Started 1 year ago by pink_floyd
Topic Rating:
I am looking for a new amp and VOX is always going to be a consideration. At the moment I am using a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe which has great cleans but it too loud and anything other than cleans are poor.
So I am looking for an amp I can use at home with good cleans and that I can drive to get some nice overdriven tones for blues and 70s rock. I am open to all suggestions and have a budget of up to $1600. I would really appreciate some advice from current VOX owners.
Posted 1 year ago
if you are only playing at home you don't need a lot of wattage. i was very impressed by the video i saw of the new Night Train, 15W tube amp. Are you familiar with that?
Other great amps if you've got the money are the AC15 and AC30 both tube amps.
I have a 15R which is cheap but you have to add an overdrive pedal and my next amp will likely be a VT50, but not until the bugs are worked out.
The AD50VT-XL had great overdrive sounds but there are only a few of those left in stores, as they have been disco'd.
I'd look for YouTube videos, read Harmony Central reviews and then go play the amps in stores. .
Posted 1 year ago
Thanks for the info. I have seen the Night train video, most impressive. I would be curious to hear from anyone who has this amp and is using it at home?
Posted 1 year ago
The Night Train has plenty of volume/power, and will rattle your windows. However, I switched mine for an AC30CCH, because it sounded better. The Night Train only weighs 17 lbs, compared to the AC30CCH at 47 lbs, so you may want to consider this, if you plan on carrying it much. I didn't try the AC15, but you may want to consider it.
Posted 1 year ago
I compared the Vox AC15 CC with the Vox Nighttrain(plugged into an 1x12 v30 speaker) head in a store.
They both sound beautiful, but the nighttrain has more gain, looks cool among big Marshall heads(when I'm gigging), looks like a toaster :p and it isn't that hard to carry.
So I bought the NT along with a 70 watt 1x12 epiphone valve jr. cab with a Eminence lady luck speaker in it. I bought a low wattage cab so I am able to use it at home.
The best way to choose one is to test them in a guitar store, so you can pick one that suits your style best.
I'm very sorry for my bad English, I'm from Holland :p
Posted 4 months ago
If I may change this subject a bit to my question? I have the opportunity to buy a Cambridge 15 and a Pathfinder 15R, which one should I prefer and perhaps why? Does the Pathfinder suffers also from Cambrigitus or does the Cambridge only has this? Thank you and sorry for the change of subject. On the other hand, it is not much of a change, considering the title.
Greetings from Amsterdam, Willem
Posted 4 months ago
I don't know anything about the Cambridge but I do have a Pathfinder 15R which I find a surprising little amp considering it's size and price. It has fantastic cleans and sounds a lot bigger than it really is! It dosn't overdrive that well with my Ric but that does have 7.4K single coils, if you have hotter p/up's it may work for you. :- )
Posted 4 months ago
The Pathfinder does not suffer from the dreaded "Cambridgeitis". It is the specific optocoupler used in the Cambridge that causes the problem, and can be easily changed out, should you decide to go that way. I have pictures and instructions for the part change. I have both a Pathfinder 15R, and a Cambridge 30 Twin, in which I have changed both the bad optocoupler and upgraded the amp chip to a 56w chip. I can't speak to the Cambridge 15, but the Pathfinder is a great little amp, stories abound of people gigging with them, either mic'd or direct into a PA. It has both a speaker out (that mutes the internal speaker) AND a line out (which does not), so it is very versatile. The distortion is typical small s/s amp distortion, so you will probably want a pedal matching your style and taste if you want any kind of crunch or overdrive. The reverb in the Pathfinder is very good, and very usable. If you look around at reviews, you will find a general consensus that the Pathfinder is one of the best low wattage s/s amps out there.
Posted 4 months ago
This is where I continue my lobby for a 50R / 100R Pathfinder. . .the more that want them, the more likely we are to have them. . .louder amps with great clean headroom and a large baffle so that we can customize them. .
Posted 4 months ago
I think you really need to go into a dealer and give them a listen yourself. You might find you don't really need a very big amp at all. Before anyone get's upset with my opinions everyone has different ideas of what sounds good.
While I like the Pathfinder 15 I really think you should give the Night Train with a Vox cab a look or even an AC4TV. I play a AC30H2 with an attenuator to achieve suitable volume for home use a lot of the time. For me it just doesn't get any better than that. While I like the Pathfinder it does too few things well for me and it's probably my last choice of Vox amps to play that I have. I don't like how any of my pedals sound through it, not that I use a lot of effects but for some songs I do use a couple. It's being left in the dust with the recent stuff Vox has come out with the last couple of years.
I've yet to hear anything bad about the Night Train. Who knows though? I've never had the chance to play one..... yet. Try as many as you can to find out for yourself though.
Posted 4 months ago
Thanks guys for your replies. It is clear to me that the Pathfinder has the advantage. Although I should listen to other types. Considering the price and the quality I think I will go for the Pathfinder then. Thanks again.
Posted 4 months ago
