Vox Amps Review (2022 Updated)
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Vox are legendary amongst guitar amp manufacturers, producing a great range of amps to suit all purposes.
Whether you are looking for a practice amp, mini amp or a high-tech modeling amp, Vox have got you covered. Today, we’re going to take a look at the best Vox have to offer in each of these areas.
Whilst the type of amp you need depends on how you are going to use it, in our opinion nothing beats the Vox VT40X Modeling Amp. It has more than enough power for both the practice room and small gigs, and with an essentially infinite range of tones it is perfect for almost any style of playing. If you are looking for a Vox amp which is a great example of the brand, this is the one to go for.
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| Model | Type | Size | Weight | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vox VT40X Modeling Amp | Modeling Amp | 18.5 x 9.6 x 22 inches | 24.3 pounds | 40 W |
| Vox V9106 Pathfinder Combo | Practice Amp | 8 x 17 x 12 inches | 12.9 pounds | 10 W |
| Vox MINI3G2C | Mini Amp | 7.48 x 10.62 x 11.81 in | 8.02 pounds | 4 W |
Vox Amps
Vox have been making amps since the 1950s, and have a long and illustrious history history of producing products that even the most famous professional musicians rely on. They struck an early deal with The Beatles, who exclusively used Vox Amps for many years, and the iconic sound you hear on those records is still the core tone of the amps we are reviewing today.
The amps we are reviewing today are varied in terms of technology. When choosing any amp, but especially when looking to buy a complicated Vox Modeling amp, it is worth reading up on how guitar amplifiers work. The differences between a tube amp and a solid state amp, for instance, can be large, and Understanding how tubes work can really help you in making your decision.
Also think about How much power you actually need. It can be tempting to go for the most powerful amp you can afford, but carrying a 100 watt monster of an amp to and from practice twice a week quickly gets tiresome. In our opinion, 10 watts is more than enough power for a practice amp, and 40 watts will allow you to play intimate gigs. Larger rooms will typically come with a dedicated PA system, in any case, making more power than this unnecessary.
Reviews
What kind of Vox amp you need, and the features you want it to have, depend on how you’re going to use it. Having reviewed loads of Vox amps in the past, though, today we will take you through the best amp on offer for three different purposes – modeling your perfect guitar sound, practice, and mini amps.
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Best Modeling Vox Amp: Vox VT40X Modeling Amp
Getting a modeling amp can open up a world of possibilities, whether you are just starting out or are already a seasoned player. This amp offers an essentially infinite range of sounds and tones, and sounds great no matter what tone or style you are playing in.
The amp cleverly combines high-tech modeling circuitry with tried, tested, and loved tube amplification. The vacuum tube pre-amp in this model ensures that the gorgeous, rich tones that you associate with Vox Amps come through, even when you are using digital effects to really manipulate your sound.
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In addition, this modeling Vox amp comes with a wide variety of additional features:
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- The 40 watts of power this amp generates is more than enough for most purposes. The amp wrings huge volume from this power, also, so even when playing gigs it is powerful enough to be heard.
- The range of amp models available for this amp is stunning. With 11 amp models, 13 on board effects, and 33 preset programs, there is an endless variety of tones available. Getting a modeling amp like this is great if you play in a number of different styles, because it means you can use one amp across them.
- The amp is also great for beginners, featuring an AUX input and headphone output. When you are just starting out, playing your favorite tracks through this amp, and playing along with them, quickly builds confidence and motivation to practice.
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- In truth, very few. This is not the cheapest amp available, but it might be the best modeling amp available at the moment – the wide range of tones, all of which sound great, set it apart from the competition.
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Best Practice Vox Amp: Vox V9106 Pathfinder
A great combo amp which is compact enough for practice, whilst still giving you all the power you need.
What is great about this amp is its size. Even if you are an experienced player, used to gigging with much more powerful amps than this one, the volume generated by this compact device has to be heard to be believed.
And whilst, when you are starting out, getting a small practice amp like this might seem like you are under selling yourself, keep in mind that even professional musicians make use of practice amps – trust us, after a few weeks of carrying your amp around, your back will thank you for getting a light amp.
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Other advantages of this Vox practice amp include:
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- A pretty good range of tone and sound controls for such a compact amp. In addition to the standard volume control, you get gain, boost, and treble dials. Whilst that might not sound like much flexibility with your tone, keep in mind that whatever you do that signature Vox sound will still be there.
- If you practice alone, the headphone output on this amp is a great feature. Your neighbors will be thankful for it also.
- Whilst we know that many people claim not to care about aesthetics, this amp looks amazing. It replicates the classic look of the great Vox amps of the past, and so delivers a huge amount of retro charm.
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- For a practice amp, very few. If you are going gigging, you are going to need more power, but for the rehearsal room this is an almost unbeatable amp.
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Best Mini Vox Amp: Vox MINI3G2C
We don’t review mini-amps like this very often, but this one gets a mention because it manages to replicate that signature Vox sound very well in a portable amp.
What is really impressive here is the range of effects for a mini-amp. Too often, battery powered amps like this are seen as toys, because they don’t provide enough flexibility or power for serious players.
Not this one. It has an incredible 11 amp models, so whatever style of music you play you will be able to find the perfect tone.
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In addition, of course, this amp comes with a number of advantages:
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- The proprietary “Bassilator” circuit in this amp delivers huge bass sounds for such a tiny amp. This is perfect if you are busking, because it ensures that the nuances of your playing will be heard by everyone walking past.
- The battery life, given the volume this amp generates, is pretty good. It will run for 10 hours on 6 AA batteries, so you can keep playing late into the night.
- This amp offers an AUX input, which is also perfect for playing outside. Take it to a picnic with friends, have a play on your guitar, and then just connect your phone to continue to listen to music all night.
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- For a mini-amp, this is a remarkable device. It delivers a wide range of effects and a powerful sound for such a small device.
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Conclusion
So which to choose?
Well, it depends on whether you are looking for a Vox amp for modeling that perfect guitar sound, one for practice, or a mini-amp. All of the Vox amps we have reviewed excel in their respective categories.
In our opinion, though, for most purposes nothing beats the Vox VT40X Modeling Amp. It has more than enough power for both the practice room and small gigs, and with an essentially infinite range of tones it is perfect for almost any style of playing. If you are looking for a Vox amp which is a great example of the brand, this is the one to go for.
