Starting in 2002, Vox had considerable success with the Valvetronix "blue diamond grill cloth" line that featured the AD60VT, AD60VTX, AD120VT, AD120VTX, along with the AD60VTH and AD120VTH amp heads. However, these "blue grill" models were somewhat expensive, with retail prices often exceeding $1000. To open the Valvetronix technology to a much larger audience, Vox introduced the "AD Chrome" Valvetronix series of amps in 2004. With more affordable prices and edgier styling, the AD Series would be more attractive to a youthful market.
However, the AD Valvetronix Series amps were largely based on traditional amp tones, such as those found on black face, tweed, UK stack type, and Vox AC-30 amps. Vox decided to further expand the Valvetronix amp line by creating a new version of the AD Series line that would include new, modern "hi-gain" amp models and tones. The result of this development was the Valvetronix XL or "Extreme Lead" amp line.
First shipments of the XL Series amps occurred in the fall of 2007. The XL Series was discontinued by Vox in the fall of 2009.
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The power amp section of all four models of the XL series used the patented Vox Valvetronix Valve Reactor circuit Vox introduced several years earlier in the "blue grill" Valvetronix series amps.
The concept of the circuit is to use a 12AX7 preamp tube in an unusual way - as the heart of a one watt power amp. This one watt power amp even includes a small output transformer to simulate the electronic interactions that happen in high powered tube audio output circuit. The one watt output from this 12AX7 then supplies a solid state power amp to achieve the final 15 watt (AD15VT XL), 30 watt (AD30VT XL), 50 watt (AD50VT XL), or 100 watt (AD100VT XL) output.
A rotary control on the top panel selected between a number of different "amp models." A 60s era Vox amp might have a "Class A" output stage, but a "black face" or "UK70s" amp might be "Class AB."
The Valvetronix circuitry would actually reconfigure itself to either "Class A" or Class "AB" to match the circuitry of the selected amp model.
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The preamp, or control section of the XL series is the same on the AD15VT XL, AD30VT XL, AD50VT XL, and AD100VT XL amplifiers. The circuitry for the preamp section was derived from Korg's REMS (Resonant structure and Electronic circuit Modeling System) guitar effects processors.
The XL Series Valvetronix amps offer 11 amp models. These amp models had rather cryptic sounding names and were selectable from a rotary control on the left side of the top panel. The amp models are described below.
Amp Model Name
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Description of Tone
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Effects Used for Preset
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Glass
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80's style metal clean sound like Dokken or Dream Theater
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Same as
Delay/Chorus
preset in AD amps
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Funked
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John Frusciante type clean sound based on
modified Fender Twin
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Same as current AD amps
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Buzzsaw
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Marshall 50W 1971,
early Black Sabbath
sound
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EDIT 1 at 1 o'clock position
EDIT 2 at 12 o'clock position
EDIT 3 at 1 o'clock position.
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Crunched
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Modern modified AC30
sound. Like Rush's 2112
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Same as current
AD amps, but
set reverb volume
between 10
o'clock and 11
o'clock positions
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Thrashed
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Early Metallica JCM 800
sound, like Kill Em All
record
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Start with setting
from AD amps,
but set EDIT 1, 2
and 3 all at 12
o'clock position.
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Raged
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Rage Against the
Machine sound
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No effects
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Modern
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Lamb of God, Trivium
sound based on a Dual
Rectifier modded
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Same as AD
preset, but with
"edit 2" at 9
o'clock position
and level at 8
o'clock position
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Fluid
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legato solo sound
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Same as preset in
current AD amps
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Molten
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Soldano -- NIX?
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Same as AD
preset, but level
lowered to 9
o'clock position.
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Black
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JCM2000 modded for
Class A, Black album
Metallica
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Same as preset in
current AD amps
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Damaged
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Modded Soldano sound
ala Megadeth
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Same as preset in
current AD amps
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The XL series of amps also offer eleven pedal type effects that are selectable from a rotary control on the right side of the control panel. The effects included are: Auto Wah, Compressor, Compressor+Phaser, Compressor+Chorus, Chorus+Delay, Chorus+Reverb, Flanger+Reverb, Tremolo+Reverb, Rotary+Reverb, Delay, and Reverb.
The AD Series of amps also allowed the guitarist to store two "tone patches" in the memory of the amp. The programmer would remember the amp model and effect selected and allow you to access these patches instantly either through buttons on the control panel or from the optional VFS2 foot switch.
A "Line out/Headphone" jack allowed you to play through head phones without the speaker. Vox also suggested that this jack could be used as a "line out" jack to feed your amp to the PA, but the speaker in the amp would still be muted, rendering the "line out" feature to be useless in my opinion.
A rotary "Power Level" control allowed the amp to be operated from as low as one watt to the full rated power of the amp (this feature was not provided on the AD15VT XL).
An optional VFS2 two button foot switch allows for remote switching of effects and programs.
A chrome plated Vox logo and Valvetronix model plate adorn the amp. A sixteen gauge black chrome plated steel grill protects the speaker.
The XL series amps were produced by Vox in the Orient. Additional info on the XL models may be accessed from links at the bottom of this page.
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