Vox AD60VT Valvetronix 112 Combo

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 5
I just got this amp last week, used, for a price I couldn't refuse. This one I got sounds better than the one I tried at GC. I pretty much agree with most of the favorable reviews here; I just wanted to piss & moan about his ridiculous excuse for a "foot controller". They must've assigned the design for this to somebody's kid brother and gave him 15 minutes to come up with it. IF ONLY it had two more switches - up-down for bank select, and the ability to select all banks, not just 4. I'd much rather use something like the POD's controller, which isn't perfect either but at least it's very usable. What a waste of $150 or more. The "expression pedal" is a bad joke as well but at least it doesn't cripple half the amp. I sincerely hope Vox has the sense to come up with a real pedal, soon, and give a good amount of trade-in credit for the old ones (like, that'll really happen, man). Oh, BTW, the switches don't work for crap either. If it wasn't for this I'd give a 9 for features because I really like the amp's layout and menu-less OS. And then there's the no-MIDI business....how about some kinda cartridge, or ram card, at least, for patch storage, huh?

Sound Quality: 8
Sounds are pretty good, sure. Needs 2 less Vox models and instead a black Deluxe and another Mesa Boogie, or maybe a Sound City if they wanna stay British.

Reliability: N/A
One can only hope.....

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: N/A
That's all I have for now.

Submitted by Queen Elizabeth IV at 06/12/2002 23:02

Price Paid: US $700

Features: 10
I just bought this amp a few days ago. This one was made 2002. This amp is very versatile for all styles of music. I play in a cover band that does top 40 (Creed, Matchbox20, Incubus, Hoobastank, etc...) and it does it all for my band. There are two channels (high/low) and I have the foot controller to help me between patches. 21 types of effects and all of them sound awesome. I have used this amp at one show so far. I had the sound guy mike up my Vox so I didn't have to turn it up full volume for the show. It has enough power for my band but why push it when you don't have to right?

Sound Quality: 10
I currently am using a Gibson Les paul custom. My only guitar. The amp so far sounds great. I have read other reviews and I disagree with the negative reviews. The amp does a good job! From the distortion to the cleans, it sounds good. I use the UK Modern amp style with the compression on full for some insane distortion! And the Black 2x12 with some chorus/delay/reverb makes for some awesome cleans. The single celestion 12" speaker makes the tones just shine. This amp sounds good, bar none, that is it, it sounds good.

Reliability: N/A
Reading other HC reviews made me worry about the reliability of the amp. Well its got a warranty and well I talked to a few people that own the VOX and they told me there is nothing wrong with it. It is a new model so there could be bugs but none have surfaced as of today. So....who knows. The amp itself "seems" sturdy.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 9
I've been playing for 12 years. I previously owned a Marshall combo but traded it in for the VOX. If it were stolen I would be real upset. I would buy this amp again. There are a lot of other "digital" combos out there but I feel the VOX beats them all out. Line 6 is a huge company that is mainly a digital combo mfg. They have the same kind of layout (with amp types, effects, etc...) but I think VOX takes the cake. I love it and hopfully it will do well for me in the future. I am thinking about buying an extention cab for this amp to get an even more versatile sound.

Submitted by Garry at 05/19/2002 13:41

Price Paid: US $690 out the door.

Features: 10
read some other reviews, no need to go over it again. Love this thing no matter what people say!

Sound Quality: 10
I use a PRS Custom 22 with this baby. I don't know why people say its junk, sounds like crap, etc... because I've had this for 28 days so far and I'm in love with this little amp! It has a ton of tone, ton. If you want mesa boogie, tube tone, etc... just save your money and buy one! Stop complaining about the VOX not being able to recreate it, etc... because it can not!!!! Sometimes I think people don't think before they buy. I'm not a tube man, I've been a digi head for years. Using rack gear, etc... Anyway this amp is extreamly versatile! You can get tons of different distorted tones (i have no idea what a blackface is nor do i care) and lots of awesome cleans. If you play in a heavy metal band DO NOT BUY THIS. It won't do it for you. This is more for people that play in soft rock, jazz, fusion, alterno, etc... This amp is awesome and it gets my job done well.

