Discussion
Well, after some saving, I finally took delivery of my AC15C1 on Friday afternoon and was lucky enough to have a pretty important gig on Saturday to test it out at.
Wow! I've never had a proper 'classic' amp before, relying on a Marshall Valvestate + POD 2.0 previously and various other solid-state amps before that. I can't actually believe the variance of tone that you can get out of it and am getting my head round the idea of using just one channel and the guitar's own volume to take me from clean to crunchy. The dynamic response seems incredible to my ears and playing my SG and Gretsch through it, shows up the sound of the guitars themselves like I've never heard before (is it just me or do solid state amps tend to take away the guitar's own tone a little??) so in short I'm a happy man!
Any other AC players on here who feel like sharing any tricks of the trade with the forum?
Gratuitous pic:
Wow! I've never had a proper 'classic' amp before, relying on a Marshall Valvestate + POD 2.0 previously and various other solid-state amps before that. I can't actually believe the variance of tone that you can get out of it and am getting my head round the idea of using just one channel and the guitar's own volume to take me from clean to crunchy. The dynamic response seems incredible to my ears and playing my SG and Gretsch through it, shows up the sound of the guitars themselves like I've never heard before (is it just me or do solid state amps tend to take away the guitar's own tone a little??) so in short I'm a happy man!
Any other AC players on here who feel like sharing any tricks of the trade with the forum?
Gratuitous pic:
Hey! Welcome to the Vox club! I'm a Vox player myself, having played their solid state DA20 amp for practice and a borrowed AC15C1 (w/ Greenbacks) when playing live. I gravitate toward Vox amps mainly due to their ability to cut through in a live setting (in my case), regardless of what electric guitar you plug in! However, I found the AC15C1 a bit too 'stiff' sounding so I had discounted all Vox amps when I began to look for amps that can give me that 'feel' of manipulating the tone via picking dynamics/volume at the volume levels I can run at live. Although the Top Boost channel is really nice in the AC15C1, I believe that I couldn't turn it loud enough for it to come in to its own. Vox know how to do their own tone though and they can make even a modeling amp to sound remarkably close to the "real" old AC15s, so the fact that the AC15C1 doesn't have the vintage-correct specs doesn't mean it isn't a good amp-it is a great amp, for all practical purposes!
Anyway, that was that and I have bought this couple of weeks back:
This amp has changed all my perception of the modern production AC15! It is a 50th Anniversary Heritage AC15 in a mahogany cab with an EF86 and Top Boost channels. The EF86 channel was one of the things that attracted me to this amp as I believed that sound to be an integral part of an AC15's sound and the fact that all new Voxes don't have this had held me back from seriously considering AC15s. I think Vox missed a trick with not having an EF86 channel in their new Handwired AC15s.
In my amp though, I love the contrast of the Top Boost/EF86 channels and the dual input per channel allowing me to bridge them to really do some tone shaping. It gives me that 'feel' that I was searching for. I've played this live twice now and it has inspired me beyond what I'd imagined: licks come out that I never thought were in me! It is amazing how tone and the dynamics of an amp can influence the feel and therefore inspire to play better!
This last week when I played out, I ran the EF86 and Top Boost channels linked, with my guitar going in to the Low input of the Top Boost channel. Man! I was in tone heaven! All the boldness and headroom of the EF86 channel with the gnarl of the Top Boost! Tone to die for! There is a youtube clip of Joe Bonamassa playing "You upset me Baby" live with a strat and this tone/dynamics truly reminded me of that, and I'm very very happy about that!
Sorry I didn't say much about any tips for your amp! Much too excited...
Anyway, that was that and I have bought this couple of weeks back:
This amp has changed all my perception of the modern production AC15! It is a 50th Anniversary Heritage AC15 in a mahogany cab with an EF86 and Top Boost channels. The EF86 channel was one of the things that attracted me to this amp as I believed that sound to be an integral part of an AC15's sound and the fact that all new Voxes don't have this had held me back from seriously considering AC15s. I think Vox missed a trick with not having an EF86 channel in their new Handwired AC15s.
In my amp though, I love the contrast of the Top Boost/EF86 channels and the dual input per channel allowing me to bridge them to really do some tone shaping. It gives me that 'feel' that I was searching for. I've played this live twice now and it has inspired me beyond what I'd imagined: licks come out that I never thought were in me! It is amazing how tone and the dynamics of an amp can influence the feel and therefore inspire to play better!
This last week when I played out, I ran the EF86 and Top Boost channels linked, with my guitar going in to the Low input of the Top Boost channel. Man! I was in tone heaven! All the boldness and headroom of the EF86 channel with the gnarl of the Top Boost! Tone to die for! There is a youtube clip of Joe Bonamassa playing "You upset me Baby" live with a strat and this tone/dynamics truly reminded me of that, and I'm very very happy about that!
