Which AC30?

[supersonicjazzmaster]

When it comes to AC30´s meanwhile for me the only answer is a real 1964 AC30.

A few years ago I also played in a garage 60´s punk band. I bought an AC30 for this band I bought one of those blue tolex ones (from China?). It was okay. But not what I expected from an AC30!

Thilo, the guitarist of the german Astronauts is also a nice guitar- and sound nerd.
He strictly and ONLY plays VOX AC30´s from 1964. He has got three or four of them I guess.
I played over two different from his AC30´s two gigs.
What can I say? I was happy from the first tone on! Unbeatable good amps!
If I would need an AC30 sound again I would get an old 1964 one. Pay one time a bit more and get it without compromises.
The volume was very funny I remember. There is a too low volume and LOUD

Here´s a video I filmed years ago. Thilo on the left with his black 1962 Jaguar.
Simple as always he goes from the guitar into an old Fender Reverb into a 1964 AC30.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfFUjs- ... 1bc3_FdkQg

Enjoy

[soggy mittens]

AC30HW are what I'd consider the AC30 tone, one of the few amps that feel/sound special and do something magical, at least that I've heard. I wish I could afford one.

I assume the 15 is just as tasty but not sure if it would sound as full and as all encompassing....

AC15HW with Celestion blue is an excellent amp. Top boost channel, master volume. Great looking amp too.

[PorkyPrimeCut]

AC30HW are what I'd consider the AC30 tone, one of the few amps that feel/sound special and do something magical, at least that I've heard. I wish I could afford one.

I assume the 15 is just as tasty but not sure if it would sound as full and as all encompassing....

This is why the Pentode/Triode switch is so good. It steps you down from 30 to 15 watts, completely changing the response of the controls. It's particularly useful for me when I'm playing through my Ultrasonic with the Distortion cranked. At 30 watts it's constantly feeding back, which is kinda fun but also frustrating after a while. That step down tames things nicely but the fuzz tone remains just as nasty
I'm using an oversized 1x12 cab for my AC30HH so I'm probably getting closer to an AC15 tone. Still, pushing that single speaker at 30 watts sounds incredible! I can only imagine what a pair of broken in Alnico Blues would sound like.

[JSett]

Digging this one back up as I've just come to a trade agreement with someone which will result in me obtaining a 90s AC30/6 TB

He's just tested positive for the Rona though so the exchange will likely be in a couple of weeks but I will report back.

[kingmedicine]

Digging this one back up as I've just come to a trade agreement with someone which will result in me obtaining a 90s AC30/6 TB

He's just tested positive for the Rona though so the exchange will likely be in a couple of weeks but I will report back.

Very cool, I think those are great amps. I had a 90’s TBX for awhile and it still remains one my favorite amps I’ve ever played (although it had to be quite loud). I’ve never played a vintage one, but had a couple of the AC15/AC30CC reissues and an AC15HW and AC30HW and really preferred the TBX by quite a bit.

[Play After Dark]

I had this same question a couple years ago and ended up buying an AC20H2.

I'm a big ef86 fan and (I believe) these are the only AC30s to come with both the top boost and ef86 channel.

That being said, I do not think that this model would be considered 'easy to repair'.

[panoramic]

I've had a bunch of the non cc versions, the 90's ones are really nice, I had a fawn one that might be the best sounding amp I ever owned but they are finnicky and expensive to repair.
the handwired Fawn heads are fucking amazing if you can score one, I gigged with one briefly and it really shook the crowd not to mention the best tone i can remember having with my old jazzmaster back then.

[sa1126]

Curious to see how you like the AC30. I've been down a huge vox rabbit hole the last ~15 years starting with an AC30cc2. Currently have an AC15, pathfinder, ac4hw1 and AC10 and they are all righteous amps for different reasons. I've really been digging the AC10 for its simplicity and have a speaker upgrade about to happen which should take it to the next level.

[horseblanket]

Backing you up on the AC10 front. I got a clone of a 60s AC10 (EF86) off of Reverb for a wildly good price and that has become my go to amp. It's a magical little thing.

[blacktiger]

Something to keep in mind: Reissue AC15s are not AC15s, they are more like mini AC30s. Same goes for AC10s. If you want a circuit that is actually based on the ‘60s AC15, you have to either go vintage or boutique. Also, if you are considering a vintage AC30, you probably want to stick with amps from 1968 or earlier. The company passed through many different hands after that, and build quality was highly variable.

[Larsongs]

Curious to see how you like the AC30. I've been down a huge vox rabbit hole the last ~15 years starting with an AC30cc2. Currently have an AC15, pathfinder, ac4hw1 and AC10 and they are all righteous amps for different reasons. I've really been digging the AC10 for its simplicity and have a speaker upgrade about to happen which should take it to the next level.

