Packed with Effects! Headphone Guitar Amp VOX amPlug2 Lead

A headphone guitar amp is a convenient way to listen to your electric guitar playing through headphones. I’ve been using the VOX amPlug2 for about two years now—it’s an extremely popular and classic headphone guitar amp. There are many versions of the amPlug2, each tailored to different sounds, and in this post, I’m introducing the amPlug2 Lead, which is great for practicing lead guitar.

VOX / amPlug2 AP2-LD Headphone Guitar Amp

■ Simple to Use—Just Plug It In!

The biggest appeal of the amPlug2 Lead is how easy it is to set up. Simply plug the connector on the back of the unit into your electric guitar’s jack and switch it on! (Hold the switch down to turn it on). Then, plug your headphones into the PHONES jack (using a 3.5mm stereo mini plug).

If you’re always practicing with headphones, you can just leave the amPlug2 Lead plugged into the guitar jack and keep the headphones on. You can start playing as soon as you feel like it, making your electric guitar practice much more convenient.

■ Adjust Your Sound with Three Knobs!

Despite its small size, the amPlug2 Lead is packed with professional-level functionality. You can adjust the sound just like you would with a regular amp. On the top of the unit, there are three dials for sound adjustment: VOLUME, TONE, and GAIN. The VOLUME controls the overall sound, TONE adjusts the treble and bass levels, and GAIN allows you to control the amount of distortion. With the GAIN dial, you can create a powerful sound perfect for lead playing.

■ Equipped with 3 Types of Effects

The VOX amPlug2 Lead also comes with built-in effects. You can apply three types of effects—Chorus, Delay, and Reverb—using the FX button on the right side of the top panel. The effects cycle each time you press the button, so it’s recommended to first find the sound without any effect by pressing the button, then set your preferred effect. Honestly, the setup is a bit tricky. It would be ideal if there was a lamp or an LCD display that shows which effect is currently selected.

Each of the Chorus, Delay, and Reverb effects also has a boost option. By pressing the button on the left side of the body, you can change the intensity of the effect in three stages. For some reason, there’s a light indicator that shows which boost level is active. I wish there was a similar light indicator for selecting the effects.

The boost levels are indicated by green (weak), orange (medium), and red (strong). I often use the orange and red settings. Actually, the boost switch also works as the power button, so if you press it too long by mistake, the power will turn off. With so many functions packed into this compact body, it can get a bit confusing at first. But once you get used to it, it’s easy to handle.

■ It Also Has an External Input Jack!

The amPlug2 Lead is also equipped with an external input jack (AUX). How packed with features is this thing! By connecting a smartphone, CD player, or other audio source to the AUX input, you can play your electric guitar while listening to music. There are many ways to use it, such as playing along with a metronome streamed from your smartphone, and more.

■ Can Be Connected to Speakers or Guitar Amplifiers

The VOX amPlug2 Lead can be connected not only to headphones but also to speakers and guitar amplifiers. It has a 3.5mm stereo mini plug, which makes it possible to connect to portable speakers or guitar amplifiers! I discovered this feature after purchasing it, and it’s really handy. If you want to play through speakers for a change, just connect it to a portable speaker, and you can perform outdoors.

You can also connect it to a guitar amplifier. To do this, you’ll need a cable with a 3.5mm stereo mini plug and an adapter to convert the mini plug to a standard stereo plug.

You might think it’s better to directly connect the electric guitar to the amp, but the amPlug2 Lead actually functions as an effects processor! By placing the amPlug2 Lead between the amplifier and the electric guitar, you can apply chorus, delay, and reverb effects. The boost function also adds more versatility for experimentation.

■ There Are Many Types of amPlug2!

The amPlug2 Lead is a feature-packed and fun headphone guitar amp that I highly recommend. There are other types of amPlug2, so you can choose the one that suits the sound you’re aiming for.

VOX / Amplug2 AC30 Headphone Guitar Amp

This model simulates the VOX AC30 amp. It’s the most neutral type, so it’s recommended for those who aren’t sure which one to choose or for beginners.

VOX / Amplug2 Metal Headphone Guitar Amp

If you want extreme distortion, this is the one! It produces a heavy, hard metal sound.

VOX / Amplug2 Classic Rock Headphone Guitar Amp

Recommended for those who want to achieve the Marshall sound with boosted midrange.

VOX / amPlug2 AP2-CL Headphone Guitar Amp

Perfect for those who prefer a clean practice sound. You can also dial in a gain for more distortion.

VOX / amPlug2 AP2-BL

If you want to capture American crunch tones, this is the one. It also produces clean sounds.

■ Enjoy Electric Guitar Easily and Fun!

I’ve introduced the VOX amPlug2 Lead; what do you think? It’s full of features, and the VOX amp-like design is also appealing. If you’re interested, give it a try!

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