Vox Standard 25

MIJ strat-like, built by Matsumoku from (AFAIK) 1979 to 1983. Maple body (damn heavy), maple neck, mine has a maple fretboard but there's a rosewood fretboard version too. Mine is black and cream, don't know if there were other colors available (only ever saw it balck and cream).

The body is reminiscent of a strat but not quite a copy (more stocky and *way* heavier - perhaps the heaviest guitar ever built), the neck is somewhat fat with fat frets, the headstock is the trademark Vox headstock (Phantom etc). It comes with a vintage-style trem bridge, vintage looking but closed-back tuners and a standard strat 3 pups / 1 vol / 2 tones / 5-way switch setup, pups are Dimarzio FS-1.

Nothing special nor new here - except the weight !-)

Unplugged, it's a very resonnant guitar, bright but still very singing, fluid, vocal tone, with tons of sustain, dynamic and nuances. You can already tell it's great guitar.

Once plugged (into a good valve amp of course - no guitar is going to sound good on a cheapo SS amp), it holds its promises - singing, fluid tone, still lots of sustain, warm and round on the neck, tight and mean on the middle, cristal-clear on in-between positions. Only the bridge seems a bit weak and trebly. Globally, it's a bit hotter and warmer than a typical strat, but still retains this strat-type sound.

Sounds just fine for blues, from clean, jazzy JJ Cale / early knopfler to more dirty SRV tones. Sounds fine for more heavy rock stuff too, great lead sound on an overdriven Marshall. Would not do metal with it - but I don't do metal anyway !-)

I give it a 8 only because, while pretty good "as is", it would obviously sound *way* better with better pups.

Got it second or third hand, and in a somewhat sorry state - obviously, the previous owner didn't ever bother to maintain it, and didn't have a clue about properlly setting it up, so I can't comment on how action and setup were from stock.

I spent some time cleaning up this mess (changed the saddles, worked a bit on the nut to allow for regular gauge strings, cleaned & greased string retainers and every mobile part of the trem), then did correct trem / action / intonation setup, now it works just fine.

Finish is mostly clean, but a bit cheap on some points (specially the pickguard). The selector is a somewhat noisy - I'll have to change it -, but well, after almost 30 years, it doesn't mean much. Pots are still ok so I bet this was not so bad quality. No obvious flow, clean work overall, but not top-notch neither.

This guitar survived so far, so I'm pretty confident it's reliable. Anyway, it's obviously built like a tank (and heavy as one too), and one could probably use it as a weapon too !-)

I don't know if mine was often used in "real life" conditions (gigs etc), but from what I can see of the finish, and from what I can tell from 20 years experience with it's sister the Vox Custom 24 (same era, same manufacturer), it's not going to break in a foreseeable future - it will probably survive me FWIW.

Arf ! "Customer support" ? What a joke. Vox doesn't even remember it once built these guitars...

Been playing since 1979, didn't owned much gear by myself but tried quite a lot of guitars when I was working as a sound-op, and I can tell: it's a great guitar, definitly, and a real bargain given it's ridiculously underrated price. I'd obviously try to find another one if I loosed it.

Looks like a strat - same layout of switches/pots etc. 22 frets, 5 way pickup switch. Pretty sure it still has original DiMarzio FS-1 staggered pickups but not checked - they sound great though whatever they are.

Mine is red stained body, mapel neck, rosewood fretboard and a few dents just to give it a bit more detail.

All you need really for features

Sounds beautiful clean - almost accoustic. Don't really use overdrive on this because I have a fender jag with humbuckers, so normally use that one for dirty sounds. I might use OD on the vox25 if i wanted a light crunch sound. It sounds pretty loud even when not plugged in for some reason.

Neck and Mid pickups sound perfect but the bridge one's a bit too light and tinny. If I want a lead sound though I just use the switch on '4' so it's still got a bit of warm tone in it. My Favourite setting is with the switch right in the middle.

