VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

[mod13]

Hey Guys...this is my first shot at doing this, and I know it might be a little redundant, But I need some advice (with out a saleman around).

I am looking for a smaller amp (my old Super Reverb seems to be putting on wieght...or maybe its just me!!). I don't gig anymore, but I do go out and jam with a drummer and the whole nine yards every couple of weeks or so. We don't blast our ears out like we us to, just enough to keep up with the drum kit. And quite honestly, although I have had it for almost 20 years, the Super Reverb has never really been my style; I've had more stomp boxes then I can shake a stick at. It does have a BEAUTIFUL warm bluesy surfer sound though, and that REVERB (nothing like it!!!)...just not my thing.

Anyways, I was playing a VOX AD30VT the other day and fell in love with it. It was a slam dunk, almost walked out with it and took the Wifes rather later (Easier to beg forgiveness, than to ask permission!!!). In my older age I seems to be more cautous, I decided to check out some threads here and reviews on Harmony Central, and am a little concerned with the reliability issue.

I like the tube pre-amp feature on the VOX and the fact I can "turn down the wattage" I guess and not loose any of the feel. I tried a Fender Princton 650 and wasn't all that impressed. My Dad has a Line 6 (can't remember the model); I like it, but don't have an engineering degree to run it, and I think it is a little rich for my pockets right now!!! Read some decent reviews of the Roland Cube 30, I have had a Roland DAC 15XD for almost 15 years and it is a nice little practice amp, but the Cube is all solid state is it not??? Does that effect the sound???

Sorry to ramble, here it is quickly...Is this VOX reliability issue that big of deal???
What other amps in that wattage (30-65 and LIGHT!!!), price range (not more that $400), with amp modeling can you recomend???

Thanks...learning tonnes from this forum!!!!

 

[Wattage]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

I have the AD15 andI love, I mean it, I really love it. I didn't try the 30 or the 50 becuase I was just looking for an around the house/home studio amp and 15wt. was fine. I've probably had it 2 months now and it hasn't had issue one with near daily use.

I didn't go for the 60wt 2x12 combo awhile back because I had heard there were some reliability issues but I know a few guys that have them and have been nothing but happy with them.

Hope that helps you out some, happy New Year and welcome to the forum.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

I own an AD30 and love it... I've only owned it for less than a month so I can't comment on reliability, but it did survive a truck ride from Sacramento back down to Riverside!!! (7 hours if you're unfamiliar with the area)
slade

 

[Communist Monk]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

Same here. My AD30 has had one problem - the jack amp side for the cable in fell back into the case. I opened it up, sorted problem no time. But the interesting thing is it showed me how god damn well built these amps are. Go for it, I love mine.

 

[JeffB]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

I bought the 50 watter. Alot of good sounds for the $. Good bargain. Died within a month

Guy at my work bought the 30 watter after hearing mine, and his died in a few days

So I'd be hesitant to say based on those 2 circumstances they are unreliable in a general sense, but..kinda hard for me to say buy one with confidence based on what I've experienced.

 

[Wattage]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

That's a bit discouraging, what did Vox say was wrong?

 

[JeffB]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

Both of us returned the amps for a refund.

My problem started as a delay in amp model/effect switching that then turned into a machine gun high volume popping and resultant speaker going ballistic. My co-workers just fizzled out and died like it went on standby. He replaced the tube and still nothing.

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

That's troubling. I'm trying to decide on a new versatile amp and as a hobbyist who plays cover songs, I think a modeling-type amp is the way to go.

I've narrowed it down to the Valvetronix combos, the Tech 21 combos, and the Atomic with a pod or whatever.

I was leaning toward a Valvetronix but now I'm not so sure.

 

[JeffB]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

That's troubling. I'm trying to decide on a new versatile amp and as a hobbyist who plays cover songs, I think a modeling-type amp is the way to go.

I've narrowed it down to the Valvetronix combos, the Tech 21 combos, and the Atomic with a pod or whatever.

I was leaning toward a Valvetronix but now I'm not so sure.

Well, like I said thats just MY experience.

It is very versatile...but it doesn't do anything "great" IMO. The Fender and Botique cleans are really nice. The UK Modern (Modern marshall) is pretty good, and the Vox models sound pretty authentic (not a real vox fan so I dont use them)

The JCM 800 (UK 80s) is not quite right but decent.Sounds more like a 6550 tubed 800...no bite..very...sterile. The Soldano model blows IMO, as does the 50 watt plexi model. The Boogie is OK..but a touch fizzy.

It sounds better at lower volumes than high volumes. At high volumes it sounds less...hmmm..."brilliant". Gets more sterile sounding and "fake". Still better than the digital modelers I've tried and the Behringer analog modelers too.

Personally, I feel for the under $400 range it was a good amp and hard to beat (when it worked ) But IMO the higher end 60/120s are the best way to go as they are more versatile, have a presence control, better effects control (assignable as you wish, instead of the pre-set combinations on the 15,30, and 50 watters).

Then again you can get a damn versatile tube amp used or new for the $800 plus you'd pay for the higher end Valvetronix's (not even including the $300 plus you''ll have to shell out for the floor board).

I'm just very disillusioned witrh modelers. I don' t begrudge those who love them, but I'm new to them and I've tried every one I can get my hands on, and some sound real good, but none of them sound "right", if that makes sense. Versatile yes, fun to play with yes...but not satisfying to me tone-wise.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

Well, like I said thats just MY experience.

