Vox AD60VT Valvetronix 112 Combo

Price Paid: US $699 + 179

Features: 7
I give it a 9 for what’s on offer, but I’m docking 2 points for the midi and pedal limitations.See overall rating. See Overall rating for the whole speil.

Sound Quality: 9
10 for the sound – deduct 1 for noise – too noisy with master volume beyond 1 o’clock – and it needs to be close to max to breathe properly especially on the clean models. The Class A models are fantastic - best I’ve tried (well, I haven’t tried Zenterra), all the others seem excellent as well, but class A is where its at for me. Actual AC 15 or 30 are too loud for the apartment (and yes, I am too old).I play world music / jazz I guess you could call it.Ibanez AF120 or a Strat. The effects are very good, too: all of them. The Sovtek 12AX7 seems fine, I tried an old Telefunken, and a Ruby Tube and didn’t notice a huge difference, so the valve reactor seems to be the way to go for tube feel.

Reliability: N/A
Don’t drop it.. I saw one of VT120s at Guitar Center that someone dropped and the bottom split in half. The electronics should hold up fine if the power supply is properly isolated… mine wasn’t.

Construction – The overall construction and assembly is very well done, electronics and knobs and pots robust, good handle, but the cabinet wood is sub par, fabric and corners are just adequate. Amps at half this price use better cab materials. The power supply/ isolation and headroom were not up to the job on the one I bought. The transformer hum even with gain, master and volume turned off, though not as bad as my refrigerator, was a nuisance, and worse than my other amps tube and solid state. In this price range - how about a toroid transformer, considering the high gain staging on some of the models and the need for isolation from line noise, RF and hum.

Customer Support: 8
Manuals and info online is meritorious. Korg has been good about software support and upgrades in the past

Overall Rating: 7
What a modeling amp should be: 1- MDF or plywood – not this flimsy type of particle board – (Of course AC 30s are made out of this now too) 2- MIDI control. 3 At least semi -professional pedal capability. While the basic layout and configuration is great, it would have been better to have two stages of stompbox effects ( and given Korg’s expertise in pedal boards, you’ve got to scratch your head as to why not?) or at least the wah and compressor as a separate stage, the work around is you use your favorite pedal in the front of the amp, and select from the others on offer. It has been several years since the advent of quality digital modeling. What I don’t understand is how a company like Korg which makes great MIDI synths and DA recorders can have failed to implement MIDI access in a modeling amp. The POD & Flextone have been out for a while, Hughes & Kettner,Roland’s VG series, and now the V-Amp, DG Stomp, and they all are MIDI saavy. Korg makes a great pedal AX100G pedal (which I own) which costs less and is so much better thought out than the controller for the Valvetronix. Or what about Line 6 floorboard or Behringer’s MIDI pedal: These are very good. Or bail on the whole deal and let us do it ourselves via MIDI access. How hard can it be to do it right the first time? Think of what it costs to have just another product that can’t put it all together. It seems to me that introducing a new product is a unique opportunity to garner market share, and seriously compromising a product for maybe $20.00 worth of materials and greedily overpricing a sub par pedal is foolhardy. I recognize that its difficult to anticipate everything in a new product, but the new part of the valvetronix is great. But the way guitarists use pedals and hook them up hasn’t changed all that much, its the old stuff that Vox / Korg dropped the ball on. Half an inch of travel on the pedal and a profile that won’t stay flat on the floor – you can’t use this pedal live if you’re active, and there’s no alternative. Woof. Instead of having a runaway bestseller, you’ve got a product that probably won’t move because it isn’t quite right.. Its like selling a car without a trunk, jack and spare - or doors that won’t open without some proprietary gizmo instead of a key. You lose respect all around by short changing a product so you have to buy a clumsy accessory to use it. DO IT RIGHT. Charge a few more beans, but don’t cripple the product. It isn’t quite rugged or flexible enough for stage, and if people don’t see it on stage, amateurs aren’t going to have confidence in it either. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I suspect responsibility for these compromising features lies squarely near the top of the corporate food chain, some committee who don’t have a clue about the fundamentals of utility a performer needs or the common sense to ask, because I can’t think of anyone I know that wouldn’t identify most of these shortcomings within half an hour of plugging in. I understand trying to cut costs. But there’s a point at which the $20 you save on materials on a $699 + $179 product makes the difference whether its going to sell or not. And if you can’t sell it you aren’t going to pocket the extra $20 in profits. Its just that’s its so close to perfection, and it seems to me foolishness that its not. Line 6 gear seems as good as they could make it given the technology available when it was designed. Why not this? I’m not just ragging on this product. Roland does it with customer service and support, most companies do it with it power supplies and preset patches. As musicians, we have to find a way to make stuff work, but I decided to return it. Its not worth $879 + tax or shipping with all the compromises involved. Frankly, I can get an adequate Class A vibe with a POD or Vamp 2 into a full range amp, so…as much as I love the sounds, I’ll get by with what I’ve got until Valvetronix 2, but by then there may be a Flextone 3 or Behringer may have turned the V Am

