Vox Pathfinder 15R

Price Paid: US $140

Features: 10
2003 Vox Pathfinder 15R
15 watt solid state
Two channels: clean and boost
Headphone jack, Extension speaker jack, Line out, Footswitch
Gain, Volume, Treble, Bass, Tremolo Speed, Tremolo Depth, Reverb
I mostly use this amp for practive and jam sessions, and it has more than enough power, I rarely have it up over 1/3 master volume. This amp has a ton of features for the price and is extremely well built. I only wish it had a contour or midrange knob.
The other thing I don't like is the footswitch and headphone inputs, along with outputs are all on the back, which is inconvenient.

Sound Quality: 9
My current setup is Epiphone Les Paul Custom>Crybaby 535Q Wah>Ibanez TS7 Tubescreamer>Vox Pathfinder 15R.
The sounds are very versatile, and it suits my style of playing well (delirious?, Jars of Clay, Third Day, U2, etc). The sound is not lacking in treble, especially with reverb, which is a good complement to my Les Paul. But should you wish, it can put out some thick bass too. Very quiet when on, in clean channel. It doesn't make a sound when switched on. When the boost is activated, it makes a bit of noise. The clean channel is excellent, very smooth, and even warm. The boost is also good, but I prefer the sound with a Tubescreamer to the built in distortion, it's just a bit more crisp. But the level and range of distortion is more than adequate for me.
The clean channel easily break up and give you a good crunch, if you turn the gain up about 2/3. But if you want "clean" clean, this amp can do it too.
The tremolo is pretty smooth, but it is not very strong, more suited to subtlety. It could be stronger. The reverb isn't too pronounced either, and could be thicker, but it adds some depth to your sound.
Occasionally, this amp will pick up radio signals when you're not playing, which can get annoying, but it isn't very loud and you can't hear it or else it goes away when you play.

Reliability: 10
No problems yet, since I use it for jamming and practice, and since it's solid state, it should be pretty reliable. No problems so far. It's built very well.

Customer Support: N/A
I haven't dealt with Vox, so I don't have an opinion on this.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been playing about 4 years now and also own a Marshall MG15 combo, and I prefer the Vox's sound to the Marshall now.
I would get another one were this stolen or lost, I really like the sound and features.
I think this amp is a great value for the money. Now you can't pump out heavy distortion without a distortion pedal, so this amp is for people with cultivated aural tastes.

Submitted by Josh L. at 02/15/2003 18:37

Price Paid: US $139.00

Features: 8
2002 amp. The other reviews cover most of the features. In this day of the black/silver amp clones out there, nothing looks quite as classy as a Vox with it's diamond grill cloth, white piping, and gold trim. I always get compliments from other musicians at my gigs. The only things I can fault this on is the lacking of a second input which would be nice for two guys to fire up both their ax's on an inpromptu jam, and the foot switch controls. The right button works the tremelo, which is great. The left switch controls the boost switch, and I don't care for this feature at all. Personally, I wish instead of the boost switch, you could switch the reverb on and off from the foot switch. Maybe I can get my amp tech to do a little rewiring...

Sound Quality: 9
I play a 1975 strat with Fender vintage Noiseless pickups as my main ax, and a mid 80's Ibanez RG550 as my backup. My effects chain is currently all Danelectro, with an EQ into a phase shifter into a delay into a chorus into a Daddy-O overdrive. I usually play with the EQ and delay (usually set as a slap back) on, and use the other pedals occasionally. I play everything from Beatles to Rock-a-billy, New Wave to Punk, with a dose of old time Jazz to boot. My main amp is a 1965 Vox AC-30, and I bought the Pathfinder primarily as a practice/rehersal amp. While is doesn't exactly duplicate the sound of all of those heated electrons bouncing around in those vacuum tubes, it is definitely a Vox. It is one of the best solid state amps I've ever heard, and when you turn up the gain, lacks that cheesy distortion transistors sometimes give in a solid state amp. In my opinion, the boost switch give that cheesy transisitor distortion, so I never use it. Boy, was I surprised by the sound and volume. Definitely powerful enough for rehersals as well as small venues. At medium sized venues, I purchased one of those Ultimate kick back amp stands with the mic goose neck on top, and I just mic the amp through the PA and use the pathfinder as my stage monitor. Now I bust out the old AC-30 for only the largest and highest profile venues. One day I may get an AC-15 or an AD60VT as an "in between" amp, but I'll always keep the Pathfinder. It is so easy to lug around to a jam.

