It's been ages since a VOX appeared on the channel! Here you go! :-) ►Sky Music - alnk.to/b7sg090 ►Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/gbGvQ9 ►Thomann - bit.ly/3kZrcjm (affiliate links)
You should try the Atomic Amplifire 6 or 12 man their stuff is awesome, probably one of the best ac30 tones I’ve ever heard, they are running the same processors that Axe fx use, cool video btw ! 👍🏻
I know this is old BUT I don't think they even need an attenuator on the combo, just an effects loop...If they would even just put the effects loop from the AC30 on the AC15 you could just put a volume-cut pedal in the effects loop...seems like a simple change that would make the amp WAY more usable...I play many small places where my AC15 is TOO LOUD and I am going to upgrade to the AC30 just for the effects loop (because it will let me run it at lower volumes than the AC15)...and I am getting a head and cab so I can rock a 212 cab.
Mate i own a Vox AC-30 and i love that thing! Getting it to the point off distorting and breaking up loud is a glorious thing! The head looks cool to but for gigging i love my 30w Vox! Cheers Shane
Isnt it? It is glory for sure! Totally understand... I've had Marshalls and traynors etc... Nothing compares... A old vox is like a symbiant soul almost unearthly???
Thanks Shane I have considered buying a Vox ac15 but live in an apartment tower of fellow seniors. I have been using a Blackstar ht 1r running through an EV SRO 15b with a horn. The fact the AC head has power attenuation plus I am a huge fan of Vox tremelo, has definitely influenced me to pull the trigger. I have an empty 1x12cab that I just ordered a Celebration blue for. If you're ever in Cincinnati Ohio look me up. Happy 2023.
Agree with you,, the seventy80 does not give all the frequencies generred by thd Vox. I used to have one in an Ibanez TSA15, sounded dark, I replaced it with a Celestion G12H, it went from night to day. My Vox AC15HW1 is fitted with G12M greenback: perfect for rocky top boost , I also extend it to a 4x12 Marshall fitted with V30 and G12H, incredibly precise sounded for quacky heavy blues with a strat . I don't like so much a Les Paul in the Vox AC, but just a matter of taste.
nice review, mate! I play my Vox head through my Blackstar double 12 Celestion cab. some good tones with the humbuckers. somehow I've never been a great fan of humbuckers with Vox but your stuff seemed to work out well enough!
A telecaster into a Vox, you cannot beat those tones. You can tone chase all you want and you will find excellent alternative tones but you will never beat it
I have the exact same amplifier head and speaker cabinet! It's a great setup, through I upgraded the speakers to Celestion G12M-65 Creambacks. So much more mids come through with those speakers. Great Demo!
Never considered Vox amps as a choice for the sound/tone I’m looking for and although they do sound great, I think I’m still a Marshall/Fender dude. Awesome intro as well as all your playing throughout!!!! You make that amp sing mate!!! Cheers!!! 🎸🎸🎸🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾
I REALLY dug that tune you were playing around 8:25-8:40. "Atmospheric cool" is what I've dubbed it and man, I'd love if you recorded a full song with it! Great review Shane!
Good demo Shane! Can't beat a Vox for cleans, but the breakup you can keep! That trem was nice but really choppy! Square wave? Great reverb! I just got back from doing my 1st PRO gig in about 23 years! Globe Alley Lounge in Chinatown! Did ok! Was playing with the Richard London Band! Cheers!
Excellent playing and tone Shane. Considering an AC15 at the moment, so your clip was timely. Not sure I can give up my Supersonic 22, but I'll still give one of these Voxes a try. Cheers
Now thats it ...right there .!!That sound you have just put out ,is what makes it worthwhile to listen to music .I would like to know where I can buy a CD of your playing ..if you use what you're using on this video . Thumbs up & really cool !
Yeah, an all-tube Vox head is cool but it's going to be way too loud in my flat... "It's got a built-in attenuator that lets you..." *starts throwing money at the screen*
Great vid Shane ! Have a word with sky and see if you can borrow a vox super mini beetle to review. I'm thinking of investing in one and your honest review would be greatly appreciated !
thanks for the vid, now I know that the Vox is not my thing, I don't hate the tone, but I'm just a Marshall guy but I really love the looks of the Vox and how big the head is, it's just amazing! and having an attenuator and tremolo is just killer, just a bang for the buck.
