Vox Pathfinder Mini-Stack

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:01 pm

Has anyone used one of these before and have good/bad/ugly opinions?

http://www.record-producer.com/i/SMR.jpg

I guess they were done in a limited edition (Paul's favorite phrase) and are not that expensive but I don't know if it is worth giving up a brand new pathfinder 15R.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:58 pm

I had one and found it to be a very nice amplifier. Only 750 were made (right?). A fellow in Italy bought mine -the shipping cost was insane. For a solid state amp, it had a lot of chime and a fair amount of dynamic response. While I liked it with all my guitars (except the 12 string), it sounded SUPERB with my Ric 360V64.
Plugged straight in, that was a magic combination.

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:46 pm

Cool. Thanks for the info Noel.

teb · Post by **teb** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:16 pm

Mine had the cabinet with two tens and was a neat little amp. It had a headphone jack, which was nice, decent reverb and tremolo. The overdrive wasn't the best I've heard, but I bought it for the clean sound, which is quite good. The boost/no-boost button was always a bit of a mystery. Unboosted, it is pretty quiet (perhaps as a solo practice mode). You'll have it cranked up to about 7-8 just to be able to hear yourself, but when you hit the boost button it gets about ten times louder. It's not the kind of boost switch that you want to toggle on and off for a bit more sound during lead solos unless you REALLY want to be heard - more like the kind that as soon as you hit it, the dog runs through the screen door trying to get out. So most of the time you leave it boosted and the volume about 2. When you do crank it up, it stays pretty clean and is certainly adequate for smaller clubs and rooms. It says 15 watts, but it sounds more like 30. Typical street price for a nice one seems to be around $300-$350. They're also really cute. Just like a big stack, but only 29" tall.

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:07 am

I currently own (3) of the Pathfinder Super Mini Reverbs (SMR's). Two of them are the 4x8" and the other is a 2x10". The 4x8" units were purchased new at Guitar Center a few years ago for $299 each. The 2x10" was purchased used on eBay for $250. I also bought the optional 2-button pedal that switches the overdrive and the tremelo ($25).

I think they are great little amps. They have the right vintage Vox look, and the heads are perfect for driving a recent Vox 2x12" cabinet ($299 with Wharfdale speakers). The 4x8" and 2x10" cabinets sound 'small', but the 2x12" cabinet sounds 'huge'. I don't play out, but this set-up sounds great and looks great in my living room. My other amps ('65 AC30 Super Twin Reverb/Top Boost, Super Beatle, etc) haven't been plugged in since I bought these amps.

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:33 am

Todd, don't I know that guitar from somewhere?

teb · Post by **teb** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 7:56 am

It might look familiar..... I still miss some of the great sounds that it makes (sounds that my fancy rosewood tele can't make) but I must admit that the slightly wider neck on the tele plays better for me.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:32 am

now that, looks sharp!

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 4:02 pm

I didn't end up getting the aforementioned amp, and the guy now has it on Ebay for those interested.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:41 pm