The vintage style AC30 will actually have 6 inputs, a high and low for each channel. And there are three channels on an AC30: Normal, Top Boost, and the Tremelo channel. None of them are particularly high gain either, and they don't have a master volume so to get any crunch, you have to crank them. Bridging the channels only works if you bridge between the normal and trem channels because the top boost channel is out of phase with the other two and you'll get a very thin sound if you bridge it with the others. The Korg reissue AC30's are like this too. They made the Korg reissues in the Marshall factory in England from about 1993 to 2004. Then they switched production to China, and redesigned the amp. If you're talking about one of the newer Chinese made AC30's, they have many different features than the older ones, and some do have a master volume and high gain channel too. Be aware that the build quality of the new AC30's are spotty, and they are not designed very well from a robustness standpoint internally. When people talk about AC30's in glowing terms, they are usually talking about the vintage ones or the Korg reissue ones. An AC30 is a loud enough amp to play outdoor shows and very large venues without being miked. You could use an A/B box and switch between channels with any two channel amp, AC30 included.
If you can get a Traynor for a reasonable price, it may be a good way to go. They are usually loud and clean, like most vintage amps. A Garnet would be another good choice, and since they aren't so well known, they can be cheaper to buy. The Silvertone 1484/1485 Twin Twelve model is a good choice too. The guy from the White Stripes uses a modified 1485. They were made in the 60's and you could buy them at Sears for really cheap prices. They have gone up in value over the last couple years, but are still around $200 for the head on ebay. Any 4 ohm cabinet would work with them. They also work great with pedals, and with some mods can be turned into a choice little amp. Theres lots of options out there to go with.
Any opinions on these amps?
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fenderslash
- New member
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:26 pm
Thanks again for everyone's suggestions. Unfortunately due to my main amp failing I couldn't take the time I would normally take to make my choice, but I have made it. I'm having a Traynor 40watt with the 1x12" speaker freighted to me.
It's a big gamble because I've never even seen one, let alone try one out, so I'm buying it on reputation only. All direct comparisons with the other amps on my short list (eg the Hot Rods) are positive. It gets great reviews, not just user reviews on Harmony Central, but in guitar mags as well. It has all the features I want and from descriptions I've read it should give me a sound I'll be happy with. More than one reviewer on the Harmony Central site said that it's a great amp for his Rickenbacker, so it's a big plus to have that specifically referred to. Although it's a bit of a worry having to buy without trying it, they way I look at it is that I'll take the risk and if it turns out to be a mistake then I'll put up with it for a few months until I save up enough gig money to replace it. No guts, no glory!!
These amps are as rare as hen's teeth here in Australia. Either they're very popular and get snapped up quickly or they're only imported in small numbers. I would guess the latter, otherwise I would have seen other people using them. I phoned numerous shops around the country before I found one in stock, and even then I had to settle for the 1x12 when I would have prefered the 2x10.
It should turn up on Tuesday or Wednesday. Wish me luck guys!
Greg... Yes, as tempting as a new AC-30 is, I too read many horror stories about the quality control. On sound quality the amp would have been a good choice, on features (mainly channel-switching capability) it would have been a bit impractical for me, but the quality control was the nail in the coffin as far as purchasing one.
PS. I settled for using the dying and thin-sounding Stage 160 at last night's gig, and I just rolled off the amp's treble and mid, and pumped up the bass, making similar adjustments on the mixing desk. It was the first time we've ever played this venue, and we had heaps of compliments from the crowd, free drinks from the hotel manager, the staff loved us, and we got about half a dozen offers of future bookings both from the hotel manager and other people in the crowd. Perhaps I should stick to using my *******-out amp!
