Thanks for the update. My VX50BA is on the UPS truck for delivery, which usually is dusk-ish here this time of year. Don't expect my review before tomorrow evening, unless it's DOA.
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The Combo Club
- Thread starter ChefKen
- Start date
I always set my deliveries to will call when possible. That way I can get them about 5 hours earlier & they don't get delivered to the wrong address w/o a signature.
Yes, it happened too many times, once a bass in the rain.
UPS were never apologetic about delivering to the wrong address, at all!
Crank the Gain & Volume on that sucker & see if it goes awry like mine did.
Yes, it happened too many times, once a bass in the rain.
UPS were never apologetic about delivering to the wrong address, at all!
Crank the Gain & Volume on that sucker & see if it goes awry like mine did.
Update on the Rumble Stage 800;
I wasn’t all that impressed with my very-rushed first use of the amp on Sunday morning, finding it lack-luster tonally and power-wise. It was slightly discouraging actually.
But, once returning home I hauled it back inside and began a systematic process of ‘polishing’ patches to my specific modeling formula* and BINGO vibrant realistic amp voicings began to emerge and so did volume/headroom befitting the stated power ratings!
Sheesh that was a close one, but it now occurs to me that all of the previous modeling devices had come pre-programmed with ‘bedroom patches’.
Also, as much as I love modeling I seem to be completely unhappy with any of the cab simulations. Go figure, ‘cause I see more guys using cab sims than any other modeling technology.
*[That’s the beginning of my polishing of modeling patches (except when recording direct) I always kill the cab sim first. Then take gain to zero/master to max to hear the cleanest version.
I sculpt the tone testing each available band through its full available range to get familiar, but often everything ends up near flat with bass around 10:00 (flat being 12:00).
I usually need to back off on compression also, reducing ratio from factory down to 2 or 3:1 instead of the more common 6-7:1 or more.
This starts to allow as realistic a sound through as possible and the Stage 800 roared to life. Maximizing all of the gain (at zero) and volume controls for headroom, I had to reduce the master to ‘just leaking’ in order to keep the volume under control (Stack-pot Jazz bass was near wide-open for reference).]
It was quite exhilarating to be honest and it really convinced me that this amp can work just fine for me. It offers a full compliment of amp voices going from so-so to WOW! and the effects are bass-focused, plentiful and easy to apply. The included 4-switch pedal is old-school stomp and controls 3 patches, 3 effects, tuner and 60 second looper. Haven’t even checked out the looper yet. Love loopers...
Next I hope to explore the extension speaker realm. First the 2x8” on top and eventually the 1x15” beneath the Rumble. The 15” cab is buried in the garage so that’ll take a while with my broken foot.
I wasn’t all that impressed with my very-rushed first use of the amp on Sunday morning, finding it lack-luster tonally and power-wise. It was slightly discouraging actually.
But, once returning home I hauled it back inside and began a systematic process of ‘polishing’ patches to my specific modeling formula* and BINGO vibrant realistic amp voicings began to emerge and so did volume/headroom befitting the stated power ratings!
Sheesh that was a close one, but it now occurs to me that all of the previous modeling devices had come pre-programmed with ‘bedroom patches’.
Also, as much as I love modeling I seem to be completely unhappy with any of the cab simulations. Go figure, ‘cause I see more guys using cab sims than any other modeling technology.
*[That’s the beginning of my polishing of modeling patches (except when recording direct) I always kill the cab sim first. Then take gain to zero/master to max to hear the cleanest version.
I sculpt the tone testing each available band through its full available range to get familiar, but often everything ends up near flat with bass around 10:00 (flat being 12:00).
I usually need to back off on compression also, reducing ratio from factory down to 2 or 3:1 instead of the more common 6-7:1 or more.
This starts to allow as realistic a sound through as possible and the Stage 800 roared to life. Maximizing all of the gain (at zero) and volume controls for headroom, I had to reduce the master to ‘just leaking’ in order to keep the volume under control (Stack-pot Jazz bass was near wide-open for reference).]
