Vox Cambridge 50 Modelling Guitar Amplifier

I have long been a huge fan of pretty much anything Vox has ever released. And because of that it hurts to have to write this review. Im not a guy who writes reviews often at all unless something is that bad.Ill start by saying that i was excited to get this amp considering i absolutely loved all the VTX series releases from the early 2000s util just last year. What vox pulled off sound wise with just that single 12AX7 preamp tube was groundbreaking for bedroom amps.But this Nutube technology is something that could be called a JOKE! I'm assuming that the price of 12ax7 tubes must have gotten out of the price range that VOX wanted to pay. And they also must've designed this on opposite day and that's why it has less features and less user friendly controls as ... MoreI have long been a huge fan of pretty much anything Vox has ever released. And because of that it hurts to have to write this review. Im not a guy who writes reviews often at all unless something is that bad.Ill start by saying that i was excited to get this amp considering i absolutely loved all the VTX series releases from the early 2000s util just last year. What vox pulled off sound wise with just that single 12AX7 preamp tube was groundbreaking for bedroom amps.But this Nutube technology is something that could be called a JOKE! I'm assuming that the price of 12ax7 tubes must have gotten out of the price range that VOX wanted to pay. And they also must've designed this on opposite day and that's why it has less features and less user friendly controls as compared to the VTX hybrid amps.It sounds like a fender mustang 1 1x10 if you ever experienced those. Im just in disbelief that they even released this thing at all. The VTX with the little 8" speaker murders this thing with ease.The biggest head scratcher for me on this amp was the built in tuner that has no markers for what note you are in range of. Like i said its a joke and a really bad one as t that. Im only giving 1 star because i have too. There are 300 reasons i would never reccomend this amplifier to my worst enemy.

This amplifier is great value at around £250. It is light and easily transportable, yet can produce a wide range of sounds. It’s 12 inch Celestion speaker handles the output well, particularly as the amp enables modelled sounds from previous amplifier ranges. Whist primarily an amp for electric guitars, the versatility of the line setting enables the amp to work well with an electro-acoustic guitar too.The amp is pre-loaded with a range of effects and has a variable output control, allowing a power output from 1 watt to 50 watts to be dialled in at will.It’s loud enough to play a gig in a small hall, or turned down to practice in a bedroom at home.Portable, well loaded with onboard effects, variable output control. A headphone socket and line in socket for playing ... MoreThis amplifier is great value at around £250. It is light and easily transportable, yet can produce a wide range of sounds. It’s 12 inch Celestion speaker handles the output well, particularly as the amp enables modelled sounds from previous amplifier ranges. Whist primarily an amp for electric guitars, the versatility of the line setting enables the amp to work well with an electro-acoustic guitar too.The amp is pre-loaded with a range of effects and has a variable output control, allowing a power output from 1 watt to 50 watts to be dialled in at will.It’s loud enough to play a gig in a small hall, or turned down to practice in a bedroom at home.Portable, well loaded with onboard effects, variable output control. A headphone socket and line in socket for playing backing tracks makes it a super-versatile amp. It’s great value and I’m delighted with it.

A mighty upgrade to the Vox modelling line

After a couple of months with the Cambridge50, I'm impressed by its tone capabilities, variety of built-in effects, and overall simplicity of use. The Celestion speaker and NuTube valve in the preamp gives every simulated amp a very noticeable warmth and breakup that many competing modelling amps cannot match (even my well-seasoned Boss Katana).Onto the tones: Paired with a Strat or Tele, the Deluxe CL channel offers an unmistakably Blackface tone. The clean and overdrive Boutique channels may be the closest everyday players can get to a Dumble. The pair of Vox AC30 models sound amazing - Korg put the effort into making these a reasonable emulation of the company's most famous amp. The Cambridge50 includes three different styles of simulated Marshall heads, ... MoreAfter a couple of months with the Cambridge50, I'm impressed by its tone capabilities, variety of built-in effects, and overall simplicity of use. The Celestion speaker and NuTube valve in the preamp gives every simulated amp a very noticeable warmth and breakup that many competing modelling amps cannot match (even my well-seasoned Boss Katana).Onto the tones: Paired with a Strat or Tele, the Deluxe CL channel offers an unmistakably Blackface tone. The clean and overdrive Boutique channels may be the closest everyday players can get to a Dumble. The pair of Vox AC30 models sound amazing - Korg put the effort into making these a reasonable emulation of the company's most famous amp. The Cambridge50 includes three different styles of simulated Marshall heads, clearly influenced by Vox's period of producing amps for both brands. Metalheads will be thrilled by the thick sounds of the Soldano and Mesa Dual Rectifier models, with big distortion and high-gain thrills.My favorite feature of the amp is the potentiometer-based power control, which allows for lower-volume expression that doesn't sacrifice tone and breakup. Crank it up, and you get impressive volume and headroom. I really dislike the odd, proprietary AC adapter plug - instead of a standard, 3-prong power plug that drives most amps, Korg powers this with a computer-style block and round plug. I get that modelling amps are essentially computers, but a Vox should read "amp" first and foremost. I expect the adapter would be expensive to replace.The onboard effects and mods are a bit limited in their one-at-a-time dial, but the tremolo, chorus, and flanger add competent options for tonal textures. There are more programmable options via the Vox app, but I've yet to spend time with those options. Looks-wise, the Cambridge stands out among the modelling line with its slick, black, textured covering and silver Vox logo, and the cabinet is very lightweight and portable.

