Vox Valvenergy Series Effects Pedals Demo | Tone Report

[@danielferrera8773]

I really like Andy's playing and feel. I learned a lot from his PGS era videos.

[@sampleexamplemusic]

i kinda love that brands are doing kitschy 90s-esque gimmicks like scopes, the pedals arent that crazy but they're way more fun with a scope!

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

I kinda have to disagree that it's gimmicky, because it has function. That is, you can see the clipping and it becomes easier to understand what it's doing and adjust accordingly. - Is that absolutely essential or necessary? - No. - But I can appreciate it because of that where they might as well have used a clipping-LED or nothing at all and saved cost. - That said, it would've been cool if they just made a window to the Nutube inside and light that up with a clipping/activity-LED like it has been done in audio-equipment before. So I'm not saying it HAS to have the OLED or an oscilloscope, but I do think it's fairly useful (it also shows the modes, actually). And I would agree that they're just making unique stuff unapologetically, rather than just making yet another one that looks the same. - It's also WAY better than the tube-driven pedals Vox made about a decade before these, which just had those DigiTech-like graphics puked all over them, making them look like something an edgy teenager came up with. It mean, it makes these just look absolutely tasteful, oscilloscope and all. :)

[@benskurbe]

So my guess is (without reading vox’s site) Copperhead drive-Marshall plexi thru to JCM Silk drive-Dumble ODS Mystic drive-Vox AC30 Cutting edge drive-Mesa Rectifier most likely, but might be Diezel or something else (someone more into high gain could certainly tell)

[@_antrider8584]

Nailed it

[@rudylete]

I don't even play guitar, but god damn I cannot stop watching this demos, so good

[@MisterGuitarItalia]

guess they loved the look of the Plasma Drive...

[@Cluless02]

But not the sound of it!

[@Yamil97]

Ah, yes. The sweet Minilogue Oscilloscope has always been close to my heart.

[@starshineraiser6729]

I bought the Mystic Edge and it’s unbelievable. It smashes the UA 63 Top Boost. I buy lots of boutique overdrives and this is one of the best sounding pedals I’ve ever played. I thought it would be garbage.

[@clintwhite3021]

Hey! I have the Silk Drive and love it. Have you tried a compressor AFTER it in cab sim mode? Makes it really amp like. What do you prefer about it over the Ruby?

[@starshineraiser6729]

@@clintwhite3021 it’s easier and more fun to mess with, but mostly, it sounds better for early Beatles, EMI 1963-68 tones. I learned a valuable lesson with the Ruby, secondary functions and sound banks, they are zero fun to play around with. The Ruby doesn’t sound so good that’s it’s rewarding enough to go through all of that. I have an LPD Lustre overdrive and that’s by far the best Vox pedal I’ve tried. I had a new Top Boost in a Can which wasn’t so good. Anyway, I only use Vox amps now after spending thousands on Fenders and Supro, learning. I only like Vox tones, for my style. And, I’ll never buy another digital overdrive.

[@starshineraiser6729]

About the digital comment, that doesn’t include the Walrus ACS-1. That thing is magnificent. Lastly, I’ve this Vox pedal with a great compressor. It’s perfect.

[@flaneursong78]

@@starshineraiser6729 Thanks for the feedback on the mystic Edge, helpful! Do you still like it? I’m playing a Vox AC10 that I really love but I’m constantly switching the knobs between really clean and full-on gain as I Iove both sounds from the amp. So the idea would be to use it as a 2-channel amp with a pedal like this, if that makes sense… I’m debating between this one and other options, Vox-in-a-box or the usual « transparent » ones (Lightspeed, Timmy etc). Thank you!

[@ThePhlegming]

That tremolo finger picking with your index blew my fricking mind

[@anthonysclafani3963]

How are these not more popular? I have a mystic edge and it’s excellent

[@arthurpiccio7906]

Vox doesn't have EQD and JHS's graphic designers and none of Boss and MXR's mainstream cred.

[@Saycheeseanddie84]

Everybody loves Andy, he’s THEE A-list pedal demo king!

[@ambiguousaudio656]

Really wish I knew what the cutting edge sounded like with the cab sim and actual metal playing. Lol Also, I love the mystic edge so much. It really does have that cranked ac30 tone

[@AndyDemos]

There were a lot of variables to show in this overview but I’d imagine the Cutting Edge to sound much tighter than any transistor pedal going direct with Cab Sim mode. Thanks for watching!

