Vox AD50VT 112 Combo

Price Paid: US $369

Features: 3
I bought a new 2005 Vox & loved the sound. The effects were very useable. The main complaint was the 6 ft chord on the footswitch. The Volume of this amp had to be turned up every few min. as it would fade away when the amp got hot. (great sound - bad amp)

Sound Quality: 2
I played this amp with a les paul. I ouund myself constantly changing chords hoping to find the problem with my sound fading away. the amp has 11 amp simulations & great effects but it could need more power for a gigging musician.

Reliability: 1
I set this amp up in my basement and carried it to a paid gig with my band for the real test. The volume dissapeared on the third set. I changed some chords & put a fan in front of the amp. I was able to finish the night. The second time i used the amp was at rehersal. It made it for about 1 hour prior to a complete meltdown. I will never own another VOX

Customer Support: N/A
Never dealt with them. Guitar Center took the amp back without question.

Overall Rating: 1
I have been playing for about 20 years now. I have played with the same band for almost 10 years. I have owned several different amps over the years, but the Vox is the only one that left me stranded on stage.

Submitted by David at 08/23/2005 13:11

Price Paid: US $288 woth coupon

Features: 8
Bought new 2005 model. Plenty of features already detailed here. I would like a footswitch included and the ability to select from 3 sounds - what's the point of 11 models when you can only access two? Power is an extemely weak 50 watts - it doesn't seem to be as loud as a 15-20 watt tube amp.

Sound Quality: 7
I play hard rock/old punk and a little power pop on occasion. I use gibson les pauls and explorers with humbuckers. I've played marshall heads my whole 20+years of playing, and some others along the way. I never use effects. This amp sounded great on the Vox and JCM800 settings. It sounded a lot like my JCM900 head and 2 x 12 cab with just it's one speaker! The higher gain models are a little noisy, but every high gain amp has that. The rectifier sound is horrible - I couldn't even hear it over my drummer at practice. Very good sounds, but not enough volume.

Reliability: 1
I played it for a long time at the store, then bought it and brought it home. After the first half hour of playing it in practice, notes started to tail off into a digital crackly sound. I'd read the manual and knew how to use/defeat the noise gate and all. The two other problems on that very first day: the "Power" knob (1 watt - 50 watt) on the back was unuseable in the full 50 watt position without making uncontollable squeal and noise. I don't have squeal with any other amp. So I'm paying for a 50 watt amp, but can only use less power. Then the amp was making crackling noises even when I had nothing input to the amp. At first I tried different cables and all, but it was certainly the amp. I'm pissed that these are unreliable and made like crap, especially since I was digging the sound. I could never play out with that.

Customer Support: 2
Customer support to me would include acknowleging that there is a problem with these amps and making them more reliable. There is no way there should be so many people reporting problems with a new product. I don't want to keep doing "trial by error" with a new amp purchase. I was luck it crapped out on day 1 so I could get a full refund from Sam Ash. I did have to drive a 2 hour plus round trip though...

Overall Rating: 1
I wish it had worked. I liked the sounds. Effects were pretty bad, especially in the pairs, but I would use them much anyway. I may try one more in a couple of months. It's a shame that they can't put out a consitstenly working amp. I was looking for a nice portable practice amp/small (super small) gig combo that would save me from lugging a 1/4 stack and head around. This was almost it. Maybe I was just unlucky, but I just read another review the mentioned the same problem...

Submitted by Dan at 07/22/2005 17:24

Price Paid: US $350

Features: 10
I recently purchased a new Vox AD50VT, 1x12, 50 watt guitar amp. This is one of the new modelling type amps. It has 11 presets that model a variety of amps from Fender Twin Reverb, Fender Super Reverb, 2 older Vox models popular with the early Brit rockers right through modern, high powered, super distortion "metal" models. It has three channels; one for the preset models and two "programmable" channels. There is a (separately available) footswitch for remote channel switching.
The really cool thing about this amp is, while it is essentially a solid state amp, it has a real tube curcuit that is somehow "in line" with the power output, so it sounds and "feels" like a real tube amp! It is not simply a tube pre, like you might be thinking! I read, but don't really understand, the technology, but it is very cool!

