AMP WARS EP 2 VOX AC30 VS MORGAN AC20
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
- In Episode 2 of Amp Wars we compare the VOX AC30 with the MORGAN AC20 Deluxe.
Rhett Shull - UA-cam Channel: / rshull07
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Wow, an amp demo/comparison where someone actually plays chords and not just noodle about. Way more useful than just about any other demo/comparison out there.
kslique yes! someone else who thinks like me. Playing chords show the differences much more than just soloing. 👍🤘🏻🎸👍🤘🏻🎸👍🤘🏻🎸
Agreed, really tired of amp/pedal/guitar demos where they only do jazz/blues twiddling with a cleanish sound - there's so much more to explore than that!
royglennie exactly! The greatest percentage of viewers don’t use their gear to sit around and be cool, but they actually play songs that require quite a bit of chording, riffing, and a few tasty licks. I swear, if I had access to lots of gear I’d start a review/demo channel specifically for the average guitar player
..you mean blues till you snooze?generic funky chords?yuck!
Andy at proguitar shops plays relevant and interesting stuff in their demos,one of the few.
Well Rick just does EVERYTHING right!
At some point I want someone to demonstrate about five or six amps that don't "take pedals well."
A really small amp won't do well with reverb/delay pedals - it'll get really muddy. A tweed champ, tone king falcon, etc.
Amps that easily distort easily on their own, without needing boost or OD, are generally great amps but poor pedal platforms. Most Fender Tweed amps from 1960 or earlier and low power Gibson amps from the same era don't take pedals well. Neither do some great sounding low-power modern boutique amps: Noloatone JuneBug2, ToneKing Imperial, ...and the Morgan AC20 Deluxe.
Octal preamp amps don't play well with a lot of pedals. Deluxe Reverbs are picky too due to their bright cap
@@quicklynamed Why don't 6S(N/L/J)7s work well with pedals?
Yeah, it seems like EVERY amp these days people say take pedals well and "responds to your pick attack".
They both sound sweet but that AC30 just seems so balanced.. gotta love it!
Well Rick, this is the video that did it for me. You are thorough as hell and the guitar/music community is amazingly fortunate to have you. Thank you(and guests) for all your insight!
I agree with the consensus that the AC-30 sounds much better, but after listening to this video a few times I went straight to Reverb and bought a used Morgan AC20 Deluxe. Why did I buy the Morgan? Practicality.
1) Usable volume levels: Listen again at 13:46 of this video - the AC30 sounds best at paint-peeling volumes that "sound great in the studio but if you are playing that loud in a live situation you are killing people - you're getting kicked off-stage".
2) Flexibility: the Morgan with its two front switches, switchable preamp tubes and power-level knob (an amazing feature) makes it much more flexible and usable than the VOX.
3) Price and Weight: Vintage AC30's on Reverb in good condition list for $3000-5000+, and weigh 71lbs - the same impractical weight as a Fender Twin Reverb. I paid $1200 for my Morgan (head), $1329 including taxes and shipping. It weighs only 21.5lbs.
Also the comparison in this video is not really fair because the amps use different speakers and are recorded at dramatically different volume levels - both of which I suspect favor the Vox. It would be nice if they had tested the Morgan using the Vox's speakers - and shown what both amps are capable of at the same decibel levels.
My Morgan just arrived and my initial thoughts are 1) it is not as loud as either my 20w Tone King Imperial or my 15w '59 Fender Tweed Deluxe amps, but probably loud enough to play out with, 2) when using the EF86 preamp tube it is impossible to get a clean tone without at least a little bit of "hair" on it (not necessarily bad because the crunchy sound is what this amp is all about). Using the 12AX7 preamp tube makes the amp both louder and cleaner sounding. 3) it is a fantastic amp for bedroom practice and recording, but lacks the headroom to be a good pedal platform. Best used for getting a crunchy, natural sounding OD tones without pedals at medium to low volumes.
Note: the Morgan AC20 Deluxe model has been discontinued. The current AC20 model does not have switchable preamp tubes - it only uses only the cleaner (un-Vox-like) sounding 12AX7 preamp tubes.
I hope this helps.
