Vox amplug

SgtKrinkle · #1 02-20-2011, 12:43 AM

I was @ my cousins house the other day and he had one for guitar. I was really stoked that they made these and I was curious if any of you guys have used the bass one. Is it really worth it on bass? Let me know

Lowbrow · #2 02-20-2011, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtKrinkle

I was @ my cousins house the other day and he had one for guitar. I was really stoked that they made these and I was curious if any of you guys have used the bass one. Is it really worth it on bass? Let me know

I have the bass model and I like it pretty well. For me the biggest challenge was finding the best headphones to use with it. After trying a few different things, a cheap set of Sony earbuds that I bought at the 7-11 sounded best!

arsie · #3 02-20-2011, 12:55 AM

What was the issue with different headphones?

Duke21 · #4 02-20-2011, 01:09 AM

I've the Vox amplug, the bass version. It is quite nice, and there are two modes, one which is quite clean, the other is with more drive and compression which gives some of the fell/ sound of the power section valves drive/ compression.
But this amplug is not as good as for instance for Vox AC30 module found in the AmpliTube or Ampkit for iPod/iPhone. The sound on the Amplitube and Ampkit is so good that I tend to practice much less with a real amp, while the Vox amplug is not that good, thus I'll always prefer the real amp.

pgolliher · #5 02-20-2011, 01:19 AM

I have one and I like the design as far as ease of use and I like that there is an optional battery powered speaker cab, but I don't think that the tone is much for bass players. I use it as a practice tool for when I am feeling lazy and want to sit on the couch. I like that I don't need a cable when using it and it is nice and small, it's easy to plug a 3.5mm from a laptop or MP3 player, but the tone isn't inspiring at all, even when using Sony MDR 7506 headphones.

SgtKrinkle · #6 02-20-2011, 01:25 AM

I'm not trying to use it as a main amp, more of a, me getting home late from work and wanting to jam and not make a lot of noise.

Duke21 · #7 02-20-2011, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtKrinkle

I'm not trying to use it as a main amp, more of a, me getting home late from work and wanting to jam and not make a lot of noise.

The best thing for that is iPod+ Amplitube. You get Ampeg SVT, Vox AC30, Fender Bassman 59 lots of cabs and stompbox's. Great sound and even recording possibilities.

SgtKrinkle · #8 02-20-2011, 02:16 AM

I don't have an ipod, and I don't plan on investing in either, I can't stand those devices, I'm just curious if the vox amplug is durable and makes some good sound

Duke21 · #9 02-20-2011, 02:22 AM

Well, go for the Vox amplug, it is durable and makes some good sound.

Lowbrow · #10 02-21-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arsie

What was the issue with different headphones?

Tried my 'good' headphones, Sennheiser HD 280, and didn't sound too good - sort of like how a HD TV makes low-def broadcasts look worse. The cheaper, lo-fi buds made the OK amplug sound better.

Lambic · #11 02-21-2011, 02:37 PM

The construction is pretty cheap, (the battery housing's lid slides off very easily, for example, and the control knobs are very tiny) and the "effect" rather noisy, but if you treat it well and stick to the clean signal, you've got a very handy tool hooked up to your instrument. The sound is not that of a high end high wattage tube amp, but that's not the point of the design either, is it? I only use it when I want to practice without disturbing other people (which is wat it's been made for, isn't it?), because I can't stand having to listen through earphones for an extended period, half an hour being mostly the limit. The aux input allows you to mix in a metronome or a line signal (coming from a discman, in my case). My headphones come from Vic Firth, and are designed to allow drummers to play along with audio while protecting their ears from too much drumset sound volume.

Ragnor · #12 02-21-2011, 02:47 PM

I own one, I use it with a Sennheiser HD280 headphone.

The AmPlug is perfect for what it's designed for: practice with your headphone on, without needing to drag around your amp. But don't expect great tones from it.

The aux-input is one very useful feature though. Allows you to play along with guitarpro-files (or other audio, of course) and hearing everything through your headphone.

I do use the AmPlug frequently and think it is worth it's money, but if you just want this as a gadget and you don't think you'll use it on occasion that you can't use your amp, then you'd better stick to your amp.

Chris K · #13 02-21-2011, 02:54 PM

You can have mine.

IMHO it's not worth any money.
If you have a practice amp, install a headphone output... no problem in any solid state amp.

Duke21 · #14 02-21-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris K

You can have mine.

IMHO it's not worth any money.
If you have a practice amp, install a headphone output... no problem in any solid state amp.

Maybe, but if you travel with only your bass. Then the little vox is perfect. But an iPod with iRig and Ampkit is way better. The tone is a killer and you can record or play along your music. I find myself play more and more on my iPod than with my little combo. The Vox though is less tempting then my practice combo.

Sent from my iPod touch using TalkBass

Buster Brown · #15 02-21-2011, 04:02 PM

I tend to agree with the majority of the sentiment here. I have one and use it occasionally, but I usually go through my mixer and into headphones.

It's a good little device for practice if you are worried about bothering the neighbors. It is NOT to be confused with a high quality headphone amp but it more than does the job for the money.

Rebmo · #16 02-21-2011, 04:56 PM

I never tried one of these Vox units, but find the TASCAM CD-BT-2 all I need to practice with headphones. I'ts portable, has a tuner, can change key of song on CD without changing the tempo. Can change the tempo also. A large variety of effects, CD bass enhance, bass freq cut, CD/Bass level balancing, headphone, amp output, CD flashback feature. Battery/AC power. Does everything I need for learning songs. The MP3 version would be even better, but this is a nice system IMHO. I use it all the time when my family is sleeping and it's a great efficient learning tool. I don't work for TASCAM, but I really think they got these right.

maches · #17 02-22-2011, 02:17 AM

I am thinking about picking one of these up to use in between my classes at school. I have a couple hour long breaks where I have my bass and access to a practice room. I am not expecting anything spectacular sound quality wise, but anything with amplification will do for me.

Lambic · #18 02-22-2011, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebmo

I never tried one of these Vox units, but find the TASCAM CD-BT-2 all I need to practice with headphones. (...)

I've just been reading customers' reviews of TASCAM training aids, and I think I'll stick to the little Amplug, combined with or a metronome or a discman, or an MP3 player, and do whatever source material adaptations on my laptop, through Cubase and Audacity, and then burn them onto CD or load them into my MP3 player. I know, a more complex way of working, and more cables and gear involved, but they all work fine, and I'm used to go along with them. If one of those things craps out, I'll be able to put in another in the chain, which is something you can't do with an "all-in" system!

heavyfunkmachin · #19 02-22-2011, 03:05 AM

I have one, and i like it.

I use it with headphones and ipod, i can practice anywere in my house and i like the driven/compressed sound... imho it does what I wanted it to do, great tool to practice on my own.

I guess the controls could be a bit less sensitive or whatever complain... but really, i like it, i use it and i practice more often

Fangry · #20 02-22-2011, 04:31 AM

The amPlug is cheap, has an aux in and sounds better than my old practice combo. What's not to like?