Jump to content

Fender Mustang or Vox Valvetronix?


texas twelve

Recommended Posts

  • Members

I have been shopping for an amp that can get a variety of sounds. I almost bought a Jet City 20 watter, cuz I really liked the sound. However, it seemed to get a great crunch, and almost a clean, but that was it.

 

So, I have been checking out Vox Valvetronix and Fender Mustang amps cuz I want some variety. Some say that the tube gives the vox a bit more warmth, and some say that the Fender is simply a better sounder.

 

I can't get to GC to play one very easily, so I would appreciate advice.

 

I am a "vintage" player, and mostly play at home. I do gig out a few times, and play everything from early Beatles to Zep.

 

What say you? Which one do you prefer?

 

Thanks for any clarification and opinions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

The Mustang gets some great lower gain tones for a modeler. It does the Fender clean sound very well and also sounds good with a bit of breakup. I'm not that big of a fan of its 70's/80's drive tones and I am not very impressed by its metal tones.

 

The Valvetronix has decent cleans (not bad, but doesn't get the "Fender" sound like the Mustang seems to do). I think it does very nicely though with its crunch tones (70's/80's).

 

Really I think you should find a way to play them, there has to be some music store near you that carries these they are pretty big brand name amps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I've played lots of modelling amps.

 

I've never been a fan of the Vox amps but have heard some really good tones from other players but I can't seem to get on with them.

I liked the Mustang for clean and mid-gain but didn't care for the higher gain tones.

Line6 Spider IV's aren't bad. They can do decent cleans, ok mid-gain, and decent high gain.

Peavey Vypyr, I currently own the 75 watt, can cover all 3 areas but have had some reliability issues.

 

As for tone and ease of use, I prefer the Vypyr. I'm lucky in that I bought it when it first came out and have had zero issues with mine. However I don't know if I'd buy another one because it seems like a crap shoot as far as reliability is concerned.

 

What is your budget if you don't mind me asking?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Are you in a hurry? The reason I ask is that winter NAMM will be here in January. There might be some new and interesting offerings coming out soon after that.

 

That's kind of what I'm doing at the moment. All of the current amps will still be availble but there might be some new toys out too. Plus I can hopefully save up a few more pennies by then, as long as the Mrs. doesn't find my stash.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

I am not in a big hurry, except in my head, and my next gig won't be until April. I just, you know, got the urge.

 

 

Totally understand. Just thought I'd throw that out there. I have no idea if anything interesting is coming or not.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

If you get a Valvetronix...get the blue series. Much more versatile and I think better sounding than the Black/Chrome. I have the tonelab and the AD60VTX and think both are great for modelers. The processed cleans are superb on the AD60VTX...the key is using the acoustic simulator. What I mean by processed is the Police/Rush/U2-ish tones.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
I don't think this sounds thin and brittle..

yep, if you can't get good rock crunch tones out of any of the Valvetronix models you aren't dialing them in correctly. Even the little 8" models are capable of fat, punchy overdrive tones. However, as you say, the old original series is still the one to have. Just killer tones in those amps!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

yep, if you can't get good rock crunch tones out of any of the Valvetronix models you aren't dialing them in correctly. Even the little 8" models are capable of fat, punchy overdrive tones. However, as you say, the old original series is still the one to have. Just killer tones in those amps!

 

:facepalm:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I really don't get the hate. I've gotta play a Valvetronix again, the one I played a couple years ago I remembered getting some pretty nice crunch tones
:idk:
.

 

I've got a Valvetronix 50 that I keep as a spare amp.

 

For what it is (a budget amp), I get some pretty good tones out of it.

 

It's pretty funny that when they first came out people were raving about them, now it's cool to bad mouth them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

yep, if you can't get good rock crunch tones out of any of the Valvetronix models you aren't dialing them in correctly. Even the little 8" models are capable of fat, punchy overdrive tones. However, as you say, the old original series is still the one to have. Just killer tones in those amps!

 

 

I have owned the blue series Valvetronix, and 2 of the AD series. I currently have owned and used at smaller venues, my AD30VT for the last 6 years. I have absolutely no problem dialing in extremely usable sounds.

 

To get the Fender cleans, it was stated correctly to use a Fender amp. The Vox does not do those especially well. However, I use the AC30TB setting for clean with an Exotic BB in front of the amp input for a slight boost. For effects, I dial in a chorus/delay setting and ease back on the chorus slightly, with a slower delay setting.

 

For leads, I use the Numetal setting with the gain and channel volume all the way up, treble at 11 o'clock, mids at 2, bass at 10. For some reason at about half volume, this setting sings without any grit or harsh saturation. Add a touch of delay and the amp sounds amazing.

 

I am currrently looking at several new amps, including a Marshall JMP-1 50 watt head, Vox Pro series 1x12, and Vox AC30HW head. While the first two offerings have more to offer in order to keep space on stage down to a minimum, the last one has one of the best tube tones in clean and saturated sounds I have heard, but has no effects loop. This would mean running any effects through the amp input.

 

Of the three amps, the Vox is the most versatile, feature-laiden and powerful.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

I have owned the blue series Valvetronix, and 2 of the AD series. I currently have owned and used at smaller venues, my AD30VT for the last 6 years. I have absolutely no problem dialing in extremely usable sounds.

 

 

Yeah, i agree, I have one of the old chrome ones. I take mine to Jams and house parties, easy to carry, loud enough for these sort of things. I'd like to get one of the newer series though as you can store more sounds. On my old one you can get three really, channel 1, channel 2, and manual as the third. The newer ones have two banks of 4 channels each. This is where I think the VOX wins over some of the others.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...
  • Members

I have a first-generation Valvetronix AD50VT and love it.  I mostly use the Fender Tweed for clean, the AC30TB for overdrive and the US High Gain for lead tones.  I play out occassionaly and do the pit-orchestra stuff with my high school students for their musicals.  It's got plenty of power and I love the tones I get.  It most certainly doesn't "such" - as one post said, and it doesn't suck either. If something happened to it I would get the 100 watt, 2x12 version to have a bit more headroom but that's it.  Had it for about 5 or 6 years and love the sound every time I plug in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

What don't you like about the Mustangs, bone?

You know I like Vox. I used the Tonelab SE for like 5-6 years in -3-4 different bands. I like the Mustang because of it's Fender heritage and life-like tone. Only reason I could see not liking it is hate for Fender tone. IT's about 80% of what it does.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...