Has anybody used their L1's with Tube preamp stompboxes like the Mesa V Twin or Hughes and Kettner Tubeman? how did it sound??

Hi Volitions Advocate,

V-Twin here.

Use it all the time with my PRS 513.

When I use it with the Preset for the PRS Custom 22 this works really well.

Running it with Preset 00 it is a little dark.

The PRS Custom 22 brightens up the sound so that it really cuts through a band mix.

I used a V-Twin before I got the Bose and loved it. When I got the Bose both my V-Twins died and I switched to a Vox Tone Lab because of the midi. I can use patch switching with my sequences. I have a Kettner Tube Man that I could never get a good sound out of before the L1. I recently had a job where all I needed was a stomp box. I pulled out the Tube Man and it sounded great with the Bose. I am a beliver in you need to have a good clean sound and everything else will follow. I Think the V-Twin would sound good also. Maybe a trip to my local repair guy? Roy

I forgot. I use to play a PRS Studio model. Had shoulder surgery and now I am using a Parker Fly.

The reason I'm asking is because I'm contemplating whether or not I should sell my amp to get an L1. I"m a big tube tone guy and after jamming with a new band for the last year or so I've not been able to use my amps tube distortion because everything I"ve been using is through my stompboxes and my new GT 10. So I was thinking why don't I sell my amp and get an L1 and a nice tube preamp pedal to get my tubetone from and that way I can also plug my microphone in and sing and I can use it for things other than playing guitar. and maybe end up with a thousand bucks left over. So i'm researching it a little bit. And I was kind of excited about the idea, after some more research of course. until I looked at the page for the pricing. Did it go up? Its like the prices in USD are what the canadian prices were back when we were down at 70 cents on the dollar last year. Maybe I"m remembering wrong but it seems like the prices all jumped uniformly about 500 dollars? am I wrong? I get so discouraged. Every time I look its like they're further and further out of my reach.

Hi Volitions Advocate,

I don't know where you are looking as you are seeing the prices.

As far as I can recall, the US prices have NOT changed from the point that the products were introduced.

That is: The Classic and B1 were the same price from the point the were introduced until the point that the Classic was no longer available.

The Model I was introduced at the same price as the Classic and has not changed.

The B1 is still the same price.

The A1 PackLite® amp is the same price as when it was introduced in 2005.

The Model II was introduced at the end of March 2007 and has not changed.

The T1 ToneMatch Audio Engine is the same price as when it was introduced in March 2007.

I don't know what you are seeing today, but the last time I checked at Long & McQuade, about four months ago, the prices were really close to the US prices. That may have changed with the plunge in the Canadian dollar lately.

I remember that you were talking to Bose Guy in Calgary - Garry Hennan awhile back.

In your shoes, I would talk to him again about prices. You can Send Garry a private message.

Hi again,

quote:

Originally posted by Voltions Advocate:
The reason I'm asking is because I'm contemplating whether or not I should sell my amp to get an L1. I"m a big tube tone guy and after jamming with a new band for the last year or so I've not been able to use my amps tube distortion because everything I"ve been using is through my stompboxes and my new GT 10. So I was thinking why don't I sell my amp and get an L1 and a nice tube preamp pedal to get my tubetone from and that way I can also plug my microphone in and sing and I can use it for things other than playing guitar. and maybe end up with a thousand bucks left over. So i'm researching it a little bit. And I was kind of excited about the idea, after some more research of course. until I looked at the page for the pricing. Did it go up? Its like the prices in USD are what the canadian prices were back when we were down at 70 cents on the dollar last year. Maybe I"m remembering wrong but it seems like the prices all jumped uniformly about 500 dollars? am I wrong? I get so discouraged. Every time I look its like they're further and further out of my reach.

Aside from the price concerns I have been really happy with the L1® for electric guitar. I do use a tube preamp in front of it, and the V-Twin is fine as are some others I've tried.

I would try the GT 10 straight into the L1® before spending dough on something else.

ST - what tube pre-amp do you like, please?

Thanks! Mike

Hi Mike,

I've been really tempted to try out the Radial Tonebone TRIMODE especially so, since I think you wrote that you use one.

It looks like the TRIMODE would be more versatile than the Mesa/Boogie V-Twin that goes with me to all my electric gigs. It's either what I use, or it's my backup.

Mesa/Boogie V-Twin
For the time being. If I want to travel light I use the V-Twin. Click image to the right for more details.

The big knarly knobs on the V-Twin for Drive and EQ and Output Volume are universal. That is, you set 'em and they apply to all three modes of the pedal. So you don't get different EQs for each setting. You get different gain staging "channels" (Clean, Blues, OverDrive).

