Vox AD Series

[Tone2TheBone]

My "Lynch" tone comes from the UK80s model with the gain all the way up on it. The volume is set at max...the treble at about 2:00...the middle at about 11:00...the bass at 1:00...the master set anywhere past 12:00 depending on the overall volume. On the back of the amp the variable output knob is at about 75%. Like I mentioned I use compression on that model because it hits the amp just a little harder in the preamp and it also smooths out the chunk and adds some real nice overdrive frequencies much like a moded Marshall cranked at very loud volumes! I too am a big George Lynch (Dokken) fan and have always liked his Marshall tone.

Yeah you pretty much give up any chance of using the other effects when you're only using the compression circuit on the Vox. But it sounds gooooooood and you might not even miss having any other effect. If you really wanted to have full versatility with the amp you could always supplement your rig with a digital delay pedal and reverb pedal since those 2 effects are widely used anyway. That way you can compress any model you like and still have your delays and reverbs. I thought about doing that also...even though it's more added expense. BUT in the long run it would be a cool idea since I'd rather spend my money on music stuff than something like crack! LOL

Yes I also agree that the Numetal setting is very fuzzy for most songs we're familiar with but I'll bet you you'll run into a tune on the radio and hear that particular sound and go..."oh yeah that sounds like the Numetal model". Be open minded with all the hi gain models too because you can get surprisingly different sounds by just adjusting the gain to lower settings like Robert suggested. The Valvetronix amps are really very versatile!

Also I use the same settings mentioned above but with lower compression and lower guitar knob volume (like at around 3) for AC/DC type sounds. I always set my mids on my own Marshalls at around 11:00 or even 10:00. It always seemed to mimick everyone else's Marshall sound too so I incorporated that idea over on the UK models on the Vox.

My "rock/metal" guitar is the Les Paul Studio. I'm playing through a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates humbucker in the bridge. I've also put a "treble bleed" modification on the volume pot so that when I turn down the guitar volume I don't lose any treble frequencies. Les Pauls are notorious for that. This way when I turn the pot down to like 3 I still have nice crispy useable tones for rhythm stuff...then I just turn up for leads.

Rob

[Tone2TheBone]

I've been thinking about putting some creme colored chicken beak knobs (or coloured as Robert might say) on my Vox. I think it would look pretty cool like that....

http://pictures.kyozou.com/pictures/712000/711250.jpg

[marnold***]

I've been thinking about putting some creme colored chicken beak knobs (or coloured as Robert might say) on my Vox. I think it would look pretty cool like that....

It would definitely give it that "retro" look. I saw a cool mod someplace where someone made a vintage-looking cabinet for their AD50VT. Very slick.

Re: my metal tone. I spent some time yesterday really listening closely to some old Dokken records to get a better grip on Lynch's tone. I think my main problem is that a tone that sounds cool when I'm just playing by myself and a tone that would sound cool in the context of a band are two entirely different things.

Another thing I thought of is using the UK70s amp since I like the sound so much, but maybe putting a tube screamer or some similar pedal in front of it as a boost. I'll have to see if I can badger the local guitar shoppe guy into letting me try that next time that I'm around. Unfortunately, real tube screamers are frightfully expensive.

[Robert****]

Try the Bad Monkey! It's a great OD pedal. The Boss BD-2 is also good.

[Tone2TheBone]

...And speaking of the Blues Driver.....I just picked up a used one today at a local music shop in town. Going to try it after I get off of work today. Tell you what Marnold...let me try it with the UK70s and see if I can get a great Lynch tone with it for you. If I do...maybe I can record a clip for you and post it here??? Is that possible Robert??

[marnold***]

...And speaking of the Blues Driver.....I just picked up a used one today at a local music shop in town. Going to try it after I get off of work today. Tell you what Marnold...let me try it with the UK70s and see if I can get a great Lynch tone with it for you. If I do...maybe I can record a clip for you and post it here??? Is that possible Robert??

That would be very cool. Let me know how things turn out.

[Robert****]

... If I do...maybe I can record a clip for you and post it here??? Is that possible Robert??

Sure, I think so. I added the mp3 extension as a valid attachment, so you should be able to upload an mp3 file with your post.

[Tone2TheBone]

Newsflash......but I'm going to post my review of the Blues Driver in the pedals forum.

[marnold***]

Newsflash......but I'm going to post my review of the Blues Driver in the pedals forum.

Good deal, I'll have to check one of those pedals out. In the meantime, I tried to use my ZOOM 505II as just an overdrive pedal. I think I got the basic idea and it does sound cool.

