The Basement - Vox Pathfinder/AC15 Demo

[@bushmanwest5109]

i was finding it really difficult to find any channels that did demos for guitarists playing within the indie rock/alternative genres so im very grateful that you do these videos thanks :)

[@jessegimbel]

bushy skates Thank you for watching! Indie rock/alt stuff is what I'm normally doing with my own music (jessegimbel.bandcamp.com), so I guess it's kind of what I default to playing. However I do feel like it's very exposing compared to playing a lot of single-note licks. A lot of an amp's character is revealed in how it treats not just chords but unusual intervals and harmonics and I think indie rock displays those complexities well, even if it's not everyone's personal taste.

[@williamsherman2374]

Well said Jesse I was just thinking and gonna say the same thing. Your demo sold me on the pf even though I'm a blue's and rock player

[@jessegimbel]

Thanks! While there are definitely differences between the Pathfinder/AC15/AC30, in the context of a mix the Pathfinder really holds it own and doesn't really sound like an imitation of the real thing, just a nice, very Voxy amp.

[@ilikemyrealname]

Always impressed by your work. I've been doing the basement thing for over 4 years now.

[@tonycortezzaofficial]

I own a Vox Pathfinder, a Vox Cambridge and a Vox tube AC30, guess which one sounds the best? The Pathfinder! It has the most tonality out of al three. Don't get me wrong the others sound awesome as well but this little amp for some reason I think will go down in history for it's amazing tone. The fact that they stopped making them a couple of years ago ( and I bought the last two at a music store in Phoenix, AZ) is some kind of testament to why these are so good, in other words, I think they knew how good they were and wanted to try and re-invent them at a higher price somewhere down the road. In this video I think the tone is kind of tinny and this sounding, they sound much better in person. Every time I play it for someone they can't believe it's not a tube amp. You can still find these all over the place for not too much money, I suggest you pick up a few and hold on to them for in the future they are going to be collectors pieces. A good amp is a good amp, be a snobby as you want but everyone I know loves the sound of this thing!

[@jessegimbel]

Tony Cortez I've considered scouting a few of these for exactly this reason. I think that's definitely why they were discontinued - it's nearly impossible to find and amp that most everyone loves that isn't something really boutique-y or vintage. I wouldn't call myself a snob as much as discerning and I do heavily prefer tube amps to solid state amps for recording, and this Pathfinder is the one solid state amp I've used that I will never get rid of and hopes never dies. I use it every week next to my Deluxe Reverb, vintage Princeton Reverb, vintage Ampeg Reverberocket II, etc. The Pathfinder is nothing short of fantastic.

[@kimmolingonheimo]

I have one arriving soon used for 48€, cant wait!

[@kimmolingonheimo]

i got one an not losing it...! thank you

[@giovanniraffaeli3109]

When I heard the Pathfinder at a gig in a little place I was sure it was a valve amp. I asked the guitarist what it was and I couldn't believe it was a solid state amp. I was lucky I could buy a second hand a few weeks later

[@jasonstorm1409]

Such a lovely demo! Great playing and straight to the point!! I am a happy owner of a PF and all i can say is WOW!! I didn't expect to be THAT GOOD! I have played a lot of tube amps but this thing is amazing no matter tubes or not!! Makes me playing music and most important delivers tone either cranked or whisper quiet! Lovely playing dude Thanx for foing this!

[@budleyoo]

love the way you did with this demo! It helped me a lot…I was about to buy a pathfinder but AC15cc1 sounds a lot warmer and substantial to my ear!

[@jessegimbel]

The AC15 definitely has more depth to it but sometimes a bit of a flatter sound (like the Pathfinder) can be better, with certain kinds of music. I really love both amps!

[@GuitarFreak1901]

Jesse Gimbel I'm looking for an amp that sounds similar to the ac15, is this my best bet or should I get something else? My budget's around 300

[@jessegimbel]

I'd either buy this or a used AC15, which sometimes can be found for around that price. You could also look at the Egnater Rebel which has some "British" settings that can be very Voxy, a well as more Fendery settings. I've heard the Night Train is based on the AC15 but is geared less toward clean sounds and more toward high gain, but that could be an option depending on your intended use.

[@edgardpedrosilvajunior]

Excellent Review. I have a pathfinder just like this and I'm very happy with it and so my band mates. It's amazingly powerful for smal pubs performances and works very well in recordings using its line out.

