Vox AC30CC

[SpeedDemon]

Well, I am thinking of saving up some during the summer to ready myself for gigging and etc. Seeing how I have a full band now, and we are focused on our musical direction(think early floyd, Piper and Saucerful of Secrets). I like what I have heard tonewise(haven't heard in person) from the AC30cc but I have yet to play one myself. Basically I want to know if it meets these criteria:

- Full band practice/Gigging volume(Would I want just a combo, or head and 4x12?)
- Accepts pedals WELL(Pedals I plan on using: Phaser, Delay, wah, perhaps a echo box, and a boost of some sort, the pedals will be a key part of sound)
- Overall tone, I don't need much gain. The tone in my head is a trebly crunch and a very 'british' clean(which the AC30 should deliver?)

Basically, I need to know if they are gig worthy, if if need either 2x12 or head and 4x12, and if it can hold it own with pedals.

Thanks in advance, and also if anyone has any recordings of they're AC30 or anyone else's for that matter if you could post them it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[B Bent]

Re: Vox AC30CC

Gigging= No AC30CC

 

[SpeedDemon]

Re: Vox AC30CC

Because of volume? Or because of build quality?

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Vox AC30CC

They sound great, listen to U2's early records especially albums like "The Joshua Tree" to get an idea. It will be plenty loud and you can mic it. Pedals = yes.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Vox AC30CC

on the new ones you have to unsolder the speakers to get the chassie out to change the tubes. sounds like a pain to me....

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Vox AC30CC

Go HIWATT!!! Expensive, but the cleanest amps (cleanest british amps at least) and have a crunch. Voxes have more of like a mid-heavy overdrive than a crunch. Look for a Plexi or JCM 800 if you want crunch.

Or you can get the AC30 Brian May amp. That thing is all handwired. 1 volume knob - perfect! WAY BETTER quality than the CC series as it looked like to me. Should be loud as hell too.

If you are on a budget, hard choices. For 1000 there are not many good clean british amps out there. Vox AC30CC might suit you fine. I dont know, but maybe like a a Tweed amp, decent cleans, very British/Marshall style crunch when you crank them up. You got a lot of choices. All depends on that last second when you play a certain amp that you love. Months of researching what amp you want can go to waste by plugging into 1 amp.

O yea, almost forgot. How about an ORange AD30? Those have very Voxsish cleans and a very unique overdrive tone. Check those out too.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Vox AC30CC

I rather liked the CC and thought wow it has so many features for tone for the price. It will never replace old Vox's and vintage Marshalls, but cmon!

My fear was the tubes and the chinese construction to be honest.

 

[Voxman]

Re: Vox AC30CC

I`m gigging with mine,have a additional vox 2x12 cab
i love it a lot
This is one of the best amp i have ever owned.
Bougth a A/B box,now i`m having a amp with perfect clean and overdrive.IMO

 

[Voxman]

Re: Vox AC30CC

forgot, it have a effect loop and works great with overdrive pedals in the input.

 

[Voxman]

Re: Vox AC30CC

yeah,they do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Voxman]

Re: Vox AC30CC

Go HIWATT!!! Expensive, but the cleanest amps (cleanest british amps at least) and have a crunch. Voxes have more of like a mid-heavy overdrive than a crunch. Look for a Plexi or JCM 800 if you want crunch.

Or you can get the AC30 Brian May amp. That thing is all handwired. 1 volume knob - perfect! WAY BETTER quality than the CC series as it looked like to me. Should be loud as hell too.

If you are on a budget, hard choices. For 1000 there are not many good clean british amps out there. Vox AC30CC might suit you fine. I dont know, but maybe like a a Tweed amp, decent cleans, very British/Marshall style crunch when you crank them up. You got a lot of choices. All depends on that last second when you play a certain amp that you love. Months of researching what amp you want can go to waste by plugging into 1 amp.

O yea, almost forgot. How about an ORange AD30? Those have very Voxsish cleans and a very unique overdrive tone. Check those out too.

With all respect, ac30cc totally rocks.
Won`t buy a hiwatt ,orange or marshall again.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Vox AC30CC

I really like the look and tone of those amps, but like others, I wonder if I'd be nervous rolling that thing across parking lots, hoping that there's no technical problems at a gig. I'd consider something like a Dr. Z, Top Hat, Bedrock, Laney, Gibson Goldtone, or other EL-84 or EL-34 amp. You'll pay a little more, but you'll know that everything is built solid. Then, all you need is a spare set of tubes, since better made amps never have a circuit problem.

