The Trials and Tribulation of buying a used Tonex Pedal.

[Barry Yasika]

I've been on the fence with all this amp modeling talk for a while now. I wanted to get one, try it out, and then loose it if I didn't like it without losing $400. So, even though I'm not a big fan of Guitar Center, I went there to check out a used Tonex Pedal a buddy of mine told me about. The price was right, and Guitar Center lets you try it for 45 days. If you don't like it, you can return it for a full refund—even the used stuff. It seemed like a good way to try one out. The salesman even assured me the registration would be no problem.

I asked around, and I even emailed Joe Rogers about getting access to the IK Multimedia software with a second-hand interface. IK Multimedia is a software company, and dealing with software is not the same as dealing with used hardware. Tonex hardware needs the software to make full use of the product. Dealing with software licenses can be a nightmare. Sadly, no one knew anything about registering used hardware to obtain the software, or they just didn't get back to me. I read online that the registration serial number can be transferred to another user for $20, so I figured I'd eat the $20 and do it. After trying to register the pedal on the "IK Project Manager," I found out the serial number (which is the first thing you need) is on a serial number ID card that comes with the unit. Sadly, the one I bought had no serial number ID card. Oh no! Here we go already! I went back to Guitar Center to see if maybe they had it and forgot to give it to me, but they didn't. This was the start of a huge headache.

The project manager directs you to tech support to inquire about any and all problems. Forget calling someone to try and get help—there's no way. So the only thing I could do was send an email, explain the problem, and wait 3-5 business days for a response. My headache was now becoming a migraine.

In the meantime, I figured I could just plug the thing in and see what it sounded like with the existing presets. It booted up fine, I plugged a guitar into the input, and the output went to a powered studio monitor. Everything was ready to go, so I turned on the speaker, turned up the guitar and... nothing. No output whatsoever. Now my head felt like it was in a vise. I even tried headphones—nothing again. So at that point, I got my receipt, put it all together, and said, "That's it! This thing goes back now!" Only problem was that it was 8:45 PM, and Guitar Center would be closed by the time I got there. So I made up my mind to go in the morning. I wanted to grab the Guitar Center salesman's head and squeeze it until his eyeballs popped out. "Shouldn't be a problem my Xss."

Out of sheer frustration and curiosity, I did a YouTube search on Tonex and found a guy, Jason Sadites, who went through how to navigate the pedal settings. This guy knows the pedal pretty well, but man, he talks fast and goes through stuff quickly. Really a great source of information! He at least made it so I could check some of the settings, so between that and the owner's manual, I decided to navigate the best I could to see if the outputs were muted for some reason. Turns out the audio interface, when enabled, shuts down the outputs so they don't get in the way of recording. After disabling the audio interface, I at least had Output 1-2 and the headphones enabled. Problem #1 solved. So by midnight, I was able to play with the existing presets on the Tonex Pedal. My blood pressure lowered a little, but I was still pretty fed up with IK Multimedia.

The next morning, I got an email from IK Multimedia asking for a picture of the receipt and the unit as proof of purchase. I did that, sent it to them, and within an hour or two, I received a new serial number so I could register my pedal under my name. So now it's registered to me, and I have access to all the software that comes with the pedal. I downloaded the Tonex software and have been playing with it ever since.

So the long and short of all this is, you can buy a used Tonex even without a serial number ID card, gain access to the software, and begin using the pedal. There might be a few hiccups like what I went through, but all in all, it’s fairly easy. The good thing is I still have about 40 days left to make up my mind about whether I keep it or not. Mainly, I posted this for guys who, like me, are interested but don't want to get soaked for $400 just to try something they may or may not like. You can get them for half that if you’re willing to put up with a little red tape.

One thing I'm learning through all of this is that there are clean sounds with different EQs, crunchy sounds with different EQs, and several distorted sounds with different EQs. The Tonex software comes with many different kinds of plug-in type effects, many different amp models, and even more ways to tweak in "your sound." Still, I saw many YouTube guys using the Tonex on a pedalboard loaded with different types of other effects. They demo their "killer" sounds, and after a while, it becomes very difficult to hear a whole lot of difference other than it being a clean, crunchy, or full-blown metal type sound. Some people are so discriminating about exactly what they're looking for, so finicky and fastidious. I think there are way too many different gimmicks makers out there phishing for people who will spend top dollar for the "right" sound. The whole thing can be baffling to an old-timer like me who used to get my "sound" from a '68 Les Paul plugged straight into a stock '74 Fender Twin Reverb. Those were good days.

