Vox AD30VT Combo

Price Paid: US $239

Features: 9
Same as other reviewers listed. Very light, very loud, very sweet.

Sound Quality: 10
First I have to say that the amp sounds anemic with my Thinline Telecaster with single coils. But sounds incredible with my 335 with humbuckers. Why, I don't know. The tones are rich clear, very convincing. The presets are very usable. The effects are pretty rich with flexibility. Killer sounds! Super quiet. Played with a full band last week in a small venue with musicians that practice good volume disciple and it cut through just fine with plenty to spare.

Reliability: N/A
I expect no problems, hope I'm right.

Customer Support: N/A
???

Overall Rating: 10
Been playing 33 years. I love this amp! I've had Fender deville tube, Fender twin, Fender solid state, Ampeg tube, Peavey s/s. This is the best buy I've seen. No it does not sound as full as the deville with 2 12's but has more versatility. A POD alone costs more than this amp.
Great for small venue gigs, practice and recording. The AD15VT 8" is also sweet but breaks up at loud volumes.

Submitted by Anonymous at 08/26/2004 01:26

Price Paid: US $239

Features: 7
This amp has the usual built in effects that most modelling amps include now, eg delay, flanger, chorus etc, the delay and reverb is pretty good but the rest sound a little too process so not sure If I'd use them all that much. When it comes to the amp options, with 11 different models, and the ability to control gain, volume and master volume you won't be disappointed. The most useful feature is the ability to control the overall wattage, so you can get the totally cranked over driven sound as levels your neighbour won't mind.

Sound Quality: 8
I use a Japanese Squier Strat (Hank Marvin signature model) which actually sounds better than the mexican made standards I'd tried, and a standard Telecaster (the mexican, not the USA model) which has had the stock pickups replaced with lace sensors. I've only owned solid state amps before, and my last was a Fender Stage 100, so obviously this is going to sound a lot better than a solid thanks to its tube pre-amp. Comparing it to several friends who own various tube amps I can say this amp definitely sounds great and can almost hold a candle to them all. I mostly use the Black 2x12, and UK 70's settings (clean and distorted settings) and love them both but the other settings are pretty good too. This amp gives nice sparking tones, warm jazzy riffs and crisp crunchy overdrives. I play most Brit Pop/Rock and alternative so like my overdriven sound a little trebly and crisp but some people have commented this amp lacks deep rumbling bass, I don't really play heavy metal so can't really comment on that but it can make the floor and walls shake if thats your thing as far as I can tell. A $239 amp is never going to sound as good as a $2000+ AC30TB or Marshall stack but it comes damn close, I don't think you can buy a single better sounding amp at this price.

Reliability: N/A
I've only had this amp a few days so cannot really comment on the reliability, it looks pretty solid though.

Customer Support: N/A
See above.

Overall Rating: 9
I've been playing over give years on and off but still consider myself a beginner/intermediate player but love this amp, I can dial up every tone I need and this thing sounds great cranked, even with the limiter volume down to neighbour friendly levels. If you are in the market for a new amp with a variety of tones then I can't think of anything better value. Just remember you get what you pay for, this amp isn't going to replace a 100W stack or $3000 amp, but for $239 you can get pretty damn close.

Submitted by Dekks at 08/07/2004 18:26

Price Paid: US $239

Features: 9
The features have already been covered in other reviews. What I will say is that while what it offers is limited, it is amazing for the price. The features that sold me on this particular model were the ability to adjust the output wattage, the headphone/recording out jack and the price! One drawback is needing to shell out an extra $25 for a footswitch, which I did.

My main amp is a Mesa/Boogie F-50, which I absolutely love, but it's too loud to play late at night as well as being a heavy bugger to move at 50 lbs...also the direct out for headphones or recording on the Mesa is lousy. I wanted something smaller, lighter and quieter for late night playing that would give the ability to record with good tones...this little amp delivers on all fronts.

Sound Quality: 7
I play mostly rock and blues, some jazz and acoustic. The amp delivers good sounds for all these types of music. I play a Mexican Strat fitted with Lace Sensors (red, gold and blue from bridge to neck) and a Charvel Surfcaster with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge, Kent Armstrong Hot Lipstick in the neck. The amp sounds good with all variations.

One thing I found with this versus other modeling amps is that all the Presets are quite useable…the tone settings are quite good. Often it seems I have to make radical adjustments to presets on modeling amps to make them sound decent.

