Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp 

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

I bought this amp a couple of years ago. I have owned Vox amps in the past, and I liked their sound and dependability. I must say after working with this amp for awhile, I am not a big fan of this Vox amp.

What I like:
1. It can get loud. Some of my students have sizeable tube amps (Mesa Boogie), and I can keep up with them volume-wise. With the preamp tube you do get a little extra "punch." Without the tube, this amp is worthless.
2. Although more common now, the Aux-In for your Ipod is a plus. I put all my teaching materials on my Ipod (Much easier than carrying extra speakers).

What I don't like:
1. I don't like all the "stuff" on this amp. I'm an old-fashioned rocker, who likes to plug-in and play.
2. Inconsistent tone. I find it difficult to get consistent tone with the amp. Once you get it dialed in, it's fine, but getting there can be a challenge, especially when you're having to do this several times a day.
3. Effects are just average, although the reverb may be the best and most variable effects feature.
4. High end can be weak, and the bass response is overwhelming. I have found that especially on the upper end, the treble can distort and gets pretty thin (not good distortion), and when playing rhythm the low end is quite muddy and excessive. I often have to back off the bass completely. Thus going back to tone and EQ.

All in all for the $$ it's not a bad deal. The amp has held up well under constant use (4 to 5 hours everday), which is a plus. I would not use this amp for performance. For practice and instructing it gets me by for now (Although I am considering changing amps soon)

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

This amp far exceeded my expectations. I am amazed at how many features and great sounds are crammed into such a small package. It is well built ans I can get exactly the sound that suits my taste. I play Grateful Dead style jamming music, reggae and swing jazz. Get the optional footswitch for live use, you wil be glad you did!

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

Tons of models and effects plus a preamp tube plus metronome, equalizer, tuner - everything but a pedal in a light and portable package. At 40 solid state watts it goes pretty loud -- though recall that tube watts are 'louder' because a tube clips gracefully. So it's a beginner's dream come true: The caveats: (maybe TOO good to be true?) 1) I can't get a Fendery sound from my Strat - proably just need to fiddle with it; 2) am getting reverb when I turn up the volume - hmmm...; 3) speaker cant handle the brown sound in lowest octave - not surprising or important to me; 3) Metal settings sound too clear in highs and unusably distorted lower down - maybe my fault. On the other hand I've discovered a fabulous AC30 tone I plan to adopt for life! Advice: Compare to Fender's competing offering. Despite all the models it may come down to whether you prefer Vox or Fender tone.

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

I was very excited when I first got this baby home. After about an hour of playing, I was still shocked at how complicated this small amplifier is. Vox seems to have tried to pack every single piece of technology which all seem to run into each other. The stock "99" sounds are good, but remembering what is what and switching back and forth, even with the foot switch (which is marginal at best, and its HUGEEEE), is troublesome. I was very disappointed with this model. It also gives off a weird hissing noise, almost like added dithering or something.

On the plus side, it is very stylish, and an excellent size. It does have a lot of power it's size.

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

I needed a small electric guitar amp to use for some gigs that I do with my mostly acoustic blues/roots band, but did not want to spend a lot of money. I'd heard a guy using a larger VT amp at a gig and was really impressed with the sound, so I decided to give this a shot.

While it has more features and presets than I want, it was easy for me to dial in a nice, clean sound that I can easily overdrive with my tube screamer when I want a distorted sound. The reverb is good, but has a longer "tail" than I usually prefer. However, I have been able to find the sweet spot without much trouble. I don't really use the other effects, but when I tried them they sounded much nice that the effects on other amps I've used. I especially like the auto wah.

I've gigged twice with this and it sounded great mic'd through our PA. The guys in the band were impressed, and I got a lot of compliments from the audience. Granted, this is not a full tube amp, but it gets a great tube sound for the money, is lightweight, looks nice, and has been reliable so far.

I won't comment on the high gain settings, since I don't really care for that sound much.

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

I am very pleased with the amp. If something were to happen to this amp, I would buy another....from Musicians Friend.
Good presets, multiple effects, memory for your favorite settings. I also have the VT 120+. This smaller unit works great for practice and playing smaller venues, while keeping the same settings I have on my larger amp. I really like it.
I had trouble with the first one I ordered. It did not respond correctly to the Vox footswitch, also some effects would switch in and out and bleed over while I was playing. Musicians Friend was very helpful...swapped it out. I got the replacement amp and it seems to work great. The hiss is annoying on the hotter settings, but I can still get a very clean sound for jazz and easy blues. I wish the exterior was stronger. I think a bump against a corner wall or another amp will leave a mark on this amp. I also own a Roland 60 Cube. It is a tank and has great sounds...just not as many effects as this little Vox. I think overall I like this Vox better...will just have to be more careful with it.
Very good value.

