For Vox Tonelab SE users...

[zorrow]

I recently purchased a Vox Tonelab SE from Dave in excellent condition. However, I found its sound quite bassy and even a bit muddy --mostly the overdriven patches, which were simply useless.

After some googling, I came out with the following solution:

1- Replaced the stock tube, which is a 12AX7, for a JJ 12AU7. To do this you have to fully open the unit and make your way to the tube --the glass cover will fool you, but you do have to open the unit in order to replace the tube.

2- Calibrated the tube. You need to do the following: Unplug all your cables from the unit, excepting the power one. Hold the "UP" (^) and "RENAME" buttons simultaneously on the LCD section panel before and whilst turning the unit on. Release the buttons around ten seconds after the unit turned on. Wait now at least 15 minutes for the unit to warm up. Use a philips head to adjust the pot in between the return and right output jacks on the rear (a tiny pot is situated inside that little hole there). Play with the pot by turning the screwdriver gently, one side or another. When all the leds on the tuner panel will be simultaneously on, you've got it right: the tube is correctly biased!

And that's all. Now it's day and night. Even the stock tones sound amazing. I'm getting way more clarity and definition from my Tonelab. Yesterday I rehearsed with it and my bandmates were all grinning about my new sound.

So, I hope this info will be also useful to other Tonelab users around.

Cheers!

[burningyen]

That's weird that they don't give you an EQ that can dial out the bass.

[DavidE]

Can you send it back now?

I barely touched the thing. Never even loaded Paults' settings that he sent to me. Glad it's working out for you!

[Brooks]

i love my tonelab ST. of all the tonelabs, only it has the new "UK metal" patch, which i'm told is a model of marshall's JVM amp. that is my dirty tone, and one of the "US 2x12" (bruno cowtipper model, i think) patches is my clean tone. these 2 basic tones were the reason i prefered the tonelab ST to my axe-fx, which has more/better FX & mic/cab emulations (which just isn't a concern for me, as i use very little FX & i use a real cab). maybe someday i'll record something direct, but it's doubtful. i also really love the small footprint and cheap price.

as for the tube, i replaced the stock 12ax7 w/ a groove tube when i got it; it slightly added some punch and gain, but it was subtle.

[Zork]

Do you know if this is the case with Valvetronix combos, etc.?

Thanks!

I recently purchased a Vox Tonelab SE from Dave in excellent condition. However, I found its sound quite bassy and even a bit muddy --mostly the overdriven patches, which were simply useless.

After some googling, I came out with the following solution:

1- Replaced the stock tube, which is a 12AX7, for a JJ 12AU7. To do this you have to fully open the unit and make your way to the tube --the glass cover will fool you, but you do have to open the unit in order to replace the tube.

2- Calibrated the tube. You need to do the following: Unplug all your cables from the unit, excepting the power one. Hold the "UP" (^) and "RENAME" buttons simultaneously on the LCD section panel before and whilst turning the unit on. Release the buttons around ten seconds after the unit turned on. Wait now at least 15 minutes for the unit to warm up. Use a philips head to adjust the pot in between the return and right output jacks on the rear (a tiny pot is situated inside that little hole there). Play with the pot by turning the screwdriver gently, one side or another. When all the leds on the tuner panel will be simultaneously on, you've got it right: the tube is correctly biased!

And that's all. Now it's day and night. Even the stock tones sound amazing. I'm getting way more clarity and definition from my Tonelab. Yesterday I rehearsed with it and my bandmates were all grinning about my new sound.

So, I hope this info will be also useful to other Tonelab users around.

Cheers!

[zorrow]

Can you send it back now?

I barely touched the thing. Never even loaded Paults' settings that he sent to me. Glad it's working out for you!

I did know these units need some tweaking. Luckily enough, the results are well worth the effort.

Now my next move will be getting a MIDI/USB cable in order to load some tones, including the ones you sent me.

Do you know if this is the case with Valvetronix combos, etc.?

I've heard the core technology is the same, but I have no idea if the same procedure I described here applies to Valvetronix combos.

[harry65]

from my experience there is almost no tube amp that cannot be made to sound clearer, unmuddy and just more defined by replacing the 12ax7's with 12at7's or au7's or ay7's(personally i love at7's)................

[zorrow]

from my experience there is almost no tube amp that cannot be made to sound clearer, unmuddy and just more defined by replacing the 12ax7's with 12at7's or au7's or ay7's(personally i love at7's)................

Yes, and that's indeed more noticeable in "normal" amps.

In "conventional" tube amps, 12ax7 tubes are used in the preamp section, and this is their most common application. Given that the most of the amp's character develops in the preamp section, just changing those tubes causes huge differences in your tone.

On the other hand, in the Tonelab and other Valvetronix products, the 12ax7 is used at the power stage.

In the specific case of the Tonelab, I guess it still makes a noticeable difference because when you go into a PA or into a clean amp, the unit as a whole is working as if it was a preamp.

Yet, the most of the unit's character develops digitally, before the 12ax7-driven power stage, but a cleaner, more transparent "intermediate" power stage still helps.

However, Valvetronix combos might behave differently. In fact, I don't know how a little valve could handle the power stage of a Vox Valvetronix 50w amp, for example.

[Brooks]

In fact, I don't know how a little valve could handle the power stage of a Vox Valvetronix 50w amp, for example.

in tonelab preamps and valvetronix amps,

the tube is in a circut that *emulates* the response of a power section,

there is no actual tube "power stage".

edited to spell valvetroniX

(kinda like STIX ZADINIA, drums)

[BlueRedWhite]

I got my tonelab LE recently from Bubba, it is amazing, i'm playing my gig and practices with it and it is night and day compared with the Line 6

Ionel, this is what i got (general consensus among diff. forum articles)

Is about 30$ CAN, it worked from the first try. Just remember to connect the midi in and out properly.

@ archambault