Vox Amps Big vs. Small

[Folkie]

Thanks, Paul. Your advice was very helpful. I'll keep what you said in mind.

[Tommy]

I'm stll leaning toward the AC15, because, for my purposes, I don't need earth-shattering volume, and I could barely lift the AC30. What I want is an AC15 with as close as possible to the same speaker as the CC1: a 12-inch Celestion Blue Bulldog, or maybe an Alnico Blue.

Yeah, the CC2s were priced higher new than the C2s are priced new -- about $300 higher. And that was three years ago, so if they were both new today I'd say the CC2s would be about $400 higher.

Realistically, an AC30 is not for a bedroom player. It is NASCAR loud. Every once in a while I give my AC30 a real workout and I have to say it is super fun to really crank that thing. Unreal sound at high volumes. It amazes me how it can sound so good, so clear, so crisp at such volumes.

For your purposes it might be the AC15. I suppose you can swap your speaker to the Blues you want. I've never played one, but everyone says it is a very different amp than the AC30. John Lennon liked it. He used an AC15 to record the entire first Beatle album.

[paologregorio]

I could barely lift the AC30.

Try these.

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[Folkie]

I could barely lift the AC30.

Try these.

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[Folkie]

Paul,

It sounds like those Accutronics reverb tanks are pretty inexpensive. Are they easy to install?

Robert

[paologregorio]

Paul,

It sounds like those Accutronics reverb tanks are pretty inexpensive. Are they easy to install?

Robert

Yep.

1. Remove the lower back panel from the AC30
2. unscrew the reverb tank bag from the inside bottom of the amp (2-4 screws, IIRC)
3. Slide tank out of vinyl bag (if there's a bag; Fenders have them, but the Vox might just be mounted to the inside bottom of the cabinet with four screws.
* the tank unplugs via RCA-type jack, and IIRC, each jack (two) on the tank is color coded (red and white, IIRC), as are the cable ends running from the amp.
4. Unplug the old tank, noting the color coded ends on the tank and cables
5. plug in the new tank
Reinstall tank, following steps 1-3

How to webpage: http://www.ehow.com/how_7782401_change- ... -ac30.html

Here's another source for reverb tanks. Haven't used this brand, which claims to be superior to Accutronics: http://www.amplifiedparts.com/search/node/reverb%20tank

"Google is your friend." PW

[Folkie]

I just tried out the AC30CC1 with my other 12-string (the 1991 330/12) and the sound was not quite as spectacular as with the 360/12 with toasters. I do like some of the extra features, though, particularly the Input Link switch, and I think the Bulldog speaker is really punchy and trebly at the same time. Sam Ash has offered me $60 off the price tag of $799 because of the faulty reverb unit. On the one hand I'm drawn to the amp because of the sound and because the CC series is no longer made and has some interesting features. On the other, I've always been wary of buying used amps. I could have one of our local amp people give it a run through to make sure everything is okay. (Sam Ash has a 30 day return policy.) Then comes the question of whether to replace the reverb tank (and gain access to the Dwell switch and related controls) or to run my Boss Reverb pedal into the amp. I've never been a fan of Vox reverb anyway, and I tried a Boss Digital Reverb pedal with the amp and Janglebox today and have no complaints.

So I'm undecided and will be doing some online searches for CC series Vox amps over the next 24 hours. By the way, the amp is much lighter than the two speaker AC30's, and is actually quite comfortable to transport, which is a huge plus. And the plastic on the right-most grill is not melted at all, just a little adhesive residue from the footswitch sitting there that a damp cloth will take care of.

I'm up in the air on this one and will be grateful for any advice. I think a used AC30CC1 for $100 less than a modded AC15C1 is a pretty good deal!

Robert

[Tommy]

$60 off the price tag of $799 because of the faulty reverb unit.

This is a AC30 CC1 we are talking about? $740 for a CC1 with one speaker and a broken reverb? Come on, that ain't right at all. You can get a brand new AC30 C2 with two speakers and a reverb that works for $800!

Seriously, with that knowledge - a brand new fully functional twin speaker AC30 for sixty dollars more - why would you buy a used, broken, one speaker amp at roughly the same price? The amp you are looking at is a discontinued model, it ain't a vintage item. It's yesterday's news. And it's broken. The CC1 was going for $700 when it was new! You really want to pay $740 for a used broken one?

Dude, move on. Even if you can get the amp for $400 (which is the fair price), you still may have problems. Sure you can replace the reverb tank yourself cheap and easy, but you really have no way of knowing if the electronics are not working. Dwell switch is not working so it may be more than just a simple tank swap.