Reliability: 8
I've had it for 28 days and used it at two gigs so far. Nothing. I even dropped it by accident down two stairs (SO MAD!!!) and nothing. I was scared but nothing happened. I have two more days to return this babe and I'M NOT going to. The speakers are fine, they punch out some good tones. I even asked Guitar Center to pull records about the returns on the VOX Valvetronix. Only one return in the past 12 months. I told them about this site and we went online to read it (right at the store). The manager said he has never heard any notices from other GC's about probs with the VOX. So.... take these reviews with a grain of salt.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 9
I honestly feel this is a great combo. Its got a one 12" speaker that rocks. use common sense, don't push it with a heavy distortion. Its only one speaker! Plus if you play in a death metal band and the such, don't buy this amp. If you do you're not gonna get what you want. I play in a jazz fusion band and have been playing for 15 years so far. This combo is by far the best thing out there. Before this I had the Line 6 Flextone II combo. I had it for 2 weeks and exchanged it for the VOX. THE BEST move I made. The Line 6 is too thin sounding. I have to admit the VOX is a bit confusing to use at first but for the money, you get a lot of tone! Remember, if you want tube buy a tube. Overall a great combo. It does a lot for such a little thing. I'm not returning this baby. Also do a little research, you can ask about the reliability issue with the stores by asking how many returns they receive in a 12 month period, they keep tabs trust me. While talking to another store they explained the VOX is doing extreamly well in sales. Its beating out Line 6 at this time. Better buy VOX stock ;)

Submitted by Anonymous at 05/19/2002 06:33

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 8
Seems to have every usable effect possible. The pedal board looks and feels like a toy.

Sound Quality: 8
The best sounding modeling amp out.

Reliability: 6
From experience. I don't rightly know. I've heard some horror stories though. I've demo'd the amp several times. I didn't buy it because I was afraid of it. One in the store broke. This would be my main amp if Vox/Korg would go back to the drawing board- also make a descent pedal for it. I don't care if the amp costed $2000. Maybe they should make a PRO VERSION. I do like the idea of a 1x12.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 7

Submitted by Matt at 05/10/2002 10:43

Price Paid: US $679

Features: N/A
OK, so I just wrote the previous review (the one below this one) yesterday, and here's my revised edition. Same features, same rating.

Sound Quality: N/A

Reliability: 2
I'm through with these. My second one in less than a month, and it died yesterday. I thought I blew the speaker (like the first one), so I went out and bought a Celestion Vintage 30, but after putting that in I realized it wasn't the speaker that went. Replaced the tube, but no difference. Something inside of this amp just goes, so buyer beware. Don't push this thing too hard.

Customer Support: N/A
American Musical Supply took this one back, too, so they are awesome in my mind. As for Vox, beware of the crap they are sending out of Korea these days. It shouldn't be allowed to carry the Vox label.

Overall Rating: 3
Get it only if you plan on playing it in your bedroom, once or twice a week, for an hour or so. Otherwise, keep moving on. I really did want to like this amp too...

Submitted by Anonymous at 04/22/2002 14:14

Price Paid: US $809 (with pedal board)

Features: 10
2002 Model, with the pedal board, 16 amps models, effects out the wazoo (more than i'll ever use) 2 channels, line out, variable wattage (sweet feature)

I play in an original band that does everything from folk, to blues, to funk, to heavy metal and everything else in between. I needed an amp that was as versatile as the styles of music that we write. We also do a lot of extended jamming and this gives me some great sonic options to play with (although I'm really not a big fan of effects anyway)

