Vetta emergency!! What in the world???

[skorb]

well I just got back from rehearsal, using the Vetta of course at volume and I've finally got this thing working so that the volume pedal acts as a boost for leads, and I've refined quite a few tones.

my band loves my sound. the other player in my band has a ss Fender with a GT6, he's a very good player too, but still my tone just cuts through, and on half the songs he's on keys anyway, so it's all Vetta for those. I love the thing and it sounds and works great in a band setting. I've got the master vol at about 9:00 - 9:30 for rehearsal. any more and your skull hurts.

[RacerX]

skorb, I would like to come by and check this fantastic Vetta out in person some time. I need to get to Burbank to pick up a guitar soon, let me know when & where...

[skarhead]

A Vetta is basically a computer that you plug your guitar into.

everything will be fine 'till Line6 won't allow microsoft to make a OS for Vetta - then you'd be screwed

[Bryan]

never stick your tongue on a frozen Vetta, Flick

Christmas is coming up so we can watch that again.

Who needs to wait? I got my VHS copy right here....

[Adam]

Well, I wasn't trying to start a tube vs. modelling debate here. The Vetta works great for you guys and is probably the pinnacle of current modeling technology, so that's cool.

My point was that, you know, if a tube amp goes down, it's most likely just a tube that crapped out, and they're an easy, inexpensive fix. At least opposed to the "did you turn it on while holding down this button? Have you interfaced using this software version? When did you update your bla bla bla..."

Modelling is cool - I have a PODxt on my desk right here next to me that I use to record demos and it's great, but I'm not a guy that needs reproductions every single tone imaginable live - I like to keep things simple. My only pedal is a Korg DT-10 tuner and my amp controls are: presence, bass, mid, treble, preamp gain, clean volume, solo volume, and master volume. That's all I need. If I was in a cover band or something and had to cop tones all night long, I'd probably be using a Vetta.

[GodOfRhythm]

Interesting story:

The guy that sold me my quad pre (who's in a semi-professional cover band, they gig a lot every week) showed me his Vetta and told me the vetta was replacing the quad.

2 Weeks later the guy calls me up and asks if he can buy it back off me again, BEGS ME, even wanted to pay $100 more than I paid him originally.

[Newc]

Interesting story:

The guy that sold me my quad pre (who's in a semi-professional cover band, they gig a lot every week) showed me his Vetta and told me the vetta was replacing the quad.

2 Weeks later the guy calls me up and asks if he can buy it back off me again, BEGS ME, even wanted to pay $100 more than I paid him originally.

Which means he was overwhelmed by the complexity of programming it, I'll bet. Either that or he didn't spend the time with it he should have to learn how to program it.

Face it folks, tube amps are great if you want maybe 3 sounds - Clean, Crunch, & Lead. If you want on-the-fly variations or coloring effects without shlepping around a separate rack or floor board full of pedals, then something like the Vetta is the way to go.

Then again, over time most people with racks and/or modelers will find "their" sound, and eventually seek out a traditional amp that delivers that exact sound. Sometimes that amp already exists, sometimes it has to be custom built by a boutique company.

[danastas]

My point was that, you know, if a tube amp goes down, it's most likely just a tube that crapped out, and they're an easy, inexpensive fix. At least opposed to the "did you turn it on while holding down this button? Have you interfaced using this software version? When did you update your bla bla bla..."

It's not all that complex. Try it, it's easy as pie. I don't want to throw Bryan under the bus or anyone that has had trouble with their Vetta, but he did say he plugged the Input Out Midi cable into the Input In slot, and vice versa. There are only 2 slots for these cables on the Vetta, so the only way to get it wrong is to plug them in without reading the words In or Out on the cable.

I've found the Vetta to be a lot easier to work with than my other amps. I had a Fender Revrb Deluxe combo and a Marshall JCM800, a bunch of pedals, racks, and now they're all gone. Much simpler.

