Vox Da-5

[marnold***]

Are you all grating cheese again? I still have mine. Thinking about changing the speaker out. I still don't like the blanket sound on the AD30VT.

Nope. I like mine too. It is nice to know that your speaker has a little extra protection when you have four kids and a dog wandering around.

[sunvalleylaw]

Hey wait a minute! . . . I'll join tot and the mice! I like the new look, but I also kind of like the grater. Looks industrial and tough to me. And since I would use mine (when and if i get one) as a carry around unit, loading in and out of the car and such, I agree with Marnold. Also, three kids and two dogs in the house.

Right now, with my Peavey, I transport in my alfa by carefully belting it into a passenger seat!

[Justaguyin_nc]

Well, we got about 8 cats running in and out of this house... and I still hate the grater.. ofcourse it does make more sense...

Strange thing.. I thought this shipped... seems they show it in stock.. they confirmed a ship... but its just the picks and strings I ordered with it.. they best not backorder this thing on me again!! it will be another year before I try again!!

[tot_Ou_tard]

Yes, you are. The only one. Totally isolated from the rest of humanity on this issue.

That describes my life pretty clearly & I like it that way.

Strange thing.. I thought this shipped... seems they show it in stock.. they confirmed a ship... but its just the picks and strings I ordered with it.. they best not backorder this thing on me again!! it will be another year before I try again!!

It's amazing what you have to go through to send money to someone.

[Tone2TheBone]

...did someone mention they needed some cheese grated?

[guitartist]

I bought a DA5 at X-Mas...love it, what an amazing array of tones and effects for the money. I putz around playing at low volumes a lot in my living room a lot, and its perfect for that. And its small enough to keep on a cart that I also use to store my 4-tracks, my POD, and a couple of other little gadgets (such as my Korg Ampworks).

I got the "cheesegrater grill" model...I didn't know they had come out with the cloth version. I also have a Vox Pathfinder 15R, which has the classic cloth look, which I do prefer. I like to play through the Pathfinder and the DA5 together in stereo...they sound great together!

I must say though, I wish that I had known that the Vox AD30VT had an adjustable wattage switch when I bought the DA5....I read somewhere that you can adjust the wattage on it from 30 watts down to one (I think)...for some reason, Vox has not promoted this feature much in its publicity about the AD30VT. One of the reasons I got the DA5 was that it was adjustable from 5 watts to .5 watts, but if I'd known I could get a tube amp that would adjust down to 1 watt for just $100 more I would've gotten that instead. Oh well, I do really like my DA5.

[Tim]

...did someone mention they needed some cheese grated?

T2TB - I believe someone did !!!

[Tone2TheBone]

T2TB - I believe someone did !!!

I only have one word for you sir. Ow. (your avatar)

[Justaguyin_nc]

Welp...it took a call...and it was overlooked... They must of heard how bad I play and didn't want me to wake the neighbors with me playing outside on it! but it is now in a UPS truck and should be here on the 14th (without the grater grill) ...

[Justaguyin_nc]

First Impressions:
If you like the look of a classic VOX.. get this one.. it gets a high five for coolness sitting on your desk! Gold label, Piping and the cloth is as cool as the big boys.

Has enough sounds to keep you grinning and loud enough to make the people in the other room shout turn it down! (I assume better players will get turn it up shouted at them)

I had a Roland MicroCube which I guess is the best side by side for this amp. But other then both being battery operated amps, they are as different sound wise as nite and day.

The VOX Da5 lacks the heft of the rolands, which makes one believe the rolands is better built, time will tell.

The MicroCube has much Cleaner and smoother sounds to it (bluesy/jazz amp) Although the Vox has two settings for clean, think John Lennons Casino on clean sound.. pretty good sounds.. just different.

The VOX blows the MicroCube away when it comes to the Crunch and High Gain settings (Brits and stacks with some blues thrown in amp). It just feels right and sounds right using them. There is a few Crunch Settings and three High Gains.

Both amps have some good blues settings. The blues 3 setting on the da5 is all you would want to get those thick rich blues solos going.

Effects:
Both amps have them. The microcube is a little more straight forward, with a few effects on two different knobs which you can blend together and with a twist make them more or less effective.

At first glance of the VOX setup I was kinda confused and thought left lacking control. They decided to use one knob and combine effects. But they covered it pretty well with the basics.

Starting with autowah, comp, comp+phaser, comp+chorus, chorus+delay, flanger+reverb, tremolo+reverb, rotary+reverb, delay, reverb. They are all useable for what this amp is.. not stellar.. but useable.

There is a tap tempo button to get those effects lined up. You can also go into each one and adjust for speed , depth etc depending on effect with another button and a knob. Even those combined are capable of being adjusted on their own. pretty cool once you figure it out. (umm still figuring it out)

You also get your gain, tone and master volume controls.. the tone control really does make a big difference with the slightest turns.

Headphones/lineout, aux in.. Mic in with it's own volume control. Strap.. power supply plus the option of C battery use... setting for .5, 1.5 and 5 watt use which you can hear the difference. 5 watts is LOUD!

Hey, this is a winner.. as stated... the older GRATE face was a big turn off for me.. but this Classic cloth covering... wow... its a big turn on and a winner in my book.

Unfortunate for me I have Windows Vista at the moment... which makes recording less than a pleasure till I get everything straight.. So far it sounds like the lineout on the DA5 may have the same problem the VOX AD series has recording from there. The amp sounds great from the speaker and in the headphones actually, but recorded it sounds thin.. very thin.. ohwell, will work on it.. and see what mic'ed sounds recorded.. mind you at the present I am having Vista issues.. (stay with XP)

If your thinking of a portable battery amp... get this.. for looks alone... then enjoy the sounds that come with it.

[Justaguyin_nc]

This is a fun amp.... put in the batteries today... sat out in the yard... connected a Mic to the back... and proceeded to be the street patrol.. (played gomer: citizens arrest!! citizens arrest!!) slowing cars with the feedback making siren sounds...

telling the mail lady to "PUT THE LETTERS IN THE BOX" (nicolas cage line but insert BUNNY IN THE BOX.. con-air)at full volume.. While hiding behind a tree.. she liked to sheeeet.... later laughed her butt off..
then the best...
Grandson comes over (3 yearsold) and he takes the mic and I take the Jimmie... together we made great music... he sang better then I played!! Even if the neighbors did shut their windows!!!!

lol... its a winner...

[mikew]

Bought myself the classic grill DA5 today. Love that look!

[tot_Ou_tard]

Needs a cheesegrater!

Nah, it really does look sweet.