Markb: You know, I played a new cheeze grater VT50 today and thought that the tone was better than the VTX as well. But these are complicated amps with a lot of set up variables, so a conclusion, for me, was not really substantiated. The gut feeling was that the VT sounded better though.

I might just put the money toward a real good tube amp. I have a few real good tube amps presently but would like another, possibly two twelve combo or a Marshall head, made in England good one likethe DSL 100 I have a line on.

Marnold: Convinced? My research over the years of the chromies, in specific and Valvetronics in general revealed a lot of complaints concerning reliability. Nevertheless, I have always wanted to get one, especially after getting the DA5 really nice little amp. The VTX today was a LOT of fun to play and mess around with. There are a lot of great tones in there and it sounded better than I had anticipated it would. Sounded better than the two Marshall Haze amps I also played today: the fourty watt combo and the fifteen watt head. The fifteen watt head sounded better to me but it costs almost six hundred dollars and I didn't think it was up to that price. I'd rather get the dual super lead and pay the extra money; or get a Bugera 22 watt combo or something a lot more economical but probably a lot better sounding and sensible.

I have heard the reset takes care of a lot of the problems and that some
de-ox in the input plug works wonders.

The VTX started making some expensive sounding noises today at higher volumes and it had me concerned so I investigated as best I could and discovered that the middle handle, the one on the top of the 120 was resonating sympathatically to the frequency at certain bass frets. Touching it eliminated the problem, or pulling it up; but at first it sounded like a ripped speaker cone.

I can see getting this VTX 120 because it would be fun, especially if I can get it for 399; but I'm not sure yet about this because there are so many nice options out there; like the Blues Junior. They have the Texas Red one here with the Vintage 30 that is a cool little amp. No deal on that one though, brand new stock.

I need to investigate the Fender Twin and Deluxe Reverb contemporary versions that they have in stock as well as the Blues Devilles. I played the Tweed Blues Deluxe today and that was a neat amp but a lot like my Hot Rod Deluxe special edition tweed with the Jensen P12n speaker.

I have still got to figure out what people think is so great about the Twin Reverb and Deluxe Reverb by playing them some more with single coils and humbuckers, etc.

That Fender Supersonic, however, is one great amp and the one they have on special is right in the same price range as the Twin or the Deville and has a Vintage 30 in it and a BURN switch that rips some stunning tone.

They had a Fender Princeton Chorus, used, but it doesn't work and is going back to the guy that has it there on consignment.

No need to rush at this point anyway. I will find something real good eventually that really gets my attention and the time will be right.

That Blue vintage looking VTX 212 definitely is fun. No question about that. And it rocks the house with a whole lot of great sounds and isn't like anything else I have with any major amount of power. It could be great to have. I will have to think about it. Play it some more. The store is like two blocks from my house since I moved.

Next acquisition, however, is the JamMan brand new last run of the old style that just came in and I have on lay away until later in the month. I'm hoping that will be fun. My fiance is now singing thru my PA with vocal effects and her voice is beautiful. I will be learning how to lay down some Conga back beats or cymbal intricacies and some mellow guitar loops that I can play some light complimentary leads over and try to record something like, "Make You Feel My Love", or "Imagine". Sounds like a fun experiment. Lots of rehearsal needed first however. No rush to recording but I'm definitely looking forward to the looper and learning how to make some effective use of it.