[@sergiomeluk]

edgard silva junior Do you hace the 15 versión? Could you play with a drummer?

[@carlosnoriega7296]

@@sergiomeluk i have the 15w version and it's loud enough to be heard if you play in a band

[@danielphythian7417]

Great video. I couldn't help but get excited every time you switched between the amps. More thrilling than any reality TV.

[@deedeecobain]

I wanna give you praise for taking the time to make the graphics with the tone controls

[@TheVoluntariast]

Love your playing. Thank you for posting this.

[@jessegimbel]

Thank you so much! This one’s an oldie but I’ve started making videos like this again, with more to come. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZjZqGqLh8Zrp8ksi=Q2bfIJLYASnnma5E

[@TheVoluntariast]

Thank you for the link I am interested in that model. Will watch it for sure. Right now I am trying to learn the song you play at 4:05 in this video. I love it. @@jessegimbel

[@guipranav]

I stumbled upon your video cause someone's throwing me this amp for 40 pounds. Your videos, across time have become better. I hope youare doing well in your music career. Thanks for the comparison. I loved Pathfinder 15r. Perfect for anyone who practices alone a lot.

[@silvestrslusis]

They both sound good. I own both AC15c2 and Pathfinder 15 and they sound very different. AC15 is usable in basically any setting, but in my experience, the pathfinder falls apart as soon as you are adding the inbuilt gain. It just gets fizzy, harsh and farty. External speaker helps a bit, but essentially you will need a gain pedal if you want to play this cranked. For a light breakup sound and cleans it is a really good one.

[@ItAllFeelsRight]

I think the 8 inch speaker is the limiting factor in regards to the gain more so than the circuit... no?

[@carlosa.sencion6516]

​@@ItAllFeelsRightYes, plug the Pathfinder into a 212 with Greenbacks or any good speaker and it's a different story.

[@DaveClarkPdx]

Ok I'm getting a 15r. Sounded great with the smaller bulldog speaker and the chime rock sounded sweet

[@stringsnare]

holy shit. i cant believe how good the pathfinder sounds.

[@Nightingale1887]

I have a AC15CC1, TB18C1 and a tiny Cambridge 15 (12AX7 Hybrid precursor to Pathfinder). VOX always feels like home.

[@billyray4491]

I listened with my eyes closed, ears open. Can't really say one way or the other. Both great.

[@joshdeal575]

I'm torn between the Vox AC4 and the Vox Pathfinder 15 for my practice amp. I don't see many Pathfinder 15s anymore, but I see plenty of AC4s. The Pathfinder 15 sounds good for what it is.

[@jessegimbel]

Absolutely. The AC15 used in this video is borrowed from the guitar player in a band I drum in, and we've never had any issues with volume, whether it's a soft or really loud and crazy song.

[@caferacer9939]

Great demo and nice playing, makes me wanna go find a Pathfinder 15.

[@jessegimbel]

Worthwhile amps to have! Thanks for the kind words. Similar new videos up now and more on the way!

[@johnhorne7508]

I think the pathfinder sounds better! It seems more full

[@soofitnsexy]

speaker....

[@jessegimbel]

I totally agree about the Pathfinder. I'm a tube amp guy all the way, but I use the Pathfinder alongside all of my tube amps without question. Thank you for the compliments! I try to do a little single-note melody kind of stuff but I feel like that info doesn't display the full range of what an amp sounds like, and chords show a more complex amount of information (to me anyway) - you can hear what they take to be pushed, how it reacts to playing dynamically, etc.

[@guitarfreak521]

Dude, you have some great riffs!

[@jessegimbel]

@@guitarfreak521 thank you! Some of these are from my 2010 album City Shade/Country Sun open.spotify.com/album/5O6TXYbI7bi5S8wYkVBTz7?si=z3lYTFgxSty_JS8KZ2KqVg

[@jessegimbel]

Good question! I used the Pathfinder for all electric guitars on the album, with the exception of "Pillarsaint", which was a 1966 Ampeg Reverberocket II because I needed the longer, washier reverb. Everything else is Pathfinder though!

[@jessegimbel]

Thanks so much! It's been almost ten for me so far. I'm working toward going bigger in a few years, but happy with where I am for right now.

[@keneducation]

Excellent demo. Thank you for posting.