Awesome all around amplifier

Overall:I am amazed at the responsiveness of the Nutube technology. Every sound you would want to hear from crystal clean to total brown sound. Easy to use interface with android or iOS (I have both). This amp is loud but it is variable from almost zero to 50 watts. First outdoor gig the amp kept up with all the other musicians. Tremolo, delay and reverb all sound great. Much simpler to program than the Katana. I found my self programming the Katana series more then I was playing. Don’t get me wrong the Katana series is great. Just found the programming too “deep” for my liking. The VF55 foot switch is a must for live performances as it gives you 8 different sounds. With the band I play in I only use 3, Deluxe with tremolo, Boutique clean with gain and JVM. My only ... MoreOverall:I am amazed at the responsiveness of the Nutube technology. Every sound you would want to hear from crystal clean to total brown sound. Easy to use interface with android or iOS (I have both). This amp is loud but it is variable from almost zero to 50 watts. First outdoor gig the amp kept up with all the other musicians. Tremolo, delay and reverb all sound great. Much simpler to program than the Katana. I found my self programming the Katana series more then I was playing. Don’t get me wrong the Katana series is great. Just found the programming too “deep” for my liking. The VF55 foot switch is a must for live performances as it gives you 8 different sounds. With the band I play in I only use 3, Deluxe with tremolo, Boutique clean with gain and JVM. My only compliant is the laptop style power supply, if that connector breaks, your done. Would have been better to make it internal with a normal IEC connection. The VF55 foot switch stores nicely inside along with the power supply. It is lightweight. I have had huge compliments on the way it sounds. I would buy it again if it got “lost”. Highly recommended!

Big versatile sound in a light weight package

My AC-15 went on the fritz right before a festival gig. Bought this small, light amp in a pinch and it's outstanding! Great sound like the AC-15, but so easy to cart around and soooo much more powerful. I really like this little pup. The only downside is the wacky powerchord, but hopefully this will not prove a problem.

Excellent

I was able to get one of these amps at my local music store. My first impressions are very good, it's got good voicing's. The clean DR is well done with the gain turned up to 2 o'clock. My favorite voicing is the Brit '59, gain around 3. I've been using an SG and a Stratocaster. It can be very bright if you want it to be, even with the treble at 12 o'clock I find myself turning up the bass. I would have to say my selling point was the attenuation, I wanted it for the house, I wanted to get these overdriven sounds without blowing out my neighbors. The attenuator let's the amp sound the same up and down the dial. This amp is very loud, I can't see having a problem with a small size gig, or rehearsal with a loud drummer.I've never owned the Boss Katana or any other ... MoreI was able to get one of these amps at my local music store. My first impressions are very good, it's got good voicing's. The clean DR is well done with the gain turned up to 2 o'clock. My favorite voicing is the Brit '59, gain around 3. I've been using an SG and a Stratocaster. It can be very bright if you want it to be, even with the treble at 12 o'clock I find myself turning up the bass. I would have to say my selling point was the attenuation, I wanted it for the house, I wanted to get these overdriven sounds without blowing out my neighbors. The attenuator let's the amp sound the same up and down the dial. This amp is very loud, I can't see having a problem with a small size gig, or rehearsal with a loud drummer.I've never owned the Boss Katana or any other modeling amp before so I cannot compare. Yes it sounds like an amp aping the classic tube amps but a little tweaking and it's really close. The modulation is pretty good too, I like the delay, it has a tap tempo and a way to control the length of it. Nice reverb too. This amp is great for the price and for what it is.Really nice cleans and overdriven sounds.

Good choice for a traditional tube amp user

So far I have used this amp for band practices and it has plenty of volume for our small rehearsal space. I've always used tube amps in the past but as I age I've been looking for lighter weight equipment. The Cambridge 50 has very good amp models, especially the Vox AC30 simulations. It is very lightweight. This amp has no screens to scroll through! (Hooray!!) Just a few user friendly dials on the amp if you don't like the preset settings for an amp selection. I'm not crazy about the power cord. Its the same as you get with your laptop with a large AC/DC adapter in the middle of it. I added some velcro strips inside the amp to secure the adapter permanently inside the amp.

Love this amp!