Submitted by JazzCelt at 04/03/2002 13:10

Price Paid: US $600.00

Features: 9
Alas if only the readers were to go to the VOX website they would see that this Amp has but ONE (1) 12AX7 tube in the power amp section as opposed to TWO (2) in the preamp, or anywhere else. I give it a 9 due to one feature that is unique...you can change the power output of this amp between 1,15,30, or 60 watts...very cool!

Sound Quality: 9
I played it thru my PRS custom 24. Very happy with everything I heard and everything I didn't hear (as in no excess hiss or hum). The amp does lack a bit in volume but other than that I have no complaints...a very steady little amp.

Reliability: N/A
Too new to rate.

Customer Support: N/A
No experience in this dept so I can't say one way or the other

Overall Rating: 9
A very portable amp with an intuitive, user friendly design, lots of features and solid sound but lets be real...you can't get the sound of a 1500 dollar classic tube amp out of this one no matter how much you tweak it! But if you're looking for a great looking, solid sounding affordable little amp for practice, small venues, or even some recording then this one is for you.

Submitted by Anonymous at 03/15/2002 21:33

Price Paid: N/A

Features: N/A
I don't have this amp, but I've read an aweful lot about it. Someday, when the powers that be give me money, then shall I be blessed with one. My reason for submitting a review is to correct many of the reviews for this amp. The Vox Valvetronix (both the 60 and 120) have 2 12ax7 tubes in the POWER AMP, not the pre-amp. This, and only this, is what gives this thing its tubey vibe and distinguishes this thing from any other tube wannabe digital amp out there.

Sound Quality: N/A

Reliability: N/A

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: N/A

Submitted by Anonymous at 03/09/2002 07:40

Price Paid: US $699

Features: N/A

Sound Quality: N/A

Reliability: 2
I guess when there's smoke there's fire!! I first did a review of this amp on 12/24/01 and raved about the sound, that still stands, but I also had a problem with the tuner. Since then the amp has completely crapped out on me with volume swells and crackling at all levels. I took it back to Guitar Center where the salesman tested it out and determined that it must be defective. It's being sent to VOX under warranty, and hopefully will be resolved within the next few weeks.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: N/A

Submitted by steve tyson at 03/06/2002 05:56

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 10
Brand new 60-watt Valvetronix amp. Hybrid digital modeling/12AX7 tube pre-amp. On board modeling-pedal-modulation-reverb settings. 1 12-inch Celestion speaker. Adjustable wattage 1-15-30-60 watt settings. Effects loop input. Foot controller input. Headphone input. Ext 8-ohm speaker output. Controls extremely logically laid out and intuitive to use. About 45 pounds.

Sound Quality: 9
I'm using this with a Guild Starfire V and PRS Custom 22 Soapbar. I mostly play clean early rock and a bit of jazz. This is an excellent amp for these types of music. This amp can also make some more heavy, psychedelic, and grungy noises. The amp can be overdriver pretty easily. The amp models are great - I was originally looking to get the early Brit AC-30 sounds from this amp, and that is exactly what I was able to achieve. I was also looking to replace current amp/effects setup with something a little less digital sounding. The VOX separates itself from the others, in my opinion, in that its effects and models sound a little less digital. I don't know if it is the 12AX7 pre-amp circuit, but this just sounded a little warmer.

Reliability: N/A
These seem very solidly built, but I haven't had it long enough, nor have I really beaten on it heavily enough to make a call on this.

Customer Support: N/A
I have not dealt with Vox/Korg for customer support. Their web page is very helpful though.