Honestly, this comment had given me a greater insight into the two amps, and other amps in general as well. Thanks mate.
I was a bit surprised how different the amps were. Certainly for lush cleans I'd want the actual AC30. On the gainier sounds it's a bit more apples to oranges. The Morgan has a nice tight and focused gain sound, while the AC has more breadth and a bit more rasp. Not a big surprise as the AC20 is a lower powered amp AND they were only miking a 1x12. Certainly for smaller venues the AC20 is arguably the better option.
It is just me or did the VOX wipe the floor with the Morgan? I am not even a VOX fanboy and was never on my radar. With that being said (Just my opinion ) The VOX sounded much better..
Yeah, it did!
I’m sure you can find a Morgan to get closer to that sound. Morgan just makes a bunch of amps. The AC20 and the Abbey are just the two channels of an AC 30 split into two amps
These are the UK made voxs ac30/6 TB they are awesome
Yep, AC30's just sound so sweet!
I wonder how much a difference the Blues vs. Gold made?
I like how at 7:50 Rick starts shaking his head at the tones coming from the neck P90. Thats when a sound hits you in the feels.
Wow that AC30 has a lovely sound, both clean and dirty. The Morgan didn't seem to clean up as well. It took the pedals much better as well. No contest.
I have a Morgan AC20 and it does clean up very well. He said he ran his amp pretty clean but in the video it’s not that clean. I run my Morgan clean and use pedals to boost it into OD and it’s great. The power scaling makes it so much easier to dial in good tones at home before playing live.
Excellent video guys!! Absolutely love this new series!! In this time of digital saturation, it's like a breath of fresh air to hear the sounds from those 2 amps
I've been circling back to Vox since I got my first one. I love the touch responsiveness and how even when pushed into their high gain sound, you can still hear every note of a chord.
It's amazing to think that all the various sounds that are used today were available before many of us were born. The more things change, the more they stay the same!
Thank you Rick!
A valuable contribution to UA-cam!
I have a '64 AC30TB, a '91 AC30TBR, and a 2012 AC30C2.
Though it's in tip-top working order, my '64 is my LEAST favorite.
Your Marshall-made UK-era Korg (1994ish-2004ish) sounds fantastic!
Morgans sound great in person, but here the AC30 is the clear winner.
AC30 all the way. It's alive and soulful. Almost like it's breathing out the sound
Both are awesome in different ways. The AC30 would be my desert Island amp.
@Scram Jam a desert island is a desert with nothing and or no one on it.
Another great video. I've watched a lot of this type of video (amp comparisons), but these have a different flavor and they are really enjoyable. Keep it going.
That AC30 sounds incredible, that is the sound i have been looking for!
The sound of that Strat in the AC30 is from another dimension, pure ecstasy :) Both sweet amps though! Great video guys, love it! :)
great demo. I own both amps and gig with the Morgan. Power scaling is a wonderful thing. And more versatile and better built too. Morgan amps are amazing.
YAY !!! it's amp wars !!!! Thanks for putting in the work ~ great channel.
You guys are killing me! I love both of those amps so much. ❤😍
The UK manufactured AC30/6TBX is a great amp. In mine I run a Greenback and a Celestion Blue. Very interesting combination of sounds. Even though the Blue is audibly louder than the Greenback the two speaker types complement each other nicely.
The Morgan was ok, sounded like it wanted to crap out a little at some settings but maybe just kind of guitar specific. That Vox is the sound. No doubt a good cranked loud amp sits at the top of tone mountain. A sound you feel like you can lean into.
Great video guys
Awesome video. Cant wait for more episodes. Keep them coming!
Wow! The AC 30 sounds SO good. No wonder this amp is so famous.
I’ve got both Celestion Gold and Blue. I think fair amount of difference heard here is in the speakers. Would be interested in hearing the Morgan through the Gold Vs Blue and same thing with the Vox.
Great seeing Rick and Rhett join forces on this series. Adding the Morgan AC20 to the GAS list immediately!
This show is phenomenal! Keep making this "Amp Wars" episodes.
Damir
Wow, have never considered myself an EL84 kinda guy, but your demo really gives me pause to reconsider. I may have to shop for a Vox/Vox-style amp.
