I've been fighting my GAS for a Tele for two years now. But reason has prevailed. I have four electric guitars, but I don't own (and never have owned) an amp - going straight into the PA via a multi-FX pedal. So knowing full well that an electric guitar is only one half of what is designed to be a two-component system, I think its time to set this outrageous situation straight! So the Tele fund has now become the amp fund.

Hence I need some advice from you guys, as I am a total newb as far as amplification goes. I've sort of got an idea of amp and preamp, but that's about it. I know from what I've read that I'd prefer a valve amp to a solid state one. I play more rhythm than lead, and I play more pop and classic rock than metal, shredding, etc. I am entirely persuaded by the excellent article I read on Hellfire Blues' blog, and am not interested in a 100W stack - I intend mic'ing the amp through my PA, so visceral nose-bleed inducing loudness is not an issue at all. Based on all I've read (subject to the disclaimer that I don't know much :-[), it sounds like I would really love a VOX AC15.

So I've been looking around, and came across the Vox Valvetronix+ range. The 40+ is small, compact, good looking, and contains bells and whistles that appeal to a multi-FX type like me - and on asking for discount at PB I was told I could probably have it for R 2 800 new. Half the price of the more bulky, FX-less AC 15 they have on the floor (and the Valvetronix includes sims for both AC15 and AC30 among its 99 presets) . Speaking to the salesman, he however mentioned it is not a full valve-amp, but only has a valve in the pre-amp. At this point I ceased understanding with my limited knowledge, and said I'd get back to him. But based on my type of PA rig, transport options, etc, this amp seems ideal. I love the idea of carrying around this compact amp - the AC would require me to reconfigure the way I travel to gigs.

Anybody have personal experience of the Valvetronix, or able to glean enough off the links below to give me some advice? Is it an acceptable substitute for the AC 15, given my relatively modest needs, aspirations and budget? Should I save for the AC15, or look in an entirely different direction?

Any advice will be most appreciated!

http://www.voxamps.com/us/valvetronixplus/vtplus/

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/guitar_amplifiers/vox/valvetronix_vt40/index.html

Valvetronix are awesome , great tones, ....but its nto a full valve amp...i think if you are going to gig with it , save the moola for the AC15 .. but thats my opnion, best to take your guitar an go play with em both and make a call then...ultimately it coems down to what you want.

ICM is right the valvetronix are awesome, but it aint no Valve amp. Seeing as you are running a multifx I would go for the AC15. You should take your guitar and go test them both is a statement as true as it gets. Either way let us know what you think.

IceCreamMan wrote: Valvetronix are awesome , great tones, ....but its nto a full valve amp...i think if you are going to gig with it , save the moola for the AC15 .. but thats my opnion, best to take your guitar an go play with em both and make a call then...ultimately it coems down to what you want.

Nicholas L wrote: ICM is right the valvetronix are awesome, but it aint no Valve amp. Seeing as you are running a multifx I would go for the AC15. You should take your guitar and go test them both is a statement as true as it gets. Either way let us know what you think.

Thanks, guys. Solid advice.

make and do wrote: Also it's damn heavy.
I reckon if you want to travel light and you're going to mic it up anyways, go for something smaller
like the Vox Lil Night Train (2 Watt) or a Vox AC4 (5Watt). They are plenty loud and easy to
lug around as they are small and they sound decent enough mic'ed up.

That's my biggest issue with the AC15 and amps with those dimensions. I didn't know of the two other models - thanks, will check it out!

Looks like the next phase of the search is to get off the internet and go and play some amps in the shop!

The other thing is that multi-fx become obsolete. A tube amp doesn't. Get a great amp and, if you need a multi-fx, get one separately. Once you inevitably toss it in the trash you still have an amazing amp. Get an amp with built in digital fx and you have to toss the amp with the fx.

Get an AC15 or a Laney Cub12 and upgrade the speaker. Since you're miking up, you have the option of playing it squeaky clean at very low volume and using your fx for drive and alles, or do like me and EZ and run the amp hot and control the drive with the guitar volume knob (you have no idea how much more satisfying this is until you start doing it).

