Valvetronix VT50
Reviewed by:
sg4ever, on august 11, 2009 3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 500
Features: I know this amp is no older than a 2008 model, because these are the newest line of tube/solidstate valvetronix models. Vox certainly threw in everything but the kitchen sink on this new design. It boast 22 amp models and I find about 8 out of 10 models highly usable. Not bad considering how many there to choose from. I play many styles including rock, classic rock, hair metal, blues, punk/pop, alternative, Indie, grunge, jazz, swing, funk, metal/core, modern worship, CCM, and singer/songwriter. With the exception of the more Acoustic driven singer/songwriter stuff (the instrument covering that is obvious), there is an amp model to satiate my desire to play any of those styles. It also boasts 12 highly usable effects that are mightily convenient, for they sound close enough to a quality pedal that they would definitely work in lieu of one. Another nice thing is that reverb is it's own separate effect from the rest so you don't have to sacrifice it to use another effect. Other cool features include a headphone jack, external speaker out, the usual Vox power level knob, and eight (count em') slots to save your tones onto. And because it's packing 50 watts, it definitely can handle the average gig. I use it regularly and it fits well within the mix. It's definitely a loaded piece of kit.
To be fair I found some of the modulation to be a bit cheesy (minus chorus). I also wish that the power level lowered the cranked master volume sound a bit lower. These are probably just minor quibbles, but it comes to show that nothing is perfect. These are fairly solid features for an amp in this range. // 9
Sound: I play a Greg Bennett AV3 with humbuckers and an MiM Strat with single coils through the amp. It definitely handles my above listed styles with those two guitars very well. The cleans are warm and round with humbuckers and can also be made to sound quite crisp and brilliant. The single coils obviously handle that edge of the spectrum better though. Overdrive runs the gamut from slightly dirty cleans to blues to classic rock bite. Switching between my two guitars it always gives me the sound I want. With the louder humbuckers the distorted tones really take off and can go from chunky 80s grind to searing modern high gain. I mostly play more ambient styles mixed with alt/rock in my band and the tape echo mixed with reverb definitely gives me that impressive body to all my cleans and distorted tones. I like the improvements on the clean and high gain tones. You can control the gain on clean sounds better than the last models and it' easy to get a very clean tone at high volumes. The high gain tones are noticeably tighter than before and the overdrives have a less digital sounding breakup. I was impressed that although this is a modeling amp, it managed to stay reasonably far away from the digital bite that most modeling amps have. If I found any strange artifacts while playing, they weren't noticeable in the context of a Live performance.
Again, to be fair, nothing is perfect. The tones are less impressive if you crank the amp too high. However, I find I don't need to crank the amp so high anyway because of mics and PA systems. // 8
Reliability & Durability: No complaints, but valvetronix amps never have been amps to break down on me. The only problems I encountered with valvetronix amps were do to the tube needing to be changed or the amp needing a master reset. However, I do believe in a backup no matter how tough the amp is. Even if this amp were ten times more resilient than it is now, I would still have a backup handy for practical purposes. // 8
Impression: My styles are very diverse and they are listed above. I would say this amp is a very good match for me. I've been playing for 4 years and I own the older AD series of valvetronix, two electric guitars, and an Acoustic guitar. I knew everything about his amp before I bought it so there are no regrets. I would definitely replace it if anything happened to it, as it's all I can afford. I pretty much use all the features and can't find anything to hate except that it's not a real tube amp. If I had the money for a tube amp complete with all the delay and overdrive pedals I would surely need, I would surely get them. I would say this is the best alternative though. I don't wish it had anything and I think it smokes other modeling amps except in metal tones... But it comes mighty close to the better metal amp models and beats the crap out of a Spider metal tone. // 10
Valvetronix VT50
Reviewed by:
Bubonic Chronic, on january 04, 2011 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 379.00
Purchased from: Dancing Dragon OKC
Features: There is absolutely nothing missing from this amp! With 22 amp models to choose from, each having 3 factory settings, plus 8 user-programmed channels (two banks of four) that makes for a total of 66 + 8 = 74 different sounds one can potentially bust out in a given situation. The amplifiers modeled move from the cleanest to the most brutally distorted (Mesa Boogie), and amongst them are at least three of each to suit your personal tastes. For example, one can select an amp based on Iron Maiden, Metallica or (don't laugh!) Nirvana. All three are pretty in-your-face, but it takes a bit of imagination to get the exact sound you want.
The VT-50 lacks an effects loop, but I honestly don't see why you would need one. For me this is a studio amp, so I tend to record with minimal effects anyway: compressor and possibly a delay if it's a lead part. I like to compress in multiple steps as it's just good recording practice, and the fact that this thing has a decent compressor makes it perfect for juicing up my sound in the studio.
