Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

If cash wasn't an issue right now, I'd love to have a nice AC30 to play my new Fireglow 360 through. But, the YCV20 seems to be a pretty good substitute. It's pretty Voxy sounding in its stock form. I've already replaced the EL84 tubes with NOS GE's and the preamp tubes with Mullard & Brimar ECC83's. That helped a lot. I tried swapping the Rocket 50 speaker for a Greenback but it cut the clean headroom and overall loudness too much. I've got two new speakers coming in to try in the YCV20. A Eminence Red Fang and a Northshore Music custom made speaker that's really supposed to deliver Celestion Blue sound. I'd sure like to hear other ideas, comments on this amp with a Rickenbacker. I'm shooting for early Beatles tone. I plan to put Toasters in my 360 too.

I'm considering a YCV20WR myself. I would be interested in knowing how those speakers from North Coast Music sound. I know Peter (our board administrator) posted his comments regarding the YCV40WR about a year ago.

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Hey. Putting round-wounds on your 360 will go a long way toward getting the tone you want. The toasters will also be a big factor. One thing you may want to do is keep your pickup volume controls at half or below (until you get the toasters). Part of the vintage Ric tone comes from the lower output pickups.

You might also want to check this link:
http://www.tone-lizard.com/lesson7.htm
..for info on the AC30 tone. I have an AC30 that I just acquired in a trade, and I have to say that it's a rather distinct tone.

I've had the Red Fang in my Traynor YCV-20 for a couple days now and I an just awed at the difference in sound. Very Vox-like. I don't know what a Celestion Blue would sound like in the Red Fang's place, but the Red Fang definitely produces that obvious Vox tone. I'm so satisfied that I can't bring myself to remove it to try the Black Dog I also ordered! The Red Fang is a definite winner in my opinion.

I also ordered the Toasters from Pick-O-The-Ricks today for my new 360/6. I should get them early next week.

I am going to try the Black Dog tomorrow.

Ok. I tried the Black Dog. I put the Red Fang back in. I think this has to do with Alnico vs Ceramic contruction. The Black Dog had a Voxish tone but the similarities ended there. The Red Fang is louder, has a tighter bass and chimey mid-range and highs. The Black Dog was almost muffled sounding by comparison. I wouldn't say the Red Fang sounds exactly like a Celestion Blue but I'll bet it's close enough that 90% of people couldn't pick out which was which if blindfolded! Bottom line is I strongly recommend the Red Fang as a reasonable cost alternitive to the Blue. The Red Fang exudes quality construction. Heavy frame, heavy Alnico magnet. The downside is it just added about 10 lbs to my YCV-20. Those are 10 extra lbs I'll gladly carry. Also, I might add that there are no clearance problems in the YCV-20.

James, thanks for the info & review of the Red Fang. I've pulled the G12-30s (Vintage 30s) from my AC30, and am putting a single 16ohm Red Fang in their place. The amp will be lighter with one speaker. The 16ohm load is correct. Since I mike the amp for performances (and use the onboard speaker(s) for stage monitoring) having a single speaker will actually be better.

I'm hoping since the Red Fang made your Traynor more Vox-y that it will really make my Vox shine.

Are you making a new baffleboard for your AC? Also, I've heard that the 16ohm Red Fang is pretty scarce right now. Did you manage to find one?