Vox AD30VT Combo

Price Paid: US $300

Features: 8
This would be a 2004 model that I found locally at mike's music in Canada. I tried the 30 and 15 watt models and really liked the flexibility and added fullness in the 30. I've had it about 8 months now.

*********One of the main complaints I hear is that people wish it had a line out for PA, that mainly how I have used my amps in the past aswell, although sound guys usually want to mic, I find it easier to send it out to them. the AD50 has both phones and line. I brought this up to Mike and he had his Vox repair guy change the phone line to a line out (for free with the purchase), so now I can't use phones, but I get the line out I use far more often. You may want to try it.

Personally, I really wished it had 4 channels like the Line 6 Spider, but realistically, for what I play it more than suits my needs. I play rock and acoustic styled worship music, and cover tunes. In general I use the delay/echo, reverb and chorus alot, and find them versatile due to the tap tempo and the footswitching avaialbe for turning effects on and off.

Also, the tubes sold me which the Behringer or Line6 didn't have.

Sound Quality: 8
Presently i use it with a cort acoustic w/ a fishman prefix plus and a Stellar knockoff hollowbody.

None of the other lower end models have the vox amps, which i really wanted being an EDGE wannabe.

I also use the marshalls and fender amps on it alot aswell. I really like the boutique distortion aswell.

I found when using it in line out mode(see above), if I didn't have the back watt volume selected full, It would be quite noisy out the pa, as soon as I turned that up and the master down, It was quite as a mouse. I don't use alot of distortion, so this is a good thing.

For effects, I couldn't careless about the flanger, compressor or autowah, but really enjoy using the rest.

I think it would be suitable for most any style, I'm not sure about jazz, but everything else.

Reliability: 7
I have to gig with it without a backup!

Never had a problem with breakdown, with the exception of the input jack losening and falling through. It should have been tighter from the factory. I can probably blame my 2 year old on that though.

Customer Support: 9
I dealt with there authorized seller, and again, what me to get what I wanted (the line out) and was more than eager to please, and I was pleased that it would still be covered under warrently rather than me wreck it trying to do it.

Overall Rating: 9
I'm embarassed to say I've been playing for 11 years, but more regularly and improving the last 4. I've owned strat copies, an ibanez artist series (that I stupidly got rid of not knowing what I had), a yamaha pacific, samicks, etc. low end stuff. I got rid of a zoom pedal for this that sucked.

I love the vox sounds and classic looks. Major plus.
I could have gotten more flexibility with line6 or Behringer, but not tubes, and the vox tone. Way better tone.

For the price I couldn't beat it. I would definitely buy another, and probably the 30 again, the 50's to big to lug arround.

Submitted by Phil at 06/22/2005 05:18

Price Paid: US $240

Features: 8
Already covered. Minuses include plastic corners and no speaker out jack.

Sound Quality: 8
Does this sound as good as a $2500 boutique tube amp? No, it doesn't. But it costs only 1/10 of that. This amp puts out good basic tones. It sounds much more "in-your-face" than that distant sound of a POD into a tube amp! It seems to excel the most on bluesy blackface clean or for shredding high gain marshally sounds. I think my Reverend Kingsnake gives smoother voxy impressions than this vox. Here's my detailed nitpicking:
1/ On the clean settings like blackface, the speaker distorts when you pick low E to A string riffs.
2/ This amp can put out way more high end than you'll ever need, but I couldn't seem to get a good jangly tone for REM/Smiths type music.
3/ The amp seems to get much louder with the high gain sounds than with the clean sounds.

Reliability: N/A

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 9
I give it a 9 for supreme value. Nothing else out there gives this many good tones for the price, even with the drawbacks mentioned.

Submitted by gearhund at 06/18/2005 10:27

Price Paid: US $260.00

Features: N/A
This is an update to an earlier review I made concerning this amp, dated 05/23/2005 06:01. A guy from Vox did finally get back with me, it seems to take about a week to a week and a half, per response, after several emails back and forth over the last month, they have autheized the repairs, but since there are no Vox service centers near me (only 3 in my intire state) I have had to ship it approx 200 miles for the work to be done. It was shipped yesterday, so I will see what happens.

Sound Quality: N/A
More Rattles than a baby toy store. Plenty of background hum even with HB's , and a Random effects mode where it selects which effects its going to use. I hope that they fix it. I was kinda surprised that they did not just have me ship it back for a replacement, since it is only a $250 amp, it seems that it would have been cheaper to replace than repair. Oh well, I am glad that it is getting worked on.