[@BadChizzle]

Both sound great. Love your Strat. The cab you built sounds very nice. Good job on the graphics and the overall video. not sure I've seen the AC15 controls before, so it was Cool to see the top boost and overall layout of it.

[@jamesgeiger4795]

The high gain is where I hear the difference. Both amps sounded similar before that.

[@jessegimbel]

+james geiger Great point. Most any audio equipment's character is exposed more when pushed to the limits of its components, so higher gain will definitely show what's going on clearer. However the clean sounds on these are different too (more glassy and slightly compressed on the AC15) but not as drastic.

[@jessegimbel]

Thank you! I wouldn't say it blows the Pathfinder away volume-wise but it is a bit louder.

[@technonatoservicosemanuten2021]

Tão bom que a vox parou de fabricar! Um transistorizado perfeito, na minha opinião. Eu tive um, comprei o último do estoque, já nem fabricava mais, me arrependo de ter vendido, por agora, pesquisando, encontrei na faixa de 800 à 1500 reais. Mais pra frente eu pretendo comprar um, se eu encontrar num preço legal, é claro. Thanks for the video. Good job!

[@paulsummerside]

Think it would have been nice to hear what the Pathfinders own stock speaker sounded like. I understand why you chose to use a 12" extension speaker, but would have preferred a true comparison between each. Both sounded great. Would happily buy either.

[@jessegimbel]

Yep, it's got a 12" WGS Veteran 30 in it, which is by far my favorite speaker I've ever used.

[@l3uzze]

I got a fender blues deluxe upgraded with a swamp tank for a better sound and a blues junior texas red with a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker. Both modded and good amps , but they are standing in my closed now since I heard a pathfinder. I did a crazy search, and had to travel to find them. I payed them 70 euros , 99 euros and 180 euros, so all 3 together not the even the price of 1 amp. I even bought a reserve now and one of them is a rare 15 EXR with the 10’’ speaker. But they sound great all 3. I play them in stereo for all my gigs. P.A. guys love the amp because it sounds great at low volumes what they prefer. And for small gigs the pathfinder is just about loud enough if your drummer isn’t too loud. In case of that I just put a mic in front and save my ears. Unbelievable how good they take pedals. Also the outputs are incredible. With a mic in front or strait to the P.A. from the output. Also amazing with my hotrot extention cab from fender. I don’t think that there is an amp who comes close to the pathfinder in any of those features. And you can pic it up with one finger. So light. No problems with the tubes because there are none , but the fat tube sound is there without doubt. No modding , just pathfinder on the rocks. I noticed also that I play much quieter when I practice , because the sound is rich at any level.

[@jessegimbel]

That sounds like an awesome live setup! They really are great amps.

[@Youreallysuckguy]

For me the real différence is the AC15 has more mids. So maybe with an EQ pedal it's possible to get close with the pathfinder.

[@l3uzze]

Read the reply of Tony Cortezza. Same for me. I got a pathfinder15, a blues deluxe with cab, a blues junior and a vox ac4.Guess which sounds the best? The pathfinder. Never heard an amp who takes pedals so well , got a tube sound and still keeps its low end sound. We practise at much lower volumes now with even more dynamics. No need to make it unhealthy loud (like bigger amps do) for a richer sound. So I experienced a little and put the cab from the blues deluxe under it. That makes the pathfinder twice as warm and loud enough to put up against a drummer. I think I know why they stopped making them as low priced amps. I would , if I want to sell other amps for sure.

[@jessegimbel]

The speaker in the Pathfinder is the stock one, but you're hearing it through the cab it's sitting on, which has a 12" WGS Veteran 30. By far my favorite speaker.

[@SouthTownFlyer]

Thanks for the info, Jesse. I've yet to give it a good listen, but the snippets I heard are pretty good. I look forward to sitting down with it.

[@ZappaBlues]

Eight years ago, I bought a guitar in a private deal, and he threw in a Vox Pathfinder 15r for free. BEST DEAL EVER !!. The Pathfinder is close enough to the AC15 and/or an AC15/JTM hybrid for me. I run it threw a 1x10 closed back birch ply cab with an Eminence Ragin Cajun. Good full sound. One of best analog solid state amps. I will never let it go

[@jessegimbel]

I'm with you! I run mine most often through the cab in this video and I love it.

[@mlewmisc]

Just listened to your album, great stuff!

