Vox Cambridge 30 Twin Reverb

Price Paid: US $349

Features: 6
Stock Cambridge 30 Twin Reverb. Two channels: one solid state, the other with a tube preamp. Reverb. Tremolo. 30 Watts, but I believe its output it 15 watts. Vintage Look. Not a solid construction as edges are not protected.

Sound Quality: 6
Channel one (solid state) has an excelellent clear sound. Very useful for multifx and amp simulations uses. Channel two (tube preamp) feels like if the design was left in the middle and here is where I expected the Vox sound to appear. Depending on the guitar and the mix of gain, eq and volume it can sound bluesy or it can sound extremely muddy; I´m still trying to get a really convincing sound, so I will test other tubes. I use this channel just with analog pedal: the multifx is worthless here. Best sound so far (Channel 2) was with single coils or Hum-single coils mix. Plain humbuckers tend to muddy the sound right away. The guitars I used are a Fender Fat Tele, Gibson Les Paul Studio and a Godin Solidac.

Reliability: 2
I will not use it for a gig; better go with the multifx and a direct connection.
In other terms, the amp is just two months old and has started to show problems: when played at medium-high volume it will start to crackle, and even make sudden cuts in the volume. Now I understand why Sam Ash sells a lot of refurbished Vox amps; quality control seems to be gone from the Korea Factory.

Customer Support: N/A
I just started the process through my dealer (Mars Music in Miami) and through the Vox web page that should put me in contact with its US distributor: Korg. Mars has been very supportive since I reported the case, and I will wait for Korg US before making any comment. I expect to have a good customer support because of Korg.

Overall Rating: 4
My overall rating is 4 due to the amp problems, if not I will give it a 6. If stolen or lost I won´t replace it; I will get another amp made in Japan, US or Europe. Anyway, I´m not planning to sell it until I´m really sure that a good tone cannot be taken from channel two. My humble advice to Vox is to include an effects loop and finish the design of the tube preamp channel as it has the potential for a great tone, but...

Submitted by Juan C. Urdaneta at 01/18/2002 18:39

Price Paid: US $400

Features: 10
Very versitile amp. Has an overdrive channel and a beautiful clean channel. Has plenty of volume for practice and small gigs.

Sound Quality: 10
This has a beautiful clean channel. The overdrive lacks in some areas. It doesn't have the volume or smooth sound of the clean.

Reliability: 8
I never had a problem with this amp until I blew the speakers. It just wasn't enough to play gigs with. Other than that I had no problems.

Customer Support: N/A
I didn't deal with the company

Overall Rating: 5
This is a good practice amp or to play small gigs. I blew the speakers in mine trying to equal our lead guitarist's randall with 4x12s. its a good sounding amp. If you want to play gigs get an AC30

Submitted by Anonymous at 01/01/2002 21:12

Price Paid: US $348

Features: 8
All the appearance and style of the traditional Vox amps of the 60's in a nice, lightweight combo. 30 solid state watts through a pair of 10 inch speakers. Reverb, tremelo and dual channels - clean and overdrive. Claims to be a tube/ss hybrid. More on that below.

Sound Quality: 5
I play an American Standard Tele, mostly for classic rock with some blues thrown in from time to time. I plug straight in without any effects. Despite the hybrid label on this amp, it's just a standard solid state import that looks better than the rest. The clean channel is your typical solid state, in other words, OK. The so-called distortion channel is a disaster. I tried changing the tube (12ax7a) from the cheapo Sovtek to a superb NOS RCA in an attempt to smooth its raspy voice a little. No effect. It's obvious that the tube is nothing more than a marketing gimmick. Volume is what you'd expect from a 30 watt SS amp - practice or bedroom playing. This is NOT an amp that will handle gigs.

Reliability: 8
I kept this amp for three months and had no problems with it. But it's lightweight construction would not stand up to hard usage.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 5
It's not a bad amp. But it doesn't compare well against other amps in the same price range. I've checked out the Fender Blues Jr and the Peavey Classic 30, which are both in the area of $350. Both of these are way better than the Vox. I recently bought the Classic 30 and sold the Vox soon after. No more solid state for me - these tube amps are so much better.

Submitted by Don Thompson at 12/23/2001 22:03

Price Paid: US $337

Features: 8
Very bluesy sounding amp when you pull the 12AX& and replace it with a FENDER 12AT7 - with little or no loss of gain.
To get the volume to gig level (small gig) I plug the line-out into my VOX T-25 with all but the bass control at neutral.
It NEEDS an effects loop but inline pedals (good onesm RP200 in my case) work well.
The hybrid nature means that it uses either a tube preamp or solid state one, giving a WIDE tonal range, harmonics, etc.