The sound you'll get from one of these small cheap tube amps will knock the most awesomely awesome digital amp sims into a cocked hat. Just make sure it has a 12" speaker to move some air, and that the acoustic element - the loudspeaker - is up to delivering all that tone.

Edit: Not impressed by the Night Train or the Ibanez TS15. That's just my opinion. Cub12 FTW. Heard Cannon playing one miked up in a club - running a Stratocaster through it - and I couldn't believe that a cheap little amp could sound so great, way better than 100W Marshalls or Fender hot rods running pre-amp drive with their masters on 1.

singemonkey wrote: The sound you'll get from one of these small cheap tube amps will knock the most awesomely awesome digital amp sims into a cocked hat. Just make sure it has a 12" speaker to move some air, and that the acoustic element - the loudspeaker - is up to delivering all that tone.

Thanks, good advice! Now I have a better idea of which way to go. Back to saving the pennies! PS: it was your blog post on the evolution of amp vs PA that made me finally decide to get an amp. Well written (not just that post, but the rest too 8))

singemonkey wrote:
Get an AC15 or a Laney Cub12 and upgrade the speaker. Since you're miking up, you have the option of playing it squeaky clean at very low volume and using your fx for drive and alles, or do like me and EZ and run the amp hot and control the drive with the guitar volume knob (you have no idea how much more satisfying this is until you start doing it).

The sound you'll get from one of these small cheap tube amps will knock the most awesomely awesome digital amp sims into a cocked hat. Just make sure it has a 12" speaker to move some air, and that the acoustic element - the loudspeaker - is up to delivering all that tone.

+1
I've got a Laney VC-15 which I love. It only has a 10inch speaker but also has a nice clean channel if you want to use it (I no longer do)
Brendon BluJu Neuhaus used to play his Strat through a mic'ed Cub IIRC and it sounded pretty sweet. Had a nice growl when he cranked it.

Riaan C wrote:

singemonkey wrote: The sound you'll get from one of these small cheap tube amps will knock the most awesomely awesome digital amp sims into a cocked hat. Just make sure it has a 12" speaker to move some air, and that the acoustic element - the loudspeaker - is up to delivering all that tone.

Thanks, good advice! Now I have a better idea of which way to go. Back to saving the pennies! PS: it was your blog post on the evolution of amp vs PA that made me finally decide to get an amp. Well written (not just that post, but the rest too 8))

Also really like that article.

I'm going to be contrary and say go for the modelling amp. In your playing situation, you need something that gives you a variety of different tones at a variety of volume levels - that is what modelling amps excel at.

Another thing modelling amps are good for is letting you try out different amp sounds. This means that if you do decide to go for an all valve amp in the future, you will know what direction you need to look in based on what amp models you like using in your modelling amp.

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I'm going to be contrary and say go for the modelling amp. In your playing situation, you need something that gives you a variety of different tones at a variety of volume levels - that is what modelling amps excel at.

Thanks, Alan. Any experience of the VT range specifically?

I never gelled (I hated it, great cleans, not much else) with the Vox VT amp. I found the Roland Cubes to be much better. Effects wise, tone wise and modelling wise. Was the best amp for the money.

The VT50 I had never took the GT8 well, while the cube and the GT8 were perfect together.

Donovan Banks wrote: I never gelled (I hated it, great cleans, not much else) with the Vox VT amp. I found the Roland Cubes to be much better. Effects wise, tone wise and modelling wise. Was the best amp for the money.

The VT50 I had never took the GT8 well, while the cube and the GT8 were perfect together.

Thanks Donovan

To be honest, not much. The limited patch saving (only 8 user patches) put me off trying them. I liked the early blue face Valvetronix stuff, particularly the tonality of them, but since then they have all been scaled down feature-wise a bit too much for my liking.

I'd push you to spend a bit more and go for a Fender Mustang. I have a III sitting next to me right now, which is the 100W version with a 12" Celestion speaker that retails for R5,295 (about R3,700 street price). Not as many amp models, but 100 user patch locations and it's surprisingly small and lightweight. I think the 40W Mustang II is retailing at R3,495 (about 2,500 street), but that's also a little scaled down feature-wise.

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I'd push you to spend a bit more and go for a Fender Mustang.

Thanks Alan. Just watched a demo and read a review on the Mustang. Like what I see!