Chance to buy ADxxVT and own VT30

[Duffy]

I own a great VT30 NOS that I recently got. It is an awesome amp, and I have some very nice tube amps that I also play and enjoy. I, however, use the VT30 a lot because it is simple and easy to get a variety of sounds out of without going to great length. I have a '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue and the VT30 at arms length from where I am at in my den/bedroom. I play each of these amps about equally and have a guitar plugged into each of them almost all the time.

They have a NOS ADxxVT at a music store near me. Same place I got the NOS VT30.

I am wondering how ADxxVT compares to the VT30, as far as the overall sound is concerned and the quality of the interface. Also I'm wondering how the quality of the two different amp designs compare. Supposedly the newer VTxx design was an improvement, but I have heard about a lot of so called improvements that didn't really pan out in my personal experience.

I suppose there are those here that have both series amps and are prepared to comment on the differences between the two series.

I have not played the ADxxVT and am not sure which one it is. It has a smallish form factor so I think it is around the thirty watt one.

Feedback is appreciated.

One thing I immediately noticed was that on this sub-forum every thread title is about some "problem" or another regarding the ADxxVT amps. I understand that people come to these forums for help in solving problems. Also the ADxxVT series pre-dates the VTxx series I believe and maybe this could be why more "problems" are being discussed - because the ADxxVT amps have been in use longer and are starting to develop problems.

Is the reliability of both series roughly equivalent, or does the newer VT series have a better reliability record?

[cosmicrepairdude]

I think you're greatly exaggerating the number of "problem" threads. Only 6 out of the 20 displayed on the first page of threads were complaints, and one of those was just someone deciding he didn't like the sound of the amp, not that it wasn't working. The ADs are the least problem-prone, as far as I can see. Some problems are just people not knowing how to use the controls properly, and some are simple fixes, like the headphone jack issue. 2 of them were instances where advice was offered, but they never responded, so we don't know whether their problems were solved or not.

I think the amp models and effects are better in the VTxx series. I had an AD15VT, which is a very decent small amp, and which I probably should have kept, but once I got the VT30 sounding right, I didn't see the point, since the VT30 was better in every way. Once I realized I still wanted a smaller amp for teaching and quiet jams, I bought a VT20+, which I like quite a bit, except I find the power amp hiss annoying.

If the amp in the store is an AD30VT, there's no point in you buying it, IMO, but if it's the AD15VT, and, like me, you want something smaller too, then check it out. Two of my students have that amp and it's still a fine sounding amp. I suspect the VT15 would be better, but I've not had the opportunity for a side by side comparison.

[Duffy]

Yes CRD, I probably exagerated. I was making a general observation based on a glance at the page. I didn't count and categorize the nature of the posts.

Anyway, the place has both the AD15VT (I think) and the VT15, both NOS. I used the VT15 and it is definitely a nice little amp.

I might even look around for a VT100.