Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I came across an older AC-30 in a local music store. I'm probably going to pick it up just to add another classic amp to my collection. What do I need to be looking for with this? I'm familiar with amps in general and I know what is preferred from a collector and player perspective with Marshalls and Fenders... No clue on the Vox.

This one is made in England with the old style (Bulldog) speakers... Good play wear but nothing drastic.

Any help appreciated.

JKC

PS Priced at about 1200. Is that good, bad or in the middle?

Make sure it's a tube AC30. Some of the later models were solid state-I forget which era. Since it has Bulldogs in it then you've scored in one respect. Also check to see if the cabinet is made out of birch pine. Some of the early 70s models were made with particle board cabinets. The guts of the amp would still be good, but you'd probably want a new cabinet made at some point. Old particle board can start to fall apart and the cabinet gets wobbly. A birch cabinet sounds far superior in any case!

paologregorio wrote:Make sure it's a tube AC30. Some of the later models were solid state-I forget which era. Since it has Bulldogs in it then you've scored in one respect. Also check to see if the cabinet is made out of birch pine....

Birch pine...izzat like mahogany walnut?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

jingle_jangle wrote:

paologregorio wrote:Make sure it's a tube AC30. Some of the later models were solid state-I forget which era. Since it has Bulldogs in it then you've scored in one respect. Also check to see if the cabinet is made out of birch pine....

Birch pine...izzat like mahogany walnut?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

You were right not to resist. That's too good-OOPS! Sorry, I meant to say birch ply, as in laminated birch ply. Argh!

I didn't look too close because I was in a hurry, but it appeared to be all tube. The tolex was peeling from the back on the corners and it was ply. I am assuming, then, that it was birch ply. Made in England by JMP Enterprises, I think. It was not a "Top Boost" in that it did not have the add on switch I think I am looking for.

What I want is a quality original example. I can get the serial number... Any other tell tale signs? Are the BullDogs the ones that are sort of midway between baby blue and royal blue with a weird crate/cannister on them? It has a footswitch, vibrato... No reverb. Again, I am totally lost with these things but it is a classic and looks like one to add to the collection.

If anyone has a phone number to share, I can call on my dime and chat about it.

Also, price? is $1,000.00 to $1,300.00 fair? Seems to be to me, but who knows.

Thanks, again, boys and girls.

JKC

Also, unless they have some funky Solid State/Tube Hybrid (Dean Markley) I know what I am looking at as far as tubes. Anything weird here I'd see that is different than looking under a Marshall, Fender or Mesa tube amp?

Thanks, again.

JKC