My faves so far are the JCM800 (UK 80s) model, the Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface 2X12) model and the Soldano (US High Gain). Really, most are good, though the UK Modern and Numetal are probably the weakest...very trebly and way too scooped for me. While the Numetal captures the basic essence of the Mesa/Boogie sound (sort of a fizzy top end with lots of bottom), it's accuracy leaves to be desired...doesn't begin to compare to my F-50.

One complaint is that I don’t think the Blackface model breaks up as much at high volumes as the real deal, which I’m a little bummed about. And also I wish reverb was an effect that could be applied with any other effect.

The effects are very good and they are very adjustable…with the exception of the reverb issue noted above, I think most of my combination needs are catered to with the options available, and the effects bypass is a great option to have, as well.

As mentioned in other reviews, the speaker is the weak link in this amp. I have a Celestion Vintage 30 in a 1x12 closed-back cab and I hooked the amp up to this cab...WAY BETTER. Reigns in the nasty treble that is out of control on the high gain models, making them a little more useable and just rounds out and improves the overall tone on all the models. I plan to replace the stock speaker with a Vintage 10…as I saw another reviewer is planning to .

I give this a 7 rating because I gave my F-50 a 8 (now I'd probably give it a 9) and this, while quite good, is a couple notches below that.

Reliability: 8
I'm always a little suspect of reliability on modelling amps, but Vox's reputation is as good as anyone’s as far as I know...haven't heard of too many issues with the Valvetronix, so I'm hopeful. Seems to be decent construction.

Customer Support: N/A
Don't Know

Overall Rating: 9
After playing this amp for a while, I warmed up the F-50 and plugged in and it just made me melt. So I'm still convinced that nothing's going to sound like a quality tube amp except a quality tube amp. But were talking $$ here...I spent $250 on my first amp which was a Fender solid state amp, and this blows that away. This is an awesome starter amp and an awesome practice amp...and for me it's also a great toy to play around with and should suit me fine for recording, too. For what it is, it's great!!

Submitted by Jonathan at 08/06/2004 12:56

Price Paid: US $249

Features: 9
If you don't know, you're out of the loop. I did wish that you could throw the compressor or reverb on whenever you wanted. Other than that, it's great. Check out the websight for a complete listing.

Sound Quality: 6
Here's my skinny: This is an amazingly versatile amp, BUT, the stock speaker in it does not sound very good at all. Rather lifeless. Way too mid-scooped, almost making the amp solid state-sounding. When I took it on the roof of my apartment and cranked it, it sounded much better, but still lacked the low end thump and midrange complexities. After taking it back to my apartment, the sound was completely lacking compared to when I had it cranked to the gill. This was a big dissappointment for me since I got this amp specifically as a practice amp. Okay, you might ask, how much does the speaker really effect the sound. A LOT!!! I hooked this thing up to the Vintage 30 in my Fender Blues Jr and the sounds coming from this amp were completely transformed. Now it was rich and meaty at all levels. The amps sounded organic and full of life. Much more characteristics of both my guitar and the amp models filled the room. I can't wait to hook this thing up to a 4x12! Okay, so my dilemma is, I can't put my Vintage 30 into this amp (which, after doing so would make my Blues Jr completely void of any use). So, I need to look for a Vintage 10. No biggy. Also, I coil split my Seth Lover pickups in my Les Paul, so I get a wide range of sounds. Singles or Buckers, you play it, and it will sound amazing and dynamic. As for rating this catagory, I give it a 6 with the stock speaker, and a 9.8 with the Vintage 30.

Reliability: N/A
Very solidly built. Much more so than my Fender. Light as a feather, but, again, the stock 10 doesn't do much for the amp.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 6
In terms of potential, this thing is a solid 9.8. I can't get over the sounds I have coming out of my guitar with this. It's SO VERSATILE. The JCM800 (80's), Fender Blackface, AC15, Soldono (US High Gain) are my favorites. They just shine beyond belief through the vintage 30. The Plexi, in my ever so humble opinion, sucks. I can't get a useable sound out of it, but it might just be my taste. I like meat on my bones, and the 70's provides all fuzz. The recto version doesn't really suit my tastes, either, and I've played through a real triple rectifier, and the Vox's emulation doesn't sound at all sonically close. But, I have gotten so many amazing sounds from this thing through the Vintage 30 that it's worth double what I payed. Unluckily, the amps stock speaker just doesn't cut it. Low volumes REALLY suffers. With the Vintage 30 hooked up, it sounds smokin' at all volumes, and gets so amazing at yelling volumes, I have a hard time putting it down. This may make the true tone snobs snear, but I play mostly with my CD's. It's a sad, but true fact of my existence. I can put in anything from Clapton to Buckcherry to Aerosmith to John Cougar to Eagles to you name it and I can nail the sound exactly (again, this is with the Vintage 30. Not quite so with the stock speaker) If I had the cash, I'd get the AD60VTX, which comes with the new Celestion Neomagnet 12. I've played it, and it is amazing. I payed 249 for this, and if I add another 100 for a new speaker, It's still 350 for an amp that just knocks my socks off. I'd like to rate it with the new speaker, but I can't, so it's rated with Vox's highly unclassy speaker.

