1965 Vox AC30 Demo and Circuit Showcase
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- 1965(66) AC30 with Top Boost, Guitar: Gibson Les Paul 1959 Reissue R9 and a Weber Mass Attenuator set at Speaker=1, Miked by 2 1960s BeyerDynamic M160, close + 2m distance pointing upward. Billiant, high input, max volume, 50% Bass, max Treble, no Cut. Serviced and brought back to it's prime by the capable hands of Forsberg Amps Skovde Sweden.
You are definitely setting the benchmark for vintage amp demos. I've been looking for a decent vintage AC30 demo for a while now and you did not disappoint! People usually try to imitate the Edge or Brian May, but I find the way you showcased the amp by playing riffs, chords and leads much more useful.
Thanks man that makes me glad :-) Cheers!
troyguitarist plus using a ribbon to capture the tone. Great demo. I really enjoying hearing this!
Thanks!
Rory Gallagher! VOX SOUND IT'S All in that sweet AC 30 combo...love it!
Thanks Brandon, Rory Gallagher was fantastic.
2018 VOX AC30 vs 1965 VOX AC30 Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!
IMHO, the newer Voxes (CC2) sound nothing like the Voxes of of old. They sound scratchy and thin, while the vintage ones (and the 90’s reissues) sound varm and fat. They have nothing in common but the cosmetics
kenichi I assume you mean this www.c3605.de/VOX/mod-compilation/lyle-caldwell-modifications/ ; It seems to confirm my thoughts about the CC2’s. I’m glad you are happy with it after the mods
Great playing man...and i can feel Rory Gallagher's soul with this humble amp...
AC30, the most underrated amp in classic rock history imho. You showed in this clip that the AC30 is more than a clean Beatlesy amp and can kick a Marshalls ass... Hard... Really creamy tone. Great sound.
Thanks, yeah I was really surprised by the attack. Cheers
I wouldn't say that an AC30 can kick a Marshall's ass, but they're just as good in their own way. Marshall's, specifically vintage Plexi's, still have more overtones to my ears and have that "magical" tone that just sounds musical no matter what's played through them. I have several Vox's and love them to death as well.
How could be Rory Gallagher. Brian May, Edge and the Beatles seen as underrated? The Vox AC 30 is a highly regarded Classic icon! One of the Top 10 Amps ever been built!
@@arthurnawrath6701 Yes, that is very true! I agree! But the AC30 is often referred to as a great clean or crunchy amp. But full on overdriven it has such an unique tone. Even so, the truly classic rock/hard rock distorted tones are often achieved with a treble booster. Rory Gallagher and Brian May (even Ritchie Blackmore) use a treble booster to achieve this epic tone! But there is something about just linking the two channels together. Such an 'open' distortion!
AscarinVin
Yes, that’s right! I love those Vox AC 30s, they are A Gift from God!(Brian May Statement)😎
Playing nearly the same one from 66. Unfortunately i had to recone the Silver Alnicos, but since they are broken in, the Amp sounds so amazing. Added a PPIMV (at Hole for Power light) and since its my working horse for all purposes. Saw you replaced the Caps with some from TAD. TAd is 30 km away from me, they have great products.
BRILLIANT ! FANTASTIC ! DREAM !
+Dima Denisov Thanks Dima! :-)
This and the VOX that started it all, the AC15, are my favorite amps. Thank you for these in depth videos.
Thanks, gonna do a '62 AC15 too soon :-)
Excellent demonstration Johann. Here you can hear the character of a Vintage Vox AC30, how it breaths. These old Vox amps are like real instruments, you can also achieve fine nuances with fingerpicking on that amp. I have a Vox AC30B from 1965 all original which is sounded a little darker, up for sale. if anzbody is interested please write me. Cheers.
I could not think of anything but how this compares and contrasts to the tones Paul Kossic got out of his Les Paul. Despite a different kind of amp, I think, I wonder how much the playing and the guitar pickups were similar to Kossic's and his Les Paul and thick tone from his pickups.