Sound Quality: 10
I am an active musician, although I only perform in a duo with my wife currently. I play mostly folk, folk rock, country rock and classic rock, so I spend most of my time in the Fender and Vox models. I bought this to bring some "electric" sound to our performances. For example, The Beach Boys "In My Room" sounds way better on a solid body electric through a "Fender Twin" with tremelo, than it does through a Guild F-50 with a Fishman!! I play an old Peavey T-60 solid body, which is a very versatile guitar; more so than I can explain here. If you're unfamiliar, look it up!
I think the sound is fantastic! There is some noise in some settings, but there is also a noise supression feature! The Fender models, which I have owned over the years, are just wonderful! It is full and has plenty of power. The controls are extremely versatile. It has Master, Volume, Gain AND a little knob on the back that regulates the output wattage! That little knob allows you to can get all the "grit" and overdrive sound without peeling the paint off the walls! That said, you do lose some "bottom end", but the overall tone is there. Essentially, there are four ways to regulate the output (volume)!! It also has treble, mid and bass controls. I defy you to think of a sound this can't make! The "high powered" modern distortion models are just awesome! I don't play that kind of music in my act, but boy-oh-boy I love wailing the "Nu-Metal" setting at home!!!
According to H-C's instructions I'm supposed to say something "bad" about it because "nothing's perfect", and that's true. The effects may not be to everyones taste. Among the effects are: tremelo, delay, compression, phaser, phlanger, chorus, auto-wah(!), reverb, rotary speaker. The "weird" thing is that many of them are preset in pairs! This can be a problem if you were to want either, a combination that's not there, or wanted an effect "by itself" that is part of a pair. The only effects I care about are reverb, tremelo, delay and maybe some chorus and they are all very adequate. I'm sure top quality out-board devices would blow these effects away, but I was looking for a "one-piece package". Effects were something I was willing to give some ground on, as long as the ones I use a lot are okay.

Reliability: 10
I've only owned it about 3 months, but I have had it to several gigs and it seems very "road-worthy" so far. That said, I haven't dropped it or knocked it over yet either!
My "10" rating is a "so far" rating

Customer Support: N/A
I have no practical experience with this yet.
One year on everything, but the speaker.....90 days.
I did write tio ask about a cover (N/A) and I got a response, from a real guy, in one day!

Overall Rating: 10
I spent about two hours going back and forth between a Roland Cube 60, a Fender Blues Junior, a Fender FM 212R, a Marshall MG50DFX, and a Line 6 Spider II 112(first one cut!) I thought the Vox was way more versatile and sounded the best, for what I want. I'm an old "tube guy", so the Vox stole my heart compared to the all solid state guys. The Blues Junior is a great little tube amp, but it "is what it is"; no versatility at all.
The thing I'd like you to come away with is "curiousity". I don't think many Americans consider, or even know much about, Vox! I know I didn't. I stumbled across them while perusing a Musician's Friend catalog. All I knew before that was that The Beatles used them a million years ago! If you are shopping for a smallish, modestly priced ($350 =/-) combo amp with tons of features and more versatility than the average player will ever master, please go to your dealer and give the Vox AD50VT a test drive! I think you will be mightily impressed!

Submitted by Max at 07/20/2005 08:57

Price Paid: US $319.00

Features: 7
Made in 2005. Very Versatile with many sounds and models. I play rock, blues, country. It has two channels, but no footswitch. No effects loop, which I really wish it had. Power is ok on some models, but lacking on others, such as the Botique clean.

