Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Dean, Rob, thanks very, very much for the info!
Dean, that is a GREAT story.
As I said, I've always had the itch to do that at least once, on purpose.

Say hi to Aitch for me. Sorry he's not making it to around DC. Maybe next trip . . .

I am, Mark - twice! Both times for about an hour while I change flights. Bummer....

Hey Aitch. Well, you're lucky you only have a one-hour layover. But too bad you don't get to spend more time in our nation's capital. Have a talk with you travel agent.

I have.... and I can't afford to talk to her any more - every time I do it costs big time!

Paul, I finally had a go at a Vox AD30VT and your comment rings true-I could see this would be a great, fun little amp. It was a howl and I wanted to kick the guy when he said the shop was closing. I was using a Les Paul to try it out. How do Ricks interact with this amp?

I've heard knocks about its reliability/hardiness, both in this forum (I think) and in online reviews.

I've got an AD30VT, my 360-12 and 325C58 sound very "Beatley" with the AC30 setting.

I don't travel with it, so I don't know how it would handle the rigors of getting manhandled a lot. It seems fairly sturdy. The only problem I've had with it -- and I believe it's been noted by others in the forum -- is the dang guitar input jack is very flimsy. The washer nut holding it in is just plastic, and I have twice had to repair it.

Once, I was finished playing, stood up, and started to walk away, not noticing I had gotten the guitar chord wrapped around my leg. That ended up giving the plug a good yank, and snapped that plastic nut right off. I had to take the amp apart to repair it. Then I started to wrap the end of the guitar chord around the handle a couple of times, so an accidental yank on the chord would not stress the jack.

However, then one day I was moving some large music books, one slipped and hit the jack squarely, plugged into the amp. Same thing...nut went flying, and I had to tear the amp apart again to fix it.

Luckily it's not DIFFICULT to fix, but it's a pain. I guess you can reinforce the nut area, or use a metal thread and washer, I just haven't done that yet.

Anyway, that's my only gripe with the AD30VT. The effects and the models -- and the POWER of that little 30 watts -- more than make up for the fight with the jack nut. And I got it for $239 at GC...similar prices mail order. You can't beat all that versatility for the price.

i know its not a VOX but you should really check out the Epiphone Valve Junior. For around $130 you get a 5 watt pure tube amp with great tone perfect for recording and practicing.

Speaking of non-Vox amps, the new Roland "Micro-Cube Red" looks really interesting and sells for about $ 125.00. It's got 6 amp models and 6 effects. I've got the Roland AC60 and think the sound an features are great. I also just got a Ric TR-7 combo and it's super. I'd been using the Vox VR-30 which is also a great combo amp.
These are all worthwhile, IMO. Good Luck...

Well, inspired by this thread, I ordered a Pathfinder 15R from Musician's Friend. It arrived this morning.

First impressions? This thing is *loud* - compared with my Kustom Tube 12, it's enormous. It's crisp and clean, and sounds just wonderful with my 650D. At first, mine appeared to be a '15' rather than a '15R' - the reverb did not work out of the box. I cracked it open, and found that the input connector for the reverb tank had come adrift (or never been hooked up), so that was soon fixed.

The crunch sounds are pretty good - however the boost switch seems a little too aggressive for me. I'd like to be able to find a way to attenuate it a bit, but without a lot more electronic knowledge than I possess (and a schematic!), it will probably remain unused.

I'll be taking this to church tomorrow, and using just it, a volume pedal and the 650D. Normally, I'd have a couple of MagicStomps in tow, but tomorrow will be basic - and without a net!

Thanks David for your review of the 15R.
When I get back home I think I'll pick one up.

By the way, to those buskers out there, it turns out I do have a battery amp after all. It is a Pignose intended for bass. It has a switch called "Funk." I tried it with the switch on with my guitar and it sounded great. Subway entrance, here I come!

If you want a really great amp in a small package check out the Little Lanilei 3350LT.It's great little practice amp that you can also gig with (it can drive 2 4x12 cabs).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/fuzztone65/3350.jpg

I had the opportunity to try a Little Lanilei out last week Mitch. They are incredible! I used it to drive my Vox AD212 cab with Neodog speakers. Awesome tone. It really is more of a head with an internal speaker! Now if we could only get it battery powered...

...Dean

Wow,thats cool Dean!Yeah a battery powered Little Lanilei would be awesome.

My brand new Vox Pathfinder 15R is currently on ebay...bought a Tonelab and don't need both. Seller name "junglejem"

The Pathfinder on ebay sold quickly with "Buy it Now."