• You're one step from joining Guitar Discussion Forum - The Fret.
    Create a free account to post, follow threads, and never miss an update.  Sign up free →

Vox AD Series

Guitar Discussion Forum - The Fret

Help Support TheFret.net:

tone2thebone said:
Thats the fun of having a cool little amp like the valvetronix. Sound and tone are highly subjective...you won't be able to sound like me or anyone and vise versa. The amp hits our heads and ears differently. If you can find sounds that inspire you to play more cause you're digging what's coming out of your amp then you've accomplished your mission I'd say.
Click to expand...

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm also learning what others learned many years ago. Tone is not a destination, but a journey. Looking at George Lynch's website, his setup was different for every album, although the main features of a tube screamer into some kind of modified Marshall stayed constant. Clapton's the same way. His tone is quite a bit different now than it was in the Cream days.
 
Like my brother in law used to say (God rest his soul)..."life varies". One day you might plug in and your entire rig sounds so good you want to cry and your face hurts from smiling so much. The very next day you might wake up with a cold and have a stuffy head and the same sound you had the day before...sounds like garbage...then you go tweaking knobs and making all kinds of adjustments. The tone will change. A lot of it is "feel" too. A lot of it is "groove" as well. And so much of it...is just pure magic. It comes to us at different times. If we have a great starting point of reference then at least we can pursue that elusive tone bliss even on days when we need a good ear cleaning from wax buildup or when we need that one big sneeze to clear our heads! :)
 
Tone - I enjoy the "spiritual vibe" so many of your posts encompass. While guitar playing does involve many technical aspects, and mechanical skills, we often forget to truly savor some of those "intangibles". It's especially exciting when some of these intangible things all come together - like when you're playing a certain song, with a certain guitar, with a certain sound eminating from a certain amp. Magic? Yes indeed - almost something bordering on the ethereal. My wife told me this once, after she was watching me playing without me knowing she was there. She said, "It looked like you weren't even here in this realm. Like you were somewhere else, and were at total peace with everything." I couldn't help but to agree. Sometimes, we don't even realize what we're doing ourselves - and yet somehow, some way, it all just comes together. Yessir . . . such a beautiful thing!
 
Last edited:
marnold said:
If anybody else has any other settings they really like with the AD series, post 'em!
Click to expand...

Ok here are some of my favourites:

For a blues-rock solo on my neck PU at the Telecaster:
UK '80s and all knobs at 1 o'clock

A nice marshall sound for solo, decrease guitar-volume for sparkeling clean tone: UK '70s Gain full, Volume 1 o'clock rest in middle position

A heavy solo for my Yamaha Pacifica with humbucker at bridge position:
UK modern Gain at 9 o'clock, Volume at 1 o'clock Treble at 11, rest middle.

At all, if i want more distortion, i don't crank up the gain, but instead I chose an amp model with more distortion and reduce gain. That gives more pressure than havin gain in full position.

Christian
 
Here's my "Billy Gibbons" Marshall sound.

model = UK80s
gain = dimed
volume = anywhere past 12:00
treble = 1:00
middle = 1:00
bass = 1:00
master volume = anywhere past 12:00
variable volume on back of amp = at 75%
effects = compression with knob set at about 12:00 or 2:00

The compressor accentuates the pumping tone of the UK80s model. If you listen to Billy's sound it pumps out off the fret board like that. Not so much high gain preamp sound...but more air moving instead.

All my other amps settings are pretty much set up the same. Even when I'm playing the clean models and high gain models. All my tone knobs are set to 1:00 as I feel thats an optimum tone setting for almost all the models.
 
I picked up my Squier Tele and cranked up my Vox 50w amp today at lunch and damn! It sounded good! I used the 4x10 Tweed with the mid at 3 o'clock, treble/bass at 1 o'clock. Volume cranked and gain at 2-3 o'clock. Sweet tone! need to record that sound for you guys.
 
good led zeppelin (whole lotta love) sound with fender strat:
(o'clocks) uk'80s
gain: 3, volume: 12, treble: 12, mid: 1, bass:12, i have reverb on with the tap thing on 1 o'clock
 
Hello Guys,

I have been out sick the last 5 days. I believe I ate some bad shrimp Wednesday evening. Started out with very sore joints on Thursday and Friday. It really hit me Saturday, Sunday and yesterday. I did very little playing, but tried a few of the suggested ideas from the “AD30VT” thread.

I did discover that I was using way too much Gain, Volume and Master on all my settings. I was following the manual and other user comments. The tones did clear up extremely well. Thanks for all who helped in providing information.

I also want to say thanks to those who have been providing settings in this thread on obtaining different guitarist tones. Being new to electric guitars and amps, this helps me learn more about the amp. I can dial in the different tone settings and hear where they are going.

