New Vox AC30s?

Re: New Vox AC30s?

Alright sounds good. I'm less worried about quality control then. Still remains is what tubes and speakers to change to? Or if i need to change at all?
My plan is to get the amp first, and use it, without changing anything, as i won't be able to fork out enough cash to retube and respeaker immediately.

What tubes are good, i was reading on the SD forum before and people said Sovteks and JJs? So far they seem the most popular.
Speaker wise, the celestion blues look awesome and seem to be loved, not that looks really matter. Someone said speaker-wise, you need alnicos for AC30s? The only ones i know are the Red Fang (eminence) and the Blues (celestions). Anyone advising mixing speakers, or wisest to get 2 of the same? Two blues, seems REALLY expensive for me, either i get two eminences or one eminence and one blue.

Also, attenuators, how loud is the AC30. Right now i have a JTM30, which is a 30 watt AB Tube amp, correct me if im wrong. I don't crank it VERY loud, so maybe quarter to half way (of max volume) at most. Thanks for all the posts so far, great help! :) love you guys!
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

They've always intrigued me...and with God as my witness I'm asking this question honestly...

What would you consider a good representation of the AC30 sound?

I've torked with the model on the PodXT and just never got anywhere with it. I know they're legendary amps...I just can't figure out exactly what their sound is.

I tend to think of the opening chord to 'a hard day's night'.
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

If you don't crank your 30w Marshall, maybe save yourself some cash (and wear on your back) and get the Chinese AC15...

By the way, I've been impressed with the Chinese Voxes I've heard. I actually in some ways preferred the cheaper speaker-equipped version, particularly at higher volumes...
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

I like the AC30 for the different functions it has on top of the AC15. The ac15 seems a little limited.
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

Also, attenuators, how loud is the AC30. Right now i have a JTM30, which is a 30 watt AB Tube amp, correct me if im wrong. I don't crank it VERY loud, so maybe quarter to half way (of max volume) at most. Thanks for all the posts so far, great help! :) love you guys!

For a 30-watt amp (technically, I believe it's 33 watts), it's loud! On the Bright channel, I can only set the volume to somewhere between 9:00 and 10:00 before the walls shake. Past that, I need to use the THD Hot Plate. I try not to attenuate more than 8dB; any more than that and you start sucking tone, which you really don't want to do with a beauty like the AC30.

- Keith
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

the blues make a big difference in the volume. way louder than the greenbacks
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

ah shucks, serious.
what should i do? i don't think i play that loudly? but i just like all those functions on ac30.
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

* Front panel controls: Inputs x 2 (Top Boost & Normal);
* Input Link Switch for blending channels;
* Brilliance Switch;
* EQ Standard/Custom Switch;
* Reverb Controls (Tone, Mix, Dwell Switch);
* Tone Cut

All that extra stuff?
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

Mine is the reissue that came out just before the Custom Classic -- it's the AC30TBX you see here. The "X" designation indicates the AC30TB is fitted with blue alnico speakers.

The Custom Classic (AC30CC) has more features, such as channel blending and reverb. I don't know how much the standard tone differs from that of the AC30TB/AC30TBX.

I paid $1,500 new at Guitar Center for the AC30TBX three or four years ago, and it was ticketed for $1,900. How much is a new AC30CC?

- Keith
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

Yes, the new AC30cc's have all manner of modern/vintage toggling on the biasing and some stuff IIRC on the rectifier etc. It also has a half power mode i think. There's a discontinued 1x12 also. The gold alnico speaker are getting raves. Get a new 2x12, you might love it stock. Years later do the speakers if you must. Shop around, becuase im in South Africa, and i paid way less than USA prices. You're even closer to China, so it should be super cheap. Call around even to sidney and melbourne way, and get shipping perhaps?
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

Yeh, the thing is, you don't understand how stupidly expensive things are down here. Yes we are 'closer' to china, but they still charge a huge 'tax' or something. The AC30CC2, brand new over here is about 1400 USD, and with the blue celestions, its over 2500 USD. I'm sure it's not that expensive over in US right?
 
Re: New Vox AC30s?

[Bah shucks, serious.
what should i do? i don't think i play that loudly? but i just like all those functions on ac30.[/B]
Vox's sound good at volumes that are just before distortion (about the same volume as drums and slightly louder) but do not need to be cranked high (Custom Classics master volume is good allowing good tone at lower volumes if you dont go overboard) and if needed get a weber mini mass there use a different type of load to hot plates so they are supposed to suck less tone. And you can use the bias switch to change wattage.
 
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