Sorry I didn't say much about any tips for your amp! Much too excited...
Beautiful amp, Dr Z!
Interesting that you found the AC15 stiff sounding-you wouldn't happen to know whether it has a Celestion or Wharfedale speaker in it would you? I've heard the Wharfedale ones took a bit of stick for this very reason, hence them going back to a Celestion Greenback.
Dynamically, I'd say mine is the opposite! I've never noticed before but it seems as though solid-state amps (the ones I played at least) create an effect not unlike a compressor on the signal as playing softly or hard seemed to have very little effect. The Vox has made me realise how dreadful my picking technique is as it shows up every little variation!
The only I thing I wish now is that was possible to switch off the amp modelling in the POD as then I'd have the perfect multi-effects box for going into the Vox. It would be madness though, to go through a modeller before going into the vox so it's sadly now redundant
Interesting that you found the AC15 stiff sounding-you wouldn't happen to know whether it has a Celestion or Wharfedale speaker in it would you? I've heard the Wharfedale ones took a bit of stick for this very reason, hence them going back to a Celestion Greenback.
Dynamically, I'd say mine is the opposite! I've never noticed before but it seems as though solid-state amps (the ones I played at least) create an effect not unlike a compressor on the signal as playing softly or hard seemed to have very little effect. The Vox has made me realise how dreadful my picking technique is as it shows up every little variation!
The only I thing I wish now is that was possible to switch off the amp modelling in the POD as then I'd have the perfect multi-effects box for going into the Vox. It would be madness though, to go through a modeller before going into the vox so it's sadly now redundant
Thanks! The AC15C1 I used to play through had a Celestion Greenback in it. I think I know the reason why I felt that way. It had a HUGE amount of headroom and I seem to remember it was very hard make it 'break-up' without getting unreasonably loud even when playing live. So, I had resorted to using the tubescreamer like drive setting in my TC Nova System. This tended to smooth over the sparkly top end and was not very dynamic with the pick attack. May be I should have experimented a bit more with that amp. I usually didn't have time to do that as I only got to play it during sound check, just before the gig!
It is interesting regarding difference between SS and Valve amps and even within valve amps the differences in turret board vs PCB or Solid state vs Tube rectifiers. I have the Vox DA20 which is all SS modeling amp. The only model in this amp that is organic/dynamic at all was the AC30 TB model. It is hard to distinguish the tone/dynamics in this to the Top Boost channel in my AC15 (all valve/hybrid PCB/handwired/Alnico Blue) disregarding the obvious differences in the speaker: Cheap 2X8" Vs 12" Chinese Alnico Blue. However, I could never completely clean it up in the DA20 without touching the amp, whereas I could do so in my AC15.
As an aside, I always like to use my guitar volume and pick attack to vary the drive so having an amp that is very dynamic is important for me. If this is not possible, I can get by with stomping on a drive pedal for my crunch sounds, but I find that it limits my playing a bit as that you lose that 'edge of break up' tones when you have a super clean tone and a crunch tone that is not very dynamic for more heavier stuff, as I found myself doing with the AC15C1. I also found that I have to fumble about with setting the levels for the clean and the drive right so it doesn't result in a huge spike of volume to the FOH. I hated the abrupt 'transition' from clean to drive in this set up when you jump on that distortion box with a loss of detail and top end when switched to drive. I like my transitions to be seamless, particularly as many songs we do are very dynamic with quiet and explosive passages. My current amp does just that when paired with my tc electronic. I have a very hot bridge pickup in my strat and at the drive settings I use (a classic rock crunch, think AC/DC, nothing too heavy), I can get a reasonable clean (a slightly dirty clean if you will) with just varying pick attack and dig in for a more screaming tone. Of course, I can clean it right up with the guitar volume knob! Funny thing is, the audience probably don't care if my clean/crunch is too abrupt!
It is a shame though about the POD! My previous effects box was an old Zoom G2 and even that had the facility to turn off the speaker sim and the OD!
It is interesting regarding difference between SS and Valve amps and even within valve amps the differences in turret board vs PCB or Solid state vs Tube rectifiers. I have the Vox DA20 which is all SS modeling amp. The only model in this amp that is organic/dynamic at all was the AC30 TB model. It is hard to distinguish the tone/dynamics in this to the Top Boost channel in my AC15 (all valve/hybrid PCB/handwired/Alnico Blue) disregarding the obvious differences in the speaker: Cheap 2X8" Vs 12" Chinese Alnico Blue. However, I could never completely clean it up in the DA20 without touching the amp, whereas I could do so in my AC15.