Sound Quality: 3
I use a strat with Fralins. I like the Vox models, but I wish the manual would give more info on top boost settings. I have been using it for about 3 months now and have found only three models I like. I have not heard all the real amps modeled, so I can't comment on how authentic they sound and I really don't care, I just want good tone. There seems to be a loud static-like noise comming from the amp even when the guitar is not plugged in, and all the controls are set to zero, fully counter-clockwise. I must reduce the volume control on the back to prevent this from happening. It reduces the volume by half, so I can't gig with it, just use it as a practice amp. At high volume (and high hiss) the cabinet makes a horrible distorted noise at certain frequencies which I understand is from the closed back concept. I don't use the effects, and I have the noise gate completely shut off. The compressor increases the volume substanially, even on normal moderate passages. I don't understand why. Every other compressor I have used increases sustain and low-volume passages, and decreases the volume of the high-volume passages. This one just increases volume, and totally distorts the original signal. I have adjusted all parameters according to the manual, but no luck. It's too bad, because it's really the only effect I would like to use on the Marshall amp models. The Botique clean sounds excellent.

Reliability: 2
I am also worried after reading the reviews here. I have owned several Marshalls, maybe 4 in my life. Three of them died. Korg makes this amp also. Hmm... I am worried now.. I can't gig with it becuase it is not loud enough.

Customer Support: 1
I have not dealt with them, but according to all the reviews here, they (Vox) is owned by Korg. This amp has a 90 day warrenty? My is over by now.. so all I can do is pray that the little plastic fan keeps working. Mine does not always switch the amp when I turn the switch, I have to power the amp down to get it to work. Yes, I have read the manual can emailed Korg, no response.

Overall Rating: 4
I have been playing 5 years. I like this amp for practice, but will stick with tube amps and pedals. I probably should have tested it more in the store. I have it in a gazillion pieces right now trying to figure out what is wrong with it and why it buzzes so much. Since it is all digital, it is unlikely I will be able to fix it.

Submitted by Joe Mama at 07/06/2005 21:09

Price Paid: US $359

Features: 7
For the money, I guess this is a great amp. Just barely big enough to gig with. But in my living room, it is the best I could have bought. Every effect and amp model is there, but the optional footswitch doesn't give me enough effects options. On gigs I just use my pedals and not the built in effects. The bigger valvetronix give you the option of the big footswitch.

Sound Quality: 10
This is where this amp shines. The 4x10 tweed setting is so sweet. Low end that will rattle the stage. boutique sounds are ok. US high gain is also awesome. And the AC30 Is great. very close to expensive tube amps, just not as loud. Best you can get for the money, and I have tried all of them.

Reliability: 6
Had a problem with mine. Volume knob stopped working. If I turned it past 20 o clock, I would get no sound at all. I gig a lot. This amp sees the stage at least 2 nights a week. Maybe it wasn't made for that, but at 50 watts, vox should expect it to be used by club guys, and we tend to dish out some abuse. I brought it back to the store, and they exchanged it without question. It was showing a little wear.
But I also have a Peavey clasiic vt and have NEVER had a problem, so I guess my reliability standards are high. If I have to carry 2 amps to make sure 1 works, that is not reliable.

Customer Support: 10
My unit was in warranty when it broke, I got a brand new one. Support seems to be good.

Overall Rating: 9
Overall, i love it. I get to leave my peavey in the trailer, and throw this one in the car for spot gigs. Grab one of my guitars, and my old RP3 AND GO!! I will own it as long as it works. I am waitng for the vt 100 to come out, and will buy one when it does. But I will keep the 50 to play in my room.

Submitted by lashowtime at 07/05/2005 20:40

Price Paid: US $313

Features: 9
I play a mixture of styles from reggae, funk, blues, rock, metal. I like Chili peppers, 311, Hendrix, Jack Johnson, 3eB. This amp is not the best looking amp out there, but if you care about sound and not looks then you are in for a great surprise. The only drawback that I can find as far as features is that it only has 3 programmable channels, ch1, ch2 and manual. You can switch through these with the optional foot pedal. So if you need more channels this could be a problem. 3 channels are enough for me so it is perfect. It doesn't have as many amp models as the high dollar Vox models but for the price this amp is awesome! It also has some pretty good effects. It has enough amp models for me and I will probably never use all of them. I have not used this amp in a live gig setting, but I would say that if you are planning on playing in a stadium get something else. It is only 1x12 after all. But with that said it is still pretty loud.

