Or invest a relatively small amount of coin (usually less than $50) into one of these babies and use it with any amp you might own now or in the future! Works better than an amp stand, IMHO.
Vox Pathfinder Owners
- Thread starter robb3566
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Or invest a relatively small amount of coin (usually less than $50) into one of these babies and use it with any amp you might own now or in the future! Works better than an amp stand, IMHO.
gndboy
Tele-Meister
I foolishly sold my non-reverb Pathfinder 15; I bought the current model, and about a month ago put a Weber Alnico Blue Pup in. It is totally cool. Gotta be a bit careful with the output. It sounds great all broke in. The Weber, to me, sounds quite a bit more responsive. This is a good-sounding solid-state combo that sits very well in the mix.
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WGD1
TDPRI Member
electricjr
Tele-Holic
It's probably been mentioned somewhere deep in this thread, but if you engage the boost, set the gain extremely low (right at the edge or before breakup) and use the master as a master (duh)- The tone is considerably thicker with a bit more mids and less thin sounding high end. I like the tone of the amp without the boost engaged, but with single coil guitars I find I always prefer using this trick. You can still get plenty of volume out of the amp just keeping the gain way down when you crank up the master. Try it!
saxjag
TDPRI Member
Replacing reverb unit in Pathfinder 15R
IMHO the flimsy stock reverb unit in the VOX Pathfinder 15R sounds hissy and not very springy. I removed it and replaced it with a NOS Accutronics USA 8EB2C1B (half-length 3-spring medium decay) tank, loosely attached to the amp cab's inside floor with wood screws through four silicone grommets. This won't get you all the way to tube-y drippy surfy Fender '63 Reverb mode, but it's a big improvement over stock: more spring power & sustain, less extraneous noise.
The difficult part of this mod is crafting a cable to connect the amp's circuit board reverb input/outputs to the reverb tank's RCA ports. After a lot of research, I found compatible circuit board connectors at a battery store. My brother the audio wonk spliced these onto some shielded Mogami wire terminated with Switchcraft RCA plugs. (Forgot to take pics, sorry.) Without his expert soldering, I couldn't have gotten the job done.
I spent about US$50 on the tank & parts; my brother provided additional parts & labor in exchange for a dinner or two. At the end of the day I got the sound I wanted from my Pathfinder, without the need for a stompbox or digital reverb unit.
When I posted this info over at the amp forum, somebody asked whether the stock circuit board contains a trimpot to control reverb dwell. I dunno, since I never removed the board from the chassis. Anybody know?
IMHO the flimsy stock reverb unit in the VOX Pathfinder 15R sounds hissy and not very springy. I removed it and replaced it with a NOS Accutronics USA 8EB2C1B (half-length 3-spring medium decay) tank, loosely attached to the amp cab's inside floor with wood screws through four silicone grommets. This won't get you all the way to tube-y drippy surfy Fender '63 Reverb mode, but it's a big improvement over stock: more spring power & sustain, less extraneous noise.
The difficult part of this mod is crafting a cable to connect the amp's circuit board reverb input/outputs to the reverb tank's RCA ports. After a lot of research, I found compatible circuit board connectors at a battery store. My brother the audio wonk spliced these onto some shielded Mogami wire terminated with Switchcraft RCA plugs. (Forgot to take pics, sorry.) Without his expert soldering, I couldn't have gotten the job done.
I spent about US$50 on the tank & parts; my brother provided additional parts & labor in exchange for a dinner or two. At the end of the day I got the sound I wanted from my Pathfinder, without the need for a stompbox or digital reverb unit.
When I posted this info over at the amp forum, somebody asked whether the stock circuit board contains a trimpot to control reverb dwell. I dunno, since I never removed the board from the chassis. Anybody know?
I picked up an Epi Les Paul Standard last week to go along with my Tele.
I'm getting some pretty sweet sounds out of it with my Pathfinder 15r when playing clean, but was curious what settings you all use on the Pathfinder for your humbucker guitars when playing dirty?
I'm getting some pretty sweet sounds out of it with my Pathfinder 15r when playing clean, but was curious what settings you all use on the Pathfinder for your humbucker guitars when playing dirty?
Loudog99
Tele-Holic
Hey babyblutele,
I also have the PF10 and really like it. I briefly had a PF15R and got rid of it since I only play at home and at very very low volume. Believe it or not it was a bit too much amp for my needs.
The PF10 sounds great at low volume and I use Daneletro Fab Echo and Distortion pedals through it for some added "vibe". The Fab Echo set with the mix at 9 and the repeat in the middle sounds really good through the PF10. It's the perfect at home rig and I use this and my Microcube interchangeably. I'm thinking of picking up cheap chorus and tremolo pedals as well to add to the affects chain.
Lou
I also have the PF10 and really like it. I briefly had a PF15R and got rid of it since I only play at home and at very very low volume. Believe it or not it was a bit too much amp for my needs.
The PF10 sounds great at low volume and I use Daneletro Fab Echo and Distortion pedals through it for some added "vibe". The Fab Echo set with the mix at 9 and the repeat in the middle sounds really good through the PF10. It's the perfect at home rig and I use this and my Microcube interchangeably. I'm thinking of picking up cheap chorus and tremolo pedals as well to add to the affects chain.
