Vox AD120VT Valvetronix 212 Combo

Price Paid: US $800.00

Features: 9
I love the features. I've been gigging for awhile now and i love not having to hook in alot of pedal and spending money on power adapters and 9 volt batteries.

Sound Quality: 10
I love the way it sound. I've tried alot of amp modeling amps, like like 6, roland, and a few others, line 6 was good but alot of the modeling sounded cheesy. The Roland was good but i thought the effects sucked, but on the Vox with the tube i loved all it had to offer.

Reliability: 8
It is very reliable. It is one of the most trusted amps in studio recording and live sound.

Customer Support: 8
I haven't had any problems with the amp, so i haven't need customer support so i'll give it an 8

Overall Rating: 10
I love this amp it is reliable and the power selector is awesome. the tubes make this amp sound incredible. great for live sound and recording, even playing giant concerts. My favorite part was the price, it was only $800

Submitted by Jeff Banks at 04/17/2003 11:55

Price Paid: US $800.00

Features: 9
extremely versatile unit, and pretty much covers all the basics of effects, models etc...

Sound Quality: 7
liked just about all the models, some of the effects could use a little more fine tuning. noticed that with the gate it works nice and quiet.

Reliability: 8
hgad amp for 6 months with no problems, but have heard horro stories about them going down. since i havent had a problem yet i have to rate it pretty high.

Customer Support: N/A
n/a

Overall Rating: 8
its a solid amp with lots of nice features the majority of which are very useful. it would be nice if they couold fine tune some of the effects and definitely make it easier to work with a floorboard unit, because as it stands its pretty difficult to access without hitting buttons several times making it virtually useless for live applications.

Submitted by joe at 04/15/2003 00:37

Price Paid: US $1100(with vc-4)

Features: 9
Bought this amp two weeks ago, but have been demo-ing others for quite a while. I like the ease of use (compared to the cyber series)even I figured it out without the use of a manual. I bought the VC-4 controller at the same time, I'd recommend getting it: its the only one that will work. To me the amp is as versatile as it gets. Lots of effects that actually work, lots of sounds, and at usable levels, thanks to the power selector switch in the back.
I wish it had multiple channels, but it does well with the programming if your willing to get in there and change the presets. Oh, yeah, the presets...can't switch between the first 16 and the second 16 from the foot controller.
The foot controller itself is dedicated, you don't have a choice. LED's could be brighter too. But that would be another review.

Sound Quality: 9
I really like the sounds that come out of this thing. They may not be an exact copy of the amp your looking for, but its pretty close. The effects sound pretty good, and for the amount of goodies that you can add, there isn't that much white noise entering the system considering all the patching it would actually require. I tried another modeling amp and it was very noisy, which is one of the reasons I bought the valvetronix. I play a variety of music: blues, rock, country, and even some jazz and this amp is versatile enough to play them all. I even plugged my bass into this amp, it sounds pretty darn good.

Reliability: 7
Here's where it hurts. It died within 10 minutes of turning it on. But I found out what it was. The amp starting cutting out, even at the low volume I was playing. I touched the headphone level knob in the back and it died completely. It did not come back even after shutting it off. I plugged a headphone jack into the headphone jack and it worked. Pulled the headphones out and it worked fine. The cutoff switch inside the headphone jack had activated and killed the amp section. I have not had a problem since the day I brought it home two weeks ago. I hope this helps someone else. I've heard that others have had "cutting out" problems too. It might be the same thing. I have not had a problem since, but having a dead amp 10 minutes into owning it certainly kills a 9 or 10 rating.

Customer Support: N/A
My dealer had the service facility phone and address for me that same day it failed, but I figured out what it was. I have not had to access Vox or Korg for service.

Overall Rating: 9
Even with the cutout problem (which I fixed), I would buy another one. The sound is great, its very flexable and versatile.

Submitted by Anonymous at 03/22/2003 10:04

Price Paid: US $999

Features: 9
If you're reading this, chances are you probably already know the basic features of this amp. I'll just go over some that surprised me. It is stereo, and the chorus and rotating speaker modulations sound SUPERB. Built in tuner that isnt too shabby (not as great as a rack mounted strobe tuner, but in a pinch it'll do). Stereo line outs (great for running a signal to the front of the house) and something I appreaciate is the variable power selector (so you dont have to be running this at a full 120 watts in your mommas house. nice)

Check the Vox site for more info, or better yet, go down to your local guitar shop and try one out. In the end it is up to you the player to decide if you like the sound or not.

