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Virtual Decadence « Great deal »
Published on 06/30/12 at 11:29
Best value:
Excellent
Nothing to add.
UTILIZATION
This is the Vox. No effects loop. Both Normal and Top Boost channels. The TB has a two band EQ but on Normal, and you plug it sounds. We can not as adjusting the gain anyway.
SOUNDS
A good 15W lamp is too flat to play. And it was not out of my home studio since I have. But then after the first concert where I put it at full speed, I could finally see why this amp is a bargain for the price. In any case, more than its predecessor AC15CC1, subject of much controversy.
Then I did what many people do:
1 - changed the lamps for the JJ power and preamp in Tungsol.
2 - capas removed both "bright" on the Top Boost channel only (Bright Caps Mod). Both capas are there to avoid losing too much treble at low volume. This is commendable. But if we do not care (because it is catchability with EQ pedal or other), it has a negative effect on the rendering of distortion pedals. So I test without a net and I turn the two capas.
Once this mod done, there's really no comparison, I tested everything I like "saturator": Fulldrive 2 mosfet overdrive, distortion + Jam Pedals Rattler, my two Sovtek Big Muff clones (SUF Civil War , Tall Russian Font Wren & Cuff), the correction of my compressor Celmo and Tech 21 Leeds with a healthy dose of drive ... everything sounds much better. And the amp has not lost its shine legendary at a reasonable level (Master Volume channel and the two minimum 9am above).
Even the crunch of Vox himself, which I'm not a fan in general, seems to me suddenly easier to exploit.
It was worth it in my gun down ultimately guaranteed
After we agree, the value is excellent but who has heard the model Handwired or AC30 (I had one long ago), it lacks a little depth and chest. I never tried with a second HP though. And if you have already laid an ear on a JMI or Morgan, OK OK .. but I remember we're talking about an all-tube amp to 500 euros (unless I've had for 100 euros for lamps change) not something to $ 2000. And his Vox is here and it is already better than at my concert and I thought he was great on high speed.
Tested with my two Duesenberg (Starplayer TV and Double Cat +, the latter being more in tune with his Vox, generally preferring the first Fender .. well so far): anything goes, classic rock crunch to the AC / DC, Led Zep, fuzz greasy, slightly crunchy pop, blues fat.
Of course in clean, it was already really not bad. And the tremolo and reverb do the job. I use very little reverb, preferring a delay (my El Capistan Strymon, no picture there either, especially since it is also equipped with a simultaneous reverb). And as I say on my opinion on the Pathfinder, I almost prefer that of the amplifier transistor 100 € as that of AC15C1.
The tremolo is by top cons.
I also tested my synth microKorg above .. Oh, no! it sends fat (yes when you do not afford a Moog, we try to make it sound as can be analog)
OVERALL OPINION
Lamps with a little less low end and the "bright caps mod", this amp plays in a course that its price can not suggest.
I had an AC30 20 years ago. I returned to my love voxéenne few years ago (especially after Fender and Marshall quite a few years). Who has not the means of a model or a shop Handwired inspired by the Vox, there is no better than this little monster (23 kg the small anyway).
I just love the sound that I have a Vox Amplug to play with headphones and a Pathfinder 15R to lug around. And I tried everything I could from numerical modeling of the Vox: Line 6, Waves GTR, Guitar Rig, Logic Amp Designer. Some models are really illusions but few know how to simulate the dynamic behavior of a real Vox tube (GTR is doing pretty well).
on the other hand, if it can be heard alongside acoustic drums in repeated, it is unthinkable not to transplant live outdoors or in a large bar, if you want to keep her a little bit clean (though the sound never stays Vox crystal clear and when pushed).
For me it is a logical progression to go back to Vox and arrive at this amp. Maybe one day I will have an AC30 (trying to find a model that will disable the caps by a bright switch, including the Normal channel, otherwise I will ever be the modification) or Morgan ... but before dreaming, I have the satisfaction of having the sound I was looking in all my configurations of sound.
I do not sell this amp any time soon (unless I win a fortune). I've kept the Pathfinder amp that I love as work, not to resell the AC15. Yes I sold a vintage AC30 well when I was young ... but actually, I was young and I thought my Grestch the time SHOULD be a Fender. Before you think that my humbucker guitars of punk hardcoriste HAD to have the Marshall. There are shots in the head. Vox has a sound, a personality but he can address all styles and sounds with all guitars. And now with all my pedals.
I found more than adequate for the price. A real price of entry into the world Vox. But with the "bright cap mod" and his new lamps, I really like the rendering. So I take at least 9. With better reverb and a switch to disable the "bright caps", which I would avoid having to unsolder components and shoot my warranty, I would have put 10 on this excellent value for money.
