Vox AC30H2

[Ric-O-Buc]

Well, I just received and played the amp for about an hour. Nice thick tone with the Rick 330's (12 and 6). Not a lot of clean headroom - but probably due to the stock tubes and speakers not being broken in yet. I'll be changing all tubes in a day or two - will give another tone review then. Nice snappy sparkly tone with the Tele. I think I'm going to like everything about this amp but carrying it around....

[8mileshigher]

I think I'm going to like everything about this amp, but carrying it around....

[paologregorio]

I think I'm going to like everything about this amp, but carrying it around....

Buck up and hit the weights!

Really, they're not that heavy.

[Ric-O-Buc]

No, you're right. 75 lbs give or take.

My Red-Knob Twin Reverb at over 100 lbs was a little heavy..... And too LOUD!

[Ric-O-Buc]

Well, I just have to say that after a few days of playing through this beast - I LOVE it! There's a lot to be said for the simplicity of the EF86 channel - one volume knob, a 3 position Brilliance switch, 2 position bass switch, and pentode/triode mode switch. Sounds great - even with the cheap stock tubes..... I've just received the new JJ's, so I guess I'll swap them in tomorrow - I just dig this amp. If you get the chance, I would highly recommend getting one - they're clearing them out at some pretty good prices these days.

[paologregorio]

No, you're right. 75 lbs give or take.

My Red-Knob Twin Reverb at over 100 lbs was a little heavy..... And too LOUD!

I had one of those for a couple of years.

[JakeK]

I had one of those for a couple of years.

And from what you told me, it was a nightmare!

[paologregorio]

I had one of those for a couple of years.

And from what you told me, it was a nightmare!

Sort of. I don't like to publicly knock an amp other forum member might be fond of. It was a dependable amp-it never blew up on me or anything, and the channel switching and blending feature was cool, but it was def a step down from the 70s/early 80s Master Volume Twin Reverb/Vibrato amps. The PC board circuitry was rather flimsy, especially with respect to the control pots all being mounted to a strip of really flimsy pc board behind the amp's face plate, which resulted in all of the pots vibrating loose en masse more than once. I also didn't like the particle board cabinet; the particle board rear panel cover was basically useless for protecting the tubes until I glued a strip of 1x2 pine across the inside of it (after it broke 2 or 3 times). I also thought it lacked the bottom end of the earlier Twins, and I was disappointed by the lack of tremolo/vibrato my earlier Twin had. Still the amp was dependable for the most part.

[JakeK]

Sort of. I don't like to publicly knock an amp other forum member might be fond of.

Got ya. Sorry I said what I said how I said it, know what I'm saying?

[paologregorio]

[quote="paologregorio]Sort of. I don't like to publicly knock an amp other forum member might be fond of.

Got ya. Sorry I said what I said how I said it, know what I'm saying?[/quote][/quote][/quote]

Oh yeah; I didn't mean to imply you said anything bad. I just meant that I didn't want to knock an amp other guys on the forum like.

[Ric-O-Buc]

Since we're relating red knob experiences - I'll tell you about mine. I bought it new in 1990. Played hundreds of gigs with it up until this year, with never a problem (except an occasional sore back). That amp would keep up with ANYTHING on stage - Marshalls, Boogies, anything - and sound great doing it. I always kept the cover on it, and it was clean as a whistle when I sold it, no tears - rips - missing knobs... just a little discoloration on the grill cloth from the countless hours in smoke filled bars. One of the best pieces of gear I've ever owned, and if I had it to do over again, I would.

[Ric-O-Buc]

I re-tubed the AC30H2 amp with the JJ's I got from Eurotubes. Immediately noticed a big increase in volume and bottom end with the new tubes. Unfortunately, the EF86 channel - while showing a big increase in gain - also had a pretty gnarly tube rattle. After doing some digging, I found out this is a pretty common occurrence with EF86 tubes as they have a lot of gain. I ordered these O-ring tube dampers, put a couple of them on the EF86, and the rattle vanished. The Top Boost channel with the 12AX7's just sparkles - and the EF86 channel has this throaty growl. Very happy so far. Amazing how versatile the 330 is with this amp. Looking forward to hearing the speakers break in.

[paologregorio]

I re-tubed the AC30H2 amp with the JJ's I got from Eurotubes. Immediately noticed a big increase in volume and bottom end with the new tubes. Unfortunately, the EF86 channel - while showing a big increase in gain - also had a pretty gnarly tube rattle. After doing some digging, I found out this is a pretty common occurrence with EF86 tubes as they have a lot of gain. I ordered these O-ring tube dampers, put a couple of them on the EF86, and the rattle vanished. The Top Boost channel with the 12AX7's just sparkles - and the EF86 channel has this throaty growl. Very happy so far. Amazing how versatile the 330 is with this amp. Looking forward to hearing the speakers break in.

Both of the channels have a lot more bottom than a standard AC 30 to my ear, especiallly at the "lower" volume in pentode or EF86modes, and depending on which way the bass shift and brillaiance switches are selected. Glad to hear you like the amp amp much as I do.

[Ric-O-Buc]

I just ordered a NOS Mullard short mesh EF86 from Mike K at KCA Tubes. The JJ started to rattle a bit even with the dampers on it - but only on a G chord....

This amp has so much balls on the EF86 channel. I tried it with the output switched to the triode mode - and it really smoothed out the tone. Nice mellow tone without quite as much edge. This is a real versatile piece of kit!

[paologregorio]

I just ordered a NOS Mullard short mesh EF86 from Mike K at KCA Tubes. The JJ started to rattle a bit even with the dampers on it - but only on a G chord....

This amp has so much balls on the EF86 channel. I tried it with the output switched to the triode mode - and it really smoothed out the tone. Nice mellow tone without quite as much edge. This is a real versatile piece of kit!

It's my favorite AC30 now. I am considering EF86 mod kits for my other AC 30s, and perhaps a pentode/triode mod if one's available/doable.