Vox Pathfinder 15

Price Paid: US $99

Features: 8
This is a 15 watt, transister amp, made in Korea in 2001. It features Tremolo which is rather nice, and has output jacks for both external speaker, and headphones. The headphone feature cuts out the main speaker which is rather nice when satisfying those late night urges to play. It also has a gain channel which I find to be somewhat weak, but more tube-like than some of the other fake sounding transisters I've heard. Both the gain channel and tremolo are foot switchable, but no foot switch is provided. Reverb would be nice, but considering that I only paid $99 brand new, the amp features a lot for the money.

Sound Quality: 10
I use this amp for home practice. I play classic rock & blues, and usually plug in with a Boss DD3. I play a Strat, SG, Starfire and
t-400 through it, and they all sound great. The clean channel is very warm, sweet and tube-like. The most amazing thing I find is how quiet this amp is. Even with my single coils, there is no hum. There are also no extranious unwanted noises, buzzes or pops.

Reliability: 9
So far, the amp has not let me down. I'm not certain it has enough guts to take it on a gig, but that's not what it is intended for.

Customer Support: N/A
I haven't had to deal with them.

Overall Rating: 10
I have been playing for about 8 years, and this is my first transister amp. I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and since I bought this little Vox, I have not used the HRD. I love this little Vox amp! It does everything I expected it to do, and in such a neat little package. I highly recommend it as a bedroom or practice amp.

Submitted by Brewnote at 01/21/2002 18:01

Price Paid: 300 (Oz)

Features: 8
Good overdrive, can be muddy. Footswitch should be included. Tremolo good but needs reverb.

Sound Quality: 9
Can sound very tube like, classic vox sounds. COuld have a bit more gain but that was not its is designed for. Can fill up a room for its compact size.

Reliability: 10
Good so far. No crackling... Would depend on it.

Customer Support: N/A
Never dealt with them

Overall Rating: 9
Bonza!

Submitted by Anonymous at 12/01/2001 23:51

Price Paid: US $99.00

Features: 7
this is a solid state amp, with basic controls and two knobs for tremelo, also a boost knob for some distortion. you can hook a footswitch, which is extra. it's gotta head phone jack.

Sound Quality: 10
this is a great clean tone amp. as close as you can get to the original for the money. i couldn't believe it sounded as good as it did. i record with it, and use it as a writing amp for sure. i can write on this amp, and if move to louder amp, the sound i wrote is still there. the tremelo is moderately nice and some decent reverb would have been nice. to me the distortion is worthless, and it sounds pretty weak, but i don't think you should depend on any practice amp for yr distortion, use a pedal.

Reliability: 10
works so far. i have no complaints. it sits in one place pretty much, so no tour danger yet.

Customer Support: N/A
no experience with support.

Overall Rating: 9
i love this amp. i use a fender princton tube amp with tremelo and reverb as well which cost me $350, and this one keeps up very nicely. i use the vox for nice clean tracks with no effects and get the best sound. i don't mess with the knobs. the speaker could be upgraded, and i might do that sometime, but so far it's ok and moderate levels. again, i would have gotten the cambridge with reverb, if it had been out then, but if you don't use reverb this is the cleans practice amp you can get for the money.

Submitted by sonny at 11/01/2001 22:45

Price Paid: 115 (euro)

Features: 8
Before i tried it i heard some stories about the Pathfinder being a good practice amp capable of creating AC-30 like sounds. Not the real thing , but U2 using some of these little amps in the studio on their last album must be a good reference. I doesn't have a reverb or anything, and i don't use the overdrive much, but it's all that it has to be for that price.

Sound Quality: 9
I play a lot of U2, radiohead and just about anything else with this sweet little amp. Rickenbacker into Boss Sd-1 intoTc elec-G major into Vox Pathfinder. I like to use my Fender amp for the clean stuff (it's not very loud without any od). But for the overdrive i use this amp. and it works out pretty well. I'm surprised at how loud it can b when cranked up.

Reliability: 9
It hasn't had any problems yet. Andit seems pretty dependable to me. I would defenitely replace it when something would happen. for hat kinda money... i think this amp is the best in it's price-range.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 8
I would defenitely replace it when something would happen. for hat kinda money... i think this amp is the best in it's price-range.
don't think you're buying an AC-30 or AC-15. But hey what can you say .....for like a 120 bucks this is the best...

