I need another amp

PapaBear

PapaBear

Well-known member
Like I need another hole in my head, but I have a Classic Fender Twin Reverb RI, a Marshall Bluesbreaker RI, and I'm thinking I need an AC30 for the Trifecta,
never knew there were so many options, what would you suggest for the classic Vox sound without breaking my non-existent cash surplus, or I'm I just thinking crazy?

Edit: For the Mesa crowd, I do have a Subway rocket also
 
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Barry said:
An AC15 probably makes more sense, at least logically
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I prefer playing through an ac15 vs an ac30. I've never played an ac30 at the volume necessary to get the sound I want out of it. They're just too damn loud for me. I found the 2 ac15s I've spent time with to be much more controllable at a 'reasonable' (gig/rehearsal) volume than an ac30.
 
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Robert said:
So AC30 it is then, right? :ROFLMAO:
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You know, I need one of those too!!!

Honestly at this point I just have my 50W Katana, which is serviceable and a Bad Cat Classic Deluxe - which is awesome but I don't get to play it enough... I'm building an amp, but realistically it's months from being done...
 
If you're trying to round out your collection, there's no doubt that you need a JMI era Vox AC50. Think of it this way, you won't need to use your furnace for heating this winter!!!

www.ebay.com

1965 VOX AC50 MKIII - vintage JMI era original in excellent condition | eBay

A highly original, unmolested 1965 VOX AC50 MKIII with SS rectifier from the JMI era. Internally it looks like only two capacitors and two resistors have been replaced. All electrolytics are original Hunts and look good.
www.ebay.com
 
The AC30 sounds great but is designed for an earlier era. It's also ridiculously heavy for what it is. I'd recommend a home-brew AC15 as a 1x12. It will sound so much better than any of the current Chinese Voxes and last better as well. A friend recently left a current Vox with me to try - it was a very popular model (but of course I can't remember what it was!), had a MV and was 15W. It sounded awful, all shrill, harsh high-end with no lows. Build quality was dreadful. I'd be surprised if it lasts more than 5 years. Under-sized components, nasty PCB which is already showing some heat discolouration. It said Vox on the front but didn't sound like any Vox I had ever heard.

Building one doesn't have to be so expensive. If you use Mallory 150 caps and standard 1W carbon film resistors (it only needs a few higher wattage resistors) the parts cost can be low. Spread it out over time, take your time to build it and you'll end up with something potentially lightyears better for a similar price as a bought one.

And the best thing about the 15Watters is that they sound like what the 30Watters did way back when you could turn 'em up.
 
I have an ac30 based on the Weber 6v30 kit. I just added a master volume to it because it's insanely loud.
 
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HamishR said:
The AC30 sounds great but is designed for an earlier era. It's also ridiculously heavy for what it is. I'd recommend a home-brew AC15 as a 1x12. It will sound so much better than any of the current Chinese Voxes and last better as well. A friend recently left a current Vox with me to try - it was a very popular model (but of course I can't remember what it was!), had a MV and was 15W. It sounded awful, all shrill, harsh high-end with no lows. Build quality was dreadful. I'd be surprised if it lasts more than 5 years. Under-sized components, nasty PCB which is already showing some heat discolouration. It said Vox on the front but didn't sound like any Vox I had ever heard.

Building one doesn't have to be so expensive. If you use Mallory 150 caps and standard 1W carbon film resistors (it only needs a few higher wattage resistors) the parts cost can be low. Spread it out over time, take your time to build it and you'll end up with something potentially lightyears better for a similar price as a bought one.

And the best thing about the 15Watters is that they sound like what the 30Watters did way back when you could turn 'em up.
Click to expand...

I have literally no spare cash and you've almost talked me into building an AC15 clone 🤣
 
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