Vox AD30VT

[warmstrat]

I've got my eye on this amp (to buy it, that is) and i was wondering what anyone thought of it, those of you who've tried it, or other similar systems out there. It's essentially a digital modelling amp (somewhat like the roland 'cube'), but it contains a 12AX7 tube in its guts that, in a break with tradition, replicates the POWER amp stage of the amp it's modelling. It seems very faithful, even going as far as to model the characteristics of the original amp's EQ and gain controls, and re-wiring its 'amp class' (class A, class B, and so on) to the user's preference. So far i have been VERY impressed with its online descriptions, as somewhat of a purist myself when it comes to tone.

Here's a link to its page on the vox site: www.voxamps.co.uk/valvetronix/ad15-30-50-100vt.asp

What do y'all think? I'm a tone perfectionist looking for max versatility, but, in particular, i need
a) a nice warm, rich clean tone unencumbered by digital "fizz", sounds for chordwork and chunky clean lead and
b) a big FAT, warm, ultra-saturated, overdriven tube sound, for long sustained solos.

any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated...

[rich96db]

I have a Vox AD50VT. Other than the obvious difference of 20 watts, you also get a 12" speaker, which to me is worth paying the higher price over the AD30VT. If you want an effects loop, you have to go to the 100w model.

You should have no problem getting warm tones out it. If you're into high gain, it may not get there for you. While it's not a true tube amp, it sounds much warmer than a solid state amp and sounds a lot warmer than any Line 6 amp you'll find for the same price.

The best feature of the amp is the "attenuator-like" control on the back that let's you control the wattage from 1w to the amp's max. Generally, it doesn't sound very good below 5w. The benefit of the control is that with a 50w amp, I can set it at 10w and get tube-like saturation at low volumes.

[warmstrat]

There's another thread running on the AD30VT right here, funnily enough, and its creator is debating whether to go for it or the roland cube 30x.

At the risk of repeating myself, this is what i said i don't like about the cube (and, in fact, digital modelling amps in general) in that thread, so you can get an idea of where i'm at.

The other guitarist (i.e. not me) in our little band effort thingy has a cube 30 (not the 30x, i understand there have been minor changes between the two, but anyway) AND, sorry, roland, but to me it really doesn't sound great. Admittedly, i am a fan of a) rich warm clean tones or b) super super saturated, smooth, gain-at-11 lead sounds... but nevertheless, it just "sounds digital". There's nothing else to describe it. It's great if you're after fizzy nu-metal distortions, but so far, i am afraid, it has failed my test.

[warmstrat]

Does anyone think the AD30VT "sounds digital"?

[rich96db]

The only time my AD50VT sounds digital is if you use the line out. When using the line out, it bypasses the tube and the sound is fully digital.

Overall, it sounds better than a solid state amp, but not as good as a well-pushed tube amp. It's a nice compromise when you need to generate tube-like saturation at reasonable sound levels.

[warmstrat]

Hmmm. Tempting... but keep it comin', guys... I just luurrve opinions. Thanks!

[benitosuave]

I would go to a store where there are both, bring your own guitar and play em loud. You will like the sound of one better. Also keep in mind that the cube has some convenient things about it too, like a microphone setting and it can run on batteries.

[sumgai]

warmie,

Actually, my lead player has an AD30VT, and it sounds as good as, or better than, anything she can get out of her Digitech GNX3000 (which is running into powered speakers, like a PA). Not a lot better, mind you, but it is the more desirable of the two, in most any situation we've encountered so far. And it does have some oomph to it, we regularly fill a 150-person room without getting near the upper limit.

All in all, not a bad amp for the price.

HTH


sumgai

[warmstrat]

benitosuave said:

the cube has some convenient things about it too, like a microphone setting

My friend's cube 30 doesn't...

benitosuave said:

it can run on batteries.

Thats only the micro cube , as i understand it, which is somewhere around 5watts as i remember... not enough.

and i've never been tempted to own a cube - it sounds nasty and digital to me. I'm fussy, i know.

[ChrisK]

Here's a thread a'board on this subject.

guitarnuts2.proboards45.com/index.cgi?board=Amps&action=display&thread=1139693841

I bought the AD50VT specifically for the Celestion speaker. I noticed that the newer ones (and the upgraded model) no longer offer it.

Here is a link to sound samples.

www.voxamps.co.uk/valvetronix/ad15-30-50-100vt.asp#s3

The AD series is the twin triode based tube reactor driven by this this dsp front end thing (integrated therein):

www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_prod_no=AmpworksG&category_id=6

I found that the 4 x 10 cab sounded much more open and diffused than a 1 x 12 selection, similar to what these cabs really sound like. When I compared it to my brother in law's '59 Bassman, while it didn't sound nearly as nice, it did sound much more similar than I expected (or could hope for).

That, and the ability to turn the power output down from 50 W (digital, about ~~20 - 25 W tube equivalent) to 150 mWatt (!yes!) led me to keep it.


My right leg is resting on it right now (my current leg rests in my home office are the Vox for the right and a Mesa Mark IV for the left).

I could use the Allen Encore kit that I was building if I ever actually finish it. It will (if completed) be sweet in that it's a single channel adaptation of a VibroLux (which actually has the effect correctly known as tremolo) using 6V6's.

Yee ha! The new blackface Encore kit is on discount this month.

www.allenamps.com/


And sumgai, still "everything IS physics."

[blueswaite]

I had the AD50VT and went out the speaker jack to a 8 ohm 2x12 cab and it sounded great. I only had it on the 30 watt setting because the other guys that had a Yamaha DG Stomp going into a a 100 watt stereo power amp into 2 2x10 Celestion Vintage 30 speakers and the othe guy had a Randall 100 watt head with a 4x12 cab and they said I was blowing them out. Who can figure you would think they would have the upper hand.

[mr_sooty]

I'm considering getting one of these too, just for practise, but I've also heard stories about them breaking down and losing their volume over time. It's a bit off-putting. I tried out a Vox VR30 today, which also sounded very good for it's size and price, but I'm wondering if the same problems will apply. However I haven't heard those sorts of stories about that model.

I just want something that's ligther than my big heavy PV Classic 50, but doesn't sound completely crap.

[mr_sooty]

Bought a VR30, highly recommend it. Sounds great, very clever technology. They use the tube in the power amp instead of the preamp. Sounds very tub-amp-ish. Breaks up just like a tube amp too. Reverb's a little dodgy, but it is a proper spring reverb. It's got an external speaker jack, and I plugged the speakers from my classic 50 (4x10) into it and it sounded very, very good.

[warmstrat]

sounds like the same clever technology in the AD30VT, my friend... praps thats vox's mainstay now...

[mr_sooty]

warmstrat said:

sounds like the same clever technology in the AD30VT, my friend... praps thats vox's mainstay now...

Yeah, it apparently is the same technology as the Valvetronics, but the VR30 just sounded more organic to me than the Valvetronics. They're a bit 'Pod-dy', with their modeling and that. They're good, but I like the VR30 better, really sounds like a tube amp, especially plugged into better speakers.

[warmstrat]

hmmm...

[warmstrat]

Well, I bought it.

And it's Fantastic. Detailed description to follow, if anyone wants.

[karrde]

ad30 is better than the roland cube, much easier to start off with aswell