It works fine for me. Sometimes wish I could have different EQs for each channel but I can usually get what I want with the controls on the Guitar. If you look closely at the picture you will see that it is pretty much impossible to change the knobs with your foot.

The V-Twin is okay with 2 x 12AX7s. It's very much a Mesa Boogie sound. If you like that, it's great. I was just reading the manual for the Mesa Boogie V-Twin again last night and read this for what feels like the first time.

"HINT: It is possible to alter the gain structure of all three modes in V-TWIN by simply replacing one or both 12AX7 tubes housed under the shielding cage with 12AT7 tubes. This will reduce the amount of gain fairly substantially without compromising the V-TWIN's overall voice."

So that's something to explore.

XT-Live - no tubes but versatile

The other night I was doing a hired-gun thing and brought along my Line6 POD XTLive. I wasn't sure exactly what sounds I would need but expected that I would have to be pretty versatile and quick. The XTLive gives me that as I have it all loaded up with the Bose patches.

I got to the show and put up my L1®. I then turned around to face the audience area. I found four Line6 devices already wired up and ready to go (2 XTLive, 1 shortboard into a POD XT, 1 longboard into a big Line6 backline amp). That is, there were four other players all running Line6 gear. So I ran back to the car with my XTLive and pulled out the V-Twin. Problem solved.

Mighty Rack (my name for it)

Click image for more details.

From the days before Bose, I have a four space rack. Two spaces are for a McIntyre Bluesmaker II. John McIntyre built a handful of these and then the design went to Lexicon who sold this as the Lexicon Signature 284. Three watts RMS Class A x 2. Three 12AX7s and an EL84 for each output channel.

The other thing in the rack is a TC Electronic G-Force

I used to have a DBX compressor in the last slot (for vocals). But I don't need that anymore!

As much as I really like this rig, it's heavy. It doesn't get out much any more.

Carvin Quad-X Amp


It's really a 4 Channel tube preamp with a good old fashioned spring reverb built-in. (9 12AX7s). Two rack spaces. Much lighter than the Mighty Rack.
Click image to the right for more details.

This thing is super simple. Sounds good, easy to operate, just does what it says, and I don't have to squint to read the panel or a manual. Mine was made in '92 or so. Two rack spaces but relatively light. The foot pedal is 19" across and probably weighs as much as the rack unit. And that's the only drawback for me - It takes another trip to the car.



I've got the latest details about what I'm running at any given time here:

What I run through my L1®.

Hi Mike,

Just a postscript.

I got the XTLive about three years ago. Everything else I own for guitar tone shaping has been around here for at least 15 years. I haven't even considered getting another electric guitar since February 2005. That's when I got my PRS 513.

It's not that I am immune to GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) or GPS (Guitar Player Syndrome). I just remind myself:

No matter what you do, it's still just you.

Thanks ST,

Interesting, that your fave rig is a Mesa Boogie - I was a Boogie Guy - had a Mark IV - heckuva amp! Mine also sounded awesome with my acoustic 12-string - like a canon...

I think my personal fave electric sound was my 64 Super Reverb, which I got AFTER the Boogie. Great clean sound, thru the reverb channel, and then I had an A-B switch setup, with Chorus, Delay, Wah, Distort pedals thru the normal channel.

... BOTH were PRE-Bose days ...

I don't play electric much now - maybe 10-12 songs out of three sets with the band. I am trying to just use my two Boss Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb pedals. One for clean, one for leads, on top of the T1 presets, eq and fx. Strange, the CLEAN sound is what I can't get to my liking.

Just have to keep working on it, I guess!

Thanks for your info...

Mike

Hi Mike,

quote:

Originally posted by Mike in Texas:
Thanks ST,

Interesting, that your fave rig is a Mesa Boogie - I was a Boogie Guy - had a Mark IV - heckuva amp! Mine also sounded awesome with my acoustic 12-string - like a canon...

I had a Mark IV. Man was that thing loud.

Every year I used to do an outdoor show on a big ol' farm out in horse country. Well horse country around here. There were neighbours, but acres away.

The party was put on by movie-folk - the people who do special effects and stunts. One year they rigged up the band tent so that fireworks shot up from the support stands on the corners. (What were they thinking?).

Anyway - we'd do that every year, and every year there would be complaints about the noise. And no - we never mic'd the Mark IV.

quote:

I think my personal fave electric sound was my 64 Super Reverb, which I got AFTER the Boogie. Great clean sound, thru the reverb channel, and then I had an A-B switch setup, with Chorus, Delay, Wah, Distort pedals thru the normal channel.

... BOTH were PRE-Bose days ...

I don't play electric much now - maybe 10-12 songs out of three sets with the band. I am trying to just use my two Boss Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb pedals. One for clean, one for leads, on top of the T1 presets, eq and fx. Strange, the CLEAN sound is what I can't get to my liking.