Sound Quality: 10
I use a Fender Mexican strat and a Gibson les paul studio. This thing sounds awesome! Let me just say this. I bought a 60w 1x12 line6 flextone plus combo, with the extra 1x12 extension cab when they first came out. I have always been disappointed with the sound from it. So I never really played the line6 it just sat there. That was about $800-900 wasted. I was looking to buy a Mesa Boogie 1x12 tremoverb combo and had written off the whole digital tubetone possibilities. Then I heard that korg had bought vox and had put their modeling technology into this amp. I already owned a Korg PX4 guitar processor and was highly impressed with their modeling sounds so I decided to look into it. Man I am glad that I did. Finally someone got this amp modeling right! They use a real tube in this amp to achieve this effect. This amp has a warm tube sound that my line 6 never had and every amp model on here is highly usable to me. The cleans and the distortions blow my line6 away. This amp can make any sound that you need. From clean and reggae funky, to rectified metal it is all there. I was more interested with the amp models than the effects, but the effects all sound great too. Of course you have to adjust your guitar for the type of sound that you want. You will get a thin sound from any amp if you only play the bridge pickup with the tone controls set to 10 and the treble on the amp turned all the way up. I can take my strat, crank up the Uk Modern setting, turn on the autowah effect, and go from Hendrix voodo chile intro with the neck pick up to the verse with no wah and the bridge pickup and it sounds great.

Reliability: N/A
I have never owned a vox before but it seems pretty sturdy and well made to me. Why does Vox only give a 90 day warranty on most of the parts?

Customer Support: N/A
N/A

Overall Rating: 10
I have been playing for over 20 years. I would definitely buy this amp again. I had given up on the amp modeling technology after my line6, but Korg and Vox have restored my faith! This amp sounds awesome, is highly versatile, has a real tube in it, and is way affordable. I got mine cheaper than the catalogs, at a local music store. A few hundred dollars for this thing are you kidding? I just found the deal of the century! If you are planning on touring the country and rocking out stadiums then you should obviously get something else. But for what this amp sets out to do it nails it perfectly in my opinion.

Submitted by NixHex at 07/04/2005 08:41

Price Paid: 460 (CAD)

Features: 10
Great features - but the last couple of reviewers here need to READ THE MANUAL and understand the amp!! It's a GREAT amp, but try to learn WHY it has 4 volume controls (there is a very good reason) and for the person who finds it cutting off his sound quickly and sounding fuzzy - that's what the built-in noise suppressor does (that's what ANY single-ended noise suppressor does in fact). So turn off the noise suppressor! It's simple - look it up in the manual. This amp IS a full tube amp as far as how it interacts with your guitar - but apparently many supposedly "pro" or otherwise experienced guitar players have never used a noise suppressor, and the person below me doesn't understand how a tube amp works.

The gain control (which is a late 1970s or 80s invention) simply increases the input level - it sort of simulates overdrive, but has a slightly different sound from OD. The Volume control controls the pre-amp's volume limiting circuitry, allowing it to be wide open (10) or cut down all the way to no volume. The Master control controls the Pre-amp's output level (or power-amp's gain level depending on the design), and with this unique Vox amp the fourth control is for the final solid state amplifier's power level (which is purely a PA-like clean amplifier designed to make the final sound louder, it doesn't offer any distortion or overdrive and doesn't affect the tone at all except for how the speaker is driven). So you can get full Master volume hard-driven tube amp sounds plus hard driven main volume tube amp sounds without cranking the gain, which is how original fenders and many other amps (voxes?) worked. Then you can overdrive it with a real overdrive pedal of your choice (I use a chandler tube driver but anything will work as long as you understand that you keep the gain LOW on an OD pedal when using it with a tube amp and only crank the output level of the pedal). That way you get any real tube sound you want. Roll off the guitar's volume pedal for cleaner sounds, and as long as the noise killing circuit in the vox amp is turned OFF you'll get great response.

