Thinking of getting a Tonelab LE

[kipper15]

Whilst I'm relative happy with my AD30VT, which I've had for nearly a year now, I have considered getting a Tonelab LE for more flexibility - for example, being able to store more patches to memory and having more effects at my disposal.

Also, as I understand it, the LE allows you to get the tube vibe through headphones, unlike the AD30VT, correct?

I considered buying a multi-effects unit (such as Boss ME-20 or ME-50) to partner my AD30VT but, having given this more thought, I'm not sure if that's going to be the best improvement or upgrade I could make.

Part of me is very tempted to buy a Tonelab LE to get the features similar to the now discontinued 'blue' Valvetronix amps, and put it through a decent powered PA speaker (or pair of them). Having read this article below, it certainly is a tempting proposition.

http://forum.thestompbox.net/showthread.php?t=4634

What makes this especially tempting - based on the above article - is that the LE can now be had for less than £200 online, plus a pair of powered 12" PA speakers from Behringer can be had for around £400 (or half that if only one speaker is used).

Anyone here using an LE through a PA setup of any kind?

Also, has anyone here changed their AVxxVT amp for an LE?

[rlaf]

I know there are those that have used a Tonelab through a PA. Any "non-coloring" amp will do, as in a keyboard amp, or in my case, a Crate Powerblock w/Marshall cabinet. You can also use most any guitar amp with a line-in or effects return and turn off the speaker simulation. In addition to the Powerblock, I also use the effects return on a Laney tube amp with great results.

[kipper15]

I know there are those that have used a Tonelab through a PA. Any "non-coloring" amp will do, as in a keyboard amp, or in my case, a Crate Powerblock w/Marshall cabinet. You can also use most any guitar amp with a line-in or effects return and turn off the speaker simulation. In addition to the Powerblock, I also use the effects return on a Laney tube amp with great results.

Thanks for the comments rlaf. Now some more questions for you Am I right in thinking that the headphone socket on the LE gives you the "true" sound of the different amps and cabs being modelled? And the headphone socket on the LE gives you the sound in stereo too right?

The AD30VT loses points in my book for not doing this (the headphone sound is placed after the valve reactor). Being as my wife prefers I practise with headphones on (at least when she's in the house!) I get a litte frustrated with the AD30VT because of this.

In fact through headphones, even with a pair of decent studio-quality ones (I use Sennheiser HD25's), it sounds rather uninspiring - not least because it's in mono.

Having played keyboards in the past, using a pair of Yamaha 12" speaker cabs (sold it all years back), I'm well aware of how good - and neutral - such equipment sounds so I think the LE + Powered PA cab route would be the way to go. An all-valve amp is not really an option for me for a variety of reasons, not least weight, cost, not being able to crank it etc.

The kind of powered PA speaker I'm thinking of is one of these:

http://www.imusician.co.uk/musicstore/s ... x=1&comp=y

The same site is also selling the LE for £183.00!

[Nik]

Don't know about the LE, but the Tonelab Desktop gives the full valve (tube) vibe through headphones and sound and feels great through a PA system or other full-range, uncoloured amplification and speakers.

[kipper15]

Don't know about the LE, but the Tonelab Desktop gives the full valve (tube) vibe through headphones and sound and feels great through a PA system or other full-range, uncoloured amplification and speakers.

Thanks Nik. Have you used your Destkop model through a PA system?

The more I think about this type of setup, the more tempting it gets!

I've been playing through the AD30VT on and off today, and mostly with headphones on due to my wife preferring this whilst I'm still at the 'beginner' stage...although even she says I'm getting pretty good for someone who's not been playing very long.

The one thing I really dislike about the AD30VT is the fact that headphones come after the valve reactor.

Also the fact that only 2 patches could be stored on the AD30VT didn't bother me that much initially, but nearly a year down the line it's starting to. Now I want to be able to do certain things with the AD30VT that I can't, and I really do like the Vox V'x technology, hence my thoughts are now leaning to the more flexible LE with a decent powered PA speaker.

A full-blown stereo PA rig would probably be pushing it though due to 3 reasons:

1. Cost
2. Space
3. WAF (Wife Approval Factor!)

[Nik]

Don't know about the LE, but the Tonelab Desktop gives the full valve (tube) vibe through headphones and sound and feels great through a PA system or other full-range, uncoloured amplification and speakers.

Thanks Nik. Have you used your Destkop model through a PA system?

Yes.

In the past I've not only used other modellers such as Boss GT-6 and GX-700, solid state direct preamps such as Rockman Sustainer, solid state amps by Peavey and Marshall, hybrid amps by Marshall, all valve amps by Marshall ( a wonderful 30th Anniversary 6101LM combo) Mesa and Acoustic...

I'm happy with the Tonelab going direct to PA. I don't feel like I'm missing anything.

[guitarj]

The kind of powered PA speaker I'm thinking of is one of these:

http://www.imusician.co.uk/musicstore/s ... x=1&comp=y

The same site is also selling the LE for £183.00!

Wow!! I was looking at the same thing the other night

I have decided to use my tonelab for practice and for smaller gigs, as my AD60VTH and 2x12 cab are too much to be carrying around, also, I keep it on stage at church, so it is a drive to pick it up.

