Vox Pathfinder 10 (Ideal Practice Combo?)

[@MrPolevaulter]

Check out how this Vox fares against four other practice amp solutions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqWciqSMm9mNarcsi=VFPG9CV4N7UxoVUB

[@TroyNaumu808]

Perhaps the biggest likely problem is that Vox choose to cut corners by using a bullshit speaker. If one were to replace the speaker it is much better. But one should not have to go thru the hassle and expense of replacing the speaker.

[@Voxguitarsrock]

This is my favorite practice amp for cleans. I.dont bother with the od " channel ". Works great with my multi effect unit. Plenty good for around the house. Thank you for the rundown. Appreciated.

[@sirbaronvoncount4147]

Of all the gear I parted with over the ages the Solid state pathfinder is top of the list. Just great sound clean or overdriven. It was an older version. Love vox amps the feel is amazing

[@houstonwalker7108]

Ain’t no way this guy shredded like that on this amp for a solid 7 minutes and then just goes “I don’t wanna play this anymore”

[@jltrem]

Got one of these over 20 years ago and didn't really use it much until I did the famous LED mod. Completely changed the amp. Got used then.

[@g.sferrazza10-13]

Remove tha Capacitor 2A274K if you can, search for mod on youtube

[@wojciechszeler2]

led mod?

[@BLUESKY-zt1nv]

a led zeppelin effect box that is supposed to give a near as much as possible jimmy page sound@@wojciechszeler2

[@alfredo_852]

@@wojciechszeler2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHrVpZJrnbCEp5Y

[@dash_R]

@@wojciechszeler2 The circuit inside has some LEDS, which when removed makes the amp way louder

[@domvalhalla7771]

Remove the capacitor, sounds more clear (and louder), and you have a great pedal platform. Edit: and remove the LED if you want to use the gain from the amp. I use a compressor, wah, golden horse overdrive (klon clone haha), RAT distortion, gate, and for my modulations i use a nux mg 300, for chorus, flanger, vibe, etc. Delay and reverb, sounds great.

[@stevelogan1699]

My favourite moment in this video was when you said simply ‘I don’t want to play this any more’. That not only showed great honesty-and was reassuring because I wasn’t enjoying the sound of the amp-but revealed in passing what a GOOD amp can do. It makes you want to play because you like what it does to the sound of your instrument. It rewards you. Anyway that was an excellent review, Elmo, and refreshingly it did what a review should (which is actually not that common): say what the product is like in the opinion of an expert. Thank you!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you 😊

[@williamfowler8439]

If you want to try a sweet little amp clean that turns into a little powerhouse, try the HT-5 Blackstar. It's got built in reverb with 3 band eq in overdrive mode

[@stevelogan1699]

My pleasure! @@MrPolevaulter

[@dariuszdabrowski8421]

Thank you for the best test of this equipment ever, it has everything I wanted to see and hear. 👌💪👍

[@UlissesMartins]

I have one and only use it for clean sound. As a practice amp is very good to use at home for clean sounds.

[@rodbelding9523]

That reaction cracks me up. "I don't want to play this anymore." I have this amp and it sounds perfectly adequate for clean or low gain applications, but yeah trying to shred on it doesn't really work.

[@brozio77]

most common problem about small amps are the speakers. i wuold not saying that this vox or the fender frontman are stellar, not at all, but with a 12 inch speaer they sound decent anyway :)

[@robertobrunelli8007]

I own this amp and several others. I find it really excellent on clean and I use it mostly for standard jazz on my Ibanez archtop. I have tried to record something using a Shure micro and it was stunning (on clean jazz sound). Overdrive is not the best in the world but with a couple of mods it become great.

[@evanmiller2529]

I have a Pathfinder 15R that is now discontinued, and I did a side by side with the Pathfinder 10. The Pathfinder 15 sounds great to my ears though the smaller 10 wat version i could not live with.

[@Musically-iy1uw]

wdym? its not good?

[@RichardCrews]

The 15R was a wonderful amp. The best $119 bucks I ever spent on musical equipment. And I agree that the 10 does not come close to it in quality. I wish Vox had not discontinued the 15R.