As an aside, I always like to use my guitar volume and pick attack to vary the drive so having an amp that is very dynamic is important for me. If this is not possible, I can get by with stomping on a drive pedal for my crunch sounds, but I find that it limits my playing a bit as that you lose that 'edge of break up' tones when you have a super clean tone and a crunch tone that is not very dynamic for more heavier stuff, as I found myself doing with the AC15C1. I also found that I have to fumble about with setting the levels for the clean and the drive right so it doesn't result in a huge spike of volume to the FOH. I hated the abrupt 'transition' from clean to drive in this set up when you jump on that distortion box with a loss of detail and top end when switched to drive. I like my transitions to be seamless, particularly as many songs we do are very dynamic with quiet and explosive passages. My current amp does just that when paired with my tc electronic. I have a very hot bridge pickup in my strat and at the drive settings I use (a classic rock crunch, think AC/DC, nothing too heavy), I can get a reasonable clean (a slightly dirty clean if you will) with just varying pick attack and dig in for a more screaming tone. Of course, I can clean it right up with the guitar volume knob!
Funny thing is, the audience probably don't care if my clean/crunch is too abrupt! It is a shame though about the POD! My previous effects box was an old Zoom G2 and even that had the facility to turn off the speaker sim and the OD!
Tubes Vs Solid State is the guitar equivalent of the Petrol Vs Diesel debate! There is an exception to every rule! 
I think my AC15 is really good, if not exceptional. But given that cost is no issue, I'm sure you could show me something 'better' that is out there. I can think of a couple of points in which a tone connoisseur would take issue with, in my AC15. First, mine is a hybrid PCB. Although, the valves are not mounted in the PCB, a purist will go for a completely handwired on turret board construction. And although my AC15 has an Celestion Alnico Blue, a purist might opt for an English made Blue rather than the Chinese made Blue, the former thought to be superior. Another thing is the actual valves themselves. New Old Stock (NOS) valves are thought to be superior to current production valves. I bought my AC15 used, so when I opened the amp up I was pleasantly surprised to find Made in England valves in there. I suspect they are NOS but I have no way of confirming. I'm going to buy some cheap JJ valves to try to see if I can hear any difference.
Short of an actual vintage JMI AC15 nothing will suffice!
I think my AC15 is really good, if not exceptional. But given that cost is no issue, I'm sure you could show me something 'better' that is out there. I can think of a couple of points in which a tone connoisseur would take issue with, in my AC15. First, mine is a hybrid PCB. Although, the valves are not mounted in the PCB, a purist will go for a completely handwired on turret board construction. And although my AC15 has an Celestion Alnico Blue, a purist might opt for an English made Blue rather than the Chinese made Blue, the former thought to be superior. Another thing is the actual valves themselves. New Old Stock (NOS) valves are thought to be superior to current production valves. I bought my AC15 used, so when I opened the amp up I was pleasantly surprised to find Made in England valves in there. I suspect they are NOS but I have no way of confirming. I'm going to buy some cheap JJ valves to try to see if I can hear any difference.
Short of an actual vintage JMI AC15 nothing will suffice!
Dr Z said:
Tubes Vs Solid State is the guitar equivalent of the Petrol Vs Diesel debate! There is an exception to every rule!
Totally agree with this. Pros and cons as well. My POD let me dial up three or four banks of tones that I could step through via the four-switch floor pedal and sounded objectively 'good enough'. The whole rig fitted into a shoulder bag and could take me from JCM800 lead to Fender clean with a button press. No pissing about with anything. It could plug straight into the house PA, studio audio interface or whatever really so in terms of raw convenience, it blows he Vox out the water!With that said, there's a flatness in tone that got to me. I found I was spending most of my time playing a replication of an AC15 yet it wasn't sounded quite like what I had in my head. The best way I can describe it is that if you didn't have an AC15 to hand for reference, you'd agree that it sounded really really like it but an A/B comparison reveals it to be an approximation at best.
Still, horses for courses and I won't be binning the POD. It still provides a lot of tones that I may not use often, but I won't get out the Vox when I do need them...
No, it's a house cat these days. It belonged to my dad & he gigged it for twenty years. My dad died & I acquired it - we'd joked that when he went I was nicking it & then he bloody well died. So although it's worth a fair few quid, I regard it as a precious connection to my old man, so in the family it stays.
Reliability is good, but I'm lucky to have Pete Hall nearby, who is a first class amp tech. When he has it in, he bends my ear about how good it is for fifty years odd & how he almost never sees the originals anymore.
I've got some detailed pics somewhere from the last overhaul where we even found the little qc swing tags hanging off various components. I'll post them up if I can find them.