Submitted by David at 08/04/2004 22:38

Price Paid: US $239.99

Features: 10
Brand new 2004 amp, picked up one of the first two that Sam Ash got in stock. (Been waiting for this thing for months!)

30 watts (adjustable, 0.5w-30w), solid state/tube hybrid (has a 12AX7). 11 amp models, 11 built-in effects, 3-band EQ, gain, volume, and master volume. Lots of spiffy knobs. Has preset settings for each amp model, and can save two user presets.

Spent a whole day playing with all the features.

Sound Quality: 10
I really can't describe my own style besides saying it's "rock and roll." I write my own stuff; I'm influenced by mostly late 70s rock and punk (Clash, Buzzcocks, Elvis Costello) some early to mid 90s alt-rock (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters) and random stuff in-between. This amp suits everything quite nicely thanks to the amp models. I use a Fender Squier Standard Telecaster, an Epiphone Double-Cutaway Les Paul Junior, a Fender mid-90s Duo-Sonic reissue, and an old mid-90s Ibanez Strat copy that I've heavily modified.

I usually stick to the AC30TB model, probably because that's what I'd use if I had $3000 to blow and the AD30VT's model is the closest I've ever heard to it. I get some excellent Joe Strummer (telecaster) and Mick Jones (LP Junior) tones out of this model. I probably won't ever use some of the others. For example, I find the "Tweed 4x10" (Fender Bassman I think) is a little too bassy for me (appropriate, I guess). I'll probably never use the "Numetal" or "Botique" models, they generally sound pretty useless for my taste. The AC15 is good for the clean tones I get with the AC30 but with a little more warmth. I also like the "Black 2x12" (probably a Fender Twin Reverb) because I get this great 60s rock tone from my Duo-Sonic with it. The knob on the back that lets you adjust the wattage is infinitely useful and helps you get tube-like overdrive without cranking the volume, which is good because I hate pedal distortion and I hate most built-in amp distortion. This is the closest I think anyone could come to tube sound with a hybrid amp.

Overall I'm very satisfied; I could spend weeks fiddling with all the knobs and settings and getting brand new sounds.

Reliability: N/A
I've only had this thing a couple days, and it seems solid as a rock. Hopefully this amp won't have all the problems the old 90s Vox Cambridge amps have.

Customer Support: N/A
Never dealt with support. Came with a 90 day limited warranty.

Overall Rating: 9
I've been playing since December 1997, so that's almost 7 years. I've owned a couple Fender solid-state amps in the past (a 15w Bullet Reverb and a 94w Deluxe 112+) and my 100w Marshall Valvestate VS100R, and I can honestly say this amp beats them all. The Marshall always had a little too much bottom end and no character whatsoever, which would be fine if I was in some metal or screamo band. The AD30 has so much more clarity and punch to it. Although this is probably being marketed as a practice amp I'll definitely be recording with it and it will likely become my main amp. For the price, I don't really think it gets better than this. If you can't afford a tube amp or just want a wide variety of tones to play with, I'd definitely go with this amp. Would buy it again and again.

If I had to pick a single thing I don't like about it, it would be the lack of footswitch options. I think the one Vox wants you to buy is ridiculously overpriced, and is just two buttons. I really just need to switch between clean and overdriven on the fly, I don't need some spiffy device that can manipulate gravity or anything.

Buy this amp!

