View other reviews for this product:
iamqman « One amp to rule them all »
Published on 07/11/11 at 09:25This amp is an English rock legend. If you ever get a chance to play a JMI VOx Ac30 there is nothing that will satisfy that need an desire for a vintage Vox Ac30 top boost. I thought that the tone from this amp was very useful and exciting. It was strong and warm and sounded old , but in a good way. The great thing about this amp is that it has a familiar British flavor but vastly different from the British sounds of a Marshall or a Hiwatt. The grind from this amp is very unique and voiced much like a Fender Twin, but deeper tonally and much darker than a Fender Twin.
These amps were only made for a short while in the early 60's. There are a lot of them in existence still and you don't have to look very long or hard to find one. They do break down easier since they gave one on off switch which makes amps short out with that quick rush of power.
UTILIZATION
The operation is unique to this amp as well to these amps. It doesn't look anything like a Marshall or a Hiwatt front panels. To get this thing to work harder or overdrive the Cut control knobs is what will enable you to to that.If you need an overdrive tone than you will have to crank the hell out of this thing. These amps cut through the mix very well and you will ned an attenuator to get this thing to usable volumes levels when cranking. Plus the Alnico speaker are very loud and need to be taming when diming this amp.
SOUNDS
If you want this sound there isn't much else that will achieve it. JMI has been reissuing the Ac30's but they are around $5000 for a new one. For that price you might as well throw down the money for a vintage one.
You can use a Strat or a Gibson guitar and all will sound incredible. Each one of those guitars gave a very usable and tasty flavor. For the clean stuff the Strat was optimum and for throwing an overdrive pedal in front the Les Paul gave a solid warm and rich vintage tone. There isn't too much that you can do to get a bad tone out of this amp. It kind of directs you towards the tone that the amp wants you to hear.
OVERALL OPINION
I would recommend this amp to anyone looking for that Vox tone or any music or record engineer who needs a good arsenal or tones. There is only one way to get this tone other than this amp and that is the new production JMI amps which are about the same price as a vintage one.
If you are going for a Vox or Brian May tone then there is only one way to go. You will need to get a JMI/ Jennings Music Industries Vox AC0 amp. If you are going for a particular tone then the Vox isn't going to be it. This amp has a unique tone which is only Vox.
These amps were only made for a short while in the early 60's. There are a lot of them in existence still and you don't have to look very long or hard to find one. They do break down easier since they gave one on off switch which makes amps short out with that quick rush of power.
UTILIZATION
The operation is unique to this amp as well to these amps. It doesn't look anything like a Marshall or a Hiwatt front panels. To get this thing to work harder or overdrive the Cut control knobs is what will enable you to to that.If you need an overdrive tone than you will have to crank the hell out of this thing. These amps cut through the mix very well and you will ned an attenuator to get this thing to usable volumes levels when cranking. Plus the Alnico speaker are very loud and need to be taming when diming this amp.
SOUNDS
If you want this sound there isn't much else that will achieve it. JMI has been reissuing the Ac30's but they are around $5000 for a new one. For that price you might as well throw down the money for a vintage one.
You can use a Strat or a Gibson guitar and all will sound incredible. Each one of those guitars gave a very usable and tasty flavor. For the clean stuff the Strat was optimum and for throwing an overdrive pedal in front the Les Paul gave a solid warm and rich vintage tone. There isn't too much that you can do to get a bad tone out of this amp. It kind of directs you towards the tone that the amp wants you to hear.
OVERALL OPINION
I would recommend this amp to anyone looking for that Vox tone or any music or record engineer who needs a good arsenal or tones. There is only one way to get this tone other than this amp and that is the new production JMI amps which are about the same price as a vintage one.
If you are going for a Vox or Brian May tone then there is only one way to go. You will need to get a JMI/ Jennings Music Industries Vox AC0 amp. If you are going for a particular tone then the Vox isn't going to be it. This amp has a unique tone which is only Vox.