Unfortunately the compressor is coupled with chorus, and I do not ever record chorus. It's bad practice. Thankfully you can independently turn the chorus OFF, leaving the compressor fully functional.
Each effect has three separate functions to adjust, and 9/10 are actually useful. // 9
Sound: It is what it is: a 50W combo. It's not a Mesa or any other amp you might want to model, but the engineers at Vox have done a phenomenal job of recreating the intricate details of the response of the preamp, poweramp and even the speaker cabinet feedback stages of the amps in question. There are one or two channels that don't respond to the dynamics the way I would like them to, but that's how the original amps responded! The speaker impedance will squash you flat, which happens here. Other channels don't do that to you - and it depends on what you want.
The reason I gave this an 8/10 is that my doctor, whom I trust with my life, got B's in medical school. He's a damned fine doc. This is a damned fine amp. Is it brain surgeon caliber? No. But remember what it costs! For what it is, this is a very nice sounding, highly useful amp.
The price differential between this tight little combo and the next step up in quality is, like, five times the price! // 8
Reliability & Durability: The input jack was broken when I got it. I will tell you first of all that I traded for this amp: a Peavey 5150ii 100W head in very good condition for the VT50. Power for versatility - since the studio is more interesting to me at this time in my life. They were both used: mine obviously as a studio and live performance tool, the VT50 a floor model at the Dancing Dragon, my buddy's shop.
I don't blame Vox for the busted input jack. Could it have been heavier duty? DEFINITELY! But amps are not usually subjected to kids and their grubby little fingers shoving things in and out of their input jacks all day long.
This minor problem was forgiven, however, because the input module is just that: a module! I checked again on the back to make sure this thing really was "Made in U.S.A." as opposed to Germany. This is German engineering, surely! Nope, British-American engineering.
So by removing a couple of little wires I can pull the whole input module out, trash it, and replace it. In fact, you can pull everything out to service it! I was shocked. Most of the crap I've worked on has involved two hours of removing unidentifiable squiggly things, and cutting myself to get to the loose wire that it the source of my woes.
This is not the case with the VT50. If something breaks, you yank it out and (assuming it's under warranty as mine is) they send you a free one. Awesome! // 8
Impression: I am highly impressed with this thing. I already have four very good sounds programmed: Crystal clean, blues wail, lead guitar based on Joe Satriani's setup, and face-smashing rectifier-type distortion. What more could you ask for?
Well there's country, jazz, hip-hop, Christian, folk, rock, hard rock... Can it do that respectably? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes... // 9
Valvetronix VT50
Reviewed by:
Ritchguitar, on november 11, 2010 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: € 250
Purchased from: Daan Smit Musichouse
Features: I walked into my local music shop, holding my Boss Me-50, on my way to try out the new model, Boss Me-70. I could try it on a Vox Valvetronix VT50. I don't know which I loved more, the amp or the effects.
- The amp features 11 ampmoddels and 11 additional effects for you to go crazy on
- It has a plugin for your headphones, guitarcable and footswitch
- You are able to save sounds you make on 2 patches // 9
Sound: I play a variety of music styles. Mostly Metallica, Guns 'N Roses and Rammstein. This amp does perfectly well! You can change sounds from a great warm clean, to brutal metal or tight clean to smooth and hard rock. I love the fact that the amp makes a little humming sound when on, it gives it such a real feeling. Put the volumes at it's top and FEEL how a guitarsound should feel. // 10
Reliability & Durability: So far, it's PERFECT. (and it's second handed) // 10
Impression: The amp goes with every style of music. I play it with my Boss ME-70 which completes the amazing sound. Anything is possible with this device. If it were stolen, well, takes a pretty professional guy to take this beast from my room without being noticed, but yes, I would definitely buy another one.
It's the best amp I have owned so far, and it goes great with any sound or music style you like, you just need to know how to get your sound. // 9
They are totally different amps. They serve entirely separate purposes and fill very different niches. Comparing them is simply because they have the same first name.
I've never really liked Vox myself, but I think it's really unfair to say that this model beats out the Spider metal tone. I've used my Line 6 Spider III for over a year now, and I play almost exclusively metal, and that amp is perfectly suited to my tastes. No offense to the reviewer, but his list of genres barely touched on metal, so I don't really think he knows what he's talking about in that regard.
I currently own a Vox Valvetronix XL 15-watt and am very happy with it. It has many distorted sounds, but the clean is great as well. the effect are very useful and are almost like real pedals. it is relatively portable and packs a lot of punch for 15 watts.
I've never really liked Vox myself, but I think it's really unfair to say that this model beats out the Spider metal tone. I've used my Line 6 Spider III for over a year now, and I play almost exclusively metal, and that amp is perfectly suited to my tastes. No offense to the reviewer, but his list of genres barely touched on metal, so I don't really think he knows what he's talking about in that regard.