[@jessegimbel]

matt lew thanks so much for listening, it means a lot to me! Bandcamp is actually waiving fees today to help artists who have had all their plans and music income canceled because of the pandemic, please consider downloading an album or single or two from jessegimbel.bandcamp.com, and/or sharing!

[@frantisca]

Thanks for your upload. Nice demo (I like the graphics of the controls) and playing. I have re-discovered the Pathfinder plugged into a 2x12 Celestions: one CreamBack G12M65 and a G12H30 70th anniversary, both made in the U.K. Tremendous result. Even the boost (unusable with the main combo speaker) sounds great. You just have to be cautious with the settings: Gain at 10-11 o'clock, volume... well depends on your room and how loud you want to play. I use it indoors at 9 o'clock which is already loud for bedroom level. Without boost: guitar volume from 7,5 to full (gives you great cleans & nice crunch) With boost: guitar volume from 2,5 to full (takes you from crunch into OD-Lead territory) \m/

[@MrNotYet1]

Wish they still had the pathfinder 15r. I am mostly playing on my pc, but sometimes I am lazy / would be dope to play without headphones when I am finally alone at home. But I don't want to spend a fortune on an amp.

[@DaviTrombela84]

Very nice demo!!! I have a Pathfinder myself and I love it!!! When comparing the two amps, mind a important thing: they have different speakers! While Pathfinder has a very simple stock Vox speaker, somewhat inspired by the Celestion Bulldog of the old Vox Cambridge, AC15 has a pretty nice Celestion Greenback! What pisses me a bit is that the pathfinder loses exactly in a point tubes don't matter: the effects! In my opinion, the AC15 reverb is a lot better.

[@jasondorsey7110]

Just like the speaker issue, it might be a cheaper reverb tank that's just begging for an upgrade, upgraded the tank in my blues junior 3 to an accutronics and the difference is amazing, not just the sound but the responsiveness of the knob as well

[@jAMMAN798]

Very nice amp demo comparison and great guitar playing style.

[@BrandonKJohnson]

8:25-8:32 . . . you been doing that the whole time man 😁 Good job too!! You AND the amp!

[@littlewinguje]

Of course, there are few differences, but it rocks even with them. I have just ordered one. I can't wait to plug my tele in.

[@bartderijck172]

Very Nice playing captain ✌️👌

[@jessegimbel]

Thanks Bart!

[@orencoin]

Thank you for your video The ac15 is more bright but the pathfinder is very good too.

[@ThatWhatIsNot]

Great video. Granted this isn’t using the original speaker in the Pathfinder, but this demo just leaves me baffled why Vox stopped manufacturing that amp. Maybe it was too close for comfort.

[@jessegimbel]

I used the Pathfinder through the cab because it was a comparison of the amps, not the speakers. If I used the 8" speaker then everyone would say "the PFs sounds smaller" as a result of the smaller speaker. I've seen Pathfinders used for gigging a few times, and they sound great, but at their loudest clean sound they're not too loud. Great for solo shows or quieter music but maybe limiting otherwise. The 8" speaker sounds similar to the 12" but it breaks up a bit earlier and has less low end.

[@danieltambasco2816]

I love watching this video, another couple of observations I have. The pathfinder has more 'balls' when doing high gain than the AC15. Second observation - I ran the resistor and capacitor values of the tonestack through a simulation software - and the pathfinder has the lowest decibel drop from the bass/treble areas to the mids; as well the bass and treble areas are evenly matched when the bass knob is set at 50% and the treble knob is set at 65% - which is pretty close to what you had set in the very last section.

[@tcbonline]

Good demo. They actually sound very similar I think. The pathfinder just sounds a little thinner to me.

[@rafasounds2010]

Hi Jesse, I really like the sounds you play. Could you tell me what recording gear you used in this video? I'm buying a Pathfinder fo home recording as my fender all tube amp is too loud, and your demos certainly helped me a lot.

[@littlewinguje]

Wow! I'm very impressed, it sounds just like the original Vox AC30. I think I'm gonna buy this little beast :)

[@jessegimbel]

I'm not sure if you mean the AC15 or the Pathfinder, but either way I agree. I play indie rock myself and also play in an indie rock band (September Call-Up), that's definitely up my alley. Yesterday in the studio I ended up choosing the Pathfinder for one song's tracks over the Deluxe Reverb I've loved for every other track on the album. It definitely holds it own! The guitar player in the band I play with uses an AC15 with his Tele, Strat, and Dot with P90s and it always sounds great.

