1965 Vox AC30 Top Boost - Demo & Description
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- Опубліковано 7 сер 2024
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I happened across this abused JMI Vox AC30 Top Boost on Marketplace recently and I had to come check it out. It was priced at about half what they go for, and well, I jumped on it. There has to be LOTS of interesting backstory with this thing - the cabinet has a story, the extra transformer has a story, the mismatched serial numbers have a story, but bottom line this thing is a B.E.A.S.T. and I'm just getting to know it.
NO PEDALS WERE USED IN THE MAKING OF THIS VIDEO, this is guitar into cable, into amp.
In this video I talk a little about the idiosyncrasies it has, I describe how the control panel and knobs on this works (because it's different than pretty much every other amp I've ever played), and of course I demo all the channels on multiple guitars just for fun. Hope you enjoy.
Special thanks to @AskZac for the loan of the Vox JMI years book so I could ID all my serial code info!
This thing sounds incredible in the room. The speakers throw the sound super wide for an almost stereo effect. To try to match what I'm hearing in the room I mic'd a speaker w a SM57, and also ran it through my Fryette Power Station which as a direct out to my DAW, added just a touch of Reverb and panned the two mixes to either side. That seems to get it close to what I'm hearing in the room.
00:00 Demo of Normal and Brilliant channel
01:37 Introduction/ What to expect
03:31 Some backstory on this amp
06:24 How the controls work on an AC30
10:28 Demo - Vib Trem Channel - Tele
15:17 Demo - Normal Channel - Tele
18:00 Demo - Brilliant Channel -Tele
22:24 Demo - Brilliant Channel - Strat
23:38 Demo - Brilliant Channel - SG
25:37 Demo - Brilliant Channel - Les Paul
29:02 Demo - Brilliant Channel - ES 335
31:44 Final thoughts
Also...
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Nice video. Of all the 100s of videos I’ve seen that mention the “Vox Sound” when comparing gear and what not, I had always sort of struggled telling the difference between all of these different amps…they all sounded alike to me. Your video was very helpful in my understanding the true Vox sound.
I don't comment much, unless something really grabs me. The ac30 did. I've been using vox since Kirby died in the knights of Columbus! Fantastic amps, very original sound, very British!! Although I use my Marshall's and fenders, there's truly something special about the tone on a good old vox. To me, if the music we're playing doesn't require the vox, and sometimes it's months, and I get home and plug it in, it's like magic almost how it never fails to inspire me. Some of my best original stuff was borne out of the vox!!!!
That intro was a really good sum up of the 'vox' sound
I guess the step up transformer is because standard house voltage in the U.K. & Australia is 220 - 240 volt AC. Your amp required the boost from your standard of 110 volt.
I like your yapping and the Christmas lights.
I have a 1964 TB and didn’t use it for decades (i use two rock) , this video really inspired me to bite the dust , great video
I love Vox .l have a 10year old reissue AC30C2 and it sound fantastic,but that sounds like an amp for the angels! Glad it has a good home .Its really workin for you!Nothing beats a Vox vibrato and a Tele.Thats a magic sound.
The first amp I ever bought. I purchased it from a local Liverpool music shop many moons ago. It was a very early 1960s model and had seen a lot of action on the Merseybeat scene-the insides were fried! Eventually the main channel went, I got it fixed, but it was too unreliable for gigging. I sold it and bought a Marshall JCM 800 2x12 100 Watt Combo. That was very heavy, and way too loud for what I needed. I should've gone for the 50 Watt model, which I had tried first, that sounded much better. But, I played it safe and bought the 100 Watt, thinking I might need the extra volume. I soon found out that you could never use full volume because it drowned out everything, even at half volume! 30 Watts is just about right, and you can mike them up to the PA if you need to these days, as they're much better. These days I use a Kemper!
I have 9 of them and each one sounds different! Even tons of original parts thanks to ebait. If you do not know enough knowledge of tube electronics well there 60 years old and need maintaining! Good old NOS Millard's with a moderate draw last me forever .... The AC30/4 from 1959/60's go head to head with a Marshall stack easily since each time they ask me to turn down 😅 white I'm on 3 ! My license plate even says " AC30/4., I was lucky to get that one, blond w/ celestion 731's. It gives the tweed Bassman, 5E6 GB date code a serious run for it's money ❤
"only" 30 Watts but AC30s are *loud*, especially with those blue speakers which a super-sensitive.
The amp sounds fantastic, and it has a great look/vibe. Thanks for the shoutout, and glad the book was helpful.
Oh by the way you have the best lessons on the internet keep doing it it's great you're doing a great job thank you
What an excellent recording of a live Amp. I feel like I'm in the room with you, even though I'm listening through headphones! Would be interested in knowing more about your Mic and signal path. Absolutely stellar job. That was fun. Thanks 👍
I've always wanted a Vox AC30 Top Boost. Lucky find.
Enjoyed the video very much! Thanks for sharing! Played a barnyard find, beatup 1964 AC-30. My friend was consigning it, and the guy wanted like five grand for it. But I would find much better specimens of that era in much better condition for around 3500. After sitting around for almost a year, the guy finally dropped the price considerably and I checked it out and cranked it out and was blown away! Already owning a 78 Marshall, JMP, and 79 deluxe reverb, and 70s Ampeg SVT, it’s really it’s own thing! Because of the condition, I was hesitant to spend that much money on the amp and tried reasoning with the owner, but then someone actually did buy it! Now on the hunt for a Vox, I ended up finding a 93UKAC 30 locally. Barely used In 28 years. It sat in a music studio, barely used. So I ended up, snagging it at a great price. As it turns out, my electronics guy had worked on the 64 Vox To make it sellable and make sure it was in good condition. He told me out of the two of them he would’ve jumped on the 93. So it all ended well! Congratulations on your new amp. It is a unique part of any amp squad.