[GodOfRhythm]

Which means he was overwhelmed by the complexity of programming it, I'll bet. Either that or he didn't spend the time with it he should have to learn how to program it.

Not really, he had been gigging it for about a month prior of getting rid of the Quad for good.

[hammer84]

Not really, he had been gigging it for about a month prior of getting rid of the Quad for good.

So your saying after a month of side by side usage he couldn't tell that he liked the quad better ?!!?? I would not assume he wanted the quad back because the Vetta sucked.

My point was that, you know, if a tube amp goes down, it's most likely just a tube that crapped out, and they're an easy, inexpensive fix. At least opposed to the "did you turn it on while holding down this button? Have you interfaced using this software version? When did you update your bla bla bla..."

By holding the button down and turning on the amp it will tell you what is wrong or possibly reset it so you can use it. Yea, it may be just a tube, but which one and if not then what ??? Is there any chance of getting it working at a gig or even at home ???

[GodOfRhythm]

So your saying after a month of side by side usage he couldn't tell that he liked the quad better ?!!?? I would not assume he wanted the quad back because the Vetta sucked.

I'm not assuming anything, he told me he missed the feeling and the sound of the Quad.

Though I AM assuming, eventhough the quad is amazing, that it's tubes > vetta.

[Adam]

By holding the button down and turning on the amp it will tell you what is wrong or possibly reset it so you can use it. Yea, it may be just a tube, but which one and if not then what ??? Is there any chance of getting it working at a gig or even at home ???

I'm not going to jump to the conclusion that you've never owned a real tube amp, but this reply kind of makes it look that way.

You Vetta guys talk like we burn through tubes like they're guitar strings or something. It's not like that. I've had my Splawn for well over a year and only changed the tubes one time, and that's because I wanted to try a different brand. Preamp tubes can last a lifetime.

To answer your question - it's real easy to figure out which tube died - that would be the one that isn't glowing. As for other repairs - you can't compare an OS / software issue with a malfunction in a tube amp. There is no tube amp equivalent. Unless a part inside the amp is actually broken or blown, it's going to work. That said, if a tube amp does go down and it can't be quickly diagnosed as a bad tube, any decent amp tech in just about any decent-sized city or town can fix it right there in his shop.

Finally - to the guy who said a tube amp can only get about three sounds - heh. OK.

[skorb]

ha ha, you guys.

I would never say the Vetta is better than a tube amp. it just works best for me right now and what I'm doing with the cover band I'm in, and I love all the different tones you can get out of it. if I had the money to spend, I'd have a Marshall half stack in addition to the Vetta.

as for complexity, it takes me about 5 mins to set up for a rehearsal or gig. one cord into the amp, one CAT5 connection for the integrated floorboard. I like that kind of simplicity.

as for the issue of getting tones, I've found this to be really easy for most of them (easier as I understand more about different and better way to tweak certain tones), and for a few, it's been harder and you just have to play with it. but tube amps are the same way. many people here who don't own Vettas tend to overstate the complexity of the machine. it is not rocket science learning to use it.

I have not had to download an upgrade, as my Vetta I came already updated to 2.5 by the prior owner. but again, it's just a learning process like anything else.

for the money, nothing beats the variety of effects, stompboxes, and extremely accurate amp models that the Vetta contains in one package. that really appealed to me after I spent $650 on a pedalboard and 5 pedals. and another $100+ on monster patch cables. at least I made most of my $ back on all that stuff when I sold it all on eBay.

everyone has to find what works best for them, and right now, this is it for me. for you tube diehards, all I can say is I know what you mean, and I get it. I'd have a tube amp too if I wasn't married with kids and a mortgage.

[toejam]

Who needs to wait? I got my VHS copy right here....

I got my VHS copy here, too. Daddy's gonna kill Ralphie!

[Adam]

ha ha, you guys.

Hey man, I apologize for derailing your thread. I just went back and saw that yeah - I was totally the one to blame.

The Vetta definitely seems like a serious piece of gear - I'm glad you were able to get your issue sorted out.