Like most reviews I've read on this guitar, the PU switch is (well WAS, until tonight) a bit crackley, but I took it to a friend of a friends house and he sorted it for me free of chrage. I was worried I'd have to buy a new one but he said it was just dusty, so he sprayed 'switch-cleaner' down the sides, then rappidly switched it and now it works fine.

The action's great. Really easy to play. The pickups seem to be raised quite close to the strings compared to my other guitars - don't know why, but I'm going to have a fiddle with it and sort it out.

When using the trem, the tuning goes. That's my only problem really. Maybe it's time for an upgrade.

Should be fine for live usage now I have my 'switch plroblem' solved. Really solid feeling which is always a good sign but weighs more than I do. Could have survived the 9/11 incident.

I've been playing guitar for about 12 years and this is definately one of the best sounding electric guitars I've come across. I've played SGs, Les Pauls, Strats, Jags and I really can't think of a reason why it cost so little to buy (#80 second hand!). Looks cool too, like a strat copy but not a cheapo encore/tanglewood.

I'm gonna keep this until the day I die.

Japanese guitar early 80???s, built like a chubby strat, with a nice rounded ass, and the usual strat set up with fat neck and fat frets, it???s a modest looking guitar but its quality catches the eye of any guitar player and is confirmed when you pick it up and always, always underestimate its weight. I don???t mind the weight, it???s a bit of a joke amongst peers, I always reply ???sign of a good guitar???. cant really nock it for features got everything i need

i'm a blues guitarist, this is my main axe, i'm not really into the effects/ amp business i'm a student at the mo and i use whats there, I don???t often use the bridge pick up solely, to me it???s the only thing that lets the guitar down, it???s tinny and bitey, sounds cheap, I???l sometimes use it to climax my SRV style screamers but that???s about it. As for the others the range is quite something the middle pick up in any combo is amazing, sounds like its coming through chorus or something and the neck pu is very full and bassy, the tone nobs don???t piss around either

Mines actually red, na just kiddin black and cream, with black head stock, I guess they must of got it cheap, the action is perfect, everybody comments on it, even from guitar lessons as a kid, mates would say how easy it was to play, strings are tight and I just cant find anything I prefer to play, tuners give a little to often, and the wiring in the selector is fucked, needs work, fucked a recording up today in fact, crackling like forest fire . As far as the fittings the guitars very neat and the quality is visible, no gaps under the nobs etc

if i ever were attacked in the home i'd probably go for this guitar as defence, and i pitty the fool who's on the other end of it

i dont claim to know alot about electric guitars, part of the reason is because i've never needed another electric, if i find something i prefer i'l buy it but it hasnt happed yet, my other guitar is a mexican fender strat, it dosn't come close, these guitars come up every now and then pick one up you wont regret it

I bought a Vox Standard 25 off some guy for #70. BARGAIN.
Made in Japan, serial code:2060160
22 of the fattest frets out there
Black with cream scratchplate and silver hardware, like every other one ive seen or read about.

Nearly as thick and heavy as a les paul giving it great sustain for a guitar its age. Pickups are a bit parpy, but do pack an impressive puch when distorted. Five way pick up selector similar to strat gives a wonderful variety of sounds and tones.

the action on my guitar is spot on. I am having a small problem with the Five way pick up selector's electrics sometimes, but that is easily repaired.

This guitar is seemingly invincible! You can treat it like a tool for making music on and not worry about it getting bashed or falling to pieces. sure its dented and scratched but you would expect that from a guitar this age, it all adds to the things charisma.

I doubt few people out there know these guitars exist, theres very little on-line. perhaps these things are quite a rarity, i dont know

I own a few guitars, including an epiphone sg special with 3 humbuckers and gold hardware, a fat strat, a schecter electro acoustic and various others. The vox is easily my favourite. I cant wait to hear it thru my AC-30 which my uncle gave me not knowing what it was. It has blue-back speakers and is a beast. the valves are shot tho and are hellish expensive to replace.

Made early 1980's in Japan. According to vox these were some of the best guitars they made. Lay out on strat scale length, 3 single coil pick ups, 1 volume control 2 tone control controls and tremolo bridge highly figured maple neck, fat frets, rosewood fingered bored and classic vox tuners.