Which Speaker? AC10’s

I bought a FSR Vox AC10C1 a few years ago from Sweetwater which came with a Celestion Greenback & it sounded great.. I added some JJ Tubes & it sounded even better! I really like this Amp because it’s small, but powerful with a Band, sounds great & is perfect for Studio, Practice Gigs & an ideal travel Amp…Because it’s compact & relatively light weight… About 15-20 lbs…

I also have an AC15 with a British Celestion Alnico Blue which has a beautiful sound! I added Tung Sol Tubes to it & it sounds even better! About 50 lbs.

Then I watched a YouTube of a guy installing a Weber Special Design Speaker for Vox AC10’s that sounds like a Celestion Alnico Blue.. I bought one, installed it & love the sound of this Amp as much as my AC15… The AC10’s are inexpensive & pretty easy for just about anyone to make upgrades that really improve the Amps.. For not a lot of money..

Keep us posted!

[sa1126]

Curious to see how you like the AC30. I've been down a huge vox rabbit hole the last ~15 years starting with an AC30cc2. Currently have an AC15, pathfinder, ac4hw1 and AC10 and they are all righteous amps for different reasons. I've really been digging the AC10 for its simplicity and have a speaker upgrade about to happen which should take it to the next level.

Which Speaker? AC10’s

I bought a FSR Vox AC10C1 a few years ago from Sweetwater which came with a Celestion Greenback & it sounded great.. I added some JJ Tubes & it sounded even better! I really like this Amp because it’s small, but powerful with a Band, sounds great & is perfect for Studio, Practice Gigs & an ideal travel Amp…Because it’s compact & relatively light weight… About 15-20 lbs…

I also have an AC15 with a British Celestion Alnico Blue which has a beautiful sound! I added Tung Sol Tubes to it & it sounds even better! About 50 lbs.

Then I watched a YouTube of a guy installing a Weber Special Design Speaker for Vox AC10’s that sounds like a Celestion Alnico Blue.. I bought one, installed it & love the sound of this Amp as much as my AC15… The AC10’s are inexpensive & pretty easy for just about anyone to make upgrades that really improve the Amps.. For not a lot of money..

Keep us posted!

I went with a creamback because I got a crazy deal on one. My ac15 has a greenback so I didn't want to have the exact same mini me setup. I tried the alnico blue in the AC15 and wasn't a huge fan, but I suppose I should revisit that at some point if I ever find a good deal on one.

[JSett]

The one I have on the way has a couple of Scumback S75 Alnico in it. I've heard good things about those before.

[sa1126]

I got the creamback installed and it really made a huge difference. The stock speaker is decent and apparently very ineffcient. The creamback took away the harsher ice-pick highs when cranked. I dig the amp a lot now. With the JMJM alone it can really cover a lot of ground and is easily loud enough for a grab and go practice/gigging amp.

[Larsongs]

I got the creamback installed and it really made a huge difference. The stock speaker is decent and apparently very ineffcient. The creamback took away the harsher ice-pick highs when cranked. I dig the amp a lot now. With the JMJM alone it can really cover a lot of ground and is easily loud enough for a grab and go practice/gigging amp.

I didn’t care for the stock speaker at all. I almost didn’t buy an AC10 because of it. Sweetwater did a Special Run of AC10’s with Celestion Greenbacks & I bought one of them because I like those Speakers too… These are simple Amps to work on & I switchback & forth between Celestion Greenback & the Weber Special Designed for AC10 speaker which sounds great too.. Somewhere between a Creamback & Alnico Blue I think… It’s like having 2 different AC10’s..

I play my JMJM, AV65 JM & AV65 Jag & think they sound great! Also, my Casino’s, Ric’s & Phantom Teardrop.. They all sound great..

Also, because the Amps are so easy to work on, & only having 4 Tubes, I’ve experimented with higher quality Tubes which make these Amps sound even better.. I like JJ’s & Tung Solo’s in the AC10 & my AC15..

It doesn’t take too much money or hours of work to really upgrade the Sound of these Amps.. I can swap Speakers & Tubes from start to finish in about a half hour.. Not rushing..

I like the Celestion Creambacks quite a lot. They have a warmer Sound.

They’re similar in sound to the Made in UK Celestion Alnico Blues which I like best overall & are much better sounding than the MIC Celestion Alnico Blues..

Is it the Celestion Neo Creamback? I’ve heard they sound really good too & are lighter weight..

These are very cool little Amps.. I’ve thought about getting another to have more power & each having their own Sound & not have to swap Tubes & Speakers..