Submitted by Damien C. at 07/23/2004 14:22

Price Paid: US $239.99

Features: 10
Thats Right, the little brother of the original ValveTronix series has finally hit the shelves. (2004 , $240) I work at a large music store and when we recieved the first Ad30's, me and another co-worker, after previously hearing a rep demo one about 3 months ago, snatched them up immediately. This amp is beautiful. Perfect for an open mic blues jam or for recording (What I bought it for.) Pretty basic, two storable presets and a manual mode. (So you have 3 channels) It is footswitchable with the optional VC2, has 11 aamp models, and a smattering of effects including lush reverb, chorus, delay, flange, phase, trem, rotary,and compression. The effects section is kind of unique. On most settings it combines two effects together and gives you 3 edits to customize the sound. It seems restricting but the way they have it set up your in full control. The great thing about it is that is utilizes the same Valve Reactor Power amp section as the original so it sounds just as good.

Sound Quality: 10
I play an '84 Explorer, an ESP Explorer, Ibanez SZ, and a Am. Strat through is, usually in the style of Hard Rock. The Overdrives in it are beautiful and accurate to the originals, and are extrememly active when tweaked. You can get noumerous sounds out of one amp model. I also play R&B and funk with some friends of mine and The clean sounds out of the amp are very impressive. It includes a Boutique clean, Fend Blackface, Tweed bassman ac15 & 30 for the cleans and the all are very accurate sounding to the originals. It sounds great at any volume but it does have some digital noise when you are not playing and you touch the strings. It's conversion rate is only 44.1 so it's not the absolute highest resolution but it still sounds damn good, especially for the price.

Reliability: N/A
So far, so Good, had it about a week.

Customer Support: 10
Haven't dealt with them on a bad note yet, and every time I call for other reasons, they're very responsive and friendly.

Overall Rating: 10
For a great "sit down, flip on, play" amp, a small jam amp, or a recording amp, this amp will do awesome. I dont think I'll ever use it as a stage rig, but it plays amajor part in my line up now. I have a VHT PittBull combo, a Peavy Special 212 (Actually, this amp kicks ass too), and a Tweed Classic 30 and I've been playing this one the most lately. If you had a choice between a line6 combo or this one, I would highly recommend this one, just for sheer sound quality.

Submitted by Wallly Harper at 07/22/2004 23:11

Price Paid: US $239

Features: 10
Been covered here check Vox website if needed!!!

Sound Quality: 10
Use w/ Gibson SG and/ Les pauls a Brian moore w/ Duncans a couple of G&l's 1- asat 1 s500 !!! Plays all styles very, VERY well !!No noise at all !! and very loud and holds tone through thr entire volume settings!!Great and distinctive cleans and distortion !! I also own a line 6 flex 111 2 x 12 and this amp is as well thought out and has almost as many ( and all just as good ) tones $239 PLEASE go buy this thing now !!!

Reliability: N/A
???? Not had it long enough built like a tank though!!!!

Customer Support: N/A
don't know??????????

Overall Rating: 9
been playing for 20 yrs + I may buy another again even if nobody steels it ?? This is a great amp I have owned alot of stuff all tube amps solid state Crates first modeling amp !!! These modeling amps Vox and Line 6 are kicking but I can't wait to see where this gets to in the next few yrs !! I have played all teh new stuff against this !! Take my word for $239 or less or even quite a bit more in some cases you can't beat this amp the versitity is UNREAL !!the only problem is where is the FREGIN skr out jack Gimme a fregin break !!! amps a 1/3 of this size have a spkr out !!! for that only it is a nine !!! Buy it I will put a skr. out jack in myself for $12 and 20 minutes and that fixes that!!

Submitted by Anonymous at 07/17/2004 17:17

Price Paid: US $240.00

Features: 10
Has a lot of OD's
all the typical effects
you can get all that you desire from this amp
i wish it had a speaker out and a, AUX IN
i use this amp for practice
I give this a 10, because it offers a lot of features that are very good.

Sound Quality: 10
I have the ROLAND cube 30, which i love.
I think the VOX offers more, but there are some sounds i get with the ROLAND that tough to get with the Vox. I like the SRV tone i get with the roland. I also like the Aux In on the Roland, so i can jam along with a CD. I still think the VOX is a better sounding amp overall.
I like that it has a close back cabinet for added BASS. Both the vox and roland offer this. I'm excited to one day get a ROLAND CUBE 60, not released in USA yet. hmmmm, i still think i get better strat tones from the ROAND. But, for some great smooth OD tones, i think the Vox delivers slightly better. I think it depends on the guitar you own. anyway, i have both amps and plan to keep both. I like that BELL CRUNCH SRV tone i get with the roland using singles. I give this amp a 10 for sound, since i think its one of the BEST sounding practice amps.

