VOX AC-30...which is the better to get?

[JakeK]

While I am still on the hunt for a good tube amp and saving all the dough I can get (for a tube amp and 1997SPC VB), I've narrowed it down to the VOX AC-30...the classic amp for a Ric. Which variation should I go for? There a few variations: one with Wharfdale speakers, one with Blue Alinco speakers and the handwired version. Are there any tonal differences to any of them? Which is the better of the three?

How good is the natural tube compression of an AC-30 with a 6-string Ric with 12k toasters? For the Townshend feedback effect, instead of stuffing the 1997 with paper, how can I get that feedback? I'm thinking a fuzzbox turned up all the way and the AC-30 cranked to around 7 should do the trick...

[sloop_john_b]

If money is no object, go for the handwired.

[JakeK]

What's the tonal difference between those and the non-handwired?

[sharkboy]

The handwired AC30 has an EF86 channel. As great as every other Vox channel is, that one is the king ("hail to the king, baby".) I'm messing around with other preamp pentode tubes, but right now, my favorite preamp tube is the EF86.

I like to think of the EF86 as having more of everything, but in reality, it is a single stage (vs. 4 stages in some of the Vox circuits) that goes from clean to very distorted. It has less clean headroom, especially when you are using a humbucker or even a high gain, so you would use the other channel if you wanted more loud cleans.

I think that when you couple the EF86 with the Alnico speakers, you'd have to blow more serious boutique money to get very close to the performance- and despite costing twice as much- I'm sure some of the boutiquy ones aren't better sounding.

One key is to test or have a reputable firm test it before you get it. Also, you should stock some high quality backup EF86 tubes and a safe, highly-vibration damped way of carting them around.

[1965]

What's the tonal difference between those and the non-handwired?

Quite a big difference. Save your money and get the handwired, it's worth it. You not gonna get the sound you want with the cheapo-30 and the Wharfdales. I had one, got rid of it quick.

[sloop_john_b]

Wes, was it you who picked up a JMI amp?

[paologregorio]

There's no such thing as a cheapo AC30. Relative to spending $2400-$3000 for a HW, a CC2X might be a lot less at $1000-$1500, but that's still not "cheap" either in cost or consruction. Korg/Vox did a darn good job designing the CC series, it's not hand wired, but to quote amp and tube whiz Aspen Pittman, "if PC board had been around when Leo Fender was building amps, he would have used it".

Oh, holy smokes!! I just checked the price for a HW at MF: with alnicos you can get one for $1999: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=481615

Anyway, I've been playing AC30s for a good fifteen years or more. I own on old one as well as one of the CC2X amps. I think the CC2X sounds great, and I can get a great AC 30 sound out of mine, as have many other forum members been able to. I have a model with Alnicos, rather than Wharfdales. I'm sure the difference in the HW model is the EF86 circuit mentioned before hand. If a CC2X sounded bad out of the box it was probably due to the generic Chinese preamp tubes, which can be quite awful.

The hand wired would most likely be the best, if money's no object, but the CC series is a solid amp. I suggest ordering one through North Coast. If you want the Alnico Blues, the amp's about $500 more, but I believe that you could order one with Wharfdales and have NCM install the unbranded Eminence Alnico speaker that does the same thing for a lot less. NCM also bench tests their amps, replaces any bad tubes, and modifies the speaker connection so that the amp chassis can be removed from the cabinet without having to desolder and resolder the speaker wires each time.

[deaconblues]

How good is the natural tube compression of an AC-30 with a 6-string Ric with 12k toasters? For the Townshend feedback effect, instead of stuffing the 1997 with paper, how can I get that feedback? I'm thinking a fuzzbox turned up all the way and the AC-30 cranked to around 7 should do the trick...

Stuffing a guitar with paper will cut the feedback, not create it.

