Specifications

Manufacturer:
Vox Amplification, voxamps.com

List Price:
$700.00

Originally published in Guitar World, June 2009

Guitar World presents the 25 coolest new gear products for 2009.

When they were starting out, Guns N’ Roses’ drink of choice was the potent and inexpensive Night Train Express (immortalized in their song “Nightrain”). If you’re looking for a similar ride, then the Vox Night Train is the one to catch. It delivers classic and modern Vox tones in a portable and affordable 15-watt, all-tube guitar head.

Designed in collaboration with boutique amp designer Tony Bruno, the Night Train weighs less than 17 pounds and boasts a chrome “armored-box” design with diamond-shaped vents that give a view of the all-tube circuitry. Two 12AX7s drive the harmonically rich preamp stage to create everything from chime-like clean tones to warm overdrives. A pair of EL84 tubes delivers 15 watts of power in pentode mode and 7 1/2 watts in triode mode for smoother tube sounds. The front panel has controls for gain, volume, treble, middle and bass, while the preamp section has a mode switch, offering both Bright and Thick options. Eight- and 16-ohm speaker jacks mean the Night Train will mix well with nearly any speaker cabinet, allowing you to create an intoxicating signature tone of your own.

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