Submitted by Frank van Wijngaarden at 09/25/2001 10:54

Price Paid: US $79

Features: 9
Everybody has listed all the features so there's probably no reason for me to. I bought this amp to power my talkbox. I used it as my practice amp at a rehearsal one day. This thing has oh my jesus power for just being 15 watts. It's what it was designed for. I read a review here where a guy said the sound isn't good enough for his ears and is a piece of shit. Get a life! Didn't you try it out first? If it was so bad why'd you buy it? It's a practice amp for jesus' sake. I only paid $79 for mine and because I can use it as my guitar amp at rehearsal and for my talkbox makes it well worth the money. I just used it for the first time 8/29 on stage and my talkbox sounded great. It was the only amp it's size to have an extention speaker out, in fact when I demo'd one the salesman hooked it up to a Boogie 4X12 cab and it blew me away.

Sound Quality: 10
I use a Musicman Sillouhette and A/B it to my Carvin rig and to the Vox. If you're using it as a straight amp the overdrive is pretty good until you start cranking the gain and then it becomes pretty electronic but putting the gain and volume halfway together creates a very tubelike sound, something I didn't expect from an 8 inch speaker. Yeah, I know it could use reverb but for 79 bucks who cares. Just run your stomp boxes or processor right into the input, bring up the gain and crank. I use a Zoom GFX-8 and it turns this thing into a beast when cranked.

Reliability: 10
So far so good, no problems.

Customer Support: N/A
never dealt with them.

Overall Rating: 10
If this thing is used for what it is, a practice amp, you should enjoy the sounds you can get but if you're looking for Marshall tone from an 8 inch speaker buy a Marshall. This thing does a great job for what it's designed to do and if you can get more out of it then it's worth the $120 most places get for them. It simply has more features than any other amp I tried or looked at and it does a great job powering my talkbox without it blowing off my head in the process. If it were stolen I'd find the guy and power my talkbox with a Marshall, shove the talkbox tube up his ass and pop his eyes out with a power chord. Then with the money I lift from his wallet (probably from selling my amp), I'd go and buy another one.

Submitted by Brian at 09/01/2001 14:53

Price Paid: US $120

Features: 8
2000 Vox Pathfinder, 15watts solid state, 8" speaker. features volume, gain, boost switch, bass/treble, tremolo speed/depth, headphone jack, ext speaker jack. This is a badass little amp! At my favorite guitar store, these things couldnt stay in stock. Even the guys who worked there were buying them. Severely underrated at 15watts, as this guy is loud! It sure as hell doesnt sound like an 8" speaker, and half the time doesnt sound solid state! Great vox overdrive tones. Dont mistake this for merely a bedroom amp.....I know people who gig with these :D. The pathfinder is an amazing amp for the money, and can smoke other amps that cost 3x, 4x, 5x the price. I give the features an 8 because it's a bare bones amp, but badass from what you get from that.

Sound Quality: 10
I play mainly a Gibson Les Paul Standard, as well as several Fender Strats and a Tele. I play rock, and this amp can rock. Great dirty bluesy vox overdrives and very sweet tones. It can be loud and clean, or you can put some balls into it. I roll the volume about halfway up, gain at maybe 40%, and use my volume controls on the guitar to work the overdrive. At that, you've got a LOUD, classy overdriven, hot ass amp! GREAT TONES! This isnt a metal amp (thank god) so no pantera through this guy. A great practice amp, bedroom amp, small gigs amp. I havent tried running it to an external cabinet, but i wouldnt be afraid to do so! I'm not playing Shea Stadium anytime soon... I wouldnt be afraid to get this little guy in basements and bars. I love this amp more than my 100w marshall combo. cannot praise it enough! Everyone should buy one..or two:D

Reliability: 9
It is solid state, and a sturdy little guy. I think i would depend on it. It's my main amp anyhow as the bigass marshall collects dust. I havent had any problems with it, and Vox carries a great reputation, so i am not worried. Maybe i'll blow it out someday, then i'll just buy another! I think its an amp you can count on.

