Vox Pathfinder 15R user reviews ( 6/10) - 22 user reviews

• 12/20/11

  moosers's review

  Characteristics

  The Vox Pathfinder Series Pathfinder 15R is a small combination amp for electric guitar. It’s a very small amp, although I don’t remember the speaker size. The name obviously lets you know that it’s got 15 watts of power. It also has built in tremolo and reverb effects. I used it at a studio but didn’t we end up using it on the track. There are a bunch of amps in the Pathfinder Series but this is the only one that I’ve used to date. It’s got ¼” connections for input and a foot switch on the front panel.

  Utilization

  The configuration of the Vox Pathfinder Series Pathfinder 15R is fairly basic to follow. Included on the control panel are knobs for gain, volume, treble, bass, tremolo speed, tremolo depth, and reverb.. That’s all there is to using the amplifier so I don’t think that users will need a manual.

  Sounds

  The sound of the Vox Pathfinder Series Pathfinder 15R isn’t anything to write home about but it’s still a decent little amp for the price. Don’t expect to get that full classic Vox sound from this as you’re going to have the spring for an AC15 or AC30 to get that sort of sound. Still, the Pathfinder 15R isn’t a bad sounding amp and would be perfect for practicing at home or shows in a really small venue. The effects are nice as the tremolo is pretty decent and so is the spring reverb. I wouldn’t recommend it for recording and we didn’t use it after trying it mostly because better sounding options were available.

  Overall Opinion

  The Vox Pathfinder Series Pathfinder 15R is a dirt cheap amplifier! If you don’t want to spend very much but still want a name brand amplifier with a effects and a decent sounding, the Pathfinder 15R isn’t a bad choice at all. The price will make it accessible to most guitarists starting up. If you can get a used one it’ll be even cheaper as you can probably find them online too. A nice amp for your buck but not a pro’s amp.
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• 08/31/11

  King Loudness's review "Great practice amp"

  Characteristics

  The VOX Pathfinder 15R is a small solid state 15 watt 1x8 combo amplifier that is a single channel affair, built in the general style of the older VOX amps. It features gain, volume, treble and bass controls to adjust your core tone. There's also an onboard boost switch, as well as onboard tremolo! How cool is that? The Pathfinder 15R also features a built in reverb. On the back the amp has headphone and line outs as well as an external speaker output for running into a speaker cabinet of your choice (8 ohms).

  Utilization

  Getting a good tone out of this amp is not difficult. The real problem (and it's to be expected) is the stock speaker. It's only 8 inches so it can't put out the bottom end or low mids that I'd like to hear in an amp. It's surprisingly tubelike in its response too, so I was surprised how awesome it sounded when run through an extension cabinet. I liked the tone of the one that I tried so much I bought one of my own not long after. Dialing it in is fairly simple due to the limited controls. I usually just set everything to noon and then tweaked to taste depending on if I wanted a clean, low gain, or high gain type of sound, or depending on if I was running standalone or through an extension cabinet.

  Sounds

  The sounds out of the VOX Pathfinder 15R are quite surprising for a little practice amp. The general tones are very much like a real tube VOX amplifier. The clean tones have a very nice chime to them that works especially well with single coil or P90 pickups. It can get a little bit too dark with humbuckers at times, especially if you're running through the stock 8" speaker. The drive tones are very brown sounding much like a classic Marshall. I didn't want to believe how good the tones were - it just didn't seem possible for a $150 amp to sound that tube-like, but it's true. Harmonics just leap from the amp and the high end snarl is perfect for that eighties riff rock type tone. The onboard reverb and tremolo are fairly high quality too.

  Overall Opinion

  All in all I think the VOX Pathfinder 15R is a great sounding amplifier that has a shocking tone when run through a good speaker or speakers. It's extremely tube-like in its feel and tone, and for the $100 that I paid I was happy as a lark. I sold mine in one of my gear fluxes, but I will eventually get another one because they do sound that great.
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• 04/23/11

  iamqman's review "Small combo big punch not many options"

  Characteristics

  Vox has been getting more and more into the small amp market. It seems the highest they really go is the Ac30. Even though they have had and still do have a 50 and 100 amps they run the Ac30 as their flagship amp. Now they have been trying every variation of possible small and combo amps that you can think of.
  
  
  
  Vox has really stepped into the modeler territory and this amp even though is not a modeler....well it should be. Honestly this amp is a bug head scratcher for me. It is one channel and the thing is a solid sate amp. Today you can get modeler amps for the same price with a ton more features.
  
