Price Paid: US $199 used
Features: 1
I think this is a 1965. This is a one knob amp, three tubes and a handle. Has the original Vox tubes that actually say Vox on them! Also has the originl bulldog but that's got some cracks in it and is beginning to buzz a bit. Not really versatile as you can imagine.
Sound Quality: 7
This amp is all about tone. It's not very loud. Not the volume of a trumpet like the other reviewer states--I know, I play the trumpet. It's not really loud at all as it is only about 5 watts or so, maybe less but to me it sounds like an old AC15 or AC30 when cranked to 10. It has a very natural distortion and also takes well to stomp boxes. My tube screamer and bad monkey both sound great through this amp.
This is a very high 7 rating. I don't want to 10 it because let's face it, this isn't a 1965 AC15. For the student model though, it rocks and when I crank it upstairs they can't even hear it downstairs as long as I close the door. I use a Morley AB pedal and run it in stereo with any one of my low wattage vintage amps and it really mixes well and give that undeniable VOX tone.
Reliability: N/A
It's old. It's Vox. Who knows.
Customer Support: N/A
Overall Rating: 10
I wanted the Vox sound and I got it without spending a grand or more. Plus it will never attract the cops. The only thing I don't like about this amp is I wish it was just a HAIR louder. I think ten watts would have been perfect. It has the sound I want, the look I want and the name I want. I'd get another if it was stolen, lost or fried. It's that good sounding. P.S. you're not going to be playing Maiden or nu-metal on this amp. Not without a pedal and even then, don't push it or it will fry. It's not built to be loud.
Submitted by 75lespaul at 11/04/2005 16:32
Price Paid: 220 (CAD) used
Features: 8
I dont know what year this amp is but I am guessing mid 60's since it was made in USA by Thomas Organ company.
This is an amazing little amp. One knob - volume. Thats it. THe volume is also the power buttom. Click it on and turn it up. ITs amazing how the amp changes with volume. the first 3 notches are very clean Vox sound. As you appraoch 5 the amp starts getting distorted and loud. Turned to 10 and its a overdrive blues/classic tone.
Its all tube powered by 1 preamp tube, one power and one retifier. The tubes are small little guys. I give this amp an 8 for features because the volume knob is so responsive and the depending on volume the amps sound varies alot. I would like to see a tone on this maybe but it actually is pretty good as is.
Sound Quality: 10
I like hard rock. I own stacks of Marshall 800's and was out searching for a little tube amp I didnt have to go deaf to enjoy. I found this little Vox in a pawn shop. Its probably not over 10 watts but cranked its still too LOUD. It sounds best cranked and thats about the volume of a trumpet.
The real trick to this amp is putting pedal in front of it. It sounds amazing clean with a chorus in front. I also like to put a BOSS overdrive in front of my Marshalls so I tried it with the VOX. OH MY GOD! I cant believe how this little puny amp howls with the overdrive in front. Crank the amp on ten and use the overdrive pedal for a signal boost and you get instant Van Halen "Unchained" tone. Crank the overdrive a little more and it sustains leads way better than my Marshall stacks. I just finished recording lead tracks for an album and I am seeing if I cant go in and overdub using this Vox. Its that good. I used three marshall heads and cabs for the album to give you an idea how impressed I am with the Vox lead tone.
With pedals in front the Vox's one volume control is again a tone dial. Depending on how hard the amp is working its like three amps is one. Huge bite I guess due to the 8" speaker.
The amp's clean tone is also fantastic.
Reliability: 10
Well this amp is proably 40 years old and the tubes inside are RCA's. They are from the same era and this amp is still kicking so I have to give it a 10.
Customer Support: N/A
Cant comment here. I've never dealt with Vox before.
Overall Rating: 10
Overall this amp is beyond impressive. This also Vox's very budget tube amp of the time. Unbelievable.
If it were lost I'd try and find another. I'm going to keep an eye out for these anyway.
One thing I dont like is no fault of Vox but of the time. The power plug is non grounded 2 prong. I will have my tech put a 3 prong ground power cord on this this. People actually have died from 2 prong death trap power cords.
I wish this amp could be half as loud. I'm still searching for a quiet amp that I can overdrive at home without it rattling the walls. This littel guy is still too loud when cranked (thats when it sounds best) Clean sounds are no problem for volume.
Submitted by Vlad at 01/24/2003 20:51