The pedal board is great. I've heard a lot of griping on here about it, and was really nervous about getting it, but it's intuitive and really easy to use. It's got 8 banks with 4 channels per bank. My only gripe there is that you can't switch from banks 1-4 to 5-8 on the pedal board (you have to go to the amp to do it, seems stupid to me...) There's a lot of extraneous stuff that i won't use, my feeling is that if you want distortion create a channel on the amp that's an overdriven amp rather than using a stomp box to do it. And that's what this amp really excells at. I've got the first bank set up as an acoustic simulation set up on channel one, (the acoustic simulator creates a nice sound, but with my g&l strat it doesn't really sound like an acoustic) i've got a slightly driven black face 2x12 for the second channel, an overdriven tweed 4x 10 on the third channel and then an overdriven classic british blues sound on the 4th. I can switch between them all on the fly so I can really get some great sounds and a lot of versatility.

Sound Quality: 9
The sound is beautiful. It's plenty loud enough for me (although I'm of the thought that the guitar doesn't have to be so loud that it drowns everything else out, unlike so many other lead players out there :-) It gets a little noisy depending on how you use the presence and the compression pedal, but the noise is really easy to eliminate with some playing around with the settings. The amounts of different sounds that i can get out of this thing is incredible. I can play a rockabilly song, then a metal song, then a folk song, then a straight up blues tune and not have to do anything other than click a pedal.

I'm using a g&l Legacy special (strat) with mostly the bridge hot rail pickup. One of the really nice things about this amp is that it lets the sound of the guitar come through, a lot of the other modeling amps that i tried, changed the sound of the guitar so much that it really didn't matter what you were playing. This amp really lets you create your own sound, and lets your playing style come through. I've got a really percussive style (think chili peppers / SRV) and all of the small notes that i hit that can so easily get lost, really come through. Also, there isn't anything digital sounding about this thing. It's great, i tried the cyberdeluxe, and a couple of the line6's and i really didn't like the sound. Plus this thing costs a hell of a lot less... The one thing that I'm kind of bummed about is that the leslie symulator on here isn't as good as my old H&K tube rotosphere. It's nice (and since the H&K got stolen I'll be using it) but it's not as good a simulation. Other effects are cool, but I won't be using them that much, (octave, and a couple of others...)

Reliability: N/A
so far so good. I've had it for a week and have been playing the hell out of it.

Customer Support: N/A
don't know, like i said i haven't had an issue with it yet, i've had experience with korg's service and it blows. haven't dealt with VOX but if I go by their website i'm going to bet that it blows (the website is so outdated it's disqusting).

Overall Rating: 10
Overall I love it. I've read a lot on here about people having problems, or not liking the pedal board, but I've really enjoyed it so far. It's a great amp that is as versatile as I need. I've been playing for 16+ years and this is the best amp that I've worked with. It can do everything i need without me having to lug around a full cabinet and without having to carry 18 different pedals. The only pedal that i'll be carrying is my vox wah, the expression pedal on the pedal board is best used as a volume control.

Submitted by Joshua Lampe at 04/22/2002 10:34

Price Paid: US $700

Features: 5
Great amp sounds, great effects. Well thought out user interface on the amp. A reasonable amount of memory (but more would be nice). But the amp is crippled due to a poorly implemented foot controller and no MIDI.

Sound Quality: 8
I usually play Fender type sounds...mostly clean but with a little grit at the top end. This amp has lots of settings that do this very well. I'd never played a Vox amp but the Vox models sound fabulous. It covers a lot of ground and does just about all of it well. Could be louder, and volume levels vary wildly across presets.

Reliability: 4
If the proprietary foot pedal breaks down you are out of luck. So you'd have to buy two of them...which is ridiculous since it is a lousy unit to start with.

Customer Support: N/A
Dunno.