UTILIZATION
This is the Vox. No effects loop. Both Normal and Top Boost channels. The TB has a two band EQ but on Normal, and you plug it sounds. We can not as adjusting the gain anyway.
SOUNDS
A good 15W lamp is too flat to play. And it was not out of my home studio since I have. But then after the first concert where I put it at full speed, I could finally see why this amp is a bargain for the price. In any case, more than its predecessor AC15CC1, subject of much controversy.
Then I did what many people do:
1 - changed the lamps for the JJ power and preamp in Tungsol.
2 - capas removed both "bright" on the Top Boost channel only (Bright Caps Mod). Both capas are there to avoid losing too much treble at low volume. This is commendable. But if we do not care (because it is catchability with EQ pedal or other), it has a negative effect on the rendering of distortion pedals. So I test without a net and I turn the two capas.
Once this mod done, there's really no comparison, I tested everything I like "saturator": Fulldrive 2 mosfet overdrive, distortion + Jam Pedals Rattler, my two Sovtek Big Muff clones (SUF Civil War , Tall Russian Font Wren & Cuff), the correction of my compressor Celmo and Tech 21 Leeds with a healthy dose of drive ... everything sounds much better. And the amp has not lost its shine legendary at a reasonable level (Master Volume channel and the two minimum 9am above).
Even the crunch of Vox himself, which I'm not a fan in general, seems to me suddenly easier to exploit.
It was worth it in my gun down ultimately guaranteed
After we agree, the value is excellent but who has heard the model Handwired or AC30 (I had one long ago), it lacks a little depth and chest. I never tried with a second HP though. And if you have already laid an ear on a JMI or Morgan, OK OK .. but I remember we're talking about an all-tube amp to 500 euros (unless I've had for 100 euros for lamps change) not something to $ 2000. And his Vox is here and it is already better than at my concert and I thought he was great on high speed.
Tested with my two Duesenberg (Starplayer TV and Double Cat +, the latter being more in tune with his Vox, generally preferring the first Fender .. well so far): anything goes, classic rock crunch to the AC / DC, Led Zep, fuzz greasy, slightly crunchy pop, blues fat.
Of course in clean, it was already really not bad. And the tremolo and reverb do the job. I use very little reverb, preferring a delay (my El Capistan Strymon, no picture there either, especially since it is also equipped with a simultaneous reverb). And as I say on my opinion on the Pathfinder, I almost prefer that of the amplifier transistor 100 € as that of AC15C1.
The tremolo is by top cons.
I also tested my synth microKorg above .. Oh, no! it sends fat (yes when you do not afford a Moog, we try to make it sound as can be analog
)OVERALL OPINION
Lamps with a little less low end and the "bright caps mod", this amp plays in a course that its price can not suggest.
I had an AC30 20 years ago. I returned to my love voxéenne few years ago (especially after Fender and Marshall quite a few years). Who has not the means of a model or a shop Handwired inspired by the Vox, there is no better than this little monster (23 kg the small anyway).
I just love the sound that I have a Vox Amplug to play with headphones and a Pathfinder 15R to lug around. And I tried everything I could from numerical modeling of the Vox: Line 6, Waves GTR, Guitar Rig, Logic Amp Designer. Some models are really illusions but few know how to simulate the dynamic behavior of a real Vox tube (GTR is doing pretty well).
on the other hand, if it can be heard alongside acoustic drums in repeated, it is unthinkable not to transplant live outdoors or in a large bar, if you want to keep her a little bit clean (though the sound never stays Vox crystal clear and when pushed).
For me it is a logical progression to go back to Vox and arrive at this amp. Maybe one day I will have an AC30 (trying to find a model that will disable the caps by a bright switch, including the Normal channel, otherwise I will ever be the modification) or Morgan ... but before dreaming, I have the satisfaction of having the sound I was looking in all my configurations of sound.
I do not sell this amp any time soon (unless I win a fortune). I've kept the Pathfinder amp that I love as work, not to resell the AC15. Yes I sold a vintage AC30 well when I was young ... but actually, I was young and I thought my Grestch the time SHOULD be a Fender. Before you think that my humbucker guitars of punk hardcoriste HAD to have the Marshall. There are shots in the head. Vox has a sound, a personality but he can address all styles and sounds with all guitars. And now with all my pedals.
I found more than adequate for the price. A real price of entry into the world Vox. But with the "bright cap mod" and his new lamps, I really like the rendering. So I take at least 9. With better reverb and a switch to disable the "bright caps", which I would avoid having to unsolder components and shoot my warranty, I would have put 10 on this excellent value for money.