

They also looked a little bit too old-fashioned on stage and we all know how important the visual aspect was for bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden or Ozzy Osbourne. Again, not enough gain and too much chime. Never too high on the wish list of diehard metalheads. I think you can get a decent punk tone with these amps although I think that fender amps with distortion boxes were more the staple diet back in the day.Ĭlassic Metal (think Iron Maiden): 4/10. True punks were not that fussed about gear they used whatever they could borrow/nick so yes, Vox amps were sometimes used to record some of the seminal records that we now love. When paired with the right distortion pedal, some interesting tones can be achieved though. Not enough gain when used by themselves and not enough lows make Vox amplifiers more suitable for other musical genres, really. Again, not totally orthodox but good nonetheless. Robert Cray also sounds beautiful when playing his soul and R&B infused blues through Vox-esque choice of amps. The mighty Rory Gallagher played the blues fine through an old Vox AC 30. Of course, there are some really good exceptions to this rule. Not that many people go for Vox amps when they want to play the blues. Not even as popular as Marshall amps, surprisingly.

Blackmore was a big fan and of course people like Tom Petty or Brian May rather enjoyed its glorious tone.Ĭhicago blues (think Buddy Guy): 6.5/10. Never the top contender, although you cannot deny its influence. Nothing rocks like a Marshall but many rockers have found solace in the humble Vox AC 30. In my honest opinion, they can sound a little bit bright especially when paired with telecaster type guitars. As explained above, Vox amplifiers are good platforms for these pedals. The style tends to be very effect-heavy with loads of reverb and delay. Most people who play in worship bands tend to like the chime of EL84 powered amplifier. That makes these amplifiers very popular with both the shoe-gazing and intellectual brigades (e.g. Vox amplifiers are definitely good platforms for pedals. The conservative amount of low frequencies is actually a blessing and the inherent sweet, reedy chime has become one of the sonic trademark of the genre.Įxperimental (think Talking Heads): 7.5/10. In my opinion, one of the best amps for this style. Pop (think The Rembrants of Friends fame): 9/10. Again, a little bit different from your typical tweed amplifier but definitely in the right ballpark.

To my ear, frequency peaks and troughs seem to be in the wrong place for traditional jazz tones.
#Vox amplifiers portable
This means that they can integrate into small and portable amps and still give some of that valve richness we know and love.After using them for a while this is my opinion about how good/suitable they are for different musical genres. These are very small valves which are able to run at lower voltage and lower temperatures. Vox also have brilliant options for beginners and home practice, often using their ‘NuTube’ technology. All of them have that unmistakable Vox tone. Smaller, single speaker options include the AC15, AC10 and AC4. This twin speaker, twin channel amp is loud and proud and have been on countless albums over the years. Known for their trademark in-your-face ‘chime’, Vox Amps are most famous for the AC30. Not as sophisticated as a Fender or as aggressive as a Marshall, they are a big, dumb delight. Whether it’s The Beatles at Abbey Road or Brian May at Wembley Stadium, Vox amplifiers have played a huge role in some of the defining musical moments of the last 60 years.įor many players Vox amps hit the sweet spot between Fender and Marshall. Even the diamond grill cloth on its own is distinctive and recognisable.
