Incredible how the sounds change using the humbucker. I love single coils but this one got me - I can use both my Strat and my SG and still get the sounds I love. Thanks JJ!
Nice demo! I have the same one, great prototypical top boost Vox chime and takes pedals really well. One of the better buys out there right now in the small tube amp market.
Sounds sweet. I have the 12 inch speaker version and to my ears it does sound less boxy. Hard to say on UA-cam audio though. Great bedroom amp but don't expect lots of drive at low volumes without a visit from her majesty's constabulary.
Glad to hear a mixed opinion about an amp. I'm so used to gear channels only referring to gear as though it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Helpful review.
What a great demo! I appreciate your thoroughness in walking us through such a wide variety of settings on two different guitars. Far superior to most demos out there. Thanks JJ!
Regarding your observation that, in the room, the amp could use more low-end... you are demonstrating the amp up in the air on a chair - Generally speaking, you will get a considerable bass "boost" by placing the amp directly on the floor, and even more if you place it in a corner. The acoustics reinforce low frequencies in those positions.
It's interesting to me when people talk about amps sounding boxy - invariably I find that the "boxy" tone that really works well in the context of a band. After performing and seeing live bands for decades now, I'm discovering that guitar players have conditioned themselves to want the full tonal spectrum from their guitars at all times and that tone competes with other instruments in a live or studio setting. More low end than this and you begin fighting with the bass guitar or lower keyboard parts. Sure, in your room, by yourself, it's nice to hear the big lows and bright highs but by and large, that's just again, not what works well in a band setting (live or studio). Over the years I conditioned my ears to expect mids and high mids from a guitar so I'm not fighting with the other instruments and it really makes mixing easier and with your own tonal pocket, it's always so much easier to hear yourself. The same principle works for bass as well - it's why people are finally starting to realize how well flatwounds work on bass because those frequencies just aren't competing with anyone, so you never have a problem hearing yourself or being heard because you can almost be as loud as you want because the flatwounds aren't fighting with the guitars, keys or cymbals like rounds always do.
I have the handwired version of this, which comes in a slightly larger cabinet with a 12" Greenback speaker. Still not lotsa bass, but when I run the extension out to a 2x12" cab the low end fills in nicely for a low-wattage EL84 amp. IMO for recording or apartment use this smaller version would be handy.
Great demo. I have this amp as well and wow what a difference in tone from single coil to hum buckers. Bottom end is lacking, but it's a Vox so I purchased for that chime and sparkle.
Best 4 watt amp ever built! You want more low end? Plug it into an open back 212, and season with a little compression. You can get any tone you want! It’s set up to be a small practice and recording amplifier. That said, however this amp can still deliver loads of low end if you turn the master volume up more. But seriously excels as a head to plug into an assortment of custom cabinets. Live, it’s a front of house mixers dream! They can add more oomph if they want to, usually they don’t
To mostly debox the Vox, get some plywood and make a new back piece, then remove about the central 1/3rd of the wood from your nice new back to make it a part open-back, keeping the original in a safe place. The stock speaker isn't earth shatteringly good, but it is good enough. It is constrained by the cab. Free the sound!.
the one guy is right about solid state orange amps,i was surprised by a very loud nice one i had a few years ago,and bottom is a big part that must be there,an to sound plexi like etc.
I was told the RED one has a better tone because the red paint is 2 millimeter thinner allowing the amp to bread better. And also, the red paint absorbs less heat than black so the tubes stay cooler producing a warmer tone. Can anyone confirm??
did it get noticeably louder ?? I have one , I put a 16 ohm Celestion Greenback in . I thought about going with an 8 ohm version but wasn't sure if the transformer was beefy enough handle it .
Sounds a bit thin for my ears but more likely the you tube sound compression. Im so after a really top quality small size 4 watt tube amp that just reeks of quality tone for my bedroom. Might have to go and play one live to be sure.
This is an excellent review. I’d be interested to know your thoughts as to how it would cope as a pedal platform for low volume practice around 80db or so?
Is the lack of bass response a valid criticism for anyone other than the bedroom player? Once an engineer at a show or in the studio gets a hold of your sound, they're going to shelve those lower frequencies anyways, right? At a show they don't want you competing with the bass player in the lower register - and the bass player is always going to win in his frequency domain. Not to mention if you place the amp on the floor with it's back close to a wall, it will really enhance it's bass response.