But that Memory Man, though. And the EP Booster! Super wow!
A new series for vintage effects, perhaps those found on classic recordings, or vintage vs. contemporary clones. And you can start with Echoplexes, since the EP Booster has already made its quite amazing channel debut.
Another great video, thanks guys!
My favourite amps of all time are the Vox AC series and the Marshall JCMs & Plexi sounding amps (such as the VM). These amps cover all of the bases for me.
Great Video! These Vox AC 30s Blues from the 90s Are one of the best amps ever made! Can’t beat them!
"It cleans up nice like the Morgan"
Um dude, the Morgan isn't even in the same galaxy as that vintage AC30. Not even close.
Love the sound of the Morgan on the EF86, and of course the Vox sounds like a Vox! I’d gig with the Morgan through a 2x12 Alnico Blue cab, but the Vox would have to be a combo Vox-Ox-Box thing... no way could I get by with that volume on the stages I play. Both amps sound great, and had me saying “oh, that sounds nice” several times. Then again, I was born not long after “Rumble” came out. That sound is in my DNA somewhere.
EDIT: Bought an early 90s AC30TB... damn you Rick Beato!
a Fine comparison of both Guitars and Amps-I love the Isolation Room as well ! Nice work Men !
Memoryman and the AC30 is pure ear candy
I gotta go with the AC-30. I love mine so much
Great video...confirms my recent purchase of an AC15....love it!!
Yes!! Loved your choice of riffs ( queen, u2 and aerosmith) and love the ef 86 valves (especially on dan stienhardt's ac30). Rhett's shirt is also pretty cool
It makes me so happy whenever Rhett plays Rumble.
I just got a used AC30 for $680 !! First tube amp
I'm in love 😍
Chinese made or british made? There's a big difference on that lol
Matheus Ferreira Biggest difference is price. The sound is terrific and the components and build are excellent. The way some people talk you’d think China was third world. It’s the second biggest economy in the world and it’s getting bigger and more sophisticated everyday.
@@donharrold1375 CUNTRY snobs! ;oP
@@donharrold1375 how much does chairman winnie the poo pay you to post all day?
Gizka You ever been to China? You won't find a line of F-350s rumbling away outside KFC as their gasping drivers queue up in 44” waist trousers to buy a 14 piece bucket to fill in time between lunch and dinner. Pretty soon the USA will only be manufacturing Heinz beans?
The Dr. Z vox inspired amps (Stang ray, prescription, even maz) are all killer alternatives too. I have a Maz 8 with an alnico blue and Prescription rx, killer tones
They both sound awesome. I have an AC15 and I absolutely love it.
LOVE my AC30, only amp I'll ever need, every other amp I've had I've gotten tired of or disliked the sound and sold/traded after a year or so until I got my AC30 in 2012, I'll never get rid of it.
Rhetts wearing a Normans Rare Guitar shirt, I love it!!! You guys kick ass!
The Morgan does have a few interesting alternatives with the tube configuration,being a big plus! However Nothing else sounds or responds to the touch in the way AC 30s do! The clarity,and pristine gliss of the Vox is like no other..period! And when you go into Top boost territory..cranking the volume brings you into a compressed sonic,overdriven richness,yet you willl still b able to distinguish individual notes when hitting those big chords. The Morgan seems to me to mudd out in the mix. I could be wrong its hard to really tell! I own an ac30,and had a ac15. They both take pedals very well.not to mention ACs never need any tube biasing,Does the Morgan ? This is without any doubt one of if not the best representation,and demonstration,of two of the best sounding amps ...and you two each shown what the amps are capable of delivering ...Kudos gentlemen!
My vote for the AC30.
Great Job
Thanks.
Bugger it.... I want both. I also luuuurve that lowrider-looking Novo with the P90's.
Great demo'ing, Gentlemen!
Love the Link Wray. I always head to a Vox amp when I go the guitar store. And I play Blues.
I love my AC 30 TB w Alnico Blues!
Thanks for uploading this Rick, I follow your channel, and you have compelling content. Keep it up. :)
I felt lucky just to hear these tones, they are so, so sweet.