 

[saladin]

Re: Vox AC30CC

A Mesa Maverick does Vox cleans very well. I had the 4-10 version 2 years ago. I've been playing Fenders forever and wasn't used to Class A tones. I didn't like it at first, mostly because of the bass response but the midrange detail is amazing. Cuts thru much better then a Twin. The Mavericks are solid built amps.
The one thing I didn't care for was the drive channel. It was voiced for playing the blues, and nailed that tone. I was more looking for that Vox overdrive crunch and couldn't get it with the Mesa with out resorting to a pedal OD.

Another amp you might want to look into is the Peavey Classic 50's. Again Class A, it nails that crunchy sound and they're very reliable.

 

[Brow]

Re: Vox AC30CC

My friend has 2 of the Vox AC30CCs (1 with Wharfdale speakers, 1 with Celestion Blues).

The main 'problem' I can see happening witht he AC30CCs in a live situation is the lack of clean headroom. With volume control anywhere above halfway up, the amp started to overdrive. This may or may not be a problem, but it's worth keeping in mind.

The amp also seemed to be very noisy, but that could've been due to several other factors.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Vox AC30CC

AN Orange AD-30 and a Matchless SC-30/DC-30 or similiar to voxs but a better build quality or if u need something cheaper a Laney VC-30 or Crate 3112.

 

[SpeedDemon]

Re: Vox AC30CC

I see most of you aren't giging musicians are you? I just got back from the Coach House watching my formor bandmate's new group. She was using her AC30CCH. It sounded killer. Great cleans, nice light crunch pushed by a Boss BD-2. This amp has been giged with pleanty of times. I've used it on several myself. I have found no problems at all with the quality of the contruction, or the tubes or anything. This amp is road worthy. Oh and it isn't $1,000 according to an earlier post. They run about $850 brand new.

Thanks for the info chops, I was more looking into the head as opposed to the combo.

My friend has 2 of the Vox AC30CCs (1 with Wharfdale speakers, 1 with Celestion Blues).

The main 'problem' I can see happening witht he AC30CCs in a live situation is the lack of clean headroom. With volume control anywhere above halfway up, the amp started to overdrive. This may or may not be a problem, but it's worth keeping in mind.

The amp also seemed to be very noisy, but that could've been due to several other factors.

Brow, I am not too worried about actual clean head room. Most of the 'clean' songs we play are a edgey clean anyways(by way of rolling back guitar volume)

And GJ I would LOVE to have a Dr.Z but unfortunately I have no where's to get them around here.

 

[Voxman]

Re: Vox AC30CC

I see most of you aren't giging musicians are you? I just got back from the Coach House watching my formor bandmate's new group. She was using her AC30CCH. It sounded killer. Great cleans, nice light crunch pushed by a Boss BD-2. This amp has been giged with pleanty of times. I've used it on several myself. I have found no problems at all with the quality of the contruction, or the tubes or anything. This amp is road worthy. Oh and it isn't $1,000 according to an earlier post. They run about $850 brand new.

I`m gigging with mine!
(having a break as we are making songs)

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Vox AC30CC

whatever you get, make sure someone in Nova Scotia can work on them in case of repairs, then buy what you want.

Unfortunately, if you read a lot of the amp message boards, the AC30CC's are taking a bit of a hit in terms of reliabiilty. It could just be that they've sold so many of them that a few are going to break. Stuff does break.

hell, AC30's don't exactly have a sparkling reputation of uptime over the last 40 years, now do they? why should the CC be any different?

But, if you want that tone, you take your chances. Or you buy a Matchless or Bad Cat and pay 2-3x as much and with it, get an insane amount of peace of mind.

 

[jdm61]

Re: Vox AC30CC

OR.........find yourself a used 57 Twin RI and pay 1.5 to 1.75 as much and be truly happy.....I am......anybody wanna buy a Marshall? :fingersx: :laugh2:

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Vox AC30CC

jdm, your point is missing the mark a bit. you have a great amp, but hte guy is talking about EL84 amps, specifically vox stuff. how in the world can you get your tweed to sound like a vox? I gotta learn that trick!