Vox VT series amps

[dave robinson]

I have just got back from my day in York with a glowing report on the Vox VT-40, VT-80 & VT-120.
I tried all three and for me it was very easy to punch in the old Vox AC-30 & AC -15 tones just like my own little VT-30. The differences are in power, physical size and weight. The amplifier controls are the same on all models so what you need to decide is how much power you want. If you're playing only at home, the VT-40 with it's 10" speaker is more than adequate and is loud enough for a small gig. The next one up, the VT-80 is the one I would buy as it's plenty loud enough to gig with the band and easy to carry as it has a single 12" speaker. The big VT-120 houses 2 x 12" speakers and is good for any gig. I didn't try the VT-20, but for use indoors that would be plenty.

The sounds are identical to what my own VT-30 produces and more, with more options.
At the price of any of them you are on a winner. I played everything from Shadows to Jazz to Gary Moore and the sounds were impressive, I would not hesitate to buy one should I need an amp. I used a Squier Classic Vibe and a USA Standard Strat, each sounded stunning.
With the Zoom G3x you will achieve the sound that I got on my recent recordings.

[tonyRyman]

Hi Dave
Sounds like you had a good visit to York.
For home use would you recommend the Vox VT series amps rather than the AC4 you used on the recent recordings.
Tony

[anniv 63]

Glad to see the new models have cloth speaker fronts , rather than the metal chicken wire that never was the real deal.
Other than that, indeed great sounding amps and value for money!!!

Mike

[dave robinson]

I have an old VT-30 as well as the AC-4 and each do the business. The AC-4 is only good for home practice as it can't get over the live band in terms of volume, even miked up it would be difficult to get the 'feel' as it would be struggling.
The VT-30 is useable in very small gigs and has the advantage of many effects and other amp sounds. The newer VT range is an improvement on mine and I wouldn't hesitate to use one should it be the only option, I got some good sounds from each of the three I checked out.
Of my latest recordings, some were done with the AC-4, some with th VT and some direct into the Logic software using their Vox amp setting. All methods proved satisfactory.

[jimuc]

Dave,
I looked at these models recently but was put off by quite a few complaints on various forums of "hum" and "white noise".
Did you not find this to be the case ?
Or was this on earlier models, or were the complainers just not operating them properly ?
Cheers,
Jim

[dave robinson]

Dave,
I looked at these models recently but was put off by quite a few complaints on various forums of "hum" and "white noise".
Did you not find this to be the case ?
Or was this on earlier models, or were the complainers just not operating them properly ?
Cheers,
Jim

To quote a well known administrator "I have about as much respect of the opinions of people on various forums, as I have for the opinions of an amoeba" the key is to try them for yourself, I heard no white noise or hum, only good sounds - and I tested three different models in that range. The big problem is that people don't know what they're doing and need to understand how they work. My own one is ten years of and is operating perfectly. If I followed the advice of some of the comments found on certain forums, I would never buy anything.

[jimuc]

Dave,
I looked at these models recently but was put off by quite a few complaints on various forums of "hum" and "white noise".
Did you not find this to be the case ?
Or was this on earlier models, or were the complainers just not operating them properly ?
Cheers,
Jim

To quote a well known administrator "I have about as much respect of the opinions of people on various forums, as I have for the opinions of an amoeba" the key is to try them for yourself, I heard no white noise or hum, only good sounds - and I tested three different models in that range. The big problem is that people don't know what they're doing and need to understand how they work. My own one is ten years of and is operating perfectly. If I followed the advice of some of the comments found on certain forums, I would never buy anything.

Thanks for that Dave

[dave robinson]

I sincerely hope that my comment was helpful Jim, you see so much stuff written by people who know 30% of FA on those sites and over the last few months I have bought stuff I knew little about and may not have bought had I took the advice according to some. I read that some of the guitars I recently bought were awful, waste of money, badly made, poor quality etc etc and decided to go and try them for myself, only to find that they were excellent. When you look at the profiles of some of these 'critics' you discover that their experience is minimal and product knowledge even less. I've lost count of people telling me about other people, bad mouthing them to me and then finding that the people in question are actually nothing like the description I had been given. It happened on this site recently, like I said it's best to find out for yourself and be your own judge.

[Stratpicker]

FWIW - my VT60 - yes 60, one of the first ones out too - must be 11 years old now and still works perfick.
At full chat, well yes there is a little hum but its not noticeable and a lot less than some expensive hand-wired Jobs that turn up at some Meets.
However, its probably the weight of an AC30 and I have to remember to wear my Tenor's Friend when carrying it.
But,oh the SOUND!
cheers
Ian

[sausage fingers]

To be honest i'm fast coming to the conclusion that all is required for an amp is a powered cabinet with no preamp, just an external input. Feed one of these amp simulator style units into it and bobs your uncle. I doubt in a blind anyone could tell the difference between the simulated and the real amp, theres always those that claim to have golden ears though, and people do tend to part hear what they see. After buying one of the joyo ac tone pedals, plugged into a neutral'ish power amp speaker combo.....add an echo/reverb unit, well thats it
You could walk into a gig with guitar case and simulator/echo in one hand and powered cab in the other and if you are a decent player you could make a living with it (is there anywhere to gig anymore, getting less)
Don't all lynch me at once!
Rob
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ODh9_ab8pc