[@streetlegal008]

I think really a lot depends on how you want to sound. Like many smaller amps, this isn't going to sound good in high gain - with the Gain turned right up on the right hand side. But if you were to keep the gain back to about 11am it might sound ok. There is a limit to how much gain you can push through a small speaker before it turns to mush. Perhaps clean channel with a boost or overdrive might work ok.

[@my_negative_world]

Just yesterday got one as a first amp from a friend for the equivalent of 34 bucks. For that price I could really choose between a new tiny 9v powered marshall thing and this and so far I'm pretty pleased with it. Provided it had the led mod done to it so at least to my ears it sounds a tad different to yours but overall I don't think it's all that bad. Sure I absolutely wouldn't buy a new one for the retail price, but for a bargain like that it is a working amp, which is already a pretty good deal. ;)

[@g.sferrazza10-13]

There is a capacitor you can remove to give you more Head room. 2A274K kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIOkp2psrtF0mas&ab_channel=SERGIONIGRELLI

[@RythmicIntentions]

The scalloping on the fretboard interferes with the upper frequencies. That and you weren't holding your mouth right. And if you believe that..... :)

[@Barbarapape]

For a 10W amp with a 6.5" speaker it sounds good, and the tone controls have a good range. If funds are tight £89 is a good price for a practice amp that doesn't make you cringe unlike some do. Then again it's a Vox and yes i am biased as all my amps apart ftom one valve head are Vox. Thanks for your excellent review Elmo.

[@SteveLedger]

Not rubbish at all. Pair this up with the Cube Baby and you have a decent modelling amp for home use and you CAN record via the Phones/Line into your interface.

[@austindillow5955]

I just got a pathfiner 10 two days ago on my 16th birthday, i think its a very good practice amp. It succeded my blackstar debut 10e but to each their own, i like it and i think its a good amp, no hate i like all the reviews on this channel i just think i deserves a bit of love for what its worth

[@streetlegal008]

Enjoy your new amp - opinions are always going to differ, and your opinion is really the only one that counts. Just take your time exploring different settings. Also, if you have a good set of headphones, give them a try too.

[@leothelio]

I am thinking of buying this amp myself to have something small to carry around. Elmo just doesn't like the overdrive on the amp. It's a taste thing. Seems to be one of the best tiny amps out there, specially for the price.

[@luthravin4774]

Thanks Elmo!! The truth is in the sound ..your playing and technique were stellar, but I couldn’t get around that Pathfinder 10’s shrill and hum for any kind of recording ..that’s why I use my Fender Pro Jr IV tweed for practice or simple recording..Now I did just acquire a Vox Super Beatle w/Trolley loaded with 2 JBL 15”s from 66’ that my friend is a Beast.. the amp is definitely not a grab and go!! Great info on the video!! Have a nice day Elmo!!

[@seefoe5]

Those amps are great for bedroom-level cleans, in my opinion. But they're not great at all for anything distorted.

[@backandfour]

I got one of this 15 years ago and by no means I would describe the sound as shrill. I play with a Casino and it sound woody and with a lot of bass response. So much that normally my treble is quite high and the bass is low.

[@TroyNaumu808]

I am a Vox guy and I agree 100%

[@alexscott7226]

I love my Pathfinder 10 but then again I don’t play heavy gain crap…

[@jamieharper2554]

I got it new for £50 last year, thought it was pretty decent for that price!

[@chickenlover657]

Someone just tell me if it's good for a complete beginner for home practice?

[@jamess854]

It's interesting. It seems that people either really like this amp or really don't like it. I actually really like it. Especially for the £50 I paid for it new.

[@JD-te2pv]

Back in the days I had to travel for my Employer .....maybe 25 years ago!... I brought along a Pathfinder and a Telecaster for after work noodling. It was fine but not as good as my home based Fender Deluxe Reverb. Fast forward to 2 years ago, I got a nostalgic hankering for a Pathfinder after viewing a KZbin video singing its praises. I have not played it in 2 years. Message: Elmo is probably right.

[@davelewis4215]

Elmo , if you have some spare time you might want to do Andy the guitar geeks Make a Katana air gig worthy mod to your VOX ? I did it to my Pathfinder a couple of years ago just to see what it would perform like through some larger speaker cabinets? I got a rather pleasant surprise.👌 It’s well worth doing and doesn’t take long to do and costs very little.👍 You could probably do a video on it ?👍 Andy even lists the parts needed 👍

[@davidsinclair1288]

I usually find your reviews interesting, but unfortunately I thought this one was unhelpful. It looked like you found what the amp doesn't do well, which is high gain, then pushed that further and further until you got frustrated with it and gave up. Why not back it off as soon as you found that it didn't do high gain well and explore the lower gain settings to see if you could find some good sounds there? I would have found that much more helpful in getting to know what the amp is like.

