Vox VT50

This is another amp modeler. These amp modelers have been the latest craze in the amp world. Every manufacturer has at least one amp modeling unit out there and some have several. Vox is one that has multiple for just about every size and every watt you can think of. I personally hate these things. They sound terrible at best. However for the kid just starting out with the guitar they are very easy and comfortable.

UTILIZATION


Amp Models: BOUTIQUE CL,DELUXE TWEED,SUPER 4X10,AC15TB,AC30HH,EXPRESS TRAIN,AC50CP2,UK 25TH,US '90S,UK MODERN,BOUTIQUE METAL,MODDED CL,TWEED 2X12,TWEED 4X10,AC15,AC30TB,BOUTIQUE OD,AC30BM,UK '80S,CALI METAL,UK '90S,METAL BULL

Effect Models: DELAY,TAPE ECHO,CHORUS,COMP,OCTAVE,FLANGER,PHASER,ROTARY,TREMOLO,PITCH,REVERB, NR(Noise Reduction

Number of amp types: 22

Number of effects: 12

Number of programs: 66 preset, 8 user

Input/output jacks: 1x INPUT,1 x FOOT SW jack, 1 x PHONE jack, 1 x EXTERNAL SPEAKER OUT jack(only VT50/VT100), 1 x LOOP RETURN jack(only VT100), 1 x LOOP SEND jack(only VT100)

Power amp output: VT15=maximum 15W RMS @4 ohms, VT30=maximum 30W RMS @4 ohms, VT50=maximum 50W RMS @8 ohms, VT100=maximum 100W RMS @8 ohms

Speaker: VT15=1 x VOX original (8 inch,4 ohm), VT30=1 x VOX original (10 inch,4 ohm ), VT50=1 x VOX original (12 inch,8 ohm), VT100=2 x VOX original (12 inch,8 ohm)

Signal processing A/D conversion: 24-bit, D/A conversion: 24-bit, Sampling frequency: 44.1 kHz

Power supply requirements: AC, local voltage

Included items: power cable

Options(Sold separately): VOX VFS5 foot switch

*Specifications and features are subject to change without notice.


SOUNDS

There is an assortment of different tones you can get from this little amp. The good thing about it is that you have a tube preamp and it gives you somewhat of that feel and tone of a real amp. The unfortunately the thing is..its not a real amp. Though it has a tube in it, it will never have an authentic tube amp sound or feel. Essentially it is a step up from the all digital amp modeling which sounds as terrible as it can get.

No matter what guitar you throw in front of it it will give you the sound you are going for. So for instance if you want a Metallica sound you get a humbucker guitar and you set it to the metal setting. If you want a country tone then you would use the Cali clean or Us blues setting with a Strat or a Tele. It is pretty easy and will get you the idea of what you are looking for but won't give an authentic tone.

OVERALL OPINION

At new they come in at around $379 which isn't bad price for some soccer mom to plunge on their guitar playing adolescent. If you are used to playing real amps you will be disappointed with this.Not going to be an amp for someone who has been playing for a long time. If you are new to the guitar then this would be right up your alley.

Amp modeling has gotten very popular these days with so much music out there and not one amp can do all of it. So for those exploring their abilities and skills, something like this would suit a beginner.

As the name suggests the Vox vt50 pumps out (and I mean PUMPS OUT) 50 watts of power,though I find it still (narrowly) outdoes some Marshall 100 watt combos.
Its a decent all-round mix between a solid state amp and a valve amp as it has one 12ax7 vacuum tube powering the "realistic modelling circuitry".
Apart from being incredibly loud, the vt50 doesnt actually sound too bad, it has a ton of on-board effects including reverb (as its own control/knob), delay, flanger, a ton of pre-set sounds as well as very handy controls such as a noise gate etc.
the amp has a typical three band eq as well as gain, volume and master.
The one feature that i was most proud of vox for was the wattage selector on the back panel, unlike alot of other brands that have these voxs' has options to go anywhere from 5 watts to the full 50 watts, though the last 15 watts is mostly more distortion/overdrive. I still believe this feature is amazingly handy when trying to practice/record/gig.
the 50 watt version unfortunately does not come with an effects loop, however does give the player the option to outsource to a different cabinet. I personally used a marshall cabinet and i enjoyed the sound I was presented with.