Reliability: N/A
I stated all of my problems with this amp in my last review of it

Customer Support: N/A
Very slow to make contact, but are working with me on getting the unit repaired

Overall Rating: N/A
I will probably just sell it once it comes back repaired and in proper working order. I belive that they are decent amps, I just got a lemon. Keep looking on ebay, it will probably be going for $125.00

Submitted by Kraig McCluskey at 06/17/2005 02:53

Price Paid: US $230

Features: 6
This amp has a mediocer set of built in effects, and you're very limited in the ways you can use them. The WAH is particularly bad (use your own WAH pedal) and the flange is too overpowering. The others are ok. Effects are sufficient given the price, but they are clearly the weakest part of this amp.

Sound Quality: 8
I have a few guitars I play with (mostly Heavy Metal and Funk). My main axe is an ESP Les Paul with EMG's and my secondary axe is an Epiphone Les Paul with Seymour Duncan's.

The distortion settings on the amp range from acceptible, to pretty damn good. Once again, you get good bang for your buck in a nice compact size, but don't expect to sound like Eddie Van Halen. It handles both guitars fairly well, however, the Epiphone sounds a little muddy on some settings. This amp likes EMGs.

As I mentioned above, effects are passable but limited.

I have not yet been able to tease a great clean sound out of this amp. You have to back off the volume on the guitars to keep the channels from distorting. The clean sound is ok, but could be better.

Finally, the amp puts out a good amount of noise and volume for it's compact size, and I have yet to hear it flub or buzz.

Reliability: N/A
So far I've had no problems, but haven't had it long enough. It's pretty sturdy, however, it has an awfull smell when it first comes out of the box. :)

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 8
I've been around the block a few times, and I can honestly say that this amp is a great value for it's price and it does sound good. If you need a small amp to tote around to small gigs or a friends house, this is a fantastic choice.

If all you care about is tone, go buy a Marshall and a rack of effects instead.

If it was stolen, I would probably buy the next model up.

Submitted by Bryan Murphy at 06/05/2005 15:40

Price Paid: US $260.00

Features: 10
I just bought the voxad30vt so it's brand new, I was looking for an inexpensive amp packed with value. I tried the barhringer which was impressivly much bigger and had a few more whistles, but carefully eliminating, the vox out performed anything in it,s price range.the amp modeling is terrific. I dont need any of my stomps just my wah and I'm set. very easy to program. and the power is amazing. very loud. I jammed with a guitarist he was using a fender acoustic amp which is big and loud.. and the vox stood up to it.2 channels 1 input headphone jack.the only drawback is the 30vt does not have a external speaker output like the 50vt

Sound Quality: 10
I have played my fat strat single coils sound good and so do the humbuckers this amp suits my style and then some I mostly play hard rock. but I switch it up when i'm playing alone. the guitarist I jam with love to get down and dirty so I stuck with his style but I have tried contemp and blues works great I not quite experienced for jazz so I cant comment on that.Distortion is brutal alright I like it loud and this amp pleases.it can damage your ears for sure

Reliability: N/A
Dont know!!! I have cranked it full blast quite a few times... and so far.. I have only blown my ears out!! there still ringing********la-la-la-

Customer Support: N/A
dont need them yet

Overall Rating: 10
I have alot of amps and I'm happy with all my choices.the amp is attractive, loud, and full of tone.I have micked it to the p.a and no problems I can play little venues with eez.there was a slight buzz or rattle, but I simply tuned the bass level down and that fixed that.For the money! you will not be disappointed.

Submitted by buddy at 06/02/2005 11:12

Price Paid: US $260.00

Features: 8
I bought this amp about 6 months ago, and was really impressed with the features for the price, I play mostly blues and older rock, it uses a tube preamp and models several different amps and has a bunch of effects. One really good feature on this amp is a dial on the back that lets you lower the output to the speaker while still having the amp cranked up so that the tubes are firing at full juice.

Sound Quality: 2
It has a lot of rattle and buzz when turned up, and a constant humm when on. It does have good tone etc... but the first things cancel any decent rating.

Reliability: 1
After 6 months, the hum increased, the effects knob sometimes plays delay when it is set on reverb, and several other things like that. Its really crap.

Customer Support: 1
These people have to be the worst in the indestry. I have been trying to get it repaired for over a month. I went to their web site and it said first I have to take it back to the store where I bought it and then they will decide what to do. Otherwise they will charge me an adminastrative fee????? The store I bought it at had gone out of business, so I went back to their website and used their form to explain what was wrong, what has happened to the place I bought it at, showed them that I had regestered the purchase on their web site when I bought it etc... I have refilled out the form 4 times now in the last two weeks, and they still have not responded.. I would suggest avoiding this product at all cost, unless you can do all of your electronic repairs yourself and don't mind buying your own parts... VOX SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Overall Rating: 1
AVOID THIS AMP, If the quality control is this poor and the company service is this bad, I would avoid VOX period. They use to be a good outfit. Now they are selling junk and avoiding taking care of their problems.