Hi - Doesn't the master volume just do the same job as the attenuator? Could someone please explain benefit of the attenuator versus simply cranking the channel volume and lowering the master volume? Cheers 👍
Since you didn’t get an answer I’ll try my best to explain. You’re not going to get the same sound by keeping the master volume low. This amp sounds a lot more full when the master is cranked. I’ve noticed that it sounds quite thin and shrill at low volumes. You turn the master up and it’s way too loud for home use. The attenuator allows you to max out that master and keep the overall volume low. I play this at home with the master cranked at 0.1 watts. There’s no way I’d be able to play this at 15 watts at home. Too loud even with the master at its lowest setting.
Yep master volumes can vary but they kind of choke the power valves by cutting signal between preamp and poweramp section (I can't help you with the technical terms) wide open and in plexi and other non master volume amps they have better harmonics and just sound better to me and attenuator goes after the power amp/valves and acts like a speaker load sharing output with the speaker instead of putting all the power into the speaker. That was probably a terrible explanation but you get the just!
When I was a kid back in the dinosaur days we used to go to a store that just sold Vox amps. We would spend the whole day staring at them. But we couldn't afford them. The rich kid down the street his father bought him one of the first Super beatles. The whole neighborhood would plug into it at one time. It had so many inputs. LOL
Shane, how dos that compare to the AC 15 C1 combo? I'm considering to sell my Vox combo to buy this head because of the attenuator. Would you go for the AC15 CH or the AC30 CH? Thanks!!
Hard to beat Vox tone... AC30's are hard to do.. I know 30 watts is only the clean watts..want od you are going to loose your hearing eventually... Lol.. wouldn't trade mine for the world but just saying .. 15 is quite nice trade off😊
@@proteus2103 I'm surprised of your saying. I have an AC15HW1, playing at home. Yes it can be very very loud, but using the top boost channel with 25% gain and 25% master, you get that crunchy tone that cleans up with guitar volume or lighter pick, or growl even more with chords and fast playing. It is perfect for a stratocaster playing blues-rock like Rory Gallagher.
i love Vox...thanks for bringing it back..you should run the vox top boost in parellel with your fender amp :)...maybe wet dry rig...I regret not buying the head (because the attenuation)...great vid and awesome playing.
Yeh, good to see a Vox on ITB, sounds great. An A/B/C against Marshall and Fender would suit me, esp with a Tele in the mix. And I really enjoyed the ‘haunting’ trem at 8.10.
I was wondering when you were going to do one of the Vox heads. Strange that you didn't test the attenuator, though. That's one of the features I'm primarily looking at when looking at Vox heads. :O
Surprised to hear the head is 'mid scooped'. I have an AC15HW1X and use to own a AC15C1 - both which I find to be very pronounced in the mids. Using a Tube Screamer with either one was just waaaay to mid heavy no matter how I set the amp up. The Hotcake and OCD bond perfect with the amps though! Great vid anyways, and your playing is always on point!
It's going to be different for every cab. But with VOX I usually like the 10 & 2 O'Clock rule. Bass at 10 O'clock and Treble at about 10 O'Clock. Gain was up around 11.
How'd you reckon this would sound with my Bassbreaker 112 cab? Celestion V-Type. Not sure that's an appropriate speaker for the VOX thing, but I'm in the market for a head (that isn't a Bassbreaker, already got one of those). I was thinking Blackstar HT20 but this Vox has me intrigued. Always regretted selling my AC15 combo. Great work, Shane.
Depending on what music you play, my selection would be Celestions G12M for rock, V30 for blues-rock, G12H for blues (and jazz if you dare with a Vox), 2x12 or 4x12 preferably.
@@mattgilbert7347 a 212 or 412 is not only for power, it's also for better rendition of all frequencies of your tone. I do have a 412 that I put as an extension for my AC15HW1 fitted with a G12M.
Hey Shane, might have to be careful with that lick you're playing at about 6.50. You might get done for plagiarism from CCR's publishing lawyers - even if you did write it ;) Amp sounds pretty good clean and on breakup. Not so much of a fan of the gain channel though. But vox's definitely have their own sound.
