Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

OK, you guys have convinced me. I’m gonna try and get a Vox guitar amp. But which one? I just want a SMALL amp that will sound best with my Rics and maybe with my 12-string A/E too. A practice amp would also be very handy to bring to my lessons.

Vox’s website lists a VR15. But ZZ and M123 both say it is no longer available. M123 lists a DA15 and a Pathfinder 15 (w/ Reverb) but neither are on Vox’s site. (At least I can’t find them.) This is very confusing.

What gives? Thanks!

Soundwise I like the AC-15 reissue with the blue bulldog speaker...nice chime....reverb seemed a bit thin.. I took one apart to do some work and thought the build quality was maybe not so good. I think most any el-34 powered amp will give you that tone. The bright channel on the blackface Fender amp's chime pretty nicely also IMO. Have fun!

The Vox Pathfinder 15R (with Reverb) is a terrific practice amp. The output of 15 watts through a vox 8" speaker really gives it surprising power. You can also upgrade the speaker to a Weber, Jensen, or Celestion — if you're so inclined. It also has a boost switch and a gain control, as well as a line out, speaker out, and headphone out. It looks like they are still in stock at Musicianfriend.com for $119. Well worth it.

They are almost impossible to find at retail stores, so perhaps Vox is up to something.

Hope that helps.

Vox DA 5 is a new very small 5 watt Vox with alot of the features of it bigger brothers:

Here's a link for the VR15 ($149 shipped) and VR30 ($239 shipped)from Humbucker Music. I was considering the same amp and have had this bookmarked for awhile. They take PayPal too
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/humbucker/voxvrseamne.html

Here's a link for the DA15:

http://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/da/da15.htm

Looks neat. For me, though, there's one flaw - like the AD15VT and AD30VT, the line out mutes the internal speaker - so you can't use it as an onstage monitor, and pipe it through the PA without using a microphone. It looks as if the Pathfinder does not have this issue - for $120, I suspect I might be picking one of these up very soon!

Let's see. I've got (2) Vox Series 90 amps (circa 1970) that I'll make you a deal on. Each one provides 300W through 4x12" speakers and (2) horns. The power amps can be jumped together and controlled by one pre-amp head and foot pedal. The resulting 600W rig sounds pretty impressive with 8x12" and (4) horns. The built-in e-tuner, fuzztone and repeat percussion effects are pretty cool too. Oh wait, you were looking for something small...

I believe the VR-15 and -30 are discontinued, Guitar Center was blowing them out a few months ago, I picked up a 15 for my wife for $89 (check around, maybe some GC stores still have some in stock). It's a nice 2-channel footswitchable amp (clean/overdrive), very basic volume and tone controls, her Tele sounds great through it. My son has the Pathfinder 15R, single channel but with a gain "boost" button that is footswitchable. Also includes tremolo and reverb, very cool. Both amps are really nice, small amps, plenty loud. For beautiful, bright clean channel, I prefer the sound of the VR, but the Pathfinder is a little more flexible right out of the box with the trem and reverb.

Wow, that was fast. Ok, so let's narrow this down.
The AC15 looks like a great machine ... but it is $600!
The DA5 is a little TOO small.
Of what seems available, it is either the DA15 or the Pathfinder 15 w/ Reverb.
Differences? Preferences? Thanks!

In the $100 range, the DA-5 is a pretty good deal. Good tone, similar to it's Valvetronix big brothers and a nice selection of effects combinations. Powered by line voltage OR 6 "C" cell batteries - great for busking. The DA-15 is more powerful and not battery powered. I use an AD120VTH/AD212 Valvetronix half stack for gigging with the band, and the DA-5 for fun and recording.

In the next higher price range ($400+), I got to try out the 3350LT version of one of these: http://www.songworks.com/pages/6/index.htm

For tube amp tone at practice levels this is a honey of an amp. Great at gigging volume through my AD212 Neodog equipped cab too! Not as sonically versatile as the V/X series Vox amps, but really fun tone and enough power to gig with by adding a cab.

...Dean

AD-VT30. $275.00 or less. Best goofing amp I've had.

RE: DA-5, six "C" batteries, Dean
Busking is exactly what came to mind. I'm afraid I'm a little too old for that.
But you know what, a couple of times I've wondered how much I'd make if I stood outside the subway and played (and sang?) for an hour and a half or so. (I'd probably have to repeat my set two or three times.) Then I'd donate the money to charity. I'm just curious.

Paul, you're probably right.
But I already have a 45-watt amp.
And the AD30VT weighs almost 30 pounds.
As I said, looking for something to throw in the car and take to my lessons or to a friend's house.

Mark, your never too old to busk! I'm 46 and still do it, just not on purpose though: I picked up a new acoustic last summer and was trying it out in Old Montreal before driving back home. It was a bright sunny day and there were tons of people walking about. I was next to a fountain, opened the case and started playing a few licks and scales just to enjoy and accustom myself to my new purchase. I pulled about $50 in 60 minutes just playing scales. Too wierd. Payed for the beer after I got back home. I'll have to try it with the 660/12 and the DA-5. Play some Byrds in the Park.

I'll be bringing the DA-5 to Toronto in September when I meet up with Aitch. He will be bringing his portable as well. We'll probably be trying out guitars in a hotel room and the 5 watts is more than enough for that. The amp models and effects are really fine for a solid state amp, and close to the bigger Valvetronix. Plus it can be played camping, or out walking the Ric, or in the park, or...

I quite enjoy it.

...Dean

The VR15 and VR30 ARE still available. I posted the link earlier from Humbucker Music. Here it is again.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/humbucker/voxvrseamne.html