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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Needles, CA on 8/9/2009
Comments about Vox V9168R GUITAR AMP - Pathfinder 15 Watt 1X8 Combo:
First, this is just a good sounding practice amp. It retains a full sound at low volmes and the onboard effects are simple, intuitive and allow you to ditch the pedals and just concentrate on playing.
In addition, you also get a line out for recording or pumping through a PA and an extension cab out for using the unit as a fully featured head. Price a DI box, a head and a small cab out separately and the value of this amp is readily apparent.
While the amp can get a bit hissy on its own with the gain, reverb, and trem maxed out, it is more than suitable within normal ranges. The hiss seems to diminish when plugged into a bigger cab, however.
Remember: As advertised, this is a practice amp. It has more distortion than most will care to use and the reverb isn't super drippy. If you take time and find the settings that work best for your style and instrument, you will find that the amp makes a solid little swiss army knife in various circumstances.
from Carbondale, IL on 6/30/2009
Comments about Vox V9168R GUITAR AMP - Pathfinder 15 Watt 1X8 Combo:
I love that footswitchable tremolo-it sounds so 60's retro. I plugged a 10" Eminence Red Fang alnico speaker into the external jack and this amp really sings with a higher efficiency speaker. All I would like to add is a volume control for the boost function-it's quite a bit louder than the normal channel-but I'm really nitpicking. A sweet amp at an unbelievable price!!
from Los Angeles, CA on 1/18/2009
Comments about Vox V9168R GUITAR AMP - Pathfinder 15 Watt 1X8 Combo:
The Vox Pathfinder is a surprisingly good solid state amp. I usually stay away from solid states, but this one really got me. I dont have to worry about fragility and high maintenance costs since its not tube. Its great right out of the box. Headphones jack is perfect for practice, decent line out for recording (i prefer mic-ing anyway), and extension speaker out is great for gigging, so you really have a great overall amp. From what I heard, the bigger the speaker, the better it sounds. It has a tube-like warmth unexpected from a solid state, and about the best cleans you could ever ask for (even better than some tube amps I've heard such as the Epi Valve Jr, at least IMO). The gain is its downfall. Its practically useless. You will need a distortion pedal. Even better, to sensuate its tube-like warmth, also plug in a tube preamp or overdrive pedal. Pushes it one step closer to tube heaven yet still under[$] (unbelievable). And the 2 featured built-in effects just gives it a nice edge of versatility above other amps. Without the gain knob, its pretty quiet though (really really quiet, maybe too quite) and you need a pedal to push it. When you do, its PERFECT for dorm/apartment/etc living situation and a great recording amp. I plan on modding it with a 10" speaker and thats it. It really stands good on its own besides perhaps the speaker upgrade that most amps could use anyways, but hey, let the stock speaker break-in first and see if you'll like it or not - its surprisingly "full" sounding and nice "sparkle" for a 8". I play anything from classic-rock, blues-rock, southern-rock, and hard-rock, and I think this amp can handle whatever you throw at it with the proper pedal supporting it. Buy it, I highly recommend it especially for traveling, cos you just can't lug around your mammoth Mesa, haha.
from Austin, TX on 12/22/2008
Comments about Vox V9168R GUITAR AMP - Pathfinder 15 Watt 1X8 Combo:
Coming from a heavy but great sounding tube combo, I was skeptical about the sound this amp could put out. I was very surprised at how good I got it to sound with a little bit of tweaking and I'm very happy with my purchase.