Submitted by Kraig McCluskey at 05/23/2005 06:01

Price Paid: US $230

Features: 8
No need to re-hash all the features. Easy enough to find elswhere.
Really could use a speaker out to drive a 2x12 or maybe even a 4x12.
Has more models than one needs, thus anyone should be able to find one or two they really like.

Sound Quality: 10
Here's where this amp shines. I just got it this week, plugged it in and tried the tweed first. WOW! Then I tried the AC30. WOW! They all sound good. I couldn't put the damn thing down. In fact, I played til my fingers blistered.
I was really not expecting a 10" to sound this good. I almost bought the SpiderII 30 instead. I'm glad I didn't.

Playing a '69 Strat reissue with EMG active electronics. 81 bridge & single SVs in teh mid and neck. Great with this amp because I can really control the amp with the volume knob on my guitar. The active electronics add just enough to push the milder models to crunchy. I can really make the tweed model crunchy and the ac30 rocks. The recto actually sounds good as one can expect fromn a single speaker(of course here's where that speaker out would be great). With other modeling amps, I've found that EMG's just drive them too hard. Not this thing.

I'm a metal head, but can't stop playing with the tweed and ac30 models. Awesome blues to classic rock tones. I tried to get some more modern grunge/alternative sounds out of this, but it actually doesn't sound fuzzy enough. It almost sounds too "tubey".

Responds very well to pick attack. Can go from clean to very dirty with just fingers. It handles the transition from clean to dirty very well ( I'm sure the 12AX7 has a lot to do with that). Every other modelling amp I've owned did clean and crunchy well, just not in between. it's like they can't model the breakup quite right. Vox has really nailed it with this amp.

Reliability: N/A
Dunno, had it three days.

Customer Support: N/A
I was a little pissed at Musician's Friend at first. They advertized Blem AD30VT's for $191. I bought one and a week later they inform me they aren't available. I almost bought another Line6 out of spite. I'm glad I ponied up the extra $50 and got the VOX anyway.

Overall Rating: 10
Unless you're all about thrashing or pure metal, this amp is IT. Buy it, you won't be disappointed. I've gone through a dozen modeling amps from Behringer, Tech21, Line6 & Digitech in the last 10 years... I'm done searching.

LOUD! I cranked every knob on the thing, recto setting, plus I have active pickups and it still sounded really good. Strange... I haven't been able to hear anything else since.

Submitted by Rangerdoc at 05/21/2005 21:59

Price Paid: N/A

Features: N/A

Sound Quality: 10
I entered my opinion and the powers to be found it adequate to publis, there is some I forgot that was my highest praise. For any players out there BLUES and maybe JAZZ or COUNTRY that play solo as I do, this may be sigificant as it is to me. It is no secret that argueably tube amps are some what flabby on the bottom. When your bass player is your thumb, I've practically had to do bench presses with my thumb to strike the fatty's hard enough give me a bottom and because of this my bass lines were always simplistic compared to same tune on acoustic... This small amp side by side with my other 2 main amps "tube" has a bass which is bigger then one would expect from the speaker size and it because of the modeling can be smooth, thumpy or accurate to the string, plus, and this is a biggy in my opinion, with my six "go-to electrics', the volume is linear from fat to skinny, first I thought it was my great ability to set uo the guitar I was playing, then I tried the others, I'm not saying it would be a linear line on a spectrum anilyzer or however you spell it, but to my ears its (with all controls flat and by-pass effects) pretty even. I'm thinking of selling my 2 tubeys and trying a higher end VOX. Ironically, my 1st amp was a VOX Super Beatle, the problem with that monster was I couldn't play for crap, after 40 odd years I am glad to say I can play for crap now. The only concern I have to be serious is that I have heard a few rumblings that maybe QC could be better.. have heard of various gremlins, nothing major but enough to need the doctor, but all and all I have seen the light of one triode and a well thought out output stage.

