The Gearland - Vox Valvetronix ToneLab
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- Опубликовано: 28 июл 2024
- Keith gives his schpeel on the Vox Valvetronix ToneLab amp modeler. Manufactured and released in 2003.
Skip ahead about 10-12 mins for sounds!
00:00 - Intro
02:18 - Amp Selection
06:24 - Effects/Pedal Section
13:00 - Guitar Sounds
13:27 - "Viable" (JCM 900/Auto-Wah/Spring Reverb)Tape Echo 527 m/s)
15:43 - "Nashville" (Tweed Fender/Compressor/Plate Reverb/Delay 160 m/s)
16:38 - "Tasty-Flange" (Bassman Head/Compressor/Flanger 7.4 depth/ Plate Reverb)
17:53 - "Sabbath" (Mesa Boogie Mark IV/Treble Boost/Gain/VR at 10)
20:19 - "Mr.Scary" (Mesa Boogie Mark IV/Multi Head Delay 339 m/s /Room Reverb
22:11 - "Wet AC 15" (AC 15/ Treble Boost/Multi Head Delay 351 m/s )
25:07 - User Preset *Ask For Settings
#VoxAmps #AmpModelers #Guitar 
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The Tonelab series has always been awesome. Can't understand how many youtubers in the guitar community never make videos about it
Too busy playing guitar . Perhaps ! .
The best amplifier modeller I have used.
I have a ToneLab LE that came out in 2005. I still gig with this unit to this day.
I recently picked up a POD GO (basically a mini Helix) and started messing with it and I keep coming back to the VOX.
Still learning on the POD GO but it’s been a real struggle for me to get it dialed in. There are two million different settings to tweak and I get lost in it.
The VOX is so simple. Twist the knobs until it sounds good and hit save.
Love these units and still holds it own in 2021!
Pick one up on Reverb! You won’t be disappointed.
Hi , is this preamp takes overdrive very well ???
I used this unit for 10 years or so. It served it's purpose and had minimal issues with it (used it live a ton). I stopped using it about 6-7 years ago though. I'm now using a Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp.
The Tonelab brings back memories! I don't think I can ever go back now though. There are some great units out now that make life pretty easy.
Great lil trip down memory lane. Cheers mate
One of these popped up used locally and I'm considering it. Thanks for taking the time to do the video Keith. Also, P90s ftw.
I had this on the desk in my studio for 10+ years - ideal for quick switching to try different sounds when we were busy with all kinds of sessions almost every day. I landed on a handful of pre-sets that covered most of my needs if I was in a hurry, and if time allowed I could sculpt the 'perfect' sound with the various amp / cab set-ups etc. It's a workhorse and bit of a Swiss Army Knife and I like the VALVE and the KNOBS! I still have it altho these last couple of years I have slowed down on workflow and been enjoying individual pedals again from Effectrode / TC Electronics / Strymon / Victory and, of corse, my Paul Crowther Hot Cake (Paul is an old friend from way back). I haven't explored the various more sophisticated digital modellers out there . . . I've never got on top of programming to the extent some of them need so very happy with my old school Vox back-up for now! Thanks for taking the time to profile this classic box!
The best I have used!
Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Good review. Thanks
Nice demo of a very versatile tool.
I picked mine up about the same time you did, and I use it every day. I have yet to find it's equal, even at 10 times the cost. I might note that I play country-rock, so I keep things pretty clean.
If you ask for multi-head delay : you have the Boonar by Dawner Prince Effects which is an interpretation of the Binson Echorec... Pink Floyd... On the Vox Tonelab, you can only modify structural parameters of the multi-head delay by using the linked computer application. Using the Unit only, you have to use the multi-head delay as set up by default (I mean for structural parameters).
Hey man. Pretty cool. I have a old worn in Vox tonelab ST. This guy's little cousin. Hahah. It's quite remarkable and I may drag it back out. I've been using the boss Gt1 for while. What I like about the Vox is it's analog controls. Cool video. Great review. Subbed
It's great to have these cryptic units from the 90's / early 00/'s , to explore the weird, wacky, and sometimes inspiring tones!
Great video. I still use the ToneLab SE and my old workhorse Vox AD60vxt for live use. I sometimes plug the Tonelab SE into the return of the effects loop. Make the AD60VTX a powered speaker cab. And if the Tonelab SE goes down I can still use the patches in the AD60VTX. Don’t think Vox has ever done a better modeling amp than this series.
