All user reviews for the Vox Pathfinder 15R

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

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

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

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

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.

Transistor-Amp with Reverb and Tremolo springs.
-15 Watts
-1 Between guitar (yes, really ...), an adjustable headphone output, 1 x non adjustable line out, 1 out for a 2nd speaker (at least 8 ohms Do ... not put a box car ... I say a for-jacky tunning).
-1 Gain, a boost, 1 volume, 1 bass, 1 treble, SETTING THE TREMOLO speed, rglage rate tremolo, rglage rverb level.

UTILIZATION

Bah ... is an amp, so it's simple to use!
Not need the manual reminds us that it's not a toaster, that should not put your fingers, be used during dives underwater ...
Ct rglage, everything is simple and instinctive ... even if a foot switch would be very welcome to use REALLY tremolo.

SOUNDS

- Ct style of music, I play everything.
So the blues is the top, both in clear that crunch! amp is well worth a lamp!
For jazz, it's too much!
For rock, a roll!
For mtal ... on your way! Or achte good pedals for distortion.

- The sound and a super DEFINITIONS rverb discrte but is just too too good. The sound is super hot in the clear. For the distortion, he likes to be pushed 3 / 4 ... and everything vibrates in the house! I do not know if he REALLY 15W or whether the speaker Bulldog that hard at all, but it looks like a 25W!

- I use it with a small Ibanez GSA60 ... it's cheap but versatile trs, even if a use trs trs quickly over time (but that's another story ...). Ct effects, a small zoom 505II just correct the lack of distortion for the general bourrinage! I intend to switch to a Vox ToneLab ... we'll see your exact!

Overall, we note sounds rocky blues, jazzy sounds, round, rock n'roll and sounds that might get married with a stratocaster. But the big distos are absent.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 3 years and I love it for its clean sounds and crunchy. However, it is a shame for the big distos: you have an pedals.
I try in the same price range and power of marshall and fender. The beats marshall vox on large distortion, but is less good for clean sounds and crunch ... too "transistor".
The fender is blah ...
The Vox 15R is a good value qualitprix trs.

The choice, I would do the same ... but if you play the heavy and you do not have pedals for distortion, drop and go see marshall. With distortion pedals to take the Vox!

Small transistors 15 watts amp with reverb and tremolo
one channel with gain and volume, and a boost switch
good point for the design, it is really nice I think

UTILIZATION

Trs simple config
no need for manual

SOUNDS

For style, I think that's clear is rather typical clean sounds or crunch
it's a small amp to play in an apartment, so do not expect to have low standards
So, even with the distortion pedals, it's difficult to get big sound mtal
possible, but performance is not excellent, the lack of bass, probably of the HP 8-inch
However, the sound cleans are really nice and trs trs crunch is exellent
the sound is quite dry, and do not expect to have the sound of an amp lamps
but work is really excellent
qualisation the two bands is effective trs
the reverb is really nice trs, trs clean, no invasive
the tremolo is very well also

OVERALL OPINION

Trs a good sound for a nice amp, if used to play in a room or apartment
a is not a classic 30, but this is the best low power amp that I essaybr /> a is not a VOX AC30 as I have read is remotely comparable to the stamp but s'arrte lbr /> its really a top for a ridiculous price: about 120 in-store in France
for that price, not j'i hsit long
I tried a 10 watt fender reverb which was blowing dead, while a Marchall ugly and a VOX AD15, which I find too dull, with less personalitbr /> bp of the AD15 is that some sounds are not bad, like the JCM 800 or AC30
if not, I find the rest mediocre and the effects are the same as a pod 2 is unnecessary to say
So mercurial Mr. VOX amp for this little charming

Transistor, 15W, basic connectivity: input (yet happy), line-out (the stuff I've ever used in my life), second connection and headphone jack HP.
Basic settings (one is at Vox!): Gain, master, bass, treble Tremolo + (speed and depth) + Reverb + key boost.

Basically: the AC15 the poor (because it's not just a lamp and it is far from the price).

UTILIZATION

You branches, you adjust the gain depending on whether you want a clean / crunch, you touch only the EQ => you play. Tu solo boost in a pinch.
You're the fart "60's surf guitar" with the tremolo and reverb.
Extremely simple and immediate.

SOUNDS

The special feature of this amp (I tried it with 3 guitars: a Strato Squier Affinity to 300 euros, a Variax 600 and my Grestch Tenessean 1965): the sound is always warm and well defined.

As said in other reviews everywhere: modern metallers go your way.
Welcome to fans of rock, pop and blues (and why not jazz, on a half case he does well).

For the lens prefer a Fender (at the same time, I could say that for AC-30 when compared to Blackface). This amp is never clear even in the clear (it's not a Roland Jazz Chorus). tell me: normal for a guitar amp but there was a real sound. It has a sacred character for a small low-end amplifier transistor.
I had a doubt about the seriousness of the notice read here but ouahouh .. I love this amp.