[@jessegimbel]

There's a video on my channel called "The Basement - Building A Homemade Speaker Cab" where I did exactly that. The video shows making a different cab but the process was exactly the same for the cab I built before that (the one in this video).

[@jessegimbel]

I'd imagine you don't see many Pathfinders anymore because they recently stopped production. I see plenty of AC4s in stores, but not many people using them. As a lover of small, low wattage amps, I've wanted to love the AC4 and I've tried them on numerous occasion, but just haven't liked them at all. They have qualities that I don't like in solid state amps, despite being a tube amp. I'm sure I'd like it more through a bigger speaker, but even so, I'd rather the Pathfinder.

[@Lowtech14]

Agreed. To my ears it sounds boxier

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Which AC4? The tv version or the top boost? I think the AC4C1 is an awesome amp. What it lacks is the reverb, even the Pathfinder15 without the reverb is severely lacking. It does work great as pedal platform for dirt boxes and plugging into a humbucker guitar.

[@crabejoss]

DAmned ! the pathfinger is a bigger AC15 !! I'm starting to understand why it was discontinued...

[@akatsuki919fly]

Hi Jesse, great video i'm about to buy the 15r but i wonder if the one in the video has the LED mod ? i don't mind if it has it, i want my pathfinder sounding like yours ! it rock's !! 🎸🎸🎸🎶🎵 i loved the kings of leon intro btw

[@DaveClarkPdx]

Hey man thank you for your videos! Tasty playing and very nicely laid out. I picked up one of these pathfinders for 140 and gigged it and have been very pleased. Anyways back to your videos, nicely done and they show younger musicians how to stretch their tone and get the best bang for your buck.

[@DaveClarkPdx]

I should add your videos show ALL musicians, young and old, how to achieve great tone for less money! ;)

[@jessegimbel]

Check it out with studio monitors or headphones that aren't earbuds if you can, the AC15 is a significantly brighter amp and the Pathfinder has a lot more low end and less high end in general. There is something about the AC15 that sounds a little more dynamic and deep than the Pathfinder to me, but yeah I think they're very similar in a lot of ways.

[@Satansbitch101]

riff at 5:45 is amazing :D

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Great comparison but I think there is a flaw in using your home made speaker cab, we don’t know the specs. You can easily get a wider disparity of tone from just the AC15 alone using different speakers, a better test would be to pipe the pathfinder into the AC15 cab, that way we know what the true difference is, as part of the magic of Vox’s tone comes from the speaker and cab enclosure.

[@jessegimbel]

I think you're totally right. At the time this felt like the best way to do it but I think it would've been better to just mic up each amp. Of course people would inevitably say you're hearing the difference between the speaker size as much as the amps themselves, so it's always a toss up. I still have both of these amps so maybe I'll make some more demos of them with these configurations.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Don’t mic each amp, just mic the AC15, when it comes time to play the pathfinder, come out of the speaker out port with a special cable with alligator clips to hook directly onto a speaker and hook onto the AC15 speaker. So two amps but only one speaker enclosure being used

[@jessegimbel]

I got what you were saying. That'd be good to show the difference between the two circuits alone with all else the same. I'm saying I think it would also be useful, maybe more useful, to simply compare the two amps - speakers and all - for those looking at buying one of these amps and using them as is.

[@RideAlongside]

@@jessegimbel As a new Pathfinder owner, I'd like to hear both. It would be nice to hear it's 8in stock bulldog speaker up against others in the 8in class as well. So much testing and so many possible comparison videos you could make. We will eat them up. Thanks for making this one!

[@giovanniraffaeli3109]

Nice demo thanks

[@rohankadam4692]

that was a great comparison and should help many to make a buying decision.. thanks a lot!

[@DerpRulesAll]

"And that's why we stopped making the 15r. The Pathfinder 10 uses that same circuitry, but the Pathy (what we like to call it down here at 'The Voice,') was just too close. People weren't buying the AC15s." ~ what Vox was probably thinking, around 2013

[@jessegimbel]

I wouldn’t be surprised!