Sound Quality: 9
GROUNDING is very important. Without a good ground all sorts of noises can creep into the system. With the FENDER 12AT7 tube the distortion is smooth at first becoming aggressive only with the gain almost full.

Reliability: 9
no problems

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 9
32-33 years playing, my 5th VOX. Love the look and sound.
Would get another, perhaps this latest will have a price drop and I'll get another anyway.

Submitted by SteVe at 12/23/2001 21:41

Price Paid: US $349

Features: 8
Yes, yet another review of the Vox Cambridge 30 Twin. Just what the world needs, right? Well, while there is no need to restate all of the features here, I do feel there is an issue which has not been touched on.

Sound Quality: 10
I play electric 6-string, electric 12-string, and acoustic/electric 6-string. As yet I have not seen mentioned the performance of this amp with the 12-string or acoustic... so...
If you own a 12-string electric, you will love this little amp. Switch to the 'Clean' (no tube) channel and it shines like no S/S amp I've played it through. Switching to the 'Gain' (with 12AX7) channel is like dying and going to 12-string heaven! It shimmers with a life of its own. (Obviously, you must set 'gain' and 'volume' levels appropriately so that distortion is minimized.) If you are looking to re-create al the classic 12-string sounds, the Cambridge can do!

I was very skeptical as I went to plug in my acoustic/elec, most guitar amps suddenly sound very amemic when faced with 'acoustic' input. Happily, this is not the case here. With a slight re-tweeking of the onboard EQ (a 5-band), it sounded rich and full and crystal clear (utilizing the 'Clean' channel only). An unexpected bonus from an amp obviously not really designed or intended for acoustic use.

There is a difference in the quality of the distortion between my strat (with single coils) and my semi-hollow body (with humbuckers). While the clean channel is spectacular with the strat, I would agree with some other reviewers that distortion with the strat leaves something to be desired. However, the humbuckers are able to drive the amp to very acceptable levels of gain and distortion. And, contrary to some reviews, I find its volume to be quite usable in almost any circumstance... and with the 'gain boost' on it is VERY loud. (No, I do not play heavy metal, this is true... and if you're starting a demolition company, this is not the amp for you...)

It should be noted that I did take the advice of many reviewers and changed the stock 12AX7 tube. In fact, I ordered both a JAN Phillips and a Mullard CV4004 ($15 and $50 respectively) to get an idea of what the amp is capable of doing, given a fair chance! Both of the NOS tubes made a big difference, the Phillips actually providing more gain, but the Mullard being smoother and more 'mellow'. Right now I'm playing with the Mullard, and prefer it overall.

Reliability: 10
It's been a month, so far so good.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 9
This is a great little amp which is probably even more versatile than its designers intended. For those who have not found it to be so, I would call your attention to the various knobs on the amp and on your guitar. Use them! You will find a very wide spectrum of tones can be coaxed out of this small box.

Submitted by Mark McNeil at 12/08/2001 21:45

Price Paid: US $300

Features: 9
I think it was made this year.I'm pretty eclectic when it comes to the kinds of music I play. Here lately it's been sort of emo rock sounding. this amp has 2 channels. One clean .. and the other I use for mostly distorted sounds, although it can work as a clean as well. I never really had worked with effects before I got this amp. I like the tremolo a lot. not as loud as I had hoped for .. but still loud enough to gig with miked.

Sound Quality: 10
I''ve been playing for about 15 years and have played just about every kind of guitar under the sun ,and I have settled on an ESP H-100 as my axe of choice. It has 2 humbuckers and strat shaped with a carved top. combined with this amp... it's an unstoppable tone monster. now if you play something tough like metal or something....obviously look elsewhere. this is not some obnoxiusly loud Randall or the like. It pretty much sounds like Vox's always have. The clean cheannel is warm and produces a smooth distortion when cranked.the distortion kinda suprised me. It was a lot thicker than I thought would be. Thick, rich, classic. sounds great with chords.

Reliability: 10
I haven't rally had it long enough to grip about the dependabilty . no probs yet.

Customer Support: N/A
never dealt with 'em

Overall Rating: 10
This amp basically fit the bill as to what I was looking for. Just the right sound.No real complaints ... only praise.

Submitted by gary at 10/31/2001 20:32

Price Paid: US $325

Features: 8
Nice features, it is no Line 6 Flextone, but a little can go a long way. And plus I belive that mucic (espically guitars) sound overprocessed today. They are guitars not moogs!

