Having second thoughts about a VOX AC30cc2

[revolver]

I'm retiring my 1972 Hiwatt from the road after 15 years of gigging. I've always wanted an AC30 and thought the AC30cc2 would be an affordable option.
My only concern initially was that it weighed the same as my Hiwatt 4x12. After reading countless reviews I now have more serious concerns. I keep coming across two recurring points.

1. The AC30cc2 sounds absolutely amazing and has some great features. I've seen demos online to confirm this and had the opportunity to play a couple around town.

2. They are completely unreliable and poorly made. Constantly blowing tubes & fuses, broken reverb tanks, grill cloth falling off, "don't use the standby switch" etc.


I've had my 40 year old Hiwatt serviced three times in 15 years. It has only died on me once in that time. It is built like a tank and is 100% reliable. I'm sure it would last me another 15 years.
If any CC2 owners can tell me about their experiences good or bad I'd appreciate it.


I saw someone playing a Hughs & Kettner Statesman at a local shop and it sounded great, I need to go back and spend some time with it on my own.

I've been trying to narrow down my choices but find it quite difficult in the Toronto area. There really isn't the greatest selection of amps. It's always Fender, Marshall, Orange and one AC30cc2 everywhere I go! There seem to be lots of great AC30 clones available stateside, but once I get one shipped here and pay duty it could get costly for an amp I never even get to test out.

Everything I've been reading about the Statesman appeals to me but it is about $500 more than a Canadian made Traynor YCV 40. I've used these amps at rehearsal spaces, they sound pretty good but look uninspiring.

My budget is between $800-1400.

[8mileshigher]

Well, the AC-30 CC2's may have some cheap Chinese machine screws, that hold the chassis and frame together but these can be replaced .... and even the staunchest Vox fans have nothing positive to say about the stock AX127s from the factory, but there are easy enough solutions for that : http://thetubestore.com/sba-vox-ac30cc.html

A lot of versatility with what you can do with the CC2 and blending the Normal and Top Boost channels, and expanding that further with the Master volume control. You could spend hours testing it, and shaping your sound at a music store or rehearsal studio !!

It's all about the Vox tone and you either like it, or you don't. And if you like the tone, these other annoyances are petty in comparison to what you get. The CC2s with the Wharfies are a pretty good deal for the price and if you can get the Alnico Blues, even better !!

Yeah, they weigh 70+ pounds, so eat your Wheaties !!!

I would suggest reading up on Voxes over on the Plexi palace Vintage Amps web-site. A wealth of info ...
http://vintageamps.com/plexiboard/viewf ... 3c1ba59264

Maybe Paulie, Kenny or Mike or some other Vox lovers will "chime" in on the topic !

[revolver]

I think I'll wait until an English made reissue surfaces or I find a similar amp as chimey.

Has anyone read about the ghost notes from an AC30cc?

An interesting read...
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index. ... msg_118126

[paologregorio]

I think I'll wait until an English made reissue surfaces or I find a similar amp as chimey.

Has anyone read about the ghost notes from an AC30cc?

An interesting read...
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index. ... msg_118126

If you must have an English made reissue or similar amp, JMI makes a clone, it won't weigh any lighter though.

I wouldn't turn down a CC2 Vox; I own three of them; an old hand wired top boost, a CC2X, and an AC 30 H2; I think they all sound great.

If you you want a Hand wired Vox, you can buy one of the H2 models, though it too is made in China; it has an EF86 channel, as well as a top boost channel, comes with Blue alnicos, but fyi; it has no reverb or vibrato.

I suggest reading the Vox amps amp bulletin board section of the Plexi Palace forum regarding the CC series. I think my CC series AC 30 is a really cool amp! If you want one without issues, buy one from North coast Music; they make sure every amp they sell is shipshape. Actually, I think most of the bugs in the CC series were in the earliest amps. IIRC, Korg now uses Accutronics tanks, and NCM tests all of their tubes, and upgrades the speaker connection with a jack, all under warranty, and at a competitive price.

In any case, it's obvious that you're doing your homework ahead of time; I wish you nothing but happiness with the amp you decide on!

[sharkboy]

Well, the Vox is the king of that chimey thing. I definitely prefer the EF86 channel of the H2. It does make me crazy how the chassis of the Vox is designed- concentrated heat, imperfect ventilation (new ones might be better than the old ones), a pain to change tubes and service.