Sound Quality: 10
This is NOT a full blown tube amp, so I am not even going to compare it to Mesa/Boogies and Marshalls and Dumbles and the like. As a digital modeling amp, it blows the competition away. Lined up with a fender CT amp, there is no comparison. The placement of the amp modeling BEFORE an actual tube preamp is not a gimmick. It really does work.

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST MODELING AMP I HAVE HEARD

oh yeah, did I mention it is LOUD?
The problem with other solid state amplifiers is that they never seem to be loud enough on stage. This beast couldnt be any different. Since it is run through tubes, you get that 'cut through any mix' sound that tube amplifiers give. (theres a reason for this, something to do with how the sound is amplified and certain frequencies are compressed or whatever..who knows) All I know is that this is one of the louder 2x12s I have ever heard.

As to the amp models, it does a lot. If you are looking for clean models though, there isnt much to choose from. Well, basically one, the model of the clean channel of a Dumble amp. All other ones are basically rock/heavy metal beasts. Which is cool for me...but if you dont like the metal mayhem, then this amp may not be as versatile for you. Once again, go play one for yourself.

Reliability: 10
I have heard people complain about the reliability of these things. Couple things though...if you bought it used, you have no say. It is impossible to know what an amp has been through with it's previous owner. And you cannot get a carfax report on an amplifier.

If you did not buy it used, send in the stupid warranty card. Seems common sense to me, but apparently some people dont get this. 90 day warranty on most things. In talking with other valvetronix owners who have had problems, Mitch Colby and the staff at Korg USA have been VERY helpful in replacing amps or fixing amps. Perhaps people who complained of problems dont know how to dial a phone?? Who knows...

Also, there have been people complaining about the amp just shutting off after awhile. According to other people, this is something to do with the potentiometer on the power selector (the thing that allows you to decide how many watts this thing will push). DONT MOVE IT WHILE THE AMP IS ON. Doing so seems to run the risk of burning out the pot, which will cause problems later on. When it is off, set it, and then DONT MOVE IT until the amp is off again.

Sturdy construction, weighs nearly 60 pounds, and I got mine w/a really nice leather cover. Couldn't be happier.

Customer Support: 10
Yeah, I talked about this in the above section. I haven't had to deal with them, but other people who have, have said that they were real easy to deal with and very honest and forthcoming.

I wouldnt worry about this.

Overall Rating: 10
This amp is great, and for just under a thousand dollars, I couldn't be happier.

Don't be deceived by the looks, this thing will put out some BRUTAL sounds. And then with the flick of a button, it'll take you right back to a dark bar in chicago with some smoking blues.

As I said before, as modeling amps and digital amps go, this one rules them all. Compared to an actual Mesa/Boogie or whatever, well no shit it doesnt sound 'exactly' the same. But since when did you want your sound to be just like someone else's? Exactly. Buy this amp.

Submitted by Matt at 03/21/2003 17:32

Price Paid: N/A

Features: N/A

Sound Quality: N/A

Reliability: 4
Update: I have had this amp now for 14 months with gigging every weekend. It is now cutting in and out and breaking up intermittenly. The breaking up is VERY nasty sounding with volume levels going from loud to soft. I called Vox but unfortunatly, I missed the warranty by two months so they basicly said "your on your own, here's the phone number to a service center"

Customer Support: 1
It's a shame that you only get a one year warranty with this reletivly new and untested technology. Had I known that this amp would crap out in 14 months I would have bought another amp.

Overall Rating: 2
If someone else has had this problem, please let me know.

Submitted by jim at 03/17/2003 12:53

Price Paid: N/A

Features: N/A

Sound Quality: N/A

Reliability: N/A

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: N/A
UPDATE: Alright, I've been hearing about this thing called the Tonelab. I went to the website, checked it out, and it looks like it may be a winner. No big heavy amp to get jostled around (and make any connections loose), you plug it in wherever, and - it's got MIDI! An In, an Out, and a third MIDI plug that I don't know what it is - so the liklihood of my using a different controller with these amps has increased. Plus, I always wondered what a unit like this would sound through a Twin. Well, I may finally get the chance to find out now. But, I noticed that the sound samples from the website weren't that good. I don't mean quality of the clips, I mean the quality of the sounds themselves. There sounds like an abundance of a type of artificial, digital high end - not the grainy, gritchy "undersampled" digital treble sound, but like a Line 6 with the highs all the way up and the master at 0.5, if that makes any sense. Sounds almost like someone playing a Strat through it with a lot of treble and presence dialed in. Or, maybe someone using the digital output of the Tonelab straight to source. And it may very well be the Tonelab, because on one sample, they mention using the front end of the JCM 900 model with the JCM 800's power amp section. I say this because as much as I trashed the Valvetronix amp on these pages, the tones were very organic and warm, and the sound samples on the website's "jukebox" sound very artificial in the treble department.