It was quite exhilarating to be honest and it really convinced me that this amp can work just fine for me. It offers a full compliment of amp voices going from so-so to WOW! and the effects are bass-focused, plentiful and easy to apply. The included 4-switch pedal is old-school stomp and controls 3 patches, 3 effects, tuner and 60 second looper. Haven’t even checked out the looper yet. Love loopers...
Next I hope to explore the extension speaker realm. First the 2x8” on top and eventually the 1x15” beneath the Rumble. The 15” cab is buried in the garage so that’ll take a while with my broken foot.
Last edited:
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,136
- 256,323
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Curious what the cab sims do (don't do). Sounds really interesting to play with amp sims. Be kind of fascinating to hear for myself a Kustom tuck and roll 2x15 sim out of modern amp. Though not really sure why anyone would want to do that. White leisure suit with glitter? Buying tickets for that.
Update on the Rumble Stage 800;
I wasn’t all that impressed with my very-rushed first use of the amp on Sunday morning, finding it lack-luster tonally and power-wise. It was slightly discouraging actually.
But, once returning home I hauled it back inside and began a systematic process of ‘polishing’ patches to my specific modeling formula* and BINGO vibrant realistic amp voicings began to emerge and so did volume/headroom befitting the stated power ratings!
Sheesh that was a close one, but it now occurs to me that all of the previous modeling devices had come pre-programmed with ‘bedroom patches’.
Also, as much as I love modeling I seem to be completely unhappy with any of the cab simulations. Go figure, ‘cause I see more guys using cab sims than any other modeling technology.
*[That’s the beginning of my polishing of modeling patches (except when recording direct) I always kill the cab sim first. Then take gain to zero/master to max to hear the cleanest version.
I sculpt the tone testing each available band through its full available range to get familiar, but often everything ends up near flat with bass around 10:00 (flat being 12:00).
I usually need to back off on compression also, reducing ratio from factory down to 2 or 3:1 instead of the more common 6-7:1 or more.
This starts to allow as realistic a sound through as possible and the Stage 800 roared to life. Maximizing all of the gain (at zero) and volume controls for headroom, I had to reduce the master to ‘just leaking’ in order to keep the volume under control (Stack-pot Jazz bass was near wide-open for reference).]
It was quite exhilarating to be honest and it really convinced me that this amp can work just fine for me. It offers a full compliment of amp voices going from so-so to WOW! and the effects are bass-focused, plentiful and easy to apply. The included 4-switch pedal is old-school stomp and controls 3 patches, 3 effects, tuner and 60 second looper. Haven’t even checked out the looper yet. Love loopers...
Next I hope to explore the extension speaker realm. First the 2x8” on top and eventually the 1x15” beneath the Rumble. The 15” cab is buried in the garage so that’ll take a while with my broken foot.
Yay! Now that you're also a member of the Fender Rumble Club, this is the kind of review we eat up over there. Lotsa future Stage & Studio owners over there, still on the fence, like me, can't get enough info about these amps. Please share there, too?
And I'm with Morrighan in asking what is it about cab sims you don't like? Is it just these, or cab sims in general?
Congratulations on getting the voices and power you were looking for out of it. I'd have been very surprised if you couldn't. Phew!
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,136
- 256,323
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
And a musician's brick and mortar is a very fine thing. A Fender Hendrix coil cord in hazy purple is right there to see and touch. But quite satisfied with the Fender Custom Shop tweed cable (thank you!) and this really cool Bullet coily cable in seafoam green.
Thinking all the while about coordinating the whole presentation and wondered how a loose, loopy seafoam green thing would go but dang it's a really good cable and fun too. This is how it is the Fender Hendrix coil cord in hazy purple is still where I found it today.