Reliability is good, but I'm lucky to have Pete Hall nearby, who is a first class amp tech. When he has it in, he bends my ear about how good it is for fifty years odd & how he almost never sees the originals anymore.
I've got some detailed pics somewhere from the last overhaul where we even found the little qc swing tags hanging off various components. I'll post them up if I can find them.
Edited by Justin Cyder on Tuesday 24th April 19:40
Turn7 said:
Ive got a VT20+ that Im very happy with - and its even got a valve in it !
Dr Z said:
Turn7 said:
Ive got a VT20+ that Im very happy with - and its even got a valve in it !
Disastrous said:
Stunning bit of kit, JC! Awesome connection with your father as well; that's a nice thing to have...
Have you played a more recent one? How would you say the sound compares? I always wonder how much difference my ears would really notice in a blind test...
No, I've not played the new ones, but I gather it can be a bit of a moving target as since they went bust, the brand has been owned by a fair few companies. I think it's Korg who make them now?Have you played a more recent one? How would you say the sound compares? I always wonder how much difference my ears would really notice in a blind test...
So, I got the cheap JJ/Tesla valves for the power section (2 X EL84s) and the Top Boost preamp section (3 X ECC83s) from Watford Valves today for the AC15. The presumed 'NOS' valves already in my amp were Philips EL84s, Brimar ECC83s, General Electric EF86 and a Mullard EZ81 for tube rectification. I replaced the Brimar ECC83s and the Philips EL84s with the new JJ valves, keeping the GE EF86 in there so I have a previous reference.
Results:
The JJ EL84s were a LOT more chimey than the Philips EL84s through the EF86 and Top Boost channels. Lovely cleans with the classic Vox chime. Although the previous clean tone was nice, there was an openness to the upper mids and the highs that were a lot more closer to the Vox tone in my head with the JJs. The crunch tones suffered a bit though, as it sounded a bit fizzy and a bit 'thin' even. I put it in triode mode which is basically a half-power switch. That seemed to cure it! Made it much warmer and a lot less fizzy when dimed. Cleans were very good in the triode mode too-very rounded.
The Philips EL84s reminded me of the Marshall 18 watter (1974x or something?) in this AC15, which I very much loved for the crunch. Interestingly, I couldn't run the Philips EL84s in triode mode because it was too dark sounding and not very dynamic! Although I didn't have huge issues with cutting through in the mix with my previous valve set up, I can't wait to try the JJ'd amp in a live situation. I can't say whether I prefer the JJs or Philips for live work. For recording, I'd take the JJs for cleans and Philips for crunch. £13 for 2 X JJ EL84s is VERY good value compared to what NOS valves are being sold at!
How did the JJ ECC83s sound in Top Boost channel compared to the Brimars? There was a substantial drop in volume with the JJs, the Brimars were a LOT more hotter. Cured by turning the volume up (!) but that is okay. I didn't try the JJ ECC83s with the previous power section, so I don't know how that would sound but it sounded okay with JJ EL84s: more gainier than the EF86 channel and cleaning up more easily...
So, if anyone has an AC15, try JJ EL84s or even the Philips EL84s. I wonder how they'd sound with the Greenbacks?
Results:
The JJ EL84s were a LOT more chimey than the Philips EL84s through the EF86 and Top Boost channels. Lovely cleans with the classic Vox chime. Although the previous clean tone was nice, there was an openness to the upper mids and the highs that were a lot more closer to the Vox tone in my head with the JJs. The crunch tones suffered a bit though, as it sounded a bit fizzy and a bit 'thin' even. I put it in triode mode which is basically a half-power switch. That seemed to cure it! Made it much warmer and a lot less fizzy when dimed. Cleans were very good in the triode mode too-very rounded.
The Philips EL84s reminded me of the Marshall 18 watter (1974x or something?) in this AC15, which I very much loved for the crunch. Interestingly, I couldn't run the Philips EL84s in triode mode because it was too dark sounding and not very dynamic! Although I didn't have huge issues with cutting through in the mix with my previous valve set up, I can't wait to try the JJ'd amp in a live situation. I can't say whether I prefer the JJs or Philips for live work. For recording, I'd take the JJs for cleans and Philips for crunch. £13 for 2 X JJ EL84s is VERY good value compared to what NOS valves are being sold at!
How did the JJ ECC83s sound in Top Boost channel compared to the Brimars? There was a substantial drop in volume with the JJs, the Brimars were a LOT more hotter. Cured by turning the volume up (!) but that is okay. I didn't try the JJ ECC83s with the previous power section, so I don't know how that would sound but it sounded okay with JJ EL84s: more gainier than the EF86 channel and cleaning up more easily...
So, if anyone has an AC15, try JJ EL84s or even the Philips EL84s. I wonder how they'd sound with the Greenbacks?
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