You have to go kinda big for big bass response like Fender Deluxe size. AC15 is nice medium. This amp is fun for the lack of headroom. I breaks up nice when you dig in.
If you believe even order harmonics in the power amp is what makes for great tone, this is the only Vox amp that will do this because it’s single ended. All other Vox amps and most tube amps above 10 watts are push/pull design in the power section and therefore cancel out all even order harmonics
will this amp take pedals good? i’m an indie singer guitarist and i’m about to record my first ep. i really like the clean sounds of this, but i also really like to use overdrive, fuzz, wah and vibrato. can this guy handle it?
Yes , I use all three with mine. Just make sure you got pickups with enough power to push those effects enough because as many said (and this isn't a bad thing this is just a sound style with fender and vox) it is very treble-y and jangle-y
Also a clean overdrive like a klon clone or something works best in filling out your sound with this amp(at least for my rig anyway) I know this is a year old but whatever I love this amp and If I can help people get the sick tones I get out of it then I dig it
SO thin sounding. I have an Orange Crush 10 with a 6" speaker I use around the house that cost me $50 that sounds way better, IMO. Way more presence and low end. And it's SS, which surprises me why it sounds so good.
Incredible how the sounds change using the humbucker. I love single coils but this one got me - I can use both my Strat and my SG and still get the sounds I love. Thanks JJ!
Forastieri de nada 🙃
00:52 oh my god it's the most beautiful Vox tune and Gosh it seems you're nof using any compressor .. just woooow. amazing
I don't like the closed back ...
Nice demo! I have the same one, great prototypical top boost Vox chime and takes pedals really well. One of the better buys out there right now in the small tube amp market.
Sounds sweet. I have the 12 inch speaker version and to my ears it does sound less boxy. Hard to say on UA-cam audio though. Great bedroom amp but don't expect lots of drive at low volumes without a visit from her majesty's constabulary.
Glad to hear a mixed opinion about an amp. I'm so used to gear channels only referring to gear as though it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Helpful review.
What a great demo! I appreciate your thoroughness in walking us through such a wide variety of settings on two different guitars. Far superior to most demos out there. Thanks JJ!
Regarding your observation that, in the room, the amp could use more low-end... you are demonstrating the amp up in the air on a chair - Generally speaking, you will get a considerable bass "boost" by placing the amp directly on the floor, and even more if you place it in a corner. The acoustics reinforce low frequencies in those positions.
It's interesting to me when people talk about amps sounding boxy - invariably I find that the "boxy" tone that really works well in the context of a band.
After performing and seeing live bands for decades now, I'm discovering that guitar players have conditioned themselves to want the full tonal spectrum from their guitars at all times and that tone competes with other instruments in a live or studio setting.
More low end than this and you begin fighting with the bass guitar or lower keyboard parts. Sure, in your room, by yourself, it's nice to hear the big lows and bright highs but by and large, that's just again, not what works well in a band setting (live or studio).
Over the years I conditioned my ears to expect mids and high mids from a guitar so I'm not fighting with the other instruments and it really makes mixing easier and with your own tonal pocket, it's always so much easier to hear yourself.
The same principle works for bass as well - it's why people are finally starting to realize how well flatwounds work on bass because those frequencies just aren't competing with anyone, so you never have a problem hearing yourself or being heard because you can almost be as loud as you want because the flatwounds aren't fighting with the guitars, keys or cymbals like rounds always do.
I have the handwired version of this, which comes in a slightly larger cabinet with a 12" Greenback speaker. Still not lotsa bass, but when I run the extension out to a 2x12" cab the low end fills in nicely for a low-wattage EL84 amp. IMO for recording or apartment use this smaller version would be handy.
Great demo. I have this amp as well and wow what a difference in tone from single coil to hum buckers. Bottom end is lacking, but it's a Vox so I purchased for that chime and sparkle.
Very nice demo and nice playing too. Seems to be my next Amp in 12" version...
Best 4 watt amp ever built! You want more low end? Plug it into an open back 212, and season with a little compression. You can get any tone you want! It’s set up to be a small practice and recording amplifier. That said, however this amp can still deliver loads of low end if you turn the master volume up more. But seriously excels as a head to plug into an assortment of custom cabinets. Live, it’s a front of house mixers dream! They can add more oomph if they want to, usually they don’t
It has no reverb and humbuckers will drive it to slight distortion straight away
To mostly debox the Vox, get some plywood and make a new back piece, then remove about the central 1/3rd of the wood from your nice new back to make it a part open-back, keeping the original in a safe place.