Overall Rating: 9
This was exactly what I was looking for. I was going to check out the Fender Cyber-Twin, but from what I'd heard about it, and the exorbitant price, I decided to give the Vox a closer look. I'm also a big fan of the Vox sound and many of the early British invasion groups that used them. This amp successfully models at least 4 Vox models (2 AC-30 models, and 2 AC-15 models) and some later British stacks, as well as 3 Fender models (called "Tweed" and "Black") and Boutique amps. I replaced my Fender Deluxe 90 and a Yamaha DG Stomp Box with this amp. The Fender was an extremely good amp, although not very versatile (good reverb but "drive" and "more drive" channels useless to me), and the Yamaha effects box was good, but the controls are counter-intuitive and the sound a bit too digital. The Vox is an excellent "one stop shopping" amp which replaces both of them.

The bigger brother of this amp, the 120-watt 2x12 model AD120VT also sounded very good, but size and price were a consideration - 120 watts was more than I needed, as was the 60 pounds. This was about the same size and about 10 pounds heavier than the Fender it replaced.

The foot controller pedal for it, the VC-4, costs about 180 bucks. Although not a bad pedal - tough construction - and necessary to utilize the VOX Wah-Wah effect (although there's also an "Auto-Wah" effect) - I decided not to get it. However, if you were gigging this amp, you'd probably want the pedal to avoid having to keep tweaking effects by pressing the controls on the amp itself. Note that you can only access 16 of the 32 effects stored in memory through the pedal at a given time. If I was gigging regularly or really dug the whole "Wah-Wah" scene, I'd get the pedal, but right now I wouldn't get two hundred bucks of use out of it.

Guitars I play are the Guild Starfire V semi-solid and the PRS Custom 22 Soapbar, and unplugged (sometimes) I play Gibson J-160E and J-100 XTRA acoustics.

Submitted by Lance at 02/22/2002 10:35

Price Paid: US $700

Features: 10
This amp has everything at my fingertips. Its 16 amp models all sound like the real thing. The automatic distortion on the rectifier is not needed. The modulation effects allow me to get the coolest and weirdest sounds I've ever got out of an amp. The delay on the amp is amazing. The reverb isn't as good as Fender Combos' reverb, but its good enough. The pedals are a little hard to control if you don't have a footswitch. The 4 channels allow you to save the presets so you don't lose them. I gig with it and it does fine. Don't try to do a big gig with it because it's not loud enough. I play from hard rock to psychedelic rock to blues and this amp is perfect for me.

Sound Quality: 10
I use an Ibanez RG120 and Gibson SG's and the tone I get out of it is great. Its not that noisy, unless you use a bunch of distortion and fuzz pedals and goo right up to the amp. It can give you a rean really fat tone to a really sharp tone, it depends on what settings you put on. The amp sounds very clean when it is on the clean channel (except on the Rectifier, Boutique OD, UK 80's, and UK 90's). It doesn't get that much distortion on the clean channels at high volumes. The distortion is more blues oriented.

Reliability: 8
This is a pretty reliable amp, it hasn't broken down on me yet. I've heard that some guy's tuner broke down on the amp. This amp has never failed me.

Customer Support: N/A
Haven't dealt with them.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been playing for about five years and I have an Ibanez RG120, Two Gibson SG standards, an Epiphone SG, and a Danelectro DC59. If stolen or lost, I'd definitely buy it again.

Submitted by Anonymous at 02/02/2002 17:42

Price Paid: US $590

Features: 8
NEW - COOL modeling amp. I didn't buy a Line 6 or a Fender or any of the others 'cause I was waiting for this one to come out. This is the 60 watt version. Has 120 Watt sister model, but the difference in the real amount of sound output between the 2X12 120 watt and the 1X12 60 watt doesn't come close to double. I got this 'cause it's easy to haul.

Cosmetically this is GREAT if you love the Vox look. It's a 1X12 AC-30 with a fantastic blue grill cloth. Very nicely done. 120 Watt version IS the image AC-30 in Blue. Looks very well built.

Controls are to the rear, and on the top (ala the AC-30). The labels read toward the FRONT, so you don't have to read upside down. Keep this amp low to the ground for diddleing, however... And you will be diddleing a ton.

This weights 43ish lbs; 2X12 is 59ish - too close to the AC-30 weight for me. This 60 watt model is just right to lug around (if you so desire).