[@ambiguousaudio656]

@@AndyDemos ahh thank you so much for replying. You always make great demos~

[@mrfrontranger7911]

Such a killer intro Andy 🔥🔥🔥

[@jayharper971]

Great demo Andy and cool guitar on the wall.

[@BF-up5xw]

This was a terrific demo, thank you. This gave a great sense of the pedals, plus I got to admire your right hand technique! Really good stuff. I liked all of these; but Silk Drive would be the first of the four that I would want to add my set up.

[@godfreydaniel6278]

Forget the rest! KILLER intro, Andy...

[@AndyDemos]

Thanks so much!!

[@godfreydaniel6278]

@@AndyDemos - It's fascinating to me how people find their own niche in the music world, from bar bands to to touring outfits to studio work, to demoing pedals to so many others. We all know you're one of the best at what you do, and we love you for it, but damn! - you could go toe to toe with just about any guitar slinger alive when you rock that hard - tone, chops and drive! So yeah - people notice...

[@mrfrontranger7911]

Yea fans need an Andy album🔥🔥

[@GearOfDarkness]

I really hope, nutube-technology gets more popular. It's interesting and has many capabilities.

[@Goku16053]

This pedals is amazing!!! Great video Andy!!! Very good demonstration!! 🤟🤟🤟🤟

[@William_Earl]

I demand more midi connections for easy switching! Very great idea. Also kinda cool that cab sims are becoming standard on pedals now.

[@capitanvonchickenpants8492]

I want one with that little green valve they used to put in old valve radios

[@lance134679]

That opening jam was just what I needed to wake up :-)

[@Jeymez]

in terms of personal favorite 1, Silk drive, that pedal is music to my ears. 2, the Copperhead was my second favorite, i love the creamy crunch tones you can get out of it. 3, the Cutting Edge, im not much of a metal head these days, but if your a fan of metal i think the tone is pretty nice on it. it has a dark tone similar to death metal. 4, Mystic Edge, this one was my least favorite. it has some decent tones, but beware that it will sound a little distorted and bright at times. i tried them all out, and i ended up getting the Silk drive pedal and the copperhead. i use a Tele and those two pedals are like butter.

[@clarenzlarka]

The pedal whisperer, great catchy moniker. Also love the extensive listing of equipment used. Every demo should include this. .

[@Piotr-gd1mq]

damn Andy, you really sound amazing

[@SDS-ff8ed]

Are we just not going to mention andy's incredible tremolo picking technique?

[@victormaniaci2104]

Even more impressive when you realize he doesn't use a pick

[@lordundhimself1310]

Oh wow, is this the same tube technology that's in the Korg Volca NuBass? I look forward to seeing how this tech might change how tube amps work.

[@sonidojamon]

this actually sound GREAT! Better than most digital emulators! Could this beauties work as preamps into an IR straight to desk?

[@lordgraga]

Yup

[@lordundhimself1310]

That’s what I’m bout to do

[@sonidojamon]

@@lordundhimself1310 let me know how it goes!! 😉

[@Gmogli]

Does anyone even realize that this guy is playing without a pic... good on him! I have no nails as I keep them short, but man, he has to be using his nails with the aggressive tone on the strings.

[@kristonterbutt7373]

I wasn't sure at first but then kept looking for it being hidden between the fingers, but no; no pick. Awesome technique, Knopfler would be proud.

[@nickbricks57]

I saw one vox video about the mystic edge and now it’s going on my pedalboard

[@rgr4929]

I LOOOVE that link option!!!

[@Skelanth721]

Reminds me of the recent Korg synths... Neat.

[@ShoreyJr]

Yeah, Vox are owned by Korg so it makes sense

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

Gotta admit, the playing in these videos feels more genuine than a lot of "official/professional" music that's put out these days, probably because it's a person simply having fun and not taking it too seriously. - Not saying "there isn't good music anymore", but even in stuff like Rock and Metal there's just a lot of pretentious over-produced/thought stuff that doesn't work. - It's just so over-saturated with people trying too hard.

[@alexmurphy5289]

Damn, I really want a Vox in a box and this looks like the ticket

[@alexmurphy5289]

@HECTIC VON KAOS I want that top boost functionality does it have that?

[@Cluless02]

Great technology. Next up perhaps, HIWATT, Ampeg?!

[@slash196]

They sound pretty good!

[@Wanielyo]

Can the silk drive give a convincing valve amp clean tone with the gain down?