Reliability: 10
Rock Solid! Not even a hickup!

Customer Support: 10
I've dealt with Korg mostly for support on my 1965 AC-30, and they have been outstanding. They found me a Vox tech about an hour from my house to work on my old gem and it never sounded better.

Overall Rating: 10
I believe this amp offers the best bang for the buck out there. Nothing comes close. I recently went to the local Sam Ash store, and the salesman let me set up a Pathfinder Reverb nect to a Pathfinder mini stack, and I went back and forth and tried them both for an hour or so. The mini-stack and a fuller sound and more volume, but at over twice the price, I believe the combo is a better value.

Submitted by Sav at 02/02/2003 05:18

Price Paid: US $120

Features: 10
Features: 10

This is the 'new and improved' 15 watt VOX Pathfinder now with spring reverb (finally!). Assume this amp was made in 2002.

Was looking for a practice amp that would sound great at low volumes for practicing in an apartment setting and for jamming with friends. This VOX Pathfinder 15R fits the bill perfectly.

Features:

15 watts solid state.

8" VOX Bulldog speaker.

Single channel.

Controls for Volume, Treble, Bass, Tremolo, and Reverb. Also switch for gain boost.

Effects: Tremolo (speed and depth controls) and Reverb (depth). Both tremolo and gain-boost are footswitch-able.

Headphone jack, external speaker out, line out, footswitch jack.

Appearance-wise, very pleasing, with the typical VOX appointments: basket-weave tolex covering, diamond pattern gille cloth, "chicken head" style controls, and of course, the cool "VOX" gold badge on the front.

Sound Quality: 10
Sounds: 10

Play a Fender 62 Telecaster Custom RI with this amp. Very quiet amp, barely detectable hiss even with single coil pickups.

After turning this thing on, I immediately realized this Pathfinder 15R has terrific 'clean' tones, with the typical VOX-Y chime. Very bright tone, you can crank it almost full before the clean tone starts to break up.

You can work the ‘gain’ and ‘volume’ controls to produce several cool combinations of distorted tones without the gain-boost turned on. Turning the ‘gain’ to maximum and adjusting the ‘volume’ allows for varying the distortion volume level to whatever suites your needs. The distortion tone is very tube-like, warm and crunchy.

The gain-boost will produce more ‘grungy’ overdrive tones, closer to an overdriven tube amp sound rather than a fuzz-box effect. If you’re looking for a ‘heavy metal’ sound, you’ll need a stomp box designed for that purpose with this amp.

The reverb is completely outstanding and a welcome addition. Very echo-y, adds a nice sparkle to the tone, especially with the ‘clean’ settings.

The tremolo is very sweet sounding, with the speed and depth adjustable. I believe VOX improved this feature, seems to have more speed variation than on the previous Pathfinder 15 model.

For a 15 watt solid-state amp with an 8” speaker, the Pathfinder 15R can get surprising loud. Not sure if loud enough for gigging except in suitably small venues. Best use of this amp is for home recording, practice, and jamming.

Very sweet 'chime' with clean settings, raucous distortion when fully cranked. Overall, this amp has killer tones for such a small 15 watt solid-state amp.

Reliability: 10
Reliability: 10

As far as reliability goes, as long as you don't drop it off a cliff or set it on fire, it should be problem free since it’s a solid-state amp. Seems well built and solid.

Customer Support: 10
Customer Support: 10

Warranty is 1 year.

I’ve dealt with VOX/KORG in the past and they have always been very friendly and helpful. Hopefully I won’t have any problems with this amp.

Overall Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 10

I've been playing for just over a year now. I mostly play at home or with friends for fun, so like I said this amp completely suits my needs.

If your looking for a small amp that perfectly creates the classic VOX tones, ie, Brit-Rock, Tom Petty, R.E.M., etc, and can’t afford an AC-30 or Valvetronix, the Pathfinder 15R is a great choice. VOX hit a home run with this amp. It’s one of the best sounding small practice amps out there for under $200.

