Vox AD30VT Combo

Price Paid: US $219

Features: 9
This is a 2004 Vox modeling amp based on the AD60/120VT & ToneLab Valvetronix series. 11 amp models and 11 effects. Models range from very nice clean models like the Boutique CL & Blackface 2x12 models to gritty Tweed 4x10 & AC15/AC30TB to down right messy with the Marshall (70's/80's/90's)/Boogie clones. A great versatile amp with just enough power to play with a drummer. I really dig this amp. For the price, right now, nothing even comes close. It's 30 watts with a 10" speaker. This amp is nice and portable as well as solidly built (Korea).

Sound Quality: 9
This amp sounds great out of the box. The clean Boutique CL setting with a bit of reverb gets me a really nice surf sound with my CIJ Jazzmaster. Not quite the same sound as my 64 Showman but close. Funny, the Black 2x12 clean sounds really thin. With the tweed 4x10 and a bit of slapback delay and I can get close to Scotty Moore/Setzer with my Gretsch 6120W. Nice. The big surprise was the UK 70's with the Gretsch and some chorus and I could nail the Billy Duffy/Cult sound. Cool. All the models have a 'warmth' about them. The genuine 12AX7 tube takes care of that. The 10" speaker in the closed cabinet sounds pretty good but when I opened her up and went direct to my JBL D130F in my 1x15 Showman tone-ring cabinet, Wow! There was a vast improvement to sound. The low-end flab of the Tweed went away. The Black 2x12 lost the thinness and sounded closer to a real Blackface 2x12. The high end on the AC15/30 models was even more pronounced. Wow. When I put her back together, I was almost disapointed with the sound of the 10" speaker. (BTW, keep the back on. As an open back amp, it sounds really bad.) I'll probably mod her to add a speaker-out jack, something that should have been part of the design from day one. Either that, or I'll make a cabinet just for the head and toss the original cab and speaker. I was going to give this a 9 for sound but after hearing what's not coming out of the 10" speaker, I had to drop it to 8. Then I used the Line/Headphone jack to do some recording and I had to bump it back up to a 9. I love this amp.

The effects sound pretty good but this is where they cut the corners to keep the amp cheap. They do a decent job of enhancing the sound but they won't beat your delay/tremolo/chorus pedals. I'm not going to complain too much about them because even if Vox included no buit-in effects, this amp would still be a great deal.

Reliability: N/A
This is a brand new model but if it's anything like the AD60VTs, there should be no problem.

Customer Support: N/A
Never dealt with them. No idea.

Overall Rating: 9
Let me just say this amp is a STEAL at this price. Great sounds in a small enough package to make one trip from the car and still have money left over for dinner. I think this amp will be the hot amp of the summer. Right now there is nothing in the price range that even comes close to sounding this good. I have a 2004 CIJ Jazzmaster and a 2003 Gretsch 6120W and this amp sounds great with both. I play Surf/Rockabilly/Garage rock.

Submitted by Anonymous at 06/20/2004 13:46

Price Paid: US $240

Features: 8
This was made in 2004. I just bought it yesterday. 11 amp models, 2 programmable channels, 1x10 combo. Amp models cover a good range of clean and distorted sounds--my favorites are the 2x12 clean sound and the 80s and modern UK marshalls, and US hi gain. I play rock (ranging from the Black Sabbath and Alice in Chains to Tull and the Beatles), and a little country and sometimes jazz. This amp excels at rock. I haven't really tried it for country or jazz, but I think it will do fine. I use this amp at home as a practice amp, and in jam sessions (just got it yesterday, so it hasn't been tested in that setting). It has more than enough power for all these settings. It might be able to handle a small gig, but is definitely not designed for this purpose.