UTILIZATION

Possibly the best thing about this amp is that anyone can within second unpack it from the box, plug in their axe and begin jamming along to their favourite tunes (due to pre-set "famous guitar sounds") or find their own favourite sound with the handy edit mode that is easier to use then a heap of effects pedals in my own opinion.
The response of the amp is amazing dynamically, it is definitely going to be in an expressionists top ten though mainly only in the cleaner sounds...
As the sound turns dirty the expression is all but lost to make room for intense amounts of overdrive/distortion and gain. Though in the eyes of a newer age metal/hardcore fan this isn't a bad thing.
To sum this section up, the amp ca handle pretty much any genre of music just dont be looking for that intensely distinguishable distortion you would expect from a 6505 or mesa, obviously.and whilst saying that also dont be expecting super crystal clear cleans either though i will definately not complain with what it has to offer.


SOUNDS

Personally I use my shecter hell-raiser c1 or les paul through this amp, they both perform pretty well together. I tend to stay away from the effects as I'm not much of an effects type guitarists, i seem to stay towards the dirtier end of the amp where i can make good use of my EMG 81 and 89's.
the one thing I have noticed about this amp is I swear vox messed the frequency curve on these things up incredibly... I have not recorded ONE song with my bass above 2-3. Otherwise it shakes the room, the amp is incredibly bassy, which in some peoples eyes could be amazing but not in my opinion.
Whilst stating this I would like to inform people that i am an intermediate sound engineer/producer so I would like to imagine I know a thing or two about my recording techniques/sounds.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all, the amp goes for about $600 Australian. In which if you haggle you could probably get it even cheaper!
Its a good amp and has been relatively reliable for me over the two years-ish that i have owned it.
As stated above one of the only critiques i have about it is the over-indulgence of bass, but again that's my own opinion.
I definitely recommend checking out many other models such as the ad50 which is more high gain orientated.
cheers guys!


Picture This!

This is a hybrid amp. The sounds are digital but are heated by a lamp preamp.

In terms of connectivity, there is a jack input, output in hp 8ohm, an entry for the VFS5 footswitch and a headphone output.

This is a 50w amp. Good as it does not say much, but that's enough to play alongside an edgy drummer or do concerts (without being transplanted) in bars. Really in power there is nothing to complain about, especially since there are four ways to adjust the output volume: the gain knob, the volume knob, a knob and master the back of the amp a knob master volume.

This is an amp that offers amp simulations, and says amp simulation said gain knobs, volume, reverb, bass, trebble, medium and master. There are in addition to digital effects such as chorus, delay, tremolo and more.

UTILIZATION

Getting started is easy. Turning a few knobs are unable to find the desired sound. on the other hand must consult the manual (which you can find on the internet when it did not in print) when you want to learn how to save sounds created and manage digital effects, but it is not rocket science not More.

Given all the knobs provided, it is easy to get the sound you were looking as options for sculpting.

The footswitch is very, but then very handy.

SOUNDS

There was a time when I played repeatedly (Muse, Radiohead, ACDC, Deep Purple ...). Then I went to the compound in a well punchy rock style (like Muse, Wolfmother, Black Sabbath ...). Now, and gradually I move into a kind of modern blues (Phulip Sayce, the black keys, Triggerfinger ...). In all these cases, the VT50 answered this. With the lamp preamp, all sounds sound "warm" and the amp sometimes illusion: some sounds it really looks like all-tube amp!

Well it's the Vox, so we did not get his way crystalline Fender clean tones available but are still very satisfactory. Whatever amp simulation used, it is easy to vary the gain with the volume knob on the guitar (very handy, like a real tube amp!).

The amp simulations are realistic in all styles, be clear, crunch and frankly saturated. I am interested for a while for Orange amps because I love greasy distortions to limit the fuzz (I also used a Big Muff surcharge), but it would be just for the joy of having a all-tube amp as the VT50 offers very good saturation that does not sound too finally synthéthiques (simulations my BOSS ME70 are much worse than the VT-50, and yet it is a great pedal).

Regardless of the guitar that is played, the receiver transmits well the typical sound of the guitar, which plays strat, tele, or even hollowbdy. Epiphone and Gibson models going very well too!

Quite frankly, there is no sound that I hate about this amp. It's just that I do not use them all. I really think that for an amp that integrates digital, the sounds are really hot, even slamming clear sound.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about three years and this is an amp that has never disappointed me. I have not really tried other amps before buying: I tried a Vox VT-15 a buddy and cracked it, and presto, two years later I bought one! Since I tried tube amps like Fender or Orange dual terror (which I love), and even if they necessarily sound warmer, I do not think separate me from my VT50 which for me is a machine at any be of good quality. Proof, I use both concerts that recording!

Pros: sound heated by the lamp, realistic simulations, volume management, the footswitch, the delays and reverb ...
The -: some effects sound synthetic footswitch sold separately, a slight hiss when the gain is very high.

I think this series no longer produced, Vox has now moved to VT +. However I really fell for the VT50 and I would do without hesitation that choice because it really is a versatile amp that sounds good!