  
  
  
  
  Vox Pathfinder 15R Combo Amp Features at a Glance:
  
  
  
  * 1x8" combo
  
  * 15 watts
  
  * Reverb
  
  * Tremolo
  
  * Footswitch jack
  
  * Solid-state amp

  Utilization

  Details
  
  Type Solid State
  
  Number of Channels 1
  
  Power 15W
  
  Speakers 1 x 8" Bulldog
  
  Effects Yes
  
  Reverb Yes
  
  EQ Treble, Bass
  
  No Amp Modeling
  
  Number of Models 0
  
  Number of Tubes 0
  
  Preamp Tubes No Tubes
  
  Power Tubes No Tubes
  
  Inputs 1 x Instrument
  
  Outputs 1 x Line, 1 x Headpnone
  
  Footswitch I/O Yes
  
  No Effects Loop
  
  Height 15.75"
  
  Width 15.5"
  
  Depth 7.63
  
  Weight 17.7 lbs.

  Sounds

  I have to say that the amp does sound pretty decent, but I feel for the price it is limiting in so many ways. Well the more you crank the gain to more is will have that familiar Vox type gain structure. I like this amp with a Les Paul. I ave heard it wit other guitar but my personal preference is with a Gibson Les Paul.
  
  
  
  Other than reverb ad tremelo the thing doesn't have any effects like delay or chorus. There are many amp in this price range and even cheaper that have multiple channels and multiple effects. The sound you get from this amp is very good but it is just so limiting that it makes it very disappointing for me.

  Overall Opinion

  I wouldn't recommend this amp to anyone. There are plenty of other solid state amps in the same price range that can do much more than this thing can. I like the Roland Cube and the Peavey viper much more than this thing. More sound s and more options.
  
  
  
  At new these amps come in at around $120. Not bad but not great either. I would go with the other amps I recommended in this price range.
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• 10/14/10

  MGR/soundbytten's review "Vox Pathfinder 15R"

  Characteristics

  Utilization

  Sounds

  Overall Opinion

  This is no frills little practice amp with an unbelievably good tone. I've been playing Blues/Rock guitar for 30 years and I've never heard such a great sound from such a small amp.
  
  
  
  I was looking for a little practice amp that I could carry around. I saw this used for $99, tried it out and was really impressed.
  
  
  
  It sounds great. It barks. It quacks. It screams. It cries. It cleans up nice and sweet. It is small and very light. It sounds great with Les Pauls and Strats, Tele\'s and ES-335s. It is very responsive to your guitar\'s volume controls. Put your volume on 10 and get a great lead tone. Then just back off a little for a more subtle lead tone. Back off a little more and you\'ve got a great rhythm tone.
  
  
  
  While it is more than powerful enough for what it was designed for, it sounds so damned good that I\'ve started thinking about how to use it as my main amp. So, I wish it was more powerful.
  
  
  
  Quality seems fine. No complaints. Well one little complaint. Somehow I managed to pull the speaker wire loose and it is so short and the amp is so small it is a bitch to get it connected back. I guess that wasn\'t a problem with the child labor that put it together in China. Small hands... :)
  
  
  
  Buy this Amp! Buy it even if you don\'t need it. It is worth it. It is just a little over $100 new. Yes, it is 100% solid state. If that offends your religious sensibilities, too bad. Buy it anyway. If I\'m ever out and I see one, I\'m going to buy a second one just in case.
  
  
  
  This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
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• 10/30/04

  MGR/doug fultz's review "Vox Pathfinder 15R"

  Characteristics

  Utilization

  Sounds

  Overall Opinion

  I bought the amp brand new at a sam ash music store in ohio for $119.00
  
  
  
  everything! The stand alone best amp for the money. I mike it when I play live shows,it\'s great for bedroom practice,and it is made for direct recording.I love the gain on this amp,it almost sounds like a tube amp.I was going to invest in a half stack or 2-12 combo but after throwing it in the mix those where not needed. I still can\'t belive it is only a 15 watt unit. I put it up against a 30 watt, 50watt,and a 100 watt combo and could still hear myself. it really cuts thru. it is louder than what they rated it I assure you.
  
  
  
  nothing. Its practical,powerful,versitile,and sounds great. I read alot of reveiws and saw people complaining about there only being one channel. If you have the footswitch and you set the amp as clean and step on the footswitch for the boost it is like changing channels and it almost seems the amp is a 2 channel even though its only one. I have done alot of experementing with this amp and it has not failed me. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS I WISH VOX OFFERED MORE AMPS LIKE THIS THAT HAVE A BREAD AND BUTTER APPROACH INSTEAD OF THE HIGHER END AMPS THAT HAVE ALL THE BUILT IN EFFECTS AND DIGITAL GARBAGE. I WOULD LIKE AN AMP BUILT LIKE THIS BUT A LITTLE LARGER AND HIGHER WATTAGE.
  
