Vox AD30VT Combo

Price Paid: US $239.00

Features: 7
Purchased new for recording and practice. Tube/digital emulations from clean Dumble,Fender reverb to tweed,Vox AC15,Vox AC30,Marshall plexi, JCM 800,JCM 2000, Mesa/B recto, Soldano, Dumble overdrive. Headphone jack with speaker emulation. I have had this for several months and continue to find new variances in tone. Maybe it doesn't sound exactly like the real amps, but you can get a wide range of attack sensitive tone for jazz, blues,and rock. I think the weakness is the speaker (as mentioned before). More power than expected, I have used it to gig smaller room. Guitar/amp feedback close to but not quite like a cranked tube amp. Effects are fair and limited in flexibility of combinations( I still use my pedals-most after mic), but this amp sounds great without effects. Recording with mic I can get tones dead on from 50's jazz,60's clean, up to insane O/D of current rock. Only one channel. Hard to give such a good sounding amp a 7 but this is because of effects.

Sound Quality: 9
I play Gibson LP Standard, Fender Strat, Washburm OE40 hollow - amp allows each guitar to show its own tone. I play alot of styles, weak on country, but this amp gives more choices than most people would ever use. My LP sounds just like it should with a tube amp- it overdrives clean settings as expected. High gain settings are very convincing as well.

Reliability: N/A
Too new to assess reliability, but I have had no problems so far.

Customer Support: N/A
No opinion.

Overall Rating: 9
I have been playing for 28 years, some years better than others, but I can now play some styles much better thanks to this amp. I have owned tube amps( Randall, Music Man, Peavey, Fender) and solid state amps. I use Digitech, Boss COSM, and multiple floor and rack effects. With this amp I am usually playing with minimal delay or reverb, often add effects after mic before PA or recording. You can record with a mic without a speaker box as the amp sounds about the same at lower volumes- a nice feature. I waited 10 years to buy a new amp- waiting for theses amp companies to get the tube/digital mix to sound right- I believe this is the best amp you can get with such versatility for this price or for much higher price. I do wish it had a speaker out jack so that you use it like a head with different kinds of speakers. I have played it via the headphone jack through a full range powered speaker- wow!- this has crisp highs and thundering lows.

Submitted by Anonymous at 12/18/2004 17:04

Price Paid: 289.00 (cdn)

Features: 10
This is a relatively new model, I won't bore you with the details as they are all covered here in detail.

Sound Quality: 10
I am using a strat, thinline telecaster and turser violin six string with this amp and I like the sound from all of the guitars. For a little amp, this unit really sings...very musical with a plethora of sounds to work with. The noise reduction system seems kind of odd to me but I guess it does what it is supposed to do. All of the effects and amp settings seem to be of a good quality and I have no issues with the sounds from this amp. You get relatively huge sounds from a 10 inch speaker and a 30 watt amp..what's not to like?

Reliability: 1
Now here is the thing....I used it instead of my Kustom at a gig on Saturday night and when I put my guitar back on for the second set, the effects had somehow switched to auto wah even though it was set on reverb/chorus. This was an odd thing and it makes me nervous considering the problems I had with my Cambridge 30 a few years back. I bought one of them and had nothing but grief...parts unavailable, took almost a month to get fixed...Korg was no help at all. I swore I'd never own another Vox but when I heard this in the store and I was looking for a smaller amp, the price point made it a no brainer. But I have a nagging suspicion that it will explode on me in the middle of a gig at some time. I'll have to wait and see I guess. This rating is for past experience and the glitch I experienced with this particular product on Saturday.

Customer Support: 1
again...terrible...and I mean terrible service on that Cambridge...Vox in England were of no help, they didn't respond to a single email I sent them...Korg was even worse...I hope they've stockpiled parts so that even if the amp does go south...I can actually get it fixed.

Overall Rating: 9
Been playing for about 25 years...an average Rhythm guitar player but I gig a lot. I like the amp, it's simple and sounds great..in fact, I'm going to try the 50 and if it is more gigable...I'll trade up. I usually use my Kustom 2X12 combo at gigs but I like the versatility of the VOX more so if it is reliable and gig worthy, I'll use it instead. I won't downgrade it for lousy service and product reliability if and until it fails. I basically really like this amp and unlike tube snobs, I judge a product by how it suits my needs and expectations.

Submitted by George at 12/13/2004 11:11

Price Paid: UK (150.00 new)

Features: 10
These have all been touched on. Fantastic for the price. Its packed to the brim.

Sound Quality: 10
Amazing, I have played and owned an uncountable number of amps, solid and Valve and this is easly as good if not better at a fraction of the price.
I play a Strat through mine and the sound is crystal clear on the cleans and you can get any degree of meat out of its darker side.