If you are still up for it, I would love to see a circuit walkthrough video of this amp! I'm interested in the vintage Vox amps. I have a 1993 AC30tbx. I love the amp, but lately I have been wondering if I should have it modified to a more accurate representation of the vintage models. I've played the normal channel for years, but I recently switch to the treble, bass, and cut controlled "brilliant" channel because it has a much better clean sound. I love the way that the normal channel reacts to my pedals. I use a lot of pedals. Perhaps the brilliant chanel will work better for me in time, but I would like to be able to convince the normal channel into playing with more clarity.
Zachary Drummond I have the same amp. Have you tried jumping channels? I'm shocked people don't do this. I unlocks the tone. If you've got a les Paul, plug into the high input of the brilliant channel and jump from the low input of the brilliant into the high input of the normal channel. Then blend the volumes. They're both active.
Zachary Drummond if you've got a tele or strat plug into the high input of the normal and jump from the low normal into the high brilliant.
My Favorite Amps... AC 30, Tweed Deluxe, 62 Bluesbreaker / JTM 45 and 59 Bassmann
Nothing like the pre cbs 65' and back Ac30.
Now i get what those guitar gods dig about them ..... damn
Awesome vintage AC-30 demo that doesn’t feature any Queen licks being played (One Vision riff, Rhapsody solo,etc)
This demo covers a really nice sound that you don't hear from most guys who play ac30s. Answered a lot of my questions. Thanks so much for uploading this demo. Sounds fantastic and the playing was perfect! Now if there was just a treble booster at the end... hahaha.
+guitargeekforjesus Thanks, I'll start lookng for a range master! Cheers Johan
basically cause most players don't wanna buy attenuators for it and use the master volume on current AC30s, or overdrive pedals that will never sound as good as its natural overdrive
Hi Johan, this was fun as usual (except no "Let's go!"). I for one think I would enjoy some discussion of the circuits, and how differences affect tone. If you can do it at a high level that my non-engineer brain can understand. cheers!
too bad you didnt have a treble booster available
sounds great anyways
Thanks! Will remember that for next demo. Cheers
I personally think that the AC30 is a very underestimated amplifier. When set up correctly, they can give some awesome tones. Now if only they still made a bass version...
It is indeed! Cheers Johan
i only own vox amps and I a agree👌
Cameron Jenkins they made bass versions. the only difference between bass and lead were 7 capacitors. So basically you can buy a lead and convert or vice versa. Bass versions have no top boost circa 64/65
Cross Guitar Works Malta If you look at my original comment, I hinted that I knew that they once made bass versions. However, some more recent research has led me to conclude that a standard AC30 combo would be poor for bass use because of the open back cabinet. Getting an AC30 or AC15 head would be a better option. I would also modify the top boost tone stack because the stock one is rather weak in the midrange.
Cameron Jenkins you seem to know your stuff well. They weren't that good when used in bass in fact but a head and a bass cab maybe will work for you then
Great demo! By the way what's your opinion on the AC30C2X?
Thanks David, the newer ones are good amps, but these are even better, especially the speakers!
You said if people were interested that you could bring in the schematic and relate all the components to it - I would be really interested to see this, if possible! Keep up the good work!
Low mids never sounded so clear and textured. Usually you cut those frequencies; but here, in some magical way, it works.
Great!! Envy ! I Want to it!
Makes you wonder why Clapton had to move to Marshall! All the core elements of the Beano tone are here. Not exactly the same but really close.
Best loud ever.
Nice johan..Vox sure has it...backup to a Marshall..good job!!
The notes have an interesting decay, almost fuzz like. I'm looking to get an AC30CC1 for the weight plus single 12 option. Hope it sounds a bit like your sample.
