Vox V15

Price Paid: US $600

Features: 8
Bought it for a year ago... found it in the back of a shop... it was full of dust... I asked the owner if he could clean up the amp and sell it for me... the amp is dated 1979 and had the original Vox fane speakers... the shop owner clean up the amp successfully... I use the amp in my homestudio and its enough power for the recordings... The speakers started to pop when i played loud... I went down to my favorite ampfixer guy... he has an early AC-15 and he promised me to test all kind of speakers for me... he found the celestion vintage 10 80th special editon... and he was so exited when he called me... he said "you have to come down and test the amp straight away".... i went down and was very happy to hear the tone... such overtunes and transients... it sounded AC-30... and the most amizing thing was that the amp suddenly played loud... very loud... The orginal speakers is in a box for the future... i will not change back... jesus... The only thing i would have loved would an tremolo...

Sound Quality: 10
I use a Telecaster from 1960 and a stratocaster from 1973... the telecaster is fantastic and in the back microfone it really rocks... The Telecaster has been my favorite for many years... but the stratocaster from 73 with texas specials sounds the very best with the v15...

Reliability: 10
After a year the amp i quiet and there is no noise at all... I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe but its not comparable... the vox just rocks like hell...

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 10
The best 15 watt amp I ever have played... im so happy to found it... the changing of the speakers is rekommended... he change just one at first... but it did not work such well... when my friend fixed in two celestion vintage 10 80th edition everything was perfect... I never sell this amp...

Submitted by Per at 12/07/2005 10:49

Price Paid: US $180

Features: 8
I bought it a long time ago (think in the mid eighties) and it's still my favourite amp.

It's a small two 10" loudspeakers, valve amps. Uses two EL84 for a 15w undistorted output.

It stays perfeclty in the back of every little car (I mean little as italian little cars could be), whith a solid body guitar next ot it.

The amp channel is really "basic": one channel with two inputs (normal and bright). It's power is enough for monitor the guitar in every situation, allowing a "full throttle" sound without clashing with others microphones.

The original lousdpeakers weren't really good, an I substituted them with two RCF with 101.5 dB at 1W and 1M of distance, obtaining much more loudness. Another tweak is a direct output (before the Output tranformer) which I use for tuner and, times ago, as the effect send.

Sound Quality: 10
The tone is very good, that was the vey reason for I choosed it. Its three band EQ allow to obtain every sound you need from a good instrument.

Since it's simple design, the amp is very quite, no noise from valve or buzz.

It maintains warmness and sweetness at every level you play.

It's not difficult to saturate, since it's low power, so the sound becomes full of harmonics and aggressive, whith a baritonal voice similar to a cello. The only caution is to made the Master knob to be higher than Gain, so that the power tubes would be overloaded. Other wise the sound would be a bit too acid.

That distortion is really good for rhytimcs and guitar licks. But not of the kind someone wolud expect to use for solos. Sometimes I used external devices for that such a MXR Line Driver/Compressor or a dedicated distorion unit such as Boss or my favourite B.K. Butler valve pedal.

I played everything with this amp: from Jazz withe cleanest sound to the hardest rock. Maybe it's not the ideal amp for Heavy Meatal, but only because it's small. It's sound would always be good.

Reliability: 10
The amp is well built and really robust. The valves last as long as a valve can do. I changed the valve no more than once every 5/7 years.

Customer Support: N/A
I never had to ask support, but the modification and servicing could be done by every technician. The amp schmatics is printed inside the amp.

Overall Rating: 10
I' used it by about 20 years, I played with others High End amps, as Fender Twin, Music Man, Roland Jazz Chorus. And I still prefer this one.

My guitars are mainly two italian handcrafted ones: an "alembic like" solid body by Stanzani-Tomassone with two EMGs and an arch top by Ferrarotti very similar to the one of Charlie Christian, using a single De Armond pickup.

Plus I use a little Hohner/Steinberger G3t.

For a couple of years I tweaked it a lot, using a lot of gear, such a box emulator from GT Electronics, an Alesis Quadraverb and a Marshall stereo power amp to have its sound reinforced, processed and transuced by its own loutdspeaker. Now its again in its pristine form, and its dueting with the Leslie amp of an Hammond B3 in my band.