You know what really sounds like a Vox?
A Vox.
And the new ones lose the brittleness in the top end as the speaker breaks in.
There are other amps brands based on Vox style architecture: Matchless, Bad Cat, Top Hat, Bruno and even Trainwreck (Liverpool model).
Rafael Pretto Hence my comment. People spend excessive money trying to buy an amp that sounds more like a Vox than an actual Vox. Or sound more like a 60s Vox than a new Vox can. Which is to disregard the fact that 60s Vox amps were built to a schematic that changed multiple times so there is no definitive amp to copy.
They’re lovely amps but cost as much as a vintage amp and really are no closer to the real thing (hand wiring doesn’t affect the sound quality).
Sure that's a good point. I own a Vox AC-15C1 with an Alnico Blue speaker, sounds really good and it is not that expensive.
Rafael Pretto I have the same amp but with the Greenback. I decided I could buy an alnico blue with the money I saved and have both options for the same price. I actually never got around to it because I really like the greenback. I might build a cab or buy a broken AC15 and put an alnico blue in it.
They really are fantastic amps for the money. And I’ve compared it with vintage Vox amps and a Matchless and it really nails the sound at a fraction of the price.
Mine came with the Greenback, it is a really good speaker, obviously not the same as the late 60s Pulsonic Greenbacks, but still sounds good (anyways, I replaced it with an Alnico Blue).
It all depends on what sound you are searching for.
If you want classic 60s chimey Vox, then try the Alnico Blue. If you want more a Marshall heavy on mids sound, then stay with the Greenback.
It is a good idea to put the Alnico Blue in the amp cab and have the option of the Greenback in an external speaker cab.
Really appreciate this comparison. I was all set with getting the Morgan until I heard the AC30. Its like Rhett brought a knife to a gun fight. The clarity and headroom on the AC30 is amazing. I do worry about buying a new AC30 and where it is made vs the British made version.
Both amps sound amazing...
Rhett's guitar has a Daffy Duck bill for a headstock! 😆
I picked up a Laney "VC 30" about 15 year ago. Call it a "poor man's AC 30". With a Strat in particular, the "chimey" sound is intoxicating. It works well for a variety of genres I'd say but, without a pedal, the distortion is not quite "dirty" enough for a lot of classic rock. And, with a Tele, trying to play country, it falls short as well. For a clean, classic Strat sound or a slightly dirty 'blues" sound it gets it done.
Oh emm gee, the stuff Rhett plays from 16:57 onwards sounds truly divine! 😍👍
Rick, how about a video on how certain gear inspires creativity/playing? Going in I thought I'd pick the Morgan, but the Vox just has something. I think the Vox made you guys play better.
Awesome tones. Love ‘em both, though I love my old Marshall’s, too, when they’re set right. I think the AC-30 sounds a little more versatile.
Both amps sound great. It just comes down to preference in what you want.
Great video, thank you guys!
You got me sold on the Morgan AC20. Great Amp!
Pain in the ass to cart around…and loud but oh so beautiful. AC30 is just glorious !!!
Great tone at 4:24, with that knob pulled up. That's the one tone I'd use this amp for. But that Vox sounds great. Sometimes those amps fart out too much in the low end for my taste, but this Vox seems to mostly keep it together. I prefer that Vox, but maybe with a tighter bass.
Great video, thanks guys!
I know what you’re saying about new AC30s being so bright if only they made some sort of knob with which someone could increase the bass frequencies. Or if not that, maybe one that can reduce the treble? Alas
Actually I have a Chinese made AC30 with Blue Anicos from the mid oughts. I've modified it (replaced the reverb tank which tames the highs, and the chassis with a custom chassis that mounts the speakers a bit wider in a cool "white and grey snakefleck" tolex. I've owned this amp for 15 years and it sounds incredible. The Morgan sounds great, but it's a bit "deeper" sounding...no bright switch?
The Morgan sounds great but no effects loop from what I could find online. How do you deal with using gain tones of the Morgan with delay/mod/reverb effects? Thanks!
Great video subject and title!
