I'm currently on holiday and taking a break from studying, but using my last week for little research with a project I decided to do. As some of you might already know I'm busy with designing a guitar valve amplifier.
Although just busy with research at this point. 
Have to do a lot of that!
I dont have experience on valve amps the closest to that is the single valve in my TLSE.
What I would like to know from you guys is, how much more better is the sound on a valve amp and why and what amp you pick or prefer?
maybe I need some audio examples although I believe one will only feel it when playing through it.
I do have a vox AD50 valvetronix but its not doing it for me. Also if I build an valve amp like the AC30 Vox, how well will my TLSE sound with it?
I can only give you my
Wed, 2008/07/09 - 1:51pm — tbyrdI can only give you my perspective on this issue - YMMV.
1) All tube amps sound different, and everyone has their own taste of what they like, so there is no way to build the perfect amp. Ex: Brad Paisley get's a very cool sound with his Dr.Z amp, and there is no way to emulate that with a pedal. However, you may not like that sound at all.
2) Tube amps sound best when they are played loud with enough gain to make the speakers work, otherwise you might as well use a modeler.
3) Modelers work best through a full range sound system. Think about it - would you crank up an AC30, put a mike on it and run that signal through another AC30? Probably not. I currently own a Fender HR Deluxe, an Atomic, a JBL EON 15" and two Behringer Truth B2031A reference montiors. I usually play direct to the PA, so I use the EON to set my patches. The Atomic (even though it's described as being transparent), still colors the sound compared to the EON and the Behringers.
4) Now that I've got everyones back up, let me say this.
I've run my LE through the Fender and the Atomic on gigs and have gotten very good results. However, you have to tweak the patches to make them fit the amp, and once I mic it, the result isn't that much better than going direct, because I still don't crank the amp and get the speaker moving. If you play loud, the results will be different. But, my ears can't take it anymore.
5) Here is a site where you can hear real amps cranked.
http://www.netmusicians.org/index.php?value=Bogner%20Ecstasy§ion=amp
Hope this helps some. Good luck!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=442828
Will it be better for me to
Wed, 2008/07/09 - 3:57pm — JacoWill it be better for me to build a small valve amp (10-20watt) and concentrate on getting a clean sound with it, so that I can use my TLSE with it.
Or should I go big and spend my time and money on designing one like the AC30 or one similiar. I really like the Brian May tone! Then I should be able to use the TLSE for its effects?
Designing a small amp might be a good idea, I believe in starting small. What would you suggest?
IMO... (doesn't count 4 much
Wed, 2008/07/09 - 7:48pm — mself61IMO... (doesn't count 4 much
) if your looking to use your TLSE with it, it may be a lot cheaper to buy than build, I'm not sure what tube amps will sound good at all levels of volume, here its been said the Atomic makes a great amp for the SE (2 are better for stereo I imagine) those will rock your socks I'm sure, another is Mesa 20/20 and 50/50 but you need cabs to go with them. and the speakers do make a difference I'm sure so which ones?. What I have just done with my rig is I bought 2 Hartke G60c's and the sound great as long as you set the amps as clean as clean can be.
Guitar out to a Behringer mic200 Tube Ultragain with a Y-splitter on it, one to the SE and one to my Zoom G9.2tt, I then run them 2 to a mixer in stereo, then run the L to the Hartke on stage left and R to stage right.
If your just going to do a "simple" project I would go for a low watt (say 5 or 10) just to lollygag about.
going for a big amp like the Atomics will run some dough even if its just one.
www.selfdistruction.com
http://groups.google.com/group/tonelab-patch-exchange
You could start with
Wed, 2008/07/09 - 8:24pm — tbyrdYou could start with something simple like the atomic. It has only a phase inverter and two EL84 tubes and puts out 18 Watts. Might be fun to build actually.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=442828
Check out the AX84 web site.
Sun, 2008/07/13 - 12:31am — guitarmikeCheck out the AX84 web site. It has some schematics and such for building amps. Ive built several and repair tube amps. Ive been playing for many years and used tube amps exclucively, marshalls, fenders and I played a matchless clubman 35 for several years. Anyway, now I use a TLLE. I run it through a solid state pa amp into a 2x12 cab. I am very happy with the sounds Im getting. I recently did some ab comparisons, I have an old fender vibrolux that sounds really good. I wandered just how close I could get the TLLE to this amp. I got really, really close. I also have matched the sound of jcm800's and plexi's. I compared the sim of the TL's tube screamer to my actual TS and can hear no difference in them. The klon centaur sim is even better. And, I have all these sounds at any volume, with effects placed in proper order ( try to get a good reverb with a jcm set to scream and youll have no reverb when you back off, because the reverb is before the amp compression.) Bottem line is the TLLE isnt absolutely perfect, but it does really sound good and has a tube amp feel with complete versatility and ease of use. My investment would go towards an atomic or a couple of tech21's. You know, just because an amp has tubes in it doesnt mean it sounds good, many many marshalls and fenders Ive played did not sound great!
Hey Mike, Have you posted
Sun, 2008/07/13 - 12:46am — mself61Hey Mike, Have you posted your LE patches ?, I'd like to see them converted for the SE and also would like to hear some sound clips of your A/B'ing those if it isn't that much trouble, it sounds like it would be a job to do.
www.selfdistruction.com
http://groups.google.com/group/tonelab-patch-exchange
Mike, I had a Vibrolux 20
Sun, 2008/07/13 - 1:33pm — tbyrdMike,
I had a Vibrolux 20 years ago that sounded great. Wish I still had it. I'd like to hear your comparison of the LE with your vibrolux. Which preamp model do you use?
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=442828
I havent posted any patches
Tue, 2008/07/15 - 6:35am — guitarmikeI havent posted any patches yet, but I will try to post some mp3's and patches for the tremolux comparison I did.
Ive wanted to set up the tremolux and the TLLE with an A/B switch and record the two for a comparisom that would be meaningful. Ive found that what you run the TLLE into is critical if you trying to truly emulate a sound consistantly. For example, when I did the original A/B test the TLLE was ran into the power amp of a fender solid state with two 12 inch speakers. It was just an amp I had on the bench and had just got it repaired. Igot really close on the sound. Later that evening, I plugged the TLLE into the computer to record and the sound coming out of my moniters was too bright. So, in any comparisons, the equipment used is very important. My goal is to get one of the tech21 amps, I think this might be a good standard ( Id go for the atomic but it cost more, two tech 21's I think would be a great set up) But, Ive got some other needs first. I have been running the TLLe into a peavey 2600 pa amp and then into a 2x12 cab. The cab has sheffield speakers, Im sure they color the sound somewhat. I also have mounted my TLLE into a SKB pedal board (with velcro, its solid) and use a boss compressor, metalzone, and tubescreamer in the loop. I also have a vox wah that I prefer over the TLLE emulation. Of the other pedals, the compressor is the one that seems most useful. I like the TLLE compressor for somethings but its not quite as clean as the boss. For really clean sounds the boss works best for me. The MZ and TS emulations on the TLLE are very good. Ill try to post some pics also. Im playing a 50th anniversary strat with the samarian cobalt pickups. This strat has a mohagany body which is unique, and a slightly unique sound. I have other strats as well, but keep coming back to this on because it plays sooooo good. Any warren haynes or govt mule fans out there? If so, I did a patch of there cover of 30 days in the hole. Warren uses a soldano slo and a les paul for his basic sound, but this makes good use of the octave unit. This comparison was done by uploading the song to sonar, and plugging the LE straight in, and then tweaking till the sound was the same.