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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Vox Ac 30
Posted by: PanicProne Nov 15 2008, 02:25 PM
Allright. Read the topic title. Anyone own or at least tried a Vox AC30? Combo or head? What's it like. I've been looking into it A LOT recently and might be getting one. Only problem is I need to be able to switch channels (need one clean and one distortion) and as far as I've understood things that's not possible right? Well yes there's the switch on the amp but I mean through using a footswitch? Would and A/B box do the trick? I also use a lot of effects so if anyone has an opinion onf the loop on it please share..
It'd be great to here what people think about this amp. Other similar sounding amps? Suggestions,comments, anything. Just give it here! 
Posted by: Marshmall0wz Nov 15 2008, 02:54 PM
Yup an A/B box would work. Look at the whirlwind A/B selector. It's probably the nicest out there, countless artists use it.
Yup an A/B box would work. Look at the whirlwind A/B selector. It's probably the nicest out there, countless artists use it.
Posted by: PanicProne Nov 15 2008, 04:15 PM
Cool man. Have you tried it on an amp yourself or are you just saying it would work "in theory"?
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 15 2008, 08:56 PM
Have you considered getting an overdrive pedal maybe?
Posted by: Marshmall0wz Nov 16 2008, 12:52 AM
I've heard of a lot of people saying they have done the A/B thing and it is great. On top of that, I'd buy a real Ibanez Tubescreamer and then crank the gain on both the amp and the pedal for an over the top tone. I'd just go ahead and buy it.
Posted by: PanicProne Nov 16 2008, 12:58 AM
Oh allright. Yeah I own a couple of distortion pedals (Keeley Mod BD-2 for example) but I still enjoy having nice amp distortion available. Well will see what happens.
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Nov 16 2008, 01:06 AM
Well from reading the amps specs you can do that..I mean amp has two channels...And there is a footswitch option for switching between them (channels)..Also there is a fx loop which you can switch on and off(using same footswitch)....
A/B pedal is not used for that, rather having two different guitars plugged in the same amp and switching between them...or having one guitar and two amps and switching between...that sort of work.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 16 2008, 01:25 AM
Can't you buy a footswitch for AC30?
Posted by: Muris Varajic Nov 16 2008, 01:49 AM
Footswitch for AC 30 is only for tremolo and reverb,
at least for this new custom classic version.
It does have 2 inputs for 2 channels(Top Boost & Normal)
and A/B box would do the trick here,
A for Normal,B for Boost and A+B fro blending both of them. 
Posted by: audiopaal Nov 16 2008, 02:13 AM
The AC30 is great in my opinion, lovely sounds all the time 
But if you need an overdrive channel, why not try the http://www.voxamps.com/us/classicplus/?
Awesome Vox clean channel, and a overdrive/distortion channel 
Posted by: Muris Varajic Nov 16 2008, 02:54 AM
But if you need an overdrive channel, why not try the http://www.voxamps.com/us/classicplus/?
Awesome Vox clean channel, and a overdrive/distortion channel
Yeah,classic plus is very nice.
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Nov 16 2008, 03:57 AM
hmmm I didn't know that footswitch works just for that...than AB box should do the trick nicely! Boss makes a good and cheap one...
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 16 2008, 01:43 PM
http://www.zzounds.com/item--DOD270 is fairly cheap mate.
Posted by: PanicProne Nov 16 2008, 01:45 PM
And suddenly all the instructors jumped in and gave me lots of nice feedback. Thanks guys!
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 16 2008, 01:58 PM
We are here to help mate, ask if you need anything else. Cheers
Posted by: Marshmall0wz Nov 16 2008, 04:12 PM
I've talked to someone who owns the AC-30 Custom Classic and the Custom Plus new one. He said the Custom CLASSIC blows the other one out of the water. I love Keeley's mods by the way good pedals indeed
Posted by: audiopaal Nov 16 2008, 04:50 PM
Yeah, sure the real Classic AC-30's made in England blows every new Vox out of the water.
But I think the Vox classic they sell today, made in china, wasn't all that great compared to the classic plus
But that's me.. I'd still go for a classic Ac-30 with the Keeley tubescreamer though, awesome combo
Posted by: PanicProne Nov 16 2008, 05:14 PM
Well since Ivan pushed me into more wuestioning here's a silly one.
If I get an ABY-box for it. Wouldn't it be possible to us it for switching between channels 1, 2 and blend?
Correct me if I'm wrong.
speaking of Keeleys. What Tubescreamers have you guys tried? There's a bloody lot to choose from. I also kinda like the SD-1 (the keeley off course) so give me your opinions if you have any...
And yeah. For you guys that have tried one. An Ac30 that is. Has it been the combo or head? (not that it's usually a huge difference, but still). I'm currently leaning towards buying the custom classic head. Will probably do it after christmas since all the prices go waaaaaaaay up nowadays.
And thanks again lads.
