So I bought a Tonex

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Killcrop

Killcrop

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I was bored and decided to try the Tonex. Actually my guy at Sweetwater called to tell me I was up next for the Snorkler. I got an old JCM800 a few months ago that just screams and I can't really imagine the Snorkler is going to bring that much more to the table over the old Marshall and a few pedals. So I ordered up the Tonex to try. Its pretty cool but honestly, its not that much better than the Katana I have laying around. It actually reminds me a lot of this Korg PX4 pocket amp I bought like 15 years ago.
Regarding the Tonex, the JCM800 setting out of the box is good, I guess. But a lot of tones suck. The Dumble tones are not very good at all. Not that I would know what one would sound like anyway. I am probably going to return it. Yeah, I could spend time tweaking it and getting the settings down, but really I am tube guy at heart. I love everything about them. It's simple, turn it on and turn it up.
 
In addition to tube amps, I mostly use software plugins, or my ISP Theta Michael Sweet preamps/effects.

My main plugin is PolyChromeDSP McRocklin Suite, it was $99 when first released, free upgrades ever since. PolyChromeDSP also released a more classic plugin, Nunchuck, based on the JCM800. Can try them for free.

I also have a few Neural DSP plugins (Plini X, Petrucci X, Tim Henson), and their Mesa IIC+ Suite...

worth a look IMO. Unless something amazing comes out in digital modeling, I'm going to stick with tube amps and software plugins...thinking about selling my Fractal FM9 MKII Turbo since I barely use it.
 
I have been loving the ToneX stuff lately, even more than my Fractal stuff. It has a very realistic tone and feel, but you have to go out and find good captures, and it depends on if you are using it through an amp and cab, or through IRs direct. It is better to use the software as the main center, and only use the pedal to download portable versions of your computer tones. It is way better than a Katana, or other comparable modelers.
 
Right on maybe a Headrush, Line 6 Helix LT floor unit or Boss G1000 Core make more sense :dunno:
 
If the 800 has an FX loop or line in/line out deal...... try that too.
 
I cannot find any good tones in Tonex. I have the software version. I like Amplitube 5 more. All I do is waste time trying to find a model I like but never find one.
 
I like the idea of the Tonex but only if I use my own captures, so I might get one (or the Darkglass thing) if I end up with a personal computer capable of taking the captures.

Right now I use a Nano Cortex (it can take the captures itself) and am very happy with it. I think the captures turn out nicely, and now at the click of a footswitch, I can change from captures of my amps: clean-ish Low Input 2202, high input 2204, boosted 2204, and boosted Rectifier. I really enjoy it.
 
I mean I get the capture thing and whatever other stuff you can do with a lot of the new stuff but it's like jeez......

If it's not good off the bat I really don't want to do HW or whatever and plug into a computer and whatever else is fancy now adays...... Digital or not I just want to plug in and just have the goods...... Making good amps and amp models isn't my job...... it's the job of whoever the hell is making these things..... I just play these things.

I hear a lot of the tones from clips and while they sound good it doesn't really sound better than say a Katana Artist or some other modelers. IMO stuff like that where you can do the cool new trendy things like "capturing" or whatever and using your Iphone to adjust settings while your taking a shit on the toilet are more of a novelty to me......


Maybe if your plugging into a Blues Jr/MonoPrice or don't have an amp and are using this vs any modern VST if you were into computer amps....... or well why would you use this vs any modern VST in that case........ it just doesn't make any sense to me at least but hey..... I'm just a plug in and play guy :dunno:
 
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That's what I love about making your own captures: it's really just plug and play. I just dial up an amp. A few minutes of crazy noises from the Nano Cortex profiling process and then it's done. I have that sound in a tiny box.
 
Spaceboy said:
You bought something, don’t like the stock sound, and refuse to explore its full potential? Okay, great review lol.
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i absolutely loved this "review", as it is near 100% perfect example of a tube guy and a modeler review of the last 20 years that for some reason just crack me up, we dont see as many these days which is sad but they are always exactly the same..