[@SirDerp909]

He played the good sounds. Really, what do you want from a 6.5 inch speaker?

[@Tom03215]

Get the older version secondhand - Vox Pathfinder 15R. Thank me later.

[@CipM8]

Agreed. I wish they removed the 10 from production and keep the 15R, it's the only Vox worth buying in this amp class.

[@mhz9003]

Good luck finding one. People who have them keep them.

[@RichardCrews]

@@mhz9003 My ass is still sore from all the times I've kicked it for selling my 15r. It was a wonderful little amp.

[@quitefranklyjosh]

I've watched several of this mans videos as I was recently in the market for an amp.... Unfortunately, I ended up deciding to completely ignore everything he said because it was ALL so NEGATIVE! Very rarely has he given any of these beginner to intermediate amps a positive review (where as other creators/reviewers have) which only results in more confusion and anxiety as a consumer. Sorry, but not everyone can afford high end amplifiers or "vintage" overpriced amps that provide subjectively "better" sound. This guy is an outlier in this space, other creators give much more cohesive and unbiased information for us beginner guitarists ( as most of us watching these videos are.....).

[@rogerpakrat800]

You took the words right out of my mouth. My little $70 pathfinder sounds great.

[@Dave79-be7ld]

I run my pathfinder 10 into a TwoNotes CabM+. Gives the amp a whole new life and sounds great.

[@Alpha_WK]

What is he supposed to say if he doesn’t like a product? From my experience most beginner cheapo amps sound horrible. Not all. But most.

[@davel_ggw]

​@@Alpha_WKExactly, a bunch of them do sound horrible. That is just called honesty. The Pathfinder 10 is among the worst amps I have ever heard. Any playing, practicing, noodling, or whatever is simply more enjoyable when it sounds good. And no part of the signal chain (okay, assuming you have a guitar with no issues that plays well and stays in tune) is nearly as important as the amp, cab, and speaker combination. Period. Just as with any hobby, why not do it right and at least get decent gear. Which doesn't have to be overly expensive, that is another lie too many people believe. By making smart decisions up front, less money will be wasted, and the happier you will be.

[@miyaaaaw]

so what did you go with?

[@iggrut]

Hey Elmo. Have you seen the newest Fender Vintera 2 70s strats? Would be sooo nice to see a review of you. Greets

[@jamesnortonofficial1566]

Must do the LED mod it sounds way better

[@anuragchakraborty8846]

Sounds alright, but I don't get why anyone would get one of these over a Katana Mini - mine hasn't left my side since I got it a few weeks ago, there's very little it can't do

[@ernieb3626]

I believe you every time Elmo :-) even made me laugh this time. Good day.

[@williammolina9792]

You should try the vox mini5 rhythm. Terveisiä

[@DjowZDjowZ-de8xd]

They dont make them anymore . I use it every day. 😂 i modded one with speaker . And one is new in the box in plastic. 😂

[@unfathomed1133]

Any opinion on roland cube gx10 and orange crush 12?? Would be much appreciated! Cheers!

[@MrPolevaulter]

I have videos on the Cube, and some version of the Crush. I forget which. The Cube was pretty good.

[@unfathomed1133]

Thank u very much Elmo! Keep up the amazing content of the channel with your integrity and sincerety ! You trully stand Out! And please do a stratovarious cover! (a.k.a stratosphere..:P)

[@hoangtuan2770]

Its sound is quite good, though it is not the best.

[@vp8943]

Yea, sorry but why don’t you try line out/ speaker for direct recording? Dont expect the 6” speaker to behave like a big boy. :)

[@thorpenator9148]

Awesome playing Elmo. Amp is just okay.

[@ShawnSullivan-d8x]

Thanks, I was looking at that amp for my daughter. I took your advice and snagged her an Indio Classic, man beginner guitars are much more playable these days. Anyway I’m currently looking at a Blackstar ID core 10 I think that’s what it for her. Still looking. Though.