The problem that I get especially with the UK70s model but also with others on the AD30VT is that when I palm mute an E5 chord I get a wierd sound from the amp at high gain levels. It sounds like a "bweyow" like either the digital model is freaking out or the speaker can't quite handle it. Not sure which. Adding the overdrive pedal made the sound more noticeable and annoying. Thoughts?

[marnold***]

Well, I ended up going back to a modified version of my original metal sound. It's the NuMetal amp with volume and treble at 12:00; gain, middle, and bass maxed, master at about 2:00, and a hint of delay. I also am rolling back on my guitar's volume a bit to cut some of the fizz. I would describe the sound as "Sort of Van Halen or something." Whatever the case, I like using it and it makes me want to play more. I suppose in the long run that's what's most important.

I also asked a friend if he has an overdrive pedal I could borrow so I could try that out some more. My Zoom colors the sound on my guitar way too much for my liking.

[Tone2TheBone]

Thats the fun of having a cool little amp like the valvetronix. Sound and tone are highly subjective...you won't be able to sound like me or anyone and vise versa. The amp hits our heads and ears differently. If you can find sounds that inspire you to play more cause you're digging what's coming out of your amp then you've accomplished your mission I'd say.

[EscalonJon]

Tone,

I don't know if I've ever heard it said better......Amen.

[marnold***]

Thats the fun of having a cool little amp like the valvetronix. Sound and tone are highly subjective...you won't be able to sound like me or anyone and vise versa. The amp hits our heads and ears differently. If you can find sounds that inspire you to play more cause you're digging what's coming out of your amp then you've accomplished your mission I'd say.

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm also learning what others learned many years ago. Tone is not a destination, but a journey. Looking at George Lynch's website, his setup was different for every album, although the main features of a tube screamer into some kind of modified Marshall stayed constant. Clapton's the same way. His tone is quite a bit different now than it was in the Cream days.

[Tone2TheBone]

Like my brother in law used to say (God rest his soul)..."life varies". One day you might plug in and your entire rig sounds so good you want to cry and your face hurts from smiling so much. The very next day you might wake up with a cold and have a stuffy head and the same sound you had the day before...sounds like garbage...then you go tweaking knobs and making all kinds of adjustments. The tone will change. A lot of it is "feel" too. A lot of it is "groove" as well. And so much of it...is just pure magic. It comes to us at different times. If we have a great starting point of reference then at least we can pursue that elusive tone bliss even on days when we need a good ear cleaning from wax buildup or when we need that one big sneeze to clear our heads!

[Nelskie]

Tone - I enjoy the "spiritual vibe" so many of your posts encompass. While guitar playing does involve many technical aspects, and mechanical skills, we often forget to truly savor some of those "intangibles". It's especially exciting when some of these intangible things all come together - like when you're playing a certain song, with a certain guitar, with a certain sound eminating from a certain amp. Magic? Yes indeed - almost something bordering on the ethereal. My wife told me this once, after she was watching me playing without me knowing she was there. She said, "It looked like you weren't even here in this realm. Like you were somewhere else, and were at total peace with everything." I couldn't help but to agree. Sometimes, we don't even realize what we're doing ourselves - and yet somehow, some way, it all just comes together. Yessir . . . such a beautiful thing!

[Tone2TheBone]

Thank you for your kind words Nelskie. Like the bumper sticker says..."Magic Happens."

[Hophead]

What about the AD 100? Anyone ever tried it out? I realize it's very new but...

[Justaguyin_nc]

Speaking of Vibes Spirit and otherwise... how does the U-Vibe setting on the VOX compare to say a Voodoo Lab Microvibe?

http://www.voodoolab.com/mp3/microvibe-hendrix.mp3

http://www.voodoolab.com/mp3/microvibe-trower.mp3

http://www.voodoolab.com/mp3/microvibe-mellotron.mp3

http://www.voodoolab.com/mp3/microvibe-vintage.mp3

TYIA

[Guitar-Chris]

If anybody else has any other settings they really like with the AD series, post 'em!

Ok here are some of my favourites:

For a blues-rock solo on my neck PU at the Telecaster:
UK '80s and all knobs at 1 o'clock

A nice marshall sound for solo, decrease guitar-volume for sparkeling clean tone: UK '70s Gain full, Volume 1 o'clock rest in middle position

A heavy solo for my Yamaha Pacifica with humbucker at bridge position:
UK modern Gain at 9 o'clock, Volume at 1 o'clock Treble at 11, rest middle.

At all, if i want more distortion, i don't crank up the gain, but instead I chose an amp model with more distortion and reduce gain. That gives more pressure than havin gain in full position.

Christian