Reliability: N/A
don't know yet........

Customer Support: N/A
don't know...........

Overall Rating: 10
I think this amp is more than what any typical basement player would need. I'm a basement player who has a SUPER REVERB. I think if you play for fun and want to learn songs from many players, this amp can deliver. I really don't think there's a better overall amp in this category, except a close contender the ROLAND cube 30. SOund is subjective, so go try both amps and decide. The roland doesn't offer as many effects or OD's as the VOX, but what it does have is very good. Thats why i have both amps. I have had many many amps....
too many to mention. My favorite fender amp is the SUPER REVERB. My favorite practice amp is the Vox amd cube 30. I also think the Vox is a little more tube sounding than the ROLAND, a little warmer OD's. If they were stolen, I'd buy the VOX again and get the Cube 60 when it comes. I will anyhow.......
I'll give this amp a 10, it deserves it
why you ask??? it makes me happy

Submitted by Anonymous at 07/10/2004 00:44

Price Paid: US $239.00

Features: 10
This Vox was made in 04. It is versatile enough for me, because I just play rock and a little country. This amp has way too many features for me, but for others, it is loaded. I do like the headphone jack, and the reverb is great. I only wish it had a built in tuner. I use it for practice and it is plenty loud.

Sound Quality: 10
I use it for rock and country, and it suits my style wonderfully. I really only use the blackface, Vox ac 30, and the tweed 410. If you want distortion, this amp will deliver in spades! It also has a knob on the back that increases the wattage from 1 to 30! Check it out before you buy!

Reliability: 10
I can depend on this amp. I take it with me on road trips, no tubes to worry with, plug it in and do it! I would gig without a backup with this amp. So far it has been very reliable, no problems. I tried to set it up without reading the instructions, didn't like what I was hearing, so I read the instructions. Wow! Hello.

Customer Support: 9
Haven't had to deal with Vox and I don't ever want to. No repairs so far, I haven't read about the length of warranty yet. I'm assuming that Vox stands behind their products, I bought it new.

Overall Rating: 10
Been playing a year seriously, just messed with it before. I'd buy this amp again, it is cheap for the tones! The only thing I don't like is the lack of a built in tuner. I compared this with the Fender Champ. The champ has a built in tuner, but it was $210.00 more! This amp sounds just as good as the Champ on the clean amps! I wanted the champ to go with my Fender cyber-deluxe. Just couldn't justify paying almost twice as much for the champ, especially for practice. My friend at Guitar Center, told me to try this amp first, I did, and I kept it!

Submitted by Bob Brandon at 07/06/2004 09:41

Price Paid: US $239.00

Features: 9
Read all of the other takes, they are right on. Just bought it a week ago from GC. Was comparing this to my Flextone II, with a pedal board.

Sound Quality: 10
I play a Gibson ES 335 and a Fender Tele/Nashville with a B-Bender. Was looking for an amp that could handle both. I mike my amps thru a 40 channel Crest board with Apogee mains. This is for worship services at my church. We are loud, as a band, and was finding my Tele was not cutting thru house mix or monitors. The tube preamp worked well...lots of comments from 600+ people that the telecast sounded cool. Played the Vox 30 setting. The distortion models are cool, too. I have yet to really opn up the amp in a live setting and am looking forward to doing so.

Reliability: N/A
Too new to tell, but tubes may be a problem. However, I own a mid 80's fender champ (snake-skin) and am still using the orginal tubes.

Customer Support: 2
Am concerned that you can't get a hold of vox via-e-mail. Want to use a pedal board with it. MF offers one you can buy, but I think this am can only do A/B switching and effects off.

Overall Rating: 9
I have been playing for 30 years, and have owned both tube and solid state amps. The modeling thing with amps is cool ( I currently own a Line 6 Flextone II) but have missed the "warmth" of a tube sound. Even though I always mic my amps, I still play off of the stage sound for vibe. I wish the Vox would offer a pedal board, but again you get what you play for. I orginally bought this for a practice amp with my B bender, but am thinking about using it as my main amp. Am waiting for the foot switch to come in, so I can really explore the live application. Sure it may be great to have tons of sounds to choose from, but I really only use two (distortion - marshall, and clean-vox) I can get a wah pedal for my 70's funk stuff. I may sell the Line 6. After owning Ampeg, Fender, Yamaha, Line 6, and now Vox, I am becoming a believer in the Vox amp sound.

Submitted by steve at 07/05/2004 11:19