I'm hoping I can tap into the 'all things music' aspect of this forum to solicit input.

Now, before you rock chuckers unload, please hear this;

I'm in total Fender Heaven by playing in parallel or switching between a pair of DRRI's via a Lehle Little Dual Amp Switch Pedal. This is my Dream Setup and will always be. Without question. It's almost impossible to describe without using the mother of all expletives. Suffice it to say, it's simply awesome.

My 'travel' amp is a stock Fender Blues Jr. NOS that I absolutely love. (In fact, roughly half my playing time is plugged straight into this amp, w/o effects).

My second favorite guitar is my '07 American Deluxe Strat. (And I always considered myself a Les Paul guy. Forgive this old rocker the second billing, folks. No slight towards the Strat. It is a jewel and I love it dearly, it's just that my Dyna'd '06 GreTsch Country Club is that exceptional).

My 'next to the computer' amp is an '08 Fender Pro Jr.

Here goes;

I'm very interested and am now looking for a VOX amp to add to the mix. But having never plugged into one I'm ignorant regarding playing experience. (I'm a hunerd miles from the nearest guitar shop, but will venture out and plug in before buying). However like many I grew up listening to and loving many of those guitarists who played and recorded through them.

Again, I'm soliciting input.

I also play an '07 Les Paul Studio (which I still love) and an '05 GreTsch Country Classic (Beautiful BA, this one is).

I don't gig (although that's a future possibility), presently just play out of my house for my own pleasure.

Again, I'm an old rocker. Beatles through Zeppelin (including AC/DC and ZZ). Love a lot of Blues and old Motown, too.

Here's what I think/know and/or have read;

-The classic AC30 is a 2 channel EL84 based 30 watt 2x12 w/reverb and trem, weighs 75# and is always described as 'very loud'.

-There are variants, ranging from 1x12 to hand wired with a $600 upgrade in a couple models from the Wharfedales to Celestion Alnico Blues and mahogany cabinet

-I've read many, including some here, say in a side by side comparison the alnico blues sound better

-again, those speakers are a $300 apiece upgrade

-I'm wanting the 'classic' VOX sound. This makes me think I'd be more interested in the more affordable Warfedale speakers. I'm already set up very well for 'Fender Clean'.

-I understand they're now made in China

-I also have read many reviews as of late that are very negative, and they seem to attribute this to design change/QC change, and many point to where they're now made

-Along this regard many recommend looking for older 'British' made amps

-I'm also aware of the AC15's, which so far read to be roughly equivilent to half of an AC30.

-I don't think I 'need' all that an AC30 can sonically put out (at least not yet), and I wonder if headroom wise this may actually be a hinderance if I'm most interested in the classic VOX crunchy chimey tone (?), and not necessasarily a VOX clean.

But on the other hand, I don't really 'need' to stand in between and play through two DRRI's either but....now I wouldn't have it any other way

The idea is, the VOX would go into the center and I'd switch between it and the two Fenders

Thank's in advance.

Here's a couple pics. BTW, I finally got all the pedals off the floor and onto a board. There are two stand ins in this pic. (old camera not compatible yet with new computers Windows Vista). My Son's Marshall Guv'nor has been replaced with a Keeley Modded BD-2 Blues Driver and the Digitek GRUNGE was standing in for the new MXR MC-402 Boost/OD pedal that finally arrived but has been sent back for exchange as the boost half didn't do anything but make the pretty little blue light go on.

Also, the power strip in the back has been replaced with a Furman locable wart stip, which'll be mounted up under the Pedaltrain.





07 Gibson Les Paul Studio, upgrd w/TonePros/Kluson Vintage lockers
07 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster
06 Gretsch G6196 Country Club (New, Old Stock, 1/09)
05 Gretsch G6122-1962 Country Classic
98 Taylor 310

Peterson StroboStomp2 Pedal Tuner
MXR Custom Audio MC-402 Boost/OD
Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octavio/Fuzz
Ibanez TS-808, Keeley more/less Mod w/True Bypass
Boss BD-2, Keeley Phat Mod
VOX V848 Clyde McCoy Wah
MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay
MXR Phase 90, CS Script
MXR M-117R Flanger
MXR M-134 Stereo Chorus
Booty-Oue Retro-Comp v2.3
DigiTech JamMan Looper Pedal
Lehle Little Dual Amp Switcher
Little Lehle True Byp Eff Loup Sw Pdl
Whirlwind Selector A/B Box
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus
Furman Locking Wallwart Power Strip
Pedaltrain Pro
Many Monsters

