VOX | Discussion Forums » VOX Amplifiers » Valvetronix+ & Valvetronix
hi all - first post !!!
i need some quick advice - (as im watching a few amps ending soon on EBAY )
i use a 1960s AC30 to gig with ( via an effects board ) - but to give it a rest during long rehearsals , im looking for a suitable valvetronix
im not too concerned with how many effects/ features the amp has to have , as i have all my my tones / settings dialled into my effects board - essentially i will be going either through the bypass or a clean channel on the amp ...
im currently watching :
AD60vt -
AD120vt -
50VT (this one is pick up only - 4 miles away ) -
im even keeping tabs on an old cheap vox escort 50..
so in closing , im sorry to ask the $64,000 question ....which has the best sound / tone / speaker ?
thanks in advance.
I'm not too concerned with how many effects/ features the amp has to have , as i have all my my tones / settings dialled into my effects board - essentially I will be going either through the bypass or a clean channel on the amp
Then you most definately do NOT want a Valvetronix!! (particularly as you cannot bypass the amp modeling - although in the AD60/120's you can run the pedals through the FX loop & use the amp as a poer-amp only, but with limited amp control - which IMHO is pointless!!).
If you simply want a clean amp to run your effects through, you want a 'straight' amp - not a modeling amp. The Escort is your best bet from your list, but any good clean (preferably valve) amp should fit the bill.
I run my pedalboard through a Laney VC30-210 (great cleans) plus 1x12 extn cab for a great mix of 'vintage 10's toppier tone' and 'bassier' 1x12" tone, which sounds great. Link to pic of my board below (Boss BCB60) I now use a Behringer TO800 (cheap but good 'tubescreamer' clone) in place of the Marshall Bluesbreaker: -
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4158/1001230om3.jpg
thanks for the reply voxman,
i think possibly , im trying to talk myself into the 50VT , because of its location really ( 4miles up the road ) ands its cheap !!!
....my band play indie/brit pop style which requires a simple crunch tone with the odd delay here and there......so for purely rehearsal situations , maybe i could go straight into the VT50...using its crunch settings...
also, the escort 50 location on Ebay is miles away ; )
more pondering to be done.
thanks again , great forum.
With the VT50 in Manual and Bypass modes, you can select a clean amp model, like the AC30, and use your effects board. Or, as you say, you crunch it up either by increasing the gain on that model, or selecting one of the higher gain models. You can also add tape echo or delay in the effects section.
If you buy the VT50, you may find it improves the sound to add some sound insulation material to the inside of the speaker compartment. That certainly tightened up the sound of my VT30.
If you currently have a VOX AC30 (1960 model) and use it to gig with then you certainly will not be happy with the sound of the VOX VT 50 for rehearsal. As Voxman says, you'd be better off with a 'straight' amp because they are designed to not modify the tone of your instrument which means they are perfect for external effects. Modelling amps even model clean tones which is certainly not what you want.
If you really, really want the VT50, you'd be best to not use your current external effects and instead use the VT50's built in effects. You certainly won't achieve a full natural sound like your AC30 (the VT50 has only one 12 inch speaker of a lesser quality than that of your AC30 and because it is a closed back amp, the sound is focused and can sound muddy at times). However, the VT50 gives you plenty of different tones and effects and you should find one that you like for rehearsals. Just don't expect to put the VT50s selector switch on the AC30 model and have it sound like your AC30... If only life were that easy.
Well, I must disagree to some of the advice here. The effects on the VT50 really are not that great...the delay is quarter note only, for example. No dotted 8ths or anything like that. The VT50 does a pretty decent job of mimicing the AC series. You'll notice the VT50 is a closed back cab, so you may find it a little darker- (to my ears, fuller-) sounding, but you can remove the back to get closer to what you're used to. It does not have an effects loop, so if you're looking for that, you won't get it. But I certainly use my VT50 for it's AC30 sound, with a pedalboard in front (Fulltone Fulldrive sounds especially nice!).
the delay is quarter note only, for example. No dotted 8ths or anything like that
Surely that just depends on how fast you tap?!