Tonelab rules rock on
I picked one of these up locally for US$35 several years ago. Later, found the foot pedal. I did change the tube for kicks. Mullard. I forget which one. It did change tone a tiny bit and to the positive/pleasing side - I did a comparison test. I really dig it. I mounted a second under desk keyboard shelf and I slide it out when I want to play with it. It is hooked up all the time. Mostly use headphones. I also have the SPDIF out into my audio interface to record it digitally. I have noticed some of the button are starting to stick. But I think it just needs to be cleaned as I am always fighting dust in my home studio, especially in the winter. I have other modelers - hardware and software - I do think the old Vox modelers are overlooked. The software is cool but requires midi.
Would be cool to see a segment on your set up! I've always been curious of the SPDIF out. Even after having access to a bounty of amps, pedals,and rack gear; the Tonelab still has this mojo and work flow factor that makes me come back to it's resources, time and time again. I've noticed it doesn't have the best resolution, headroom, or dimension, but it really does have a mojo factor. One of the coolest "tricks" I've done when recording with the tonelab, is running L & R out of phase, and then panning to each side. That, along with a nice mic pre and limiter can give you huge/fat tones for your recordings. All that would be required at that point for a complete guitar bus, would be just a nice bulky clean/edge of break up track, and you'd have just as good of tone as any other record. check out Gutshot "Sleeping In The Goons Room" to hear that setup! Please make a video on SPIDIF and your Tonelab work station!
You guys ever going to do that follow up? Thinking of making this my main amp again after years of neglect.
I think the US Hi Gain is like an SLO100. The Botique Gain and Botique Clean I believe are an attempt at a Dumble Overdrive Special. Had mine for almost 20 years. I need to get at least a couple more, since the switches and foot buttons wear out.
I’d be surprised if it was a dumble setting. That would be really innovative if that were the case. Same for the SLO100. A Soldano is based on a hot rodded british amp. Jose Arrodando modded Marshalls and he made the blueprint for the hi gain arms race of the early 80’s. Soldando is based on Jose Modded Marshall. compressed to create a hi fi / hi gain , highly saturated and rather stiff/tight/ “dry” tone. That sound crushes it for a lot of hard rock and metal. With that said, one of the only uniquely american hi gain designers by the time the tone lab was released was Mesa Boogie. Mesa Boogie started off as hot rodded Fender Princeton’s. They also pioneered channel switching by the early 80’s. Mark series Boogies are legendary studio amps from the 80’s to early 00’s when the tonelab was released. US High Gain setting is also right next to the Recto setting which no doubt about it is a Boogie setting. Ironically the Mesa Boogie Rectifier line started off at a verbatim “rip off” of a SLO100. Soldando discusses this in an episode of ToneTalk w/ Dave Friedman. Good stuff!!
The auto wah and delays alone are worth it.
It be interesting to pair this up with some modern IRs for comparison with the stock cab emulation in this pedal. I hear that these older units come alive with modern, more accurate IRs, such as Ownhammer or York Audio.
I had one of these for days and upgraded to an LE. Just sold it to a local who has been gigging one for 15 years
Eu tenho o tonelab SE e estou muito satisfeito com o resultado
Si! Conozco poco espaniol .... este VOX TONELAB es CHINGON !!! Muy versatil y suenos tonos !!!
i can't put two effects at the same time if i switch from compressor to overdrive i lose the previous selection how do i use multiple effects at the same time? can you help me? thank you
These are great, if you have lots of time to dial in stuff, the learning curve is hard to maintain unless you use it quite often. And mine is quite long the tonelab se with 2 expression pedals. We are now moving into the Neural realm of Captures. I call the Tonelab Gen. 1, Kemper was Gen 2/profiling their term and patent. Now a Game Changer has immerged with using the computer screen for the learning curve, which is much easier. And it is GEN 3. Captures TONEX, I am watching one to see if it stays supportive with changes. Ideally one would only need maybe 10 to 15 presets to do most Gigs, so all the 150 presets is Overkill and playing around with units/effects takes you away from actually playing learning Music/instrument. I used to go see a Band that the guitar player had the Amplifier version of Tonelab, he sounded just like the Records Artists they were doing. Tom Petty, AC DC, the Cars were some of the Artists they did, Classic Rock Band.
A drawback with some tonelab models is the cabinets that can create some muddyness at heavier overdrives. That can be effectively solved with a a cheap ultrafex2 in the end of chain. It improves tone by adding harmonics and stereofield dramatically, and makes everything tighter. Everything will shine including the delays and reverbs, i promise you. An ultrafex2 will cost you less than 50 or so.