Sound Quality: 9
I play a Fender Mexican strat with replacement pickups, a Schecter Tele, and a homemade guitar out of Warmoth and other parts. All humbucking pickups. This amp sounds great with all 3, and suits my musical styles just fine. I imagine someone with a more discriminating ear could tell it is not a tube amp, but I can't really. I don't care for the 70s UK Marshall Numetal models, but I like all the others sound great, and very realistic. There is a noise suppressor built into the amp (you can turn it off if you want) so this is the quietest amo I have ever played. the distortion doesn't really get up to "brutal," but it gets as nasty as I would ever want it to be. If you are into Metallica or Slayer or the like, this amp can handle those kinds of sounds. It sounds good at high volumes and low volumes.

Reliability: N/A
Well, I've only had it a day, so I can't really say.

Customer Support: N/A
Never dealt with them. It has a one-year warranty.

Overall Rating: 9
All around the best amp I have ever owned. Sounds great, can do sounds for any kind of music I want to play, and is quiet enough to play in my apartment without angering the neighbors. If it were lost or stolen, I'd get another one. The amp compared favorably to the Line 6 Spider II amps I tried out, and cost less money. I used to have a Fender Super 60 tube combo, which had some great sounds, but not the ones I wanted, and was just way too loud for playing at home. This amp is much better for me.

A few minor complaints--the amp doesn't come with a footswitch, though I think Vox sells one for an insane amount of money. I got a Roland FS-1 for $25, which does enough for me. Also, I wish the amp had a little more power or at least the ability to run a 2x12 extension cabinet (the salesman said it can not), because I think it would be a bit strained if I were to take it to a gig, but the amp isn't really intended for that purpose. All around, this is a great amp.

Submitted by Anonymous at 06/19/2004 06:49

Price Paid: US $240

Features: 9
It is not quite as loaded as the AD60 or 120 but at this price and in this (managable wieght class) it can't really be. It does have the effects, all of which are really usable quality models. The availability of 6 or 7 effects at one time is not possible. But in my case I bought it to use in my studio and can easily add anything I wish to later. I have also found though that a lot of the amps are like my 59 BM RI which does not need reverb or anything because the tone is actually that full. The power control makes it so nice. You just run the gain up as much as you want, and the volume and master wide screaming open. Then you use your guitar volume control as a drive level as well as your finger hits. It could have had the rest of the big boy brother goodies, but as I said, at this price and this wieght it is fine.

Sound Quality: 10
I am using a hot rodded strat, a tele Keefe I modified with a Dimarzio Chopper T on the bridge and a 57 Classic Plus Gibson Humbucker on the neck. Also an Epiphone G-400 Vintage special and an American Series Tele with added Vintage Noiseless Pups.
There is no sound I can not get from this amp. To say it is dead on with every amp is folly. I can vouch for the 59 Bassman, as I own one. I can also be confident in the Vox, as I have owned one. The Marshalls I have used and can say the feeling is there.
Again, run the gain where you wish for it to be. The volume and master full open. Then adjust the overall drive and volume with your guitar volume control. The overall level can be set with the 0-30 watt control on back without losing much of anything.
The feeling, the power, or the shimmer of this amp with whatever 10 Vox put in it is nothing short of awesome for this price range. I have owned near every amp in all price ranges and would easily put this ahead of the Fender Blues Junior and even my Peavey Delta Blues, both of which cost twice as much and are heavier.
The headphone/line out, is without noise of any kind going straight into my Roland VS-1824, and since the signal still goes through the 12AX7 in the output section of the Valvetronix, it is still full and right on.
With singles or buckers either one if you tinker a little you can find a sweet spot in this amp, or many, that will make you sit in front of it with the power control turned down but the amp wailing long after the kids are in bed. Sirprise, no cops.
The major standout I find is a great one. In the Digitech models, including the Genesis 3, the GNX3, as well as the Pod, and others, the Marshalls only sounded good when fully cranked. This left such a void. The clean sounds of a 70's non master Marshall, or even an 80 or 90 is something that must be felt as much as heard. Even the Mesa and Dumbles when they are tuned to blossom clean chords and send full sultry notes out to capture the listener must be heard to be believed. That is what any Valvetronix gives that I could never find anywhere else without owning all of the amps.
There is no type music I could wish to record or play that this amp and one of my guitars will not do beautifully. I can state that after 40 years of noodling and playing in bands and concerts.
It will not work as a band amp unless miked or the line out is plugged into a PA. The softer tones will not give the volume you would need. But for those like me who are recording or playing at home a lot, you can't really beat it at ANY price below the Vox 120 VTX or at least the AD60.

