Another shout out for Joe Rogers and his Tonex captures

[Susan Alcorn (deceased)]

There are a number of steel guitar players who have raved about (forum member) Joe Rogers' Tonex captures for pedal steel. Last week I bought some of them, and now I'm a big fan too. I had bought a Tonex One pedal several months ago, played around (for too long) with the various models and captures, but couldn't find anything that either worked for the pedal steel or that sounded like playing through a real amp. I decided that looking for virtual amps in the digital world was a waste of time (precious for musicians) and money (in short supply for most of us).

After watching the videos he posted on the SGF, especially the one of him playing Lloyd Green, I was curious, so I contacted him and bought six of them:

Peavey Nashville 400
Peavey Session 400 (original)
Sho-Bud
Fender Vibrosonic
Sarno Revelation preamp
and
Bud Charlton's Standel amp.

The music I play can be pretty outside the box, but when it comes to tone, I'm old school and a bit conservative. Every one of these captures sound, to my ears at least, like the real thing.

Though we all hear things differently, and we each have our individual preferences for our steel guitar sound, my favorites are, in order, the Nashville 400, the Session 400, the Sho-Bud, and the Vibrosonic.

I play them on my S12 late-seventies MSA through a Quilter Tone Block 202, going into the effects return.

I feel that this could really be a game changer for the world of steel guitar.


Joe's Youtube videos:

https://youtu.be/UEEwmDabb9w?si=t1bbDKJ1wdfUzx4i

https://youtu.be/03841AwPN3o?si=CgaP6221EQ0oktNc

https://youtu.be/LkGjGcHHIj0?si=PpyS0k89BI55p0SH



Amps he has modelled:

Fender Twin & Vibrosonic
Emmons Lashley LeGrande 600
Evans (assorted models)
Fender Steel King
Fishman Jerry Douglas Aura Dobro
Little Walter PF89
Goodrich Match-Bro (standard reso sound &
Pedabro sound)
Milkman Half & Half
Peavey Nashville 112
Peavey Nashville 400
Peavey Session 400 (original)
Peavey Session 400 Ltd
Peavey Vegas 400
Quilter Steelaire
Randal Steelman 500

[John Lacey]

Susan, does it matter what amp you should play the samples thru? I’ve been using a katana 100 mk. 2 lately. Would it be ok?

[Susan Alcorn (deceased)]

John, ideally you should have an amp with an effects loop because then you can bypass the preamp in your amplifier. How I use it is I go from the volume pedal through my effects pedals (reverb, delay, clean boost) into the Tonex One and then into the amp's effects return. I think your could go into the amp input, but the tone from the Tonex would be mixed in with the preamp of your amplifier.

[Paddy Long]

Susan a lot of amps have a "power amp in" jack on the back which also allows you to by-pass the Pre-amp and basically turns your combo amp into a powered speaker!

[Jeffery Mercer]

What does it cost for each Different amps that Joe has sampled? I already own the ToneX I’m wondering if I could just UPS my ToneX to Joe and have him Load all his samples onto my ToneX?
Please Reply
Jeffery in Ohio

[Ben Waligoske]

I just received a ToneX One a couple days ago and am learning the ropes, thanks so much for posting these Susan! I'm going to grab a couple of these models... Susan, is the only way to purchase to contact Joe directly?

[Andy Zahnd]

I use the Quad Cortex, which I'm sure can do as much if not more than Tonex. I had a long conversation with Joe. He recommended that I use as neutral a power amp as possible. The best 3 poweramps that Joe, and subsequently I, recommend are
for small gigs: TCF electronics BAM 200
Medium sized gigs: Ashdown Ant
and if it has to be really loud: Ashdown Original EVO-300
As a speaker cabinet (also a very important piece of the puzzle) a Tommy Huff speaker cabinet with a 15“ Quilter TT 15” speaker.
With this and Joe's Captures and Impulse Responses you have the ultimate sound, guaranteed!

[Joe Rogers]

In response to Andy's post, it has been a while since we talked power amps...I am now not quite as excited about the Ashdown EVO-300, as I later found there to be more coloration than I like, although the Ashdown ANT is a strong contender for most stages. Technically all of the EQ knobs should be rolled off, although I have heard of some that put them all wide open and feel it opens up the unit. I have not tried the latter move.

I am hearing good things about the ICE power amps, although I haven't driven down that road yet.

I do LOVE the Telonics rack mount power amps. I feel they are the most neutral I have heard. Get a speaker cabinet with one rack space, and you're good to go. I would love to see Telonics build an FRFR cabinet, no word on whether or not that will happen. It would likely be based on demand.

Joe Rogers

[Ron Hogan]

Here’s a sample of me in my practice room using one of the Joe Rogers presets. Ganz power amp to speaker cabinet with 12” Blue Marvel.

https://youtu.be/a8EpMB40lsQ?si=Ea-As_TwKhsUb-Vw

[David Alexander]

Dobro players need to know that Joe has sampled all 16 samples on the Jerry Douglas Aura Pedal with the phase filter both ways for each for a total of 32 options! My ears can’t tell the difference between them and the real Aura through an amp or ear monitors. For steel I’m using the Peavey Vegas 400 capture and running straight into a TC Furlong powered cabinet. Now that Tonex has added delay, chorus, etc to their bag of effects you don’t need any other pedals. For ear monitor gigs I go from the pedal straight to the board! Joe has spent hundreds of hours on this stuff so the computer illiterates like myself don’t have to. He has sampled all of his captures from original amps and pedals. Thanks so much Joe

[Nathan Guilford]

What website do you go to buy and download the Joe Roger's models? If Susan Alcorn likes it... Wow. Always been blown away by Susan's tone and creativity. Big fan here.

[Paddy Long]

Nathan you need to contact Joe directly -- try here on the forum !

[Ron Hogan]

Here’s a clip I have that explains all the functions of the knobs on the ToneX. A big help.

https://youtu.be/wETOD3SEP6c

[Ron Hogan]

Here's a video using the ToneX this past weekend with a band I was subbing with. It's a Standel preset that Joe just did. The video quality is not the best, but the audio is there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FeZmGtMuho

[Joe Rogers]

Ron, sounds great...!!! Thanks for posting...!! Great band you're playing with...!!

I do want to say this thread was started by Susan Alcorn who passed away a few days ago. Susan was an early customer of mine and became an avid supporter. She was the first customer wanting me to create a special amp model of an Eden WT800. In her honor I will give that amp model out free of charge to all current customers of mine and anyone else who might want it. It is not quite what I would personally use on my guitars, but she specified every single amp setting and when she got it, she said it was exactly what she was looking for.

Rest in Peace, Susan...your contributions were much appreciated.


Joe Rogers

[Ron Hogan]

Ron, sounds great...!!! Thanks for posting...!! Great band you're playing with...!!

I do want to say this thread was started by Susan Alcorn who passed away a few days ago. Susan was an early customer of mine and became an avid supporter. She was the first customer wanting me to create a special amp model of an Eden WT800. In her honor I will give that amp model out free of charge to all current customers of mine and anyone else who might want it. It is not quite what I would personally use on my guitars, but she specified every single amp setting and when she got it, she said it was exactly what she was looking for.

Rest in Peace, Susan...your contributions were much appreciated.


Joe Rogers

Great tribute to her Joe.