put the Tonelab in as the pre- and used the chubster's power section). FINALLY the wet blanket thing went away, but it still was small,thin and compressed.

I used the stock EH tube as well as a Rivera branded tube. The Rivera tube helped, but not much.

Perhaps a Keyboard amp/PA would work better. I'm not willing to spend the $ to find out and buy a Keyboard amp and another Tonelab. The POD XTL absolutely smoked the Tonelab any way I set it up.

The VC4 controller was all plastic and had durability issues so VOX dropped it.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

On the amp heads/combos...if you go "line out" or headphone jack the tube is bypassed.

On the Tonelab, you can run one of the "outs" and the tube is not bypassed. Cant remember what the name of it is, off hand.

Check the manuals on the VOX site...you can d'load them.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

On the amp heads/combos...if you go "line out" or headphone jack the tube is bypassed.

On the Tonelab, you can run one of the "outs" and the tube is not bypassed. Cant remember what the name of it is, off hand.

Check the manuals on the VOX site...you can d'load them.

Oh well we can't have everything! Just mic the amp!

I wasn't expecting that you liked the valvetronix so much while you hated the tonelab... Why is that? Isn't the technology the same?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

I wasn't expecting that you liked the valvetronix so much while you hated the tonelab... Why is that? Isn't the technology the same?

:dunno: I'll be damned if I know! I wish I could figure out why. But my Tonelab SE just never had the fullness/width/open character of the amps proper. It always sounded "small" and blanketed... like you were listening to the amp through a telephone.

 

[brit84]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

tried a vox valvetronix yesterday and can say two things, I love the tone that i got but hated the built in noise supressor cutting off my notes.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Video & Appreciation Thread

tried a vox valvetronix yesterday and can say two things, I love the tone that i got but hated the built in noise supressor cutting off my notes.

I hear what you are saying, but you can adjust the sensitivity of the noise gate luckly.