Try one out, let your own ears be the judge. This might be the perfect small practice amp you are looking for.

Jan 15,2003 lr***

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Submitted by Michael Behuniak at 01/15/2003 20:30

Price Paid: US $125

Features: 10
Its the 15r so it has a reverb along with the other features. Best souding SS i've ever heard.

Sound Quality: 9
Pound for pound the best sounding practice amp around. Much louder than it it looks. About as warm and clear as it gets with buying a Fender 3 times it's price range. Nothing you would use for a big room but nonetheless a hell of an amp for around the house and great for home recording. Haven't heard anything I haven't liked-well ok maybe the gain when it's cranked.

Reliability: N/A
Just bought it so I don't know. It's a little buzzy and there is an audible hiss which is surprising since it's brand new. But hit a chord and of course you hear nothing but whats you're supposed to...and it sounds incredibly good.

Customer Support: N/A
not sure

Overall Rating: 9
Just an awesome amp...i first borrowed one because there was nothing in the rehersal space to use so I was basically forced to use it as a last resort. I plugged a Gibson 335 (remember, I've never heard these little amps before) and that hollowbody through that thing blew me away. Just beautiful...I immediatly ran out and bought one at my local store. It's got the perfect blend of warm low round tones but still has bright clear enough highs. It looks so unassuming in the store but JUST TRY ONE OUT...and be sure to turn it up a little. They really sell themselves.

Submitted by Anonymous at 10/18/2002 23:49

Price Paid: `199 (Euro)

Features: 8
This is the latest model: the Vox Pathfinder 15R ! It has all the features described in the previous reviews, except this baby has REVERB !!! The guys at Vox finally woke up and added reverb to this magnificent little amp. It still has the tremolo which I'm not gonna use... I rate it an 8 now because I miss an FX loop.

Sound Quality: 10
I just sold my 120W Dynacord amp because it was to loud since I only use it in my livingroom. Therefore I spent about half a day in the musicshop trying 6 different 15 Watt amps. They all sounded very differently and actually the Vox was not the best sounding amp, but I ended up buying it because it was the most complete one. The Crate I tested sounded a little better, had more bass and the clean was clearer than the Vox. The Vox however sounded bigger than the rest. The 8" speaker sounds at least as good as a 10" (the Marshall I tested sounded as if it was as big as a matchbox).

The clean sounds are very good on this amp. Not as clear as the Fender I tested but very smooth and tube-like. For a livingroom it has enough volume and maybe if you use 4x10 or 4x12 cab on the speaker-out it even can be gigged with (but I'm not going to...).

When you crank up the gain it sound very much like a solid state amp. I won't be using this very much because I have a H&K Tubeman which gives me the overdrive or distortion I need. I also have a Tubescreamer (TS7) and a Marshall Guv'nor (old type) and they both sound very nice too.

This amp sounds good with both my guitars (Squier strat en Epi LP). Needs adjusting though when switching between them, but that's normal. I play a lot of blues and I think that's what suits this amp the best. It's not made for metal or stuff like that.

Reliability: N/A
Don't know yet...

Customer Support: N/A
I hope I won't have to find out...

Overall Rating: 9
This amp is great for me. It's a superb practise amp and can be used for livingroom jamsessions. It has very nice features and looks good too. It has a real vintage look and so do my guitars. When playing however it looks kinda strange because I use a couple of high tech looking guitar FX...

As I mentioned before I compared this Vox with 5 other amps and this one has by far the best value for money. All the others didn't sound as good or missed one or two important features. The Fender was too bright, the Marshall sounded too small (very disappointed), the Vox Pathfinder 10 has no reverb and the speaker is too small and the Ibanez was bad in every way possible. Only the Crate came close to this amp and sounded slightly better. The Crate however misses the option to use a footswitch and the panel layout really stinks.

I am sure I'm gonna have lots of fun with this baby. Everone who's looking for a small amp should check it out. In lots of reviews people mentioned the fact that it didn't have a reverb as the only bad thing about this amp. Well, now it has a reverb!! And it sounds great!!

Submitted by Patrick at 08/16/2002 00:33