Amp shopping

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:43 pm

Spent Saturday afternoon in Grand Island at Jackson Music. A great staff - knowledgeable and personable.

I tried a bunch of amps using a 330/12 Jetglo. Beautiful. I don't have the good fortune to hear Rick 12's too often so it was a delight. An even better delight to play one for 3 hours. It could've used a set-up but I didn't really care!

I tried a Traynor, an Epiphone, a couple other forgettable amps, and a Blues Pro (didn't have a Blue Jr.). The highlights though were indeed the Vox amps. I played the AD30VT and the AD50VT. These were a lot of fun and impressive also around. Good tone. The 50 sounds bigger even with the attenuator down. The bigger speaker, more headroom I guess? The closer sound of the 30 has its own tonal charms too. They both sounded great and were a complete riot to play. What's your take on the two in comparison to one another?

The prices of these are fantastic. I realized how expensive amps are in Canada. Even with the exchange, you can knock off more than $100 on a $350 amp. Why are they so much more expensive? Does Canada impose some kind of import duty on amps? I thought they were covered under NAFTA so that at least there'd be no duties on American guitars/equipment coming in. Anybody know?

Lastly, I played an AC30. Wow. Absolutely stunning sound and I can see why people rave about them. Too rich for my blood right now. But an AC15....??? They didn't have one in for me to try - just sold their last one. I'm going to try one out this upcoming weekend. I'll get back to you.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:30 pm

I haven't played either the AD30VT or the AD50VT in awhile, so I can't recall much about how they sounded, except that they didn't sound as nice as my AC30. I have no idea about Canadian pricing either. Maybe because you get medical treatment so much cheaper, you have to pay more for amps?

Did the AC30 you played have the Celestion blue speakers, or some others ones? It makes a big difference.

A lot of people seem to be happy with the modelling Vox amps like those ones you played. If you don't have the dough for a good tube amp, then those might suffice. Good luck on the AC15. I haven't played any of those yet.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:01 pm

Distribution in Canada is quite a bit different than in the US. Fewer customers = more margin demanded to the dealer then the dealer puts whatever price they think they can get on it. Most Canadian music store customers really do not know there is such a difference and pay the premium anyway. It made me so made I called a distributor on it and they arranged a deal through a store here to get me the same price on my AD120VTH/AD212 rig as I could have had through the US dealers. We are gouged up here on instruments. There is only one Pop and Son outfit here that I will do business with, because they do not gouge. Everything I can't get through them I go south. Hey, the US dealers treat me well and like a customer,completely the opposite if Canadian outfits. Ok, sorry. Rant over.

Greg, come try out our cheap medical treatments. There really great... if you can ever actually get treated.

All is not so rosy with subsidized health care.

The AC15CC is a great amp. The classic tones are really there when cranked, but lose a bit when you drop the master. Nothing dramatic or evil, but still there. The more classic tube amps I try, the more I like my cyborg Valvetronix rig for tone, touch and flexibility. But I am a 'hobby' player now, and cranked AC30 space is no longer available to me.

...Dean

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:29 pm

I do need to get my tonsils out and don't get medical coverage for a month. Maybe I'll drive up to BC and complain of a sore throat!

I love my AC30 and its cranked tone, and lots of other amps cranked tones too (Supro Thunderbolt anyone?), so I always make sure I live someplace where I can crank it all I want.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:51 am

Lucky man! I got into a bunch of grief when I cranked the Little Lanilei I tried out last week. And got a vist from the local constabulary for cranking the AC15CC!!

...Dean

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:32 am

Boy they would really come pounding on my door then if I cranked my all tube vintage Ampeg SVT and hit a low E! The neighbors sometimes don't like the sound of that one depending on where I am in the house with it.

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:09 pm

I'm going into Toronto again this weekend to try out some more amps. I've tried a few Fenders, the Vox Valvetronix series, some Epiphones, some Traynors, and a Vox AC30. I definitely want to try out an AC15 and a Blues Jr. (I tried one of these but only briefly). Keep in mind that I'm looking for something small (15-25 watts or so)that I can use for small clubs, playing folk/folk rock kind of stuff, nothing very heavy.
Any recommendations on amps I should definitely try out?

