Vox Combo

FIRST PLAY
VOX MINI GO 50 COMBO
20
GUITARIST AUGUST 2021
VOX MINI GO 50
COMBO
PRICE: £259
ORIGIN: Vietnam
TYPE: Digital modelling preamp with
solid-state power stage
OUTPUT: 50W RMS into 4 ohms,
switchable to 5W or 0.5W
VALVES: None
DIMENSIONS: 390 (w) x 250 (d)
x 358mm (h)
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 7/16
CABINET: Particle board
SPEAKER: 1 special-design 8”
CHANNELS: 11 amp models, 8 effects,
33 rhythm patterns, separate mic
input with Trim and FX Send
CONTROLS: Amp selector, gain,
treble bass volume. Microphone Trim
and Send level controls. Program
store/recall button. Effects select/
edit x2, effects tap tempo. Rhythm
genre selector, variation select button,
tempo button, start/stop button, level
control. Looper level control, record/
play dub button
FOOTSWITCH: 3-button VFS3
footswitch (optional) can be assigned
to 14 different functions
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Aux in,
headphones output, tuner function,
auto power off, tilt-back feet, can
be powered by mobile batteries via
USB-C input on rear
OPTIONS: VFS3 3-button
programmable footswitch is £59
RANGE OPTIONS: Mini Go 10 (£199)
has a single 6.5” speaker; the smaller
Mini Go 3 (£149) has a 5” speaker
Vox Amplification
01908 304600
www.voxamps.com
PROS Perfect busker’s companion:
built-in rhythm machine and
looper; amp sounds and eff ects;
foot-switchable; can run on batteries
CONS We’d be inclined to swap the
Vocoder eff ect for another good amp
voice; we wish the looper had 15
seconds’ more recording time
9
For street performers
or non-buskers, this is
an inspiring practice
and recording tool
The drum machine offers 33 different
rhythm patterns covering all popular
genres, with a tempo range from 40
to 240bpm. Like the looper, it can be
controlled from the optional VFS3
footswitch for live applications
electro-acoustics without too much
fiddling around; it’s a good, usable tone.
The other onboard effects don’t
disappoint, either, with lush chorus and
phaser modulations, an authentically
vintage-sounding tremolo and a fat octaver
that turns into a mono synth bass at the end
of the control knob’s travel. Effects section
two rounds things off with analogue and
digital delays softened by spring or hall
reverbs. While the guitar can access both
effects sections, the microphone input is
sensibly limited to delay and reverb.
The Mini Go 50’s drum machine sounds
aren’t quite up to the same standard as its
amp voices, but still more than adequate
for live use, with a wide range of variations
on each genre. The looper is easy to use
and great fun, automatically quantising to
a rhythm pattern, while the drum machine
works vice versa, automatically adjusting
tempo to recorded loops. As well as making
the Mini Go 50 a powerful practice tool,
these two features will spice up any solo
live performance.
If you’re planning on using the Mini Go
50 live then the optional VFS3 footswitch
becomes more of a necessity as you can
assign a variety of different functions to
the three buttons: for example, operating
the looper, switching effects on and off, or
accessing the three saved patch settings.
Verdict
We barely scratched the surface of the
Mini Go 50’s potential in the short time we
had it, but it’s clear that if you’re a serious
solo performer on the street/busking
circuit, this is an amp you really need to
become acquainted with. Combined with
the rhythm machine and looper, there’s
plenty of inspiration on tap for original
music or pro-standard covers, while the
authentic amp sounds are first class, with
plenty of power to make yourself heard and
impressive lows from the ported cabinet. For
non-buskers, this is still an inspiring practice
and recording tool – the great tones will sit
happily in any pro-standard recording.
As an overall package, it’s amazing value
for money. If you don’t need the preset
storage or the high power output, the Mini
Go 10 is equally impressive, while the Mini
Go 3 does away with the looper but retains
those great amp sounds and the drum
machine. Whichever you choose, the Mini
Go amps all come with great fun included,
which is surely what it’s all about.