+Nightingale1887 Thanks! I think the CC1 has ceramic speakers whereas these are Alnicos though. Cheers Johan
Johan Segeborn it actually has a Neodymium magnet to bring the complete weight down from 71 to 54 lbs / 32 to 24,5 Kg. So it's little more manageable.
Johan Segeborn what a sound , hands down
Johan what can i say,Man Just Wow what a Sound Creamy as Vanilla Ice Cream
Thanks man!
Best amp I heard u play. But les Paul sounds like it a fret dressing job 🤔
My favorite combo ever, Vox amps run hot!
My Ac30 c2 doesn't sound anything like this.
why the vox i had didnt sounded like this at all? was a modern one......
I have no opportunity to cranck the amp really hot or to buy vintage amps, but I love that early Marshall kind of sound. I don't like modern marshalls, like DSL or JVM, even if they give the soul they don't give the feel to me. JTM and JMP are quite expensive and head+cab, I would rather prefer a combo like a 1962 Bluesbreaker. Do you recommend me that one or a AC30? Love Rory, but also Hendrix, Neil Young or Gary Moore. So, should I go for a reissue VOX (way more affordable) or a Bluesbreaker? Thanks man, I've been watching you for a long time and your demos are some of the greatest on the web. Long life to Rock'n'Roll!
I have the same problem i don't know what to choose for my Gibson Les Paul 50's tribute.
Any plans on doing HIwatts, Laneys, Matamp?
+Marco Muiretta Yes I'm gonna do a Laney Klipp soon. And hopefully a 70s Hiwatt halfstack. I'd love to do a Matamp too soon. Cheers
Thanks love yer vids you are a very lucky individual to have access to all those treasures.
Very interesting. A whole new kind of cool tone for me ! Think outside the Vox. Sorry, think outside the box ! Thanks Johan !
:-) Thanks man
That's such a gnarly fuzz! I adore that sound!
1965? Wow! Great catch. Didn't Vox still use valve rectifiers in their amps in '65?
Yes they did. You can see the GZ34 to the left of the preamp tubes, standing vertically just like the output tubes.
Bad ass playing Johan, thanks! How did you get that overdrive/punch?
+Chris Fleming Thanks Chris, it's just the amp cranked. Cheers
This is how I play all my Vox amps, I don’t know why most people play Vox only clean despite the fact they have a great clean tone, but when they are dirty they are out of this world good. Just rip out those blue alnicos unless you play through the ef86 channel - otherwise play the top boost channel through greenbacks and boost with a tube screamer
Because AC30's have a zero negative feedback loop you're choking the tone with the attenuator. I bet it sounds glorious without the attenuator,
+Telepick2 I think it sounds glorious here too. No amps benefits from attenuation.
Telepick2 Without an attenuator it would rearrange the DNA of anybody in the room.
wow one of the best tones I've heard you put to video. I had a late 70's early 80's 6 input AC30 and it sounded nothing like this! Should most old 60's-80's AC30's sound like this or must it be from the 60's, whats the circuit to get?
How much maintenance must one expext owning this amp? Are there still parts available / Hur mycket underhåll måste man rekna med på en så här förstärkare? Finnst det reservdelar fortfarande?
An excellent video. The only thing I would say is that I would like to have seen you demonstrate the amps ability to clean up by. Using the guitars volume.
This is what vintage JMI Voxes actually sound like. They'll eat Marshalls.
The TAD el-84 tubes sound great! They sound full rich with great harmonics
Awesome video, Johann.
There's a question I've always had you might be able to help me out with. I've heard the sound of the AC30's Vibrato mode, which is kinda like the wet signal of a UniVibe pedal. I've always wondered what it'd sound like in stereo with two amps-one channel being the Normal or Brilliant channel, and the other being Vibrato. Think it's something you might be interested in? :)
That's the amp Jimi Hendrix should have used that tone with a wah and fuzz pedal would have been epic!!
Love your svensk-engelsk. :D
Funky
How can it be dirty and greasy and still clear and intelligible! Vox rocks:) thank you sir!
