This AC-30 rips!

[Bloozinay]

I played through my friends brand new Vox AC-30 today. At first I was put off by the weight and number of controls. We messed with it a bit, and then decided to follow the instructions on the overlay cards that it came with. We set it up for vintage (or something like that), but when we set it up for 'crunch' it really smoked. It was truly the british invasion! Played a strat through it today, no boxes. just straight in. What great tone! I just wailed away for a half hour before I could stop. My strat is set up with 3 matched Duncan SSL-5's. What a combo...there are actually switches in the rear for tube bias and capacitor switching!

 

[LesStrat]

Re: This AC-30 rips!

I really dig the Vox tone. Tough on the bank account, though.

 

[Soujurn]

Re: This AC-30 rips!

When you say "British Invasion" do you mean Beatles Vox tones, ala The Cavern sounds, or Ed Sullivan Show sound?
Or later, YardBirds, Cream, Rolling Stones, type tones?
I'm just curious which British Invasion you mean.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: This AC-30 rips!

I think everyone was all prepared to dislike the new Chinese Vox's.....until they hit stores and people heard them. I think they sound better than most other Vox amps, and even a lot of boutique Vox copies.

And now that some are popping up on the used market, a real bargain can be had. They're selling from $600-$800 now.

Time will tell how good they're put together. I have a feeling they cut a lot of corners on component quality, so after an AC-30 has been rolled over concrete for about 5 years....we'll see how good they REALLY are.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: This AC-30 rips!

Time will tell how good they're put together. I have a feeling they cut a lot of corners on component quality, so after an AC-30 has been rolled over concrete for about 5 years....we'll see how good they REALLY are.

That's why I refuse to roll my AC30 over anything harder than cotton.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: This AC-30 rips!

They're probably fairly reliable, but you have to be diligent with tube maintenance.....always have spares.

I wonder if I can find a picture of the inside of one of these Vox amps?