The Vox StompLab IIG is a compact guitar multi-effects pedal: one stompbox-sized unit that covers amp modeling and effects instead of a board full of individual pedals. It provides 104 modeling effect types, and the "II" in its name marks the main difference from its sibling, the StompLab IG: a built-in expression pedal you can rock for wah, volume or any effect parameter you assign to it1. Vox announced the StompLab series in September 2012, with the pedals set to arrive that December1.
What it does
The IIG belongs to a four-pedal lineup Vox launched together. The guitar and bass versions share the same basic platform, and the "2" versions add the expression pedal5.
| Version | Instrument | Expression pedal |
|---|---|---|
| StompLab 1G | Guitar | No |
| StompLab IIG | Guitar | Built in2 |
| StompLab IB | Bass | No |
| StompLab IIB | Bass | Built in1 |
Features common across the series include:
The expression pedal is what separates the IIG from the StompLab 1G. MusicRadar's news item on the launch described it as letting you "control a variety of effect parameters including wah"1, and reviewer Trevor Curwen put it plainly in MusicRadar's review of the series:
"the IIG adds an expression pedal to control volume, wah or whatever parameter is assigned to it"
For a player, that means heel-toe control of wah and volume effects without adding a separate expression pedal to the board, and the ability to sweep a chosen effect parameter mid-song21.
The StompLab series also comes in bass versions, the StompLab IB and StompLab IIB, built on the same platform for bass players15.
Power and practical use
Vintage Guitar magazine's report on the launch noted that the StompLab pedals "operate on batteries"4, so the IIG can be used without a power supply, which suits players who carry one pedal to a jam rather than a powered board.
Where it came from
Vox unveiled the StompLab series in September 2012 as a compact multi-effects line built on the company's modeling approach, with all four versions, the IG, IIG, IB and IIB, "set to arrive this December" according to MusicRadar's announcement1. The IIG has remained part of Vox's current StompLab range on the maker's own product pages5.
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Questions
What does the expression pedal on the StompLab IIG do?
The built-in expression pedal lets you control a variety of effect parameters, including wah and volume, or whatever parameter you assign to it. MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen noted that the IIG adds the pedal to control volume, wah or any assigned parameter, which is the main difference from the otherwise similar StompLab IG.
How is the StompLab IIG different from the other StompLab pedals?
The StompLab series launched in four versions: the 1G and 2G for guitar and the 1B and 2B for bass. The 2 versions, the IIG and IIB, add a built-in expression pedal for controlling wah, volume and other effect parameters, while the 1 versions leave that control to a separate pedal if you want one.
Can the StompLab IIG run on batteries?
Yes. Vintage Guitar magazine reported that the StompLab series pedals operate on batteries, which makes them usable away from a power supply. The series also includes a built-in tuner and 24-bit A/D and D/A conversion.
Sources (5)
- Vox unveils StompLab multi-fx models, MusicRadar, 2012-09-04
- Vox StompLab IG review, MusicRadar, 2013-02-08
- Vox Introduces Two New Multi-Effects Bass Pedals, No Treble, 2012-09-04
- Vox Launches Apache Travel Basses, StompLab Multi-Effects, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2012-09-11
- StompLab 2G, Vox Amps, 2023-05-23