Its the Vox for me, that chime does it every time, and maybe the fact I've been brought up on ac30s since 1961, I still have my brothers old one 1963 Vox with back boost, which is better sounding than a top boost which came out the following year, and I'm selling it.
Great demo or review 🆒👌🏾I love both👍🏾
I’m glad I found this video I have the AC30hw and have played it against my friends dual 20 and we both agreed the VOX tone was superior
It never fails to amaze me that Fender nailed small combo amp design so perfectly in the '50s (and to be fair, Gibson, Ampeg, Supro, and others had their own takes on it as well), but in the late '60s, the decision was handed down from on high that the entire world would go solid state, and guitarists have been scrambling to recover ever since. I'll readily cede the point that there have been some pertinent technological advances since (i.e., surge protection, etc.), but that little has actually transpired that could make these small combos sound better than they originally did. My hat is off to any 'boutique' amp manufacturer who grasps what lies in the details, and can deliver on said promise, but you just have to take your hat off to the original designers...they basically sussed it out from the git go...
As a massive U2 fan, I loved this video
Excellent video, many thanks.
Rhett, I agree with you on the Chinese AC30 being brighter than the vintage Vox's. Nice Playing Rick. I heard Rush on the Cars when you first started playing. Nice series!!
Those Korg era voxs sounds so good, still have yet to find one close to me.
I've been looking for an amp. The VOX ac30 S1 is what I'm going to get.
I would be interested to hear the AC20 into the AC30 as a cabinet, removing speaker difference from the equation.
As a versatile platform that has enough of the AC chime I actually love my Nighttrain G2 Combo. Don't hear anything much about these amps these days - don't think they caught on - but I really like the clean side a lot and the FX loop really gives me the platform I am after. I am really curious to try the new AC30 with FX loop but probably still too loud for my needs.
I’d love to hear you compare a Matchless DC-30 to these two!
DC30 does not sound like a Vox. Common misconception.
I had a Matchless several years ago. It sounded nothing like either of these amps.
The Vox sounded incredible, the Morgan was a beaut also. If I was recording that AC 30 would be my go-to.
I used to have a 1963 Vox AC30. Sweetest sound ever. I played my Gibson 1967 ES-345 (Cherry Red) through it.
I have two modern AC30 heads. They are not excessively bright at all. They may not have the "magic" sound of the vintage ones, but they sound fantastic in their own right. As others have mentioned, a lot of the character of the amp comes after the speakers break in, which can take a long time for AlNiCo Blues.
So if current VOX tube amps sound too bright, are the alnico blues the best speaker option for those amps? I’d imagine a ceramic would balance the tone better? I know VOX has both options available.
45 seconds in and there goes Rhetts Vox Endorsement offer … it’s nice to hear someone speak honestly about gear they like, dislike or are middle of the road about.
Way late to this party, but I’m trying to always learn and this is an awesome video. I don’t understand “the sound of vox is an ef86”… weren’t they just used briefly? If memory serves Beatles Justin Hayward Brian may edge, etc did not use ef86es. I’m wishing I had more info on why Rick would say that as I would like to purchase a vox type amp before too long…
Would've loved to see a Matchless thrown in there as well. Great comparison all around though. I think there is a case to be made that a well-made modern amp can go toe-to-toe with a vintage amp... and certainly save you a few bucks too!!!
Hi Rick do you know what brand of valves you have in your AC30? Sounds great. Cheers :)
Great demo guys. The AC-30 does it for me.
I love this section Rick! I'd love to see a Friedman, maybe the Runt-20. Keep it up please!
Great breakdown/battle.
In transposition, in a Horn in F, what does it mean...if I play a C (concert pitch) it sounds like F, or the other way around??
great demo! which channel of the vox are you using? Normal or Brilliant? thanks!
Love Rhett's Novo, and I prefer the VOX amp. Keep these coming Rick!
Great review. Thanks!
I love both. Love that P90 guitar too.
have to agree with Rhett regarding AC30 for rhythm/funk.....also Memory Man Pedal is Killer!!
Not ignoring Awesome Guitar Playing....Thanks gents.....damn Now What do i do!!....lol
Both sound great. Got a great deal on my AC 30.
Great show guys
Found it Rick! :) Thank you!!!