Anyway, it's onward deeper into the pedal. The learning is as fun as it can be frustrating, but so far, I'm up for the challenge. I got a notice from IK Multimedia that they are releasing a new update on March 13 that will enable you to edit the presets in the Tonex Library (on the pedal) through the computer software. That will make it a whole lot easier to make adjustments without going back and forth from amp models to presets to the pedal library. For now, it looks like the Tonex will probably be a keeper. I got it at a good price, everything seems to be falling into place after a few bumps in the road, and I find it to be an interesting toy. I guess my next step might be to figure out how to get a few amp captures from Joe Rogers. There seem to be a lot of guys selling amp captures on websites, but they're mostly for guitar use. I found some Joe Rogers links but nothing that directs to a webpage listing which captures he has and how to get them. I'll figure it out sooner or later, though, I guess. I got the time

[Doug Earnest]

That's a good post Barry, good information for those interested in Tonex.
Years ago it became apparent to me that I absolutely can't stand to mess with that sort of thing.
I would much rather spend the time with the Les Paul and Fender Twin, maybe a delay pedal and phase shifter.

[Barry Yasika]

Doug, I'm 100% on board with you on the simplicity of just a guitar and an amp giving you your sound. However, there is a downside, at least with my combination of guitar and amp. To get my sound, I required a fair amount of volume, which made the tubes and speaker clip just right. Sadly, in today's world, we are starting to see bands playing on stage with electronic drums instead of a real set, amp modelers taking the place of real amps, Class D amps being built into lightweight speaker cabinets (if "cabinet" is even the right word), LED lights, wireless connections, pitch correction, and so on... Jeez, I don't see an end in sight.

In some ways, I suppose the upshot is that everything is much lighter, there’s more room on stage, and product reliability and sound quality have improved. But then again, in my youth, there was no better feeling than cranking up my gear and ripping into guitar solos without a care in the world about the volume—because back then, it was all part of the game. But still, back-breaking amps that could and would start smoking or blow a speaker without warning, Voice of the Theater speaker cabinets, light racks... it's exhausting just talking about it.

So I guess my point is that now, in a relatively small box, you can still plug your guitar into a Fender Twin (Capture) and get that same sound with very little volume. The hitch is learning how to use that stuff. Is the trade-off worth it? Try to picture Jimi Hendrix playing the Star Spangled Banner at a volume where you can talk to the guy standing next to you with ease. To me, without the volume dynamic, it would never have been the same—even if he played it the same way. An extreme example, I know, but it seemed like a good analogy to use.

[Doug Earnest]

We must be brothers Barry, or maybe just guys of a certain age who remember how things were. Or remember a fair amount of it anyway.

Part of making the music was the experience of dealing with moving all that stuff, plugging in all the cables, finding the ground loops, squashed cables, bad input jacks, finding enough electrical outlets....all those things you got to share with your buddies. Then when you really let 'er rip and that Twin Reverb and those Altec speakers shook you there in your chest while being roasted by the PAR lights it felt like you accomplished something! Ha Ha Ha Heck, you could even smoke cigarettes in most of the places we played. And never get the smell out of your amps, clothes and cars. It's a good thing those days are over but it seemed fun at the time.

I would like to use one of those Tonex rigs that was already programmed because from what I have heard of them you can in fact get a hella sound out of them. And if $400 used is kind of the going price it seems very cost effective. Please continue to report on your experience, and thanks.