08 Fender Deluxe Reverb (65 VR)
07 Fender Deluxe Reverb (65 VR)
(DRRI's are switched between/run in parallel through the Lehle OR Stereo'd thru Chorus)
08 Fender Blues Jr. NOS
08 Fender Pro Jr


---Sons---
07 Epiphone G-400, upgrd w/Gib 490R/498Ts, Schaller lockers, RS/CTS/Switchcraft lectrical
07 Gretsch G5120, upgrd w/TV Jones Classics, CTS/Switchcraft lectrical & Schaller lockers
99 Baby Taylor

DigiTech Grunge Pedal
Marshall GV-2 Gov nor

08 Roland Cube 30X

--Father/Son just for fun--
Rogue Short Scale Violin Bass
Roland Cube 30 Bass

Well, you have some really excellent equipment.

If I was going to buy Vox, it would have to be a Uk built AC30. Otherwise I would pass and get an Orange Amp (a combo...open back cabinet).

Vox have never made a reliable durable amp. So the QC comments are pretty much negated.

The majority of ac30 fans claim the main benefit of the amp to be the linear response of the gain to guitars volume control, with the amp at max. They attribute that to the fact that its a classA amp, which is utter codswallop, its classA up 25watts then shifts to A/B. People just dont use amps like they used to. So dont get into the territory where they could get the sound they want out of that amp. When you see John, Paul and George all plugged into one amp, their pushing that amp to the absolute maximum, and balancing tone/volume on their guitars. Note also that everyone who ever started out with vox got away from them as soon as they could. No doubt because of the reliability issues. It kind of puts the whole tone misnomer into perspective though. They never thought it was good enough to warrant sticking with the things. The only exceptions are Brian May and the Edge that I can think of. Both of them rely heavily on effects. I suspect they dont push the amps.

If you've found what works why change? I've always found the idea of vox to be far nicer than the reality of their valve amps.

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No no and no

Only thing I'd add to that is I happen to know Brian May has his AC30 very heavily modded so that it has no controls at all except a volume knob - and even that is fairly pointless as he always runs it (or a row of 'em) absolutely flat out.

Here's a Signature recreation of it for three grand:

http://www.dagexpress.com/incEngine/?product=1030199060

That is absolutely NOT the amp to buy, unless your only goal is to sound like Brian May - and you have a concrete bunker in which to do it!

Regarding Vox amps in general, not my thang but I'd read that the handwired ones were high quality construction - at eye-watering prices:

http://www.voxamps.com/us/heritagecollection/

Be aware, these amps need to be run hot to get the real sound and even an AC15 is painfully loud in a small room when cranked. I'd want to demo that and an AC30 against some of the smaller alternatives, such as the Night Train and AC4 to see if the right sound could be got from the latter.

I have no first hand experience of whether it can or not.

Good luck - C

What effects does Brian use?
I've only ever heard of him using a Treble Booster, so I'm curious.





Where did you hear this?!?

_________________
"If it's planned, it's boring." - Freddie Mercury

Gilby Clarke doesn't use any effects and has used one in Guns N' Roses, The MC5, Hallow'een Jack and solo.

CC

_________________
Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

Hi Khashoggi: it's Brian May folklore. Every article you ever read about his rig tells you about his modded amps. There's more websites out there devoted to him than most other guitarists - take a look...

Regarding pedals: there's two sides to that. Queen albums often used to carry a boast line, "no synthesisers!" on the back - but the flip side of that is that Brian's sound is often very heavily processed. The point being all those weird sounds were made with a guitar and associated gizmos, not synths (which were becoming monotonously over-used at the time).

On the other hand, Brian's core sound is indeed just his unusual guitar through a treble boost into one or more maxxed out AC30s with all the trimmings removed. These days he uses treble boosters made by Greg Fryer...

Cheers - C

If you want the VOX sound, check out the Peavey Classic 50/212. Sounds just like a VOX AC30, but don't have the built-in tremolo circuit that the VOX does. I kinda kick myself in the butt for not holding out for an AC30, since I may actually use some tremolo every now and then. Otherwise, since you know how a VOX AC30 should sound, that's what you can expect when trying out a Peavey Classic 50/212, except for the lack of tremolo with the Classic 50.