[@anuragchakraborty8846]

I think you should buy her a Boss Katana Mini, it has better sound and more features than all those other amps. The Id core sounds really bad, doesn't make you want to play

[@ShawnSullivan-d8x]

@@anuragchakraborty8846 I’ll definitely look into that! Thank you!

[@anuragchakraborty8846]

@@ShawnSullivan-d8x You're welcome 👍

[@g.sferrazza10-13]

@@ShawnSullivan-d8x why didn't you get the monoprice stage right amp on sale? I mean $60 for 20 watt SS amp can't beat that, and from the reviews, it sounds like it is voiced for heavy OD... Too bad the 5 watt tube amp went up in price, again.... changed the link now this one has more playing kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXfNn4eafJt3i5I&ab_channel=MattPula

[@codybuffoord3172]

I wanted to like it

[@johnnorth9355]

Cries out for a built in reverb. Yes I know you can add a pedal by why bother when you can buy an amp with it already onboard ?

[@norseman61]

Well, that answers that question. I’ve been considering this model for a while, and I had heard some decent reviews about this amp (for the money). It’s a cool LOOKING little amp, which I hate to admit is part of the reason I liked it. I don’t like that it is lacking an aux input, though. Anyway, I value your opinion so I’ll be passing on this one. I’ve already got a Katana 50 MKII anyway. Thanks!

[@SalvatorePiazzolla82]

Hi, please show the pedal on your video

[@sockthief9138]

Hi sir, would a secondhand Vox PF15 be better than a new Orange Crush Mini for practicing in my bedroom? They’re practically the same price.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Honestly, probably neither.

[@vespafetish]

Yes the Roland Micro Cube is great indoors. If you want a Vox for cheap though, have a look at the Pathfinder 15R instead. Larger cab and 8" Bulldog speaker. That thing cranks.

[@g.sferrazza10-13]

This can crank too, you can put an 8 inch in there, and remove a capacitor it is basically the same board as the PF15R, just 5 less watts and no reverb. Search you tube for 2 things to remove.

[@cookiemonster2949]

Please review nux mighty air❤

[@barry4303]

Just found one of these dirt cheap, haven't bought it yet although I do want a practice amp, if it records ok, fine, if not, oh well. I don't think it sounded horrible although I believe you could make a wired tin can sound good. The 6.5 inch speaker doesn't help, could care less about the dirt channel, most of them on small solid state amps are crap, nothing new there. Don't know about the mods mentioned in other comments, I'm sure it could benefit from a bigger speaker. Dirt cheap amps are what they are, most of them sound cheap, I've never understood all the positive hoopla about a Blackstar Fly, had a old, used Peavey Rage that kicked it's ass, maybe not a fair comparison, enough garbage talk, keep up the good work, you tube needs it.

[@TheTwangKings]

I agree, it's disappointing. Great review, cheers.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Years ago I bought a Vox small practise amp expecting a basic good sound. I could not believe how bad it was. I pulled an old amp out of a garbage bin. A MIJ decades ago amp with some name I could not find online. It was ten times better.

[@szczypi0rek]

I own one and never use more than 30% of gain on OD channel. Clean channel is proper, I don't complain. Didnt pay much for this, so I don't expect much either. Lets see how these mods work. In one month i'll own Boss katana mini, Vox is too loud for my apartment.

[@szczypi0rek]

I just did these mods and the amp became even louder, now I can crank it up until only 5% of volume in order to keep my ears undamaged. Also I noticed that bass strings are louder than these thinner ones, idk why. I removed leds and a capacitor

[@jacobbockover1628]

Somehow managers have become convinced high/ shrill is the vox sound. Kinda like the over bright over scooped pretend fender sound idk. Maybe they never hear it or something. Maybe those amps are for kids like the gorrillas or something

[@TechnoRiff]

Sweetwater in the US charges $110 usd new for one of these suckers. At that price, and perhaps for a bit more, there is a world of much better amps as Elmo has said. I had a Vox DA-15 that had a bunch of models and digital effects that was way better.; there are likely present day equivalents. IMO, Vox is gouging those unsuspecting newer players who think their getting an AC type of amp based on superficial appearances.