For My Ray is there for its 40 million mile checkup. Something with the jack that needs seen to, and the output is quite low. Too low. Realized in an attempt to raise the pickup to see if that helps that the foam under the pickup is likely long petrified.
What year is this?
His eyes say "I'm drooling"
Seventy-nine.
Can I play it?
It's in good hands.
And noticed as I browsed the black Mikro I saw is gone. Ibanez, Yamaha, ESP. Blackstar. And
Vox
Thinking all the while about coordinating the whole presentation and wondered how a loose, loopy seafoam green thing would go but dang it's a really good cable and fun too. This is how it is the Fender Hendrix coil cord in hazy purple is still where I found it today.
For My Ray is there for its 40 million mile checkup. Something with the jack that needs seen to, and the output is quite low. Too low. Realized in an attempt to raise the pickup to see if that helps that the foam under the pickup is likely long petrified.
What year is this?
His eyes say "I'm drooling"
Seventy-nine.
Can I play it?
It's in good hands.
And noticed as I browsed the black Mikro I saw is gone. Ibanez, Yamaha, ESP. Blackstar. And
Vox
It looks like I won the Vox race! Mine showed up two days agon, but I haven't had much time to use it. Anyway, it is a MV50 Clean. I'm using it as a preamp on my Peavey Max115. Previously, you may recall, I was using the Vox Pathfinder. The Pathfinder may actually provide a slightly better tone, but the MV50 is good for loading and allows me to add another speaker cabinet up to 50 watts. So I'm happy with it! It has made my rig more versatile.
Here are some pics!
Here are some pics!
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,136
- 256,323
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Oh, yeah? My VX50 BA also arrived two days ago! At approx. 10:30pm GMT (since this is an international forum). What time, GMT, did yours arrive?
Likewise, I had just a few minutes that night and a few more minutes last night.
Where are some pics?
Here's a pic of mine.
And, while I'm here I'll go ahead and give my first impressions, so far.No surprise that the Vox VX50 BA is WAY better with bass guitar than the Mackie SRM150 I've recently got. And, at practice volumes, the VX50 BA gives some very nice rich tones. I want to attribute this to the "warmth" of the nutube technology, whether that's really a thing, or not, I dunno. But, at cranked volume and/or gain, it makes me wonder if the speaker needs some break-in time before handling anything much more than half throttle (12 o'clock). It can really get to pushing some air out of the ports but, at that level, there seems to be some harmonic resonances from certain notes that setup it's own slow vibrato, and not in a good way. I didn't have time to try to see if I could dial it out, or not. At this point, I can't tell if it's due to the little, new (stiff?) speaker or something in the EQ.
The compressor switch gives an immediate boost to the volume that I was half-way expecting, since I'd heard it on a video. And the overdrive switch seems to work well with the gain control, instead of having it's own built-in level. But turning the gain seemed to go pretty quickly from warm to grit, or maybe I was twisting the knob too fast for lack of time.
I'm disappointed to read in the accompanying owner's manual that it is a "True" Direct Out on the back. It says there is no EQ, compression, overdrive, or cab sim in the Direct Out signal. Darn! Of course, I'm spoiled to my Rumble and my B-DEC sending all my carefully crafted tone to FOH. My soundman at church may be more spoiled to it than he knows, too. When I go back with this little gem, he may have some adjustments to make, instead of getting back in the old groove.
Oh, yeah! And there's this little trick I accidentally found the Vox can do.
The beveled bezel can be used as a tilt stand! Too bad it's on the front and points the speaker downward. If I ever sit it on an overhead shelf that might come in handy.I'll write more later, as I get to know my Vox VX50 BA better.
Yeah, it was because the VX50BA has a direct out that bypassed the EQ that caused me to go with the MV50 instead (that, and the fact that I have a bass cabinet already). I'm sure, though, that the VX50 has better tone than the MV50, but this is okay for me for now since I'm using the MV50 as a preamp to my Peavey. I don't like the tone I'm getting when I put the MV50 through my Eden 110 cabinet, so I'm hoping things will improve with a different cab. I would like to run it through a 4ohm 15", or two 15"s which are 8ohms each. The 15' work best for Hofners.