Matt

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Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

I've heard about his modded amps(circuitry and whatnot), but never about having just the volume knob on it.

Haha, yeah, I love how they always assured their listeners that no synths were used.
I love how the effects sound on some of their early songs, like "Keep Yourself Alive" and "Ogre Battle". Just wonderful.
The AC30s sound brilliant without any effects, though, I have to say. His guitar is a major part in that, but even when I played through a vintage AC30 without a treble booster or anything, I absolutely fell in love, right there.

_________________
"If it's planned, it's boring." - Freddie Mercury

I have a Vox ad120vth head and a stereo Vox 412bn cab. with Wharfedales,it's a great amp,I picked up the head used for $300 Cdn. of course the cab. was $500 but for $800 I got a great amp.It has several amp models including the AC30,AC15,60s Marshall,70's Marshall,80s JCM 800s,various classic Fender amps,Hi-gain American amps and a couple of boutique amps.The Marshall models are very true to the sound of both my JCM 800's and they others are very reasonable facsimiles.The effects are outstanding especially the Univibe and rotary they are so much like the originals it's uncanny.The amp also has 64 programable memory banks that you can store your presets on.As far as quality and durability I haven't had any trouble nor did the previous owner.If you can pick up one of these or the combo you'll have several good amps for the price of one.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Thank-you for the time, Gentlemen, and Strato thanks for the compliment. I've very happy.

But Niki, you should've been able to read into my initial post that I have no desire to change, just expand my capabilities.


I missed an opportunity yesterday. Had decided to sleep on a '94 Tan UK made 30 w/Greenbacks that looked very good, although the seller suggested it 'may' need a set of tubes. Fourteen hundy. I found that I could retube for 1-2 hunerd depending on tubes, woke that afternoon (working nightshift) and decided to click the 'Buy it Now'. (I'm in the sticks and a hunerd miles from the nearest Guitar Shop and paypals good for a couple grand worth of coverage). It had sold 2 hours earlier.

I've also a line on a new AC30H2, new in box, not a 'B'stock or blem, for 3 hunerd less than the online prices. Am considering it.

Have another line on a barely used AC30CC2X (standard unit but with the Blues) for 5 hunerd less than new, although it'd involve a 500 mile round trip to pick up.

I've also had it suggested that for the tones I'm interested in I consider a Laney VC30. Specifically the -112 (there is also a 212 model). This reads extreemely well via reviews on Harmony Central. And I see they also build an identical extension speaker/cab for them. That is rather attractive. One shop I've found is selling the -112 for 10% off

I'd like to try and track one of these down, as well as the two different speaker equipped AC30's and AC15's. Take at least a couple different guitars with me to plug in.

I know it might seem insane for me to consider an AC30 for my present situation, but you all know how we can sometimes get when we get a notion.

The quest continues, and I'd welcome any and all further comments.

You're all an outstanding resource.

If laney are a option I personaly think the Lionheart to be a much more robust proper class A amp. The 20watt rating is going to give you a more acceptable breakup point, their built like tanks and have a far more realistic price.

http://tinyurl.com/yawzzv2

If you really want a good amp that simply outclasses anything else on the market then go here

http://www.sheldonamps.com/
A brilliant design that lets you control power stage operation (or class structure) from A to AB in a real way. Be very prepared to pay though, soon as I've sold a couple of my amps thats where i'm going.

_________________
No no and no

Sorry, but I would have to disagree with you. As I have owned several Vox amps and Fenders, the amp that seems to go to service most often are the recent Fenders. I have yet experienced any problems with my Vox amps.

_________________


http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

If you want the REAL sound of the original VOX and no hassle with the quality and reliability, just go JMI:

http://www.jmiamplification.com/

they are an exact replica of the original design of the '60s VOX amps.
I own a JMI AC 15 (I'm a great fan of The Shadows) and I enjoy it everyday since I owned it (30 months)


It is point to point wired and made in UK
For their 50th Anniversary Tour The Shadows -with Cliff Richard- are using JMI AC30 not Vox so it says all.
They are somewhat more costly, but well worth the investment

I've heard nothing but glowing reviews of the JMIs the sound is said to be true to the original but aren't they very expensive?Such as $4000+ for an AC30.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.