Meet The VOX VX50AG Acoustic Guitar Amp

Ever since the introduction of the legendary AC30 tube amplifier the VOX name has been synonymous with epic electric guitar tone. This may be why their tube-driven acoustic guitar amplifiers like the VX50AG 50-watt acoustic combo amp aren’t as well-known as they should be. Equipped with Nutube technology, two well-equipped channels for vocals and guitars, and an innovative cabinet design to maximize your sound, the VOX VX50AG has a lot to offer both on stage and in your studio.

What is the VOX VX50AG Acoustic Combo?

The VX50AG is designed for performing vocalists and singer-songwriters, and its light weight (just 9 lbs.) will appeal to musicians on the go. You have two channels for vocals and guitar, with phantom power for handheld condenser vocal mics. The VX50AG’s preamp is equipped with Nutube technology for true tube response and harmonics. The power stage delivers 50 watts RMS through a VOX 8-inch coaxial speaker, a 2-way driver that delivers the full range of your acoustic. The sound in the room is surprisingly big and full thanks to the bass reflex cabinet design. All in all, it’s a conveniently compact combo for vocals and guitar that sounds bigger than you may expect.

What is a Nutube, Anyway?

First developed by KORG and the Noritake Itron Corporation, Nutube is possibly the biggest advancement for guitar amp technology since the inception of vacuum tubes. A Nutube looks like a tiny version of a traditional vacuum tube, complete with anode, grid, and filament. Nutube creates the same harmonic enhancement and fast transient response that players love about vacuum tubes, in a smaller size that gives manufacturers like VOX entirely new possibilities when it comes to creating compact tube amplifiers.

Why Use Tubes for Acoustic Guitar?

Most acoustic guitarists are looking for the “cleanest” acoustic amplification possible, and that’s not something that guitar players normally associate with tubes. So, what’s the appeal of the Nutube preamp in the VOX VX50AG acoustic combo? Well, the fact is that tubes are not only great at generating drive and distortion: tubes are also responsible for some of the richest clean tones you’ve ever heard.
Think about it: tube microphones, tube preamplifiers, and tube mixing consoles are commonplace in top recording studios. And some of the highest-fidelity listening systems are based around premium tube-based circuitry. The reason is that tubes provide natural-sounding harmonic enhancement even when they’re not being pushed into clipping. And tubes have a fast transient response and punchy feel that makes notes seem like they’re leaping out of the amp in response to your touch and playing style. 

When applied appropriately at the design stage, tubes deliver a richer and fuller clean sound than solid state can achieve on its own. And that’s why you should be excited about plugging your acoustic into the VOX VX50AG’s Nutube preamp.

Tone-Magnifying Cabinet Design

To optimize the VX50AG for small-format performances and practice duties, VOX focused on a cabinet design that would maximize tone while minimizing size and weight. We’d say they accomplished their goal: the VX50AG packs a powerful-sounding 8-inch speaker, yet only weighs 9 pounds. The key is the bass reflex enclosure, which is tuned to complement the speaker perfectly for notably enhanced low end.

The VX50AG cabinet is constructed from ABS polymer, which is exceptionally strong for its light weight. More importantly, using plastic allows VOX to shape the cabinet in a way that’s impossible with wood. By tuning the resonance of the bass reflex cabinet to perfectly complement the coaxial speaker, you hear natural-sounding extended low frequencies without boominess or rumble.

Comprehensive 2-channel Performance

The VOX VX50AG offers independent channels for guitar and vocals with comprehensive EQ and effects. A 3-band EQ for the guitar channel and 2-band EQ for vocals make it simple to dial in a balanced mix, allowing you to cut or boost as needed. The vocal channel features phantom power for condenser vocal mics, greatly expanding your mic options if you’re a performing singer-songwriter. 

Each channel has an effects section to polish your sound: you can apply chorus, reverb, or chorus+reverb to your guitar, while the vocal channel has access to a separate reverb effect. The combination of the VX50AG’s dual-channel capability and its room-filling sound make it a great option when you need to perform without a PA system. 

Equipped for the Studio

Outside of performance, the VOX VX50AG makes a great practice and recording companion. You have a line output to connect directly to a recording interface, and connecting headphones disables the built-in speaker, which essentially turns the VX50AG into dual-channel Nutube preamp for acoustic-electric instruments and vocals. A master limiter on the output keeps your tone clean; turning the Master knob up will gradually sound more compressed, preventing peaks from distorting.
The line output is a combination of both channels, and you probably won’t want to record them simultaneously to a single track. Rather, look at the VX50AG as a powerful single-channel tube preamp that you’d use for maximum harmonic appeal. For musicians with home studios, it’s a no-brainer: you get a capable amplifier for vocals and acoustic guitar, plus a versatile tube preamp for your recording rig.

Hear What Tube Tone Does for Your Acoustic

If you haven’t heard what Nutube amplification can do for your acoustic tone, the VOX VX50AG is your perfect entry point. It packs the power and room-filling sound for small-format live performances without a PA, while also being small and lightweight enough to be a true grab-and-go companion. The Nutube sound is harmonically rich with a fast transient response, just as you’d expect from a traditional tube amplifier. And with a line output for connecting direct to a mixing board or recording interface, the VX50AG makes a fantastic tube-based front end for recording vocals and acoustic instruments. If standard acoustic amps have left you feeling like something is missing from your acoustic tone, you may find it in the VOX VX50AG.