Submitted by charliepersol at 01/11/2005 09:49

Price Paid: US $250

Features: 6
It was buid in 1980. The seller proposed me an AC-30 for 350$ at that time (equivalent Italian Liras) but I preferres to save some money and to purchase this. I was young and they told me it was a 60W power and not a 15W Class A. I'm still using with a Stratocaster purchased at that time and I'm playing rock/pop. I'd never purchased this if I'd realised since the beginning that the power was so low. This has always been a problem for me.

Sound Quality: 10
I play it just in small venues or at home. It's absolutely noiseless I've added a small inductance wound on a toroid solded on the two Jack inputs this in order to prevent broadcasting interfenecies and the improvement has been hamazing.The tones are pretty flexible but to obtain the maximum it is possible to simply add a 7 bands eq.. To obtain distorsion the best solution, in my opinion, is to use an additional preamp. I was using in the past the MXR microamp that has simply a gainup. This generates the real distosion of the tubes of the preamp section of the V15.

Reliability: 7
The first set of tubes was broken after a little time and I was replacing at that time with some tubes found in the electronic stores. The sound was orrible. Then I was getting a set of tubes from the VOX service in Italy and the sound was becoming superb: more power, warm, with a very nice attack.
Probably there's a defect contact in a condenser and sometime the volume comes suddently loud. This defect is done seldom and it's difficult to understand which condenser it is.

Customer Support: 10
Customer support supplied me those fantastic tubes. My V15 was reborn.

Overall Rating: 8
It's 24 years that I'm playing this amp. Generally I prefer a Marshall JCM 900 stack to play in group but to make practice sessions and to study at home This is perfect. Additionally his weight (14 Kg) let it transport very easyly. If stolen it would difficut to be replaced. Probably I'd look for an AC-30.

Submitted by Anonymous at 11/30/2004 02:11

Price Paid: 250 (GB Pounds) used

Features: 5
This amp was made in the early seventies so I was told by the shop that sold it to me. It is an all valve 15 watt combo with 2 inputs brilliant and normal. The features are basic Volume, bass, treble, middle and a master volume. It has no reverb but who cares it's tone more than makes up for it. It is quite loud for the wattage and could handle a small venue anything bigger and it would need to be miked up

Sound Quality: 10
I use a Les Paul Gold Top and it sounds great through it with what I play (Britpop/punk). The amp does not make much noise even when cranked up. The EQ on this amp is amazing and you can get a wide range of sounds out of it. When you get it cranked up you get a great crunchy overdrive, but to get any extra you will need a pedal which sound awesome through this amp anyway. All in all I have owned and played through many amps Fender, Marshall etc. and nothing has come close to this amp on tone.

Reliability: N/A
Havn't owned it too long so I can't really tell yet, but so far so good

Customer Support: 10
The Vox dealer I had it from was really helpful and went out of his way to help, so up to now great.

Overall Rating: 10
Love it wish I found it years ago it's an AC 30 without the bleeding ears, if you find one then buy it.

Submitted by Dirk Hicklin at 02/01/2003 03:15

Price Paid: US $239 used

Features: 8
At first I didn't think this would be loud enough to gig or rehearse with but I found myself constantly turning down!I wish it had a bit more bottom end, previous reviewer didn;t think it was class A but I do, I have had a number of class A amps and this has that signature sound- paid $239 in a used store, they thought it was a solid State!

Sound Quality: 10
I have an extensive collection, this sounds great with a strat both lace sensors or standard ( 1962) pick-ups, rally made my 1958 gretsch come alive/ Les Pauls drive it into a nice crunchy overdrive

Reliability: N/A
I had to replace a power tube so I loaded it up with tesla's ll the way around, I haven't had it long enough to rate

Customer Support: N/A
NA

Overall Rating: 9
Too much gear to mention but you cannot say enough about tone, I have /had boogies, vintage marshalls, lots of early fenders, alessandro, matchless and duncans- I really like this little guy, lack of verb & trem lower rating, but not too much!