Lou
babybluetele
Tele-Meister
Can't imagine how much louder the 15 is but this ones pretty powerful.
To be honest in the very first minutes after I took it out of the box it sounded really bad a lot of hissed and weird kinda bg sounds, but later that night my uncle visited us (and he's a session player most notably probably for Cher) and it literally sounded like a different amp, after that it never sounded the same
BlueJazzDay
Tele-Meister
Just snip or unsolder these two LED's on the circuit board and you're golden.
I'm anxious to try this mod myself, but wondering about the "just snip" part. How close to the board do you snip, with what, and do you do anything to the snipped LED's after? Thanks for any advice that will save me from ruining a very nice amp.
I'm anxious to try this mod myself, but wondering about the "just snip" part. How close to the board do you snip, with what, and do you do anything to the snipped LED's after? Thanks for any advice that will save me from ruining a very nice amp.
Honestly, and this may make some people squirm - I just wiggled them both back and forth lightly for a while and they just snapped off.
Televised
Friend of Leo's
(Here's an update, got buried in the amp forum a couple weeks back)
About a year ago I posted my LED mod for the Pathfinder to the forum. I have not had a chance to sit in with a really loud band since performing the mod to the amp and wanted to share my findings.
I recently sat in with a very loud punk act that has a heavy hitting drummer. Two other guitarists with half stacks and a bassist with a 200W rig. The PA could not keep up with the band (vocalist screaming throughout) but the Pathfinder with the LED mod sure did.
Before I did the mod the amp would just barely keep up in a setting like that. Everything would have to be maxed out and the amp would produce a lot of distortion. Even then the band would have to turn it down some so I could be heard.
So on to the jam. When I first rolled up I got the impression from them that I should have brought another amp. I was feeling the same way after I saw their half stacks.
With the boost engaged I had plenty of clean headroom on tap in fact I had to turn it down some. I could still get whatever amount of breakup by turning up the gain and pulling the volume back. The other members were pretty amazed that it could keep up and that it sounded great. I was too, it was an earplug sort of affair.
After that jam I feel comfortable bringing that PF15r out to just about any gig. With its low weight, wide frequency range and now big bump in headroom and output volume it's an easy grab and go rig.
Here's the mod. Just snip or unsolder these two LED's on the circuit board and you're golden.
I guess this is for "Bluejazzday" and sorry if I'm off course.
I Emailed this Pic to the amp tech I know. Rather than taking apart the amp, he looked at the Pic on his lap top to get his bearings, used a dental mirror to look at the under side of the board, and then heated the top of the circuit board with a soldering iron over the two LEDs until it warmed up and they dropped into his hand. It took all of about 5 minutes and he charged me $10. I like the Mod as it gives it more "Headroom" and just seems more open and louder. If you don't like the Mod you can always put the two clipping LEDs back on the Board with no harm done. "Snorkelmonkey" was the fellow who seems to be up on all this. I struggle changing light bulbs so I took this in to have someone else do it but it's obviously an easy Mod and for me well worth it.
Sacdubro
Tele-Holic
I recently purchased and returned a Pathfinder 15R and returned it because it had a cycling noise with the Gain turned up or when the Boost switch is on. With the guitar plugged-in or not.
Today I just received a replacement and it has the same issue. Is this common or a bad batch?
The Sales Rep at GC said he's heard this same issue on a number of the newer PF15Rs.
Is this the character of the amp or what?
Note: I have a Vox AC4TV8 and DA5 that do not have this issue.
Today I just received a replacement and it has the same issue. Is this common or a bad batch?
The Sales Rep at GC said he's heard this same issue on a number of the newer PF15Rs.
Is this the character of the amp or what?
Note: I have a Vox AC4TV8 and DA5 that do not have this issue.
lareplus
Tele-Afflicted
What's your favorite 12 inch speaker with the 15R? I'm thinking of the Wizard and the Swamp thing. . .has anyone used either of these?
Or what's your favorite 12 inch speaker for these wonderful little amps???
Or what's your favorite 12 inch speaker for these wonderful little amps???
Wish someone would answer that question.
I found a used one, but it's a fair drive from here and the seller lists it as a v9158 model #. New ones are listed as v9168.
Did they change model #'s ? If they did, perhaps the v9168 are the ones with the "cycling" issue ?
Or did the seller misread the model # ?
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BlueJazzDay
Tele-Meister
Thanks to "Televised" for getting back to me on the mod. I feel better about doing it now that it's been explained more clearly.
LGOberean
Doctor of Teleocity
The Vox Pathfinder 15R has the model number V9168R.
As for what was listed by the seller you mentioned, it could be one of three things.
1. He misread the #, as you suggested.
2. He mis-typed the #.
3. Or he got it right, and he is selling the Pathfinder 15, model # V9158, the one lacking the Reverb.
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lareplus
Tele-Afflicted
Has anybody played the 15R with a Boss FBM-1, Fender bassmman pedal?
FMajor7add9
TDPRI Member
Chose the FDR model instead. can't get decent overdrive from it, but it's kicked in constantly at low gain in front of the 15R with great result. Def. shaping the sound nicely. Also using it to boost 15W 12" tube amp.
tested:
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