Customer Support: N/A
Vox has great reputation as being dependable, but i've never dealt with the company personally.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been playing for about eight years. My other amp is a Marshall 100w combo with 2x12" speakers. I like this amp more. Playing a Gibson Les Paul, Fender Strat, Tele, a strat copy, guild acoustic, seagull 12 string, and two japanese electrics from the 60s. I love the tone and simplicity of this amp, and the fact that it kicks the asses of more expensive amps. I actually intended to buy a cambridge, but the store was out of cambridge 15s, so a pathfinder it was. I LOVE THIS AMP. If it were stolen, i would replace it immediately. sometime in the future, i'll get an AC30...but thatll be after all the college loans are gone... oh my. For $120, its the best amp ever made. Shame for buying anything else within that range.

Submitted by pat at 08/17/2001 07:20

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 7
Review of the new all solid state 15 watt amp. This amp was viewed and played at mars music along with its one tube brother the Cambridge. First off the amp is classicly styled like an older amp which I like. Only 120 dollars? WOW what a buy! looks more expensive and 15 watt amps can fool you because they can be loud. It has a tremelo feature but thats the Brits for ya,... what it really needs is a reverb instead as most American players would prefer.

Sound Quality: 8
I read all the reviews of this amp. First of all I'm impressed with its loudness and good quality of sound. Transistor amps are fine and they make beautiful tones like this amp....but sorry fellas I don't hear any tube tones coming from this baby like I do the Cambridge model. I have a 12 year old all solid state 15 watt Dean markley amp that compares nicely to this one but my Dean Markley amp was more expensive than this one and that was 12 years ago. My Dean Marley amp has a better distortion than the pathfinder and I think the pathfinder might be a bit louder. Both are good amps and the only difference is in tone but I never though of my Dean Markley as having a tube tone even though it does have a vintage speaker that came stock

Reliability: N/A
I did'nt buy the Vox so I won't comment

Customer Support: N/A
no comment

Overall Rating: 8
I don't mean to burst anybodys bubble but I hear no tube tones coming from this solid state rig. Compare it side by side to the one tube cambridge model and you can hear the difference the one tube makes in the Cambridge model. The pathfinder is an outstanding value and has a great sound for a 15 watt practice amp. It's definatly worth looking at if you need a portable unit or on a limited budget. Its just to similar to my Dean markley K-20 15 watt practice amp so I can not justify buying one no matter how glowing all the reviews are for this model.

Submitted by Bruce at 07/30/2001 20:21

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 10
This Pathfinder is a 2001, and blows me away. I play 60-80's classic rock and top 40 country, also gospel and originals. I purchased this amp due to a neck- spine operation. I have had every kind of amp, just about made(used to own a music business). Hey this thing is no Blackface Deluxe or bluesbreaker, but you know if you want an honest sound for not much money this is the baby. I play a Tele and a Danoblaster thru this and am amazed at the quality, this amp will be used to record with and as a back-up rig (line out). It is not supposed to be anything other than a very good sounding more than powerful for it's size beaut. I was searching for something with a line out, there is not much under $300. worth looking at unless you buy used. I was suprised to see the speaker out and can't wait to check that out. I think i'm gonna look at vox as an alternative a little more closely because of this amp.

Sound Quality: 8
This Amp does singles coils real well, hums need a tab of tweeking. Very little noise, much quieter than some of my tube amps. If you looking for 80's 90's distortion, scooped mids, buy a marshall, if want classic, almost unforgiving honesty of sound stop here. I did notice if you can run the gain and volume close to each other that you can get a real tubey to gritty sound just using the volume on your guitar. Don't care for the distortion, i use an rp100 with extensive programing for that. This amp is deceptively loud, but won't compete with stage volume. I do believe you could line it out to a good pa and accomplish a huge sound. Good Luck

Reliability: N/A
Don't know, when i sold them none came back! So I hope I have the same luck!

Customer Support: N/A
don't know

Overall Rating: 10
I have been playing for 37 years. If someone stole it I would replace it, might even go to the cambridge 30 twin. I love the even string response, no stirng is mushy as with some small amps. The Marshalls I have owned often had a hard time with the tele low E. This is no prob.The one thing I wish it had and I would have paid more for it is reverb, but even with out it I love it!

