With a foot print of less than 5.5" wide x 4" deep and a weight of just over one pound, the Vox MV50 Series offers an innovative redesign to the traditional guitar amp head. In addition to being ultra-compact and lightweight, the Vox MV50 Series offers a revolutionary hybrid circuit design that combines a 50 watt RMS Class D solid-state power amplifier section with a preamp powered by a modern version of the classic 12AX7 vacuum tube, the Korg "Nutube."
Nutube
The preamp section of most tube guitar amplifiers include at least one 12AX7 tube. The 12AX7 is often described as a "dual triode," meaning that it includes two separate circuits for amplification. Each of these triodes has three elements: a cathode, control grid and an anode. Amplification occurs when a flow of electrons from the cathode passes through the control grid to the anode. A filament wire located near the base of the tube heats the cathode to start this flow of electrons.
Korg has been a leading manufacturer of portable keyboards since the early seventies. Most modern Korg keyboards incorporate a vacuum floresecent display (or VFD) that offers a visual indication of the sound that is loaded and ready to play.
Korg discovered that a vacuum florescent display could be configured as a triode, complete with cathode, control grid and anode, to create amplification. After years of research, Korg developed the dual triode Nutube 6P1 vacuum tube (seen at lower left). It utilized new technologies derived from vacuum florescent displays that would allow the Nutube 6P1 to perform the same functions as a traditional 12AX7.
The Nutube 6P1 offered a number of advantages over the 12AX7. The Nutube 6P1 is significantly smaller than a 12AX7. As it did not require a traditional filament heater, the Nutube 6P1 required a fraction of the current required to power a 12AX7. Unlike the 12AX7, the Nutube 6P1 remained relatively cool to the touch while in operation. Finally, the Nutube 6P1 offered a significantly longer service life than the 12AX7, perhaps never needing replacement.
The preamp of all of the Vox MV50 Series amps utilize the Korg Nutube 6P1 vacuum tube. This gives the MV50 Series the ability to offer the rich overtones of a traditional vacuum tube without the need for periodic replacement. The turquoise glow of the Nutube 6P1 can be seen a diamond shaped window in the top of the amp case.
MV50 Clean
Introduced in January 2017, the Vox MV50 Clean amp head provides a natural, undistorted "black face" tonality with plenty of headroom. The front panel of the MV50 Clean includes a VU meter, single ¼" input jack and volume, bass and treble controls. The rear control panel includes a head phone and line out jack plus an EQ switch that toggles between "Flat" and "Deep" response.
MV50 AC
Also introduced in January 2017, the Vox MV50 AC amp head serves up the classic chime of the Vox AC-30. The front control panel of the MV50 AC includes a VU meter, single ¼" input jack and gain, volume and tone controls. The rear control panel includes a head phone and line out jack plus an EQ switch that toggles between "Flat" and "Deep" response.
MV50 Rock
Yet again introduced in January 2017, the Vox MV50 Rock amp head serves up more aggressive rock tones reminiscent of British stack amplifiers. The front control panel of the MV50 Rock includes a VU meter, a single ¼" input jack and gain, volume and tone controls. The rear control panel includes a head phone and line out jack plus an EQ switch that toggles between "Flat" and "Deep" response.
MV50 Boutique
Introduced in January 2018, the Vox MV50 Boutique amp head emulates the sound of a legendary boutique amplifier loved by many guitarists. The front control panel of the MV50 Boutique includes a VU meter, a single ¼" input jack and gain, volume and tone controls. The rear control panel includes a head phone and line out jack plus a two position EQ switch.
MV50 High Gain
Also introduced in January 2018, the Vox MV50 High Gain amp head is optimized for high gain "metal" tones. The front control panel of the MV50 High Gain includes a VU meter, a single ¼" input jack and gain, volume and tone controls. The rear control panel includes a head phone and line out jack plus a two position EQ switch.
MV50 Brian May
Introduced in April 2023, the Vox MV50BM amp head was developed in collaboration with Sir Brian May, lead guitarist from Queen. The amp's circuitry design emulates the sound of a clean or an overdriven AC-30 driven by an external KAT (Knight Audio Technologies) treble booster. Includes gain, tone and volume controls, VU meter, treble booster on/off switch, impedance switch, standby switch, eco switch, flat/deep EQ switch. Vox also offered a matching Brian May Signature 1x8" speaker enclosure covered in red vinyl.
External Power Supply
All of the MV50 models utilize an external 19 VDC, 3.42A external power supply.
