If you’re wondering if VOX Pathfinder 10 combo is a good amp or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! I recently bought this combo for testing and I’m very happy to share some of my thoughts with you.
Undoubtedly, the Pathfinder 10 is one of the best and most affordable entry-level amps available on the market right now. It’s inexpensive, it’s well made and it sounds great on both clean and overdrive channels.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out more about what makes the Pathfinder 10 so special. I even recorded a few sound samples so you will be able to hear how it actually sounds!
We’ll also compare it with some of the other budget practice amps made by such brands as Fender, Marshall and Bugera. Hopefully, after reading today’s article, you’ll know if this VOX is a good amp for you and your style.
About VOX Pathfinder 10
The Pathfinder 10 is an inexpensive solid-state combo which offers a classic aesthetic and a really good tone. The amp features 10 Watts of power and a 6.5″ speaker which offers a high quality tone. There’s also a headphone output that allows you to practice without annoying your neighbors
What’s important, VOX decided to equip this guitar amplifier with two separate channels – clean and overdrive. You can easily switch between them by pressing one button placed at the top of the amp.
In addition, the manufacturer added a 2-band EQ, which gives you an access to even more interesting guitar tones. This is a big advantage, because a lot of similar combos made by VOX’s competitors (such as Marshall, Fender or Orange) don’t offer the EQ control.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not too expensive. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable guitar combos in the world. It’s really tough to achieve the classic VOX tone at this price level, so it actually seems like a bargain.
Sound Samples
It’s time for something that you are all waiting for! I took some time and I recorded a few sound demos for you to hear. It’s nothing fancy, but I’m convinced that it will be quite helpful for you.
Clean Channel
I know that you can hear the strumming – sorry for that! But this demo should give you a brief idea of what you can expect from that combo. It sounds pretty good – it’s not ideal, but thanks to the EQ you can adjust everything so that’s definitely a good thing.
Overdrive
I think that in comparison with other cheap amps of this size, the Pathfinder has a actually a pretty good overdrive as well. Of course, it’s not the same sound as a high-end tube Marshall or Fender, but come on! It’s a budget piece of gear, so it’s totally understandable.
What About Pedals?
I wish I had more pedals back when I was recording these demos! But for now it’s just one sample with Fender Marine Layer Reverb. For such a small solid-state amp, I think that it sounds epic!
Video Review
I recorded a quick video review of this amp for you to check out – it’s available on my YouTube channel. Feel free to check it out and if you find it useful, consider subscribing to that channel!
Who Is It For?
I think that this amp will be a great choice for both beginners and more advanced players. Considering its price, it’s definitely within the reach of complete amateurs who don’t want to spend too much on new gear.
Moreover, two separate channels make this combo very versatile. It can be used in a really wide range of genres. So whether you’re into blues, rock, metal or indie – the Pathfinder 10 will definitely be a good choice.
Although this amp doesn’t feature any extras such as reverb of chorus effect, it works very well with additional guitar pedals. If you’re into experimenting with your guitar tone, you can be sure that this combo will be perfect for that kind of stuff!
My Thoughts About This Combo
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been using this amp for quite a while now and I’m really impressed by its quality.
The Pathfinder 10 makes a stunning impression from the day one – it’s built in thorough precision and it looks and feels more expensive than it actually is. The classic VOX look is definitely a big advantage of this combo.
Nevertheless, cheap amp don’t need to look good – they need to sound good. And to be honest, VOX Pathfinder has everything you need, especially if you’re an amateur guitar player.
I tested a lot of different entry-level amps and this VOX is definitely one of my favorites. Great tone, awesome look and low cost – who needs anything else? That’s why I highly recommend checking it out!
Here’s an another sound demo.
Where’s the catch?
Let’s be honest – it is a great amp, but unfortunately it has its own disadvantages as well. Don’t worry though – these issues aren’t too serious.
Firstly, this amp isn’t made for live performances. To be honest, it’s pretty useless for playing in front of an audience. The reason is very simple – there is no footswitch included. You’ll have to manually press the button to switch between clean and overdrive channels, so it’s not useful during gigs.
In addition, although it sounds pretty good as a practice amp, it’s not as good as some of the more expensive VOX tube amps. Of course, it’s totally understandable – it’s a budget entry-level amp. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for an amp to record songs with, you should probably look for something more expensive.
Although VOX Pathfinder has a few cons, it’s still a really good choice for the vast majority of players who are looking for a good and reliable practice amp. I don’t think that these disadvantages should discourage you from getting it.
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you checked out the demo above and you don’t think that this amp is for you, don’t worry – there’s a few great alternatives out there! What’s important, I personally tested all of the combos listed below, so you can be sure that these recommendations are legit.
Marshall MG10
Marshall MG10 is an another really cool and affordable guitar combo suitable for both beginners and more advanced players. It has a classic Marshall tone, which is very often loved by rock and metal guitarists.
Although the MG10 doesn’t feature the EQ controls, it’s still a really cool choice. In addition, it’s also inexpensive just like the VOX Pathfinder 10.
Here’s my sound demo – feel free to check it out.
Fender Frontman 10G
Fender Frontman 10G is an another really cool and affordable compact amp suitable mainly for beginners. It’s small and it features the classic Fender tone, which is a massive advantage if you’re searching for that kind of sound.
Personally, I think that the clean channel in Frontman 10G may sound even better than the VOX Pathfinder 10, but the overdrive channel isn’t that good. So if you prefer the distorted tones, you should probably stick to the VOX.
Still, it’s a really cool and cheap guitar combo. I recently reviewed it on my YouTube channel – feel free to check it out below.
Bugera BC15
Bugera BC15 is an another really cool and affordable amp that features a very nice and balanced tone. This is a hybrid tube amp, so it’s built slightly different than the solid-state combo reviewed in today’s article.
The BC15 model offers a very unique and vintage design. Personally, I really like that look – it reminds me of vintage Fender tube amps with tweed covering. The amp offers a very cool distorted tone and it also offers a crystal clean guitar sound.
If you’re not familiar with Bugera, I recently wrote an article about this brand – feel free to check it out. Undoubtedly, this is a really good alternative for players who are looking for a crunchy tube amp overdrive tone.
Here’s my review and sound demo.
FAQ
Is the Pathfinder 10 battery powered?
No, it is not a battery powered amp.
Is the Pathfinder 10 a tube amp?
VOX Pathfinder is a solid-state amp, so it doesn’t feature any tubes.
Where is this amp made?
This combo is manufactured in Vietnam.
Where can I find the manual to this amp?
The manual to that amp can be found here.
Summary
As you can see, this is a really cool guitar amp which is totally worth the money. Personally, I think that it’s one of my favorite budget amps out there. I tested out many similar combos and this amplifier really stands out from the competition. Especially if you like the classic VOX tone!
What do you think about that amp? Do you think it’s a good practice amp? Let me know in the comments below, I’m really interested to hear what you think!
Thanks for checking out today’s review. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
Comments
One response to “VOX Pathfinder 10 Amp: A Mostly Positive Review”
[…] you’re searching for a compact amp to practice on, I highly recommend checking out Marshall MG10, VOX Pathfinder 10 and Fender Frontman 10G. All of these amps are really cheap and they offer a very good sound. […]