VOX: Pathfinder 15R Transistor Guitar Amp

Like others, I had read the hype about the Vox Pathfinder 15R and thought, really?  I'd never paid any attention to them until I saw an article in Premier Guitar recently.  So when I saw a Vox Pathfinder 15R pop up on Facebook marketplace, I thought it would be worth a shot. 

VOX PATHFINDER 15R - SOLID STATE GUITAR AMPLIFIER

Positives

• It’s really loud for 15 watts of solid state amp with a little 8" speaker - surprisingly loud in fact

• You can get a few decent sounds out of it tonally, which hasn’t always been the case for some Vox amps that I’ve played

• I don’t mind the reverb, which a few people complain about.  It is a bit weak, as I think it’s a small two-spring reverb, but it works for me

• For an 8" speaker, it sounds big.  This may have something to do with the size of the cabinet, as it's way bigger than needed for an 8” speaker.  Vox may have been lucky with the speaker construction too.  Normally at this price point no-one expects anything from the stock speaker  

• It feels decent.  It certainly doesn't have a premium feel, but it doesn't scream cheap amp either 

• Trem is a bonus

• The foot switch is handy (boost and trem only, not reverb)

• Looks like a traditional Vox - which I guess I didn't need to tell you

• Some people have bad things to say about the overdriven sound - I actually like it, but I can see how some might really hate it.   It's a bit raggedy and rough around the edges at times.   It's in no way a tight, polished modern distortion/overdrive sound - I'd say it has character.   The flip side of this as that most amps that do a good polished modern distortion can't do a rough around-the-edges sound at all.  After playing with it for a few days and trying different guitars, my assessment is that the overdriven sound is not great with low-powered single coils, but it worked well with everything else.   Results may vary, as they say.

• I've also heard people saying just leave the boost on all the time, or otherwise, it doesn't sound any good - not my experience, I like both options.   The boost is really quite a loud boost too.   Almost too loud in terms of balance between the options (especially on clean settings).  Not having the boost on provides more range at low levels with the gain and volume controls

Negatives

If I had to mention downsides, I could only think of three when it comes to my needs;

• The boost level is way higher than the regular level on clean settings - so much so it may be too different from being useful.  Care factor - we all build pedals right?  This is also much less of an issue if the amp is already overdriven.  The boost is appropriate when driven.  

• The overdrive can get a little dark compared to the clean tone, but given that there's no way to switch between the two, it's not a big deal.   Maybe being a one-channel amp is a downside, but it is an inexpensive amp...  how much can one expect for the price?  And to repeat myself, we all build overdrive pedals yeah?  So not a deal breaker for me.  

• Despite liking the reverb for what it is, it's obviously not an awesome reverb.  No surf sounds from the Pathfinder.  I use a Carl Martin Headroom spring reverb pedal with my other Vox, which doesn't have verb - the Headroom costs more than this amp, so maybe nor a fair comparison    

Occasionally you will hear its limitations, but whether you find that to be the charms of a small amp struggling or the sign of it not being a great amp is up to you.  These are cheap enough to buy two, for a dual rig.

SPECIFICATIONS - VOX PATHFINDER 15R

Dimensions:        396 x 400 x 193

Weight:                8kg

Output power:    15 watt RMS into 8 ohms

Speaker:            1 x Vox Bulldog (8", 8 ohm)

Inputs:                Input jack, foot switch

Outputs:            Extension speaker, headphones, line out

Controls:            Gain, Master volume, Treble, Bass, Tremolo speed, Tremolo depth, Reverb, Gain boost switch

Options:            VFS-2 dual foot switch for boost and tremolo (not reverb)

CONTROLS

EXTENSION CAB

The extension cab works a little differently from some larger amps - the stock speaker is bypassed when an extension cab is used.

note: you must use a cab of 8 ohms or more.  Lower than 8 can damage the amp.  16 is ok, but it will reduce the output level.  

LINE OUT

This output carries a specially filtered signal for direct connection to a soundboard or recording console. This gives you a good-sounding signal for recording or live work without having to mic up the amp.

HEADPHONE OUT

Guess what plugs into this?  Yes, headphones....