TLSE: my very first impression « VOX

Member

I've been playing around for an hour with my new SE, and I have to say that my first impression is very very bad... It definetly has no Low-end, it sounds FLAT. OK with treble and middles, but even with bass at 10 I can´t get a punch of it...

I tried to use the LINE output, but it sounds terrible, lots and lots of treble...

With my TLEX I can get tones that spit out lots of punchy bass, but the SE... I don´t understand it. It´s supposed to be one of the greatest MFX ever. And it´s not a reading-the-manual question...

Any tips?

Thanks

Posted 1 year ago

fechart

Member

Could it be a problem with the valve??

Posted 1 year ago

voxman

VOX Forum Moderator

How are you connecting it and what are you plugging into?

If you're playing it through an amp, connect it into the FX return. This will mean you are using the amp as a 'power-amp' only (when very few, if any, of the amp controls will work, so don't worry) whereby everything is controlled by the TLSE.

If you're using an amp, which type? If you're plugging it into the front end of a modeling amp like a Valvetronix, forget it - it will sound dreadful.

If you're plugging into the front end of a 'straight' amp, it should be fine although its not ideal because you'll lose a lot of the amp modeling subtlety (see my post again on TLLE).

Try changing the cab model or even disconnecting the cab modeling thereby using your own amps speaker tone.

Posted 1 year ago

fechart

Member

Hi Rich,

I´m plugging it straight into my old Fender Blues Junior, I sold the Marshall JVM because I needed the money. The Blues Junior doesn´t have Send/Return.

But any way, after trying the SE intensely, having read the manual, and with my experience with my TLEX, I can say that I don´t like the SE. The amp modelling in the EX is MUCH better, the difference between both units is HUGE.

With the Se I couldn´t achieve HIGH GAIN tones without getting an awful saturation, the Low End is harshy and with luck of definition.

I miss the 33 amp models of the EX too, despite I could get some reasonable tones out of some SE´s models; the only things I found good were: VR Gain, Modulation Mix, some parameters that doesn´t have the EX... and not much more...

Definetly I´m selling the SE and keeping my EX, which in a future I´ll change for a Line 6 POD HD 500 or a new VOX model, depending on time...

I have to say that SE was a great great dissapointment for me...

Posted 1 year ago

voxman

VOX Forum Moderator

This is all about EQ, NOT the modeling. It needs to go through the FX return, so that it isn't coloured by the amps pre-amp. As you don't have one I recommend a simple 7-band EQ in the FX loop of the TLSE - it will completely change what you hear. It's a shame the TLSE doesn't have the Ln2 EQ option that you get in the TLLE.

Posted 1 year ago

fechart

Member

Rich: I don´t think it´s an EQ question, I don´t have any EQ issues with my EX, I connect it via Amp and it sounds incredible. I find the SE´s modelling very different from the EX modelling, it has less gain and if you try to raise the VR gain and the Gain control it sounds terribly harshy and lacking of definition... as if it was saturating. For example you play power chords and instead of a clear and defined chunk-chunk you hear a terrible harsh.

I tried using a pedal such as TUBE OD as a booster, and use less gain in the amp models, but it´s the same. In my EX I have lots of patches with this boosting method and I achieve rich defined high gain tones. And it´s the same Fender Blues Junior...

So I think that definetly the SE is not for me. Perhaps it´s a more "vintage" low gain mfx as many people say out there on the net... But definetly the EX runs over it.

Posted 1 year ago

voxman

VOX Forum Moderator

Its EQ, trust me! The TLEX EQ is set differently - same with the Blue amps vs the new VT/VT+ amps - an EQ/BBE Sonic Stomp Maximiser in the FX loop of my AD120VTX transforms it - & the SE is based on that very amp!. So try an EQ in the FX loop - a cheap Behringer EQ700 is all you need, before you get rid of it. And (even w/o EQ) try it in the FX return of another amp - the difference is astounding!

Posted 1 year ago

fechart

Member

OK Rich, I´ll try what you´re saying. On friday I´ll try it with my teacher´s amp, it´s a Laney, I don´t remember which model, but it has Send/Return.

And maybe, dependeing on the price, I´ll buy that Behringer EQ!

I´ll keep in touch. Thanks a lot for all your atention.

Flavio

Posted 1 year ago

voxman

VOX Forum Moderator

Might be better with a serial rather than parallel FX loop - but try it & see.

Posted 1 year ago