Submitted by Ron Aguiar at 09/03/2002 10:53

Price Paid: £120 (UK Sterling) used

Features: 7
I bought my V15 in 1982 from a small music shop in Stafford, England for £120 ex-demo, I think it was a year or so old at the time. I mainly use it for home recording and practices, but if I'm gigging through a PA it sounds great, with enough volume to act as a monitor. This is the most forgiving amp I've ever had in as much as its versatility - you can just plug straight in and wind it up, use it with pedals or with a multi fx unit, it will even handle bass at lower volumes and the low end rosponse from the pair of 10" speakers is superb. It is limited in terms of features but the sound is sweet and full, the only thing I would have done different would have been to produce it with built in reverb but that's easy enough to get around with modern effects. All valve, vol-bass-mid-treble-m/vol and bright and normal inputs - what more do you really need?

Sound Quality: 10
My guitars are - Strat with Lace sensors/Ibanez RG570 h-s-h/ strat with DiMarzio Paf Pros.I'm using separate fx pedals now - boss/new marshall/morley, and I play mainly rock and blues at the moment but I've played all styles through this amp. There is hardly any noise generated from this amp which I believe was a design feature as the amp was primarily intended for studio use. Think Beatles/Rory Gallagher/Brian May/Joe Pass and you start to realise that this amp has such a great initial sound that you can make practically any sound come out of it. At full volume the distortion can only be summed up as "full crunch" but the amp is so responsive that all you need to do is put a "Tubescreamer" in front of it to get a classic rock sound.

Reliability: 10
20 years of use - only changed the tubes a couple of times - still sounds fantastic- enough said!!!!

Customer Support: N/A
I've never had any problems with it, but any Vox dealer can help if required, and any other dealer/repairer would be able to help.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been playing for 24 years and I also own a Marshall JCM800 100watt Split Channel 2x12 combo for gigs where I need to be heard when there's no full PA!! If my V15 was lost or stolen I would definitely hunt one down as apart from my love of it's fantastically rich and warm tone it has surprised quite a few punters and musos with the sound I get from this "little 15w practice amp" - their words not mine.

Submitted by jack the axe-man at 01/07/2002 22:41

Price Paid: Given used

Features: 6
I was told by the salesman that this is either a 1979 or 1980 Vox 15. As with most vox amps, this one does not have a lot of versatility with regards to features, as it has no tremelo or reverb. It does have a master volume, treble, mid and bass eq. and two channels, brilliant and normal. It is an all tub combo, (five tubes in total) that operate very quietly for an amp that is now in excess of 20 years old! The only feature I wish it did have is the tremelo feature found on earlier AC30's. My only other complaint is that I do not think this is a "Class A" mode amp, therefore, it is not as loud as say and AC15, but provides enough volume (especially on a stand) for smaller venues and certainly recording, which is why I bought it. Miked up it sounds nice as well with a sure sm57.

Sound Quality: 10
The limitations in the features are more than made up for in sound and that is why you buy a vox anyway, right? Well this thing is packed with sound. It was originally marketed as a smaller AC30 and believe me it has that same sound at both the clean (lower volume levels) and full tilt overdrive that is acheived by putting the master volume and regular volume all the way up! It is that much sought after hard and clear overdriven tone that vox is famous for. Even at full volume this amp is amazingly quiet, which surprised me.

Reliability: 7
I have only had the amp for a short time and cannot speak to reliability. I can say that this amp has all the original parts (I don't know about the tubes) and given its age, it has aged very nicely and is very durable. It is not as heavy or strong as an AC30, but it is smaller (a little wider from the front than a modern day AC15) and therefore lighter. I have been in contact with a Vox "fit-it" man to give the amp the once over to check things out, but it appears to be working perfectly.

Customer Support: N/A
N/A

Overall Rating: 9
I have been playing for over 22 years and have had a lot of amps, but this has the best sound out of any I can remember. I presently own a Fender DeVille 410 that I play with this using an A/B switch. I generally use the fender for clean sound and this for overdrive. I play a Rickenbacker 360, Fender '57 Reissue and an Epiphone Casino with this amp and all seem to love it. The Ric has the best "twangy" clean sound and heaviest overdrive of the three. I am extremely happy with this amp . I have seen this same amp for sale on-line from $600-$1,200! I would say to anyone if you are a fan of the vox sound but don't have $1,800 to spend on an AC30 then try this amp out. Also, if you see it in a store or for sale pick it up because there were not a lot of these made (I think they were only made for 2-3 years). This is a great looking and great sounding amp that if used with another amp in your collection can give you a totally different sound that cuts right through the mix for your solo's and rythum...

