Is there any problem on Vox's side to just state clearly and straightforward what models of Amps and Pedals they model ? e.g. in their Tonelab series (or other modeling amps of course). What is the big issue to state clearly that amp setting so-and-so is aimed at modeling a particular Marshall JCM or a Mesa Boogie rectifier or a Fender Bassman? Why the secrecy, why the riddles? Each time I read an operating manual my IQ needs to drop to room temperature (in Celsius of course), to match the level of these silly descriptions. What a waste of print and time - Can't it just be listed clearly in a table....???

copyright and trademark law vary from country to country quite quite widely and Vox is very protective of their trademarks, so thus they are shy about infringing on someone else copywrite. .

Here's a tidbit. . .where a company sells Vox pattern grillcloth there is often a statement that the design is owned by Vox and must be used only to clothe Vox products!!!

I don't blame them either, there are companies that make amps that are basically copies of earlier Vox amp designs. . .Vox wouldn't want them to also use materials that allow them to mimic Vox products.

Lusthaben, I think you've probably hit the nail on the head.

But, and this just my 2c worth, I suspect Vox' approach is very much historical, going back to when modeling was newer and there was a 'divide' between modeling manufacturers (I think Line 6 was the first to bring out a modeling amp) & traditional amp manufacturers.

Nowadays modeling is very firmly established and its all intermingled by which I mean that modeling companies like Line 6 are now using valves, teaming up with Bogner, and 'traditional' amp manufacturers are now big on modeling to run side-by-side with traditional valve products.

Vox, Fender (Mustang), Peavey (Vypyr), Laney (Prism), Highes & Kettner (Zentera, Zen Amp) are all examples of the latter. So I don't think this is as sensitive an issue as it once was - & if Line 6 who market globally (& AxeFX) haven't been sued by anyone for disclosing the amps and effects being modelled, I really don't think this over cautious cloak & dagger approach needs to be continued.

In any event, the descriptions used by Vox (as an example) are largely (albeit not always) a giveaway - so you could argue that those descriptions on their own are enough to cause a copy-right issue anyway!

So, with no-one being sued after all these years I think it's time for companies to stop being frightened by their paranoid lawyers - and as long its clear that all you're doing is modeling the amp & not creating a real live version to sell, I really can't see why there is still a reluctance to quote the amp or effect being modelled.

Even Behringer, renowned for (shall we charitably say) being 'imaginatively re-inventive' in their product approach (where any similarity to other products on the market is of course wholly accidental!) have never been successfully sued for any alleged copy-right breach!

Anyway, reinforcing Lusthabens observation, surely manufacturers should be flattered that their products are worthy of being modelled. I mean, what great cross marketing - a Fender Mustang user buys an AC30 because he loves the AC30 tone & wants the real thing (or vice-a-versa with a Valvetronix owner to a Fender Bassman etc). As I said, it's all intermingled now.

The Vox look is a very important part of their branding. If someone copies their look, Vox will take them to court. . .but guess what. If the defendant can show that Vox is copying someone else in any major visible way, such as naming the amps they are emulating, that weakens their standing in court and will probably result in immediate dismissal in the lawsuit.

The reason I bought an AC30HW2X is because I previously had a Line 6 POD HD500 and tried all the amp models on it. I kept returning to the AC 30 and AC30 TB models above all other amps, so the obvious step was to get myself a genuine Vox AC30. It's going to be a keeper; I just don't need any other amps. If it wasn't for amp modeling I wouldn't be on this forum.