NOTE: I said he has personality, but he respects the different guitar ... with the Variax is obvious.

(After registration trial in my home studio, I put the notice up to date).


EDIT several years later: As I now AC15C1 (thus a very light, five times as much), I can compare. And, apart from HP, the Pathfinder is not so remote in light of its AC15 tube. In any case it's a Vox. And I think if I connect it to the Greenback the AC15, I can find a sound difficult to distinguish between the two (even if by doing that, we understand the word "heat" lamps but to listen more a warning). In a mix anyway, I could still use the PF. Remains that we pushed his winnings to do cruncher, the whole lamp is far ahead ... far ahead of itself. Pathfinder and also difficult to accept my overdrive (2 Mosfet Fulltone Fulldrive ... rather high-end) that sounds divine on any lamp. It's a bit better in crunch / distortion pedal with a Sansamp Character Series British, but it "kills" the sound Vox to go to Marshall. So I readjusted according to the note: it is clear in its 10/10 quality / price ratio, its crunch, it means, but good for a transistor less than Amplug AC30 (see my review), little amp cell to play the headphone and fully analog. The tremolo of the Pathfinder did not blush. And the reverb is almost better than the all-tube, but it may be a matter of habit ears.

As a former guitarist in my group "forgot" to my big shit 100W Marshall MG, on the other hand I can say that I prefer the Pathfinder, including the crunch (the Marshall transistor is a shame).

OVERALL OPINION

The pros: the sound clear sound with tremolo, reverb and sound with any combination of the previous benefits. Not to mention the big + its price (well I hit to 75 euros more opportunity). And then his vintage Vox look very successful (more than the new modeling).

The -: ben it's still the low end. Yes I know it means nothing. But if one likes to compare it with an AC-30 pure juice, you will find it bland and dry.
EDIT: In particular the crunch that quickly saw the honeycomb like a lot of amplifier transistor. For that I prefer the Vox AC30 Amplug (who lack the tremolo and reverb, but since it is of analog and given the size, do not ask too much either).

I found this amp in a pro (a star that fills Bercy) and it was bought as a travel amp. He has all the vintage amps of the planet and had cracked this baby friendly. I was amazed by the sound, a pure Vox, and quality of the tremolo. I do not know why I waited several years before I buy one.

EDIT: The problem is that with a AC15C1 and Amplug, I cover all my use, and therefore I do not really need the PathFinder. But since the sale price rather low, I do not want to sell it

So to compare, we'll avoid things like: I had an AC-30 (at the same time was long ago). I also had a Fender Twin and I still have a Marshall JCM 800 (it's been years that I want to sell this head, I do not do it by lazy). So it does not necessarily in the same category.
Today I have mainly a POD XT (arghhh .. horror .. unfortunately ...!!!)

First I think this amp is far from being ridiculous (I hear snickering "normal to a POD !!!"). HP sends the good (right next to John Bonham I doubt it will be sufficient). The sound is warm and just plain fun and well defined.
For a good comparison, I have my girlfriend to sell its Marshall MG15 CDR shit to buy the Vox. The Marshall y'avait supposedly a trick to simulate the "tube" ... well it is marketing the gadget. It sounds plasticky / bad overdrive.
On the Pathfinder, no gadget but a real sound, a true personality. An amp to a beginner ULTRA ADVISED fans of vintage sound to a pro who wants something small for travel or an apartment and do not like modeling amps and even a pro who loves the little wonders for a change some of his studio (y 'has Pignose that use to be like Jimmy Page).
What's become addicted to Vox (for me was the case).

As soon as I can afford I bought an AC30 version CC2X (1500 euros) ... in the meantime, I have the baby that is 20 times cheaper but not worth 20 times less on the contrary .. .

Advice for beginner / rock fan broke the Black Desire: A Squier 51 + a Pathfinder 15R = best value possible in the genre to take to Tessot-gay.

.. Let's go crazy ... I put around 10/10 ... no offense to the gauntlet AFiennes who will not understand that there is here QQUALITE REPORT / AWARDS quality and not at all. In this area the ratio Q / P, I would much 12 to mean that even more expensive it is still sudden.
In any case in the small 15-watt brand for beginners is what I've heard better (and seen for that matter .. it is beautiful and more).

Transistor amp with tremolo, 15 watts with reverb

UTILIZATION

It's pretty simple to use and its settings can be found quite easily

SOUNDS

The problem is that the sound is a bit light and quite cold. It lacks what would be a lamp preamp.

In the same range I prefer the Cambridge, a little larger and well above the level of its range of sounds, much in line "Vox's" the greatest NSAIDs

OVERALL OPINION

For an amp travel I prefer a vintage Vox escort the 60s and an amp together and I would rptition prfere far the Vox Cambridge. (Which is in the same price range ... just a little more)

15w amp transistors
dej characteristics cited.
It is equipped with an excellent spring reverb and a good tremolo
There is a line Sotir and a headphone output hp

UTILIZATION

Config trs simple.
The sound is superb, especially when we know that an amp has 130 euros.
SETTING THE The Tone is super efficient and playing with the gain / volume are obtained crunch beautiful and available in key BOOST + which I believe gives better sound especially at the level of brightness with a Tone supplmentaire lowering the volume of the guitar ...
The manual is well done ...

