• Someone finally is getting close

  
  As reviewed by Max on 6/24/2009

  I took a chance on this amp despite it's ho-hum looks, because I like all of Rocktron's rack gear and their Replitone series of amps was pretty nice as well. They decided to put a 12AX7 tube with this updated Vendetta combo and finally, someone appears to have created a hybrid that when the gain is dimed, does sing like a tube amp. My drummer thought it was tube because of the singing feedback I was generating at the higher gain settings. Not the ugly noise feedback you get, but singing sustain that sort of just wavers in your ears. I never thought a solid state could get there but this amp does. I don't use the noise gate much because I think it chokes the sustain of the amp but I can see how great it would be if one was playing the chug-chug metal where you want the power chords to ring out fast and quick...then stop...then start again. With the noise gate about 50%, you won't hear anything but your own breathing and whatever you play. The clean channel is perfect for pedals. You can create a three-channel amp with a decent distortion pedal. Use the clean for clean, hit the pedal for nice Aerosmith, Led Zep type of crunch and go to the gain channel for the ultra-high stuff. Wish it had a delay built into it but that's a minor point. I should bring up the eq trim pots in the back. When you first look at the amp, you see the usual tone controls but in the back of the amp, Rocktron gives you THREE more that help to tailor the sound of the amp exactly as you want. You know how some amps, you never really get there with what you want to hear? The amp comes up short? These three additional bands of EQ make it possible to get the sound you want. If you like more British-flavor, boost the mid pot. If you really want to get into Recto-mode, bring it down. Really...the tones out of this amp are extensive if you spend some time with it. The tone controls, I believe, are active, so you have to be careful. Things can get wild pretty quick if you just start diming everything. Solidly built. No problems whatsoever. Rocktron gear is like Peavey....built like a brickhouse. I've yet to hear a solid state amp that sings like this hybrid. Finally, someone is figuring out how to put a 12AX7 tube in a solid state amp for something more than a decoration. I'm very happy I bought it and at night, the Rocktron logo lights up blue which is way cool. Kinda makes up for the understated look. My drummer owns a 2x12 Marshall Valvestate he bought last year. We have it hanging around simply because its there. When he heard the Rocktron, he couldn't believe the difference. The Rocktron sounded like an $800 amp compared to the Marshall, which sounded buzzy and lifeless. If you want the fancy logo, go buy the competitors. If you want ridiculous good tone and massive gain from a combo everyone else doesn't have, try it. You'll dig the results.

  27 of 27 people found this review helpful.
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• Personality

  
  As reviewed by Jason on 3/7/2011

  I was looking first at inexpensive modeling combos with channel switching like the Super Champ XD and the Vox VT20+ to cover the wide range of styles i play, and to cut back on my reliance on pedals. In fact I bought the Vox because it was in the store. Took it home, thought it was a lot of fun with all the different tones and effects and the quality reproductions of these sounds. But, 2 problems I had with it: 1) single notes in the higher registers just had insufficient sustain, regardless of how low you set the noise gate, and 2)all these sounds were just, reproductions. I felt the need not only for something with longer sustain but also, an amp with it's own bold personality. I took a chance on this as GC doesn't stock these in the stores to try out, and I got what i wanted. I love the stock tone on this thing, both channels, even though it apparently can be adjusted with the rear EQ controls (I haven't bothered to touch them). It has its own distinct personality and comes from a company that has been bent on quality since its inception. I used to be a tube snob, but I love the tone of this thing, the versatility, the lightweight, and the looks, very simple, clean, and 'futuristic' with its light-up logo that looks awesome. I do wish it had a speaker out, but I spoke with customer support and they can instruct you on how to install one; very friendly appreciative guys. A great amp overall, I would love to have two for stereo effects and I look forward to shopping more of Rocktron's stuff.

  2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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