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New Amp Day - VOX VX50BA

You're all correct in your arguments, but if I was having to decide I'd go with the Vox over the D4. Why? Not the price, not the weight, not even the looks (though both come in red& black). It's the tone, and for what the foxy one does is more of an old-school vibe than the PJB is. That one is if you want a pristine sound, and few would probably be looking at the Vox if that's all they wanted. Unless they're like me, who want all tones all the time. But then I'm weird...:rolleyes:
 
I got one of these Vox 50BA amps about a year and a half ago, anticipating playing small, coffee house type gigs post pandemic, but that hasn't worked out, so I've played it only rarely.

I do like the tone, but like some other users here, I think it's rather quiet, considering its rated 50 watts power. The consensus in this thread seems to be that the limitation is either the speaker or the plastic enclosure, or both.

So, I've been considering adding an extension cab, which would require modifying the amp to add a speaker out jack. I can do that myself easily enough, but I have a couple of questions first, and the information I need isn't in the owners manual and I can't find it online.


Does anyone here know:
1) the speaker resistance?
2) the amp rating for minimum resistance?

I suppose I could open up the amp and measure the speaker resistence, but that won't tell me what the power amp is safely rated for.

I already have an ultra lighweight 2x8", 4ohm cab with a pair of Faital 8PR200 speakers, so I'm hoping this amp is capable of going down to 4 ohms. Even if it is, I'll still need to wire the added speaker out to bypass the internal Vox speaker when a cable is plugged in.
 
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I got one of these Vox 50BA amps about a year and a half ago, anticipating playing small, coffee house type gigs post pandemic, but that hasn't worked out, so I've played it only rarely.

I do like the tone, but like some other users here, I think it's rather quiet, considering its rated 50 watts power. The consensus in this thread seems to be that the limitation is either the speaker or the plastic enclosure, or both.

So, I've been considering adding an extension cab, which would require modifying the amp to add a speaker out jack. I can do that myself easily enough, but I have a couple of questions first, and the information I need isn't in the owners manual and I can't find it online. ... ...


Yeah, Vox isn't very forthcoming with their spec.s, are they?​

... ...
Does anyone here know:
1) the speaker resistance?
2) the amp rating for minimum resistance? ... ...


We've discussed several of the Vox Nutube spec.s in The Combo Club and, thru some processes of deduction and assumption, have come to think that almost all the amps are rated 50 watts at 4 ohms. And, therefore, most of those amps with speakers advertising 50 watts have a 4 ohm speaker.

The exception being the Mini-SuperBeetle guitar amp being just 25 watts alone with an 8 ohm speaker, but with extra speaker connections to add another 8 ohm cab. Since this one has an impedance switch, it got some explanation in its manual, if not very consistent info. :confused:

Screenshot_20220207-083901_Acrobat for Samsung-01.jpeg Screenshot_20220207-083801_Acrobat for Samsung-01.jpeg

... ... I suppose I could open up the amp and measure the speaker resistence, but that won't tell me what the power amp is safely rated for.

I already have an ultra lighweight 2x8", 4ohm cab with a pair of Faital 8PR200 speakers, so I'm hoping this amp is capable of going down to 4 ohms. Even if it is, I'll still need to wire the added speaker out to bypass the internal Vox speaker when a cable is plugged in.


Sounds like a plan, hbar. Let us know how it goes for you.
.
 
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Those wooden bar stools at the big box store work well for that. I use one at church to set my amp on so I can just reach over and change a setting if I want to and hopefully the BL won't notice!
Also have found that those well constructed plastic milk crates make good stands for small amps and cabs, and one can use the space underneath for storage too.
 
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It may be sacrilege to point out, but the Phil Jones Bass Double Four is 1.1 pounds lighter.
:whistle:
Yes... ~And about $200 more too! (Been doing my research on small combos lately.) The PJB D4 has 2 speakers, yes, but they're 4 inchers... Also the D4 is claimed to give the transparent sound of you bass with no coloration. So no 'tube sound' either.
 
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Yes... ~And about $200 more too! (Been doing my research on small combos lately.) The PJB D4 has 2 speakers, yes, but they're 4 inchers... Also the D4 is claimed to give the transparent sound of you bass with no coloration. So no 'tube sound' either.
Very true! It's about what you want. I wanted a really clean sounding amp that pumped enough sound to at least keep up with an acoustic (no-drums) setting. The D4 is that all day long.

If you want multiple added tones, and don't mind a bit less volume and fidelity of sound, the Vox is absolutely made for this.
:thumbsup:
 
Very true! It's about what you want. I wanted a really clean sounding amp that pumped enough sound to at least keep up with an acoustic (no-drums) setting. The D4 is that all day long.

If you want multiple added tones, and don't mind a bit less volume and fidelity of sound, the Vox is absolutely made for this.
:thumbsup:
Yep, it's about how 'likes' differ ain't it? I had a small TC Bam200 amp that gave really pure transparent tones into an Elf 300W 1x10 cab. ~T'was cool and nice for a while... -But when I heard the Ampeg tube (and 'imitation tube') sounds I thought now that's how a BG should sound and I totally switched directions! Maybe some day I'll go back to the modern 'transparent' thing, but right now I'm totally bored with it and am instead greatly enjoying that good old-school type of tone coloration..
 
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Yep, it's about how 'likes' differ ain't it? I had a small TC Bam200 amp that gave really pure transparent tones into an Elf 300W 1x10 cab. ~T'was cool and nice for a while... -But when I heard the Ampeg tube (and 'imitation tube') sounds I thought now that's how a BG should sound and I totally switched directions! Maybe some day I'll go back to the modern 'transparent' thing, but right now I'm totally bored with it and am instead greatly enjoying that good old-school type of tone coloration..
Sounds like you know what you like and are ready to go for it! :thumbsup:

Please provide your impressions after you plug it in and dig it for a while.
:D