This review is just to let people know how to use this unusual and amazing guitar amp - and to make sure nobody is persuaded away from it because of reviewers who haven't taken the time to read the manual and ask their local guitar shop what to do. And if any guitar shops don't know these basic answers then, well, I'm pretty disappointed in the world of musical instrument retail...

Sound Quality: 10
simply perfect. amazing versatility. All sound great, including the fenders (but you should really plug into a fender open back speaker cab for that 100% perfect fender sound).

Don't forget this amp doesn't do cab modelling, so use a real cab from an original amp you're trying to emulate if you want 100% perfection. I'm quite happy with the sound of the fender blackface amp - it sounds incredible as is.

Reliability: 10
I've had no problems and a 1 year warranty in canada.

Customer Support: N/A
haven't needed them yet.

Overall Rating: 10
very fun and satisfying amp.

Submitted by Don Kelley at 07/04/2005 07:30

Price Paid: US $359.00

Features: 7
Very versatile. I play jazz, rock, blues. One channel. Two presets, but they dissappear every time I shut the amp off. Presets sound horrible, none of them are usable. Effects are in weird combinations that I don't normally use. Why can't I use the compressor with reverb or delay? Something is wrong here... No footswitch.

Sound Quality: 1
I use an American strat and Les Paul. Sound is extremely thin with strat. 2x12 Fender emulation is a joke. The only good sounding amp model id the bassman and the Modern Marshall JCM 2000 amp, the rest suck except for the Dumble Overdrive clean model. Sounds great, but here is the problem with this amp: It produces a great deal of white noise-like static which causes me to lower the speaker attenuator on back to about 30 watts without hissing. Now I am trying to emulate a 100 watt stack with a 30 watt solid state amp? It simply does not work. None of the clean models sound like a tube amp, and only one hi-gain sounds decent. I tried taking the back off to reduce the resonant frequency lower-mid boom, but I lost about 50% of what little bass there was. I tried changing the tube with a Mullard, no noticable differnce. It is overly bright and mid-rangy. Tone controls have almost no effect on most models. Here's another oddity: You have a master volume control, a gain control, and volume control, and a speaker attenuator. Why? Four volume controls? I only need two: gain and volume. This amp does not make any sense at all. Sounds cheap, plastciky, and lifeless. There is a HUGE volume difference between models, which can be expected between the Vox AC-15 and the Marshall JCM 800, but why is the Dumble so quiet? I can barely hear it when volume is half way up.. The Vox models sound muddy. Amazing. Who made this amp?

Reliability: 3
The channel settings can not be saved. It is made in the same factory (Korg) as Marshall. Nuff said. My Marshall just died. Third one in three years. Sometimes this amp forgets the effects and stays locked in the previous bizzare effects combination. Allready showing why I hate compuer-based amps. Memory errors!

Customer Support: N/A
I won't need them, it's going back.

Overall Rating: 5
Been playing 25 years now. Buy a decent tube amp and some pedals for the best sound. But this if you never plan on buying another amp and hate pedals. Technology changes rapidly. Tube amps are cheap on ebay. This wou be best suited for punks who like metal.

Submitted by Tune Dawg at 06/29/2005 18:38

Price Paid: US $350

Features: 10
Please refer to other reviews for features. All in all, it is an extremely versatile amp. And light weight!

Sound Quality: 6
I play through my faithful G&L Legacy into this little combo. Initially, I was quite pleased with the wide range of tones I could emulate. My passion remains in the Blues, so if you can imagine, I highly value the ability to overdrive a tube amp at certain times, and still fall back on clean tones by rolling back on the volume of my guitar. Nevertheless, during live settings, (though a lot of our original works are Blues orientated) we do a variety of covers, ranging from Beatles, U2, to Foofighters and Bon Jovi.

I must say, the distortion tones of the UK Modern and so on are very satisfactory. However, having this as my main amp for the last 7 months, I found that the cleans were less than impressive.

First and foremost, in my experience, This amp does not behave like a tube amp. But hey, it's a transtube, so perhaps I shouldn't have expected that. On settings such as the Tweed 4x10 or AC30TB, I can get decently light overdrive tones (which is what I am aiming for), however, when I roll off on my guitar's volume to clean up the signal, the tone responds very strangely.