  
  
  Very well made. great constuction,quality parts,looks good,sounds good,I can\'t see any flaws.
  
  
  
  If you read all of the above there is no need for a summary. go buy one new at a music store that has a no worries return policy and if you don\'t like it take back.
  
  I bet you will keep it, it\'s great.
  
  
  
  This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
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• 04/24/04

  MGR/Ine's review "VOX Pathfinder 15R"

  Characteristics

  Utilization

  Sounds

  Overall Opinion

  I started out playing acoustic guitar, but I wanted to be able to do more so I purchased an electric guitar, to practise on it I bought myself a VOX Pathfinder 15R amplifier for +/-€275
  
  
  
  This amplifier is incredibly nice for the price. I love playing it loud with a small dose of disortion. With 15 watts of output power, it is loud enough for practice and yet the humming noise seems low enough compared to other payable amps. Tremolo effect is extremely versatile when it comes to tone. The control panel features a Gain Boost switch plus controls for Volume, Gain, Treble, Bass, Tremolo Speed and Tremolo Depth. I\'m planning to buy a VOX VFS2 dual footswitch whenever If find it somewhere for a suitable price. I tried it once and it reall gives an extreme boost to the sound.
  
  
  
  Sometimes the sound contains a little too much treble but you can fix that by using your guitar tone buttons
  
  
  
  I have not used it long enough to rate its long-term reliability, but I do not expect any problems.
  
  I do like the way it looks and how it\'s not heavy so it\'s easy to carry.
  
  
  
  If you like classic rock rhythm or lead, and don\'t have much much money to spend, this is definitely the one to get!
  
  
  
  
  
  This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
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• 02/13/03

  MGR/Michael Behuniak (Seattle WA)'s review "VOX Pathfinder 15R"

  Characteristics

  Utilization

  Sounds

  Overall Opinion

  Purchased new in-store at local Seattle WA Guitar Center. Paid $120. Was looking for small solid-state practice amp with vintage VOX Brit-Rock style tones.
  
  
  
  This is the 'new and improved' 15 watt VOX Pathfinder now with REVERB!
  
  
  
  Likes:
  
  - Clean tones: very bright and chimey
  
  - Distortion tones: very warm and crunchy, close to natural overdriven tube amp
  
  - Gain Boost: kicks in more distortion
  
  - Reverb: adjustable, with good depth and echo, adds nice sparkle to clean tones
  
  - Tremolo: very cool feature! vintage style, with adjustable speed and depth
  
  - addition jacks for: footswitch (controls gain boost and tremolo), earphones, line-out, ext speaker
  
  
  
  This amp may be rated at 15 watts, but it can really bark! Surprising loud.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Very minor quibbles:
  
  - be nice if it had corner protectors
  
  - be nice if it had a mid-range tone control
  
  - gain boost can get a bit muddy when pushed to max; easily remedied by rolling back guitar volume, or gain control.
  
  
  
  The Pathfinder 15R feels very solid construction-wise:
  
  - Solid cabinet and handle
  
  - Good response from all gain, volume, bass, treble, treble, and reverb controls.
  
  - very good 8 inch VOX Bulldog speaker
  
  - nice diamond quilt grill cloth, tight fitting
  
  
  
  
  
  This Pathfinder 15R really nails that vintage VOX Brit-Rock sound 100%. It is well suited for Beatles, Byrds, Tom Petty, REM, and simliar modern-retro styles. It's not designed or intended for heavy-metal or thrash-punk.
  
  
  
  I tried out several solid-state practice amps in the $100-$200 price range. I was looking for an amp in this class/price range with vintage style 'clean' and 'distortion' tones, and to me the VOX Pathfinder 15R was the best value hands-down, both sound-wise and price-wise . lr**
  
  
  
  Try one out, let your own ears be the judge.
  
  
  
  Feb 14,2003
  
  
  
  This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
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• 04/18/13

  John Michael's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Must! Hurry up ..."

  Characteristics

  15W amp transistors
  
  
  
  Trimmings:
  
  
  
  Gain with boost button
  
  Volume
  
  Grave
  
  Acute
  
  Tremolo speed
  
  Tremolo intensity
  
  Mechanical Reverb
  
  ===
  
  Outputs:
  
  
  
  headphone
  
  HP 8 Ohms
  
  Line Out
  
  Footswitch

  Utilization

  Very easy to use and perfect for blues rock.
  
  Featherweight! He was carried around without breaking the head or back.
  
  And the sound is super honest. Ideal for home as repeat
  
  If we can transplant in concert, this is the perfect companion.