Great idea. Anything to improve on the tonelab !!
Ciao
BUT... Is it possible that only 1 effect can be used at a time?..
but how do you put Compressor And Overdrive at the same time ?! Or any other effect of the effect section ?, If I move the selector to switch to an OD or a Boost I lose the previous effect ...
even a Chorus together with a tremolo ... isn't that possible? .. I can't combine the effects ...
Is it possible that only 1 effect can be used at a time?..
you help me!?
Grazie
Hi!
Yeah that's definitely a drawback of the unit. Only 1 option available for any given section.
Best bet is finding an amp model that provides proper gain, and adjust "gain"/"VR GAIN" to your liking, and turn the "CH VOL" to where it sounds good.
HOWEVER....
If you are savy with using delay to create chorus/flanger , you can use delay to make modulation sounds. Look up "time based effects" and search for "chorus delay time", "flanger delay time", "reverb delay time", it will show you the milliseconds for those sounds.
Also, if you have the foot controller for the Tone Lab you can make your own tremolo's using the volume foot control.
@@TheGearland hi, thanks for your attention. so can you confirm that you too can only use 1 effect at a time ?, for example Tube OD + Compressor it is not possible to select them in pairs, or treeble boost and fuzz, or in the other section use corus plus flanger, all this cannot be done ... but is it possible that there is this limitation ?, only 1 effect at a time?! ... this will be the reason why I I will abandon this VOX, Purchased decades ago, its rhythm in Italy .. but so I cannot use it ..., too bad, it was a jewel ..
Pretty sure Judging by the sound, Mr. Scary was for the Dokken song, “Mr. Scary.”
That's interesting, I could see that being the case. That actually makes the unit a lot cooler, if it was referencing George Lynch. I always thought of that setting as a poor man's Randy Rhoads, it reminded me of Crazy Train. Now that I revisited the George Lynch song, it sounds very similar.
I think the "Blizzard" preset is the Randy Rhodes one.
Great to find this new resource, just when I bought a VOX ToneLab Desktop myself. Thx for that! P.S. Where can I find that Rotary Preset. Like it, too!
Eh thanks for checkin' it out!! Respect from the ToneLab realm!
ToneLab is one of the best work flow's for dialing in these types of sounds. Incredible versatility, and usable studio sounds in a lot of cases. I plugged mine into two nieve clone pre amp's, and ran the ToneLab out of phase, then panned it L & R , for some GTR tracks on album. I think the song I used it on was "Sleeping In The Goons Room". It's on YT under Gutshot "Sleeping In The Goons Room" if you want to check it out. All I did on that one was go to the "WetAC15" preset, and crank the gain using FAT OD. That 371 m/s Multi Head Delay, is just a sweet spot for me, with rhythm guitar parts. Granted that was one GTR track. The other was a Bassman Clone split with a Mesa Boogie Transatlantic. For a total of 3 amp sources in the mix.
Rotory Preset was a sound I dialed in manually.
You start by selecting the amp model ( Boutique Clean) - then select cabinet (AD412) - Treble is 4.5 - Middle 2.9 - Bass 7.6 - Presence 3.1 - Gain 3.4 - VR Gain 10 - Channel Volume 2.7
In the pedal section select Treble Boost - Drive 7 - Tone 9.2 - Level 10
Modulation Section - Rotory - Depth 2.50 - Time 1.1 - Depth 1.7
Delay - (Delay) Time 62 m/s - Mix 2.7 - Feedback 4.1
Reverb - (Spring Reverb) LO DAMP 2.0 - MIX 4.1 - HI DAMP 1.8
Then just click WRITE twice in the panel below display screen.
Let me know when you have some video with the setting!
@@TheGearland Thx a lot. Will let You know! BTW, since You have the ToneLab since 2003 - did You ever had to replace the tube? And if "Yes", is it difficult and which replacement did You choose?
@@TheGearland Hear is my first attempt... love the sound! ruclips.net/video/MwisaLbsNTI/видео.html
@@duesenberger I have never replaced the tube. I do know it's necessary to complete the circuit and it must be on to power most of the amp models. I'd recommend replacing with your favorite 12AX7.
this is a more in depth resource for your question. www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/vox-tonelab-does-the-tube-matter.1140377/
@@duesenberger Cool! Never heard of Ralph McTell until that demo!
I saw on your other video that you got the program list for the ToneLab. Do you need an older computer to run that software? Where did you find the software?
Tips on the starting up with the Tone Lab SE?