Reliability: N/A
Don't know. No clue. It is a very new model and the stats are not in. I have gladly bet my $240 that it will last. Besides, with a EE behind me and a career in digital audio R and D I don't really worry a lot.

Customer Support: N/A
Again, unknown. I have no clue.

Overall Rating: 10
I have been playing 40 years, since the early 60's. Have been through many of musics phases and of course have my own favorites of those. These include the 50's rockabilly, 60's Beatles, Stones, and the Psychedelic Rock of the time, the 70's classic rock and 80's. Even into the 90's and the Grunge stuff and the Numetal of the new Millenia. I love parts of all of it, some more than others. I have found that on this amp I can tune a little and have whatever sound from whatever of the ages and phases I wish for. But not only that, it will make a very very convincing approximation of it. From Tweed Fender and 59 Vox AC15 though early Marshall and up to and including the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier and the Dumble Overdrive and clean amps, this thing shines. I don't know how they did it but they did and I am euphoric.
If it was lost or stolen I would be at the nearest Vox dealer replacing it. With another AD30, not even the higher AD series.
For gigging, no. For recording and for playing realistically any kind of pop or rock ever made heck yes.
Euphoria is hard to find. At $240 it kinda makes someone smile. Best deal I ever made.

Submitted by Tom Williams III at 06/12/2004 17:12

Price Paid: US $240

Features: 10
Brand new 2004 model.
Extremely versatile.
Uses the "Vox Valve Reactor for true tube power amp sound and feel".
I play rock, blues, folk , etc.
Eleven amp models (they may not all sound like the original amps that they are trying to model but they all sound very good) and multiple effects (chorus, compressor, phaser, flanger, rotary, reverb, delay, tremolo and auto wah). All of the effects sound good as well.
It has adjustable power from 1 to 30 watts so it can be overdriven at comfortable volumes.
It has a headphone jack.
I use this amp at home to practice and it has plenty of power.

Sound Quality: 8
I am using a 2000 model DeArmond M75 with Seymour Duncan Jazz (Neck) and JB (Bridge) humbuckers with coil taps. I have been playing for a few years. I play mostly three chord rock, blues, folk etc.
The amp models all sound great and vary from ultra clean to ultra hi gain. The Fender Bassman clone is my favorite clean and the Vox AC30TB is my favorite to overdrive. I haven't really used the hi gain models much.

Reliability: N/A
Just got it. Can't comment.

Customer Support: N/A
One year warranty.

Overall Rating: 8
I have been playing for a few years. I have owned several amps in that time. In order: Marshall MG30RCD, Roland Bolt 30 Tube hybrid, Behringer GM110, Fender Pro Junior and most recently a Fender Champion 30DSP.
After owning the Fender Pro Junior I wanted a great sounding solid state combo. Tubes are awesome but it was hard for me to keep at acceptable volumes in the basement. The Fender Champion 30 WAS meant to replace it but the speaker would flub out with the bass from the heavy agathis body and humbuckers made it impossible to play without tapping the coils.
The Vox can handle the bass and is extremely versatile. The adjustable wattage is a great idea.
I must say that it dosen't sound quite like a tube amp yet it sounds more tubey than any solid state amp that I have tried.
I think that this amp is the most versatile and best sounding in it's price range. Great bang for the buck.

Submitted by Anthony at 05/17/2004 07:45