Also, as most of you know, Ricks are far more difficult to find here so I rarely get the chance to try out amps using one. If I'm in a shop trying out amps and want to get as close as possible to a Rick, what axe would you recommend I use? There probably aren't any but I've been generally using hollowbody guitars (Gretsches and Gibsons mostly) on the premise that my 360 is a semi-hollow and this might be the closest I can come.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:28 pm

Oddly enough, Bill, I find a Godin Exit22 or LGXT solid body with single coils can get fairlyy close through an AC30 or AC15 (or those models on the V'x amps).

You might check out the Traynor Y series tube amps as well. I think they have a YVR15 or something like that. I heard a 30w version with a Gretsch and it was very warm.

...Dean

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:48 pm

Old Fender Bandmasters sound beautiful with Rics especially the black faced ones, very chimey and pretty sounding, I think they sound better than Voxes and are cheaper, the're about 40 watts.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:36 pm

ooooh...I can't stand any blackface fenders with my RIC, although I have the 230 model with the humbuckers. Actually let me take that back partially. I like a blackface Fender with my 230 if I'm playing clean on the neck pickup, but the Vox is chimier and warmer. I sometimes will use the Fender in a studio though to fill in a track with a different sound, but with my RIC, the Vox usually sounds much better to me.

With other guitars like my weird looking one I made with 3 humbuckers, or my Strat or Danelectro DC3, the Fenders are great and usually as good or better than the Vox for a lot of things.

jwargowski · Post by **jwargowski** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:02 pm

Who here has a Vox AC-15? I've never played through one, but am interested. I'm assuming the Korg reissues are solid state rectified, but seem to be popular. I prefer tube personally. Anyone had the chance to A/B a new and vintage pair? I'm looking for the vox sound in a low wattage config - the AC-30 is way too much for my needs. Comments?

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:54 pm

The Korg reissue AC15 that was made in the Marshall factory in England had some problems with it, which is why it was discontinued. The new one made in China is much better from all reports. I think they were/are both tube rectified but I can't recall offhand at the moment. I don't know how either compares to the vintage ones.

You may also consider one of the new Marshall 18W amps if you have a couple thousand to spend. They're VERY nice sounding amps. You can also get someone to make you a kit 18W for under $800 that will sound as good or better than the Marshall reissue.

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:44 am

Had an informative and fun time yesterday shopping for amps. Tried out a bunch. I am definitely going to pick up a Vox AD amp, though I'm not sure if I'll go with the 30 or the 50. 30 watts is plenty for my purposes but the 12" speaker gives the amp a fuller tone in my opinion. The 30 has a great tone too though slightly different. It's also almost 20 pounds lighter. A significant factor in my decision is the price. At $220/$330 US, these amps seem to be a steal. I'll grab one when I head south to pick up my BBR (whenever that is - one year and counting now!).

Also, my 360 has, of course, a stereo output. I'm thinking next year might see another amp make it into the Hughey house. That one'll be all tube. And, having some amp diversity will be useful when I get my 12 stringer.

I'm starting to see what you guys mean about GAS.....

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:12 am

Hopefully your southern sojourn is not far away, Bill. What a great day that will be - new guitar and amp. I'd be enquiring about a high speed police escort!!

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 12:16 pm

That will be great day - IF it ever comes! I was doing pretty good a couple of months ago but since I got the word that the guitar would be another 2 months, the wait has seemed long. I'm seriously jonesing right now, probably not helped by the fact that I've been trying out amps and constantly in guitar shops seeing beautiful axes everywhere. They tell me it should be ready in May-I jus hope it isn't pushed back again!

But you're right Howard, I'm biding my time by thinking about what a glorious day that'll be. Driving down, crossing over into the good old USA, opening the case for the first time, smelling it (I was a little disconcerted by John's post about no smell though-I didn't even know about Ric-O-Smell until this past year, now I want it!) and then plugging it into some different amps, and then A/B'ing an AD30VT and an AS50VT. After that, I plan to shop for some accessories, you know, a couple of new cables (I have a bag full but hey, may as well, right), a strap, a stand. I'm even looking forward to getting stopped at the border and showing the guys there. "Do you have anything to claim?" "Do I?!! Check this out!"

Ah, yes that will be a glorious day.

If it comes....