[@danieltambasco2816]

Whatever you say about the pathfinder vs. the AC15/30 - all you have to do is throw in an MXR 10 band equalizer in front of the amp and you can duplicate every sound, depth of tone, and texture that the AC's have. Throw the ext. cab line out to a 2x12 of the kind of speaker you like, be it vintage 30's, creambacks, greenbacks, alnico's, or rajun cajun - and forget about it. Heck throw in an MXR distortion+ pedal - and you can show up to any studio in the planet and record anything with that combo - don't forget the treble boosters.

[@jessegimbel]

I don't really agree that you can duplicate everything the ACs do with the Pathfinder just by using an EQ pedal, but the Pathfinder is certainly pretty versatile and can take pedals well. I think an EQ can get a similar balance to certain sounds, especially clean sounds, but gain staging and the dynamics are some things that vary greatly between amps, these amps being no exception. In some situations "close enough" will be more than fine, and for other situations the difference can be huge.

[@jessegimbel]

Or rather, to see how different the amp sections themselves are. That could be cool. If I get a chance I'll do that as a quick follow up. The other option that would have a similar result would be to have them both just through a separate speaker cab (like the one in the video).

[@jessegimbel]

The first song (1:20-2:29) is a song of mine from years ago, before my last album so you won't find it on there. 2:41-3:50 was just a random progression of open chords, no song in particular). 4:05-5:12 was a song from the new album I'm working on, so you'll be able to hear that in a few months. 5:18-7:06 you'll find on my last album which you download, the song is "Night Song" (this Pathfinder was actually used for all electric guitar on that album except "Pillarsaint", vintage Ampeg).

[@muttshirt6195]

Finally found my path......Pathfinder 15r :) thanks a lot dude for showing me the path :)

[@jessegimbel]

Happy to help!

[@iagobroxado]

Great, honest demo.

[@jessegimbel]

It's a bastardization of chords from a song I wrote about five years ago, but it's one I never released on an album or online. Unfortunately I don't have any good quality recordings of it.

[@christopherpurcell8131]

i have a 15R and have owned ac15c1 and c2 and there's definitely an advantage to the tube amp and i will always love my tube amps and use them but there is no better feeling than walking into a gig with that tiny ass 15R which weighs almost nothing, plugging it in and getting damn close to the ac15 without lugging it

[@Celticsaint777]

Are you interested in giving directions for building a cab like you ran the pathfinder into? That seems to have made a huge difference in tone. The Pathfinder really sounds a lot like the AC15. I've been thinking of getting a AC15VR to replace my pathfinder in my studio but I may just build a cabinet like you did.

[@jessegimbel]

I fully agree. I've even seen a few people gigging with the Pathfinder (granted it was at a bigger show where it was miced so volume wasn't a problem). I'm with you on the AC4TV too. I'm a bit obsessed with low wattage tube amps so the AC4TV instantly drew my attention, but I've tried them on multiple occasions and not liked them at all at any point. To me a lot of the point of a low wattage tube amp is to get great overdrive at a low volume, but the AC4TV sounded surprisingly harsh to me.

[@Wurlitzer-Jukebox]

Do you think the AC15 is usable at apartment volumes using the master volume? I've heard both the ac15 AND ac10 are better at low volume - I guess I just need to go and a/b them myself!

[@A.WebbAndFriends]

CAN NOT BELIEVE I'm SAYING THIS ... I know the AC15 costs a bazillion times more than the Pathfinder BUT for the most part I liked the Pathfinder better. they BOTH sound really nice but the Only time I liked the AC15 better was when you played at full GAIN. For some reason the AC15 sounded fuller at full gain, and your Pathfinder had a slight BUZZ that was distracting. And I agree with Jeff - Nice playing. I enjoyed your demo - Thanks

[@harveycan5820]

Really enjoyed the songs, the playing and comparison method. Graphics were very helpful. So here's a more technical question. The Vox Bulldog 8 inch speaker is 8 ohms, I think. When you used the speaker out, I take it that did not disconnect the internal speaker? If that is so, what ohms was your handmade cab with the WGS speaker? So what was the total load? Sorry to be so nerdy. Maybe I misunderstood - - did you in effect disconnect the stock speaker by just going out to the cab? And if so, was that just 8 ohms? Sounded great!

[@davidpopelka4073]

Cool comparison and cool playing ;). Ive got PF15 and unfortunatelly need to arrange servis but generally Im blow away from the sound. My plan is to get onother one and play in stereo. For home usage its much more controlable at low volume then tube apms which I own as well. Clean is blast but I cant judge boosted as its so noisy therefore needs to be checked. I have Blackstar Fly, Roland mobile cube but this Vox is much better. Got bless PF15 :D.