Reliability: 7
Only had a month seems as good as it was a month ago. I have jamed with it and would happily gig with it.

Customer Support: N/A
Not used

Overall Rating: 10
I dont think I will need another amp for a long time, untill I am playing stadiums. I record with it, jam with it and am using it live in a week.

Submitted by Mr Biscuits at 12/13/2004 08:30

Price Paid: 100 (£) used

Features: 8
Impressive appearance, well finished, looks like it's going to sound great!

Sound Quality: 1
Used with various P90 equipped guitars, mainly les paul juniors and PRS Soapbar SE. Musical styles: Stone Roses, The Verve, Feeder and older stuff Sabbath, Zep etc.
Can't believe all the 10s this thing gets for sound. It's muffled and stuffy sounding and no amount of tweaking the EQ will fix it. It's bad at all volumes. Lots of tube amps are dull and flat sounding until you crank them and then they sing but this thing is woofy and lifeless at any volume. The instruction manual is full of Mojo about how the power amp automatically reconfigures itself to class A or AB according the amp model selected - snake oil! I've owned a ton of different amps over the years and my advice would be to compare it with other modellers first. I've got a Johnson J Station modeller (now discontinued) which is much more responsive and musical (especially the cleans) If you're short of money then you'd be better off with a Peavey Bandit and a good distortion pedal IMHO than this overhyped VOX product.

Reliability: N/A
Not an issue - it's going on eBay to some other sucker!

Customer Support: N/A
Won't be needing it!

Overall Rating: 2
Well made cabinet, nicely finished, looks good - shame about the lousy tones. A disgrace to the VOX brand.

Submitted by Richard at 12/10/2004 04:25

Price Paid: 260 (Euro)

Features: 10
I am a recently reborn hobby musician trying to find my way back (18 years 'cold turkey' - stopped playing when it became clear I was not going to become a 'big hair' metal guru (in hindsight, back then I must have started playing for the wrong reasons)). My primary need is to have an amp to play at my house but I would like to have the possibility to jam with friends, and who knows, maybe there will be the odd gig in my future (I will come back to this). I play a wide variety of music but I find myself mostly orbiting around Hendrix & SRV. With that in mind, this amp provides all the features I could reasonable ask for considering the price. Pathetically enough, the headphone jack was also a key prerequisite as I am now married and have a small child (soon to be children) at home.

Sound Quality: 9
My primary guitar is a MIM Tele with Texas Specials but I also have an Epi Les Paul. I mainly use the Blackface, AC30 and UK 70's models and they sound great with the Tele. I am using the high gain models less frequently but I generally feel they come out better with the LP. I do have a bit of an issue, however: while I really can't complain about the sounds at any level (which is adjusted through the wattage button on the back) there are some considerable variations in sound quality depending on power. It sounds fantastic when a) cranked, or b) playing through the headphones. As has been previously pointed out in these reviews, at low or medium volume, it is simply not quite AS good (but certainly OK sounding). I am very interested in hearing if any of the previous reviewers have made any changes, to what, and how it works?
I would gladly consider putting a Celestion G10 Vintage, or whatever may be recomended, in here if I knew it did the trick. My basic request is that I want it to sound at least as good as it does in my headphones - perhaps using the Blackface as the benchmark sound.
Nevertheless, nothing I played in this price range comes close so it is a 9 for sure.

Reliability: N/A
I do not know. I have only owned it for a few weeks but it seems fine.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 10
I am very happy with my amp, and for the price it is absolutely unbeatable. A lot has happened since I stopped playing some 18 years ago, not least of all - the internet, so I can get better info on equipment.
For my immediate needs of playing at home this is obviously loud and powerful enough - and then some. I am a little concerned, however, that it would not be enough if I began expanding my playing scope. Playing guitar will never be more than a hobby, so owning many amps is not feasible (mostly due to politics but also money), so I am considering trading this in for the 50W version to have an amp for ALL occations (yet still be suitable for my primary use at home). It has also dawned on me that there seem to be a lot more 12" options available if I chose to change the speaker. Note, that even with the additional price of a new speaker both the 30 & 50W are great deals.

Submitted by Lars at 12/10/2004 01:07

Price Paid: US $239.00

Features: 9
Amp brand new from Musicians Friend, $239 incl. shipping. Right out of the box, works perfect. Many, many different tones and gain stages available. I play 60-90s R&R, was pro, now just hobbyist. Features are documented in other reviews. Quite loud when cranked and breaks up the way you'd want it to (no crappy sounds here). This amp is MONO (using the line out/headphones jack) - bummer, my AD120VT is stereo (much better), but I've sold it because it's too heavy to cart around and I can't handle big amps anymore (sniff), injured my leg a while back, so this small amp is a great substitute. I get just about all the sounds and tone of the AD120VT in a small cheap package.

