Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all.

Can anyone tell me what the difference is in the new VOX AC30 amps?

I know that one has the Warfedale Speakers, and the other the Blue Celestions.

One sells for Approx. $999.00, the other for $1599.00

Why is one so much more expensive than the other? Is there really that big a difference between the two?

Thanks!

The Blue Celestions are recreations of the vintage Celestion Blue speaker, which is widely regarded as one of the best sounding speakers of all time for a guitar amp. The reason(s) they are so expensive are because 1) they use alnico magnets, which use cobalt, and cobalt is very expensive, and 2) they sound so good and are in demand because the old ones sounded so good. If you buy these speakers individually, they are close to $300 each.

The true sound of a Vox AC30 is with the Celestion Blue speakers, and if you play one with those speakers, and one with any other speakers, you'll see what I mean. The difference is astonishing, but make sure you play the amp quiet and loud, because the breakup qualities are where the Celestion Blues really shine.

Thanks Greg!

Hi Charlie... this is a VOX AC-15 question.

The AC-15 takes five 12AX7 and two EL84 tubes. I bought my AC15 (Celestion Blue speaker) used (ebay) about a year ago and about last spring I put in a new set of tubes. I chose JJ's for all of them.

The amp sounds good but would you recommend a different brand? EI's? other?

Looks like the VOX AC-15CC is already out in other countries and that it comes in two flavors:

The AC15CC which succeeds the feature sound of the AC30 perfectly, actualizes the preponderant sound pressure impression only of the full * tube (the Custom Classic) series new appearance. Channel in 1 the top * boost circuit is loaded specification, it has reproduced also the response of the traditional AC30 with the SAG circuit attaching silicon * diode rectification section. In addition to VOX traditional tremolo, it loaded also master * volume and the spring * reverberation, it wore also the sound * make-up whose degree of freedom is higher to possible. 2 types of AC15CC1 which loads the Celestion " Blue " Alnico speaker which is similar to the original AC30 and AC15CC1 which loads the VOX Custom GSH12-30 speaker are prepared.

I want an AC15CC.... are they available yet?

Charlie... any thoughts on that AC15 tube question?

Most techs like the Ei smooth gray plate 12AX7s in Vox AC15 and AC30 amps. They sound great, but do not last. They are cheap though.

My personal favorite 12AX7 is the JJ ECC803S, big tone, great touch sensitivity dynamics and longer life.

thanks much! (I agree that longer life is a real consideration)

How much do the EL84's contribute to the sound compared to the 12AX7's?

link to a VOX AC15CC1X with the Celestion AlNiCo “Blue” Speaker ..... $900

http://www.bananas.com/productdetail.asp/PID_9535

The best VOX EL84s are the Ei EL84s, again, cheap sound great in VOX amps, but can only handle lower screen grid voltages. There are two versions, those with the dull gray color plates (older) and the newer ones with bright nickel plating. The newer ones are brighter sounding and are not as long lasting.

EL84s do contribute to the sound, but not as much as the 12AX7s. All tubes should test good for tightest, most musical sound.



A second choice would be the JJ EL84s which sound almost like Mullards.

I'm glad I bought several quads of the older gray plates when they were available. I like NOS GE EL84's best of all, but they are getting more hard to find and expensive every day. Thats why I use the EI's, although I would like to find a nice quad of NOS GE's to use for recording. Do you have any right now Charlie?

JJ..... EI.... JJ... EI

I think I'll splurge and order a set of both so at least I have backups. LIke I said, my current JJ's sound good but I haven't tried anything else.

Can you guys describe the sound difference? For instance are EI's brighter and more trebbly than JJ's? (thanks in advance for the help)

I think the EI's are chimier and more alive sounding, and they grit up really nicely when the amp is turned up. To me they sound very close to the old GE's that I love, with maybe not as much 3D depth to the sound as the GE's. The JJ's are good functional tubes, but to me their high end is a bit uninteresting and lifeless compared to the EI's. The JJ's also don't grit up as nicely. I suppose you could say they're more polite tubes. With the price, you can certainly get both. Just make sure to get them from a decent supplier and get them matched.