[Larry Dering]

Barry, I held out on the Tonex until they had a sale in December for 299.00 and then bought it. I was trying to find the same information as you on a used unit and gave up. I came through the same playing period as you with just old Twin Reverbs and cables with a cheap guitar. But long ago I entered the modeling phase with the Line 6 Pods and Johnson J Station. I have several of the Line 6 family and Boss stuff. I have hung on to my Tube amps even though my 75 year old body can't carry heavy gear. I haven't used the Tonex enough to get familiar but the Twin setting was sweet with modest tweaking. I plan on getting some of Joe Rogers preset scenes to sample amps I dont own like the Standel, Little Walter and Evans. I have a good stable of speaker cabinets and a few power amps. Right now using the once popular John Hughey rig of Revelation tube preamp, Lexicon Mpx1 and Stewart power amp into duel TT 12 speakers seems to please my appetite for tone.

[Barry Yasika]

Doug $400 is the going brand new rate. You can find them used on Reverb all the time for like $200 to 250. The advantage of getting it from Guitar Center is there is zero cost risk whether used or new. I you don't like, just take it back before the 45 days, no questions asked. Far from going thru an in depth study on it just yet but like Larry stated, the twin reverb came in the stock amp captures and in very little time I learned how to tweak in a pretty cool tone with one of 5 reverb types it comes with and also I used a short one time digital delay but you can choose an analog or tape delay if you wanted. There's a pretty steep learning curve but it's like a good book ya wanna put down but just can't wait to see what happens. At least that's the way it seems to appeal to me. I really gave it a lot of thought before I got it and I think the apprehension came from not knowing a thing about it and wondering if I could get the hang of it. I usually stick with what works but I broke that pattern at least this one time. Old habits are hard to break I guess. I've been playing with the Dumble and Marshall Captures too, the sound blows my mind. I can't believe I get to play through some of the amps that are in that thing. I set up the Dumble to kind of mimick the 80's sound, ya know that sort of Foreigner, Boston smooth overdrive, chorus and delay? Really fun!! You make me want to time travel to a smoke filled, filthy bar watching people with big hair and leapord print pants from the stage as I melt under the lights. Wow!!

Larry man, I know exactly what you mean about lugging a 75 pound amp around at our age. If you end up getting the amp captures from Joe, let me know how you did it. I couldn't find a web sight he was using, maybe he sells them outright somehow. You got a pretty sweet deal on your Tonex, I'd have done that myself if I'd have had that opportunity. It sure would've helped avoid some of the anguish I went through that first day.

Anyway I'm not trying to sell or plug the Tonex. There'd be no reason for me to do that, besides there's other Amp modelers out there that do the same thing. It's just that I was on the fence with that for a long time and I figured if someone else was having the same anxiety as I did, going through Guitar Center or any store that will take it back after you've tried it for several weeks with a full refund is a great way to eliminate getting stuck with something you just can't get the hang of, don't like or just don't want. It's kind of a shout out to Guitar Center for having that policy. Almost pains me to say that because of past experience with those people. But, Why throw money away if you can avoid it?

[Ron Hogan]

You may have already viewed this. It’s a big help. Yes, Jason has one of the best Chanel’s. I too bought a used one and the owner gave me everything I needed.
https://youtu.be/wETOD3SEP6c?si=uXdnheu3pwfI6kQi

[Larry Dering]

Barry, I believe he sells you a download of various amp captures. I need to contact him and get the details. My Boss GT1 Does a great job but its several times larger than the Tonex.

[Barry Yasika]

Ron, Yes! That's the guy I was talking about. Man that guy talks fast, I had to keep stopping the video to fully absorb what he was talking about. It's actually one of the first video's I stumbled across but thanks for sending the link in case someone else can use it. Trying to picture someone from the South digesting what that guy is saying (LOL) . I speak Canadian (Well, Northeast US) and I had a hard time keeping up with him. Best guy to go to that I found on youtube.

Larry if you figure out how to contact Mr. Rogers, please let me know the best way to get hold of him. I emailed him but he never got back to me. You probably know this but if you click the Tonex "Online" but in the software there like three captures there for steel guitar. Two Milkman's and one Peavey 112. I tried them but so far the best capture for me was the Fender Twin. The Milkman is good to but it's hard to get a good solid bass sound for me on that one.

I'm going to try using the Tonex tonight live at a gig. Hopefully the sound doesn't washed out in the mix.
Thanks Guys,