Tons of features...read all about them at the Vox official web sight. Too many to list here. They are all pretty cool. Most are so good that you get goosebumps!!! Some however really suck:

1.) Vox Wah effect is useless IMHO. The foot controller (which is an extra added attraction you must purchase to use the Vox Wah) is BAD for real time wah-wah use. I REALLY though VOX would have gotten this right. The effect itself is OK, but the real time controller is way limited. Completely changes sweep over the course of about 1/10th of the throw of the pedal...and it's all at the pedal's open end, which is the hardest end to control. Works more like the Thomas MRB via pumping footswitch than any of the coveted Vox Clyde's. Very dissapointed in this feature. I wanted this one to be great. This is the worst part of the amp for my money.

2.) NO volume at ALL on the clean end of the amp models. And the Boutique Clean model is SOOOO quiet. No headroom on the master volume for this amp simulation. Some truth to this on the 2X12 Black amp simulation as well. AC-30 is hard to clean up with any volume. I did A/B this in the store with the 120 watt vs. the 60 watt models. I got similar results. Won't cut by a loud drummer (are there any other kinds? lol). This is the second worst feature of the amp for me.

BUT in defense - the Line Out feature sounds VERY COOL through the PA sytem. It is nice. Plus, it also has it's very own level control. So, where there is a will...

If you gig with this and change patches a bunch, or manually change simulations from a clean amp to a fully saturated amp, you'll have to mess a BUNCH with the Master Volume each time. Foot controller helps this. Added volume pedal (not yet out, coming in March) should also help in easing this. But for a amp that is so digital...one would think the overall volumes of the amp simulations could be similar - be they clean or dirty. These are not.

Foot controller seems well built. Switches feel like quality. Unit is expensive...list is $200. I paid $150...asking price started at $179. I think you need this for live applications for sure. You can use the foot unit to switch presets (any one of 16 at a time without touching the amp - amp itself has 8 banks of 4 but controller can only access 4 banks of 4 at a time), or use it like 4 stomp boxes in manual mode. Stomp on/off an effect, a modulation, a delay, and a reverb. Can't do two 'effects' at once. Must select the setting you want on the amp, then stomp it On/Off. Works nice. Can get to the tuner too, from here. Tuner works very nicely - and silently if you want! Has expression pedel built in (can be volume...user switchable), and a place to add an outboard volume pedal (Vox's available in March). This does more stuff too...

My advice is for you to download the user manuals for the amp and the foot controller before you try the amp. Vox web sight has them up for free downloads. This will help you understand the controls and the feature before you go to test drive.

BEST FEAT

Sound Quality: 10
Very responsive...very total tube like. The amp simulations are way close... Awesome in most respects. Closest I've tried from any manufacturer. I'm using a Les Paul, a 360 Ric, and a Epi 335 with the amp right now. They all sound very cool in there own way. Amp reacts differently with each - as hoped for.

Amp does not sound digital. Very analog.

The sounds from this amp do blow me away. Love the Uni-Vibe, all the delays, reverbs, and effects. Very versatile... made just for that Chameleon in all of us.

You can clean up some of the simulations (somewhat) by rolling off the guitar volume...just like you'd hope for. Play it all here, from country to punk. This amp can do it. May not be loud, but the sound quality is there.

Noise gate is excellent. Amp is super quite.

Reliability: N/A
I'd gig with this without a backup. I've not had trouble with any of my Korg era Vox products (AC-30, AC-15, Pathfinder, etc...). Been giging with my Korg AC-30 for 3 years without a problem. Hope I get the same from this.

I don't know if I'll gig with it however. It may be best suited for recording.

Customer Support: N/A
Warranty is only 1 year...should be longer based upon the price point of this puppy. This ought to be a three year item IMHO. No experience with Vox service.

Overall Rating: 8
I'm a Vox lover...so I want to love this too. Lack of headroom on all clean settings is quite troubleing, and was hoping for much better wah-wah control. I don't want to use external effects. That's the point behing this amp! However.... if these are the only two bad spots, the tons of good spots may out weight 'em. Too soon to tell though. As much as I love it, I need to be able to use it out. Time will tell. So I give it an 8. Great beat. I sure can dance to it.