Paid #120 with bag April 2005.

Very versatile sound, sings like an angel and wails like a banshee and when I say wails it'll bring the house down.The only guitar that I've used with treble not maxed out. In the sacred words of spinal tap, the tone controls should be numbered 1-11 rather than 1-10. Excellect base response as well from pick ups whether playing blues or metal with a sustain that justc goes on and on and......

Bought second hand, action poor as been set to high due to mid pick up being set to high on bolts and risers. God only knows why. Had reset and restrung with 9's. Set with 2mm clearence on 1st and 2nd strings ant 12th fret rising to around 3.5 to 4mm clearence on 5-6 th string at 12th fret.

Trem screwed down - I don't dig trems - same with all my guitars.

Since set up the only slight grievence is the tuners are not as good as rest of guitar. Needs to be regularly tuned. Though do like to ben d strings just a bit.

You could open for england against west indies with this axe without causing any nocible damage. God only knows how much laquer went onto this beast. 25 years on and only shows light buckle rash on back.

As previously mentioned tuning can be issue playing live, but guitar can be drpopped and abused and still Rocks and Rolls.

N/A Company no longer trading. Though have had not needed to use them.

Playing for 20 years, guitar looks like its weathered those years better than me. Other guitars owned Aria PE R60, Ibanex Ex 350, Indie Rick Copy, Krait (made by Indie), Fender Acoustic and semi plus a couple of other bits lent to mates. The Aria PE R60 is as good as they get, the action on Vox is equally as good as are qualities of pick ups (though different beast-Twin humbuckers). Love the sustain on this axe and indistructability, having tone controls that alter the tone drastically and having too turn the treble down (well sometimes)

Dislike the weight for live playing but that gives it sustain and base too.

Action will not drop as low as mates 69 strat, but Vox sounds better

Tuners could be better, though not bad enough to replace - infact that's a lie - with better tuners I would find it hard to fault guitar at all , thing is I've got a soft spot for an aging cheap guitar that can out scream guitars costing well over #1000. Tonally I've havn't heard a single coil guitar produce the depth of base that this girl does.

Got it as a bit of history hadn't realised I was getting a weapon of mass destruction.

All factory rig -- mine is mint with black finish, white/cream dimarzio single coils (3 in a strat config), vintage bridge and tremalo setup, 5 way selector switch -- fat frets, fat sound.

Manufacture 1981

well im not a musician -- im just a guy who plays for his own enjoyment --- musicians that have played my guitar are without exception blown away - extordinary range of sounds --- it can be a strat when you want it to be and a Les Paul equally as well

Factory setup - medium action height --- no flaws to speak of

This guitar will be around long after human civilisation has left the planet - unbreakable

None -- its rare -- only the lucky few will own this one

This is my only guitar. I saw it from across the street in a music store window and that was it -- sold my chunky aria pro2 and the vox was mine. This is the guitar nobody knows about --- the one that kills fenders and gibsons for no money -- if people knew that they would be much more expensive -- its the only guitar ive owned since high school and its mint with original sales tags and Vox sales tags --- neve gonna part with this one -

Not sure of exact year, but believe it to be a Japanese variety from the late '70's.

It has a normal Strat type layout S/S/S, 5 way selector, 1 volume, 2 tone controls.
The pick-ups are passive, apparently Di-Marzio's and are reasonably punchy.

The body is made from several pieces of glued maple, and is surprisingly heavy. I have to confess here that I took the body to the bandsaw and revised the shape a little... it always had a big fat a s s that I wasn't keen on, so I cut it off! I also reshaped the bottom horn to make access to the upper frets easier.
Having done this I resprayed it... er, with black Hammerite! It actually gives an interesting finish and is as tough as old boots!!

The neck has 21 frets on a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard.

I junked the original trem unit and fitted an aftermarket hardtail bridge to help with tuning, it did. Although to date I've retained the original tuners.