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

This amp was overall an awful purchase, the only amp i desire from vox's range is the custom AC30 which has amazing reviews and they actually seem to be reliable. My Vt40+ is completeley recked and this is at fairly minimal use, the "US blues" effect somehow has become distortionate and it not actually useable, i am doing you a huge favour in recommending you do not buy this amplifier, save up a while longer and buy a TUBE AMP eg- Fender Twin Reverb , Fender Deluxe , Vox AC30 , proper tone and quality!!
I would say the features on this amp are really good, there is something for every one and there is alot of differentiation on this amp.
havent had many amplifiers to compare it too so i shall give it average
at first i thought, yay great amplifier its amazing!!! then after six months ide decided it was a waste of 180, it developed a hissing sound and actually has a drone now and then!

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

despite my frustrations with the original unit I received, which happens from time to time to all products out of the box, and though VOX has had previous problems with the line, Musicians Friend stood behind their decision to offer the product and made good on VOX's and their claims that the product was solid despite a small failure rate compared to the total units sold. Again THANK YOU Musicians Friend for your superb follow through and your total dedication to making ALL your customers Satisfied Customers - how totally refreshing in this day and age!
After receiving a noisy unit and returning it , Musicians Friend went over and above the call of duty to have their technicians test the new unit before shipping it. I now have a QUIET and sweet sounding unit that works beautifully in every model, setting, and mode. Noise free the way to be!
Totally loaded, ample volume, easy to use, outstanding bang for the buck, and works wonderfully with electric and acoustic.
Super features, sound, and size.

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

Speaking only to the model I returned for exchange (waiting on exchange), due to the finish and noise issues, as noted above, 6 is generous. VOX should realize features alone do not compensate for noisy analog output. Slick features DO NOT compensate on soft passages accompanied by noise.
After running through every setting, about half that I can use for my style, I am impressed. It is all in there. This little runt actually motivated the completion of two compositions. Excellent!
Finish covering on corners have some gaps and is very thin. I did send mine back for an even exchange due to the hiss mentioned by other reviewers, which is disappointing. The noise is less using some models than on others, and the Noise Reduction setting doesn't touch the hiss, another shame. I really hope the replacement is quieter, as I really love the features. Worse case if the new one is the same I will use it as a monitor, not using the output which kills the sound through the speaker, rather as a stand alone. I know Vox can tame the noise present in the Analog Output Circuit, it would not cost much and the reviews would change from hissy-fitty to WOW! Coincidently, I wrote to Vox directly about the noise and they did not respond nor do I expect them to. Poor form Vox - way to loose future customers. Hey, if a manufacturer builds downline models within a line they should reflect the top model.

Comments about Vox Valvetronix VT40+ 40W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp:

An excellent practice amp with great clean AND distortion tones. Has very useable effects unlike competing products. Easy to dial in whatever tone you want.

You'll read a number of people mentioning the hiss/snare effect. Yes its there. Its also there on the Peavey VYPYR and on a few models on the Fender Mustang. I tried them all and settled on the Vox. I wanted to like the Peavey VYPYR and its excellent distortion but has poor build quality and it STILL has unreliable firmware and locks up during operation - completely unnacceptable. The Fender offered recording capabilities, superior clean amp models and generally cleaner modeling but had poor quality distortion, lousy effects (beyond echo/reverb) and was difficult to dial in.

One thing I really like about the Vox is that it remembers where you left off. Turn it back on and its where you left it. Not so on the Peavey or Fender. Another plus is that you have control over the power output and can really make it operate at bedroom levels in an apartment or small house while everyone else is sleeping and STILL get great tone. The Peavey and Fender are difficult to make quiet and when you do the sound quality declines greatly.

As much as you'd hope for it, none of these are performance amps. They are serious practice amps that let you get your experimentation on. You could make them work in a pinch but I wouldn't ever buy them specifically for that purpose. That being said the Vox was superior in my testing and for my needs.