Upgrade advice: amp to amp

andy__woods · August 16th, 2006, 05:04 PM

Hey guys, right now I have a VOX Valvetronix AD15, and love it. However, I might sell it to a friend who is just starting out, and was wondering what amps I should look at as a sort of upgrade/improvement from what I have now. I really like the look and feel of the VOX AD60VTX Neodog(?) that can be found here:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...mp?sku=482496V

Anyone tried these before? Also, I don't have any pedals, because of the built in effects from the VOX amp, if that helps at all. Any and all suggestions are welcome!

JohnnyCrash · August 16th, 2006, 05:07 PM

I'm not really keen on modeling amps myself, but it sounds like you really dug the Vox modeler you had before.

I think it's already along the same lines (same brand as well), so it may not be much of a gamble for you...

Otherwise, I'd say go for a Vox AC15cc, but that's just me :)

woodman · August 16th, 2006, 11:21 PM

i found modelers great for recording if you have the time to super-tweak, but not too efficacious in live settings, so i'd chime in with a vote for "real" tubes -- but hey, i ain't you!

aunchaki · August 17th, 2006, 10:51 AM

I have a VOX AD60VT (see my avatar). It's the same as the AD60VTX, except it does not have the Celestion Blue speaker. I got mine used (at GC) for $375. I love this amp. I picked up the VC-12 footpedal (a blem from MF), which is a very nice addition.

I love the variable power output -- you can dial it to 60W, 30W 15W or 1W. I play in a church band, and gig with it every week. To match the space where I'm playing, I currently have it dialed back to 15W. Nice flexibility.

One complaint you may find with these amps in general is that the tube stage (which produces natural-sounding tube overdrive) comes AFTER the line-out stage. That means whatever tube overdrive sound you are going to get will only come through the amp speaker, NOT through the PA (unless you mic the amp). I'm OK with this limitation.

It's got a zillion effects and presets (even more presets come with the footpedal). I played around with the presets for a few weeks, but eventually set the thing to "Manual" and used my own settings. With my guitars, music and playing style, I rely on about 5 of the 16 modelled amps. It's nice to have the super-crunchy distored models on hand, but I don't use them at the moment.

I can't rave enough about this amp.

andy__woods · August 17th, 2006, 12:19 PM

I play at my church too, and mic my amp, so thats not a problem. But $375?! wow, I would jump at that price, thats incredible. I also looked around at those foot pedals, your VC-12, and I think the VC-4 is the other. I think they are the only way to really get the most out of the amp when you are playing live. I'm also starting to look at some Fender amps, Blues Jr., Blues Deluxe RI, that kind of stuff. I definitely like the price of the Blues Jr.

August 16th, 2006, 05:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
andy__woods Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 23 Posts: 1,164 60 Photos	Upgrade advice: amp to amp Hey guys, right now I have a VOX Valvetronix AD15, and love it. However, I might sell it to a friend who is just starting out, and was wondering what amps I should look at as a sort of upgrade/improvement from what I have now. I really like the look and feel of the VOX AD60VTX Neodog(?) that can be found here: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...mp?sku=482496V Anyone tried these before? Also, I don't have any pedals, because of the built in effects from the VOX amp, if that helps at all. Any and all suggestions are welcome!

August 16th, 2006, 11:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,896	i found modelers great for recording if you have the time to super-tweak, but not too efficacious in live settings, so i'd chime in with a vote for "real" tubes -- but hey, i ain't you! __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

August 16th, 2006, 05:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	I'm not really keen on modeling amps myself, but it sounds like you really dug the Vox modeler you had before. I think it's already along the same lines (same brand as well), so it may not be much of a gamble for you... Otherwise, I'd say go for a Vox AC15cc, but that's just me :)

August 17th, 2006, 10:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
aunchaki Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western New York Posts: 1,240 16 Photos	I have a VOX AD60VT (see my avatar). It's the same as the AD60VTX, except it does not have the Celestion Blue speaker. I got mine used (at GC) for $375. I love this amp. I picked up the VC-12 footpedal (a blem from MF), which is a very nice addition. I love the variable power output -- you can dial it to 60W, 30W 15W or 1W. I play in a church band, and gig with it every week. To match the space where I'm playing, I currently have it dialed back to 15W. Nice flexibility. One complaint you may find with these amps in general is that the tube stage (which produces natural-sounding tube overdrive) comes AFTER the line-out stage. That means whatever tube overdrive sound you are going to get will only come through the amp speaker, NOT through the PA (unless you mic the amp). I'm OK with this limitation. It's got a zillion effects and presets (even more presets come with the footpedal). I played around with the presets for a few weeks, but eventually set the thing to "Manual" and used my own settings. With my guitars, music and playing style, I rely on about 5 of the 16 modelled amps. It's nice to have the super-crunchy distored models on hand, but I don't use them at the moment. I can't rave enough about this amp.

August 17th, 2006, 12:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
andy__woods Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 23 Posts: 1,164 60 Photos	I play at my church too, and mic my amp, so thats not a problem. But $375?! wow, I would jump at that price, thats incredible. I also looked around at those foot pedals, your VC-12, and I think the VC-4 is the other. I think they are the only way to really get the most out of the amp when you are playing live. I'm also starting to look at some Fender amps, Blues Jr., Blues Deluxe RI, that kind of stuff. I definitely like the price of the Blues Jr.