Tube vs. Non-tube - my assessment

[jwoods986]

While we're talking about Vettas, has anyone upgraded to 2.5? If so, how are the Whammy and Soldano X88R? Also, tell me if I'm understanding the Loudness Compensation correctly - if I create a patch wearing headphones at low volume, it will sound the exact same cranked up through the speakers?

[emperor_black]

Also, tell me if I'm understanding the Loudness Compensation correctly - if I create a patch wearing headphones at low volume, it will sound the exact same cranked up through the speakers?

It definitely wont. I "re-tweak" my patches AFTER I listening out loud. I dont have a vetta but have a Boss GT-8 and I presume the concept is the same.

[skorb]

While we're talking about Vettas, has anyone upgraded to 2.5? If so, how are the Whammy and Soldano X88R? Also, tell me if I'm understanding the Loudness Compensation correctly - if I create a patch wearing headphones at low volume, it will sound the exact same cranked up through the speakers?

2.5 is AWESOME, you'll be blown away if you have not yet upgraded.

I understand the programmable wahs are excellent, although I've not really played with those other than just to select the one I want on each patch. the new Soldano patch on 2.5 sounds killer. I use it regularly.

and no, you must tweak at louder volumes to get your tone right the way you want it. there is still that sound curve issue that exists, so your low vol patches will sound at least somewhat different (often very different) at higher volumes.

[Racerx2k]

1. please tell us more about this Navarro anecdote. he's one of my favorite players. I had no idea he played any time w/ a Vetta.

2. Vetta patches must be set up correctly to sound good. just walking in and turning on a Vetta in GC and expecting it to sound good will always disappoint. just like going to GC expecting to find every guitar set up just right. never going to happen. Vetta's can sound like shit if the user does not understand the amp controls.

you should hear my Vetta at gig volume with my already tweaked and perfected patches. it would totally change your mind about the amp.

again if all you need is crushing gain and midrange punch, get a tube amp. if you are needing to do many varying tones very well and sound very good over a wide range of different songs/effects with a simple to use stage setup, the Vetta is unbeatable.

It was during the Rockstar: Supernova season. He came up onstage, to jam with one of the singers, and the house band, and they had a Vetta full stack wheeled out for him. It was actually kinda embarrassing for me to watch him play that that thing next to Raphael and his Bogner amp. There was no competition.

Sorry, but I'm just not convinced of the Vetta. Any time I've heard them, they have been dissapointingly sterile and artificial-sounding. Trust me, I wanted to like them, after hearing some people rave about their Vettas, but no thanks. I did the modeller amp thing for a while, and actually found myself gravitating to one or two tones, and that's it. If you're a top-40 or wedding band, where you're doing lot's of different artists, I can sorta understand, but if your are doing your own stuff, with maybe a few cover thrown in, IMHO, all that's really unnecessary.

[soc_monki]

I've never tried a TM60. I also heard that the TM300 had more gain, but it seems to be the same amount of gain as my Tri-AC. The only thing different about them (aside from the effects loops on the head) is that the frequency spectrum is a little different.
According to the manuals, the Tri-AC frequencies are... bass @ 125 Hz, mids @ 500 Hz and treble @ 3.5kHz.
The TM300 is... bass 200 Hz, mids 750 Hz and treble 3 kHz.

I wish they actually had a little bit more gain, but they take well to OD pedals. Music123 had a blow-out sale on the TM300 awhile back, so I got mine for like $600 and change. I noticed after that it was down to $400 something. Next time I checked, it was over $900, now it's at $819.99.
http://www.music123.com/Tech-21-Trad...45284.Music123

i just wanted to say one thing...nice Saigon Kick quote in your sig ToeJam

oh...but this is about Vettas and stuff. ive tried my XT Live through my Peavey poweramp (and also a Mosvalve) and i just cant get the tones good enough for my liking. i love my pod for direct stuff, just now through an amp/cab combo. i guess thats what i have my Rockmaster and PSA-1 for though.
i love modelling...it really makes recording simple and you can get tons of good tones from it. but i still prefer my tube stuff...the tones are just better and the feel is better as well.