Submitted by Mark H. Sanborn at 07/20/2001 11:29

Price Paid: US $107.00

Features: 9
This is a new 2001 model, bought as a scratch and dent item off of Musicians Friend. Works fine, looks sharp not sure why it was in their scratch and dent department other than a possible returned item. It has a single channel, 15 watts and one 8 inch speaker. Controls are gain, gain boost, volume, treble, bass, tremolo speed and depth. Other features include a headphone jack, external speaker jack and a footswitch jack that controls the gain boost and tremolo. Oh yeah she is solid state. Pretty much all the standard no frills stuff, with the exception of the Vox standard tremolo(yeah). Absolutely what I wanted and needed for a bedroom amp. It is more than loud enough for my intended use actually there is more power than what I will ever use.

Sound Quality: 10
I have several guitars, but this amp will be in my bedroom where I only keep one or two guitars. Those being a Gibson L6-S and a Fender hardtail strat(Hate them damn standard tremolos!!!). I play mostly rock and punk. I sometimes dip into the extreme and play blues. The gain control is great for a wide variation of sounds and the treble and bass controls are very responsive and offer a lot of different color and tone to the sound. It doesn't get super or ultra grind though but it does get pretty heavy. As I mentioned this is a solid state amp unlike its clone sibbling hybrid the Cambridge and its famous traditional big brother the AC/30, so don't expect it to sound like either of these(if you are a Vox nut) but it does sound good overall and if you consider the price tag($119.00 new) it sounds great.

Reliability: 10
Thus far it has been very reliable. When it first arrived I played it for a couple of days at moderate volume. Then I gave it the turbo test, cranked her wide open. No cab distortion like I've read in other reviews. Played through it clean cranked also, again it held up nicely, speaker seems to handle it well. It most likely will never experience a gig. If I were a beginner I'd probably try it. It would most likely need miked for that situation.

Customer Support: 3
I requested some Vox information via their actually web site a couple of months ago. Still haven't heard a thing out of them. Don't know what is up with that. Oh well they still make great amps.

Overall Rating: 10
Been playing for 16 years now. I own primarily Gibson guitars(Les Pauls and Sg's only Please!!!) a couple of Fenders, Rics and some other nonamers. My other amps are Voxes and Gibsons. Some are valve, some are solid state and some are hybrids. Now I have this new Vox to add to my collection. I would be disappointed if I woke up and didn't see my Pathfinder sitting on top of my dresser in the morning then I would go out and buy another one to replace it. It isn't the greatest amp but it is far from being the worst. It is excellent for the price. Looks great and very durable. I looked at Marshalls and Fenders before I bought this one and I feel I made a good choice. I'm not a tone, valve or effects nut. Everything I own I can get different sounds out of. I would not keep them if I couldn't because my mood changes so much. I have found with most amps in general you can get good sounds out of them if you tweak them a little. Except the modeling amps they make you think your gonna get some killer tones out of them which you do but then you can't tweak them to give them your own personality.(except for the Cyber Twin by Fender) In my opinion go out and buy the amps you want and let them sound like you. Taylor you amp and your sound around yourself not someone else or by the number of tubes it has. But if you're looking for a versatile, compact, loud and great looking bedroom amplifier check out these Pathfinders cause they are just the thing.

Submitted by Anonymous at 05/15/2001 04:10

Price Paid: US $200.

Features: 10
Mine is a 65 thomas with a gold 4 ohm Bulldog. the Bulldog is JMI on the label. It uses one el84 two ecc83s and a gz rectifier.It has the coolest shimmering vibrato and the smoothest distortion when cranked. It was designed by that Denny guy who did the ac30 they flew him over when they made the distribution and Production deal.

Sound Quality: 10
I have used it with gibson humbuckers, fender single coils and a Ricky 381 with humbuckers. It sound fab with everything I have tried I used it with a 67 vibrochamp and came up with true groovy sounds. The vibrato's were slapping each other silly until I regained my composure. I recorded a couple tracks with it and wanted to keep rerecordeing because it sounded so good!

Reliability: 10
I bought it from a local shop that usually does not make a habit of having good deals in this case I bought it over a Superchamp I was eyeing and am glad I did. To further puch my motivation it had been recently gone over by the same gut who rebuilt a few other amps for me.It will last another 35 years without a doubt.

Customer Support: N/A
I am sure if I need customer support it will be somewhere.

Overall Rating: 10
This is the only nonfender I own. It goes so well with my ricky that I am totally shocked. I love this amp it sounds different from my fenders in a very complemetary way. I would buy another if I could find one.

Submitted by bob cox at 04/11/2001 11:36