It's a big gamble because I've never even seen one, let alone try one out, so I'm buying it on reputation only. All direct comparisons with the other amps on my short list (eg the Hot Rods) are positive. It gets great reviews, not just user reviews on Harmony Central, but in guitar mags as well. It has all the features I want and from descriptions I've read it should give me a sound I'll be happy with. More than one reviewer on the Harmony Central site said that it's a great amp for his Rickenbacker, so it's a big plus to have that specifically referred to. Although it's a bit of a worry having to buy without trying it, they way I look at it is that I'll take the risk and if it turns out to be a mistake then I'll put up with it for a few months until I save up enough gig money to replace it. No guts, no glory!!
These amps are as rare as hen's teeth here in Australia. Either they're very popular and get snapped up quickly or they're only imported in small numbers. I would guess the latter, otherwise I would have seen other people using them. I phoned numerous shops around the country before I found one in stock, and even then I had to settle for the 1x12 when I would have prefered the 2x10.
It should turn up on Tuesday or Wednesday. Wish me luck guys!
Greg... Yes, as tempting as a new AC-30 is, I too read many horror stories about the quality control. On sound quality the amp would have been a good choice, on features (mainly channel-switching capability) it would have been a bit impractical for me, but the quality control was the nail in the coffin as far as purchasing one.
PS. I settled for using the dying and thin-sounding Stage 160 at last night's gig, and I just rolled off the amp's treble and mid, and pumped up the bass, making similar adjustments on the mixing desk. It was the first time we've ever played this venue, and we had heaps of compliments from the crowd, free drinks from the hotel manager, the staff loved us, and we got about half a dozen offers of future bookings both from the hotel manager and other people in the crowd. Perhaps I should stick to using my *******-out amp!
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soundmasterg
- RRF Consultant
- Posts: 1923
- Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2002 1:06 pm
Hope the Traynor works out for you well. I am very happy with my 1993 Korg reissue (made in UK) AC30, and while I like the features of the new AC30's, I wouldn't consider buying one because
A) they're made in China, and
B) the build quality sucks.
Glad to hear you made that decision too and didn't get one. I don't think you would have been happy with it.
A) they're made in China, and
B) the build quality sucks.
Glad to hear you made that decision too and didn't get one. I don't think you would have been happy with it.
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fenderslash
- New member
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:26 pm
The trials and tribulations continue. The carton containing my new amp arrived at work late in the day. I looked at the carton and thought to myself "That's smaller than I was expecting". I picked up the carton and took it out to my car, thinking "This is lighter than I was expecting". By this time a horrible possibility was going through my mind. Sure enough, I got home and unpacked it and it was the 20 watt model, not the 40 watt that I ordered. I rang up the music shop, and they didn't even have a 40 watt version on the floor. When I initially did the deal last Friday I practically spelt out exactly what I was wanting... a few times! Some people don't listen or are just a bit stupid.
To cut a long story short, I was talking to a different guy today, who was quite friendly and eager to fix the situation. He tracked down a 2x10 40 watter somewhere (as opposed to the 1x12 that I thought I had settled for this time due to lack of availability of a 2x10), and matched the best price I had found on the internet for it. While they're waiting for the 40 watt to arrive they want me to send back the 20 watt at their expense. Unfortunately it now means another week of waiting for my new amp.
I couldn't help myself, and tried out the 20 watt model just now. I have to say that I wasn't impressed with it. The clean channel sounds very nice, but the overdrive channel needs a much fuller sound. I'm hoping that's not a sign of things to come with the 40 watt model.
To cut a long story short, I was talking to a different guy today, who was quite friendly and eager to fix the situation. He tracked down a 2x10 40 watter somewhere (as opposed to the 1x12 that I thought I had settled for this time due to lack of availability of a 2x10), and matched the best price I had found on the internet for it. While they're waiting for the 40 watt to arrive they want me to send back the 20 watt at their expense. Unfortunately it now means another week of waiting for my new amp.
I couldn't help myself, and tried out the 20 watt model just now. I have to say that I wasn't impressed with it. The clean channel sounds very nice, but the overdrive channel needs a much fuller sound. I'm hoping that's not a sign of things to come with the 40 watt model.