[@andreacaccese]

the pathfinder is surprisingly good! i only heard bad things about it but it feels pretty cool! not as texture-rich as an ac15 but certainly useable

[@jessegimbel]

Funny, the Pathfinder is one of the few amps that I've never really heard a complaint about. There are pretty few products like this, I'm always amazed how much everyone loves them as usually any time a lot of people love something online a bunch of assholes feel the need to say they hate it just to disagree. I had the same conclusion though - the AC15 has a bit more depth and texture and the Pathfinder is a bit flatter, but I've had times in a mix where I'm trying to flatten the guitar a bit, so it's definitely just a useable of an option just for a different purpose.

[@andreacaccese]

yeah, absolutely usable tones! some people would diss any transistor amp, when they are actually used to great effect in many situation...think Songs for the deaf (queens of the stone age) and Rage Against the Machine' debut...most of the guitars were recorded with old transistor amps!

[@jessegimbel]

Honestly I don't tend to lean toward solid state (transistor) amps either, the Pathfinder is just one of the few exceptions and I find a lot of people have the same opinion. I had an old Heathkit transistor amp that sounded like a fuzz pedal when it was cranked up. I'd still love an amp that was like that, I've considered teaming up with someone to design one.

[@andreacaccese]

that's pretty cool! If you haven't tried one, you should checkout the nosepig amps! I am not sure, but i think they re supposed to be solid state ones - they have really decent clean tones that become very fendery if you route em to an external cab, but they can really get some insane fuzzy distortions, something that makes me think of the stooges's fuzzy tones, really saturated and massive! more of a one trick pony, but fun to have around in studio for less than a 100 bucks :D

[@jessegimbel]

Andrea Caccese I haven't used a Pignose amp in a long time, but I remember liking them a lot a while ago! They are indeed all solid state amps as far as I can tell, but if it sounds good it is good. I don't mind a one trick pony when it's a good trick!

[@goranmarinic2923]

that diference in sound may be due to diferent speakers. pathfinder is a wonder amp.

[@Nightingale1887]

Goran Marinic same speaker, via external cab.

[@Mr.Steve-O]

Hey Jesse, great video comparison and playing. Is there room in the Pathfinder to drop in a 10" Speaker ? Thx Steve

[@jessegimbel]

You're welcome, happy to help!

[@jessegimbel]

7:11-8:24 was another random riff, no particular song. 8:57-10:09 is something I was working on for the new album but as of right now it looks like it might not make it onto this album and might be stored for the future, but don't quote me, that might change. Thanks for your interest, and if you're interested in my new album when it's out follow my on Facebook (jessegimbel)!

[@jessegimbel]

You sent me a message but you have your channel set so people can't message you unless you've added them as a contact, so I'm responding here. I'm sure your Ragin Cajun will sound great, probably a lot of clean headroom, since they're 75W speakers. I'm curious how much work it'll be to put the 10" into the cab, I know people have mentioned it takes a little surgery to the cab to fit it in since the stock speaker is an 8".

[@matimoksa]

what impedance is the external cab for the pathfinder?

[@jessegimbel]

I'd agree with that. While the Pathfinder blows away most every solid state amp I've ever used, none ever seem to have the same depth to their clean sound as tube amps. But the AC15 is also not my favorite dirty sound (depending on the music of course), and there's a really nice smoothness and simplicity to the dirty sounds from the Pathfinder.

[@pastorkev777]

How is the Pathfinder with pedals? I would like to use it for the Vox tonality, with either a clean or barely driven sound.

[@jessegimbel]

Really good! It's a nice clean base. I like Fender amps with their EQ curve for making a lot of pedals sound good, but I'd imagine the Vox would be pretty popular for that too. Just doesn't have the highest headroom in the world.

[@job108]

can you demo the path tru its 8inch ' speaker?

[@hydnars]

What's the riff you play at 5:18?