Posted by: audiopaal Nov 16 2008, 07:50 PM
I've tried the combo
Very nice amp
Posted by: Dejan Farkas Nov 16 2008, 08:03 PM
I think The Edge from U2 uses VOX AC30, and Ibanez TubeScreamer TS-9, I think it's good combination
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 17 2008, 01:36 AM
If I get an ABY-box for it. Wouldn't it be possible to us it for switching between channels 1, 2 and blend?
Correct me if I'm wrong.
speaking of Keeleys. What Tubescreamers have you guys tried? There's a bloody lot to choose from. I also kinda like the SD-1 (the keeley off course)
so give me your opinions if you have any...And yeah. For you guys that have tried one. An Ac30 that is. Has it been the combo or head? (not that it's usually a huge difference, but still). I'm currently leaning towards buying the custom classic head. Will probably do it after christmas since all the prices go waaaaaaaay up nowadays.
And thanks again lads.
You're not wrong mate, AB box will allow you to mix channels, but make sure the AB box has a blend option - some will only allow you to go from A to B without blending.
Tubescreamers TS808 are the best, and Keeley TS808 mods of TS9's are also very good from what I've heard and read mate. Haven't tried any tho, but do intend to buy soon the second mentioned.
Posted by: PanicProne Nov 20 2008, 06:04 PM
Since I'll probably be getting a Vox V412BN Cabinet with it. Anyone got opinions on it or on vox cabs as a whole?
Other cab recommendations and tips are wellcome since I'm reaaaally lost when it comes to cabs. Usually end up getting "the same cab as head" if you know what I mean...
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 20 2008, 11:53 PM
With cabs you should do some research on the internet before you buy definitely. With cabs the main thing to be careful about is whetter they are open back, closed back, how much Ohm the have, what is the power rating, the weight, and most important thing - the speakers.
Posted by: PanicProne Nov 22 2008, 04:19 PM
Ok. Eh. So got any tips on what to think of when choosing a cab? What to think. And yeah, I know you mentioned a few things but could like give me an quickish "dummies guide to choosing the right cab"-thing? I've searched the net quite a bit but anyone has a nice link just post it.
Posted by: PanicProne Dec 13 2008, 01:01 PM
And yeah. About the effects loop. I use a lot of effects. So does anyone know what it's like? I've heard relatively little on it overall. A single good comment and a few negative... So I'd love to see some more if anyone owns one or has tried it with pedals.
Posted by: Marshmall0wz Dec 13 2008, 03:11 PM
Well I'm a straight up Indie Rock guy so I'm about to buy an Avatar 212 contemporary cab. I'm gonna load it with Celestion Vintage 30's or Greenbacks (can't decide). But Avatar is probably the BEST bang for the buck dealing with cabs. I'd recommend that you check out these 2 cabs. Also check out eminence and Celestion's sites, they'll have sound samples. Here ya' go.
Avatar Traditional 212 cabinet (or 410 if your into that Bassman sound)
Avatar Contemporary 212 cabinet
Posted by: PanicProne Dec 13 2008, 03:50 PM
Ok. Cool. But is the key thing the actual speakers or what's the deal? Heard that the celestion blues are supposed to be awesome! And still. I'd love anyone to drop me a line on the effects loop of ANY AC30 model. (CC, CC2, CCH etc.)
Posted by: audiopaal Dec 13 2008, 05:21 PM
That's an awesome amp
And yes you can switch channels with a pedal..
The clean channel is amazing 
Posted by: Marshmall0wz Dec 14 2008, 02:31 AM
Well a couple things matter for the sound. But mainly speakers as they have a specific tone. A BIG 212 cabinet like the Orange Amplifier 212 cabinet or the Avatar 212 contemporary cabinet will have an extremely big sound just like a 412. Celestion has a ton of sound samples categorized by speaker and genre. Check it out.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 14 2008, 07:02 PM
With speaker cabinets there are several important things that you should check out when buying:
1. Number of speakers:
More speakers mean a better cabinet. The guitar speaker cabs are mainly in production with 12" speakers - 1x12, 2x12 and 4x12. These numbers are often abbreviated, so you will see names on the cabs like 112, 212 or 412. Also some speaker cabs have 4x10" speakers like some Fender tube combos.
In generall the more speakers the better the sound. 414 cab will have a bigger sound, and more bass then 212 or 112 cabinet. It will also have a good dynamics and that "whoomp" sound. 112 and 212 will often sound too middly, and without bass, but 212 can sound great as well if it is constructed well. 212 is also a much better solution than 112.
2. Cabinet size:
cabinet size plays important role in the sound as well. Cabinet with more size to it will have a better bass response in combination with other factors of course.
3. Open or closed back: The back of the cabinet needs to be closed for a bigger bass sound, but sometimes open closed can open up the mids nicely if you have a lot of bass. The amount of the back that is opened will determine how the cab will sound, so a bit of experimenting with closed backs can pay off in getting a signature sound.
There are some other factors are well as the material being used, what kind of wood, and inner structure, but can't go into details with those thing as I don't know much about it. All I can tell you is that plywood is generally much better material for cabs then compressed wood.
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