Just have to keep working on it, I guess!

Thanks for your info...

Mike

Have you tried this Preset?
Category: Electric Guitar
Preset: General Direct

Yean MAN! Those little Boogies are like heavy artillery!

Thanks, I WILL try that preset...

Best, Mike

I wonder if its possible to make a preamp and put it in a pedal enclosure to get all the custom voicings you want. Just food for thought from a suffering DIYer

Hi Volitions Advocate,

I suppose anything is possible for the DIYer.

But there are also floor pedal rigs with tube preamps built in so you don't have to build one.

I haven't tried this one but it has 12AX7 built-in
Vox ToneLab LE.

I have two tube preamps (now for sale) and ADA MP-1 and an ADA MP-2. I bet they'd sound great into the L1, especially the MP-2 that has minimal built-in cab simulation. They are for sale since I stumbled upon the Axe-FX and I purchased the Ultra.

Not tube, but the Axe-Fx is really amazing. While it works with amps, its designed to model a miked amp through a FOH system so FRFR cabs are recommended to take full advantage of its capabilities.

Its the Ultra that sent me on my FRFR search and how I ended up here. I'm contemplating getting the L1 Model II with two B1s and a T1 - I think the combination of my guitar (and bass) preamps and the L1 PAS will be all I need. My guitars and preamps demand something extraordinary - and I'm convinced that the L1 PAS is exactly what is missing from my current rig to make it complete.

Before I found the Axe-Fx, I was seriously considering the Vox Tonelab LE. The Axe-Fx can do way more than I'll ever need, and there is a serious sticker shock until you understand what it can do, and replace - similar to the Bose L1 system!

Unfortunately, the used gear market is not good right now, so I'm not able to sell my used gear at a reasonable price (losing some money is to be expected, but not this much!), so my L1 system purchase is on hold. Besides, I have no room for the L1 in my home studio if I don't sell some of my current gear.

Check out the Radial Engineering "ToneBone TriMode". They are easy to use, very flexible and most importantly sound great.

Craig

Don't forget Damage Control, I used three of their pedals on my old Pedal board. As good as you can get without a Valve amp IMHO.

Depending on your style they have 4 od/dist pedals
Liquid Blues - light overdrive
Womanizer - Overdrive
Demonizer - More of a distortion pedal
Solid Metal - For metal heads

The WMZ and DMZ also both have Opto Compressors on them and all 4 have true bypass, and a boost function. Very well thought out.

Then multi effects - /the Glass Nexus - which I still use, awesome - great reverb's, delays and mod effects
and the Timeline, which is delay, and the only one I don't own.

The biggest issue with them is they require 9V @ 2 Amp, so powering them needs their own individual transformers which are a bit noisy if you have them in close proximity to a complex board - so i made a customer box for three transformers which sat at the back of the stage and a custom power lead which carried 3 individual supples to my board.\\

I've now gone back to a 5W combo (Cornford Carerra) and also just got the New Blackstar 5W head with a DI output which I'm trying out. Which means just carrying a head and no cab (the head is about half the length of a normal head), it's very light and very cheap (214 GB Pounds)


Good luck

I just wanted to let those of you still searching for a "No amp" solution of my opinion of the newer Tech 21 Character Series Blonde pedal. If you look at some of my prior postings, you'll see I've tried a few things to get rid of the amp to simplify gigging. I tried the Fender FDR1 pedal, which was close to workable. I tried various modelers like the POD's and the new Boss GT. I felt that the modelers had a slight delay in the signal or something artificial to the feel but they were pretty good as well. I've even tried a tube pre-amp (Fender Twin preamp) direct and it didn't work that well. Now, I just bought the Tech 21 Character Series Blonde pedal, which is an analog emulator of Fender amps with Jensen 12" speaker. Since I've had it, I don't use my amp at all. Even at home practicing I use the Character Series Blonde with a Reverb pedal direct to the Bose. I set it to clean and add pedals as needed. One thing to note is that distortions/overdrives must go before the pedal, much like an amp, or they sound terrible. Before the amp, it sounds just like my Blues Junior NOS mic'd. I've AB'd them with the Blues Junior in a closet so I couldn't hear it and it sounds very comparable out of the Bose to the Blonde pedal. I prefer the SM57 mic setting on the Bose T1 with both an SM57 mic'd Blues Junior or the Blonde pedal without and amp.

Still not as good as a guitar amp, but this is my favorite alternative at the moment and it may work for some of you.

I would deffinately check out the Blackstar HT-5 Head. You can use the emulate output direct to the L1 and no need for a Cab. Light as a feather, cheap as chips and better sounding than any pedakls I've tried.

HT-5