AC-30 Alternative?

celticafro

celticafro

New member
Hey, duders! :)

So the guitarist in my band wants an AC-30, badly. Unfotunately, he also wants food, and can't spare the cash to get both. Does anyone know of a similar-sounding, cheaper-costing combo setup or... uh... "not-combo-amp setup?"

BTW, what's the official phrase for "not-a-combo-amp setup?" :smack:

Thanks bunches, folks.
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

Have you seen the new AC30's. They are not hand wired like the originals but are supposed to have the same electronics. The combo goes for just under a grand new and you can get the head and a 2 12 cabinet for $1150 fresh out of the box. this is the option I'm looking at.
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

Quencho092 said:
quick question (excuse the brief hijack), Which is louder side by side-ac30 or twin?
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In my last band I used my Twin Reverb and the other guitar player used an AC-30...he had no problem keeping up. I could still be louder if I wanted to and I did have a better clean tone, but he was able to keep up.
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

What are so special about the AC30s? Do they distort well with a nice pedal? Do they have a good onboard fullon gain channel? Though I hear their strengths is their cleans?
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

Pierre said:
What are so special about the AC30s? Do they distort well with a nice pedal? Do they have a good onboard fullon gain channel? Though I hear their strengths is their cleans?
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Basically for American distortion we think of Mesa Boogie, for British distortion we think Marshall. For American cleans we think Fender and for British cleans we think Vox.
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

sac said:
Have you seen the new AC30's. They are not hand wired like the originals but are supposed to have the same electronics. The combo goes for just under a grand new and you can get the head and a 2 12 cabinet for $1150 fresh out of the box. this is the option I'm looking at.
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No, i haven't, but the cash figure you just gave me sounds like the one my guitarist was complaining about. He just can't come up with a Grand to spend on an amp at this time. I've been lending him my Mark II, and it seems to work pretty well, but it's high time he got his own tube amp.

Heheh, "high time..."

So I don't know what his cash limit is, but can anyone reccomend a nice, cheap alternative that will pull off that sort of tone? Stratdeluxer already told me about Vox's Valvtronics line, which I will reccomend... but I dunno, he's not really into the emulation thing. He's had a Peave something-or-other solid-state/power tube hybrid for a long time now, and we all think it's time for an upgrade.

BTW, are the AC15s still being made, and are they comprable in tone? What's the speaker setup on the 15s and 30s?
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

It's not exactly an AC-30, but the Peavey Classic 50 with 4 EL-84's is the best amp you can find for $375 used.
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

Gearjoneser said:
It's not exactly an AC-30, but the Peavey Classic 50 with 4 EL-84's is the best amp you can find for $375 used.
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Sweet, I think this is exactly what he's looking for! Thanks, gearjoneser!
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

I think the Laney EL84 amps have great chime similar to an AC30, they break up nicely as well - the Vox modeling amps pretty much nail the tone. AC15's aren't in production any longer and typically aren't cheap when you see them for sale used, they sound very similar to an AC30 but break up much sooner. AC30's are loud as hell but they break up much sooner than a twin will.
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

GJ's idea of the classic 50 is great. Peavey also make a classic 30 that runs class A, so that may be even closer (and cheaper) to the vox formula.

It's probably out of your price range, but I'd also suggest a s/h Mesa Blue Angel. You can get 'em in head versions, and they do the class a el 84 thing brilliantly, with great reverb and far better reliability.
 
Re: AC-30 Alternative?

"but I dunno, he's not really into the emulation thing. He's had a Peave something-or-other solid-state/power tube hybrid for a long time now, and we all think it's time for an upgrade".

Gosh...Comparing the Vox VT stuff to the Peavey is just wrong....LOL...The Valvetronix amp has so much going for it,and besides,I Like all the extra crap anyway...
 
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