New valvetronix blue amps in 2026?

[timbuck3]

Interesting

 

[mbenigni]

Interesting. I wonder if the background music in the video was recorded with direct signal from this amp?

The "nostalgic" imagery of CDs, etc. sure makes me feel old.

 

[EOengineer]

The original blue series had some great tones. Not sure yet what these are.

 

[metropolis_4]

I think Vox pulled a “Boss” on this one.

I was really excited when j first saw it, then I saw there is NO output. None. The back panel has power input (not an IEC…) and a grounding screw.

So it’s a home practice amp basically

 

[EOengineer]

I think Vox pulled a “Boss” on this one.

I was really excited when j first saw it, then I saw there is NO output. None. The back panel has power input (not an IEC…) and a grounding screw.

So it’s a home practice amp basically

Bummer. I was afraid they might just slap a new face on the existing line, which sucks.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I like Vox stuff, always thought their modeling amps were pretty good. Their marketing is just not very good tbh. I really think they could compete a bit with Fender's Tone Master series if they just followed that same logic with their designs. Keep it simple, get rid of the multi-effects and model voicings and create a functionally and aesthetically accurate copy of their iconic amps. Keep the nutube tech because it is great and feels good.

 

[EOengineer]

I like Vox stuff, always thought their modeling amps were pretty good. Their marketing is just not very good tbh. I really think they could compete a bit with Fender's Tone Master series if they just followed that same logic with their designs. Keep it simple, get rid of the multi-effects and model voicings and create a functional and aesthetically accurate copy of their iconic amps. Keep the nutube tech because it is great and feels good.

They did the AC30VR a couple years ago in this same spirit. I never tried one. I do appreciate their attention to hybrid tube technology. Someone over there is/was at least trying to think outside the box.

 

[FuzzyAce]

They did the AC30VR a couple years ago in this same spirit. I never tried one. I do appreciate their attention to hybrid tube technology. Someone over there is/was at least trying to think outside the box.

Yeah, remember that now. But it veered away from an original too much.

 

[metropolis_4]

I like Vox stuff, always thought their modeling amps were pretty good. Their marketing is just not very good tbh. I really think they could compete a bit with Fender's Tone Master series if they just followed that same logic with their designs. Keep it simple, get rid of the multi-effects and model voicings and create a functionally and aesthetically accurate copy of their iconic amps. Keep the nutube tech because it is great and feels good.

An AC30 Tone Master is the dream. Maybe some day

 

[FuzzyAce]

An AC30 Tone Master is the dream. Maybe some day

I'm kind of surprised Vox doesn't do this? As much as I like standard tubes, unless something dramatically changes they are going to be phased out even more in the near future. Gotta give Fender credit for at least protecting their iconic models, yet still moving them forward into the future.

 

[sashimi]

An AC30 Tone Master is the dream. Maybe some day

Yep, with some neo speakers and redesigned cabinet/chassis so it doesn’t take two guys to shlep it around. The weight savings would be the biggest selling point, AC30s are heavy mothers, even AC15s are.

One thing the tonemaster fenders could really benefit from is IR loading, it sucks being stuck with a couple cab sim options on the direct out that might not work for you. I also think they have gotten out of control with the tonemaster pricing, to the point that it makes more sense to just get a tube princeton.

 

[ragingplatypi]

They did the AC30VR a couple years ago in this same spirit. I never tried one. I do appreciate their attention to hybrid tube technology. Someone over there is/was at least trying to think outside the box.

I just posted about this elsewhere but the VR series amps were ahead of their time. They basically were the Vox Tonemaster, except for the weight relief.

I actually think their cabinet design on the more recent modeling amps was innovative, but nobody ever gigged with them to see if they could manage the low end at loud volume.

 

[laxu]

I actually think their cabinet design on the more recent modeling amps was innovative, but nobody ever gigged with them to see if they could manage the low end at loud volume.

What was special about the cab design?

 

[ragingplatypi]

What was special about the cab design?

I forget exactly, but they were doing something with plastic which made an 8” and 10” speaker sound like a 12”. It was impressive when I tried it at a store, but the rest of the build seemed so cheap that I wasn’t going to buy it.
They put out a little keyboard and bass amp that was a similar concept. I saw the bass amp once and it also sounded great and seemed a little more rugged. Those were tiny though, so seemed more geared toward practice or monitoring.

 

[ragingplatypi]

I just poked through the Vox website and it’s like the Island of Misfit Toys. So much gear I’ve never actually seen in real life.

 

[ChordInversion]

I just poked through the Vox website and it’s like the Island of Misfit Toys. So much gear I’ve never actually seen in real life.

And lots of gar that they don't even make/sell any more. The MVX150 is still on their website as a current product, and I don't think those have been in stores in years.

 

[timbuck3]

I forget exactly, but they were doing something with plastic which made an 8” and 10” speaker sound like a 12”. It was impressive when I tried it at a store, but the rest of the build seemed so cheap that I wasn’t going to buy it.
They put out a little keyboard and bass amp that was a similar concept. I saw the bass amp once and it also sounded great and seemed a little more rugged. Those were tiny though, so seemed more geared toward practice or monitoring.

The older vtx blue grill amps were made from good wood and were heavy but solid

 

[8ftsq]

The older vtx blue grill amps were made from good wood and were heavy but solid

I had a pair back in 2007, and the keyboardist in my cover band had one also when he played guitar. His caught fire at a gig, and one of mine melted at rehearsal. They sounded really good until then LOL. The ones we bought I think were the later Vietnam made ones from what we discovered. Quality obviously had drifted off at that point.

I still own a Tonelab SE though, fully operational. The tube VR was the secret with these. The effect limitations are what eventually drove me to something else. Also, if you could run cab IRs with it, that would have helped also.