Submitted by Rich at 01/25/2002 09:45

Price Paid: US $699

Features: 10
1x12 Vox Speaker, vintage grill cloth (classic Vox styling), A ridiculous amount of modeling effects and amp types, 2 12AX7's, Hi-Lo output jacks, the list goes on. Has everything you would want at your fingertips.

Sound Quality: 10
Holy shit, thats all I gotta say. I'm not a big gig player, so I dont need gobs of volume. This amp has so many tonal possibilities, its just awesome. I've always been hesitant about these multieffects amps, and never really tried one. When I heard Vox came out with one though, I knew it would definately be a good product. I plugged in a stock Fender Mexican the other day and bam, I had what I've been looking for. Put this thing on "Black" for amps, "Tube Overdrive" for pedals and you feel like your face to face with SRV. Nails it. Put it on a UK amp setting with Fuzz and you feel like your trippin' with Clapton. The rotary speaker simulation is so sweet too, just think the bridge solo on "Badge". And I'd buy this amp just for those settings...I play an 86 Les Paul Custom w/ a JB in teh neck (yes in the neck) and a '59 in the bridge. I'm gettin this amp to the house in a week and oh man, I can't wait, this is gonna be good.

Reliability: N/A
Isn't at the house, but I have a very good feeling that this amp will hold up very well. Vox is good stuff, no way around it.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 10
This thing is dope. Might not be for everyone, as it isnt all all tube amp, but if you have a good ear for tone and like versatility, then get your ass out to a music shop fast so you can get one of these babies before their out. I guarantee these will be out of stock soon. What an amp.

Submitted by Mike Handis at 01/13/2002 13:52

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 10
Loaded with features. See the other reviews for the low-down.

Sound Quality: 7
Well, I really wanted to like these new amps from Vox. My main problem with them is that they are woefully underpowered. I tried both the 60 and the 120 watt models and I'm beginning to understand why bass players use 200+ watt amps. Sixty solid-state watts doesn't even come close to the volume level of, say, an AC30 or a 50 watt Marshall or even a little Fender Deluxe Reverb.

Here was my main problem with this amp: you set the master volume all the way up, set the volume all the way up, then start with the gain knob on zero and work your way up. It starts out with hardly any volume at all with the gain on 1 or 2 or even 3. I mean, you can hardly hear the thing. Then you get some decent sound at 4 and 5 (halfway up) but past this point, which is really wear it needs to be if this amp is gonna cut through a loud drummer and bass player, it is beginning to distort on many of the amp settings. What this comes down to is you really can't get a clean AC30 tone at decent volumes. You've really gotta wind up that gain knob to get any kind of decent volume out of the amp and by then it's an overdriven AC30 tone -- which is a nice tone but what if I want clean? Same can be said of pretty much all the amp models save for the Twin and the Dumble Clean.

And yes I had the amp cranked up to its full wattage (it can be cranked down to 1 watt for bedroom playing) and this was a brand-new fresh out of the box amp. The 120 watter is only slightly louder than the 60 watter and I think that's just cuz of the extra speaker.

The tones do sound terrific but the lack of volume and especially feel is this amp's downfall. I mean, set this amp alongside an AC30 with the volume set on "3" or a Plexi with the volume set on "2" and you'd have to crank the Vox all the way up to even compete and it would still totally lack the punch and feel of the tube amps.

Reliability: N/A

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 5
This amp would make a fine recording amp or home amp as its tones do sound really nice but for the money I want something I can gig with and this would not cut it.

Submitted by Anonymous at 12/25/2001 21:21

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 8
Lot's of features. Didn't like the fact that there is not tone control for the pedal models. They are either on or off. If your tubescreamer is too bright, too bad.

Sound Quality: 7
Use single coil and humbucker equipped guitars. Lot's of versatillity but didn't nail any tones to write home about for me. A/B'd it with a reissue Fender Super Reverb (used to have a blacface one that got away) and after struggling to get a tone that satisfied me from the vox, the Super was an immediate, Ahhhhhh!

Reliability: N/A
Seemed okay. The grill cloth was not tightly stretched and was flopping around. Construction seemed a little cheezy overall, but not unuseable.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: N/A
I've been playing for over 30 years and still gig semi professionally about 6-8 times per month. Not a bad all-in-one amp but after all the hype, and really wanting to like this amp, it didn't trip my trigger enough to want to buy it. Sorry.

Submitted by Kenny Perciavalle at 12/25/2001 08:22