[paologregorio]

How good is the natural tube compression of an AC-30 with a 6-string Ric with 12k toasters? For the Townshend feedback effect, instead of stuffing the 1997 with paper, how can I get that feedback? I'm thinking a fuzzbox turned up all the way and the AC-30 cranked to around 7 should do the trick...

You won't need to crank your amp nearly that high to get feedback, nor turn your fuzzbox all the way up. I do this sort of thing all the time live. On an old school AC30 Top Boost, and using the brilliant channel, and standing behind the amp looking forward, try setting the treble between the 9 and 10 o'clock positions, the bass between 10 and 12, and the "tone cut" at about 2. Adjust your volume control to fit with the room size and level of the band you'r eplaying with. I usually set my volume level between the 8 and 9 o'clock positions, again going from the vantage point of standing behind the amp looking forward.

With a CC series AC 30, the only difference is that you also have a couple of switches to play with, a master volume, and reverb. When I suse my CC2X I set my tone controls the same, put my channel volume at the 9 or 10 o'clock position, again from the vantage point of standing behind the amp looking forward, and set the master volume at the 8 or 9 o'clock positions, depending on the size of the room.

After that it's a matter of what sort of fuzzbox/distortion pedal you use, and what tone controls it has other than volume and drive. You'll want to avoid shrieking feedback in favor of a moaning/wailing over-sustain type feedback, I'm sure. I keep the volume lower on my pedals and try to work more with the tone and drive level controls, getting the volume I want out of my amp. I like my Tube Screamer, and my Danelectro Daddy- O, rather than the old school Fuzz Face or big Muff, but then again, I haven't used either one of the latter recently. I am a bit leery of "mojo" type claims for some old school style gear. In any case, I get a lot of compliments on my guitar tone with what I have, and most of my gear, though of quality, is not "boutique".

[1965]

I didn't mean the CC's were cheap, they're just cheap compared to the HW. One with the Wharfdales can easily be had for $700, but I'd save my dough and at least go for the X with the blues. Personally, I like the EF86 circuit, and having both in the HW makes it quite a versatile amp. I use a fuzz face and it works great with the guitars I have. It also works well with a bass (I used it with the 4001C64 on that 'Think for Yourself' video).

John B, yeah I picked up this JMI 30/4 over the summer. I run it with a power attenuator so I can crank it all the time.

[JakeK]

What do you guys think of this:

http://www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast/i ... H2-blk.jpg

The '64 RI is what I want...should I go for it (when I get the dough)?

[1965]

Calm down, Jake. If you were going to get the HW, I'd stick with the normal one. The blonde tolex marks it as something special. I don't know if you've seen one before, but it's nice to have a Vox that stands out from the crowd in both looks and sound.

[JakeK]

I do like the blonde tolex, reminds me of the first AC-30 amps Lennon and Harrison had in '62...I'll follow your advice, Wes. Can't go wrong with the advice of my friends.

[chuck_king]

I had the chance recently to side-by-side two otherwise-identical AC30s at a Guitar Center, one with Wharfdales and one with Alnico Blues. (And by happy coincidence, they had a used 330 out on the floor, too!) I had always been suspicious of the big upcharge for the Alnico Blues, but that experience made a believer of me. As several people have said, go for the Blues. There really is that much of a difference.

Pete Buck has Celestion G12H-30s in his AC30 he uses for live shows.

It may be too big a subject or beyond the scope of this thread, but what about older used AC30s? I know the really old ones are jillion-dollar vintage collectibles now, but are there intermediate-age AC30s that are worth looking at and might be a reasonable bargain (beyond used versions of the current production models)?

[paologregorio]

$1999 is a great price for that amp. I'll probably p/u one of the white tolex HW models in the near future as well; it's too tempting with the white tolex and the Alnicos, especially at that price, though I need another amp like I need another hole in my head-I'm running out of room I'm a sucker for amps with cool or unusual tolex. I think only a couple of my amps have black tolex; the rest are blonde or grey fawn.