I like a clean tone. Does anybody have any “Ventures” or clean CCR tones? I am not looking for surf tones, just a nice clean smooth jazzy tone. Ok, I think I just asked for 2 tones (clean and smooth jazz).

This is a great forum with great people helping the newbies like me.

Tim
 
Last edited:
Tim said:
I like a clean tone. Does anybody have any “Ventures” or clean CCR tones? I am not looking for surf tones, just a nice clean smooth jazzy tone. Ok, I think I just asked for 2 tones (clean and smooth jazz).
Click to expand...

The Boutique CL preset that I mentioned before is the one that I use when I play "Walk, Don't Run." With the default reverb it seems to give a suitably Ventures-like tone.
 
marnold said:
The Boutique CL preset that I mentioned before is the one that I use when I play "Walk, Don't Run." With the default reverb it seems to give a suitably Ventures-like tone.
Click to expand...

Marnold,

I scanned this thread and found your settings for Blues - Black 2X10, Blues - Tweed 4X10 and NuMetal. I could not find the Boutique CL seetings. Could you repeat them please?

Thanks.

Tim
 
The AC15 model is really mellow sounding. I tend to think that would be a great humbucker neck pickup jazz amp. Sounds good when you want really round mellow sounds for jazz type stuff.

The "Dumble" overdrive special model (the boutique CL and boutique OD) are very metallic sounding in the high frequencies and tons of low end as a point of reference. Very useful for a lot of clean sounds. Except of course the boutique OD has a lot more gain than the CL...which you really can't overdrive anyway no matter how much you try.

The Fender models (2x12 blackface and the tweed 4x10) sound REALLY close to the real things. The 2x12 blackface sounds like a Fender Twin which tends to have a lot of midrange voicing with tight low end. Really great with single coil pickups as the manual suggests. You can add gain to that to really create a touch sensitive voicing but like the boutique CL you really can't overdrive it to all out distortion. It will distort at max gain but only when you really hit the strings hard. I usually set my gain on that model from 12:00 to 3:00...give it bouncing off the fretboard presence and "clean" drive but it doesn't distort like any of the high gain UK models. The tweed 4x10 is totally different. It sounds like a Fender Bassman and reacts to gain AND volume settings just like the real thing. It will distort much easier and the distortion can be real muddy sounding like your speaker is blown. Very mushy gain...but again very useful if you set your gain and volumes at just below that threshold before it starts to really break up. With any clean sounds you can always back off on the guitar volume knob to clean things up yet still have that amp drive behind you. I like pushing the gains up to almost the breaking up point of the amp just for that drive. The tube compression really kicks in like a real tube amp when you set it that way.

The AC30TB is cool. Very bright due to the Top Boost mode the amp is in. Its a very useful model. The clean sounds are bright and airy with decent tight bottom end. When you overdrive the amp you get that distinct bark of a real Vox amp. At lower gain settings and hard playing think of that Romantics song "What I like about You"...or anything from Tom Petty. At higher gain settings with compression on humbucker equipt guitars think anything from Brian May. Really barky amp. Really cool.

I bought the amp JUST FOR the clean sounds. The high gain models sound really great too especially with humbuckers. I really prefer the natural guitar sound without any effects except for maybe a little bit of reverb or delay. But for the most part my effects are bypassed. I just love the pure sound of the guitar I'm playing...coming through the models.
 
Tone2thebone,

Thanks for all the information. It would of taken me years to gather all this data. I will be experimenting and tweaking for months to come.

Tim
 
Tim said:
Marnold,

I scanned this thread and found your settings for Blues - Black 2X10, Blues - Tweed 4X10 and NuMetal. I could not find the Boutique CL seetings. Could you repeat them please?
Click to expand...

I don't change anything. When you hit the preset button and then dial to the Boutique CL amp, it automatically sets the treble, mid, etc. I don't change those settings at all. So the instructions are these: poke the "Preset" button, dial in the "Boutique CL" amp, play.
 
i currently have the AD15VT but am thinking of trading it on the AD30VT or maybe the AD50VT model. I think the 10 speaker will make a big difference in sound.

I have also been thinking that getting a true tube amp with a 10 inch speaker would give me a better sound.

Can i get your thoughts of the AD30VT/AD50VT over the AD15VT and your opinion on how much better a true tube amp in the same wattage and speaker size would compare?

thanks,
ww
 
Last edited:
Either a 10 or a 12 inch speaker would be great. If space and weight is an issue get the AD30VT because its just as smoking awesome a sound as you will get. If you don't mind a bigger and a little heavier amp then the 50 watt model will be good...I know Robert loves his.
 
thanks tone.....what about sound quality of the vox versus a true tube amp. I'm just a home player but might start playing with my church jam band.