Once again:
You are thinking of paying $740 for a used broken amp when a brand new perfect one was $700.

[Folkie]

Tommy,

Caveat emptor, eh? I was under the impression that the original CC series AC30's were MORE expensive than the AC30C2. The only AC30C2 I've seen is tagged at $999 new. Maybe I just haven't looked in the right places.

The CC1 is, I think, more versatile than the C2, and I wasn't going to use the Vox reverb anyway. Add that to the fact that the speaker sounds INCREDIBLE with my 360/12 and that the CC1 is MUCH easier to lift than the AC30C2, and it's something to consider. Also, I'd pay $100 more for a new modded AC15C1 and there's no guarantee that I'll like the sound as well.

Having said all this, I heard your message loud and clear. One option would be to avail myself of the 30-day Sam Ash return policy and take the amp in to a tech to be checked out. Another would be to spring for a new AC15 with an Alnico Blue.

Thanks again, Tommy, for your brutally honest advice. I'll keep you posted on how things go.

Robert

[Folkie]

It turns out my salesman at Sam Ash was incorrect. The Vox AC30CC1 does not have a "Blue Bulldog" speaker, as there is no such thing. It has a Weber Blue Dog speaker, which is an American-made replica of the Celestion Alnico Blue which can handle higher wattage. Because I loved the sound of that speaker, I'm leaning towards having North Coast Music swap out the Greenback on a new AC15C1 with an Alnico Blue. But I know there are myriads of other tone factors between the two amps I was comparing, not least the difference in wattage. Will the AC15 give me the same jangle and chime?

[jps]

It turns out my salesman at Sam Ash was incorrect. The Vox AC30CC1 does not have a "Blue Bulldog" speaker, as there is no such thing.

Big surprise!

Webers are supposed to be great speakers.

[larsongs]

It turns out my salesman at Sam Ash was incorrect. The Vox AC30CC1 does not have a "Blue Bulldog" speaker, as there is no such thing. It has a Weber Blue Dog speaker, which is an American-made replica of the Celestion Alnico Blue which can handle higher wattage. Because I loved the sound of that speaker, I'm leaning towards having North Coast Music swap out the Greenback on a new AC15C1 with an Alnico Blue. But I know there are myriads of other tone factors between the two amps I was comparing, not least the difference in wattage. Will the AC15 give me the same jangle and chime?

If you can find a used AC15CC1X (Alnico Blue model) buy it, you'll love it. If you don't, you shouldn't have any trouble selling it. They are very desirable.

And/Or, Email Gary at NCM & ask him any questions you have re; comparison between an AC15CC1X & the new AC15C1 with his Alnico Blue mod. He is a straightforward no BS kind of guy.

Glenn

[larsongs]

Folkie,

Curious to hear which one you decided to go with?

Glenn

[Folkie]

It turns out my salesman at Sam Ash was incorrect. The Vox AC30CC1 does not have a "Blue Bulldog" speaker, as there is no such thing.

Big surprise!

Webers are supposed to be great speakers.

Jeff,

Sam Ash has yet another used Vox amp on the floor, and I would urge you to check it out. It's tagged simply as an "AC30." It has Normal and Brilliant channels, six inputs, tremolo, and no reverb. But here's the clincher: it has two Weber Blue Dog speakers which sound absolutely lovely. Unfortunately, the 330/12 I tuned up and plugged in had major intonation problems which created sour notes all over the neck. Still those Blue Dogs really sparkled and chimed. I'll have to bring in one of my 12'ers, both of which are free of intonation problems, to see what the amp can really do. I think I like the controls better on some of the other Vox amps, and this is one of the heaviest amps I've ever tried to lift, although I think it might be a tad lighter than the AC30's with Greenbacks.

I also just got a call from Guitar Center, telling me that one of their stores has a used hand-wired AC15 with an Alnico Blue speaker, for the selling price of $899 (the same price I'd pay for a new Chinese model fitted with an Alnico Blue). Personally, I'm a little wary of buying used amps, because I don't know much about tubes, and there are any number of things that can go wrong. If I did order the amp, I would have to have it checked out by an expert to make sure it had a clean bill of health. Of course the 30 day return policy would allow me ample time to do that.

That makes for three Vox amps and six Rickenbackers at our local Sam Ash. My favorite of the guitars is the 360/12C63. By all means, Jeff, stop by and look at all of them!

Robert

[paologregorio]

During the 1960s, Celestion made a "Bulldog" speaker for Vox.
Currently the Vox speaker is called an "Alnico Blue."
Weber makes a "Blue Pup."