[@iosyn5896]

vox for budget. i wonder why pro's discuss about these gears? paying thousands of dollar for stage and vintage gear and expecting bargainer quality for beginners? any amp in this prizerange will suck - less or more, especially for metal shredding. for clean and blues the best budget mini amp u get under 100€. of all beginner amps i prefer the vox pf10 tone over marshall, orange, fender, harley benton, blackstar etc. in comparisons etc.

[@pablomusicgear7288]

It is the same old story. In this price range of amps, they have the baddest speaker quality ever seen. I have the VOX Pathfinder 10 and I did swap the speaker for a exactly similar in specs (6,5" 10W @ 8ohms) of an old VOX DA5. The result way incredibly better. But I can understand that could not justify the initial purchase of this amp. But buy it on the second hand market and swap the speaker. Go ahead.

[@Uncle_Gray]

Mama take this amp from me I can't play it anymore 😂

[@goss1961]

I'll stick with my Fly3.

[@anuragchakraborty8846]

How good is the EQ? Is the sound not too shrill or muddy?

[@DjowZDjowZ-de8xd]

Mine crackles a lot .. i dont like it so much . I keep it for the looks.

[@ShreddingFinn]

Why waste time with a cheap practice amp when you can just use some direct solution with headphones? Even the cheap units sound solid today

[@Kitarablogi]

Still, sometimes a "bad' sound is just what the proverbial doctor ordered. I used the Pathfinder 10 for the big distorted chords in the chorus. Love your videos! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZOxfXiBh9afaas

[@pablomusicgear7288]

Other comment from me. Who the hell wants to play an small analog solid state amp in the overdrive channel?????? It was a bad result in the 80s and nowadays is exactly the same thing for sure... not usable... if you are a rookie try it... after three times you will never want to ear that horrible sound...

[@justmehere6094]

Saddest part is it never even achieved the 'vox' tone.

[@TheHiFiTeam]

I liked mine until I dropped and broke it.

[@azlanx]

RISING HORSE LMAO

[@4leks11]

I would not use microcube... I used to own one the Cube 20X model (or 10X). It was shit.... Threw that one way since no one would want that even for free :D

[@MashaT22]

Umm, first off, they are really great sounding for what they are - they were designed for busking and practice above all, and they do both of those great even years later. I wish they would make reissues of the Micro Cube. Second, never toss gear even if you think it’s crappy. I can’t afford an amp and don’t own one - and have had zero luck getting a donated electric guitar and amp for the last 3+ years (I own one acoustic guitar that’s difficult and literally painful to play due to my disabilities and an electric would be much better for me). I would have happily taken a “crappy” amp for free cause it’s better than nothing. I put that in quotes because the MC is not crappy and is in high demand on the used market for a reason. But point is, people in my monetary position will always gladly take instruments, gear, parts, etc. off others who are willing to give what they don’t need want. Please don’t toss stuff like that when it’s working and usable. Find someone with a need who would use what you no longer need/want instead.

[@MashaT22]

Very disappointing model from Vox, especially when the Brian May mini amp head was really incredible - I’d say plug that into a cabinet with a nice affordable speaker if you’re looking for Vox tone on a budget.

[@my_negative_world]

Well, sure it would be great but a setup like that would probabaly be 3-4 times as expensive as this little thing. So I guess it depends what one means by "vox on a budget".

[@brotherhawk3228]

Lol I didn't want you to play any more and you can play the shit out of a guitar . That amp did not want to friend Elmo .

[@EmDzejFrom1980]

Maybe you could always try to say something nice about the shity gear to not to make sad these who already have it. Like, look what a nie looking knobs these have, electricty plug fits well. The handle stays in place. It has a good place to put your morning cup of coffee on it.

[@EmDzejFrom1980]

Cheers Elmo. :) Nice test as always.

[@mattsikes919]

Wow that sounds terrible! The frontman was worse but not by much. Great playing, Elmo. It's very disappointing to hear such a lousy tone out of a Vox. I've never been much of a Vox tone guy myself but in the right hands a good Vox amp does offer the listener something unique and memorable to listen to. In this case, right hands but wrong amp.

[@pstreetblues]

The amp is rubbish. Bought one, played for 5 minutes then put it back in its box. Really uninspiring tones.

[@TupacShakur69]

I love the cleans on my Vox. However the overdrive is horrible.