SOUNDS

It fits perfectly in my seventies blues rock style ... and it adapts to any
guitar.
The sound is not crystalline but is well defined (thank you super vox bulldog hp)
When I reu I'd never essayje I am proud to notice our site well liked Well ... I t really surprised by the quality and sound that dlivre it ...
At this price (and style), I did not see any competitors.
I find it's a "lamp" and frankly, thank you vox!

OVERALL OPINION

I have this amp for 2 months
I love EVERYTHING!
I have 4 other amps (Pignose 7 / 100, MG30DFX, valve junior, hohner P200) that I like too (see my other review) but this little vox to my preferences ...
The report price is unbeatable quality especially in VPC.
I assurment remake that choice!

Transistor combo amp, 15 watts, an instument input and outputs on the back line, HP, footswitch, headphones. built-in effects are reverb only correct and tremolo in the spirit VOX ............ With regard to the equation, I find that it is effective.

UTILIZATION

Super simple setup, just play with the knobs for volume and gain for a clear sound, or a more crunch. Personal I do not use the boost too. Frankly not need manual ..........

SOUNDS

It should be a lot of musical styles, jazz, blues, pop, rock, rockab, except of course the trash (in my opinion it not fer for that), I played with a US TARS, or GRETSCH 6120 and it sounds really great. It does happen even to approach the sound "lights" is really stunning. Given the power (15 Watts) beach clean sound is very low, but then what CRUNCH is a real treat. On top of that if you have the opportunity to connect "this little box" in a 4 x 12, then! it is surprising. Initially I bought this amp to continue to play on vacation (light facie to carry, no maintenance of lamps, etc ...), well now I used all year round. Also it's great recording studio.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for five or six years, I really like everything about this amp, and frankly what more to a guitar amp of this quality for $ 86 euros nine paid at the time .... ........... then the VOX really THANKS ..............

Dja cited.

UTILIZATION

The strict minimum rglages, easy to use ... and my cat lightweight.

SOUNDS

My Orange Rockerverb 50 Repair Tool is this amp so I RCup vox pathfinder 90s and I t bluff! How much for a transistor 15watts 8 "! The clean sound is very flashy, nice for blues, but nothing special, however the crunch is beautiful! The amp has a rponse like a tube amp ! If you like the sound style AC / DC you Alez rgaler you!

OVERALL OPINION

The best amp for the price. Your money will be put in the sound and not look in the design of the amplifiers. In addition, the blue bulldog speaker vox is really not bad. He crushes a platte sewing all other amps!

15W transistor, simple, no lights, no modlisation, no numrique.

complte connections, but may be missing one second between instrument or an auxiliary input into a Swiss Army knife IDAL.

UTILIZATION

Config simple: we RULES gain, volume, adjusting the EQ, a little bit of tremolo and reverb, and sufficient.

SOUNDS

I was looking for a small portable amp work.
I took it for its small size, but I am surprised by the sound trs!

habitu an old Fender 85w 12 ", the vox did not at all and the amp can be a real game, with a real sound INTERESTED.
HP 8 "makes a little less wide spread and powerful, but at the same pleasure I prfre little vox, I found it easier with the sound I love: a clean cloth or a clean / blues crunch to see a saturation lgre.

its strong point is not that clean fenderien remains clear loud volume, but plutt the clean / crunch Ragit that when the volume goes up, which suits me well.

others give an opinion "the tube" ... say he has not done all that color, but it is more enjoyable than bcp what is expected for a small transistor.

I'm curious to plug it into a larger HP to avoid having the limit of 8 inches.

Another surprising point: Despite the small HP MODR volume the bass is more than sufficient to have a "complete".

OVERALL OPINION

Bought only two weeks ago, I have not had time to test it in diffrent circumstances, trs but I am surprised the report qualitprix and I think this amp will serve me more than what imagined.

it may be able to do a little rpt with a drummer not nag or a small concert bar (pushed back but I guess that should no longer be clean clean).
the line-out can also get out if the power shortage.

I could compare it with its ERRF modlisation numrique (AD15VT).
I prfre the pathfinder 15 for cot simple, direct, and the dynamics of the cart (which are eaten by just numriques advantages in the other, just what I was looking avoid).

balance: even for a non beginners guitar, this amp is trs INTERESTED Exceeds its use and the first amp work, so no regrets on this purchase.

bonus: it is beautiful

EDIT APRS year:
with a les paul live it, it's pretty amazing what can come out. The size and the price does not suggest as well. It is highly dynamic and transcribed many of his changes on the guitar and the nuances of the game
and I confirm he holds rpt blues / rock drummer with a cool guitar + bass + other.