Vox

They say 'tis better to give than 'tis to receive. What they don't say is 'tis better to do both, which 'tis exactly the -idea behind the recently announced Vox VT-Series Amplifiers Holiday Rebate program.  

Owen ducks into the studio again to try out the sample-sized new VOX AC4TV. Though it might look as if it could double as a smart carry-on bag for Emma Peel, this little wonder will blow you right out of your smug complacency, yes sir.  

So many people are looking for "vintage" gear nowadays that "vintage" and "classic" have become very dangerous marketing terms. Hmm, this certainly has got me thinking about the VOX V845 wah pedal. To which department do we credit its "classic" sound, R&D or marketing?  

The VOX amPlugs have provided great ways of private electric guitar practice with a full stack sound via headphones. The VOX amPlug Acoustic is the latest amPlug that does what its name says to your electric axe.  

Having an amp head without a perfect cabinet is like having a singer without a mouth. Matching an amp head like the VOX Night Train NT15 with the wrong speakers doesn't help much either. The VOX Amplification V112NT offers the Night Train the perfect musical and aesthetic partner much like coffee and sugar.  

It helps to be an engineer. They get a line on all the great gear. Freddie Sipo, engineer-musician-songwriter, wound up the proud owner of Eddie Van Halen's guitar tech's Old Vox AC30.  

The new VOX Joe Satriani Signature Pedals are truly awesome. If you're still undecided as to whether you'd want to sound like Satch, VOX is now making that sweet-sour-salty deal that will eventually convince you. A free CD of Chickenfoot's debut album will be yours for free if you buy a VOX Joe Satriani Signature Pedal before the end of August. Delicious!  

Much like Skylab, the new VOX TonelabST doesn't take up a lot of space, but it sports plenty of features for studying various effects. Actually, that metaphor is more like Skylab, in that it was quickly abandoned before it came crashing back to Earth.  

Owen's vast and diverse knowledge of musical genres can sometimes vex him in the Gearwire studio. Today he overcomes his intelligence, and manages to make only one snarky comment about Coldplay while demoing the Vox Satchurator. See if you can find it!  

Owen O'Malley brings you to the chops shop to demo the VOX Valvetronix VC30, an amp with some interesting tube-integrated circuitry at the heart of its modeling. Owen checks out the wide array of tones and capabilities this amp affords.  

We check out the VOX Night Train at Winter NAMM 2009. It's a versatile tube amp that still maintains the tube sound VOX buyers are putting their money down to achieve.  

Looks like we don't have to wait very long after all to hear what the new Vox Big Bad Wah sounds like: we caught it on tape and in action at Winter NAMM 2009!  

We all figured that the VOX Time Machine would be on hand at Winter NAMM, but Vox did us one better by announcing the third Vox-Satriani pedal -- the Vox Big Bad Wah -- and releasing it at the show. Trade showoffs.  

Rampant time travelers visiting Winter NAMM 2009 might mistake it for Winter NAMM 1961 if they were to end up first at VOX's booth. The VOX AC4TV brings the AC4 forward in time while bringing guitarists an all-tube practice amp that can shred in an inside voice.  

We head over to Deltronics to see some amplifier surgery in progress as a VOX AVT 60 gets operated upon. We also get a "Poor Richard's Almanac" style guide to how not to mess up your amp.  

The Satch is back with the brand new Vox Time Machine guitar delay pedal and a lawsuit against Coldplay for copyright infringement. How does that guy have time to woodshed?  

We interview Bama Lamas, little brother of Lorenzo Lamas, star of hit 90s TV series "Renegade." We set the record for longest strikethru on Gearwire with this interview with Chris from the Bama Lamas.  

In the final part of this thrilling trilogy -- this "thrillogy" -- about the VOX ToneLab LE, Owen O'Malley enters the worlds of modulation, delay and reverb. Then, Owen finds the identity of his true father.  

In our continued look at the VOX Valvetronix ToneLab LE walkthru (see Part One here), Owen takes a moment to check out the distortion effects, as well as the amp and speaker cabinet emulations on this multi-talented multi-effects floorboard.  

Owen O'Malley examines the VOX ToneLab LE -- a Valvetronix based multieffects pedal with a tube inside. It sounds pretty killer, but be careful when you're carrying it around!  

VOX defies traditional digital modeling while redefining their own Valvetronix line with the release of the VOX Valvetronix VT series. It will include the VT15, VT30, VT50 and VT100 amplifiers; wattages correspondent to the numbers in the model names.  

The VOX JamVOX system is VOX's first attempt at software. It allows you to take out the guitar parts to your favorite songs and ruin all them with polyrhythmic double tap solos. At least that's my plan to destroy the world.  

Mike Bradley practices his cat burglarizing skills on the VOX Satchurator for Gearwire's eyes only. For his next trick, Mike will attempt to purloin the world's largest cubic zirconia from the Springfield museum.  

Using a 12AX7 and other nice touches, VOX makes the Black Diamond the crown jewel of their Valvetronix series. With 200W, 32 amp models and 76 effects models, there is little this amp isn't capable of doing.  

Everyone get out your tricornes and fifes, it's time for little pan-Atlantic pugilism pitting the British made Vox AlNiCo Blue against the American made Eminence Patriot Screamin' Eagle.  

Now, think about your dad. What's your dad like? Well, if he gave up his dreams of being an alternative rocker in the 90s to take care of his kid, who he wants to foist his dream onto, expect VOX JamVOX the next celebration a present is in order.

By the way, I want to meet that dad. . .

Doo dah DOO doo!

 

Nat Johnson of Portland's Derby talks about the guitars he uses -- live and in the studio. He also talks about the bands "smaller is better" approach to touring.  

In this first video with New York's Nightmare of You, Brandon, Joe, Michael and Ryan talk about all the gear that they use -- pretty much every piece they're bringing with them on the BANGTOUR!  

Do you like VOX hand-wired amps and Paul McCartney? Do you also dislike landmines? Do something to help while helping yourself to a VOX AC15 H1TV autographed by Paul McCartney by putting in a bid.  

If you had your choice between a keyboard made by an air conditioning company or a keyboard made by a reputable instrument company that had been run over with a vehicle, which would you pick? The Black Angels picked both.