Sound Quality: 10
Vox makes the most convincing "modeling" amps that exist. This amp feels and sounds "real" compared to the other manufacturers. Not noisy or hissy, can simulate just about any amp or gain circuit you wish to hear. Lots of variety to the tone, thickness, and overdrive. Clean sounds hold up at full volume, distortion/tube simulation/overdrive is as much as any sane person would need.

Reliability: 10
My Vox AD120VT had no issues and I expect this AD30VT to hold up as well. The built-in tube sounds fine, although down the line I'll probably swap it out for a non-Sovtek/Chinese tube, as I have a few oldies lying around. So based on past history, the rating is a 10.

Customer Support: 5
Never dealt with customer support.

Overall Rating: 10
If you only have a couple of hundred bucks to spend and want a great amp that is small, reasonably light-weight, capable of creating just about any sound you hear in your head, and add some efx to it (not great but pretty good), don't delay - grab one of these puppies, you won't be sorry. Certainly the best deal out there in the price range and it sounds GREAT! Even though I like my AD120VT more, we're talking about a $1200 amp compared to a $240 amp which isn't fair, and I would expect that if you need more volume the AD50VT is the way to go but it also weighs twice as much and costs $359, but it would also be a good choice. Since I was looking for a small amp this fits the bill perfectly. A great amp and an insane value!

Submitted by Peter at 12/01/2004 05:54

Price Paid: £159 (UK Sterling)

Features: 9
Excellent list of features. Great for a semi-beginner like myself as just a few buttons create brilliant, usable tones that make you sound better than you possibly are.

Sound Quality: 9
Fantastic. All the subtlety and adversely all the power you could need in a prectice amp.
Have only fiddled with it a little, but every time i switch something it just makes me want to play more and more, consequently it will take me a while to find all the great sounds!
Everything seems to sound excellent, from the clean channel that just breaks when the gasin is right and when you dig the pick in to the strings.
This is how i imagine amps should be.

Reliability: N/A
Only had it a week, but it feels nice and weighty and seems sturdy.

Customer Support: N/A
Never needed to speak to them so can't comment

Overall Rating: N/A
I have recently re-discovered the guitar, after a gap of 10+ years, so i feel like a beginner really. I use a fender strat and an ibanez sax something or other and both sound wonderful through this exceptionally reasonably priced Amp. I was using a Marshall MG15DFX and that was ok, but compared to this it was like a bee in a tunnel.
Maybe could benefit from an input for CD player for us learners, but won't mark it down for that, got a stereo anyway.

I would definetely buy another if i lost it for some reason.

Submitted by Matt Brammer at 12/01/2004 05:52

Price Paid: US $239 plus tax

Features: 9
The features have all been listed before. One thing that is not mentioned is that this amp has a metal grille, rather than a cloth one. This will be greatly appreciated by us cat owners. Also, the tube that is installed is not for the preamp distortion as previously mentioned. It actually is used to simulate power tube response, so it effects the clean sounds as well. It reconfigures between class-a, class-ab, and no-negative-feedback configurations depending on the amp selection, in order to properly simulate the original response of the amp. Some features I wish it had are a speaker out jack, more than two user-program patches, and more choices in the effects setup. I'd like to be able to use the phaser and reverb together. As a matter of fact, the reverb should be totally independant of the other effects so that it can be used with all of them. It's kind of difficult to score here, as effects are a bonus with amps. I'd still like to see more user patches and effects combinations, so I'll give it a 9, but I guess it's actually a 10 when you consider the $239 price tag.

Sound Quality: 10
My main guitar is a carvin bolt with SD mini-humbuckers, lil '59 in the neck and hot rails in the middle and bridge. I tap both forward pickups by flipping a switch, and have one master tone that stays maxed out. I play mostly classic rock, blues, some surf. Let me start by saying that I was a "tube snob" before using this amp. I tried various digital amps and effects in the past, and always found them lacking. The line 6's had lame clean tones, the Digitechs and Boss's had a flat, fake sound to them, like you were listening to an old recording of yourself. they all had a very slight micro-delay from your picking to the actual playing. The Boss GT6 and the Digitech had a digital harshness that could not be EQ'd out without killing all the high-end and treble, making a muffled tone. I had completely given up on digital equipment before discovering the Vox. This amp has none of the shortcomings I mentioned of the other brands. In fact, it is just the opposite. This amp actually outshines all of my other amps in the clean department (using the boutique clean setting), including my 1965 Fender Pro Reverb. I am not kidding or exagerating. I A/B'd this against my Pro, Hot Rod Deluxe, and Mesa F30, and it sounded better than ALL of them. The reverb is better than the Fenders, and the distortion sounds are better than the Boogie. The blues tones held even with the pro, but are more useful to me since I can use them at lower volumes. Responsiveness and dynamics are similar to an all-tube amp. I A/B'd the phaser against my phase-90, and the Vox actually sounds better on clean phased tones. Unfortunately it is a post-distortion phase, so it sounds pretty lame and excessively swooshy on distorted sounds. The rotary is great, as is the delay. The flanger makes the jet sounds we love. This amp would suit just about any style I could imagine. There is no background noise at all unless you max out the power control on the back, and even then it is minimal. This is the quietest amp I have ever owned, thanks to the high-quality noise gate.

