Vox Valvetronix AD60VT

Looks like half an AC30…
Sure does, you can spot that classic Vox styling a mile off. It might look like half an AC30, but in fact there are two AC30s in there: a standard and a top boost model, plus two AC15s. Not the real things, you understand, but digitally modelled emulations of them along with 12 other modelled amps. The Valvetronix AD60VT (along with its bigger brother, the AD120VT) couples parent company Korg’s state of the art REMS digital modelling technology with Vox’s guitar amp expertise resulting in a neat combo with a valve in the power stage pushing out up to 60 watts through a 12-inch Celestion speaker.

60 watts with just one valve? No way!
Well, the valve is used as a push/pull power amp that puts out about one watt, but that’s then further amplified through a solid-state ‘variamp’ power circuit unique to Vox. Without getting swamped in all the technical details, the whole setup is designed to produce a greater dynamic range than you’d find in a more conventional solid-state amp or digital modelling unit and create more of the tactile playing experience you’d find in an all-valve amp. What’s more, there’s a switch on the back panel which allows you to choose your output level from 1, 15, 30 or the maximum 60 watts, so you can push the amp at lower volumes and use it for a bit of quiet practice as well as for gigs. For really quiet practice there’s a headphones socket.

So am I stuck with preset sounds or can I dial up my own?
You get the best of both worlds with the Valvetronix. Every aspect of the amp is controlled from the knobs and switches on the top panel, but whatever sound you dial up using these can be saved as a patch and recalled. There are 32 patches in eight banks of four, all of which have been preprogrammed by Vox with a killer range of tones that cover loads of styles based on the signature sounds of many famous players. Every one of these, however, can be overwritten with your own edits. If you don’t want to use the preset sounds you can simply flick the amp into Manual mode and twiddle the knobs to your heart’s content.

Besides the Vox amps what others are modelled?
Oh, all the usual suspects. There’s a 16-way switch that selects from various Fenders and Marshalls plus a Rectifier, Soldano, and a couple of Dumbles (Californian boutique amps you’d have to take out a mortgage on). The models do sound close to the real thing and there’s plenty more control available in the form of gain, volume, treble, middle, bass and presence knobs.

If it uses digital modelling, there must be effects on board.
Yup, this amp’s got the lot. There are two effects sections really. The first is the pedal effect that comes before the preamp and the second is a virtual effects loop between preamp and power amp that covers, in three sections, a range of modulation effects, delay and reverb. All the effects have adjustable parameters.
The pedal effects are selected using a rotary switch and include compressor, acoustic guitar simulation, octave divider, treble boost, pedal wah and auto wah, univibe, fuzz and a pair of overdrives modelled on a Tube Screamer and a Rat.
In the virtual effects loop you can select modulation effects from a choice of tremolo, flanger, chorus, rotary speaker, phaser, add in either spring, plate or room style reverb and choose straight digital delay or a simulation of a single head or multiple head tape echo. In addition to all this there’s a real rear panel effects loop where you can add more (external) effects of your own.

It’s okay having all those effects, but how do I switch them onstage?
Well, there’s three choices: you can take your hands off your guitar momentarily to switch things (risky), you can train a helper monkey to do the switching for you (possibly illegal), or you can buy the optional VC4 foot controller. The VC4 is essential really if you intend to use the amp onstage. It’s got a treadle for controlling the wah, univibe speed or modulation effects speed and a bunch of switches for either switching patches or turning the individual effects on and off.

So do I trade in my amp and stompboxes for a Valvetronix now?
This may just be the do-it-all amp you’ve been waiting for. There’s a whole world of sounds available from this versatile combo, making it ideal for recording (directly through the line output if needed), practising and gigging. Try one out and see if you’re not impressed.