I'd say the H2 is a better option, since it's going to be better for repairs/mods (it seems that it would be a bit of a sin to modify a Vox). If you're going for weight, the AC15 handwired also has the EF86, but that amp is not going to have as much clean headroom. Of course, now a lot of companies make a Vox knockoff, but the Matchless DC30 is a very nice amp, though just a hair tighter sounding (bigger iron, higher voltages).

I have become far more happy with heads and cabs than combos, so that might be a weight improvement. It also allows a little more isolation for things like EF86s and reverbs. I have a DC30 knockoff head from Ceriatone that is relatively shockingly reasonable and follows their chassis design, rather than the Vox.

In general, if I were buying an AC30CC, I would probably get it from North Coast, so somebody would have gone in and checked it out. I suspect that most problems happen much sooner (most of the horror stories I've heard were from DOA models, but longevity might still be a concern.)

[revolver]

And if you like the tone, these other annoyances are petty in comparison to what you get.

I don't know. This is what I'm pondering.

Are the annoyances petty? Perhaps I've been spoiled over the years by my Hiwatt. An amp exceptionally made which also sounds amazing. An amplifier I can always trust to work and one which is easily maintained. I also realize the CC2 is worth a third the price, but still $1200 (the average price for a new CC2 in Canada) is still a lot of money. Especially when you can buy a handwired locally made amp for a few hundred dollars more.

http://www.mackamps.com/products-Heatseeker-HS36

I understand that nothing but an AC30 will sound like an AC30 so I'm debating if something that sounds close to an AC30 but is roadworthy is a better option. Sorry to harp about this topic! The release of the CC2 a couple years back and the rave reviews of its sound really excited me. I can't afford an original AC30 and even the English made Korg models are getting pricey and hard to find. So the opportunity to actually own an AC30 was pretty appealing. Getting closer to making the purchase I've been doing some deeper digging and it's left me a bit disappointed. I have huge reservations now.

Still digging.

[collin]

I think I'll wait until an English made reissue surfaces or I find a similar amp as chimey.

Well, I can't comment on the sound, but the UK-made Korg AC-30's aren't exactly reknowned for their reliability either.

They aren't entirely unreliable, per se.....but not the rock that your Hiwatt was, at all.

[paologregorio]

Yep, the Hiwatts made during the era yours was built are supposed to be amazing! On a related note, and something I just remembered; fellow forumite Mike Snow owns a Hiwatt or two from the same era as yours, as well as one of the CC2 with Wharfies, and is a fan of both, so you might want to contact him via pm about his observations.

My CC2X has the alnicos, and I've replaced the preamp tubes with Mullard replicas, but other than modding the speaker connection (easily done with less than $5 in parts, and a little patience) for convenient access, I haven't done anything else to the amp other than play it and enjoy it.

The AC30 responds well to subbing different preamp tubes as well; there are some really nice, interesting tonal changes one can get from swapping the 12AX7 preamp tubes for 12AU7, 12AY7, 12AT7 tubes in some of the sockets. Other amps respond similarly to these changes.

If you buy a CC2, pay attention to the back panel switches; those settings affect the tone of the amp significantly, so try them out! When I first bought the amp, the switches were set other than how I have them now, and the amp sounded quite different; at the time it reminded me more of a Twin type sound, though I'm not sure that's an accurate description at this point; after reading the quick reference sheet and playing around with all of the switches I was able to dial in the sound I liked.

[paologregorio]

Well, Yeah, they weigh 70+ pounds, so eat your Wheaties !!!

I would suggest reading up on Voxes over on the Plexi palace Vintage Amps web-site. A wealth of info ...
http://vintageamps.com/plexiboard/viewf ... 3c1ba59264

Maybe Paulie, Kenny or Mike or some other Vox lovers will "chime" in on the topic !

Rich, there's no way you could find 70 pounds heavy; you have the strength of a bear; a couple of jams ago you grabbed one end of my AC30 to help me take it to the car, and you practically picked me up along with the amp as I grabbed the other end!

Ditto on the plexi palace; some fascinating info there on all sorts of amps, including just about every type of AC30.

[revolver]

I've come across a Mayfly BC30 but it's not local so I can't check it out. Has anyone heard or played one before?

[jps]

Would something like this work for you?

[Ric-O-Buc]

Valvetech Hayseed 30

[86kubicki]

Dave - have you tried any of the Mack amps? I've heard nothing but good things about their sound and service, plus they're local if you have any additional concerns. The Twelfth Fret on the Danforth carries them. I've been looking for a small tube amp myself and might go check out one of their 18 watt versions.

[jps]

Forget my post above, what you really is is something from the good doctor.

[amphead]

Hi Everyone!

If you have any questions about Mack Amps just let me know.