[@williamprice2186]

I’m wondering about this as well. I’m tempted to buy one just to see how well it works as an amp in a box

[@JeighNeither]

That wavelength window is fairly pointless? I don't need my eyes to tell me what kind of tone I'm going to get; that's what my ears are for, & all the little knobs and doohickeys dial in. Gotta love Andy's fingerstyle; he almost pulled off some legit metal lmao. He looked like Cliff Burton for a few of those riffs; I had to actually lol, it was that good!

[@blacktoothfox677]

good words all round!

[@jounikorhonen9441]

I wonder how, for example the Copperhead, would work set to a low gain with a Fuzz or a RAT in front of it..? I've been crawing for some tube-action in the end of my stoner-doom-pedalboard to round things out.

[@mananchaturvedi6173]

Great video! It could have been greater if you divided it in chapters. Love the pedals🤘

[@T-Hawkeyes]

An SVT one would be neat

[@shawnmcvey7789]

Try the Catalinbread SFT, especially on 18v. I've owned quite a few V4/VT-22s and it gets pretty close. Closer to the Mick Taylor/Ronnie Wood tones and can get a bit QOTSA with the right amp and cab.

[@sergiy73]

With osciloscope pedals sounds like 2K tube amp. Just prepare your mind for that. And money for sure))))

[@saint-cetacean]

$180 MSRP, not too bad ;)

[@mesmersocial5583]

@AndyDemos will you ever do a video about your picking technique? I'm always looking at that hand trying to figure out where the pick goes (apparently there's none), if not then what's your thought process and associated techniques for tone etc... ?? please

[@mrfrontranger7911]

He has done so maybe a year ago, search his Andydemo yt channel

[@mesmersocial5583]

@@mrfrontranger7911 thanks, i will!

[@homeworldmusic]

If it sounds too good to be true, it is, but very intriguing. Come for the tone, stay for the oscilloscope! I didn't hear anything that made me say "gotta have it" but damn, it puts us basement tweakers and boutique makers on notice that the game is out of reach unless we change the game.

[@RaveXmusic]

ROCK!!! 🤘

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Soooo... _Pedalgaze_ is the new _Shoegaze?_

[@DThompson55]

very impressive

[@samiam9059]

When I heard the newtube early pedal was a lot of fuzz to my ear. Hopefully these have more distortion.

[@Triumphinchrist1]

Wonder how it would sound direct to computer or PA.Will it be amp like? Pricey!

[@imnotvintageimgrumpy586]

At the beginning of the last demo it almost sounds like you're going to start playing "Play That Funky Music"!

[@AndyDemos]

Yep, a little nod to those dry guitar tones straight into the console. I prefer it with the pedal on!

[@timothyleonardpugal2713]

it is nice to see Andy playing a high gain pedal that isn't a fuzz!

[@brianschultz]

oh look the old tube vox fx but now with a screen :)

[@satyarsh665]

i used to own two Vox Straight 6 overdrives sounded fine but i agree that the 'tube' was a gimmick none the less XD

[@AndrewLewisHowe]

@@satyarsh665 Not so much. I swapped the tube in my Straight 6 and it made a change in sound 100% comparable to swapping a preamp tube in a 5w amp. I put a 12y7 in place of the 12ax7, the tone changed, as did the gain sweep. Silent operating, too. I mean dead quiet.

[@joermnyc]

Andrew Howe makes you wonder why they didn’t just use a 12y7 in the first place! (I’m guessing they figured the average guitar player would hear 12ax7 and know what they meant compared to the 12y7.)

[@ston3yton393]

Witch one is the most articulate in ur opinion friends

[@dmytromorozov2593]

4:40 Omg he plays this tremolo with index and middle fingers

[@mesmersocial5583]

@AndyDemos sometimes i wish when doing A/B comparisons you'd play the same riff across the producs, but in this video when you switch pedals you almost immediately also go into a different riff . Not saying it doesn't sound great, just saying Pedal1+Riff1 vs. Pedal2+Riff2 is worse to appraise than Pedal1+Riff1 vs. Pedal2+Riff1, so on with other Riffs. Anyway thanks for another cool video, regardless. regards :)

[@AndyDemos]

They’re completely different circuits so I don’t really see the point, I’d rather pick a guitar and riff that matches the pedal.

[@jpizzleforizzle]

These sound great, but the scope is totally useless. No need for gimmicks if the product is good. BTW, for anyone wondering, you can link 3 or 4 pedals using a stereo ⅛" splitter. So it's possible to have a 4 channel fly rig with these. IMHO, that should be a big selling point.