I DO know what I'm talking about. I still play various metal with a vengeance, but metal/core seems to be what I play more than any heavy style. I got more into songwriting and the more ambient styles with lots of delay recently. Ironically, I've actually improved various "metal" techniques now that I'm no longer consumed with it and tried other styles. I like some of the models of Line 6, but I found that some of the newer Vox models can sound as tight without the digital "fizz".
This is a solid amp, but I ended up upgrading to a half stack tube head. Good for practice with a band or alone, but now I am playing around town and needed more power. As far as metal/high gain stuff goes on this amp, it does a decent job, but I prefer a stompbox or effect board so I can have a clean channel to go back to, plus I can even out my tone better like that.
I agree with priest20201 on evening the tone out with an effect board (I.E. BOSS ME20 for instance)if nothing more just to have a little more EQ control and a little more modulation control. The combination of VOX chorus and BOSS slightly out of phase chorus affects sound very full and rich.
I should mention that the clean models take distortion and overdrive pedals fine. I recommend using the channels and banks for effects settings and using dirt pedals to change tones.
I've never really liked Vox myself, but I think it's really unfair to say that this model beats out the Spider metal tone. I've used my Line 6 Spider III for over a year now, and I play almost exclusively metal, and that amp is perfectly suited to my tastes. No offense to the reviewer, but his list of genres barely touched on metal, so I don't really think he knows what he's talking about in that regard.
tbh, Line 6 are SO overated. Theyre shit. They don't do a decent valve amp and all their presets are fake and sound it. sorry man, completely disagree
i played it today and i really liked it alot!!
You can get very heavy tones out of this thing, it has a lot of effects. But most things are personal preference! Bit i'd recommend you try this amp out, you won't regret it! I'm deffinatly going to buy it
Your nogt describing the VT50 in your review, rather the AD50VT, which is the model that came before the VT50 (I currently have a VT50 and used to own an AD100VT).
Quite different in terms of amp models (22 vs 11), effects (different range an the VT series has an independent Reverb) and user saves (8 vs 2).
The AD series are very nice and I loved my AD100, but the newer VT range is quite a step up.
I've never really liked Vox myself, but I think it's really unfair to say that this model beats out the Spider metal tone. I've used my Line 6 Spider III for over a year now, and I play almost exclusively metal, and that amp is perfectly suited to my tastes. No offense to the reviewer, but his list of genres barely touched on metal, so I don't really think he knows what he's talking about in that regard.
A line 6 spider isnt even in the same class as a vox vt lol, a vt far surpases a spider in every aspect!
Anyone has alreday tried the valvetronix XL series?
I have an XL and I love it. I recently got an old yahama bass amp that doesn't work but has two really nice vintage speakers in, so I wired the XL into that and its brutal.
i have the smaller version of this, i think its 25-30 watt? and its pretty awesome, but only has 2 channels and not as many effects and amp types, still good tho
I play a lot of lamb of god stuff and just a lot of heavy bands on this amp. I think it sounds actually pretty good. I just had to get everything to my liking and it sounds really good. My first vox too
i love my VT50. to be honest the only thing i have any concerns with is the gain, i wish it had a lot more gain to it with the heavier channels and everything. not that thats a problem though, my distortion pedal and compressor easily fix that
The 50 watt is easily gigged with in small venues, and if its mic'd in larger venues too.
I had the 100 watt ad100vt-xl for a couple years and gigged with it for both those years, no problems and i got alot of compliments on the sound! Sounds very close to a full tube!
I've never really liked Vox myself, but I think it's really unfair to say that this model beats out the Spider metal tone. I've used my Line 6 Spider III for over a year now, and I play almost exclusively metal, and that amp is perfectly suited to my tastes. No offense to the reviewer, but his list of genres barely touched on metal, so I don't really think he knows what he's talking about in that regard.
hate to say i disagreee lol
own both amps. the spider is not bad at amp modellling but the vox wins- and yes it can do a metal sound too
I recently purchased the Vox VT50, unfortunately it was defective when shipped to me and it needed returned. I was able to play it and was impressed with it...for all the reasons given by those above. I originally bought it to use with the Boss ME 25 as the stereo (2nd) amp. (The ME25 sounds awesome in stereo). But the amp sounded so great alone... that I am now rethinking my setup. I might be able to get most of the sounds I want with just the Vox amp itself. I am awaiting a replacement for the defective amp and can't wait to try it with the ME25. BTW, the Vox cleans sound better than my Marshall and it can replicate any sound my Marshall can make ... and MORE!
Still in the process of fine tuning my 8 channels, but it is a great amp. I've gigged it miked and unmixed without issues. You will find one sound that will become your own...that's what I like most about it.