I love your videos so much, they always give an honest representation on vintage tones, my only wish is that the amps weren't always dimed to 10 because not all amps sound the best compressed and saturated to the max. But this sounds great!
+anarchypickle Thanks! I'll try to throw in some more crunch and cleans.
That would be fantastic man, I'll make sure to watch all these magnificent videos my friend!
+anarchypickle glad to hear that bro!
Wish you would have just played some Beetle type stuff to hear I want to hear it chime
If poss. please demo VOX AC 30/4 (w/ EF86 pre amp)
No ear defenders for this one Johan? Too good not to hear in all its glory??
That's my NEXT build....Great demo!
Thanks, thats a great compliment :-) Cheers Johan
Look up Steven Grosvenor’s book “ A service engineer’s guide to the Vox Ac30 Valve Amplifier” if you want to build it period correct. He also has the other models as well all mapped out.
Bra
Looks better than new impressive vid maybe the best i seen
I was surprised how great that sounded. That amp is in excellent shape too. Very nice!
2:15 goosebumps i love that tone!
+EastwoodGP Thanks, I'm so glad to hear that!
Absolutely stellar tone, loved that!
Thanks, glad you like it :-)
Wow very classic I love it
Thanks David, glad to hear that!
I am looking at the comments, and not understand- it is only for me this sounds bad? Really fuzzy, with side effects and decay notes noise. Johan is great guy, nice playing, really squeeze the juice from every amp, also from this one, but this is not sound i like.
So the original boxes used a filter choke, interesting
Just say no to green circuit boards! Killer tone!
Marshall , Hiwatt and Vox, the holy trinity!
Always liked the sound of Vox. Sounds very good.Would like to hear a single coil guitar thru that amp too. Great video, thanks!
Thanks! I'll add a strat next time :-) Cheers
How about with a telecaster instead of a strat? A tele and a Vox ac30 is such a classic sound.
I'm between Teles for the moment but when I get one I'll go for it!
I can't decide on a Tele either. Should I bite the bullet and go for the 52 reissue or just save some money and buy the american special?
Just checking is that a 19 Henries choke?
Now THAT is tone!
Thanks :-)
No ear defenders??? Sounds marvellous
👍🔥🎸🦅
Surprised you can sit that close to the amp! Those suckers are LOUD when cranked!
VOXY LADY!
Liknar den jag hade när vi spelade in hos kenneth
This is one of the best clean amps. No even single clean note. Thumbs down.
Go back to your Hank Marvin records😉
There's tons of demos of these amps being played "clean" and not turned up to get the most out of them. If that's what you want then you've got literally dozens of other videos you can go to.
TAD tubes are original?
Wonderfull Vox Ghost tones :-)
I'm only annoyed, after watching this...
+superlead100100 you're gonna have to elaborate there I'm afraid
Clapton tone!!!
Love that cranked Vox tone
Great amp, great guitar, great playing.
Still think the marshalls sound better. Nice demo though. But for blues this would be the ticket.
Thanks Mike!
A little muddy here. Maybe move the mic a little further away.
Best I've heard,
I love the vox footswitch, it's very cool.
A small piece of art indeed
Fantastico Sound !
Man i had no idea VOX could sound that beefy!
Thanks! Me neither. Cheers
you never fail to amaze me, always great tones
WOW is it ever creamy sounding! Wish I could crank my C2 at gigs without the soundguy going bananas. Don't have an attenuator ha ha.
Thanks! Yeah 30 watt is louder than most think! :-) Cheers Johan
Motherload by sequis is needed for dummy loading and vol attenuation without changing the amp character also you get a line out and filters as extra.
hell yes man. i totally need the schmatic, and layout if you've got one for my shop in southport, north carolina, usa. thanks man!
Weber Mass Attenuator? Why cant people demo just the amps without all the external bs.
Yum yum. Johan, what's the riff at 2:14?
Thanks Richard! That's one of mine :-)