Vox AmPlug 3 Boutique

If you don't have one of this or from another brand, you are missing out one small gadget that I use every day and recommend to everyone that plays at home.

You plug it in the guitar with the headphones plugged and just turn it on and start playing!

You have to check some video guide online, because there is little instructions in the package..
I hope the brand does a new version, where they include a instructions manual.

That's said, you have a lot of options to set it up.

I mainly use it in distortion mode.

As for the quality, is made mostly of plastic that's seems ok.
But the let down was to see that they use stickers for the amp part, this could have been painted and be part of the main design.
The sticker gives a cheap feeling to the whole device.

I still recommend it, as it is very useful to play quietly while still hearing the sound as it was from a really good amp.

Ich spiele schon seit einigen Jahren den VOX Metal, die Dinger sind einfach genial zum gerade mal schnell jammen oder üben. Jetzt wollte ich aber gerne mal einen schönen Clean und Overdrive Sound und hab mich an den VOX Boutique gewagt. Besonders die Features Drum Pattern und Chorus haben mich gereizt. Ich komme zu folgenden Bewertung: der Sound Clean wie Overdrive ist einfach Klasse. Die Möglichkeit zu Drum Rhythmen zu spielen oder über den Aux Play Alongs einzuspielen oder einfach eigene oder andere Songs zu begleiten, super! Die Einstellungsmöglichkeiten von dem Hall, Echo und Delay sind überraschen vielfältig. Da bekommt man echt von dezent bis leicht abgefahren (zum Beispiel super Hallfahnen) einiges hin. Das Ding ist halt nicht sehr stabil, d.h. man sollte besonders beim einstecken und ausziehen mit etwas feingefühl arbeiten. Macht man das, kann man viele Jahre Spaß damit haben!

I already used the Amplug AC30 and Amplug Bass. They were both ok but could be improved a lot. The Amplug 3 Boutique seems to address rightfully the biggest issues of the other amplugs.

First, I choose the amplug since I do not want to go into a smartphone app with 200 presets. If so, then I'd rather plug into an interface and a laptop.. I just want a real pocket guitar amp.

The tone of this Amplug 3 Boutique is improved compared to the other ones. No no sense fx. It is easy to dial a nice and workable guitar tone. However it can not stand comparison against the Nuxx or the Boss who are much more expensive as well.
Plenty good enough for everyday practice. Will not do it for performing.
The distorsion is fine and rock oriented. You won't get a tube amp response however it kinda emulates a decent warm tone for the money.

The best feature for me is the drums machine. You can set somehow easily the tempos by taping the button which somehow get you where you want. Finally, no non-sense drums patterns. No useless samba pattern etc... Each pattern feels relevant for most guitar playing. Very nice addition to have included a 6/8 or 12/8 (can't remember) time signature pattern and a swing for blues and jazz. Last but not least, there's also a metronome with a nice, pleasant tone! This thing was surely designed by actual musicians.

Here's now why I can not give full 5 stars. It is still hard to set accurately so tiny buttons without seeing them. The buttons easily change positions accidentally, if you move.
Setting the volume of the fx and the drums presets from the very same button is a bit confusing.
No control screen to tell you what preset you are on. You always search with your fingers which buttons you'r supposed to action hoping not to shuffle everything.
The build quality is still cheap plastic. The buttons feel a bit loose and fragile. The connector input to your guitar doesn't feel strong. I use a short extension cable which help as well to actually ease the handling... so the Amplug is located on my strap more than under my guitar.
Overall I am very happy but I would have gladly to pay 50 euros more and get a bit more high-end build quality.