Oh and lastly mine has a brushed aluminium scratchplate.

In my previous band I used the Vox almost exclusively, as the other guitar player used a heavily distorted Les Paul, and the single coils of the Vox helped give a lightness and springyness to the overall band sound.
I played it through a Marshall VS 265, and was able to achieve a variety of decent workable sounds, playing rock, pop, funk style music.
The sound is quite bright and cutting, particularly on the bridge PU.
I think I got a pretty good assimulation of popular Tele & Strat tones with this guitar... it does a particularly good 'Communication Breakdown'!

I bought the guitar secondhand off a mate for #100. So it came as seen just the basic guitar.

I changed the set-up to suit myself. I found raising the action let the guitar 'ring' a lot more, I later worked up to using 11 gauge strings which also helped the tone and tuning stability. I like the feel of being able to 'dig in' when you play.. not to keen on the featherlight touch kind of set-up.

I gigged this guitar for around 5 years, and actually became very fond of it, although paradoxically it's probably the guitar that's been knocked around the most during live work. And although it's been knocked off it's stand, and dropped several times it barely went out of tune!

I don't use it for live work much now, but if I did I might consider some upgrades, better tuners perhaps.

Never required, and probably unavailable anyway.

I've been playing for 31 years, gigging for 15.

I had a good chance to play this guitar before buying it so knew what I was getting.

If it were lost or stolen it would be a shame, but I wouldn't bother tracking down another.

I like the playability of this guitar, it requires a bit of work from the player, but is quite rewarding.

One thing I don't like is that I have never been able to get it to feedback controllably, it always howls like a demented dog!

I guess having done some minor customising of this guitar I have got a bit of a soft spot for it.

Black Polyester finish with hard rock maple neck and fingerboard. Three DiMarzio FS-1 pickups. The body is constructed from selected maple. It has a volume control, two tone controls and a five way pickup selctor. Includes tremelo arm. This guitar was produced in the early '80s in Japan. The body styling is reminscent of Fender's Stratocaster and the headstock is similar to the old Vox Phantom

The guitar suits my style as I am a blues/jazz player. The bridge pickup is far too toppy and I rarely use it. The neck pickup is very good and has a rich deep tone. Dont use this guitar through a PA. This guitar needs an amp to highlight its great sound. I play it through a 50watt Beringher and that suffices.

Very well put together guitar. The action is excellent and the guitar has no flaws. The polyester finish is very durable and the neck and fingerboard have weathered well

The guitar is over 20 years old and has been very dependable. I still use it as my main instrument. Apart from a few scratches and dents the guitar has been very durable. The pickups are original and I have had no work done to any of the circuitry at all. Very reliable.

Vox no longer make guitars

I have played all sorts of guitars over the years and this one is still my favourite. It is now a collectors item. They are very rare in Australia. I would compare it to a Strat for sound and playability

It looks like strat, works like Ibanez and sounds like Gibson. We brought guitar for 250$ cca with original case, cable and screwdriver. Made in Japan. During the years, we only changed tailpiece (we put brass tailpiece for smoother sound). I found guitar is older than '78.

Guitar with most flexibile sound I ever heard! Jazz, blues, country, even HM. Clean is really clean. If I put volume on 8, I get warm overdrive sound. Pickups are very strong, and best works on VOX amplifiers, but guitar sounds great even on Meazzi amp.

Due to its flexibility, guitar could be setup for any kind of playing style!
After 25 years, I need to change frets. We changed tailpiece just to get warmer sound.

Only backup my brother use is reserve set of strings and cables. Tailpice streeching, neck banding, SRV and Joe Satriany syle playing.... and still better than 1500$ Ibanez or Fender.

After 15 years, my brother don't want to change guitar (but still dreaming about The SG). Some guy offered him 600 EUR for guitar in case (he even didn't see the guitar). Now, wont sell gitar for less than 1000 EUR, 'cos it sounds and works like 2000 EUR guitar.
And, if you lookin' for strat like guitar, with great and flexibile sound, don't look further!