I have tried every scenario to get Classic Vox amps to sound pleasing and It was impossible. The frequency and break up will not get a good marshall or fender or useable tone, they dont take pedals well either, to flubby in the preamp. Nice job though giving it a run.
I don’t know what you’re doing wrong, they sound pretty good coming from Queen, Dire Straits, Hendrix, Beatles, U2, Radiohead, The Kinks, Rolling Stones, Wolfmother, Status Quo etc. You don’t get a Fender or Marshall tone Vox has its own voice, and they do take pedals ridiculously well which has been proven for decades.
tarkett85 yes , exactly, they take pedals horribly, unlike fender and Marshall they are a terrible pedal platform, 1trick pony, no effect loop , so a delay pedal is distorted, better not need 2 sounds like every gigging guy on earth needs. Good in a multi amp rig like the pro guys.
@@agusg.t.8950 IIRC, mostly yeah. I think there were some fender somethingerathers in there, too, but it’s been a while since I watched that rig rundown.
I want to say that upon my initial listening I'm a bit disappointed that I'm watching a video reviewing a guitar amplifier and you're playing along with a drum track that is WAY too loud.
It's been ages since a VOX appeared on the channel! Here you go! :-)
►Sky Music - alnk.to/b7sg090
►Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/gbGvQ9
►Thomann - bit.ly/3kZrcjm
(affiliate links)
intheblues awesome! Can you review the new VX15 and/or the VX50? Small little amps with a lot of attitude 😎
You should try the Atomic Amplifire 6 or 12 man their stuff is awesome, probably one of the best ac30 tones I’ve ever heard, they are running the same processors that Axe fx use, cool video btw ! 👍🏻
I really wish Vox would put an attenuator on the combo.
Until then it’s worth getting a Weber MiniMass
I know this is old BUT I don't think they even need an attenuator on the combo, just an effects loop...If they would even just put the effects loop from the AC30 on the AC15 you could just put a volume-cut pedal in the effects loop...seems like a simple change that would make the amp WAY more usable...I play many small places where my AC15 is TOO LOUD and I am going to upgrade to the AC30 just for the effects loop (because it will let me run it at lower volumes than the AC15)...and I am getting a head and cab so I can rock a 212 cab.
Mate i own a Vox AC-30 and i love that thing! Getting it to the point off distorting and breaking up loud is a glorious thing! The head looks cool to but for gigging i love my 30w Vox! Cheers Shane
Isnt it? It is glory for sure! Totally understand... I've had Marshalls and traynors etc... Nothing compares... A old vox is like a symbiant soul almost unearthly???
Thanks Shane I have considered buying a Vox ac15 but live in an apartment tower of fellow seniors. I have been using a Blackstar ht 1r running through an EV SRO 15b with a horn. The fact the AC head has power attenuation plus I am a huge fan of Vox tremelo, has definitely influenced me to pull the trigger. I have an empty 1x12cab that I just ordered a Celebration blue for. If you're ever in Cincinnati Ohio look me up. Happy 2023.
Voxes sound SO GOOD with Fenders.
Sounds great with my esp Ltd with custom EMG pickups. Cant go wrong with a VOX!
I just three days ago bought an ac15 1-12 awesome....kinda wish I bought the head...well maybe I'll need the ac30 head!!!
Really liked the opening jam. Well done.
Thanks, Carmen.
I think it would sound better with Celestion Creambacks. Great playing through a iconic amp. Blues On.... 💙🎸🎶
Agree with you,, the seventy80 does not give all the frequencies generred by thd Vox. I used to have one in an Ibanez TSA15, sounded dark, I replaced it with a Celestion G12H, it went from night to day. My Vox AC15HW1 is fitted with G12M greenback: perfect for rocky top boost , I also extend it to a 4x12 Marshall fitted with V30 and G12H, incredibly precise sounded for quacky heavy blues with a strat . I don't like so much a Les Paul in the Vox AC, but just a matter of taste.
nice review, mate! I play my Vox head through my Blackstar double 12 Celestion cab. some good tones with the humbuckers. somehow I've never been a great fan of humbuckers with Vox but your stuff seemed to work out well enough!
