Best clean amp for a Ric 330/6

[Hotzenplotz]

I know that the size is a pain, but I would ALWAYS go for an amp with at least 2 speakers, the difference in tone/air over single speaker amps is worth having to deal with the size/weight.

+1

A big cabinet paired with minimum two 12" speakers is more than the half way to a good, solid sound, IMHO too!

[winston]

I used to have a Music Man RD 110 fifty and sold it because it was a small screaming point in the corner, very hard to adjust, IMHO.

From the money selling it I bought a VOX AC30VR. And I spared exactly one Euro! (Bought a beer for it...)

As mentioned before the AC30 (all tube or not) start to sound "smokey" from a certain point on, but far away from distortion. In my ears it sounds just "british", perfect! The ringing bell-like sound of a 300series six stringer combined with the singing VOX AC30 sound is a really perfect combination (since over 50 years as we know!). Having Your words in mind "mainly home use, small gigs" my advice: catch it, You will love it!

The AC30VR is exactly in Your range You want to pay, very versatile, doubtless good quality and 10kg less weight than the all tube AC30 - all this for less than half-price. And it is a real two channel amp with a two style option for the gain channel (OD1 and OD2). The only thing is it does not offer a loop - what I never missed until yet. You can nearly put all the things You want in the normal chain and it stays on top.

The VR is very (dangerous) close to the classic AC30 - the people at VOX did a really, really good job, I hope they will not start to regret it and will make it disappear! O.K. I am totally convinced, no secret, but nobody pays me to be this way. I just wish these VRs will make a lot of home runs, ment in a literally way. This amp is worth to become an icon similar to the great brother without the VR in the right bottom corner of the frontside. With the AC30VR I found my sound, playing 90% clean, BTW.

I doubt You can buy more amp for the money anywhere. And: it is soooooooo nice.

I could not agree more. I love my AC30VR

[Hotzenplotz]

And I still just can smile about the price!

When playing with the bandmates I have to turn around a few times an evening if it is really mine what sounds so good, still can not believe it completely. - Our drummer is very loud, BTW.

[sloop_john_b]

Whoa! I hadn't even heard of these VR's! This could be dangerous...

[Hotzenplotz]

It IS dangerous!

Have a look at a German, deep impressed by British engineering (not easy for us to recognize that!).

Do not care what he's talking about. - You can see and hear everything he is talking about. The keywords (clean, overdrive, bass, treble etc.) are the same.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyoW-X9rHNg

[fireglo67]

I'd happily exchange any of your horrible old and crusty vintage tube amps for a sparly new VR.
PM me at this address.

[Hotzenplotz]

I'd happily exchange any of your horrible old and crusty vintage tube amps for a sparly new VR.
PM me at this address.

Actually there is no market for used VRs, they are too young, unfortunately. Your advice about used CCs is VERY interesting! If I would live in the UK I would ask You for some help, immediately...

[electrofaro]

My bedroom amp right now's a dirt cheap Harley Benton GA5 - it's so clean it gets boring!

[fireglo67]

To be honest Sascha, 'tone' is a very subjective and personal thing.
Dave just really needs to try as many different amps as possible until he finds that 'must have'.
I used to be in a band where our lead guitarist had an 'Orange AD30' tube amp. he thought it was the bees knees, but to me his tone was Horrible. It was weak, muddy and over compressed, even without any pedals inline.

Though nothing could sound as bad or as dangerous as my first ever 'amp'.

I'd bought my first electric guitar from a charity shop for £5, it was a Les Paul shape in a horrible 'sunburst' finish. So I got the gloss paint out and painted it black.
Then I plugged in a jack plug with 2 wires running from it, and attached those onto the speaker terminals of my parents 'Radiogram'. Which looked something like this one.

untitled.JPG (9.67 KiB) Viewed 2030 times

It worked! I got an amplified sound out of it, but how I didn't electrocute myself, I'll never know.

[Hotzenplotz]

Of course tone is a very subjective and personal thing. I do 100% agree!

And the OP asked for our opinions, that are very subjective and personal things, aren't they?

But in general it needs volume and speakers for a well formed sound. That is not all, of course, but an important part of the story, IMHO.

About the testing thing I agree 100%, too. Especially with less money in the pocket.

I am just a very convinced VR user, coming from the all tube corner, BTW.
An amp that can cause so much positive emotions of several users should be one on his list. How long this list is, is up to the OP. My intention was to make sure that the 30VR is one the list.
Sorry, when I am happy about something I shout it out loud. - That's me and I try to stay this way...

Here's my first (tube) "amp", no joke, found at the bulky waste 20 years ago:
(I survived it, too. And it is still doing a reliable and great job in my office.)

[ken_j]

Cool radio with a "green eye".

[Hotzenplotz]

Right!

Today still fascinating to look at when changing the frequency.

And a tube, too.

[david/wales/u.k]

Hi Rob,
If you could help me get a good deal on a Vox then I would gladly drop you a line....How do I go about doing that!!

[antipodean]

David, if you can't get a VR at the right price, maybe this Roland JC-50 will float your boat.

[jps]

Right!

Today still fascinating to look at when changing the frequency.

And a tube, too.

I loved the "eye tube" meter that was on my first recorder, Webcor open reel.