Reliability: N/A

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: N/A

Submitted by Dupruis at 05/03/2005 10:15

Price Paid: US $220.00

Features: 10
Well documented below

Sound Quality: 10
This is mostly meant to be read by the (like myself) tube snobs. This amp is a hot little item, its not creamy high end Fender or fat and gritty Orange but if You do smallish venues and want to have it both ways, sound compact and versatile, this could be your answer. I played for lack of anything better to do in locsl music store a Jay Turser another shocker (335 style), tuned for R.L. Burnside "Long Haired Doney" as done on DVD and I swear I was able to (bypassing gizmoes) the same fat bottom slipper high freq with just all settings at flat. Something I have to work hard to get with my high end guitars and tube amps. I ended up buying the Turser guitar and Amp and its been great, no worry about my high end stuff to gig and I am happily surprised at the interest because of its sound the little VOX gets. Its not for everyone for all things but what is? I never ever though I would purchase an amp like this and frankly use to wonder who would.. It is true I was a snob with new technology, but at least with this am and R.L. Burnside type tunes, some John Lee Hooker and stuff you don't need class A sonics this is great. The Turser guitar was a shock but thats another story for another review.

Reliability: 9
3 months isn't a long time to give an honest account and I read where some of the players have had some bumps in the road but for me, no nothing to complain about, I hardly ever shut it off, I mean almost never.. of course it shuts down to travel for gig but nothing to report except believe it or not it seems to be warmer then when I bought it, the sound that is. I don't think I have enough brain cells left to be to experimental with the modeling (60's ya' know) but what I have used is vibrato, reverb and the straight ahead stuff and they are as effective if not more then in my tube amps, reverb sounds like tube unless you push it, vibrato is reminicent of back in the day when it was used to conjure up mojo, maybe I'm overwhelmed because I have been unaware of what technology can accomplish these days, not all that long ago when I tried a solid or a hybrid, it seem to be sterile with any headroom lacking.. Well You guys can really play and have to admit, are pretty knowledgeable about the gear, its good, us old dinasours need a little help because alot of us are still coming out of the purple haze of the 'SUMMER OF lOVE"

Customer Support: N/A
From where I bought the amp, I was told they are very eager to please but I have no experience with VOX

Overall Rating: 10
been playing for, ahhh, I don't remember but I remember playing GLORIA and LOUIE LOUIE when they were cutting edge. I have too many amps from old VOX's to so called botique amps. I would purchase another in a heart beat. For the sonics, Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde ability, the versatility for smallish venues its great, can get loud but it does have its sweet spot in the middle volume range. I haven't heard a rig like this sound as warm. It dos have more then I need, unless I start taking ACID again but that is not likely cuz drugs are a quick way to end a pomising misic career.

Submitted by Dupuis at 04/30/2005 12:15

Price Paid: US $191.20

Features: 8
This is a modelling amp which incorporates a valve/tube to give you a more organic sound as opposed to straight digital. I believe my amp was made in 2004. I got it in November 2004. It has two footswitchable user channels and one manual mode.

Some features I wish it had was a speaker out, FX loop, DI, and independent reverb effect. I normally use this amp for playing emo/bluesy-rock worship music at church. I normally keep the attenuator at 75%, max the master volume and mic it up for the sake of the PA and the drummer's monitors.

Sound Quality: 9
I use this with a Japanese Squier Strat with stock everything. Sounds pretty good with the Bassman model (my default clean sound) and the AC30 for a mildly overdriven sound ala Keith Richards. Of course, the Marshall JCM 800 model is the guilty pleasure on this baby. Crank it up and you start getting visions of the 80s hair bands we all idolized back then. The distortion, on this model especially, is really good, organic and responds to your playing well---not like so many Marshall wannabe stomp boxes out there.

Reliability: 8
I can rely on it. I do use it without a backup a lot. I've never had the jack fall in as some have noted. I first bought a blem from Musicians Friend, but the top part and back panel was totally smashed-in on arrival (BUT IT STILL WORKED!), so I returned it and got a brand new one AT THE BLEM PRICE from a local Guitar Center. Those guys are so cool. Anyway, this mishap is a testimony to how this sucker will take a beating!

Customer Support: N/A
Never dealt with them.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been playing since 1990. I also have a Marshall AS50R acoustic amp, an EJ160e and a Chet Atkins SST which I use with it. And of course the '92 Squier Strat from Japan I got in 1995. Someone said this amp did not like pedals. I can say mine hates "effects processors" like my Digitech RP-1. It totally sucks the tone right out of it. Think analog. With the money I saved from the deal I got on this thing, I picked up a Voodlab Sparkle Drive. Used with the Bassman model, it is absolute music to my ears! Perfect TS-9 sound with the ability to blend in all the organic coolness of the guitar-straight-into-my-amp sound. With this sound, and the Marshall model on the AD30VT, there's not a distortion or overdrive I need to use for my music that I can't achieve. This amp's a blessing from God.

Submitted by Mikel Del Rosario at 04/14/2005 20:23