Help!!! Teach me about Vox amps!!!!

[kvalois]

Hi, everyone:

I know that I just asked about Fender amps (which are great). But, my local "mom & pop" guitar store here--one of only two in Connecticut that sells Rickenbackers--has suggested that I look into a Vox amp for my Roger McGuinn RM370-12. The store is Banko's, in Ansonia.

Of course, I have heard about Vox amps for decades, but have never played through one. So, before I spend big bucks, I DESPERATELY need a "crash course" on Vox amps. A friend told me that some type of Vox amps are now made in China and "stink." I've also heard that there's only one "real" model that sounds fabulous, that less expensive Vox amps are junk, etc.

So, PLEASE, if anyone knows which VOX amp will give me that Byrds sound-- teach me!!!

Thank you,

Karl

[jimk]

Roger didn't use a Vox amp during his tenure with the Byrds. So I don't think you're going to be able to copy his sound with that amp.

If I may be so bold, I strongly suggest that 1. you try out several Vox amps at that store, and 2. take your friend's advice with a healthy dose of skepticism. Judge for yourself.

JimK

[paologregorio]

Ditto that; Roger Mcguinn used Fenders live, IIRC, and recorded direct into the board in studio via compressor IIRC.

AS for Chinese made AC30 Custom Classics being junk, I own both English and Chinese made Vox amps. Aside from the lousy Chinese preamp tubes that come with the Chinese Vox amps (replace these tubes if you buy one!), I think they sound great. I was playing my Ricks through my Custom Classic AC30 (made in China) yesterday. I thought it sounded fantastic. They're a good solid amp that can be made even better with mods if one so chooses. I haven't done' anything to mine except replace the preamp tubes.

That being said, tone and amp preference are subjective, so yes, try the amps out yourself, and keep in mind the phrase "it's the painter not the brush".

Happy amp shopping!

[Deanodime]

I have been using a Valvetronix VT30 30W for about a year now. For band practice and low volume situations it is very good!
I have been using the "Tweed" setting and the internal compressor with good results. It's quite usable, sounds really good. The line-out allows me to practice at night, there's a power-level control (have not used it) and it's inexpensive. It also takes the Janglebox well. However, it does not seem to like OD pedals.

Maximum bang for my buck and have not had one problem with it.

[Memphis Blue]

I have a Vox Pathfinder 15r, a Vox Pathfinder head only that I use in my studio for direct injection, a Vox VR30 and I gig through a Vox AC-15 made in China.
When I got the AC-15, all of my amp head friends said "You have to change the Wharfedale speaker and tubes..."I have done neither...because I love this amp!
It sounds amazing and has withstood almost 2 years of gigging...I do have a road case...but it has bounced around in my van to and fro from every gig.
I use no effects...I am totally in love with the sound a Ric makes through this thing.

[jps]

Hey Jeff, what do know about your new SWR namesake speaker line, the Golight series?

[Memphis Blue]

LOL! First I've heard about it...my pharmacist always reminds of GOLYTELY...the stuff you drink before a colon operation or scan...it makes you **** your brains out.
There are so many jokes there...so little time...

[kvalois]

Hi, all:

I just came back from Sam Ash, where I played a VOX AC30cc2-- without the blue Celestion speakers. Asking price was $1,199. When I ran my RM 370-12 through it-- with the original McGuinn compressor and then with a Janglebox-- I couldn't believe how LOUSY it sounded. Even the department "head" or supervisor of the amp section agreed!!!! He tried everything under the sun to change settings, and still it sounded so "muddy." It didn't even sound that trebly-- just a big mishmash!!!! Everything lacked clarity. And, the reverb added nothing, as well.

We then went around the corner to try a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb-- and from the 1st chord, it sounded 10 times better. I played the intro to "Feel A Whole Lot Better" and I could hear each of the strings with clarity. It was jingle-jangly as well. I am told that the Fender Twin Reverb is even better (big bass sound). But, Sam Ash did not have one in stock.

So, my plan is to try a store that has a VOX AC 30CC2-- with the blue speakers. The Sam Ash employee said that it would be much better sounding. Interestingly, at the end, he also told me that Sam Ash was thinking of offering the Vox I played for only $899!!!!

Karl

So

[paologregorio]

The Celestion Blues/Alnico Blues/Vox Blue/Vox Bulldogs could be key; all of my AC30s have those, although I recently heard Kenny Howes play through a 90s Vox TBX reissue with Greenbacks in it and it souded great.

[1a12]

entirely too longwinded PM sent

[jdogric12]

While you're doing test drives, try to find a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amp. They're great. They get really loud and stay clean.

[doctorwho]

Karl, if you can find one, test out a Kustom '36 Coupe ... all-tube, 6L6 power, fantastic reverb.

[JakeK]

I'm thinking that if you want to go Vox, you better see what you can do about getting a Vox AC-30 HW2 Handwired.

[paologregorio]

If the HW is only a couple of hundred dollars more than the CC2X with blues, go for it, but otherwise the CC series with Vox Blues works just fine; I've seen a number of deals on used CC2Xs with the Alnico Blues speakers in them. The CC2X was the only amp I brought with me to the jam session on Saturday and everyone who played through it loved the tone, including me! It's a really good amp, and I'm glad I bought one. The master volume control is especially nice for being able to get the amp tone one desires from the brilliant or normal channel, while controlling the volume level. I think the key to using one is to replace the Chinese preamp tubes, as they seem to have a short and ever increasingly noisy life, as well as flipping the back panel switches to the lower wattage "warm" selection, and using the "vintage" position on the smoothing/contouring switch. There are some mods that can be done to these amps as well, but they sound quite good just as I've described them.