Anyhow, just wanted to give everybody a "heads up" on what may be a fantastic version of this technology. There are several Valvetronix models that I really did love, and now I'd love to hear them through a tube power amp(!). Unless it sounds like the sound samples on the webpage, like, no matter what. We'll see, but so far, I'm optimistic...

Submitted by Jimmy at 03/14/2003 08:26

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 9
Realistic features that can definetly do the job. Would reccomend if you do not own any pedals and you want a versital setup.

Sound Quality: 5
Very very Musical - Does a great job at being a good amp with tons of versitility. HOWEVER, as a modeling amp that boasts exact recreation of a tube amp - it can never be. NEVER! even to its big brother the AC30. I test drove the vox valvetronics and the AC30 next to each other and there was no comparison - Though the AD120 is warm and the blanket thicker then most the AC30 made the AD120 seem quite thin. Pretty much a night and day difference. Although the ac30 has very little veritility - but then again who needs versitility if you have one incredible tone. I am merely creating some aguments here as other writers want to claim that this is AS good as a tube amp. It is not. I feel that this is a great, great solid state amp which with the preamp & post amp tubes this has a musical tone to it. But it will always lack in warmth to that of a AC30 or Brit amp. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAYFOR...

Reliability: 5
C'mon vox!

Customer Support: 5
Terrible - unless you have a good local store.

Overall Rating: 5
5 If your comparing it to a tube amp 10 if comparing it to other solid state amps. Although this thing kicks line 6 fag ass up and down the road.

Submitted by T at 03/04/2003 07:42

Price Paid: US $924.00

Features: 8
A very versatile amp! The amp modeling is excellent although some can be a bit noisy

Sound Quality: 8
With a little tweaking, this amp gets aome really great tones

Reliability: 5
I have owned this amp for almost a year. It has been in the shop once for foot controller / amp communication issues. It needed to be reset to factory defaults and then started working fine. However, recently the amp has been cutting off intermittently at practice. As if it is being overloaded some how! We have some important gigs coming up and I am getting very concerned! Hopefully this can be fixed easily. It's going back in the shop this week!

Customer Support: 4
Have not tried to contact as of yet!

Overall Rating: 7

Submitted by Eric at 02/27/2003 10:49

Price Paid: US $750

Features: 10
This amp is brand new (well, I bought it new a few months ago in 2002).
The amp is more than versatile enough for me, and I consider myself to be a rather eclectic guitar player. I like a lot of Mark Knopfler, Led Zepplin, Better than Ezra, Van Halen, Rush... how can you pick just one? The amp has more than enough power for me, but what I was more concerned about was "how will it sound at low volumes". I guess that'll come in later. Basically, it's got tons and tons of features to it, and everybody else will describe them for you because I'm sure you don't want to read 400 reviews of the effects loop. Also, I should point out that the foot pedal is quite clunky and really could benefit from a few extra LEDs, an extra expression pedal, and more buttons. It's *very* hard to navigate through your patches without making it look like Riverdance.

Sound Quality: 9
I'm mainly using a Hamer Duotone with a Seymour Duncan '59 in the neck and a Dimarzio Evolution in the bridge. It seems to "talk" to this amp perfectly. I also use a Fender Telecaster and an Ibaned RG470.

The Hamer, as I said, works perfectly. I can get a heavy-but-clear tone in the OD patches, then come back down and ride the neck pickup for cleaner passages. Very happy with how this works out. The Ibanez obviously works beautifully on the overdrive patches for that In Flames sound. The Tele is alright, but it honestly just sounds better running through a solid state fender amp and a tube screamer pedal.

It is not noisy at all. There is a noise suppressor/noise gate at work, but it works under-the-covers, and it has never really been an issue for me. There is no hum or buzz, and I've never had to move the unit away from any other electrical devices.