[@tonray9395]

I'll take a Silk and a Mystic please

[@deezee8508]

This or a used tech 21 liverpool?

[@arthurpiccio7906]

I've had both. The Mystic Edge is way more dynamic and had more headroom. It's much easier to pick softly and get a clean sound with it. The Tech 21's tone stack is friendlier and has a wider range. I like them both. But if you want the classic "Vox sound" like the Beatles or Brian May, the Mystic Edge is much more convincing. You can do the same with the Tech 21, but it will just feel a lot more compressed. The Tech 21 does a very convincing stoner rock thing that the Mystic Edge won't, as well. I ended up keeping the Mystic Edge because it was just much more dynamic. If you do get one, you have to be prepared to really crank the tone cut and back off the treble, as these are really bright-sounding through most of the settings.

[@paulolsen6870]

That opening reminds me of Chickenfoot. 💪

[@cjstibitz2130]

So were you using a solid state amp then?

[@overdriveguitarchannel3403]

Not a big fan of the scope style display on top. I think it looks cool, but I feel a display like that must cause crazy interference problems with audio. Maybe I am wrong.... overall these look awesome to me though. Hopefully they dont get too much resistance from all of the "purists" who dont seem to like innovation....Video coming on these soon I hope...

[@fabronaut7478]

you can easily disable that when starting the pedal up. it explains how in the manual. I don't know the guts of the circuit design, but odds are the internal signal is sent through untouched and split off into the display. no reason why they wouldn't do it that way.

[@RetroPlus]

Looks like the korg monologues, costs about as much too

[@Menesterosos]

What's the name of the opening song?

[@AndyDemos]

Last Minute Jam ;)

[@Reverb]

...Which, coincidentally, is also our favorite addition to any peanut butter sandwich.

[@twinflame1560]

@@Reverb sweet

[@tylerpaquette9358]

What happens if I crank the mystic edge through my ac30?

[@Worsttalkfilm]

Shit dude,like's " wow feels like.... Wait a minute, same? Oh god..

[@90mphsleep]

@@Worsttalkfilm i doubt it!

[@Bearded_SARTECH]

Its like dividing by zero... ...Earth implodes!

[@joermnyc]

I get the idea behind the link cable to act like you’re switching amp channels... but it’s not great for those of us that love to stack drive pedals.

[@Firing_Order]

Did they *really* need oscilloscopes though?

[@caseyking8394]

Yeah cause they look cool

[@moronsmorons8913]

@@caseyking8394 I'm fine with just sounding cool.

[@chrisfit]

Why even make a guitar pedal at all.

[@cchavez248]

@@chrisfit two words, mo ney

[@MisterGuitarItalia]

did your guitar need to be painted?

[@soundknight]

That won't be an actual oscilloscope, it will be pre-programmed visual led functions based solely on Db and and wav samples. Basically not as accurate as an actual scope and quite visually inaccurate in shape and form.

[@TheNollu]

What are the names of the songs played?

[@AndyDemos]

No covers except a little bit of Tom Petty’s Cabin Down Below at end.

[@derekstudt]

I happened to be reading this comment at the time that Andy was playing Helter Skelter by The Beatles @ the 9:13 mark.

[@AndyDemos]

Derek Studt Oh forgot that, it was so short!

[@derekstudt]

It was nuts that I happened to be reading the comment when you were playing it.

[@SocksworthRiffs]

I knew I recognized that oscilloscope

[@Javier-qk7ms]

Vox is simply copying AMT Electronics Brick series but AMT's uses real A12X7 tubes and does not have an oscilloscope. Edit: I will still gonna try this when arrives to my local store, Vox is easier to find here.

[@emiliano9321]

Yeah those AMT bricks are the one to get!

[@AndrewLewisHowe]

Vox has been in the "make new use of a tube" for a while (valvetronix and all the predecessors, the cooltron and tone garage line of pedals), but the sheer feature similarities between this and AMT are telling. I wonder if they hired the designer from AMT to conform his/her circuit to make use of the Nutubes. According the AMT sight, it was Sergei Marichev who started AMT and I'm not seeing any mention of him on the web in relation to Vox. Sounds like the kind of pedal mystery Josh from JHS would dig into. BTW, I fully endorse both the Cooltron and Tone Garage lines of pedals, although their power section seems wonky (at least when used in the USA - they may be 100% perfect hooked to the European grid).