Overall Rating: 5
This amp is very high on the frustration factor: It does so much right but royally botches the foot control/computer interface. Fine for bedroom use, but if you are going to play out you need to be able to back up and restore your patches reliably (e.g. MIDI) and have a flexible, usable foot controller. The expression pedal on this thing is a joke. I was ready to buy one of these after playing it for a couple of hours but the store didn't have the foot controller in stock so I waited. When it finally showed up I was flaberghasted...a toy. No space between the buttons and a barely functional expression pedal. What were they thinking? So I ended up buying a Fender Cyber-Deluxe, which has a full, well thought out MIDI implementation (and lots of other cool stuff too!). It sounds different from the Vox and I vaguely preferred the Vox sounds, but I can fully access the Fender's capabilities with a floor unit and back up my settings to computer.

I really wanted to love this amp. But what good is having all these great sounds if you can't get at them when you are playing out? Everybody has their own likes/dislikes about how to set up a floor system, so why buy a product that forces you to use a crappy floor board? I don't like the Fender floor board much either (although it is worlds better than the Vox board), but since the Cyber-Deluxe has an excellent MIDI implementation I can use my Digitech PMC-10 MIDI controller and tweak any and every parameter I want just using my feet. Want to set up a pedal to turn up the gain knob and simultaneously ease back on the volume? No problem! Can't do that with the Vox. With the Fender I'm limited by my imagination, not by a foot controller which was clearly an afterthought.

I've been playing nearly 30 years. My main amp is a Tech 21 Trademark 60 (wonderful amp), but I wanted to buy an amp with integrated effects so I didn't have to carry a bag of patch cords to every gig and spend 20 minutes wiring everything up. I hope Vox learns its lesson and if Valvetronix Mk II has a usuable MIDI implementation I'll certainly take a look.

Submitted by Jonathan Whitcomb at 04/22/2002 06:34

Price Paid: US $679

Features: 10
Well, this is what the amp was designed for. The 16 amp models are what drew me in, and they are very versatile. You have lots of variations on stompboxes and modulation, with three types of delays and reverbs thrown in also. Another great feature...the wattage selector, allowing you to play at 1, 15, 30, or 60 watts. I haven't used the line out but I've heard that it is clean.

Sound Quality: 8
I use a Les Paul, with a Vox wah, Rotovibe, Vox overdrive, and Vintage Rat in my effects chain. I wasn't too interested in the effects on the amp, preferring to have everything on the floor. I did want an amp that would provide a good baseline sounds, something for me to work with, and this one does. The Vox models are all great, as are the Fender models. I like the modern Marshall, but the 80's Marshall doesn't do anything for me. Unlike some other postings, I don't get a whole lot of hiss or added noise on mine. So, in my opinion, here is my thoughts on the amp. I play in a U2-like rock band, and needed something versatile. This, the amp does well. I have played with small Orange and Fender tube combos, and I currently also use a Fender Blues Deville, and I can say that the Vox emulates a tube sound fairly well. Not exactly, but then again, it's not exactly a full on tube amp. The one major problem with the sound I've had so far is that for 60 watts, it just doesn't have a whole lot of headroom. I can't keep an amp model clean at full volume, but since I am almost always playing with at least a little bit of overdrive, this usually isn't a major problem.

Reliability: 5
OK, here's my gripe. I had one for three days, played it loud once for about two hours, and the speaker blew. These are supposedly sturdy Celestions, but it cracked up all to hell in no time. I got it replaced immediately from American Musical Supply, and the new one seems to be more stable, but I'm still nervous that it will go on me during a gig.

Customer Support: 7
The warranty should be longer, but the customer support I received from American Musical Supply has been very good. This amp needs a good warranty.

Overall Rating: 8
Overall, it does the job well and the price is good. You get a lot of choice, which I like, and it comes close to nailing a classic ac30 or twin sound. I wouldn't drop it, or tour with it, but I do think that it is well suited as an economic recording amp. My biggest complaint is that it's not loud enough, so I solve that by playing another amp with it. It is a fun amp though, and you can spend hours setting up different settings.

Submitted by Anonymous at 04/21/2002 06:02

Price Paid: US $699

Features: 10
Great amp models. Nice pedal type effects and really good loop effects and mods. Power amp can be set to 1,15,30,or 60 watts giving very good fully driven amp tones at even one watt output. Amp can be tweaked very easily from panel. Tube in final output stage gives a very real tube amp sound. Full, warm, and anything else you want.

