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Post by Larry Madsen on Aug 15, 2021 20:32:38 GMT -5
I have two options here on Craig's list. I've been thinking and had an interest in the VOX AC30 for quite a while. Right now there is an AC30C2 and an AC30CC2 (Custom Classic) available here in town. $650.00 and $500.00 respectively. The C2 said to be in "excellent" condition ... the CC2 great working condition with very minor cosmetic flaws. Both seem to me to be pretty decent deals. I've been reading a bit on the differences and thought I'd check in with the gurus of Moe's 2.0 for opinions before I get too serious on one of these. Does anyone here know these amps well enough to comment with just that introduction? Links ... lasvegas.craigslist.org/msg/d/las-vegas-vox-ac30-c2/7349726420.htmllasvegas.craigslist.org/msg/d/las-vegas-vox-ac30-cc2-good-condition/7365401792.html |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Aug 16, 2021 8:06:08 GMT -5
I've not owned a modern version of the AC30, but I have owned one of the originals. I will say it's a big, heavy amp, and plenty loud for gigs all by itself.
If I wanted to get back into a Vox for home playing and jams, I'd go for an AC15. The AC30 was developed by sticking two AC15s in one box...not really that simple, but that was the idea.
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VOX AC30
Aug 16, 2021 8:23:20 GMT -5
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Post by Leftee on Aug 16, 2021 8:23:20 GMT -5
I’ve played an original, but none of the newer ones.
Insanely loud! It held its own along side a 100w Marshall half stack. That is the voicing of the Vox. It cuts like nothing else.
A big part of the sound was the ALNiCo speakers. If it were me picking up one of those amps, I’d do a speaker swap.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Aug 16, 2021 9:27:55 GMT -5
On the speakers it does seem neither one comes with the traditional Alnico Blue speakers. I read reports pro and con on the Wharfdales and I read reports the greenbacks just don't do the "AC30 thing" like the Alnico Blues. So, as you say, there is that.
I also read the CC2 is a plywood cabinet where as the C2 is a fiber board cabinet ... I would much prefer the more solid cabinet.
I read the CC2 cabinet is designed differently making speaker and tube changes more difficult.
I also read the CC2 uses only two inputs and then a bunch of switching circuits to get various tonalities ... I'm not too excited when I see lots of switches. I'd rather deal with the four input jacks.
On the AC15, I do often think (for my purposes) I might be better off with lower watt amps. I have the Fender Blues Deluxe RI at 40 watts, so I guess my subconscious is trying to match things up and maybe for a wrong reason.
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VOX AC30
Aug 16, 2021 9:45:00 GMT -5
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Post by Leftee on Aug 16, 2021 9:45:00 GMT -5
Trolling for an AC15 would probably be prudent.
I love the Vox tones but I can’t see myself with an AC30.
A little while ago I picked up a Winfield Cyclone with a Blue installed. It is a great rendition of the old AC15 and does the tones *extremely* well. I found it for @$700 delivered from Reverb. It has sufficiently kept me away from an AC30.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Aug 16, 2021 10:09:41 GMT -5
Trolling for an AC15 would probably be prudent. Deep down I do agree. I also have the Carvin X100B half stack ... can we say over kill? Doing it over again from scratch today I'd probably take a trio of ... VOX AC15 - Fender Princeton reverb - Marshall DSL20 |
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MoJoe
Wholenote
Posts: 855
Formerly Known As: quiksilver
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Post by MoJoe on Aug 16, 2021 14:13:06 GMT -5
I bought a CC2 in '08. Not a bad amp for the money but none of the mojo of a genuine AC30 IMHO. Sold. The G12M equipped AC15 is quite nice.
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Post by rdr on Aug 17, 2021 15:39:03 GMT -5
I don't own a AC30, but of the two, I think I'd like the CC2 better. I like the ability to combine channels and the various tone options.
But Really heavy and super loud.
I do have an AC15C1X with the Alnico Blue speaker. It sounds great. It also is plenty loud. And still plenty heavy. Heaven with my Tele.
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hilltop87
Wholenote
My Strat is my friend
Posts: 885
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Post by hilltop87 on Aug 18, 2021 17:12:59 GMT -5
I have a VOX AD30VT that I bought about 10 years ago. I like it.
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Post by tiller2 on Aug 18, 2021 19:31:26 GMT -5
I'm a new owner of a Vox AC15, and I love it. It has such a lively tube sound, and is way more loud than I need at home. Probably gig-worthy, in any small venue that I'm likely to play. If I had to choose, I'd definitely off-load my Blues Jr.
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Post by Riff Twang on Aug 18, 2021 20:21:12 GMT -5
The re-release of the Vox AC10 got a lot of praise for a while.
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MoJoe
Wholenote
Posts: 855
Formerly Known As: quiksilver
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Post by MoJoe on Aug 18, 2021 22:33:50 GMT -5
Had my AC10 sit next to an IMac as a giant desktop amp and loved the sound with a Strat.
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Post by ninworks on Aug 19, 2021 7:25:06 GMT -5
I have never played an AC30. I had never even played through a Vox amp until I bought a 50th Anniversary AC15H1TV from FDP member Telewired back in 2016. I absolutely LOVE that amp. It has a 15 watt Greenback in it. I am seriously considering putting an Alnico Blue in it. I heard a comparison on YouTube that Captain Anderton did with 2 identical AC15's. One had a Greenback and one had a Blue. They both sounded great but I think I like the Blue a little better. The Greenback had more low middle to it. Ideally I would like to have 2 different cabinets. The Greenback in one and the Blue in the other. Then I could use whichever one I like for the particular song I'm recording.
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Post by jhawkr on Aug 19, 2021 10:34:17 GMT -5
The AC30 is a beast of an amp. Comparing it to a 40 watt amp isn’t generally realistic. Especially equipped with blues. I have a AC15CCHW1 with a blue and a AC15CC1 with a greenback. Either one is capable of gigging in a typical bar setting. The blue is a more efficient speaker so it will be louder overall compared to the greenback. Both are great speakers.
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VOX AC30
Aug 19, 2021 12:05:07 GMT -5
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Post by Leftee on Aug 19, 2021 12:05:07 GMT -5
Check out the stupid deal of the day at MG today. AC15. 😎
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Post by Vibroluxer on Aug 19, 2021 14:34:15 GMT -5
Check out the stupid deal of the day at MG today. AC15. 😎 I was just coming to tell the crew about that but you beat me to it. To wet your whistle: Features Classic Series 15 Watt combo amp with Normal and Top-Boost channels Master Section features Master Volume and Tone Cut controls Tremolo (Speed/Depth); Spring Reverb (Level); Switchable via optional VFS2A pedal JJ Tube complement: 12AX7 (x 3); EL84 (x 2); Single 12" Celestion Creamback Speaker Extension and External speaker outputs |
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VOX AC30
Aug 19, 2021 14:48:24 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Leftee on Aug 19, 2021 14:48:24 GMT -5
I like the color scheme too.
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Post by tiller2 on Aug 20, 2021 8:24:52 GMT -5
My mistake, I have the Vox AC10C1, not the AC15. Great sounding amp
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Post by bluzcat on Aug 24, 2021 17:53:01 GMT -5
I actually put a 12AY7 in V1 of my AC-15C1 to clean it up a bit. I know, not the usual situation with this amp but it has given it a nice shimmer for the house.
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