1. Let us know they have a incredible vintage 6 knob that is just fucking incredible
2. Explain it wasnt really their idea, but they were bored one day and someone convinced them to try a modeler.
3. Get the product, finally open it on another day they are bored, talk about how the stock settings dont sound very good, but they arent bored enough to watch a tutorial that would have taken less time to watch than it took to come to RT and write this "review", box it back up without doing any tweaks which everyone knows needs to be done and fuck the thing
4. Remind everyone of their tube amp loyalism and just how amazing tube amps are jussst in case anyone might have questioned that notion with them buying a modeler


excellent job killcrop!!
 
Spaceboy said:
You bought something, don’t like the stock sound, and refuse to explore its full potential? Okay, great review lol.
Click to expand...
That’s fair but also fair is that sometimes people want a piece of gear that doesn’t take a lot of work to sound good. I like modelers and have used them a lot in the past but I also ditched the Tonex for a Friedman IR-D and couldn’t be happier.
 
RaceU4her said:
i absolutely loved this "review", as it is near 100% perfect example of a tube guy and a modeler review of the last 20 years that for some reason just crack me up, we dont see as many these days which is sad but they are always exactly the same..

1. Let us know they have a incredible vintage 6 knob that is just fucking incredible
2. Explain it wasnt really their idea, but they were bored one day and someone convinced them to try a modeler.
3. Get the product, finally open it on another day they are bored, talk about how the stock settings dont sound very good, but they arent bored enough to watch a tutorial that would have taken less time to watch than it took to come to RT and write this "review", box it back up without doing any tweaks which everyone knows needs to be done and fuck the thing
4. Remind everyone of their tube amp loyalism and just how amazing tube amps are jussst in case anyone might have questioned that notion with them buying a modeler


excellent job killcrop!!
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I knew getting into this that I wasn’t super excited about doing the tone capture. But I was led to believe the presets were good. Some setting are ok but most are not. The stock settings are basically a bigger version of this

IMG_9624.jpeg
 
RaceU4her said:
i absolutely loved this "review", as it is near 100% perfect example of a tube guy and a modeler review of the last 20 years that for some reason just crack me up, we dont see as many these days which is sad but they are always exactly the same..

1. Let us know they have a incredible vintage 6 knob that is just fucking incredible
2. Explain it wasnt really their idea, but they were bored one day and someone convinced them to try a modeler.
3. Get the product, finally open it on another day they are bored, talk about how the stock settings dont sound very good, but they arent bored enough to watch a tutorial that would have taken less time to watch than it took to come to RT and write this "review", box it back up without doing any tweaks which everyone knows needs to be done and fuck the thing
4. Remind everyone of their tube amp loyalism and just how amazing tube amps are jussst in case anyone might have questioned that notion with them buying a modeler


excellent job killcrop!!
Click to expand...
Next up I will be reviewing my wife’s vegetarian diet from the perspective of a guy that really only eats red meat and candy bars.
 
eh I didn't like the stock presets either.. .how are you using it, through the amp? if so be sure to turn off the cab simulation on the stock presets. The best bet is to get on tone net and get the free profiles then go into your power amp. different profiles sound better / worse depending on if its through you daw, an frfr, or through an amp and cab.

I usually use it through the daw and some of the stock presets that I thought sucked sounded very good through an frfr in the mix with a band. Like everybody stopped good. So I think some are made with different applications in mind.

edit: and a lot of them do just suck
 
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I think the stock presets are more suitable to single coils.
 
Uber Ultra and Engl Blackmore are my go to amps for Tonex into power amps.
 
RaceU4her said:
i absolutely loved this "review", as it is near 100% perfect example of a tube guy and a modeler review of the last 20 years that for some reason just crack me up, we dont see as many these days which is sad but they are always exactly the same..

1. Let us know they have a incredible vintage 6 knob that is just fucking incredible
2. Explain it wasnt really their idea, but they were bored one day and someone convinced them to try a modeler.
3. Get the product, finally open it on another day they are bored, talk about how the stock settings dont sound very good, but they arent bored enough to watch a tutorial that would have taken less time to watch than it took to come to RT and write this "review", box it back up without doing any tweaks which everyone knows needs to be done and fuck the thing
4. Remind everyone of their tube amp loyalism and just how amazing tube amps are jussst in case anyone might have questioned that notion with them buying a modeler


excellent job killcrop!!
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His review helped me tremendously. When my Stomp XL arrived I ran outside and threw it back on the truck before the driver closed the door.
 
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