[@gorillafunk725]

Hahahahaha. Kudos to Korg for giving it a go. But this nu tube tech is microphonic @ 5 Khz. Until they deal with that it will have issues. That is according to Korg not me. For interesting pedal DIY. It wont be an issue for me. Im into bass. So a bandwidth limited to 4.5 Khz makes sense

[@phenixreturns]

The red pedal sounds Vox ac30 in a very strange way so not good

[@garycrant4511]

Tone Garage V2.0... Let's see If Vox get it right this time...??? But the pointless display adds how much to the selling price...?????

[@AndrewLewisHowe]

I love my Straight 6 and Flat 4. Although their "standby" switch seems wonky when using a power supply brick. I also loved their Cooltron line. For adding tube warmth to a solid state amp, they work great.

[@garycrant4511]

@@AndrewLewisHowe Yeah.. Tone Garage seemed so overpriced and gimmicky, but when they were eventually discontinued at less than half price, i couldn't resist buying all of them, The Fuzz and Delay are excellent. I thought the standby switching was broken, and almost returned some of them as defective. But couldn't be bothered at the low prices I paid. Let's hope Vox get the link switching working properly for these new pedals. I also got the even earlier Vox Satriani distortion, overdrive, and delay pedals heavily discounted in clear out sales. All top quality Japanese manufactured devices. Gotta love Vox for constantly releasing, and so quickly and ruthlessly discontinuing their new product ranges... Btw, your mention of Cooltron jogged some dormant distant memories; never owned any, but wanted to. But that was long before internet price reduction wars killed off local guitar shops which kept dusty stock on shelves and in windows forever at highest retail prices...

[@soundknight]

Sounds like tanstube by peavey

[@edfleck7264]

just get a La Grange pedal by Bogner

[@davomontgomeryda3rd]

May just be the lousy headphone I’m currently using, but to my ears these sound a little digital / synthetic.

[@jakewatson1757]

Wow Andy that pedal sounded like A daydream...

[@jumpingman8160]

lol. they are analogue

[@FlagadaJohn]

9'10" Helter Skelter!

[@harsh.yaduka]

Still fender pugilist best for me.

[@FreDGuitaRtv]

Didn’t like this line very much… but my god, Andy can make everything sounds great

[@techn9nenx]

wow man

[@SuperEdge67]

Surely any pedal with the name ‘Edge’ in it should be a delay pedal.

[@benlogan430]

Vox needs someone in the design department! Their pedals are sweet, but just look meh?

[@heymrguitarman7637]

Vox never seem to get it right and their pedals always seem very short lived. Would be nice to see these get some traction but being honest I won't be a customer

[@axelmurphy2397]

yeah i bought one of those distortion booster pedals from the 90s because i thought it looked cool and it just did not sound right?? it had this weird frequency bump and sounded like a bit of the clean signal was coming through. and that big delay pedal they made that's clearly meant to be a DL4 is weird to use. not a fan of their pedals i've tried. but these seem to sound pretty good and seem pretty versatile so who knows

[@sagesliverpinksage834]

Do the weekend on synth sounds mane

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

RIP EVH. 😢

[@michaelmattson3515]

I’d have to electrical tape over the screen.

[@AndyDemos]

Put away that tape my friend, you can turn the scope off.

[@jameskavanagh4300]

Thought they all sounded terrible apart from the copperhead, sadly they are all very flabby in the low end

[@officialmetalwill]

The pedals sound decent enough, but the nutubes are absolute garbage. They fail more often than they work and are pretty costly to replace.

[@learnmusic488]

looks like just a gimmick..

[@benitorossi9380]

the oscilloscope is total useless.

[@arthurpiccio7906]

I thought so too. Then I found it quite useful for pedalboard diagnostics. You can tell at a glance if there's a signal issue before or after it. Saves a lot of time.

[@thesaj1110]

I am not impressed one bit!

[@jonyi467]

I wish you would demo this with a player that uses a pick

[@William_Earl]

Andy is one of the best demo guys. Say you're sorry.

[@jonyi467]

@@William_Earl wrong. It's not helpful to demo a product if you play unlike anyone else. A pick makes everything sound different and it's how the majority of guitar players use the gear.

[@William_Earl]

@@jonyi467 His fingers sound better than most pickers imo. Dude is a monster.

[@jonyi467]

@@William_Earl that's fine, but the fact that it sounds DIFFERENT is the issue. Gear reviews should reflect what products sound like in the hands of normal users. Personally, I prefer the sound of Reverb's other reviewers. And I'm very interested in these pedals, which is why it's frustrating.

[@William_Earl]

@@jonyi467 >:(

[@neoaureus]

Cmon ...an electronic display? No way....