Mackie Hotwire VT12 Guitar Combo Amp User Reviews at zZounds

"FInally got one - after two year search!" submitted March 21, 2011

By a customer from yahoo.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Recording Artist

Music Style: Smooth Jazz, Pop, Easy Listening

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Sound: A truly impressive amp. The immediate ability to change amp models with the click of a knob is unprecedented. The different amp settings actually sound like the real amps - not a simulation, because the preamp tubes are "hotwired" into different configurations by the knob which activates relays inside the amp to "re-wire" the pre-amp circuits to duplicate used in those different amps. The US amp setting sound like Fenders, The UK amp settings sound like Marshals and Vox's, etc..... Feature: Way more bells and whistles than most players will ever need. Most are well done. Ease of Use: Easy to use with the factory presets. A little harder to figure out how to do your own and save them. Getting a PB-1 floor pedal is a must for live use as it controls everything from the floor - replacing the need for any effect pedals. Quality: I bought this from a dealer who had it on their showroom for over a year. So it has been used quite a bit and survived so far....... even the Mackie factory folks say these don't have that great of a reliability record. Thye also told me that LESS THAN 100 of these were ever delivered. But, at the price I paid - I decided to risk it. (Way less that half the original price). Mackie does warranty these for TWO YEARS though. Value: At the original price - not so great a value. At the price I paid - A great deal! Manufacturer Support: I got really great response from factory folks with my pre-purchase questions and honest answers to my questions of "Why was it discontinued?" and "What are the problems these amps have?" The Wow Factor: State of the art design - Leading edge technology - innovative approach. Thanks Greg Mackie! Overall: Not replaceable as they have been discontinued. But I would buy another if I could. I'm hoping the Mackie folks can fix it if it ever needs service!!!!

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"Not for everyone, but I was for me. Awesome complete package." submitted November 12, 2008

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Active Church Musician

Music Style: Rock

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Sound: Just incredible. I think the other reviewers have not taken the time to learn how to use this thing. It is so flexible and sounds fantastic. Feature: The greatest thing about this amp is that it has the complete package. Tube Amp with digital effects built in. The capability to preset all your settings, including effects settings and then switching it on with just a click is great. Ease of Use: You really have to read the manual and then play with all the features as this thing is so flexible, you can pretty much make it sound how you want, but it takes a little time to do this as it has so many features. Quality: No complaints. Everything from the cabinent, the controls and the padded slip cover seem very well built. Value: I would say this amp is expensive, but considering, I paid more than this for all my effect pedals and my prior amp, it is a deal. Manufacturer Support: Don't really know as I have had no problems. They were very responsive to getting answers on their website forum and in sending me software that was supposed to be included but failed to ship with the amp. The Wow Factor: I just love it. From clean jazz sound to running my acoustic through it, to crunch, the separate mic channel, the built in effects, tuner, metronome, etc. It has it all and it is not too heavy. Not really light, but impossible to carry like some other amps. Overall: I would definately replace it again with the same model. My only complaint was I bought this thing in January and did not receive it until August. They need to ramp up the production line....

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"Wait Til Mackie Gets Its Act Together" submitted October 14, 2008

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Musical Background: Wannabe

Music Style: Alternative

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Sound: Agree with review below, amp not very loud even in 120 watt operation. This is because it's equipped with just one 12" speaker in a combo. If you want better tone with a little more volume, you have to shell out another $500 for the extension cabinet ... not to mention $80 for your basic 4 button footswitch and/or $270 for the more useful PB1 foot controller. And yes, the thing throws out feedback like a hissing dragon (but not in the good sense). I think it's because of Chinese manufacturing at an American price point. Feature: The features would be great if they worked like they're advertised to work. Speaking of advertising, this thing has been marketed for over a year and they still can't produce enough to meet even the minimal demand the amp has generated in that time. Ease of Use: Like all these digitally based contraptions, you need to be a programmer to get decent tone. Quality: Forget it! Value: It should be selling at half the street price with the PB1 foot controller. Manufacturer Support: Barely exists. Can't even run a user forum. The Wow Factor: I wanted it. Waited and waited. Tried another sucker's purchase first. Then, the bubble burst. Overall: Great concept ... poor performance and lousy value.

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Mackie Hotwire VT12 Amp Customer Review submitted October 14, 2008

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Sound: Not powerfule enough. Lots of annoying feedback. Even at low volumes when effects are in use.

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"NOT STEREO! WAY OVERPRICED..." submitted August 5, 2008

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Sound: Yes, there are real working prototypes out there. Yes, it really sounds good, for a mono amp. And it has an impressive feature set, even though it is not stereo. Feature: Love the onboard effects, balanced line outs, and the relative simplicity, even though it a very versatile little bugger. It is such a shame that they don't make it STEREO. For the money they are asking, it definitely should come with two speakers and should have the stereo capability. Ease of Use: Easy and fast... Quality: I would assume that this Mackie product is as reliable as their other offerings, and that is pretty darn good. None of my Mackie stuff has ever failed in 16 years of daily use. Value: Sure, Mackie has a reputation for reliability and good sound. But this amp is NOT a hand-made boutique product. It should be either much lower cost, OR have all the features and STEREO capability, with two speakers and the footswitch included for this price. Even then, $1500 is high. If I knew I could get the all important STEREO amp, with this feature set, plus the extra cabinet and the foot-switch for $990, I could justify the price. As is, the amp will sell primarily to rich amateurs looking for a "magic-bullet" to make their sucky playing sound better. All professionals play in STEREO, so Mackie is making a huge marketing miss-judgment at this price point for a mono amp. Dorky rich kids, endowed adults with little talent, or control freaks are the only people who will be interested in this as a mono amp. Pros won't touch it until Mackie can figure the STEREO thing out. Manufacturer Support: The support for product inquiries is less than optimum. After a week of trying every available avenue, I was finally able to get a person on the phone during business hours. He was either in-the-dark or very secretive about this particular product. I got the impression then, (four months ago) that they were not ready to unveil this amp. That turned out to be true. The Wow Factor: IF, and ONLY IF, they made it stereo, sold the whole package (including foot-control and extra speaker) for a reasonable price, THEN it would be very desirable. As is? ...not even if I won a lottery. Overall: Mackie stuff is good, no doubt about it. But this is overpriced, especially if it ain't STEREO.

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Mackie Hotwire VT12 Guitar Combo Amplifier

User Ratings

"FInally got one - after two year search!" submitted March 21, 2011

"Not for everyone, but I was for me. Awesome complete package." submitted November 12, 2008

"Wait Til Mackie Gets Its Act Together" submitted October 14, 2008

Mackie Hotwire VT12 Amp Customer Review submitted October 14, 2008

"NOT STEREO! WAY OVERPRICED..." submitted August 5, 2008