"WE ALL WANT THAT PRODUCT THAT GIVES US TEN TIMES WHAT WE PAID FOR IT. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE VERY FEW PIECES OF GEAR! GO BUY IT, N"
Feature:
More accurate effects, modelers and programming options than anything within $500 bucks. Notice I said accurate. If it sounds like garbage, but will let me run ten billion horrible digital effects through bad plywood and a cruddy speaker, that doesn't make it accurate.
Quality:
In the price range, It's tied with Marshall's MG series for solidity and craftsmanship. It has a Celestion speaker in it. I hope the gact that the knobs aren't chrome is something you can see past! I owned that Marshall for two years and, when I used the clean channel with a thick Metal Pedal it sounded good. The limited and unprogrammable effects were good, just very limiting. It had nothing on the Vox and that is it's (the Vox) closest competitor.
Value:
It is one of those rare musical products where the old cliche' about "getting exactly what you pay for," is proven to be right, most of the time. I know what those products are. I make a point of looking, at work, every day. And when I find one, I almost always buy it, on the spot.
Desirability:
A 'newer' grill is attention-grabbing, but not tacky like some other competitors amps. It exudes class, character and your acknowledgement that Vox are here to do far more than re-release AC-15 and AC-30 combos that are rooted in the late 1960's.
Sound:
I give it a 10, relative to what it is and the sounds it is capable of expelling. I work at a retail store that allow us to take home gear whenever we want to demo it and be familiar with it. I really just needed a small amp to jam with a buddy I work with, for the evening.
I should note that I have been playing for 20 years, I majored in music, I have played many gigs (although I'm less than fond of bar bands or local scenes) and I am studying Modern Music Engineering, currently. I also teach guitar/bass.
My playing time (which is all the time) is divided between plugging into my direct unit and through my computer sequencer, then out powered monitors AND running my Strat through my stompboxes and into a very powerful tube combo. I don't ever use the distortion channel on a tube amp. Metalheads do that. I push tubes w/ fuzz, overdrive and straight out distortion. I know tone back to front.
This amp is, without a doubt, far superior to anything else besides the 50 watt or 100 watt version of itself. I ran no effects with a Strat, (v.noiseless singlecoils) and was just astonished that I'd been steering folks towards other products. This amp poops on every Line6, all the way up to the $1500 Vetta! The pre-amp 12AX7 tube must be the clincher. I was very impressed w/ the 'tube output' knob on the back that allowed me to turn it to 8&1/2, but keep the actual volume, Master and gain at very reasonable levels.
The clean sounds are crystal clear and the effects are stellar, programmable, and storeable in one of two user preset channels. Combined with the manual channel, that allows you three totally independant (including volume)channels! Most folks don't open the 'starter manual' to realize the effects are totally adjustable for speed, intensity and levels; even if the patch contains two effects as several do.
The distortion is great on every level, even for the Line 6 kids. The Metal Distortion Rectifier setting is VERY high gain, yet still warm. I liked to go for a Blackface, Put the tube push knob (on the back) at 9 and the Volume at 6 or 7, with gain at 3 and bring the Master up from 0 until it started sounding identical to Tool with the addition of some Flange/Delay, carefully set to sweep.
Sorry they don't give you a footswitch. Marshall are the only ones who do (Fender's modeling amps don't and they cost a fortune). So, spend $20 for the switc or get a universal one at a pawn shop; it will work.
Go get this now.
Ease of Use:
A 2nd grader could could deal with it. It plays great straight out of the box, but read the instructions (all of about 10 pages w/ pics) and learn to use two or three buttons and a knob to do whatever you want this to do.
Support:
Haven't needed it. It's very easy to use. It really has so few variables I can't imagine ever needing this unless you wanted to call and thank the company.
Overall:
I will use this as my personal practice amp until I fall apart. If it were stolen or even just crapped out, I would replace it in a second.
It is very giggable to, for a club or if used as one of two amps, probably fo your clean sound while using the main tube amp for dirty stuff or things requiring the full rig.
And miked up, it is a recording guitarist's dream.
Submitted: 1/7/2007
Style of Music: I am least fond of rap and radio-pop/M.T.V. garbage. I am most interested in introspective progressive alternative rock and Elec
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3 of 3 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Great practice amp"
Feature:
The effects are OK, they're not as good as a full effects loop. But the amp has a good usable set of features and effects. Again this amp isn't going to sound like a full blown hand wired tube amp, and again for the money it's a good value.
Quality:
I've had this amp for a few years and its been beat around pretty good, and it still looks and plays like new.
Value:
I played some of the other amps in this price range and at the time this amp was the easy choice of the many in it's price range.
Desirability:
I think the chrome speaker cover looks great, offset by the black housing makes the amp look great.
This amp fits in well with my gear, in a place between my Marshal and my Roland cube. I would more than likely buy it again for its solid build, looks and features.
Sound:
The amp produces a wide selection of amp models with a fair amount of usable effects. In its price range I couldn't find one any better.
Of course if you want a serious gigging amp you're going to need to spend more than $239.00. I use this as a easy to carry practice amp when a few of my friends and I get together. I also have a Micro-Cube, and I use it for sitting in my studio just to play around with. But the Vox has enough volume and basic effects to get you through playing with a small group, or even a small venue.
Ease of Use:
Ease of use is about as easy as it gets. The amp lets you customize effects with a tap button that gives some real dynamics to the effects. Switching from one modeled amp to another could not be any easier.
Overall:
What can you say about an amp that cost just over $200.00, and includes the sound quality usable effects and rock solid build but that it's a keeper.
Submitted: 9/19/2007
Style of Music: Rock, Classic Rock, Jazz, Blues, Blues Rock, Country Rock, Folk Rock, Alternative. etc
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4 of 4 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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