The amp can make a wide variety of sounds, although the manual should really be called "Dude, where's my factory preset patch?" or something to that extent. They must think that all guitar players are pot-smoking high-school dropouts. When I (finally get around to) opening a manual, it's usually not to get a chuckle. It's because I want to find out how to use something, or why something is a certain way. I kept looking through my box saying "there's no way this is the only manual it came with... they must have forgotten to include the *real* manual. Instead of being easier to read, it makes it difficult to understand, and downright insulting at times.

Another complaint that I see popping up with modeling amps is the inability to actually say what a patch means. Instead of saying "Led Zepplin", it'll say something cute like "Metal Balloon". Instead of "Van Halen", you'll get "Eruption". Cute. No. Granted, anybody who's going to put down money like this on an amp will know what they really mean, but it would be a nice feature.

My favorite feature (but I'm putting it under sounds.... so there) is the ability to control the poweramp via a multiplier on the back. You can select between a 2x1, 2x15, 2x30 and a 2x60 watt amplifier. At 2x1, you can rock out without waking up the neighbors. At 2x60 you could sterilize an entire city block. The sounds at lower volumes (which is what I was concerned about) still sound great. I can practice at night, knowing that when I jam with a band at almost-full volume, I won't be in for any surprises.

Overdrive is done very tastefully, and there is *plenty* of room between "clean" and "overdrive" for you to explore. I found that with my Hamer (see above), I can get a full range of tone on the "british" and "botique" amp models just by changing the way I attack the strings. Hitting the volume knobs or changing pickups allows me to change character that reflects not only in how the amp sounds, but how it feels. I've never played an amp like that before.

I'm going to give it a 9 though, only because it has all of these patches that I'll probably never use because they're too damned over-the-edge. I find myself dialing in the settings myself and never using the factory settings most of the time.

Reliability: N/A
No problems yet... although I'm deathly afraid of ripping the cover.

Customer Support: N/A
n/a

Overall Rating: 9
I love this amp, and I'll probably never have to buy another amp ever again (I don't play out, and only occasionally jam with other people). I'm impressed with its range of features, and definitely feel that I got my money's worth.

I almost got a Hughes & Kettner ZenAmp, but I really didn't like the way the effects sounded on it, and my main reason for buying a modeling amp was to get rid of all of the random effects pedals/racks I had around.

I *do* with it came with a real manual, and I wish the preset names weren't inside jokes. However, for just plugging in and wailing away, this is the best piece of equipment I've seen in a long time.

Rawk

Submitted by Jeff Bisti at 02/13/2003 07:56

Price Paid: US $1250

Features: 8
Wow, this amp has all the features you could need and then some. The foot pedal improves the features and functions greatly. They should make the footpedal standard. I don't really like the connector for the footswitch cable. it's like a phone jack. i expect to end up having to replace it. other than that this seems to be a quality amp. this is perfect for me, as i am a tone freak and am never satisfied. i'm always in search of the perfect tone and having 16 amps, various pedals, and other effects is going to be a lot easier on the old wallet. i do wish that the knobs had numbers so that it would be easier to find previous settings.

Sound Quality: 10
Regardless of what all the "purists" say this amp sounds great! they may and try and say that it doesn't sound just like the models but that in itself makes it accurate. go out get a dozen marshall 800 heads and see if they all sound exactly the same. most of the time not by a long shot. that's just the nature of tube amps. the marshall 800 setting doesn't sound just like the one i had but neither do any of the other 800 heads i've heard. now baqck to this amp after my little rant. the vox and fender amps sound good. i play in a metal band at the moment so they aren't much use to me. they do sound great though. the boutiques are realy good. i'm using the boutique clean alot. the marshall settings all sound superb except for the 900 setting. then again the 900 sucks so guess what , it does sound like the real thing. the mesa setting sounds stale and proccessed just like, guess what, the real thing. the soldano setting is awesome. i actually bought this amp just for this one setting. it was way cheaper to lay down a grand for this amp than two or three grand for the real thing. if i ever get to a proffesional enough level where i can afford the real thing i will gladly shell out the money though. until then this does just fine. the pedals and all the effects sound great. i've got the boss octave pedal and this one sounds better. i really like the rotary speaker effect. it acyuslly takes time to speed up and slow down just like areal motor would.

Reliability: N/A
so far no problem.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 9
this is great amp. they really got it right by putting the tube in the power section instead of the preamp. i would reccomend this to anyone , wether you need versatility or just a good sound.

Submitted by moon at 02/11/2003 20:54