Valvetronix Redux

[bungalowbill]

Well, I finally had a little time to play through the AD 50 and here is a short review.

Nice amp. I have played many amps (Boogies, vintage Fenders, vintage Marshalls, Peavey tube models) and the Vox does a great job of being true to the original amps. The Twin model has the pianolike low end of an original Fender which suprised me to no end. The Boogie models ( Numetal & US high gain) sound very boogie-ish including outragous usable gain and the zippy highend of a recto. The AC-30 TB has a beautiful Beatlesque chime when clean & has that great overdrive tone as well. The Marshall sounds were good and very usable, although not as authentic as the others.

I have never had the chance to play through a Dumble so I can't comment as to authenticity of the model except to say that it is one of my faves. The clean sound is very lush and full with fat bass, good mids & very smooth treble response. The dirty sound is somewhere between a vintage Fender and an a old mark series Boogie. Sweet with a nice sustain and responsive to the touch.

The most suprising thing was the "feel" the Vox has.....it behaves like a tube amp. The amp cleans up when I roll back the volume knob on my Strat and barks when you dig in.

I once was a tube amp snob...not anymore. I'm finally embracing technology....the Vox sounds and feels close enough for a tube amp for me.

Sorry if I rambled.........................Joe

 

[Mephis]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

Yep... I like my AD30.

I'm considering a larger one.

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

The 50 has a closed back with a Celestion. I didn't play through a 30 so I don't know how much it affects the tone.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

10inch with a sealed cab.

I'd like a 2x12 with about 120watts and many more models. Especialy some more botique high-gain models.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

I'm still a tube snob....that's why I put a Sovtek 12AX7LPS in my Valvetronix head, and pulled out the Sovtek 12AX7A. :biglaugh:

It's a fun amp to own, since it's so versatile, and layed out like any other amp.
Just treat it like you would a tube amp, and use good speakers and cabs.

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

I'm still a tube snob....that's why I put a Sovtek 12AX7LPS in my Valvetronix head, and pulled out the Sovtek 12AX7A. :biglaugh:

It's a fun amp to own, since it's so versatile, and layed out like any other amp.
Just treat it like you would a tube amp, and use good speakers and cabs.

GJ, What's the dif between the 12AX7A and the 12AX7LPS?

 

[mnbaseball91]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

^In that amp, nothing. This is what too many years of using tube amps does to you!

Do you happen to know what model celestion is in it?

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

^In that amp, nothing. This is what too many years of using tube amps does to you!

Do you happen to know what model celestion is in it?

Not sure, I haven't opened it up. The manual says 1 12 inch Celestion made for Vox. It sounds good.

 

[zilong]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

their site said that its a celestion 70/80. also, i think the us higain is supposed to be the soldano model.

yea, i have the ad50 and i love it to death! i mean, my bro plays a xxx combo and i will agree that it feels very tube-like. it may be just me, but i dont hear a $400 difference, and their soldano model (which i abuse) has some great, think, and unique distortion that i dont hear much from other players =P

while we're on the topic of valvetronix amps, i'll just ask this again. what speaker would go well in the ad50, especially a soldano-abusing ad50? =P

 

[Wattage]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

I tell you what I use my AD15 all the time and I have recorded with it quite a bit as well, it has to be one of the best deals in the music industry.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

I tell you what I use my AD15 all the time and I have recorded with it quite a bit as well, it has to be one of the best deals in the music industry.

hey Wattage, do you mike it or use the headphone out?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

I own the VTX 120 stereo head and I run it through the matching Vox AD 2X12 cab or my Marshall V30 4X12 cab...Love this amp! I use this more than any other amp I own and this includes vintage Fender and Marshall amps!

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

I tell you what I use my AD15 all the time and I have recorded with it quite a bit as well, it has to be one of the best deals in the music industry.

Scott is dead-on about that amp. Great sounding and a helluva good deal.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

I payed $600 for my VTX 120 head and couldn't be any happier with it..

 

[Mephis]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

their site said that its a celestion 70/80. also, i think the us higain is supposed to be the soldano model.

yea, i have the ad50 and i love it to death! i mean, my bro plays a xxx combo and i will agree that it feels very tube-like. it may be just me, but i dont hear a $400 difference, and their soldano model (which i abuse) has some great, think, and unique distortion that i dont hear much from other players =P

while we're on the topic of valvetronix amps, i'll just ask this again. what speaker would go well in the ad50, especially a soldano-abusing ad50? =P

the "US High Gain" doesn't sound anything like a soldano to me, I thought it was suposidly a Peavey 5150EX. You know, the peavey 5150 with extra gain thats covered in snake skin.

 

[zilong]

Re: Valvetronix Redux

well, no matter what it is, i like it =P