Submitted by Anonymous at 09/28/2001 12:31

Price Paid: 550 (DM) used

Features: N/A
Der amp ist von Anfang der 80er. Er ist als "leiser" Ersatz für den AC30 für Studiozwecke gebautworden.15 Watt von 2 EL84 Röhren und 2x10" Vox Speaker. Ein Normal ein Brillant Kanal. Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble, Master, On/Off, Kontrolllämpchen; alles auf grauem Contropanel.Die richtige Verzerrung kommt erst bei "vollem" aufdrehen (Vor- und Endstufe). Kommt dann aber schon sehr nah an den AC30 ran, wobei es aber natürlich nur wie 2x10er klingt. Sehr leicht, gut zu transportieren. Leider keine Gleichrichterröhre.

Sound Quality: N/A
Der Amp wird bei mir mit einer Strat oder einer Farytale (Fritz Rössel) meißt leicht angezerrt (Vol ganz, Master halb-dreiviertel) immer leicht in richtung Brian May sound. Die (zwar passive) Klangreglung erlaubt aber eine breite Soundpalette.

Reliability: N/A
Bis jetzt absolut zuverlässig, keine Ausfälle oder ähnliches.

Customer Support: N/A
Noch nicht in anspruch genommen, aber die website sieht gut aus und gibt auch viel über alte Modelle und die Historie her.

Overall Rating: N/A
Oft spiele ich den Amp über einen Marshall JMP1 Preamp, mit Rocktron Intellifex & Compressor 300G und Ibanez 1031 EQ. Ich benutze dann meißt den "normal" Kanal und im Brillant Kanal hängt dann noch trocken eine Akustische Gitarre oder so. Ist ne recht gute Kombination, wenn auch etwas mehr Bass rüberkommen könnte, aber open back und 2x10er ... irgendwo sind halt auch physikalische Grenzen.

Submitted by Falk Schuch at 09/07/2001 04:51

Price Paid: US $600 used

Features: 6
This amp was built in England c. 1979. It is an all tube combo with 2 vintage style VOX fane speakers. The tubes consist of 2 ECC83's, a pair of EL84's, and 1 ECC81. The amp has 2 channels, one bright, and one normal. Beacuase of it's size, it has the ability to produce natural distortion, but it is also capable of producing a clean warm tone. However, it has next to 0 in features. It has a volume and a 3 band EQ (Bass/Mid/Treble)...that's it...Not even reverb! The amp makes up for it's lack of features with it's pure and warm tone, and sweet distortion.

Sound Quality: 10
I play an Ibanez RG520, and a Gibson '59 Les Paul Reissue. I play all kinds of stuff from classic rock, to jazz and fusion(and everything in between). The amp has a beautiful warm sound, with excellent clarity. And the sound you get from overdriving the tubes gives you one of the smoothest sweetest sounding overdrive you have ever heard.
The amp is very veratile, allowing you to access a wide spectrum of tones from a smooth creamy warm tone, to a clear ear shattering high. It is one of the sweetest sounding amps I have ever played through, but it would be nice if it had reverb. I give the amp a 10 for sound...It is the nicest sounding all tube combo I have played through.

Reliability: 9
I haven't had a problem since I bought the amp a few years ago. I haven't heard about any problems with other musicians. I don't really take it out of the house all that much. I a couple of the tubes but that's about it.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 9
I have been playing for a few years now. I own a Hughes & Kettner Club Reverb, and a Fender Princeton 65, but they don't have the equality of sound. It is a really nice amp. If it were ever stollen, I'd probably quit playing all together! I give this amp a nine since it doesn't have reverb, but overall, it is one of the best sounding amps I have ever played

Submitted by Anonymous at 12/20/2000 16:10