Vox amPlug Classic Rock

The Vox AmPlug Classic Rock version is yet another model for their AmPlug series of portable headphone amps that plug straight into the guitar's output jack. It's a simple little unit with only three controls to control guitar parameters. The three controls are volume, tone and gain. There are no onboard effects of note. The AmPlug is also equipped with 2 1/8" jacks, one for headphones and one that is an auxiliary in.

All in all this is a very simple and decent 'grab and go' unit. It does have a good sound due to the fully analog circuitry inside, and it apes the vibe of a "Classic" 100w British stack very well for a $50 headphone amp.



UTILIZATION

Setting up the AmPlug is very simple by all means. It plugs directly into your guitar's output jack without need of a cable (the 1/4 plug is attached to the unit itself). Setting up good tones is very simple and self explanatory. The volume dial controls the overall output level, the tone control acts as an equalization balancing tool, and the gain control adjusts the amount of distortion or saturation. Being that it's basically a 'single sound' modeller, you are dealing with the sole tone of a Classic Rock type amp, which is supposed to be like a 100w Marshall or other British stack. It's not an absurdly high gain tone but it has enough to do up to seventies/eighties L.A rock fairly easily.

As a note, you MUST be using either headphones or an auxiliary speaker... the AmPlug does not have its own speaker so if you don't plug it into one of those, it will not produce any sound.

SOUND QUALITY

I used this as a grab and go unit when I would have sessions or gigs to go to and I needed to go somewhere and practice quietly for a bit. For a $50 headphone amp, this has a surprisingly decent tone. It's got a very nice British esque raunch that I was not expecting. Turning the gain down yielded some nice "cranked AC30" type lower to mid gain tones. Turning the gain dial up to full tilt brought forth a cool cranked EL34 esque tone that was very reminiscent of a modified Marshall head. Mind you it doesn't have the tube sag and top end sizzle that the Marshalls have, but for a small headphone amp, it is very good approximation. I would like to hear it through a speaker as well, since my earbuds/headphones were of marginal quality.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all the Vox AmPlug line is a cool way to grab something quick to get your jam on. This Classic Rock unit has a nice sound overall and works for everything from Clapton to Whitesnake. They're about $50 new which is a great deal considering the tonal quality. I sold it in the move to downsize. If I had to buy again, I would probably choose the "Lead" model, which is more suited to my playing style, plus it has an onboard delay (this one has no effects).

Definitely a good buy for a headphone amp for sure.

These little pocket amps are very cool and usable. If you are tucked away in your office counting down the hours until closing time and you have time to kill then pick up one of these little units. It takes AAA batteries and all you need is your guitar and a set of headphones. Close the door and your ready to rock.


Vox amPlug Classic Rock Headphone Guitar Amplifier Features:

* Plugs directly into your guitar
* AUX in jack lets you jam along with your CD/MP3 player
* True analog circuit faithfully simulates the response of the original amps
* Classic Rock gives you the great high-gain sound of a UK-made 100W amp
* Up to 15 hours of battery life with supplied AAA batteries
* Quick and easy setup

UTILIZATION

Details
Type Solid State
Number of Channels 1
Speakers No Speaker
Effects No Effects
Reverb No Reverb
EQ No EQ
Amp Modeling No Amp Modeling
Number of Models 0
Number of Tubes 0
Preamp Tubes No Tubes
Power Tubes No Tubes
Inputs 1 x Instrument, 1 x Aux (1/8")
Outputs 1 x Headphone
Footswitch I/O No Footswitch No Effects Loop
Height 3.15"
Width 3.39"
Depth 1.22"
Weight .09 lbs. (40g)
Notes "Classic Rock" - UK-made Amp Head Voicing

SOUND QUALITY

Vox has several of these pocket amps and this one is my favorite. The voicing to this particular one is the best for what I play. I like to play classic rock all the way up to 80's hair metal and the tone your get from this are perfect for that type of operation. There is less gain than the metal version and in my opinion voiced much better. This one you can hear the string separation and note separation. I like this with a Fender Stratocaster and or a Charvel Superstrat. I like the lighter or mid warmth in the body woods such as ash, maple, and alder. I think it compliments the voicing of this amp a lot better.

OVERALL OPINION

Just a perfect little practice amp for your silent needs. At new these little units come in at around $40 which is great price for a little bite size amp that sounds very good. The tone will surprise you at how well this little thing sounds.

I would recommend this to anyone with a baby and needs to be quiet or someone bored at work and needs to close his or her door to get some practice in.

This is a miniature amp modeler, or a "headphone amp" if you will. It is simply a device that simulates the sound of a real amplifier in either headphones or larger speakers that use a 1/8" connection. It's not rackable or able to be edited with a computer, although it can be hooked directly into the sound card like a computer microphone. It is, surprisingly, an analog device.

UTILIZATION

There are only three knobs, gain, volume, and tone, which are pretty self-explanatory. There aren't a ton of effects that are available on this guy, just some distortion, so the editing is pretty simple. The manual explains everything clearly, though it's almost unnecessary as this is a pretty easy device to figure out.

SOUND QUALITY

I've used this with my Strat predominantly, and I have to say that for a headphone amp, this one is particularly good. It's obviously not something to rehearse with a band with, and definitely not for gigs, but for practicing on your own, you can get a good enough tone to be inspired. It does sound somewhat cliche, and it sort of sounds similar no matter what you plug into it, but it's still pretty great. It certainly colors the sound, but usually, its in a good way, similar to the way that a regular amplifier would. I really was surprised by how much I liked the clean tone, it doesn't sound flimsy like so many of these things do. I feel that the sound ends up being very reminiscent of late 70s arena rock bands like Bad Company and even earlier Van Halen, especially when you have the gain cranked. While not exactly what I would go for in a true amplifier, its great for practicing, because it gives leads a ton of body and allows you to really hear what you're doing.

OVERALL OPINION

I certainly liked the size and convenience of this thing the most. I never thought I would actually enjoy playing one of these things but I really did. I think that its a pretty good tool for someone who has roomates and/or lives with a family and can't practice at certain hours just because of noise. I think that $40 is a good price for the freedom to practice with a decent tone 24 hours a day. I have played a few of these, but I know that this one is definitely one of the better ones I've played. Highly recommended as far as headphone amps go.

We are talking about a mini amp to play guitar with headphones in a corner without graining person without any electrical connection.
3 knobs for gain effects, sound, tone is enough plus the settings of the guitar.
This amp is installed directly on the guitar with his 6.5 jack and runs on batteries or supplied rechargeable batteries to buy.
An audio output jack 3.5 for headphones and an auxiliary input for the headphones sound of your guitar and accompanying music, lesson etc ... via your PC, I Phone ..

UTILIZATION

No need to book it's so simple, I took the guitar I plug in my headphones, my iphone and I play without bothering anyone and without leaving my big ampli.Pas electrical connection that is ideal for playing a few tens of minutes history stretch your fingers.

SOUND QUALITY

For the choice of its effects and the range is wide enough to fit just about effects to your type of rock music course. The result is not the same as a big and good amp but it is not the goal.
I use it on my gibson SG tribute with P90 and a good headphone Panasonic not very expensive.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought it € 35 a month ago, It allows me to play a little every day that I can not do if I had to get my ID15 Blackstar I now reserve WE. I still did not change the batteries just great ....