How did you know the VX50BA Direct Out bypassed all EQ? I don't remember seeing or hearing that anywhere before getting the owner's manual.
A local tech told me, and then I confirmed by checking the manual available on the Vox website.
I was curious to hear how you liked the MV50 for bass. Seems like a it could be a great option for folks that have a bass cab sitting at home and would like a small little amp to practice through. Sorry to hear you don't like the sound much at this point as a straight bass-amp-cab. I do have a couple of preamp pedals sitting around, wonder if that would help get a good tone?
I think it would work. It is hard to say. My tone was okay, and not great, but I play Hofners and they are a bit tricky. I have heard, and this is my experience, that they work best through a 15" and the cab I used is a 10". You can control the dbs on the MV50 and it does have a deep setting, so I think it would work as a practice amp. I like it and plan to continue to use it. I would like to try it through some 15"s and at 4ohms instead of 8ohms to get a better sense of it.
Hmmmm . . . . Solstice Eve . . . . and. . . . Stage 800 . . . . hmmm . . . Hey, @iagtrplyr! You're wish is my command.
View attachment 3191720
Say, I'm getting pretty good at this!! No? Oh, yeah!
I know, I know! "That's not Eve's head!" Well, this one's my fantasy, and I'm partial to Fender-ish headstocks, especially on semi-hollowbodies. Think Coronados and VM Starcasters. Ah. . . . Don't tell me you've never fantasized someone's head on a different body? No, @GonePlaid, I meant someone else's body, not your own!
Wow, I better be careful what I wish for. Next time he might have me playing a right-handed bass! Very cool, Doggie!
Grrrr, . . . . So, welcome, ladies and germs to the next episode of "As The Stomach Churns". In this episode the erstwhile Mrs. Dog receives an email that her credit card was declined yesterday. "What!?!", she exclaims. Meanwhile, our hero, G-Dog, has still not received email confirmation of his order. "Hmmm ...", he ponders. And the nefarious Killed_by_Death cackles evilly at the news, and staunchly denies any hacking that may, or may not, have occurred. "Cackle, cackle, cackle!", he cackles.
What, ho?! Anon, the glorious Mrs. Dog receives yet another email, but this giving notice that her credit card was, indeed, charged, after all! "What the [dickens] is that idiot doing now?" . . . um, ... I mean, ... "My darling, what hast thou wrought?", she pleads. "Well, from what I don't see, apparently, I ain't done [nothing]! That [lovely] amp ain't gonna git here this weekend and I'm gonna have to ask that [kind] guitarist to help me! [Beautiful]!!", our hero laments. All while the machiavellian KBD, hands wringing and eyes rolling, slithers off to knock up, ... er, that is, ... to give a bell to his pusher to entreat prompt succor!
Tune in next time, on "As The Colon Churns"! [cue bucolic music]
I can't wait for the next installment. Maybe this is when our beloved author will introduce his evil twin, P-Dog. Those two have been rivals since the beginning of time, and it's been an amp race ever since. I feel bad for Mrs. Dog though. She seems as if she's always the foil for G's bass amp purchases. My guess is she's already got her Stairway to Heaven shuttle run paid for. 'Dog, you're a...a...dog!
Grrrreat images, Ghost! You could probably hear our collective swoon when ya took the grille off. I can't wait to read your thoughts as it'd be cool if you could shed some hardware in favor of your Swiss Army knife. Best of luck with your project and please keep us up-to-speed.
Thought the exact same thing too, G-Dog. Upon seeing the first pic I thought, gee, that's the cute little Studio; perfect for home and small jams. Then he goes full frontal with it and I had to re-think my thinkings, like you.
