New vox hybrids

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 12:56 am

I have two Cambridge now that are the foundation so to speak of the lower AD series Valvetronix amps. I plan to mod mine to the 56 chip. So if I were you I'd get a more powerful amp than the bottom end 30 watter.
The AC30CC amps are all tube and therefore a louder thirty watts than the AD series Valvetronix 30 watter.
It would make a lot of sense and sell more of them too if Vox would adopt some English sounding names for the Valvetronix line and put it in a logo somewhere on the amp thats highly visible.
This business of all these numbers and letters of the different series are confusing to potential buyer. Not to mention not as attractive as the sound of and English name to potential buyers. After all a big part of Vox sales is the name itself.
I like Soverign for the lower Ad series and Royal Soverign for the VT and VTX series. But any British name would do.

jonpaul · Post by **jonpaul** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 6:43 am

You might want to check out the VOX AD50VT, it's a bit bigger than the AD30VT but has the same basic bells & whistles. If you want something even bigger than try the AD100VT. If you are really looking for an amp with a multitude of effects and samplings try the AD60VTX. It really all depends on your needs. I was deliberating over what amp to go with myself about a month ago and decided on the AD50VT. It fit my needs and gives me that true VOX vibe that you can't get with any other amp. Good luck with your selection, you really can't go wrong with what ever VOX amp you select.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 1:40 pm

The AD60VTX (and it's more powerful sibling, the AD120VTX) not only has more effects, but it's way more programmable than the AD15/30/50/100VT.

And to say that the Valvetronix is a hybrid isn't entirely accurate, as the power amp section is partially solid state. As a total guess, the 12AX7 puts out perhaps 1 watt of power as a power amp tube. Obviously not enough for most situations. But the solid state section of the power amp boosts this signal to 15, 30, or 60 watts. You get the feel and reaction of a real tube, but the versatility and reliability of solid state power.

I really like my Valvetronix (an early AD120VT -- not VTX), but it doesn't quite touch my 1995 AC30-TBXP.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 4:02 pm

I like Clive for the lower end and Nigel for the all-tubers.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 8:18 pm

I hope that they solve all of the QC problems with these latest amps soon as I'd like to have a VTX120 and a AC30CC.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 8:57 pm

What QC problems are they, Dan? (asks he, trembling and commencing to assume the foetal position, thumb for sucking at the ready.........)

kevin · Post by **kevin** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:22 pm

Some people have had issues with the new CC line. Most have had nothing but great tone. If I was in the financial position to be able to buy one right now, I wouldn't hesitate. But then I'm in the US, and I have access to KorgUSA's service. Not that I'd expect to need it, but it's a very nice security blanket.

For opinions, good and bad, on the CC line, check out VoxTalks.com and bulletin board at PlexiPalace.com -- lots of good discussion in both places, but the Plexi board tends to be a bit more tech oriented.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:44 pm

They are imported, distributed and serviced by Yamaha Music here in Australia, so I think I'd be pretty safe if something went wrong.

jbarnes · Post by **jbarnes** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:16 am

Let me kick in my 2 pfennigs here gang. My AC30 CC2 was picked from 4 units (incl a cc1) Why, the reverb tanks DO HAVE some QC issues (popping, scratchy generally problem causers) The one I selected was serial number 0000166 (something like 1665) and I have run into no issues. I understand that VOX / KORG reps are out changing reverb tanks at dealers, ALSO the problem seems to be weak. bent or broken springs

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:36 am

Thanks, John. My CC1 is S/N 648. I'll check out the reverb on mine (only a cursory fiddle to date).

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:45 pm

Get new tubes for sure. Chinese tubes are not recommended by anybody that I know of. Too bad RCA does still make its jewels.
Generally its not a good idea to buy the first year of anything, cars, guitars, or amps. If Yamaha backed them here too I would not be afraid either at all.
I would imagine that some of the reported problems are due to the input jacks being hard soldered directly to the PCB.
Of course it might cost more but some tube type reverb would have been great. I have'nt heard about how deep the tremelo is.
Its a good amp just needs a bit of refinement to the design.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:48 pm

The Valvetronix amps are entirely different beasts and are probably what this thread was started to talk about. They have litterally tones of features. But at first they were known to just shut down at the worse moment for no apparent reason.
It would seem right now that most of the buggs have been worked out of them. It would sure be nice if they call them by some Vox English sounding names though.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:49 pm

Hmmmm...... a 'tubal migration', eh??

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:58 am

I call my AD30VT "Fiona".

jbarnes · Post by **jbarnes** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 3:48 am

But then, as a typical AC30, they are so "tone-errific" who really needs reverb....

(Fiona who Paul ?)I knew an English lady Fiona from SF in an earlier carnate)