[@SouthTownFlyer]

Are all of those progressions you used from your album? I'm downloading now, but I liked the different progressions you used for testing. It's hard for us rhythm players to demo gear when all we hear are the licks. : )

[@bonolee07]

I've got a pathfinder and the sound at low bedroom volumes is 90% of the way to a ac15 and about the 5th of the price, fair enough if you gig but just for practise the pathfinder is the way to go, I had and then sent back a 10" ac4tv, I didnt like it compared to the pathfinder, good review

[@DelusionalVoice]

does the ac15 have enough clean headroom to play over a drummer live? thinking about getting one

[@mikedesena5065]

super helpful! thanks

[@torYxx]

Have you tried the led mod on the pathfinder 15

[@Lukhators]

Hey Jesse awesome video!! I have a Pathfinder but if I turn the volume knob all the way up like you do, it blows my head off and the neighbours knock on my door. Did you actually play with it at full volume? Do you recommend getting a cabinet if I already have this amp? Cheers and keep going pal!

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Ridiculously loud, except that's with an 8" speaker, he had his plugged into 12" speaker which is probably far more efficient and even louder! I have no clue how he was able to play it like that?

[@Nightingale1887]

VoxPathfinder15R earplugs and a garage/basement?

[@mrpeanut268]

Do you notice that the stock speaker can't handle any sort of volume? Mine is just the 15 (no R), but it really farts out at even medium volumes. I can tell the tone is there though, mine also sounded really great, and much louder, through an external 12" cab.

[@jessegimbel]

I haven't had that actually. My favorite sound from the amp is with the gain fairly low and cranking the volume up, it's got a really beautiful speaker breakup. Yours isn't new is it? Sometimes I've found speakers having to break in if the factory didn't do it enough there.

[@mrpeanut268]

Hey thanks for the reply! I got mine used for $50 on Craigslist, I think its a bit older. It can't handle volume above 1/4 without completely distorting (in a very very bad way). The tremolo is also insanely quiet, almost non existent. I took it to an amp shop in Austin and the guy basically said the amp is a toy, its fine, and that I'm expecting way too much out of it. But I heard your video, and your pathfinder sounds fantastic, so I'm thinking the speaker is blown in mine.

[@jessegimbel]

@@mrpeanut268 yeah definitely sounds like something weird going on. It's a shame your amp tech views it that way! Yes it's an inexpensive solid state amp but they really are gems. It does sound like there could be an issue with your speaker, though the trem issue doesn't really sound like a speaker thing. If the farting out problem doesn't happen when plugging into another speaker then a new speaker would at least be a place to start.

[@mrpeanut268]

I agree! I'm bummed that he saw it that way, but I agree with you completely. Thank you very much for your quick responses. I'll replace the speaker and see where to go from there

[@jessegimbel]

Sure thing! Feel free to keep me posted on your progress.

[@jessegimbel]

I agree fully. I'm not even using the Pathfinder's speaker here, I'm not a huge fan of the stock speaker in it. Good note for people watching though. And I fully agree, the reverb on the Pathfinder fully cranked is what might be 2-3 on another amp like the AC15. With better reverb it'd be even harder to beat. I do like the tremolo a lot though!

[@job108]

demo the pathfinder on its own :D love to hear how you can make a small amp with *8" speaker to get very close to the sound of the ac15 :D

[@jessegimbel]

8" speakers don't sound like 12" speakers so I demoed the amps themselves here. There are two demos of the Pathfinder on its own on my channel you're welcome to watch!

[@job108]

tnx :D

[@MANGIAVIN]

Please, let me know the title of the song at 4'06".

[@ulsa_smthsdemo884]

hi I got a doubt which one of this amps is VALVE AMP?? the AC15 or the PATHFINDER ?? n' what vox amps r vslve amps?? thanks bye

[@jessegimbel]

The AC15 is a valve amp, and the Pathfinder is a solid state amp.

[@ulsa_smthsdemo884]

thanks for ur feedback please let me ask u something else,,between VOX pathfinder 10 n' 15R which one of those amps sound more like VOX AC30 in the "CLEAN CHANNEL" only the clean channl?? thank u bye =)

[@jessegimbel]

I haven't ever seen a Vox Pathfinder 10 in person so I can't really comment on using it, only on what I've heard online. Honestly I think the 15R gets pretty close, especially the sound in a room, to an AC15/AC30 sound. The Pathfinder 10 may be able to get close as well, but I know for a fact that the 15R gets close.

[@ulsa_smthsdemo884]

yhanks for ur reply !!

[@jessegimbel]

You're welcome!

[@kimmolingonheimo]

yes yes yes im glad i didnt sell my piece thank you mr jesse g

[@nas487]

Jesse, what kind of strings do you tend to use & gauge?