I came across this forum while doing a search for Valvetronix settings. I just bought a Vox AD100VT and for the life of me, can't seem to dial in a good lead tone for my strat. Any suggestions would be really helpful.
I came across this forum while doing a search for Valvetronix settings. I just bought a Vox AD100VT and for the life of me, can't seem to dial in a good lead tone for my strat. Any suggestions would be really helpful.
Define "good lead tone". What sound are you going for?Originally Posted by TS808
In general, I find that the sequence of:
- switching to Manual mode with the effects on Bypass,
- selecting one of the 11 amp models and dialing in the volume & tone stack, and
- turning off Bypass, selecting and fine-tuning the effect I want to use
works best for me. My favorite amp models with my Strat are the Boutique Clean, Black 2x12, Tweed 4x10 and AC30TB. For the first two, if I want some break-up, I use an overdrive pedal like the Bad Monkey. For the latter two, just push the Gain knob past 12 noon....
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What I'm looking for is a good lead tone with some nice overdrive/moderate distortion. I haven't found that sweet spot on the amp yet with some of the tones. Love the Bassman but I'd like a little more gain. I haven't tried pedals yet, so that might give me what I need.Originally Posted by duhvoodooman
I'm still getting used to this amp too (had it for 2 weeks) so it may just be a matter of experimentation.
Do you use your neck pup or bridge for solos? Just curious.
I like the Bassman, too, and also wanted THIS model with a little more gain. So i put a Marshall Bluesbreaker II pedal in front of it. It sounds great in my opinion. You can use it for solos with the neck pickup and also the bridge pickup. An alternative would be the Digitech Bad Monkey, which is used by some members here. The Vox AD Series behaves like a real tube amp when blown by a booster pedal.Originally Posted by TS808
Also, you will have to get used to the amp. After a while, you will be able to set nearly every kind of tone just in seconds. I most play in Manual Mode and don't use the presets.
Last edited by Guitar-Chris; August 8th, 2006 at 02:38 AM.
Greetings
Christian
Guitars: Fender Telecaster Standard, Squier Classic Vibe 50's Stratocaster, Yamaha Pacifica 412V, Dean Vendetta, J&D LS-1, Collins Stage Western
Amp: Vox Valvetronix AD50VT, Fame GX60R
Pedals: DIY Box of Rock Clone, DIY Linear Power Boster, Marshall Guv'nor Plus, Marshall Regenerator, Digitech Bad Monkey, Harley Benton OD-100, Harley Benton DD-2, Behringer Hellbabe HB01 Wah, Boss DS-1, Boss TU-2, Boss DD-7, EXH Small Clone
Chris, that's the thing. The Bassman setting didn't have enough gain for me and I've saved a good clean setting on channel 1 and am looking for a good lead setting for the second channel. However, if I save a setting, it might sound good on the neck pup but not very good on the bridge pup, etc. so I'm tweaking away with the tone knobs on the guitar when switching between pups.Originally Posted by Guitar-Chris
Some of the settings like the UK 70's overall just sounds TOO punchy/full of midrange, as does the Boutique OD. UK 80's is okay, but I can't seem to get some good top end presence. The 212 cab also adds alot of bottom end as well. Lack of a presence knob does make a difference IMHO. I've experimented with using an EQ in the loop to add some top end on some of the settings.
Manual mode with pedals might be the way to go...or just setting the Bassman fairly clean and using different pedals to color the sound on different pickups. This amp seems to take more tweaking than the Line 6 amps I owned.
I have a clean Bassmann (4*10) on channel one, a slightly distorted Uk70s on the 2 channel. The manual mode ist most times set on the Uk80s with a little bit delay. So in combination with the Bluebreaker pedal i can switch between 6 different settings. Often i play chords on the bassmann, solo then with the booster on (cuts through very well). When playng crunchy rhythm i play the Uk 70s and then change on Uk80s for the solo.
Greetings
Christian
Guitars: Fender Telecaster Standard, Squier Classic Vibe 50's Stratocaster, Yamaha Pacifica 412V, Dean Vendetta, J&D LS-1, Collins Stage Western
Amp: Vox Valvetronix AD50VT, Fame GX60R
Pedals: DIY Box of Rock Clone, DIY Linear Power Boster, Marshall Guv'nor Plus, Marshall Regenerator, Digitech Bad Monkey, Harley Benton OD-100, Harley Benton DD-2, Behringer Hellbabe HB01 Wah, Boss DS-1, Boss TU-2, Boss DD-7, EXH Small Clone
Got it! Here's what the issue was/is with the AD100VT. With the 212 configuration, the bottom end (bass) is pretty powerful with the master above 12:00. If I cranked the mids on the amp while running the master at 3:00, lead tones would be heavy on the midrange due to the tube distortion and produce some muddy bass. What I did tonight was set the tone on the amp with the master below or at 12:00 and that added some top end . Also, adding some compression to the lead tones also evened out the bass and the treble when using the neck pup and bridge pup respectively. I was able to dial in a sweet Boutique OD lead tone that had some top end shimmer, smooth mids, and a tighter bass. Didn't have to tweak the guitar tone knob as much on the bridge settings.
Don't forget with the vox foot switch you can choose 1, 2 or manual and that will give you 3 settings.
Good Luck