Tried this at my local GC and came back the next day to trade my VTX20. The nu-tube pre made such a difference in the dynamic feel, very tube like. Got rid of my tube amps, too heavy at my age to be toting around, when jamming with friends. At 50 watts, it's more than enough power. Having the VFS5 foot switch from my previous VTX20, it works beautifully with the amp. The Vox toneroom app for computer is a must. USB connect and you have access to more control. There's no mid control on the amp itself, but can be accessed in the app. Dialing back the mids on the deluxe model brought out the amps tone more to my ears, IMO. I love this amp so much, I bought another to run my stereo pedals into at home, sounds huge. Having owned many tube amps over the years, I feel this ... MoreTried this at my local GC and came back the next day to trade my VTX20. The nu-tube pre made such a difference in the dynamic feel, very tube like. Got rid of my tube amps, too heavy at my age to be toting around, when jamming with friends. At 50 watts, it's more than enough power. Having the VFS5 foot switch from my previous VTX20, it works beautifully with the amp. The Vox toneroom app for computer is a must. USB connect and you have access to more control. There's no mid control on the amp itself, but can be accessed in the app. Dialing back the mids on the deluxe model brought out the amps tone more to my ears, IMO. I love this amp so much, I bought another to run my stereo pedals into at home, sounds huge. Having owned many tube amps over the years, I feel this amp is a real bargain for feel, power, and portability.

Not For Me-Noisy and Too Quirky

Sound:The Vox sound snd build quality are there but the design engineers missed the boat on creating a usably quiet circuit. The hiss is strong with this one.Features:That tuner is a joke.Ease of Use:Easy to fisl up great dounds but you have to drown out the loud woosh this thing makes constsntly.Quality:Good looking unit. Appears to be built well, except for the toy store power supply.Value:They pack alot into this amp. It sounds good and looks good. Value is good if you play loud.Manufacturer Support:No contact with Vox. Requested retutn ftom zZounds less than 12 hours after drlivery due to what for me are fatal flaws.The Wow Factor:It’s got that Vox diamond grill mojo.Overall:I really wanted to like this amp, the tones are great, especially ... MoreSound:The Vox sound snd build quality are there but the design engineers missed the boat on creating a usably quiet circuit. The hiss is strong with this one.Features:That tuner is a joke.Ease of Use:Easy to fisl up great dounds but you have to drown out the loud woosh this thing makes constsntly.Quality:Good looking unit. Appears to be built well, except for the toy store power supply.Value:They pack alot into this amp. It sounds good and looks good. Value is good if you play loud.Manufacturer Support:No contact with Vox. Requested retutn ftom zZounds less than 12 hours after drlivery due to what for me are fatal flaws.The Wow Factor:It’s got that Vox diamond grill mojo.Overall:I really wanted to like this amp, the tones are great, especially the AC 30 sims. (As you would imagine.) But the thing is really noisy. Loud hiss even at low volumes. Maybe I got a bad ond bit no change of guitar/pickup types, placement, cord changes or power conditioning could contain the noise. Also, the power supply is some flimsy transformer thing like on a PC. No confidence in the durability. Then there’s the built in tuner that only tunes the low E. Should have just included a pitch pipe. Not for me. Very disappointed.

Review of Vox Cambridge50 Modelling Guitar Amp

Getting back into playing the guitar again (during lockdown) I needed a new amp (previously had only used entry level Marshalls) and did quite a bit of research on amps under £300.00.Came to the conclusion that a modelling amp might be the way to go and it came down to the Boss Katana, Line 6 Spider, Marshall Code and the Vox Cambridge 50.Didn't want anything too complicated and wanted knobs to twiddle not digitised controls - so that ruled out the Line 6 and the Marshall.Decided that the Katana was a great amp but with so many options and effects that I would probably get bogged down with too much choice and so I opted for the Vox.It sounds great, is not too heavy and the amp modelling presets are fun to experiment with - albeit that they are setup in very ... MoreGetting back into playing the guitar again (during lockdown) I needed a new amp (previously had only used entry level Marshalls) and did quite a bit of research on amps under £300.00.Came to the conclusion that a modelling amp might be the way to go and it came down to the Boss Katana, Line 6 Spider, Marshall Code and the Vox Cambridge 50.Didn't want anything too complicated and wanted knobs to twiddle not digitised controls - so that ruled out the Line 6 and the Marshall.Decided that the Katana was a great amp but with so many options and effects that I would probably get bogged down with too much choice and so I opted for the Vox.It sounds great, is not too heavy and the amp modelling presets are fun to experiment with - albeit that they are setup in very specific styles but are easily customised.Be aware that they are 'Presets' and as such, default back to the basic factory settings everytime. If you wish to recall a change to their sound/tone then you need to 'save' your changes to one of the 2 built-in user modes.You can expand these to 8 user profiles if you purchase (I have not done so as yet) and connect, an optional footswitch.This amp has more than enough for what I need and sounds great - love the AC30 modelling.4 star rating given because there is no line out for gigs (most scenarios would see the amp 'mic'd up anyway) and some of the preset amp models are preset to a volume that is way higher than others which can catch you out.The instructions are pretty good but do require careful reading especially when trying to save custom configurations, but all in all and considering the price, this is a very good amp indeed and I am a convert to Vox.