MS Beetle

Something new from the Vox camp; the Micro Superbeetle amp (20W). Not to be confused with the Mini Superbeetle (50W) which is the larger counterpart & tube equipped. This smaller-scaled version, which is about the size of a guitar body (as depicted) sits in between the table-top & beginner practice amps. Its internal power is re-chargeable making it very busker / outdoor-friendly. 

It may look vintage but the control panel reveals some contemporary applications like bluetooth & various drive voicings.

Potential buyers should be wary of the fact that this amp isn't a firm representative of the flagship Vox (tube) tone. In fact, it's very utilitarian & more present-day in its offerings. Also, bear in mind that an internal rechargeable battery will wear out (might even perish) over time. Please check with the dealer if this is replaceable for those of us who have a potential to fall in love with it & wish to keep it for a very long time.

Pics: VOX

Vox clearance

Folks, there are good discounts to be had from City Music's VOX clearance sale. Please refer to the full listings at City Music's web page. If you're GASing for some tube amps, this is a good opportunity.

Pic: City Music

VZB

 Vox, Zoom & Blackstar products are now available at Swee Lee. Yes - Swee Lee.

Clearance @ CM

This might just be an overlooked gem at City Music's clearance department. It's the single channel version of the VOX AC30 for those who like a little bit of dirt in their clean tone.

Come on... you've always wanted to try a set of 8s for super bendy moments, no? Not even $2...

 

Pics: CM webstore

Selling: VOX MV50 Clean combo (SOLD)

Letting this go, hardly played: VOX MV50 amp head + BC108 cab combo. Coming to terms with who I am - I don't thrive on clean tones. Power adapter + speaker cable included. Bottle included as size reference only. Chemo funding continues, so price is final - thanks for understanding.

• VOX: MV50 Clean amplifier head + BC108 speaker cab
• Condition: 9/10
• Selling as a set only. Power adapter + speaker cable included
• Self-collect: CCK / Yew Tee mrt station
• No trades / reservations
• Confirmation / Queries: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $190 (final)

Happy cleans

This is a good pairing. Spent some time plugging the Epiphone Old Glory into the Vox MV50. Absolutely no drive & no pick. I'm not trying to emulate the Jared James Nichols approach. I'm not that kind of a player, not venturing into that territory either. Messing with some tapping ideas, forcing myself to be pick-free for this to happen. When you have the pick around, you tend not go astray.

I also feel that clean settings handle tapped notes better. Less accidents happen in terms of unintentional clicks & tweets. More importantly, I ventured out of my comfort zone & there were many learning points to reflect on. 

Nu-clean

My bout with Vox continues. It's the year-end sale anyway 😁

Mini appeal

Another interesting addition from Summer NAMM- Vox had shrunken the SDC into this SDC-1 Mini. An ideal size to tuck away under the office work space or a tag-along instrument when you are out & about. My concern here is that pickup; looks like Vox made it a propriety design & after-market replacements will not be readily available. However, if there's enough cavity depth underneath the pickguard, the tinkerers among us will manage a gap expansion. 

Mini bug

Guitar dweebs- Summer NAMM 2018 is upon us. The Vox camp believes it's time to rev things up with a scaled down version of what the Beatles equipped themselves with in their heyday- a Vox stack. Seen here the aforementioned amp- the Mini Superbeetle MSB25 they call it- in its stacked glory featuring Korg's Nutube technology so you get tubes in there but not the standard affair. 

The amp features an open back cab sporting a 10" driver & a DEEP/ FLAT rear switch for a wee bit more EQ refinement. This might get the nostalgic among us going but a Vox affair of this nature shouldn't stir the drive inclined among us into real interest. Unless of course, you are the nostalgic type living in denial while going round in that heavy metal outfit. 😬

1 x 8 (3)

Next pair up; Joyo Zombie + VOX BC108 👍

This had been a good combo, reasons being:

• There was a healthy serving of bass despite the BC108's driver being small. The implication- good EQ coming from the Zombie
• Clarity in both clean & OD channels. Managed to add chorus to clean settings & it sounded good. Unexpected.
• Can hear how volume contributed to gain, not that dynamic (because the power section is not tube based) but the difference was there

As the Zombie was bluetooth ready, I managed to stream over some songs but it was clear that guitar amps & cabs are meant more for instrument signals rather than general applications. 