It drops in volume, but it also gets fuzzy. Furthermore, and this is my biggest gripe, is that when I pick or strum, this fuzzy tone peaks in volume, and levels off instantly. Thus revealing the artificial nature of this otherwise very convincing amp. It is extremely annoying, and in my considered opinion, for this scenario alone, it sounds like garbage.

The other tones, when I don't fiddle with my volume, are decent.

As for the effects, there are a lot of them, but I limit myself to the reverb, as I still rely on my pedals. I find some of them to be a little cold and digital, however, still usable. (except the flanger, or phaser. However, if that's your thing, it's there for your disposal).

One last thing, there have been some complaints about the cooling fan being too loud. There IS a fan in my amp, however, it doesn't bother. Perhaps I got lucky, but I don't even notice it unless I try to. In any case, I figure I'm simply trading that tubewarmth hum for a cold-digi fan.

Reliability: N/A
I mainly use this at restaurant bars, however, I do use it for my worship team at church on occasion (but I mainly play my acoustic with them).

This little one has never failed me yet, in my 7 months.

Customer Support: N/A
Never dealt with them.

Overall Rating: 6
Practically speaking, the audience won't be able to tell the difference between analogue and digital, and considering the variety of styles that my band and I play, this little one has served me quite well. It's small and lightweight, and is A LOT more convenient to lug around as opposed to a 90lb Bluesbreaker... But... that as it may be, it is my only amp for the time being, and I truly miss having a tube amp.

I like to name my guitars and amps, but I have trouble for this guy, even after 7 months. Despite it's versatility, it lacks personality. It is very practical, but I would not buy it again.

Submitted by Jonathan Wong at 06/29/2005 11:38

Price Paid: US $359

Features: 10
I bought my VoX Ad50vt from a local guitar shop in my town, I was originally looking for a tube amp, but didnt know prices were so high and had wanted a Vox amp anyway-since The Beatles used them....I played it in the shop and fell in love with the different effects, at first I thought the front shiny grill looked cheap, but after awhile i realized the genius of it, because its tough and why not make all amps with a caged front? I always keep my wattage knob at its highest so dont know if this is really a great feature or not but I really love the power supply cable jack, how it plugs in or out of the amp and also love the input jack at the top of the amp.

Sound Quality: 10
I play anything from Distortion to clean and this amp covers everything for me, I mostly use the UK 80's for clean and UK modern for distortion (best distortion on amp) and the delay sounds especially bad ass for me and chorus and the reverb are the next best features. The amp does get noisy when your guitar is around stuff for some reason, like my mic stand or getting close to the amp, but i guess this is normal and cant hear it when you play anyway. (I also plug my 'Shure' mic into this amp and the effects work great for voice as well.) Ive never turned the amp to its highest settings cause ive never had to but keep everything turned to 12:00 or lower

Reliability: 10
Ive owned my amp for about a month now and have bumped it a few times in and out of my car but thats about it and I wont bump it anymore but it still sounds like a fat lady singing...

Customer Support: 10
I want the foot switch they make for it but havent gotten back with the shop I bought it from but the name VoX just sounds cool and it looks bad as well. Ive seen kids who dont even play guitar use the name 'VoX' on the internet. So if the customer support sucks then they have a right to, cause there VoX. But give me a name brand company that is known for having bad customer service.

Overall Rating: 10
Ive been playing for 9 years now and have owned small amps like peavey and fender and this amp compliments my fender telecaster like peanut and jelly, so dont think this amp holds back on anything. I got lucky that my local guitar shop had this amp in my opinion cause I could have bought another one and not known about this one. The biggest concern for me was price and I really feel I got my moneys worth on buying this amplifer cause I still got money left in my wallet and plus a kick ass practice amp. To me this amp is heaven sent and at night I sleep next to it and hold it like a teddy bear in my arms....

Submitted by PoisonChef at 06/20/2005 19:00