Vox Lil Night Train or Vox AC15VR for home use?

elliotforgames · 01-14-2011, 08:38 PM

My main amp is the Marshall Class 5. I am looking for something that will be a good match to it, specifically for home use. At the moment, I have the AC15VR, but I still have it under the return policy, so I can still return it to the store. The amp I like is the Vox Lil Night Train, but wanted to hear some opinions before I go back to the store.

I am not into effects or pedals. I like my tone straight from the guitar to the amp. So the main decision is purely good tone at bedroom levels.

johnray777 · 01-15-2011, 04:12 PM

are you going to run stereo or looking for something to get a different tone?

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 01-17-2011, 11:04 AM

Personally I like the night train. Haven't tried the li'l one.

johnray777 · 01-17-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

Personally I like the night train. Haven't tried the li'l one.

I assume its just the night train, but in a smaller package and less controls. I have no clue though.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 01-17-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnray777

I assume its just the night train, but in a smaller package and less controls. I have no clue though.

IIRC, different output tubes, which will effect the sound.

gtrdave · 01-17-2011, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elliotforgames

My main amp is the Marshall Class 5. I am looking for something that will be a good match to it, specifically for home use. At the moment, I have the AC15VR, but I still have it under the return policy, so I can still return it to the store.

That's funny. I have the AC15VR @ church and am considering swapping out for a Class 5.
If so, I'll bring the AC15VR home for practice, lessons and studio use.

elliotforgames · 01-20-2011, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtrdave

That's funny. I have the AC15VR @ church and am considering swapping out for a Class 5.
If so, I'll bring the AC15VR home for practice, lessons and studio use.

The Class 5 is a really loud amp, but the Vox has considerable amount of volume.

I dialed in a pretty good overdrive on the AC15VR by cranking the normal channel and using the master volume to tame it to bedroom levels. The treble is cut at 11 o clock and the bass is at noon.

However, Vox's all-tube amps have me thinking whether I should keep the VR.

New to the discussion is the Vox AC4TV. I actually prefer the sound on this to the Lil Night Train. The AC4TV sounds more vintage from the clips, but I have yet to play it. I'm not looking for high gain and there seems to be a lot of gain from the NT.

Anyone have experience with it? I still have about 2 weeks left before my return policy expires. Not that I am unhappy with the VR, but I just want to make sure I have a good amp that can be used at church and at home. So far the VR fits this.

**akaukal** · 01-21-2011, 10:03 AM

Just stick with the VR. If you like it's tone and it works well at church and at home, just keep it. The VR is far more versatile than either the Lil Night Train or the AC4tv. I had an AC4 and it was definitely a cool little amp and I really liked it, but it had virtually no clean whatsoever and it was kind of a one trick pony.

elliotforgames · 01-22-2011, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akaukal

Just stick with the VR. If you like it's tone and it works well at church and at home, just keep it. The VR is far more versatile than either the Lil Night Train or the AC4tv. I had an AC4 and it was definitely a cool little amp and I really liked it, but it had virtually no clean whatsoever and it was kind of a one trick pony.

I tried the AC4TV mini and it sounded pretty good on clean. It's just that getting into overdrive territory requires a lot of volume and I don't think I can play that loud at night. Even on 1/4 watt setting. Overall, I am really impressed with the Vox line up, but I will stick with the VR due to versatility.

Anyone who wants a loud true tube amp should really give the AC4TV a good look. Sounds real nice and has a great vintage look to it.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 01-22-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elliotforgames

I tried the AC4TV mini and it sounded pretty good on clean. It's just that getting into overdrive territory requires a lot of volume and I don't think I can play that loud at night. Even on 1/4 watt setting. Overall, I am really impressed with the Vox line up, but I will stick with the VR due to versatility.

Anyone who wants a loud true tube amp should really give the AC4TV a good look. Sounds real nice and has a great vintage look to it.

1/4 watt, it is pretty quiet.

Attenuator.

elliotforgames · 01-22-2011, 04:34 PM

Would it be redundant to have a Vox AC15VR and a Vox AC15C1?

Right now my main stage amp is the Class 5, but it has no master volume, so when I want a bit of overdrive, it needs to be cranked. That said, I like both the Class 5 and the AC15 tones.

The VR is for home use and with that in consideration, am I better off with the Class 5 or going with the AC15C1 for stage volume?