Review of Vox PATHFINDER 10 10W Guitar Combo with 1 x 6.5" Bulldog Speaker

Here we are going to take a closer look at a lovely little entry level solid state practice amplifier, the Vox Pathfinder 10.

We will look at some of the features, list the specification and also run through some of the pros and cons of this combo amp.

What do users think of this piece of equipment? Are they happy with it? Is it reliable?

Let's take a look shall we?

Introduction

The Vox PATHFINDER 10 10W Guitar Combo is a great little practice amp for starting out and, as you would expect from Vox, has a great classic look and tone. 10 Watts is more than loud enough for the bedroom guitarist and the 6.5 inch speaker really dishes out some lovely sounds. There is a nifty little push button to toggle between clean and overdrive which takes the amp from a subtle sounding bell like tone to a hard rocking yet warm retro distortion.

The general consensus of opinion is that this amplifier is a well built, great sounding little practice amp with bags of character and a multitude of sounds.

The top panel is clean and uncluttered containing only the power switch, input/output jacks (headphones / recorder etc.), clean/overdrive button along with gain, treble, bass and volume controls.

We've said it before and we'll say it again, if it was good enough for the Beatles...!

(Note: I actually purchased this Vox practice amp for my 9 year old son a few years ago and I can assure you it is a very reliable, robust and simple to use guitar amplifier that sounds great.)

Specification & Dimensions

• Circuitry: Solid-State
• Output: 10-Watts RMS
• Speakers: Vox Bulldog x 1 (6.5", 8 ohm)
• Input: Input Jack
• Outputs: Headphone/Line Out Jack
• Width:380mm
• Height:260mm
• Depth:170mm
• Weight: 4.8Kg

Features

As we mentioned in our introduction, this is a simple little practice amp with relatively few features, however, it still has a great deal to offer.

Input Jack - It wouldn't be much use if you couldn't plug your guitar in now would it?

Gain Control - This will increase the amplitude of the input signal in the pre-amp and can give you a more dirty/overdriven sound, which brings us nicely to the next feature.

Clean / Overdrive Switch - Pressing this switch (in) instantly increases the gain of the amp and creates a lovely crunchy distorted tone ideal for blues or rock. If you press the switch again (out) it will revert you back to a clean tone making this amplifier a great all-rounder.

Treble and Bass Controls - We then have the usual treble and bass controls (one knob for each) which adjust the high frequencies (tinny sharp sounds) and low frequencies (booming deep sounds ) respectively.

Volume - This will increase the volume (loudness) of the amplifier. You could turn the gain up and overdrive on and create a distorted heavy rock sound whilst still having the volume low (keeping the neighbours happy etc.)

Headphone / Line Out Jack (output) - If you really want to keep the neighbours happy on those late night practice sessions, you can plug in your headphones and jam away without disturbing a soul! This socket is also great if you want to record the amplifier, as you can plug it directly into your console without having to mess around with microphones.

Advantages

let's take a look at some of the positive aspects of this amplifier.

• Well built
• Great tone
• Good price
• Compact
• Surprisingly loud for a 10w amp

The general consensus of opinion is that this amplifier is a well built, great sounding little practice amp with bags of character and a multitude of sounds. Most people can't believe they can get a little Vox amp that is this good for a fraction over £50. (As I mentioned earlier, I can personally attest to all of the above as we own the amplifier and I am extremely impressed with it overall).

Disadvantages

What are some of the negative aspects of this amplifier that you need to be aware of?

• No reverb (you can always get a reverb pedal though)
• Probably not great for gigging (unless in a small venue)
• Supplied with wrong plug

Well, as mentioned in the last bullet point above, a small minority of customers found that the amp came with the wrong plug (continental European and not UK). I must stress, this has only happened to less than around 6% of the people who bought from Amazon (I bought from Amazon and mine came with a UK plug). Also, one person said the amp blew as soon as they turned it on. A few also bemoaned the lack of reverb, but what more do you want for the price?

Summary

So there we have it, warts and all. Overall this is one of the best little practice amps around for the money. The positives far out way the negatives and you would be making a wise choice if you purchased this lovely little amp. As I have mentioned throughout this review, we own this amp and personally, I think it is fantastic and I absolutely love the tone and build quality. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one tomorrow (after writing this review I just might!)