  Sounds

  Playing with the gain and boost, it adapts to all types of microphone.
  
  The clean sounds are very honest and gain crunch is rapidly climbing.
  
  Boost engaged and very low gain, normal volume, treble and bass near zero to 3/4, warmed entrance and gets the Blues-rock as well as with many tube amps.
  
  If you push the gain on the crunch will warm the big fat saturation.
  
  Integrated compression is both transparent and efficient.
  
  The engineers who laid this model really worked "for the musician."
  
  Tones Bass and Treble interact like the Vox tube and you can really tweak the sound at will.

  Overall Opinion

  Used daily for about two years, "small amp nothing" eventually dethrone the other amps I was using.
  
  It is on all front, repetition, small concert, and provides max:
  
  Hyper transportable, not brittle, easy to be paid, a sympathetic look, powerful enough for most cases.
  
  Concert will be the raising or pair it with a more powerful amplifier with the output line. You can also easily mount on an incline to listen media.
  
  
  
  It would be unthinkable not to have this little miracle in its range.
  
  At that price it would be worth even have two (in case of problems) :-)
  
  (Hurry up ... it will not perhaps last)
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• 05/30/12

  Micmac1981's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Really bluffing"

  Characteristics

  15 watt amp transistors
  
  Boost button
  
  2-band EQ (bass and treble)
  
  Tremolo integrated
  
  Reverb integrated
  
  HP 8 "Vox" Bulldog "
  
  Dim: 396 x 193 x 400
  
  Weight: 8 kg

  Utilization

  No need for manual .... Plug and play!

  Sounds

  This amp is versatile, great example of pop rock.
  
  It does not alter the sound of my guitars

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for one month.
  
  Handy if you play in small venues or even larger (by included a microphone that can do this).
  
  The value for money is excellent.
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• 07/20/11

  Porschica's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Mini AC30!"

  Characteristics

  Transistor amp very simple.
  
  volume, treble and gain more bass boost switch.
  
  1 c mini AC15 or AC30 of 15 W
  
  He has built a good tremolo and reverb.
  
  Headphone line out, extension cabinet and optional footswitch that controls vsf2
  
  the boost and tremolo.
  
  HP 8 "in a box open.
  
  around € 140 nine
  
  No middle AC30 but not so okay.
  
  Too bad there is no tone cut MAIT eq catches it with no problem.

  Utilization

  Given the number of possible settings the manual is optional
  
  Vox has done a lot of humor in it.
  
  I have a transistor amp to yamaha 15w 6.5 ", a Vox VT40 + 10" pretty good
  
  and although the vox pathfinder is two times bigger than my yamaha and is hardly less wide than the 40 + vt
  
  The sound delivered by its hp is measured by vox is important enough that I could in my room never exceeded 1 / 4 volume and clean 1 / 8 in disto!
  
  Amp which has in the stomach.
  
  The knobs are very progressive and responds great.
  
  much better than the VT40 +.
  
  all bring a different sound setting that makes this amp a marvel.

  Sounds

  As it is framed AC30 rock blues pop funk but can be easily tease punk and hard rock.
  
  This amp delivers sounds incredibly soft and warm for a transistor.
  
  better than the VT40 + which has a lamp built into the power circuit.
  
  On the other hand it can output sounds sharp, fat ...
  
  The saturation is very specific (eg AC30) but is fabulous for me.
  
  A Paul's on the channel bottom of a boost and distortion n'impote deposit any other similar power transistor amp!
  
  I started buying different pedals as analog delays, reverb ... u2 for the management of the crunch on this amp c top.
  
  This amp has so much character that it covers my VT40 + has the same volume and same settings!
  
  2 refers to the sound of the pathfinder but draws on the ear!
  
  When you know that the VT40 + c already good stuff ...
  
  The board is rather vintage tremolo, and sounds very good.
  
  the reverb is top to color the sound I find it just too noisy when a bottom.

  Overall Opinion

  Well it's been one month it runs every night and frankly (apart from the night train or a jet 15 City 20, and still) no amp could replace it for use the same room and studio with a microphone in front of the fact that great!
  
  
  
  Go see these videos:
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBpWK8tmmBs&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Fvmsi7SA0&feature=related
  
  
  
  Again it's really very close at all lamp.
  
  I tried 4 amp power transistors with a Marshall like I know what that was not bad, but frankly ... voila!
  
  Value for money: c true that it is more expensive than average but the sound is much the height, the look is too good, and it is unbreakable!
  
  With the experience I would buy a good 2nd to the stereo lol.
  
  
  
  In summary SUPER HUGE AMP TO BUY NOW!
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