I do need to get the foot switch to change channels. Read below for more detailed features. I love the reverb and tremelo.

Sound Quality: 10
Well, with the amp I also bought a 72' telecaster custom. Humbucker in the neck and standard tele single coil in the bridge. Think Keith Richards/Rich Robinson.

Channel One: Clean. Very Clean. The reverb and tremelo still function with the the clean channel. I like to use the neck humbucker on the clean channel. It gives me a nice Fender 65' Twin Reverb sound, very solid. The celestion bulldog's sound excellent. I like to get the tremelo just right and play some "flighty" Radiohead licks. Perfect.

Channel Two: I have not changed the tube yet. So this may change a little.

I had to really work to dial in a sound that didn't sound like mud. The knobs are on the touchy side. The gain should NEVER go past halfway! Once I sat down and worked with it for an hour (or the amp worked on me) it finnaly came in. With both of the pickups playing "on" the telecaster I could get a Marshall JTM 45 sound, touchy, but it was there. That is as high as I could get the gain with out it going to mud. Turn the gain down from there and it kicked into a Fender distorition sound.

I really love to play around with the 2nd channel and the reissue telecaster. There are a ton of variables between the guitar and the Vox and it seems I find a different sound every day. I have been trying to run through all of the Led Zepplin sounds. The tele and vox can just about nail them all. I also throw in some Radiohead to break it up, it's got that too.

Overall a very versital amp. I got it thinking it would be a one trick pony (beatles and other semi-clean brit-rock). But it is quite suprising. Don't get me wrong, if you want a Korn/Limp Biscuit sound, run away. This is not the amp for you. But, I am extreammly immpressed with the distorted sounds that can be achived with the 2nd channel....classic rock all the way.

Reliability: 7
Nothing wrong yet. I can tell that the cloth on the front will not wear well, nor will the tolex on the corners of the amp. I would like to find some metal corner protectors for it.

I did disassemble the chassis to look at it...seems to be made fairly well. Nothing to inspire convidence, but nothing to fragile.

Customer Support: N/A
Ain't gotta a clue

Overall Rating: 9
Great amp. It really has everything I need. I have been playing now for 14 years. Nothing serious. I am now considering finding a band to play with. I would consider stacking two of these 30 watt little monsters (I am Brian May!). Great Value. Great Amp.

Submitted by Gary Graham at 09/29/2001 23:13

Price Paid: US $349.00

Features: 7
This is a follow-up. Has lots of good features but needs an effects loop. What is has other than the distorted channel is tops. It's a hybrid amp.

Sound Quality: 8
The clean channel is still to this date the cleanest I've heard and I've owned Peavey Delta Blues, Bandit 112S (favorite overall of all amps), Champs, Princeton 65, Blues Jr. It's downfall is the distorted channel. I tried to tolerate it and even excuse it but it just doesn't do the trick for me. If you can get a vox with just the clean channel that sounds as good as this clean then buy it and forget the two channel version. 10 for clean, 5 for dirty channel.

Reliability: 10
No problems at all. Good solid amp.

Customer Support: N/A
N/A

Overall Rating: 8
Well, if I was Vox crazy, I'd buy another Vox with the clean sound this one has. But I wouldn't buy this one again. I can say that for every amp I've owned except for the Peavey Bandit 112S and old Champs. See my reviews on these. If you want a Beautiful amp with the best clean channel I've ever heard then the Vox Cambridge fits the bill, but the Bandit is the best overall, versitile and useful amp I've used to date. Thank you.

Submitted by mike baggett at 09/22/2001 09:09

Price Paid: 270 (£ UK)

Features: 9
Korean made 2x10 combo, made in 2001, two channels (clean and overdrive - valve preamp in channel 2), volume/treble/bass on ch1, volume/treble/bass on ch2, plus mid boost and gain boost buttons, also reverb and tremelo speed and depth. Oh, and it's 30 watts as well. It's pretty versatile, I needed something that was going to give me a nice clean sound and also a good overdriven sound, not too loud but good enough for small gigs.

Sound Quality: 8
My main guitar is a '96 Epiphone Sheraton, unmodified in any way. I also play a '97 Epi G400 SG and a '97 Squier Vista Jagmaster. I play in two environments - one is in an 'indie/powerpop' band (imagine somewhere between The Posies and the Field Mice) and the other is in church. I was looking for something which would suit both situations. Previously I'd used a Roland Super Cube 60 combo which was alright but nothing special. I'd tried lots of other amps in the price range (around £300) but nothing really came close to this. Not even a fabled all tube amp like a Laney VC30. I dislike Marshalls - they sound like Marshalls - and I was tempted by the Line6 Spider until I heard it (yuck!).

