Vox AC4TV Mini

Tube Combo: 1 12AX7 preamp and an EL84 in power
An input, an output 16 ohm speaker
1 tone, 1 volume, 1 output selector: 1/10W, 1w, 4w
1 HP 6.5 '
Connectivity rather bare, no effects loop but there is the main thing.
And what a look! Creamy white with brown sign on my cabinet Peavey tweed gives it good! Even the handle criticism here and there does not shock me and usually I'm pretty fussy about the look! After the tastes and colors ...

UTILIZATION

Config ultra simple, one branch is allowed to heat 2-3 minutes, you select the desired power, volume level and equalization adequate.
In this regard the equalization (tone) is not "regular" she is not dull when the knob is left shiny or when it is right, it's more complex, it moves according to the level volume where you are.

SOUNDS

So first I hesitated with the head version (AC4TVH), but the circuits are the same I opted for the smaller combo for cheaper and already 1/10watts on a HP 6.5 'allows it to cruncher the beast at a lower volume for use in the apartment. Add to that that with the release 16ohms (as the head version) you can connect it to the cab of your convenience (tried on 4 * 12 2 * 12 * 12 and 1), I could not see much use for take the lead.
Moreover for trying on different HP I note that I do not really like the combination with a V30 (too garish for my taste), 4 * 12 on my Epiphone So-Cal with HP Eminence Lady Luck (quite vintage in mind) but it looks better already it is with the G12h30 it really sounds. I'd have to try with a Greenback, on paper it promises!
Also of note, and I had read on forums Anglo-Saxon, that when you push the position into a corner 1/10W a burning smell just tickle your nostrils as you say that I ironed direct 1w but this is immediately more complicated, especially in the apartment, to thicken the sauce.
I would have tried to plug this little monster on a 2 * 12 4 * 12 or even requisitioned by, I am sure that overdrive it should be possible to pass over the battery. For clean sounds, however, I doubt (and I'm an optimist in general).
With my Goldstar (Strat copy) the sound is really excellent! Small plans to limit Frusciante in a crunch, sounds clear 4w type "Day Tripper" by the Beatles, everything sounds really great! I dream to take her to a small bar and trankilou play with a bass and a slight rhythmic, it has to do it!
I just put an MXR GT-OD and a Holy Grail + and it is more than enough to keep it small and get his bluesy side of a rock more biting.
With double (Tokai LS80 or Flying V) we immediately into something warmer, perhaps less versatile but equally significant. Personally I'm going to look rather sounds like Gary Moore, Santana and I find them really good!
In funk, reggae, blues, rock, you can not take it in default. For more extreme styles I admit to not having watched too much but what he gave as the gear is quality, it would not surprise me that a good distortion pedal it sounds like it should.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few weeks now.
With Peavey heads (Delta Blues turned into head), Orange (Dual Terror) and Jet City (JCA100H), I had not really tasted his Vox except through a guitarist with whom I played which brought in requisitioned a Vox modeling technology that I was not convinced it's the least we can say ... Well it's done with it!
It's simple, I love it! I have a very vintage sound great at low volumes, the fact of change of position (1/10W, 1w, 4w) changes the sound, I can plug it into a cab with my choice, short without seeming to do it is really versatile and I can take it anywhere!
Lack an effects loop but at this price it is almost logical. If you are a handyman I think there are not too complicated 2-3 mods that have yet to make it better!
Good at all, do not miss if you are looking for a small combo of quality and so cheap that in addition to a super mug (which makes it even better! ..).

Very bare tube amplifier

- Controls: Tone, Volume, OP selector
- Power: Adjustable 0.1 to 4 Watt or 1 (OP-selectable)
- Preamp: 1 x 12AX7
- Lamp power: 1 x EL84
- Speaker: VOX original 6.5 "(16.5 cm) Impedance 16 Ohm
- Speaker output jack standard format 6.35
- Dimensions: 26 x 28 x 17 cm
- Weight: 6.1 kg

In summary it is a very compact tube amp (one of the only one who could go home). No effect, no DSP, just enough for the sound. Note all the same, the power selector is a big advantage (I return below).

UTILIZATION

The configuration is it simple?
Very simple is lit, the heat a little and let it ring. The settings are very simple.

Do you get a good sound easy?
Yes

The manual is clear and sufficient?
I do not know, it's really not useful.

SOUNDS

Right for your style of music?
Adding a good effects pedal should all styles I play: blues, rock'n'roll, rock'hab, metal and other ... Simply it's always the color in its own way (British tube amp). The sound is warm, even Round which, I grant you, may be a handicap when looking exactly the sound of a particular style (for metal, for example). But I do not try this in fact I want a sound that I like and that I accept or adapt to different styles. And I love the sound of this amp.
In the natural it can go from clean to crunch right through all the intermediate (see below how) still with the heat characteristic.

With what (s) guitar (s) / low (s) or effect (s) do you play?
Guitar: Godin freeway classic
effects: Tonelab SE (which I think is not good enough for this amp and I will soon change)

What kind of sound you get and with what settings ("crystalline", "fat ",....)?
When it comes to settings and sounds. It is very easy, the higher up the volume the more crunch. So low volume = clean; = high volume crunch.
And there is the whole point of power selector. If you want the crunch at low volume is selected and the clean 1/10W powerful 4W will be used. Knowing that there is an intermediate 1/4W. This is very useful.
Good afternoon it's a small amp so if you made a very strong rehearsal will require a cross on the clean.
Then there is the tone control, which has not always the same extent as other settings and adjusts the balance between low (or medium-low) and acute. Allows a more or less brilliant. At low volume the tone is light, and the higher you go the more you hear the difference.

I repeat, the lens is not clean but round, is the style of the amp that does it and it depends on taste. Then we can change things up a bit with effects, but it's a basic amp that really a character, it is not as versatile than others.


What are the sounds you prefer, you hate?
Ben I love everything. The sound is exactly what I wanted. There is no pot at all as some amps (mark) on which I was able to play (even with larger HP).

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?
For about 10 months and I used almost every day at home.

What is so special that you love the most, least?
Goodies:
- My first constraint was the size of the machine. Why it is really nickel mat.
- I also love the sound, clear and warm.
- The power switch is really welcome.
- I like the stripped of this amp which is a little plug and play.
- I like his look.

Cons:
- You can not bypass the preamp.
- No headphone jack (yes, counting not only has good things admittedly)
- It has a certain weight
- The plastic handle, which apparently solid waste a little neat retro look of the amp.

Have you tried many other models before buying it?
I played on:
- SPIDER IV 15: good modeling amp, but that's not my style. Too everything.
- Marshall MG30: I not like, it is light years amps that made the Marshall name.
- Fender Champion 600: ha I hesitated with this one approaching the vox. Very good sound, a little more claquand the vox. More American in fact. But he has no power switch.
- Vox pathfinder10: very good little amp for the price, but it's bigger and it's not the same category. In sound irrelevant.
- Marshall JCM2000: hey you can not compare.

How would you rate the quality / price?
It was not cheap but small amp like this with a sound like it does not grow on trees either. In addition the price has dropped, I think it's worth the cost.

With experience, you do again this choice?
In the current market and with the same small apartment yes.