[horns666]

Lucian Scott...I listened to your stuff, very nice!

Bill Z Bub

[toejam]

i just wanted to say one thing...nice Saigon Kick quote in your sig ToeJam

Thanks. That Rivera amp thread made me dig out all their CDs, and I've been listening to them a lot lately.

[skorb]

but this is about Vettas and stuff. ive tried my XT Live through my Peavey poweramp (and also a Mosvalve) and i just cant get the tones good enough for my liking. i love my pod for direct stuff, just now through an amp/cab combo. i guess thats what i have my Rockmaster and PSA-1 for though.

just for the record, Vetta > XTL or Pod, it's not even close. the two amps at once feature really sets the Vetta head and shoulders over the other Line6 stuff.

[jgcable]

It definitely wont. I "re-tweak" my patches AFTER I listening out loud. I dont have a vetta but have a Boss GT-8 and I presume the concept is the same.

The loudness compensation works great on the Vetta. No need to retweak for live loud usage.
Version 2.5 and a longboard are a must have.

I do agree with all the tube players here. Tubes feel different. Especially when you can crank the amp.
With that said.. and after owning a ton of tube amps.. I like the Vetta better.

[Racerx2k]

Thanks. That Rivera amp thread made me dig out all their CDs, and I've been listening to them a lot lately.

Saigon Kick is great. "The Lizard" is one of my favorites. Used to do "One Step Closer" in my old band. Man, now I'm dying to hear some Kick!

[jgcable]

It was during the Rockstar: Supernova season. He came up onstage, to jam with one of the singers, and the house band, and they had a Vetta full stack wheeled out for him. It was actually kinda embarrassing for me to watch him play that that thing next to Raphael and his Bogner amp. There was no competition.

Sorry, but I'm just not convinced of the Vetta. Any time I've heard them, they have been dissapointingly sterile and artificial-sounding. Trust me, I wanted to like them, after hearing some people rave about their Vettas, but no thanks. I did the modeller amp thing for a while, and actually found myself gravitating to one or two tones, and that's it. If you're a top-40 or wedding band, where you're doing lot's of different artists, I can sorta understand, but if your are doing your own stuff, with maybe a few cover thrown in, IMHO, all that's really unnecessary.

I love my Vetta but I kinda agree with you on all points. Especially the gravitating towards one or two tones. I'm guilty.

[Twisteramps]

One nice thing about the Vetta is that if your tastes change, you just pick a few different amp models and you're set... no buying new modules or amps. I used mine iwth a country band, top 40 pop band, metal covers, and even around the house recording here and there. Can't beat the versatility.

Pete

[soc_monki]

Thanks. That Rivera amp thread made me dig out all their CDs, and I've been listening to them a lot lately.

i listen to them pretty regularly...one of my all time favorites hearing that stuff STILL makes me gas for a Rivera, but ive never had a chance to play one. ive still got the Lizard and Water...i need to rebuy the other albums though. wish i could find them for like 4 bucks used like i did those two

[soc_monki]

Lucian Scott...I listened to your stuff, very nice!

Bill Z Bub

thanks!

[soc_monki]

just for the record, Vetta > XTL or Pod, it's not even close. the two amps at once feature really sets the Vetta head and shoulders over the other Line6 stuff.

i really like the 2 amps at a time feature...i would really like to see that added to the Pod, because the possibilities for direct recording would go through the roof IMO. but they wont add it i think.

and i understand that the Vetta is better...its the top model! but i still think i should be able to get a nice, useable tone out of my XT Live into a poweramp, which i cannot. maybe its just me, or how i set things, but it just doesnt work for me. ive played a Vetta 2 and spent a good bit of time with it and i didnt like it much either. its either my tube stuff or Pod into a PA (which sounds really good).