Major Label Band Using Valvetronix at Festival Gig!!!

[lifeforsaken]

I wasn't sure which board this was appropriate for, so I apologize if I'm posting this to the wrong one.

I was watching YouTube videos of the Cure, one of my personal favorite bands, and noticed all the Vox amps on stage. Vox amps on stage are a common site, but I noticed the blue in the speaker cloth but wasn't sure because the lights were also blue. I looked closer and did see the small valvetronix logo. Robert Smith had several of them, both combos and heads of what looks like the vtx series.

I am new to the forum and just recently bought a used AD15VT since I was didn't have an amp and was amazed at how good they sounded for the cost. I prefer the features of the VT series but I got this one cheap on a trade in for a delay pedal (what good is having a delay pedal with no amp. My Marshall Valvestate 100 watt, 3 channel amp was nice, and sounded good for amps in it's price range that were out at the time I bought it, although I was limited to Marshall sounds, and just simply wouldn't turn on for me one day. I was ampless for awhile mainly due to financial hardship at the time, but I love the options I have with this amp.

Eventually I"m thinking about upgrading to a higher watt VT+ to possibly gig with, and probably just add an effects loop. I like the effects on the amp but also like the flexibility of adding my own as well, since I"m kind of an effects junkie. If not, a used AD60vtx may be a good option. Anyway, sorry for the long intro.

I thought some of you might be happy to see this though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ago6sI-M ... re=related

[lifeforsaken]

Just wanted to add one thing.

Another reason I felt the need to post this was that I recently read a post on here imply that these amps are no good for gigs, and why do no big label bands use them.

Yeah, I like tube amps too, but for one, just maintaining one would be a strain on my budget, and if I had all the dream amps I wanted to... it would take a large truck and several roadies just to haul it all. I"m in a stage of trying to write stuff now, and like that there are now amps like this that sound good but are in still within a struggling or starting musicians means. I just remember how bad some of the cheap solid state amps used to sound... bad enough to make many people want to quit playing guitar.

[Voxman]

Another reason I felt the need to post this was that I recently read a post on here imply that these amps are no good for gigs, and why do no big label bands use them.

Thanks for posting. Definitely the right place & I'd be interested to see the vids if you could post the links.

The Blue Valvetronix were custom designed as gigging amps, so not sure where that comment came from. In fact, my main gig rig is still my AD120VTX, AD212, & VC12. Subsequent Valvetronix models (with the exception of the brand new VTX150 Pro) haven't been compatible with the VC12 floor controller so floorcontrol for gigs is to be fair significantly more limited, although the VFS5 with the later VT & VT+ variants gives more control/options than the 2-button VFS2 pedal that came with the original 'chrome' ADxxVT series which immediately followed the 'Blues'.

The VT20+ & VT40+ are great for small clubs (or even micing up at larger gigs) and the 1x12" VT80+ and the VT120+ 2x12 are loud amps that are most definitely giggable!

Rich

[lifeforsaken]

I think it was an old comment I just ran into looking through the archives. The Cure has used many different amps in the past, both tube and solid state, (orange, fender, marshall, Peavey, Roland) and maybe that's another reason they went with these amps.

I did have a link on the post but here is another.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXnohPcFpCQ


It's a nice mildly overdriven tone with a nice chorus. Not sure if he's using the on board effects or is using his usual boss pedals for the effects. It works for me, while my musical tastes are kind of eclectic I do have a leaning towards, post-punk, shoegaze, older punk and older goth rock type sounds.

[lifeforsaken]

Yeah, I don't like the two preset, two button floor control on the older models, but having four available presets and switches like on the newer VT's is at least useable on stage to me.

[Voxman]

Missed your first link. Excellent spot - you can see the Blue Valvetronix in this one too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYpuM9l8 ... re=related

[lifeforsaken]

And to me the guitar tone sounds very nice, which is all that matters.

[bill rand]

now looking to replicate it on my ad60vtx lol love the cure might have to persuade the band to do a cover of something by them

[lifeforsaken]

Yeah, I don't know a good way to know exactly what models he uses for what. I do know a bit of their history though and what gear was on various albums. When he does use distortion, which isn't often but on a few songs and leads, he used a DS-1 from Boss which I believe is what the pedal distortion is modeled after.

For an amp I"ve liked the AC30TB with the gain at about 11 o clock, for the mildly overdriven tones, especially stuff from the Head on The Door until maybe Distintegration. If not the Marshall UK 70's model might work, especially for Wish and Wild mood swings stuff. For clean stuff, such as on Faith and Seventeen Seconds, he used a Roland Jazz Chorus... but for the valvetronix I think the Fender Twin 2x12 seems to cover those tones nicely and a little better than the boutique OD. For lead tone on bloodflowers, I believe he used a Mesa Boogie V twin pedal, I'm not sure if that will do the trick but maybe you can replicate it with the recto with the gain down a little.

For effects, a moderate chorus is staple, with Flanger and sometimes Phaser thrown in depending on the song. The chorus should be close to the original on this amp since it's modeled after a boss chorus and he used Roland Amps or Boss chorus pedals. Flanger should be set to where it almost sounds more like a chorus with a mild sweeping effect. It varies by song, and the amps he used varied from album to album which might just be the reason he was drawn to using a modeling amp.

Oh yeah, Delay, preferably digital and a good reverb, maybe even a hall are another thing that fills out there sound a bit. Compression is also somtimes used to even out the tone a bit, but seems to be the least important of the effects.

My settings are all just opinions though, and if something works better for you or gets it closer let me know.

[lifeforsaken]

Oh yeah, the other two pedals I knew him to use were occasionally the Boss SD-1, which is similar enough to the tube screamer (tube OD) effect, and a boss blues driver, though I'm not sure on which songs.