Hey man, good demo, do they charge you if you play any chords? I’m just asking.
A telecaster into a Vox, you cannot beat those tones. You can tone chase all you want and you will find excellent alternative tones but you will never beat it
All matter of taste, on my side I do prefer position 2 of a strat in the top boost channel, like Rory Gallagher played: it's my sound !
I'm a big Vox fan so, thanks for another great demo mate ! :-)
Great video and talented playing. My dream amp for if I win the lottery! Thanks dude.
Love it! What great tones! Love how you showed the break up with the volume control. Great idea.
I have the exact same amplifier head and speaker cabinet! It's a great setup, through I upgraded the speakers to Celestion G12M-65 Creambacks. So much more mids come through with those speakers. Great Demo!
The sound coming from the Tele was the best. 👍🏼
Badass with the tele in the intro, sounds killer!
Never considered Vox amps as a choice for the sound/tone I’m looking for and although they do sound great, I think I’m still a Marshall/Fender dude. Awesome intro as well as all your playing throughout!!!! You make that amp sing mate!!! Cheers!!! 🎸🎸🎸🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾
I've heard of that amp! 👍🎸😊🔥🔥🎵🎵🎸👍
I REALLY dug that tune you were playing around 8:25-8:40. "Atmospheric cool" is what I've dubbed it and man, I'd love if you recorded a full song with it! Great review Shane!
Good demo Shane! Can't beat a Vox for cleans, but the breakup you can keep! That trem was nice but really choppy! Square wave? Great reverb!
I just got back from doing my 1st PRO gig in about 23 years! Globe Alley Lounge in Chinatown! Did ok! Was playing with the Richard London Band!
Cheers!
Excellent playing and tone Shane. Considering an AC15 at the moment, so your clip was timely. Not sure I can give up my Supersonic 22, but I'll still give one of these Voxes a try. Cheers
Delighful blend : vox head tube and marshall speaker... these two together plus fender and gibson than a fantastic experience
Now thats it ...right there .!!That sound you have just put out ,is what makes it worthwhile to listen to music .I would like to know where I can buy a CD of your playing ..if you use what you're using on this video . Thumbs up & really cool !
Yeah, an all-tube Vox head is cool but it's going to be way too loud in my flat...
"It's got a built-in attenuator that lets you..."
*starts throwing money at the screen*
Great vid Shane !
Have a word with sky and see if you can borrow a vox super mini beetle to review. I'm thinking of investing in one and your honest review would be greatly appreciated !
Peter Grant hi Peter. Sadly they don’t have one available at the moment. If one comes in I’ll grab it for sure. 😎
Hey mate, I just got one. It's the best little amp around. You won't be disappointed. It's a brilliant bedroom amp. I love mine.
Thanks for this. I’ve been researching this exact head all summer. I appreciate the work you put into the channel.
Thanks a lot, Cliff! :-)
thanks for the vid, now I know that the Vox is not my thing, I don't hate the tone, but I'm just a Marshall guy but I really love the looks of the Vox and how big the head is, it's just amazing! and having an attenuator and tremolo is just killer, just a bang for the buck.
Great review Shane,,,,, I recon it would sound even better if you were going thru two G12M's, maybe the Vox 212C ......
Hi - Doesn't the master volume just do the same job as the attenuator? Could someone please explain benefit of the attenuator versus simply cranking the channel volume and lowering the master volume? Cheers 👍
Since you didn’t get an answer I’ll try my best to explain. You’re not going to get the same sound by keeping the master volume low. This amp sounds a lot more full when the master is cranked. I’ve noticed that it sounds quite thin and shrill at low volumes. You turn the master up and it’s way too loud for home use. The attenuator allows you to max out that master and keep the overall volume low. I play this at home with the master cranked at 0.1 watts. There’s no way I’d be able to play this at 15 watts at home. Too loud even with the master at its lowest setting.
Yep master volumes can vary but they kind of choke the power valves by cutting signal between preamp and poweramp section (I can't help you with the technical terms) wide open and in plexi and other non master volume amps they have better harmonics and just sound better to me and attenuator goes after the power amp/valves and acts like a speaker load sharing output with the speaker instead of putting all the power into the speaker. That was probably a terrible explanation but you get the just!