The thing now is to amplify the Tonelab.....I just couldnt bring myself to make the order for the above PA speaker.....yet. I have visited the "Amplifying the Tonelab" threads here and really given Nik's view much thought.......but I also have been looking at the Atomic 1x12 18 watt (used) after Following Rich's link to the Atomic review over at thestompbox.net.

The PA would probably get the job done for my needs, but there are a lot of poeple over there at stombox that still complain about limitations with their FRFR rigs including Tonelab users.

I am now considering the used Atomic instead.....just too many good reviews everywhere. And the fact that the Tonelab can be docked within the amp, makes it even more attractive as a much more portable solution. And the used model is not much more in price than of my FRFR options....if at all.

[kipper15]

The kind of powered PA speaker I'm thinking of is one of these:

http://www.imusician.co.uk/musicstore/s ... x=1&comp=y

The same site is also selling the LE for £183.00!

Wow!! I was looking at the same thing the other night

I have decided to use my tonelab for practice and for smaller gigs, as my AD60VTH and 2x12 cab are too much to be carrying around, also, I keep it on stage at church, so it is a drive to pick it up.

The thing now is to amplify the Tonelab.....I just couldnt bring myself to make the order for the above PA speaker.....yet. I have visited the "Amplifying the Tonelab" threads here and really given Nik's view much thought.......but I also have been looking at the Atomic 1x12 18 watt (used) after Following Rich's link to the Atomic review over at thestompbox.net.

The PA would probably get the job done for my needs, but there are a lot of poeple over there at stombox that still complain about limitations with their FRFR rigs including Tonelab users.

I am now considering the used Atomic instead.....just too many good reviews everywhere. And the fact that the Tonelab can be docked within the amp, makes it even more attractive as a much more portable solution. And the used model is not much more in price than of my FRFR options....if at all.

The ToneLab amplification conundrum continues

Well, how about that? Both of us looking at the same potential FRFR solution...as it happens I also haven't decided what to do yet.

So far I've considered Yamaha and Behringer powered PA speakers, a Fender powered PA speaker/monitor, Roland and Peavey Keyboard amps and of course the Atomic amps.

I've also noticed the positive reviews of the Atomic Reactor amps - they are all over the place. One very favourable one I found recently is here (although the review is 3 years old):

http://www.guitargearheads.com/modules/ ... toryid=102

I've also been looking around on the stompbox forums. It seems that, if you look back at the earlier threads about amplifying modellers such as the Vox Tonelab or POD stuff, there was a lot of praise being heaped on FRFR systems - the Behringer and Roland keyboard amps coming in for a lot of positive comments.

At least initially.

But as time has gone by - and this is evidenced by the more recent posts on the topic - the preferences of the stompbox posters seems to have shifted dramatically away from FRFR and now more in favour of the Atomic amps.

It seems the biggest gripe people have with FRFR solutions is that they have a tendency to introduce brightness and/or harshness to the high frequencies.

Personally I was astounded to find people using keyboard amps for this stuff - I used to play keyboards and hated keyboard amps! Given the choice I would take a powered PA cab over a keyboard amp any day. I've also read a whole lot of negative stuff about Behringer products. I guess you only get what you pay for.

I'm also finding that the Atomic amp is not easy to locate here in the UK. So far I've only located one dealer for it, but what is interesting is that the price of a new 18w Atomic is similar to a decet 250w Yamaha powered PA cab (just under 400 UKP).

So then the question becomes - do I invest in the Atomic 18w "neutral" tube amp that would probably do a great job of amplifying a ToneLab LE (if the reviews are anything to go by) or an FRFR solution that may seem at first the ideal but with the passing of time I end up just replacing with the Atomic anyway?

I'm never going to need more power than the 18w Atomic is able to chuck out, after all this will only every be used in my study/music room not gigs. Looking at the specs it seems of a reasonably compact size and weight for a tube amp. I could definitely get that past the wife

It looks well built too.

Part of me cannot help but think the Atomic would be the way to go and a worthwhile investment for the long term, with the ability to change modellers as and when I like.

More food for thought, that's for sure...

[Voxman]

Don't forget, there is also a 1x12 50w Atomic and a 2x12 50w Atomic too!! So go give your neighbours hell!

[kipper15]

Don't forget, there is also a 1x12 50w Atomic and a 2x12 50w Atomic too!! So go give your neighbours hell!

Hehe. Not sure that would be a good idea (as much I like your suggestion Voxman!).

As it happens I've also been reading up on the Tech21 stuff tonight, these look like another viable solution for amplifying a ToneLab LE. Although, like the Atomic kit, these amps do not seem easy to get hold of here in the UK.

The only concern I have with the Atomic stuff is that it will colour the sound of a ToneLab LE. I guess the Tech21 may do a little bit too, but the Atomic amps seem like they might be better suited to purely digital modellers like the POD stuff because they have tubes in them.

What's interesting - and also a little bit frustrating as well - is that here are so many options available and so many conflicting opinions and views on all this stuff...just from doing a little bit of research on this subject the mind boggles at all the options available. It helps in some ways but frustrates and confuses in other ways.

The other problem is that there is no way on Earth I would be able to try all the possible options out, or find one music store that has all the options available to try out in the first place!