You Tube clips

[Chic Berkhout]

Hi Dave, you're the man! What a difference already. Just to make sure I've got all the bits and pieces right.............The RFX has an Output, right and left, and Input, right and left/mono, and the Vox has Send and Return. I am connecting from Vox send to RFX input, right, and from Vox return to RFX output, right. Is this correct?
Then the Vox CCx2 itself (very different to mine in 1964)............below the switches on the top panel it has 1) Normal, 2)Top Boost, 3) Reverb, 4) Tremelo, 5) Tone and 6) Volume sections. Above these sections it has the following: 1) Normal = volume dial, and a brilliance switch. 2) Top boost = Treble dial, bass dial and a EQ switch. 3) Reverb = Tone dial, Mix dial and a dwell switch. 4) Tremelo = Speed dial, Depth dial. 5) Tone = Cut dial. 6) Volume = Master dial.
I am currently using the Normal input, and I leave the Top Boost section dials on nil. Reverb I have both dials on about 30%. Tremelo I have both dials on nil. Tone dial on about 30%. Volume dial - here I balance the master volume with the Normal volume. Can I improve on this?
I really appreciate your input. Regards, Chic

[dave robinson]

Hi Chic, great news that it's improved your sound. I don't have a Vox the same as that one, I was working from memory as I once used one a few years ago but you are correct about the Zoom's IN & OUT sockets, you just use one of each when working in MONO. I believe that with more experimenting you may improve the sound even more, those notes I gave you were to get you in the right 'ball park' if you get my drift. I remember getting a great sound by just using my Magicstomp directly into the channel, so you'll better that is you stick at it. There are no major rules, just try to understand those initial tones that I described to you for the early Vox AC15 sound opposed to the very different 1963/4 sound when the Top Boost amps were used. This also co-incided with the Burns guitars arriving and people think the big difference in sound was the guitars, which I have proved to be not the case. I can make my Burns sound like Hank's Strat in 1960 through the right amp and the Strat sound like the Burns in 1964 using the Top Boost.
Spike has a thread running presently which I recommend you listen to, he has posted a recording of Gary Taylor playing 'Tonight' on a Burns and a Strat and they sound almost identical, it's great fun guessing which is which.
Keep at it and when you're happy do some more tracks for us to hear.

[dave robinson]

Something else to consider that I forgot to mention.
The CUT is a very important piece of the sound setting, I roll mine away from the treble when it sounds too 'spiky' to smooth the tone, some rooms sound more trebly or more bassy than others and this is a nice gentle control to correct it. The reverb is an optional thing and should be used to your own taste, but don't swamp the repeats of the echo or it will lose it's effect. I like a bit of reverb on Apache but less on Wonderful Land. You need to hear the 'kick on the echo in the quiet bits. Also the DWELL on the reverb can make a bit of difference so try it in different positions and choose the best, the tone of the reverb needs to be towards the treble side.

[Chic Berkhout]

Hi Dave, thanks again for all the good advice. I will be doing much experimenting. Pitty it was'nt as easy "one setting suits all", especially when doing a gig. Regards, Chic.