Reliability: N/A
I can't comment on this as it isn't old enough to judge. It is made in Korea, so that might be an issue...

Customer Support: N/A
Never dealt with them. Can't really comment here.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been playing off and on for about 10 years. I have owned many guitars and amps in that time. This amp has replaced about 5 pedals in my rig. All I use now is a phase 90 and a wah pedal before the amp. It would just be the wah, but I like a pre-distortion phase for my psychadelic stuff. Overall an incredible amp for the money. I plan on getting the 50-watt version when it is released this December. This amp has changed my opinion of digital modeling.

Submitted by Gary H. at 11/29/2004 12:15

Price Paid: 299.99 (Canadian)

Features: 10
I purchased this amp based on the rave reviews I have read. I am a new guitarist, but I know what sounds good, so I bought this amp. Has more features than I need!

I am using it with a Godin guitar.

Sound Quality: 10
Love the sound. More sounds can be produced from this little amp than I'll probably ever use.

Reliability: 1
Unfortunately, this were I have issue with this amp. I picked it up Monday night, Wednesday morning the amp just died. While I was playing the sound just faded off and nothing I did could get it working. I am taking it back to where I got it. I am very hesitant to get another one. I may consider a Line 6. I played with this amp for a total of about 2.5 hours and did not abuse the amp in any way. I kept the levels low as it was all my kids and wife could take!

I'd put a '0' down if I could. not impressed.

Customer Support: N/A
I bought this amp from Long and Mcquade, happy to change it or get something else. As for VOX, I don't know, I'm not going to the UK to find out.

Overall Rating: N/A
Sound / Features ; 10
Quality; 0

So many companies have the their products built in the orient, really wonder if the quality is there. I avoid it where possible.

I don't think I'd consider another VOX, to bad, I had visions of The Beatles when I was playing through it!

Submitted by Anonymous at 11/17/2004 08:04

Price Paid: US $235 total

Features: 10
All things are relative to the cost of this $235 amp; does a whole lot for the $$. Scary, how inexspensive this amp is, and how good it sounds. It's a serious tone toy. The amp will get you to any sound you need. No, it will not produce the sonic push of a Marshall stack, or the swirl of a Fender Bassman or Fender Twin, but it "feels" and responds like those amps. Roll off the guitar volume and the amp responds. The simulations are really good. Effects are excellent. I use it in a home recording studio, both mic'd and direct to board. It would be OK to use this live amp in a small venue, probably the ADVT 50 would be better for stand alone live situations.

Sound Quality: 10
Used with many different kinds of guitars. Every kind of pickup sounds authentic. I play blues and rock, this amp nails those sounds. If you want to chiken pick or shred, this amp will do that, too. There is some minimal digital haze (not just in my brain), no matter how the noise reduction is applied. This is not a big deal, I've played 2K amps that also have a bit of noise to them. Overdrive and distortion always produces some noise. There are several great clean sounds to be had. Overdive and distortion are there as well. This amp is worth buying just for the "dry" OD and clean boutique simulations! The AC 30 setting is great fun to noodle with.

Reliability: N/A
Who knows - part I. At some point a tube swap will be needed, it's buried inside somewhere. Probably not a big deal...where's my Phillips screwdriver?! I'll bet this little beast would really open up with a Tesla 12ax7......

Customer Support: N/A
Who knows - part II. Warranty is one year on everything except the 90 day tube.

Overall Rating: 10
30 years. Lots of gear and recording stuff. Too many guitars! This is a $235. amp that "feels" like a "real tube amp". I was looking for a high end amp that would serve as a recording amp. Tried several, was prepared to spend a lot of money (Budda, Mesa). Looked at buying the mid 80's (discontinued) Fender Super Champ ($500), the Vox's sounded better. Played the ADVT 50 and thought it sounded great, I couldn't belive my ears. The ADVT 50 was too loud for home studio use. Played the ADVT 15 but it didn't have enough bottom coming through when mic'd. Bought this amp because it sounds absolutely fabulous. For home recording...use this instead of buying a high end end amp. You could buy this amp and a very, very nice guitar for the same money as one "high end" amp!

Submitted by DDBluz at 11/11/2004 09:10