Oh, I also tried my father's Les Paul and Hank Marvin Strat through it a while back, both sounded great. The Les Paul kicked out a nice Neil Young-ish vibe on ch2, while the Strat was clean as a bell.

It certainly suits my style of playing (a bit jangly and a bit distorted), and I've not experienced anything like this before, the tactileness of playing is now more noticeable than ever. I'm going to have to improve my technique now that all my faults will be broadcast. Single notes sing out, chords are loud and brash, the two channels are distinct enough from each other. The gain boost is a bit odd, not sure if I'd ever use it, but the normal overdrive goes from mildly dirty to a nice 70s style crunch. The clean channel does break up a bit if hit hard or above a certain (quite high) level, but it does kick out a loud enough sound. Whoever complained of it being quiet is wrong, it is not. The distortion is hugely brutal but I've got pedals for that (my fx set up is guitar -> Vox Valvetone -> Danelectro Daddy-O -> Guyatone SD1 -> Zoom GFX700 -> Ibanex digital delay (old 80s model) -> amp so there's enough noise in there if I need it).

Only thing to note, there is a slight hiss coming through, but nothing too noticeable unless you intend to have long silences between songs. Docked a point or two for the hiss.

Reliability: N/A
Can't say yet, had it over a month and it hasn't failed yet. Fingers crossed.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 9
I've been playing for about 15 years, but only seriously in the last eight years since the band came together. I've listed the other gear I've used above, suffice to say this is the best amp I found in the price range with the facilities I wanted (line out, extension capabilities, 2 channels etc). The fact it looks like a slightly shrunken AC30 helps no end. The two speakers are great, loud and bold. I'd buy it again. My only real niggle is that it came without a footswitch and though you can switch channels and tremelo and reverb and the gain boost on and off, you need to buy two footswitchs to do it, which is a con. But for the money, it's fine, perfect for me. It won't be suitable for Limp Bizket or Metallica, but for jangling guitars with a bit of noise thrown in for good measure, it's just right.

Submitted by Rob M at 09/12/2001 07:08

Price Paid: US $350

Features: 5
It gets a 5 because the tremolo is fantastic. I mean it really sounds great. However, this amp is one hell of an expensive tremolo pedal, as that is it's ONLY redeeming value. The distortion may as well not exist. It is the worst distortion i have ever heard. The reverb is gutless and pathetic. But, hey, the tremolo rocks.

Sound Quality: 3
It is really quite bad. I bought it thinking/hoping that I would be able to get the same sound of two of my favorite bands, Radiohead and Blur. They both use Vox AC30's, which i can not begin to afford. I felt this would be a good compramize. I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG. This this sounds terrible. I bought it since my other fender amp was broken, and my BROKEN amp sounds better! This should tell you alot. Now, this is not to say that this is the worst amp ever. It sounds a touch more normal with single-coil guitars. I have a gretsch guitar (a hollowbody with humbuckers). It sounds like shit through that thing. I took it back immediatly. The sound is kindof warm, but so incredibly bass-y and dark that I can not even distinguish the top 3 strings. This, as you can imagine, is enough of a reason not to buy it. I thought i had really found a deal for 350 bucks, since a vox amp is just what i wanted. But, you always get what you pay for. It's the aweful truth. It sounds absolutly NOTHING like an AC30. It sounds like the cheap, crappy, japanese model it is. Honestly, it sounds broken and it's brand new. And mine is NOT a lemon...I checked. You would be foolish to buy this amp, even if you like vox sound or bands who use AC30s. I saved my money and got a fender hot rod deville 410 for almost twice the money, but it is 100000 times better. It sounds like gold. This amp, despite what it may appear, is NOT a great deal. It has NO freaking volume, it is muddy as muddy can be EVEN with the bass all the way down, and it distorts at high volume. There is a reason this thing is so cheap. What junk. I thought i would love it, but I learned that a real AC30 is an amazing amp, and this is just shit with the vox name on it.

Reliability: N/A
I don't know, I had it for a week. I hear they are tempremental.

Customer Support: N/A
No clue.

Overall Rating: 1
Do not buy this amp!!!! If you would like to know anything else, please dont hesitate to email me.

Submitted by Gavin Pherson at 08/21/2001 20:46