The Vox StompLab IB is a compact multi-effects pedal built for bass guitar, part of the StompLab series of multi-effects pedals for guitar and bass that Vox announced in 2012123. Where the guitar models in the line cover electric guitar sounds, the IB is built around dedicated bass modeling, with 60 types of modeling that include amp, cabinet and effects, and 100 preset programs on board45.
What it does for a bass player
The IB packs amp, cabinet and effects modeling into a single stompbox-sized unit, so a bass player can cover preamp, drive and effect duties without a board of individual pedals. Vox describes the StompLab series as "impressive new contenders that pack powerful sounds into compact and sophisticated looking metal bodies"6. The series shares a built-in tuner and 24-bit A/D and D/A conversion across all its models5, and the pedals can run on batteries, with an AC adapter offered as an option2.
The 100 preset programs are organized into factory banks by musical style. MusicRadar's review, by Trevor Curwen, lists the bass pedal's categories as Jazz/Fusion, Pop 1, Pop 2, Rock 1, Rock 2, Heavy Funk 1, Funk 2, Dance and Other1, which makes it straightforward to dial in a starting sound for the kind of gig at hand.
The pedal category effects
No Treble's report lists nine effect types in the Pedal category on the IB5:
- Comp
- Exciter
- Fix Wah
- Auto Wah
- Brn Octave
- Acoustic
- U-Vibe
- Tone
- Ring Mod
That category covers compression (Comp), filter effects (the two wah types), octave (Brn Octave), modulation (U-Vibe) and more specialized sounds such as Ring Mod, alongside the amp and cabinet modeling elsewhere in the unit5.
The StompLab series and where the IB fits
The IB and IIB bass pedals are dressed in red and are differentiated by the addition of an expression pedal on the IIB5. If you want built-in real-time control, that is the difference between the two bass models.
The lineup also includes the StompLab IIG and StompLab IIB, which provide an expression pedal, while the non-I models do without one4. The series sits alongside Vox's other compact multi-effects pedals such as the ToneLab ST, which carries the Valvetronix modeling line's tube-style preamp approach.
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Questions
How many presets does the Vox StompLab IB have?
The StompLab IB carries 100 preset programs, according to No Treble's announcement of the bass pedals. MusicRadar's review lists the factory preset bank categories for the bass pedal as Jazz/Fusion, Pop 1, Pop 2, Rock 1, Rock 2, Heavy Funk 1, Funk 2, Dance and Other, so players can pick a starting point by musical style and edit from there.
What effects are in the pedal category on the StompLab IB?
No Treble lists nine effect types in the Pedal category on the IB: Comp, Exciter, Fix Wah, Auto Wah, Brn Octave, Acoustic, U-Vibe, Tone and Ring Mod. The Comp type covers compression, the wah types cover filter effects, and the others cover modulation, octave and more specialized sounds.
How many modeling types does the StompLab IB have?
The StompLab IB provides 60 types of modeling, including amp, cabinet and effects, according to both MusicRadar's announcement and No Treble's report on the bass pedals. The guitar versions in the series offer 60 and 61 types respectively, with the bass pedals built around dedicated bass modeling.
What color is the Vox StompLab IB?
No Treble describes the IB and IIB bass pedals as dressed in red. The two bass models share that look, and are told apart by the addition of an expression pedal on the IIB.
What is the difference between the StompLab IB and IIB?
The two bass pedals do the same job, but the IIB adds a built-in expression pedal. No Treble notes that the IB and IIB are differentiated by the addition of an expression pedal on the IIB, which lets players control effects in real time with their foot. Both share the same red enclosure, 60 modeling types and 100 preset programs.
Sources (6)
- Vox StompLab IG review, MusicRadar, 2013-02-08
- Vox Launches Apache Travel Basses, StompLab Multi-Effects, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2012-09-11
- Vox Announces StompLab Multi-Effect Pedal Series, Guitar World, 2012-09-05
- Vox unveils StompLab multi-fx models, MusicRadar, 2012-09-04
- Vox Introduces Two New Multi-Effects Bass Pedals, No Treble, 2012-09-04
- StompLab 2G, Vox Amps, 2023-05-23
