Gracie, the Smart One

Sometimes there is an aesthetic about a guitar that just GRABS you. There is an irrational side to music, emotionally speaking.

Vox SDC - 33 (Solid Double Cut, there are three models 33, 55, 77)

Okay, I like horns for cutaways, SG, Yamahas, anything with a curvy point and hips at the bottom, and I like 'em. So by shape alone, I liked this when I saw it.
I began to read about them...introduced in 2010, changes made to address issues raised by users. Offshore made - (Indonesia, Korea, Japan - respectively) the body is produced by used of computerized CNC machines. Which means a body made in Korea should be identical to one made in Japan. Same program, same machines used to cut the wood. Pickups are all manufactured in the same place as are the tail/bridges.
So the wood and the labor are what differentiate them in this regard, model differences, notwithstanding.

Little touches, all over the guitar are calling the geek in me. The ergonomics to the tuners keys aside, they are very "accurate" tuners - I am at a loss for the proper term. Normally, any guitar, Gibson, Fender, no matter - you tune a bit past the note and slide down, just the way tuners hold the wrap of the string.
Notice there are only 1 & 1/2 wraps on the A string. I turn my tuner on, move the key until the strobe says in tune and let go...it stays? No variation? Okay.

An inverse heel? And the joint between the mahogany neck and Ash body is a Vee? The geek in me is excited. Some designer spent time thinking of innovative ways to improve the basic design of the guitar.

The one I acquired is a 2010 model when it was first introduced. It was a representatives demo model that was hauled from shop to shop. The strap peg is mounted on the upper horn on the back of the guitar.

This causes the neck and body to level out rather than remain with the neck elevated. 'Neck dive' is the term used. In 2011, Vox addressed this by moving the peg from where it is in the shot at the lower red arrow to the upper red arrow, the new mount is a vee shaped piece of metal draped across the top of the horn, itself - which moved the fulcrum making the guitar less "neck heavy." It also changed the presentation of the peg - where it was parallel to the body before, it is now perpendicular. This makes the strap sit traditionally. The original placement was a new way to wear a strap. (You attached the top of the strap to the peg, not the bottom)

Two things: The company responds to input and the geek is really excited, now.

The one piece bridge and tailpiece. Lower the action and you are also lowering the tail.

i.e the angle of the strings over the bridge doesn't change when you raise or lower the action. It is made from one piece of aluminum, which is then mounted directly to the body. One set of holes for both pieces. Vox claims the bridge results in greater sustain...I am skeptical but have nothing but a gut feeling to go on.

The real star of the show are the pickups. They are single coil P90s essentially, with an added coaxial coil outside the rails. Utilizing a two position switch you can access P90 sound or humbucker double coil sound. And in both positions the outer coil cancel 100% of hum. This is one of the quietest (noise wise) guitars I've played.

The higher models allow for a third position, the combination of P90 and humbucker. The top of the line is also semi hollow with cats eye F holes.

I'll need time to properly evaluate them, but my initial impression is a very Telecaster sounding P90 and a very Les Paul sounding humbucker. As Murph from SonicState put it,

"Being really critical...Although it can sound like a Telecaster and it can move toward the sound of a Les Paul, I don't know if it actually's got its own sound..." That was the worst thing he could come up with. He may be right.  

In a nod to the "tonewood means nothing to an electtric guitar" school Vox uses Ash for bodies in which the grain can be seen and mahogany for opaque paints.

                                                                           
Um, black binding on the neck and white on the body? Zebra binding? This, I do not get.

The body when viewed from the side makes the curvature very apparent. There are further contours, belly cut, et cetera, but they are not as deep nor extreme. This guitar is incredibly light. Six pounds?

The geek in me is beside myself. Look at all the little toys and touches they put into this!

The musician looks at a quality instrument at a very nice price, and notices that little by little Vox products have found their way into my life.

It started with a wah-wah pedal, and then a Saturchator followed by an Ice-9 and now this guitar. I still don't like their amps but we'll see how long until I fold.