It is very versatile...but it doesn't do anything "great" IMO. The Fender and Botique cleans are really nice. The UK Modern (Modern marshall) is pretty good, and the Vox models sound pretty authentic (not a real vox fan so I dont use them)

The JCM 800 (UK 80s) is not quite right but decent.Sounds more like a 6550 tubed 800...no bite..very...sterile. The Soldano model blows IMO, as does the 50 watt plexi model. The Boogie is OK..but a touch fizzy.

It sounds better at lower volumes than high volumes. At high volumes it sounds less...hmmm..."brilliant". Gets more sterile sounding and "fake". Still better than the digital modelers I've tried and the Behringer analog modelers too.

Personally, I feel for the under $400 range it was a good amp and hard to beat (when it worked ) But IMO the higher end 60/120s are the best way to go as they are more versatile, have a presence control, better effects control (assignable as you wish, instead of the pre-set combinations on the 15,30, and 50 watters).

Then again you can get a damn versatile tube amp used or new for the $800 plus you'd pay for the higher end Valvetronix's (not even including the $300 plus you''ll have to shell out for the floor board).

I'm just very disillusioned witrh modelers. I don' t begrudge those who love them, but I'm new to them and I've tried every one I can get my hands on, and some sound real good, but none of them sound "right", if that makes sense. Versatile yes, fun to play with yes...but not satisfying to me tone-wise.

It's still about 100x better than the line6 spiderI though The Soldano, and Numetal, settings do blow a bit, but that's not a setting I use much anyways. I was very disillusioned with modelers until I found the Vox. I agree with almost everything you say about it, but I feel the JCM 800 sound is dead on, and I guess I just have lower standards other than that

At least it sounds like a real amp (unlike line6, which sounds like a barrel of mud. For $240 you can't beat it... for me.
slade

 

[Wattage]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

Hmm.. I really like the Soldano setting. I use that, the Dumbles and the AC30 models the most on mine. I am not thrilled with the Plexi setting though.

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

I think I'm gonna go the Atomic Reactor route. Probably with a POD XT Live.
Unless I change my mind again! So much gear out there, argh!

 

[mod13]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

The versitility is why I almost walked out the door with the VOX AD30 a couple of weeks ago. It sounded great in the store...I was blown away, a light little amp that can do most anything I need. I am more in the boat with SoCalSteve, I play as a hobby these days, and if my amp craps out when we jam...well I guess we would have to pick up another case of beer...or go home early (not likely). I just don't want to get a few months down the road and be out the cash. I have had my old Fender for over 20 years, and my little Roland at least 15, never a prob with either. The Fender is too big to lug around, and the Roland is too small to compete with everyone else.

Has anyone tried out a Roland Cube 30 or 50???

 

[JeffB]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

It's still about 100x better than the line6 spiderI though The Soldano, and Numetal, settings do blow a bit, but that's not a setting I use much anyways. I was very disillusioned with modelers until I found the Vox. I agree with almost everything you say about it, but I feel the JCM 800 sound is dead on, and I guess I just have lower standards other than that

Yeah, the spiders just did not impress me either, other than for clean sounds. I agree the VOX is the best modeller I've heard barring that high end stuff from H&K (can't remember the name). And yes, the "bang for the buck": factor is very very good. I'm just an all-tube guy, I guess.

As for the 800 model.. it's not bad...It just doesn't sound like the 800's I had barring my first one which was a 6550 equipped version. It doesn't have the presence/bite. Perhaps the higher end VOXes with a presence control are able to capture it better?

At least it sounds like a real amp (unlike line6, which sounds like a barrel of mud. For $240 you can't beat it... for me.
slade

It sounds MORE like a real amp (to me at least) than the all digital modelers, but I guess that's what I meant about it still doesn't sound "right". I can crank up my Mesa or my 1987X and it's all there...I would crank up the Vox, and it was good..but it's not quite right...the feel..the tone. Good nonetheless, especially for the price as you mentioned.

Not arguing mind you, just thinking out loud

 

[Mkf411]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

The 15 and 30 watt ones have the problem with the input jack coming loose and falling down into the amp. I made sure the jack was tight on mine and haven't had a problem. The 60 and 120 watt ones have a problem with the head-phone jack getting dust or build up on them that cuts the sound off. Just put a 1/4 cable into the headphone jack a few times and that solves the problem. Other than that they are pretty reliable.

For the price of the 15/30 watt ones, I'm not sure how much you should expect as far as matching the real thing. I think of them as more of a fun little practice amp. They are really fun dirty little s-bag amps. Their so fun and they're almost disposable at that price. Don't expect to get 20 years out of one, though. If you had it that long, one day, you'd go to put your guitar cable into it and it would crumble into pile of dust.

That said, I like them much better than the micro cube or the line six stuff.

If you want longevity and can solder, consider getting one of those fender kits from www.missionamps.com

 

[smauk43]

Re: VOX AD30/50VT reliability?!?!

sorry to jump in here a little late, but let me tell you my experience with my ad30. loved it for 3 months until the last two nights. popping, volume swells that will blow your eardrums out when switching from preset to manual settings, the reverb and delay play tag with each other no matter which of the two you have selected, popping when powered on, general disturbing fuzz sound on every model, making them all sound like crap. someone asked about the cube 30. i picked one up for $160, brand spankin' new from a local music store that was going out of business. grabbed his last one 10 minutes before shutting the doors forever. i don't like it as well as the vox, before all these problems, but it is a pretty good little modeler. the jc clean channel is awesome, if you like clean and i think the r'fier model and stack models are pretty good. the effects are passable, not as good as the vox and not as many, but they work. and i think you are right about the solid state question. the vox sounded better overall possibly due to the fact it has one tube. but that was before the vox started with all this trouble.