1 x 8 (2)

The Vox BC108 was first paired up with the beast, aka, EVH 5150III. The lack of bottom end was rather apparent. If you look closely, I had to trim down the treble end to less than 25% & it basically stayed that way regardless of the guitars I played. The up side however is the presence of clarity which you'd appreciate in times of solos. These small drivers are particularly inviting for clean tones with lots of chorus but we know how the 5150 was not cut out for such tasks (yes, the LBX II would be more appealing for its clean channel). 

1 X 8

Another score from the City Music year end sale- VOX BC108. We often pair up small amp heads with small cabs, let's see how this one measures up against some of the small amp heads I own.

Small timers

Following the Mooer D-15 entry, a reader wrote in asking me if there is a comparable unit that I'd recommend since he's interested in a lug-friendly amp head & that the D-15's availability is unconfirmed (in the mean time). 

Mooer's D-15 (A) is a digital unit & its strength lies in the clarity heard from the demo clip supplemented in that blog post. There isn't any quite like it in the stores here in the mean time but in terms of dimensions, Peavey's Piranha 6505 (B) is a worthy contender, so is Vox's MV series (C). The idea of a small, portable amp head isn't new. In fact, I used to own a Crate Power Block (D) which was a no nonsense solidstate unit (discontinued in 2010/ 2011). 

Broadcasting: AC30

Still in the Vox camp, but this time treading a little dangerously on the novelty end, we have an AC30 radio. You read that right- it's a radio. As in that thing where you dial in your favourite broadcasting station & listen to music, news & not to mention, extensive advertisements.

Do you listen to radio at all these days? By the way, it's called the AC30 radio; all radio without the AC30 tone. 😑

PICS: Vox

Adio

So Vox released this pair of 'ultimate' desktop amps rather recently (Adio Art GT/BS) & we should take notice. It sports a very FLY 3-esque dimension but has an upper hand in terms of tone by giving the user 2x3" drivers. I have no idea how this would benefit a guitar experience in terms of tone (the FLY 3 pulled off some of the best desktop offerings with just one driver on board, lest we forget) till I hear it in action maybe soon. 

There's one for guitar & the other, bass. This pic here is one showing the guitar version from top view- rather feature packed & aimed to please in terms of variety. 

Lots of distractions from the video clip above but enough to showcase what's expected if you decided to fork out some money for one.

The Paul D Vox showcase

Happening this Saturday at City Music- Paul Danial's Vox amps showcase, details as stated above. A little preview:

Vox: Tiny threat

This Winter NAMM 2017 will see the release of Vox's MV50 trio amp. It's one of those small wonders that'll make or break the manufacturer's innovation momentum. Tone chasers will be enticed to check them out namely due to their tube-type tone. The fact that there are no tubes in there will be an issue for players who would settle for nothing less than a tube unit but frown upon inconvenience in terms of maintenance & mobility. Whatever it is, let's hope that it is a source of good tones to get us by because that's the ultimate bottom line that we often deny.

Selling: Vox AC4C1-12 (SOLD)

Letting this go for a good price. Clean tones, tube warmth- if that's your thing.

• 4W all tube combo featuring a 12" Celestion VX12 driver (power cable included)
• Self-collect (address to be disclosed upon confirmation)
• No reservations/ trades
• Queries welcome: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $350 (final)

Item sold, Sunday 3rd April 2016. Thanks for reading.

Star streaming

Definitely for the niche market, Vox introduced the Starstream Type-1 modelling guitar this 2016. That's right- modelling guitar. Chances are, technical implements will distract focus but if you wish for voicing changes on the fly, this one might be it. Note the limited amount of wood on board because it's about delivery, not tone gloating. Hear:

VOX: VTX amps

Just when we thought everything's taking a back seat moving towards the end of the year, Vox released its VTX range of amplifiers featuring a single 12AX7 pre-amp valve & the manufacturer's modelling technology. I've tried the Valvetronix range & would opine that the voicings are pleasant. We look forward to hear these VTXs in action in the stores here.