Live: Vox Pathfinder or Roland Cube? :o

  • Thread starter Thread starter hoursonend
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hoursonend

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Hi,

Lots of threads about these two amps, but not really about playing live...

Which would you recommend? I play some distortion chords in my band, so the distortion has to sound good. I play some moderate rock, no heavy metal or stuff ;)
My idea was to mic them with my MXL990, or perhaps an SM57 in the future (if that's any better for the job) into the PA...

Some of the available options are:
- Vox Pathfinder (10 watt, I can't get the 15 watt, is there a big difference?)
EDIT: I can get the 15 (R) too
- Vox AD15/30/60 (which?) (better than the pathfinder?)
- Roland Cube 15/30/60 (which?)

I'd like to keep it under a 250 euros / dollars.

Should I wait till I can buy an amp for like 500-800 euros? A big vox or marshall?

Unfortunately I won't really be able to try them out before I buy...

Thanks for your input.
 
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The Vox Pathfinder 15 (which is what I have) is a pretty loud amp, but I can't imagine it cutting through a full band. So I have even less faith that the P10 would be able to do so. Of course, I don't have any actual experience of using mine in a ban, so I'm hardly qualified to express an opinion.

Maybe miked up it'd be capable. But no one around here has ever used a low watt trannie amp in that scenario. So I don't think you'll get much advice beyond save up for a more expensive (and higher rated) amp.
 
(just for further replies, i CAN get the 15 R, 130 euros....)

Thanks so far
 
I'd get the 15R. ;)

I believe it has a speaker out jack which would enable you to use it to drive a bigger cabinet.
 
Ok, thanks! Can you tell anything about the other two amps I mentioned, the AD15VT for example? It has Valvetronix stuff and modelling, wouldn't it be more versatile?
 
I'd buy the Cube (actually, I DID buy the cube!)

I'd recommend the Roland Cube 30 or 60. IMHO, the amp models are WAY better than the little Vox amps, which is why I bought a Cube 30 (after trying out both the Vox and Roland amps). I've done three live gigs with the Cube 30, which can be VERY loud, if you need it. It also sounds great for recording. The ironic thing is that the Vox AC-30 amp model ("British Combo") in the Cube 30 completely blows away the so-called Vox "model" in the little Vox amps. It's my favorite amp model in the Cube 30. The digital effects in the Cube 30 sound great too.
 
i dunno....i LOVE my Pathfinder 15R, and i think it sounds excellent.

It's LOUD on its own right, and it does have the speaker out on it. I have hooked it up to a 1x12 and it really kicks some ass in the volume world.

with a 2x12 cabinet underneath it, i would expect you'd do FINE running it for a gig.


cheers,
wade
 
kid klash said:
I'd recommend the Roland Cube 30 or 60. IMHO, the amp models are WAY better than the little Vox amps, which is why I bought a Cube 30 (after trying out both the Vox and Roland amps). I've done three live gigs with the Cube 30, which can be VERY loud, if you need it. It also sounds great for recording. The ironic thing is that the Vox AC-30 amp model ("British Combo") in the Cube 30 completely blows away the so-called Vox "model" in the little Vox amps. It's my favorite amp model in the Cube 30. The digital effects in the Cube 30 sound great too.
Click to expand...

This post is funny, because after comparing the Vox side-by-side with the Cube, I bought the Vox AD50VT.

The Cube seemed sterile and "fake" sounding on any tone that needs a tube-driven sound. Since the Vox actually HAS a tube in it, that's where you get much closer to real, all-tube tone. If you want a Fender Twin sound from the Cube, fogettaboutit!!! You won't even come close. Same goes for most of the other tube amp sounds. The Vox comes extremely close in nailing the all-tube tone, especially with it's AC-15 and AC-30 settings. To me, the Cube sounds like processed toy-amp that only does one thing well... super-heavy crunchy distortion. If that's the sound you're shooting for, the 'ONLY' sound you're shooting for, then the Cube is your amp. If you want everything else (including an excellent Marshall and Mesa Triple Rec sound) than go for the Vox.
 
I really tend to love the AD30VT, even before I really heard it (although I did listen to the samples on www.voxamps.co.uk, which sounded just like what I wanted)

I have read the AD30VT manual on-line, and wow, this amp's features are exactly what I wanted, I certainly like the volume attenuator option, so you don;t have to crank it up all the way for the tube sound...

The Roland Cube 30 just seems too...well....'solid state', if you know what I mean, it really seems a SS practice amp, whereas the Vox has got real tubes...

As I said, I'm probably going to mic it with my MXL990 for live, is that a good idea?

I think I'm going to go with the Vox AD30VT (Sorry Kid Klash, no offence to you! I just think the Vox will suit my needs better than the cube).

I think I like the attenuator that much that I'm not going to go with the 15

Thanks for the input :)
 
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That's cool

Hey - no sweat - it's all in the "ears of the beholder". I'm sure you'll be pleased with whatever amp you decide to buy. The technology used in today's modeling amps is pretty amazing, regardless of the brand name attached to the front of the box... ;)
 
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