I think the vox has a couple of tubes but isn't totally a tube driven amp....not sure how that works or which is better.

thanks again,
ww
 
Digital Technology has come a long way. The digital modeling of the Vox amps is really really good. This coming from a tube man.

Let me put it this way...the real tell tale that you're playing through a solid state is that the amp will then behave like a solid state amp when using any kind of overdrive or distortion stomp box.
It doesn't recreate AS SMOOTH an overdrive when pushed with pedals. Thats my own humble opinion but I feel it is based on experience with both SS amps and tubes. A tube amp will just love your overdrive pedals. You have to mess with your settings a bit or keep the gain low on the pedals when boosting an SS amp. The Vox however, because it is a combination of ss technology and tube technology is probably very close to producing the nice warm overtones associated with tubes primarily because it's power amp section DOES have a tube. Duh. I'm very pleased with the nice warm tones you can get with the amp. The only model on the Vox that really does sound like a typical solid state amp is the Boutique OD model. Its got a tinny sounding top end which is probably useful for some things...but it's a lot different sounding than the other models, even the clean version of itself in the Boutique CL model. The Valvetronix amps are just really fun toys overall though.
 
thanks tone....very informative

i do have a couple of pedals including a bad monkey and a 1990s danelectro cool cat (chorus). I think i will trade my AD15VT on the AD30VT and start saving for a nice tube amp for down the road. Would rather get a really nice tube amp later than a cheaper one (spent all my money on the kids for christmas) now.

thanks again,
ww
 
Warren,

I upgraded from the AD15VT to the AD30VT. You will be surprised at the difference the 10 inch speaker really makes. Right now I keep the Power Level around the 15 watt setting. I have not had the chance to gig with it yet. The 15 watt was loud, but lacks the head room needed to play in public.
 
I agree with Tim. The 30 just smokes and it is a LOUD 30 watts. That was part of the appeal for me in getting it. I figured it just wouldn't be a Vox if it wasn't 30 watts. ;)
 
well i just traded my 15 for the 30....WOW

haven't had much time to play with it but what a difference!!

I have to give Sam Ash credit....even though i had the 15 for over 60 days they gave me the full price i paid for it towards the 30....best 70 bucks i've spent in a long time!

thanks to everyone for your input.

ww
 
Good Blues Tones

I'm thinking about getting a new practice amp, and I'm considering the VOX AD30VT. How is it for squeezing out a good BB King blues tone? You know, just a good mellow tone, just at the point of breaking up.
Also how do you owners like the metal grill. Any buzz or rattle problems. I'm thinking about ordering one with the original VOX diamond cloth. It's an extra forty bucks, but it does look good!
Thanks for any input.
 
RandyW said:
I'm thinking about getting a new practice amp, and I'm considering the VOX AD30VT. How is it for squeezing out a good BB King blues tone? You know, just a good mellow tone, just at the point of breaking up.
Also how do you owners like the metal grill. Any buzz or rattle problems. I'm thinking about ordering one with the original VOX diamond cloth. It's an extra forty bucks, but it does look good!
Thanks for any input.
Click to expand...

I think the Vox has an ideal blues tone. Using the AC30TB or the Marshall Uk 70s modell ist will create this smooth warm sound. Or use the Tweed 4x10 and crank it up...

The metal grill isnt a problem. The only rattle i found was from the grip when lying flat on the ampcase, but if you lift it, the rattle is gone. But diamond cloth looks very cool :cool:
 
RandyW said:
I'm thinking about getting a new practice amp, and I'm considering the VOX AD30VT. How is it for squeezing out a good BB King blues tone? You know, just a good mellow tone, just at the point of breaking up.
Click to expand...

I think I accomplished that pretty well with my Basic Blues settings. Mind you, I have a pretty hot humbucker so adjust to taste. I'm probably going to tweak it slightly to back off on the reverb and increase the gain just a touch.
 
Does anybody have a picture of what the backside of the cloth grill insert looks like? I am thinking of doing one myself. I will secure it by Velcro.
 

Similar threads

Robert
Scott Henderson Interview, November 2015
Replies
8
Views
3K
Robert
Robert
Jimi75
Two Rock Studio Pro 35 - 1x12 combo review
Replies
14
Views
9K
Anthroguitar
A
duhvoodooman
New-to-me Vox AC15
Replies
19
Views
10K
duhvoodooman
duhvoodooman
duhvoodooman
AMP DIY'ers--this looks just TOO COOL!
Replies
3
Views
2K
Ch0jin
Ch0jin
D
NAD! Vox AD15VT
Replies
4
Views
1K
Jimi75
Jimi75

Latest posts

Back
Top