The amp/line switch has a big distinction. If your going direct into a mixer or d.i. LINE is good for that. If plugged in front of an amp, or EFX loop AMP is the correct setting. If it's not on the right setting the TONELAB will sound thin and crunchy, or dull if plugged into an amp.
Gain deals with the "break up", so to get clean sounds you want very little gain, and the CH Volume turned up all the way. VR Gain is the amount of output the tube simulator puts out, so at lower settings you'll get a darker sound, higher setting a brighter sound (though too much VR gain will cause some "break up" saturation). The opposite of all this is true for a hi gain or distorted sound. You'll want gain at 5.0 or above and the CH volume lower (so as to avoid feedback). Again the VR will give a darker or brighter sound.
With all that said, there are many useful gain staging tools in the PEDAL section like the Compressor - Treble Boost - Tube OD - Fat OD. Many characteristics can be set using those features, and then adjusting your Gain-VR Gain-CH Volume section.
There's a ton of tricks you can do with the R - L outputs. One of my favorites is putting them out of phase, then panning R - L on your DAW (logic/pro tools/ETC).
Also nice to plug it into a rack compressor, reverb, or EQ, to enhance the signal from the TONELAB.
Check out the response to Alan at the bottom of the comments, I went into some of this there.
Good luck!
Thank you very much.
Just got my hands on a unit and I'm putting it to the test!
I remember these kicking around Sam Ash in the early 2000’s….
If you aren’t using headphones with the Tonelab, what amplifiers work best?
I'd recommend a few different options...
1) Straight into P.A. (basically an unadulterated line level that will give you a "true" sound)
2) Effects Loop (set your favorite clean sound on your amp, and have the added "color" to add saturation (tube amp) or pre amp signal ( Solid State *COLDER /CLEANER SOUND ) to the TONE LAB)
3) Boost with Rack Gear (like a TC Electronic M-One - Parametric EQ - What have you) - this option allows you to tweak the tonelab into even more usable sounds, and expand on its territory
4) Power Amp To Cab (plug into your favorite power amp [Mesa Boogie 2:90 - Marshall 9100/9200/EL 34 100/100 ] - ToneLab acts as a pre amp in this configuration --- IDK if I'd go out of my way for this option, but if you already have a power amp / cab situation, it can be fun to use the tone lab this way
5) Use an AMP SPLITTER like a Morley AB Switch - or Whirlwind Selector - go L output (tonelab) to A input - R output (tonelab) to B input : you can have stereo effects this way, and get the best results from the modulation - ESPECIALLY ROTORY
6) Last and most obvious PLUG INTO FRONT of your favorite combo amp, and essentially use the TONELAB to color over, or boost your pre amp/power amp signal.
These are just my immediate suggestions. None exhaustive ideas. TBH, I used a keyboard amp to run my TONELAB for years. A Roland KC-300. This allowed me to run stereo, and was a very clean palette for the TONELAB. Also cheap!
@@TheGearland good info thanks! I just sold an old Fender Super 210 because it was too much for my home use. Will look to downsize that.
@@TheGearland Would a Tonelab work better plugged into front of the amp, or in the effects loop?
@@ericpearson6475 It depends what your going for. In the FX loop the tone lab will blend with the channel better. In front of the amp it'll be pushing the channel and the FX can get "mushy".
For gritty punk rock, or music of that nature, it can be cool to make FX sound less defined. For most other genre's funk/pop/reggae/country/Soft Rock/Dream Pop/metal having really nicely defined FX is usually the goal.
The idea is that you leave more space for other FX, and that your time based FX can be front and center.
Say you've got a mid/high gain channel: If you send an odd delay time into the front of an amp it can sound terrible because all that saturation is repeating into itself and you lose/kill sonic space.
With that said, a My Bloody Valentine approach is pushing the front end of the amp with OD/fuzz and then chaining a reverse reverb with a huge depth to it.
If your amp has a "power in" like a Fender Deville, just send the output of the Tone Lab into that. Otherwise with an FX Loop go from SEND into the input of the Tonelab, and go from the output (probably "mono') into the RETURN. The tone lab will perform it's best ran into the FX LOOP.
@@TheGearland Thanks for the information. I originally bought one of these years ago to try to make the marginal clean from a Spider II more tolerable, and add some effects that didn't suck. I recently finally upgraded the old Spider to a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV. I'm really getting into the clean tones right now, but eventually I'd like to see how the old Tonelab performs on a decent amp.
Damn man. Be nice to hear the damn thing
Isn’t this out of production.