Vox - the tiny amp company - GuitarTalk Community

Vox - the tiny amp company

aja

I love the sound and the company in general, but how many mini/micro/smaller-than-normal amps can one company keep churning out?

Go ahead: www.voxamps.com

Look through the products list.

People that know me, know that I love gadgets and especially small things, yet somehow I have no desire to buy anything they offer.

Am I mistaken or being too harsh on them? You be the judge....

Jamvox - tiny computer monitor amp thing
lil' night train - tiny minuscule tube head with a dumb redneck name (although their mini amp I like most)
AC4TV combo, mini, 8 combo, head & cab - all tiny horrible looking things. Honestly just go buy a laney cub and modify it
MINI3 - Why on earth does this thing exist? To compete with the DA5 which looks exactly the same?
AC1RV - microscopic amp. More easily misplaced than a shark-fin
DA5 - yet another mini amp
Pathfinder - their only small SS amp with balls
Amplug - so tiny they couldn't fit in the speaker
Tonelab ST - the strangest experience when you see it in real life for the first time. It is actually an amazing optical illusion - no matter how close you are it always looks far away because it is so TINY!
Tonelab EX - okay looks better, but wait!?! What's that??? Two tiny speakers built in. Why the hell does it have that?! I want a multieffects not another tiny amp!

In terms of marketing and making their products follow a modern direction, Fender wins this one...

vic

Interesting observations Aja... ? You're right, small gadgets,tiny things...mostly Japanese inventions.

However the Vox Co of today (now owned by Korg) is a far cry from the original company started by Tom Jennings (JMI) in 1957. But even back then and through the early 60's JMI gave us the portable Continental electric organ (House of the Rising Sun) and the 1st wireless microphone system, although it was not a commercial success at first. Also the wah wah pedal (Pictures of Matchstick Men by Status Quo) and the Tonebender (Jimmy Page et al.)

I love visiting http://www.voxshowroom.com/ ...excellent source

Ray

aja wrote: I love the sound and the company in general, but how many mini/micro/smaller-than-normal amps can one company keep churning out?

As many as will sell well. And appears it's doing OK?

Bob-Dubery

Those little plug-in amps with a jack plug on the side... must they be plugged into a guitar or can they be plugged in to the last of a chain of pedals?

Gearhead

>☹ AC4TV does not look terrible, to the contrary.
I agree with Ray here, they will make as much money as they can - and if small amps makes them money, they will make small amps :?

Amplug works best without effects, but yes you can plug it into a pedal as well.

vic

oh... I forgot to mention the Univox (c1959)...an early keyboard used on the mega hit Telstar by the Tornados (1962)

Vick

Ac4TV looks awsum oky ?

Jack-Flash-Jr

X-rated Bob wrote: Those little plug-in amps with a jack plug on the side... must they be plugged into a guitar or can they be plugged in to the last of a chain of pedals?

I'd like to know too...

Mr-M

Jack Flash Jr wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: Those little plug-in amps with a jack plug on the side... must they be plugged into a guitar or can they be plugged in to the last of a chain of pedals?
I'd like to know too...

The VOX Amplugs. Since they are analog circuits and not digital, they don't have any impedance or headroom issues that would stop you from plugging into the end of a chain of pedals and using them like that. In fact I know of a few guys using Amplugs that way.

Jack-Flash-Jr

Mr T wrote:
Jack Flash Jr wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: Those little plug-in amps with a jack plug on the side... must they be plugged into a guitar or can they be plugged in to the last of a chain of pedals?
I'd like to know too...
The VOX Amplugs. Since they are analog circuits and not digital, they don't have any impedance or headroom issues that would stop you from plugging into the end of a chain of pedals and using them like that. In fact I know of a few guys using Amplugs that way.

Thanks!

tentop

There's obviously a market for all these tiny things. The Night Train is awesome, even though it's not on the completely tiny end of the scale like the Lil' Night Train.
A better question IMO is why amp companies keep building 200W monstrosities. Those are far less practical and should have far fewer people who can use them. If you're not making it big you don't need a 200W stack, much less many of them, and once you have made it big, you're plugging into the stadium's PA anyway.

Mr-M

aja wrote: I love the sound and the company in general, but how many mini/micro/smaller-than-normal amps can one company keep churning out?

Am I mistaken or being too harsh on them? You be the judge....

Interesting post. VOX do listen to customer feedback, which is reflected in their product range by the very products you're not too thrilled by. Still, I'll forward on some of your observations to R & D.

Fact is they wouldn't make these products if there was no need or demand for them.

Firstly, low wattage valve amps like the AC4TV and 'Lil Night Train are a worldwide phenomenon caused by suburban customers wanting big valve amp sound at lower volumes. VOX were one of the first mainstream brands to tap into this demand that was previously only catered to by either boutique amps or the pioneering Epiphone Valve Junior. Now almost every mainstream manufacturer has at least a few models catering to this market segment.

Secondly, 5 years ago there were very few smaller portable battery-powered practice amp options available. Vox saw a gap in the market and, based on mostly negative user sentiments on the sound of the existing options out there, started to release products that fill that gap.

The core products of VOX are still their valve amps and always will be, but one cannot blame them for diversifying and attempting to follow and also lead new market trends. It's just good business.

I thought some perspective on the why of it all might be of help. ?

PS: I don't think I'm breaking any rules by posting this, but if I'm out of line I will gladly delete my post.

singemonkey

tentop wrote: A better question IMO is why amp companies keep building 200W monstrosities. Those are far less practical and should have far fewer people who can use them. If you're not making it big you don't need a 200W stack, much less many of them, and once you have made it big, you're plugging into the stadium's PA anyway.

This.

nicovlogg

As far as I know my history, Vox started their guitar line with the AC10, which is by modern standards a pretty small amp. I think it's in their blood.