NAD - Vox Mini Superbeetle

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srblue5

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I got myself an early birthday present today in the form of a lightly used Vox Mini Superbeetle.

I've been GASing for one of these since they came out but really felt the "need" for one since I went through a pretty major Beatles kick earlier this year (no idea why). I tried one out a few weeks ago and liked it but hadn't had time until today to go looking again. As it turned out, there was a lightly used one at the local store going for cheap, so I picked it up.

I've never owned a Vox amp -- I've only briefly tried them out in stores, particularly a Vox AC-10 -- but I like the sound of this one. It's a nice change from my usual Fender PRRI or Peavey Bandit and it gets me tones similar to some of my favourite Vox amp users -- the Beatles (of course), early Stones, Mike Campbell, Rory Gallagher.

Looking forward to getting to know this baby a little more while channeling my inner George Harrison or Brian Jones. Too bad it didn't come with built-in fuzz or a scream button to make my own "mania".

Couldn't resist a pic with a Beatles-oriented guitar either.
tempImagejQicwJ.png
 

davidchagrin

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It's a solid little amp capable of producing some really nice sounds. I had one for a while and enjoyed the touch sensitivity of the gain section.
 

Lone_Poor_Boy

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If you're contemplating the bass version, try it first. It only has an 8" speaker and I found it didn't seem to be 50 Watts (I was only playing basses through it). The guitar version sounds much better in my opinion.

Thanks. Good items to note. I was aware of the small speaker and expected it to be quite weak, but it's my small music room with Alesis digital drums, and a Fishman PA with sub I can split it to if I need more, but it's a very moderate volume room typically. It's probably not the best choice overall, but the Ampeg Rocket is a large box I rarely use and I thought it would be neat to get one 'Vox label in my collection, even if it's a toy.
 

The Angle

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I was about to comment that I've never seen a Mini Super-Beetle in all black before, but then I took a second look and realized I'm probably looking at a B&W photo.

I tried one in the store and was mightily impressed, but it wasn't different enough from my Pathfinder 15r to justify a purchase. I'm betting you'll love it.
 

DeepDangler

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Those are fun amps! They really open up if you have a 1x12 or 2x12 speaker. I recommend a Greenback with it.
 

VWAmTele

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Congrats! I love mine - truly delivers the Vox sound. I pair mine with a V2 Jext Telez White Pedal fuzz. For my ears, it comes closest to the Vox Conqueror MRB fuzz sound used by the Beatles during 66/67 period.
 

LGOberean

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Congrats! I've been GASing for one of those MSB's since they first came out. I've test driven one several times at the local GC. Like @The Angle said above, I haven't pulled the trigger on one because it's so similar to my Pathfinder 15Rs, I have difficulty justifying the purchase.

But I've got a plan to change that. I recently bought a VOX MV50 Boutique. As you probably know, the MV50 series of VOX Nutube amp head offerings includes an AC version. But when they came out with the MSB, that took the MV50 AC out of the running, for me, at least. The MSB is essentially an MV50 AC, but with a better tone stack and 'verb and trem built in, as well as an accompanying cab with a 10" Celestion speaker.

I do not own an extension speaker cabinet, so thus far I've been running my MV50 Boutique through my powered speaker. That works well enough, but I will want to get a speaker cab to plug it into. And that's where my plan for the Mini Superbeetle comes in. Though not a 12" speaker, the cab that comes with the MSB certainly works, and would give me a cab to use with either the MSB head or the Boutique head. And I'd be hard pressed to find an extension cab, whether 1x12" or 1x10", for $330. So if I buy the MSB, it gives me another amp head, plus a cab that'll work for either amp head, for a price competitive with an extension cab by itself.

That's my plan, anyway. If the logic behind it isn't altogether sound, please don't tell me. :twisted:
 

ClashCityTele

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Congrats! I've been GASing for one of those MSB's since they first came out. I've test driven one several times at the local GC. Like @The Angle said above, I haven't pulled the trigger on one because it's so similar to my Pathfinder 15Rs, I have difficulty justifying the purchase.

But I've got a plan to change that. I recently bought a VOX MV50 Boutique. As you probably know, the MV50 series of VOX Nutube amp head offerings includes an AC version. But when they came out with the MSB, that took the MV50 AC out of the running, for me, at least. The MSB is essentially an MV50 AC, but with a better tone stack and 'verb and trem built in, as well as an accompanying cab with a 10" Celestion speaker.

I do not own an extension speaker cabinet, so thus far I've been running my MV50 Boutique through my powered speaker. That works well enough, but I will want to get a speaker cab to plug it into. And that's where my plan for the Mini Superbeetle comes in. Though not a 12" speaker, the cab that comes with the MSB certainly works, and would give me a cab to use with either the MSB head or the Boutique head. And I'd be hard pressed to find an extension cab, whether 1x12" or 1x10", for $330. So if I buy the MSB, it gives me another amp head, plus a cab that'll work for either amp head, for a price competitive with an extension cab by itself.

That's my plan, anyway. If the logic behind it isn't altogether sound, please don't tell me. :twisted:
Logic doesn't come into it. That's why you never see a Vulcan with 15 guitars & 10 amps.
1eqdbk.jpg
 

Gawg

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Congrats! My wife & daughter bought me one for my birthday a couple of years ago. I've really enjoyed it.

I did swap out the speaker with a Warehouse Green Beret that I got cheap. Even though it's 8 Ohm 25 W, it sounded bigger (less boxy at least) and less muffled than the stock speaker so that the lows, mids, and highs all sounded better. A crisper sound, all around.
 

Mike M

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I got myself an early birthday present today in the form of a lightly used Vox Mini Superbeetle.

I've been GASing for one of these since they came out but really felt the "need" for one since I went through a pretty major Beatles kick earlier this year (no idea why). I tried one out a few weeks ago and liked it but hadn't had time until today to go looking again. As it turned out, there was a lightly used one at the local store going for cheap, so I picked it up.

I've never owned a Vox amp -- I've only briefly tried them out in stores, particularly a Vox AC-10 -- but I like the sound of this one. It's a nice change from my usual Fender PRRI or Peavey Bandit and it gets me tones similar to some of my favourite Vox amp users -- the Beatles (of course), early Stones, Mike Campbell, Rory Gallagher.

Looking forward to getting to know this baby a little more while channeling my inner George Harrison or Brian Jones. Too bad it didn't come with built-in fuzz or a scream button to make my own "mania".

Couldn't resist a pic with a Beatles-oriented guitar either. View attachment 900369

I've been eying this for a while, but waiting to see how these are

https://voxamps.com/series/minigo/

Like your black Casino, here is my new USA one

IMG_3864 (2).jpg
 
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