Vox AC10

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Vox AC10

Post by dug » Sun Dec 10, 2017 4:11 pm

I picked one up a while back, and I dig it.
It's a great sounding little combo. It takes pedals great and sounds like a vox.

I just wish I could fit an old greenback I have in the cab. I was wondering if anyone else has thought about or attempted swapping it into a new cab, or making a head out of one.
I'd like to buy a mojotone Bluesbreaker style cab and put the AC10 in it. Does that sound crazy?

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by redchapterjubilee » Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:44 am

There's a fantastic thread on The Gear Page for what others have done in their search to find a speaker to fit in that amp. Weber makes a DT-10 specifically for the AC10C1. Greenbacks will fit in there, as Sweetwater offers a version with a Greenback pre-fitted.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... t-24555750
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... t-21923211
("You need a soldering iron, tin snips, extra wire, and a drill and it can be done. Cut the power tube panel off from the rest of the metal plate making sure to leave the two screw holes attached to the power tube board. Remove wire ties and you can then relocate the power tube section to one side, under the smaller transformer. One three wire cable is too short so you must cut it and add extra cable in the middle to get enough length. Install your alnico, make sure the location for the power tubes clears the bell. ")

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by dug » Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:26 am

I had been reading up on those threads. Maybe I should just get an AC15. Lol.

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by redchapterjubilee » Wed Dec 13, 2017 11:35 am

Well...that's what I ultimately did. I bought an AC10 based on all the positive reviews a year and a half ago. I played one at Guitar Center and was impressed. But when I took it to band practice I realized I'd misjudged its overall volume. It just didn't have enough to get over my bandmate's Princeton Reverb. So I looked at finding a more efficient speaker only to find out through forum research that I couldn't get anything efficient in there. I could use an extension cab but then I might as well just buy a different amp. I bought a 5E3 tweed clone a few months later and didn't look back.

Recently I recorded with my bandmate's handwired AC30 and wanted to get a decent Vox back in the house so I sold an amp I wasn't using and used the proceeds to pick up an AC15C1. I got it for $500 with a Blue in it, retubed, and with an Accutronics reverb tank in it. While I prefer the sound of the 5E3, the AC15 actually works better in our practice scenario. It certainly has a bit more volume than the AC10. And a greater selection of speakers to try if I want to. Heh, the AC10 is FAR more portable. I think Vox injects a good 15 lbs. of spite into each AC15. It astonishes me every time I pick it up to take it somewhere just how heavy it is compared to the light pine 5E3.

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by dug » Fri Dec 15, 2017 8:51 am

I had an AC15 a while back and I did not like it. I think the 10 sounds better but it isn't enough for band practice.

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by s_mcsleazy » Fri Dec 15, 2017 9:46 am

they had one in my local pawn shop. if it was me, i'd go for a ac30 head and get an attenuator.
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Re: Vox AC10

Post by dug » Fri Dec 15, 2017 2:08 pm

I've been using my Marshall halfstack at practice. I just hate hauling it. I've considered trading it for an ac30.

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by Larsongs » Tue Jan 02, 2018 8:29 am

I have a Vox AC15CC1X with Celestion Alnico Blue & it's a great mid size Amp. Gets very loud. Love the Blue Speaker.

I wanted something smaller for Studio, Practice, Jam Sessions, Travel & small Gigs.. I didn't like the speaker in the AC10C1 but came across a Special run with Celestion Greenback speaker. I bought it. While waiting for it I watched some YouTubes where a guy had the same Amp & upgraded the Tubes.

I ordered the Tubes & when the Amp arrived, after playing a few hours with it, I did the Tube upgrade.

It is a great Amp & I use it more than all my other Amps except my Princeton RI65. About equal time with both...

Might be of interest because these AC10's are so easy to work on & can be great with a better Speaker & Tubes.

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by Maggieo » Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:16 pm

XiTs uses the Celestion Alnico Blue in their 10-watt amp and it sounds enormous, FWIW.
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Re: Vox AC10

Post by salty » Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:58 pm

I had the ac4 1x12 and the 12 that comes in that amp sound horrible. I was able to fit an extra vox blue in it, but it still sounded pretty bad. I ended up running it through a bigger avatar 1x12 with the blue and it sounded fantastic!

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by Larsongs » Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:13 pm

Maggieo wrote:
Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:16 pm
XiTs uses the Celestion Alnico Blue in their 10-watt amp and it sounds enormous, FWIW.
What is XITs?

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by Larsongs » Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:13 pm

I tried an AC4 with a 12" Spkr. Im sure it's great with a Blue & better Tubes but It just wasn't powerful enough for my needs.

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by Singlebladepickup » Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:44 am

I had that amp (ac4-12) for a minute, it was my first tube amp. It hummed like crazy when I turned it on and it didn't get nearly as loud as I thought it could. I returned it, and having used other tube amps since, I think something was wrong with my ac4 because of the noise. I hope it was just that one, but I didn't want to risk it.

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Re: Vox AC10

Post by Maggieo » Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:10 am

Larsongs wrote:
Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:13 pm
Maggieo wrote:
Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:16 pm
XiTs uses the Celestion Alnico Blue in their 10-watt amp and it sounds enormous, FWIW.
What is XITs?
An amp company from Iowa City that made Vox-like boutique amps that sounded AMAZING. Google their reviews. They're out of business now (I think the owner had a horrible accident that messed up his hands or something.). but are great and in-demand in the used market.
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Re: Vox AC10

Post by Larsongs » Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:20 pm

Maggieo wrote:
Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:10 am
Larsongs wrote:
Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:13 pm
Maggieo wrote:
Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:16 pm
XiTs uses the Celestion Alnico Blue in their 10-watt amp and it sounds enormous, FWIW.
What is XITs?
An amp company from Iowa City that made Vox-like boutique amps that sounded AMAZING. Google their reviews. They're out of business now (I think the owner had a horrible accident that messed up his hands or something.). but are great and in-demand in the used market.

l checked them out. The Samples were Bass heavy but I'm sure that is just a matter of Tone adjustment.

My AC15 has a Celestion Alnico Blue & my AC10 has a Celestion Greeback. Both sound great. If Celestion made a 10" Alnico Blue I'd buy another AC10 & install it. I'd like to have 2 AC10's set up with each Speaker. They're easy to work on, convenient for Rehearsal, Studio, Gigs & the right size for Travel.

While looking at XIT's I stumbled on 10" Eminence Alnico Blues that would fit in the AC10. List $136.00. I wonder how they compare sound wise to Celestions Alnico Blue? A new AC10 can be bought for about $400 the Eminence Blue for about $110.00 & upgraded Tubes for $50.00. Total about $560.00..

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