Sound Quality: 10
I am using this amp with a Tele Standard modified with a 57 PAF plus on the neck and a Dimarzio Chopper T, which sounds like a P90 when not split on the neck. Also with a Charvel Strat with full pickups, and with a stock Tele Nashville. From the humbuckers to the single coils this amp gives you the sound of the guitar and is very receptive to picking pressures.
I can pick any of the amp models with any of the guitars I use and find something I love. My favorites are the Vox AC30TB and the Marshall BluesBreaker, though all of the amps sound really nice.
I find myself playing this amp without the effects most of the time because the fact is that the amp is very full and warm sounding just using the models alone.
I can not believe I can get the incredible variety of full tones this amp has to offer. It is the finest and by far the most versatile amp I have ever owned. That plus the ability to run at one watt with the amp fully driven while my daughters sleep two rooms down the hall.
Vox, Korg, and ToneWorks did this thing just right. Also, it has noise cancelling built in so if you are running the gain really high you can remove any noise.
Sound is the best I have ever had in 35 years of playing.
The line outs are the best I have ever used in any amp. I can run it straight into my Mackie 1402 and not lose a thing.

Reliability: 10
Only had it for two weeks, no problems. It does appear to be well built though.

Customer Support: 10
Warrantee is one year, which I do not find bothersome. By way of the Valvetronix site I think support will be great.

Overall Rating: 10
This is an amp that will be the number one amp in my studio, which is where I primarily compose and record. Very useful, very versatile. I am doing everything from hard core country to slamming rock and metal with it and can find no weaknesses.
If anything happened to it I would have another one tomorrow. The AC30TB Vox alone and the ability to really ring it at 15 or 30 watts in addition to the one watt is something wonderful.
I tried a Fender Cyber Deluxe for a few days first, as well as a Blues Junior. Each went back to Guitar Center after a few days. The CD just didn't have any tube sound to it at all while the Vox has the full milky tube sound I wanted. Especially with the p90 and pAF plus pickups.

Submitted by Dreamsharer at 04/13/2002 12:46

Price Paid: US $619.00

Features: 8
One channel hybrid modelling amp 16 amp models, effects, verb, delay
chorus and the like. also it has 10 stomp box models....

Sound Quality: 10
I use a american deluxe fat strat and a Nashville tele, the amp sounds very tubey...I had a fender cyber deluxe but took it back it sounded way to sterile...I also have Fender Hot Rod Deluxe,,,I play mostly christain worship/contemporary...ie skillet,small town poets ect...this amp does it all I checked out marshalls, crates,line 6 but initially chose the fender cyber deluxe...then I found a Valvetronix and knew I should of bought the vox...I kept the fender for about three weeks and tried to like it but in the end did'nt....the Vox amp models sound wonderful, I can easily get the tom petty type of rich overdrive with the vox...The cleans are great and the various marshall models sing the vox are great to...the only slight issue is ther is a little hum, on some of the models, probably the transfomer, but its only noticable if I'm in the house and it real quite...I've gigged three times with it Once out side and it easily has enough volume for the stage, I mike it into the P.A. I like the power settings of 1,15,30,60 watts, for my outside gig I had it on 30 watts with the master at about 2/3...... I want some thing that I could use without using stomp boxes and for me this is the amp... I bought the foot controller for 130.00, its great except for the lame pedal...I also bought the Vox volume pedal it's on back order though...

Reliability: N/A
to new to tell seems pretty well built I plan on taking care of it

Customer Support: 9
By email I've had all my questions answered...

Overall Rating: 10
If you want an amp that has a tube feel and sound with a variety of sounds this is it, for a 600.00 amp, I'm very satisfied...nothing is perfect but I think I've finally found an amp that i'm very happy with

Submitted by John at 04/07/2002 21:56