I've heard good things about 90s era AC30s. I think Msrshall actually built them for a few years
@@12footchain Yes Marshall did! Mines a 93 and they used alot of Rose Morris leftover parts. My electronics tech is an engineer and been working on gear as side hustle for over 40 yrs so his opinion counts in helping me make wise decisions! Next purchase a good attenuator for it! It’s brutally LOUD!! Cheers!✌🏽❤️
@@billydelacruz1500 personal recommendation on attenuator is fryette power station. Check them out
Cool when you jumper too, thicken the Bright Chn.
Great information and demo. Thank you!
Yay, you have the Jim Elyea book too - if you got it for $85 you did really well! It is one heavyweight volume in every way. I gave Jim various bits of data off my AC30 "Super Twin" (same as yours but seperate cab and head).years ago when he was putting the book together Classic Vox demo, I really enjoyed that, thanks.
Awesome video have a wonderful day ❤😊
Sounds awesome. I had to make do with a Korg era Top Boost reissue with Vox Alnico Blue speakers but mine got tweaked by Don The Toneman Butler. He tweaked it to vintage specs and swapped the OT with a repro from Mercury Magnetics. Also did the same thing with a first year Marshall Bluesbreaker RI. It has Weber Blue Dog Alnicos, KT66 tubes, repro Mercury Magnetics OT.
Jeff Beck (RIP) used to say these things are loud and he was very right. He broke the sound barrier with one and his Esquire in The Yardbirds.
I love Vox amps I have one and love it to bits .
fabulous vid.. Thank you.
You are going to get the god sound that is a beautiful amplifier you lucky dog
Yapyapyap....love your yap.never stop.pleaze.
Didn’t mention the weirdly interactive EQ controls on the Top Boost channel. When I had one, that was the thing I really had to get used to. If you had both bass and treble set to say, noon, and you wanted more bass so you turn up the bass control. But as it gets higher the treble gets cut. Same, if you turn up the treble, it cuts the bass. So you couldn’t just set one where you want it and then set the other where you want it. You had to go back and forth, adjusting each in relation to the other.
yeah still getting used to that myself
That thing is absolute magic and this was a feast for the ears, but...
how did you NOT try P90s??? Like say, oh, um, er... THAT CASINOOOOOO!!! 😀
Especially since as you say, it's definitely voiced for scoils. Ahhh, I know: all part of your plan to do a separate, dedicated demo... right? RIGHT???😂
While yer at it, beg, borrow, or steal a Ric - actually 2: toasters AND higains. That's all. Then I can sleep soundly, thanks.
YES PLEASEEEEE
What a beautiful amplifier you lucky dog
The boy can play!
The wall sockets in our UK houses are all 240v. Actually I think its 220v now to conform to EU Standards . . . Modern USA Amps made for Export to the EU & GB are set to run at 220v . . . In the past we had to buy step down transformers ( 240v in and 110v out ) to use NON Export USA Amps . . . . that's why you have a step up transformer on the British Vox AC30 . . Your transformer is 110v in and 240v out . . . I had a beautiful 68 Vox AC30 for quite a while. . . Oh boy that thing was so loud ! !
Thanks. They have that voltage regulator dial on the top though, so unless that thing is faulty or fails then I still wonder why the step up was needed
It’s not needed but runs cooler I believe. There may also be a very slight tone difference.
The reason for the transformer is that it is a British amp used to working off 240 volts supply coming out of the wall socket.
yeah I guess thats true, but then what is the point of the voltage control dial at the top. I know mine is purposely bypassed, but normally I thought that dial meant that you could run it off of US voltage from the wall by setting it to the 115v setting on the dial?
In both the UK & Australia we have 240 volts from our wall sockets, so the 120 USA standard is not usable for British amps without intervention
The only amp you’ll ever need
Would liked to have seen a db meter to see what the sound levels are - that must be incredibly loud if that amp is running hard and you’re about 6ft in front?
I have it running through an attenuator to pull the overall volume down but allows me to turn the amp up to get the tubes going.
Ha! You need a license plate that says AMPMAN!!
Indeed!
I have a 65ish too. are/were your speakers hard-wired to the chassis? how did you connect to the attenuator?
yes they were, I had an amp tech here in Nashville convert the footswitch 1/4" jack (that I don't use) to have the speakers wired to that, so I can connect to an attenuator if I want. Is also an easy mod to convert it back if anyone wanted to.
Can you blending the brillant and the vibe trem channel?
I haven't done it but I've heard others who have blended channels
Haa....nice "new" amp...can't beat the old AC30s....not for the loudness anyway.....saw Rory Gallagher back in the early 70s and his Strat and Tele (for slide guitar) were quite ear splitting...in a good way....cheers...enjoy...and watch your ears...plugs recommended...i know what i'm talking about....
Who cares how it looks, it's how it sounds.
Looks are important, too. Fortunately, this amp looks good. Beat up... but it still looks good.
Real players don't care about looks, only the sound.@@castleanthrax1833
Are you attenuating that at all, or was it on 10, sitting right behind you?
Yeah attenuator for sure, fryette power station
Hello…Jerry…
Pretenders .very englishhhhh
Step up transformer.
Yes that's right