The stock speaker isn't earth shatteringly good, but it is good enough. It is constrained by the cab. Free the sound!.
VintageSG do you mean to cut out the middle portion of the new back? Do you have any more info on this?
I have this amp with jj's and weber blue pup. I need to try the open back mod like you say. Seems like it could be better than closed back stock.
That will drop the perceived bass even more however.
If you would torn apart between this and or-15h mostly for home use in an apartment environment which one would you pick dear sir?
I do wish the amp had built-in reverb. Otherwise it's pretty good for the price
the one guy is right about solid state orange amps,i was surprised by a very loud nice one i had a few years ago,and bottom is a big part that must be there,an to sound plexi like etc.
I was told the RED one has a better tone because the red paint is 2 millimeter thinner allowing the amp to bread better. And also, the red paint absorbs less heat than black so the tubes stay cooler producing a warmer tone. Can anyone confirm??
Sounds like a real stretch to me. Don't see how that's possible.
redrick2030 i was just kidding. But you know how guitar players are, WE BELIEVE ANYTHING
I wasn't sure if you were kidding or not. Reason, I know a guy who believes with all his heart that a white guitar will never stay in tune.
redrick2030 lol. Its the color man, white doesn't tune good.
It's supposed to be especially true for Gibson SGs.
I put an 8 ohm alnico speaker in mine, and the difference was quite noticeable.
did it get noticeably louder ??
I have one , I put a 16 ohm Celestion Greenback in . I thought about going with an 8 ohm version but wasn't sure if the transformer was beefy enough handle it .
Good Demo....great little amp.
Cool amp, nice demo. Any chance of a demo of your AC15?
Sounds a bit thin for my ears but more likely the you tube sound compression. Im so after a really top quality small size 4 watt tube amp that just reeks of quality tone for my bedroom. Might have to go and play one live to be sure.
This is an excellent review. I’d be interested to know your thoughts as to how it would cope as a pedal platform for low volume practice around 80db or so?
Oh man I wanted to see you hit it with a solar bender :) good demo though
Is the lack of bass response a valid criticism for anyone other than the bedroom player? Once an engineer at a show or in the studio gets a hold of your sound, they're going to shelve those lower frequencies anyways, right? At a show they don't want you competing with the bass player in the lower register - and the bass player is always going to win in his frequency domain. Not to mention if you place the amp on the floor with it's back close to a wall, it will really enhance it's bass response.
I agree. I never want loads of bass on my guitar anyhow. This will cut through or sit in a mix nicely.
You have to go kinda big for big bass response like Fender Deluxe size. AC15 is nice medium. This amp is fun for the lack of headroom. I breaks up nice when you dig in.
If you believe even order harmonics in the power amp is what makes for great tone, this is the only Vox amp that will do this because it’s single ended. All other Vox amps and most tube amps above 10 watts are push/pull design in the power section and therefore cancel out all even order harmonics
VoxPathfinder15R That's pretty interesting, thanks. 💛
Sounds great! What position did you have the mic switch set to?
Haha, I meant the little switch on the mic itself.
will this amp take pedals good? i’m an indie singer guitarist and i’m about to record my first ep. i really like the clean sounds of this, but i also really like to use overdrive, fuzz, wah and vibrato. can this guy handle it?
Yes , I use all three with mine. Just make sure you got pickups with enough power to push those effects enough because as many said (and this isn't a bad thing this is just a sound style with fender and vox) it is very treble-y and jangle-y
All four*
Also a clean overdrive like a klon clone or something works best in filling out your sound with this amp(at least for my rig anyway) I know this is a year old but whatever I love this amp and If I can help people get the sick tones I get out of it then I dig it
Youre a handsome devil without those nerdy glasses!
Matto1349 j
SO thin sounding. I have an Orange Crush 10 with a 6" speaker I use around the house that cost me $50 that sounds way better, IMO. Way more presence and low end. And it's SS, which surprises me why it sounds so good.
Whatever helps you validate yourself I guess
Men... UA-cam never sounds like real life... Go and test the amp in real coditions and see with It is exactly like that.