Cool demo, I like the idea of having a Vox head like this around for when you want that sweet top boost tone. Cheers Shane!!
Nice Vid Shane! Hey.....did you buy that Fender Bassbreaker 30R???
I didn't but I am still GASSING for it! 😆
When I was a kid back in the dinosaur days we used to go to a store that just sold Vox amps. We would spend the whole day staring at them. But we couldn't afford them. The rich kid down the street his father bought him one of the first Super beatles. The whole neighborhood would plug into it at one time. It had so many inputs. LOL
Nice playing to show off the amp. Also intro tune was great.
Thanks!
Great demo Shane! Vox have such a unique and wonderful sound, especially is the AC range. I am yet to own one but it's always been on the list!! :)
Shane, how dos that compare to the AC 15 C1 combo? I'm considering to sell my Vox combo to buy this head because of the attenuator. Would you go for the AC15 CH or the AC30 CH? Thanks!!
That sounds great Shane! Never got to play a Vox, yet.
Great vid. I would love to know the chord sequence you played with the tremolo on (from 7:16). I can't spot all of it unfortunately...
Hard to beat Vox tone... AC30's are hard to do.. I know 30 watts is only the clean watts..want od you are going to loose your hearing eventually... Lol.. wouldn't trade mine for the world but just saying .. 15 is quite nice trade off😊
Never liked going through a vox. They are ungodly loud and clean for the wattage, in my experience.
A friend of mine has a Vox AC30 ... the letter V of the badge broke off, but it's as heavy as an Ox. Sounds great at a live gig though :)
@@proteus2103 I'm surprised of your saying. I have an AC15HW1, playing at home. Yes it can be very very loud, but using the top boost channel with 25% gain and 25% master, you get that crunchy tone that cleans up with guitar volume or lighter pick, or growl even more with chords and fast playing. It is perfect for a stratocaster playing blues-rock like Rory Gallagher.
I don't find Vox as mid scooped as Fenders, but they are compared to your typical Marshall. Cheers.
i love Vox...thanks for bringing it back..you should run the vox top boost in parellel with your fender amp :)...maybe wet dry rig...I regret not buying the head (because the attenuation)...great vid and awesome playing.
I can confirm it`s a great sounding combination. Did this with my 68 Princeton Reverb an the AC15 combo via the TC Mimiq, just awsome :-)
Very very nice tones and great playing sir I just subscribed cause of this
Thanks for the sub! Awesome :)
Yeh, good to see a Vox on ITB, sounds great. An A/B/C against Marshall and Fender would suit me, esp with a Tele in the mix. And I really enjoyed the ‘haunting’ trem at 8.10.
I was wondering when you were going to do one of the Vox heads. Strange that you didn't test the attenuator, though. That's one of the features I'm primarily looking at when looking at Vox heads. :O
@@s1iznc1d34 it looks you've never experienced the watts from a Vox AC.
Surprised to hear the head is 'mid scooped'. I have an AC15HW1X and use to own a AC15C1 - both which I find to be very pronounced in the mids. Using a Tube Screamer with either one was just waaaay to mid heavy no matter how I set the amp up. The Hotcake and OCD bond perfect with the amps though! Great vid anyways, and your playing is always on point!
The only downside is the weight. If you want something more portable, check out the AC10, which I think is also great.
Very nice and I like it has reverb & tremolo . I could just plug in without pedals & be happy as Larry 👍
Your best demo! Fab
helloo! how loud can this go without breaking up? does the tone cut preventing it (in some way) from break up?
vox + tele= the force
That tele is sweet...could you share your settings?
It's going to be different for every cab. But with VOX I usually like the 10 & 2 O'Clock rule. Bass at 10 O'clock and Treble at about 10 O'Clock. Gain was up around 11.
intheblues awesome...thanks so much, I am a 68 year old Vietnam combat vet...guitar has been with me since 1964...age 14...again thank you!
Excellent playing
Great video
Please do a video on Mesa Boogie Fillmore.
Thanks once again shane. Nice review man.
Sounds pretty good Bro. Is that an after market selector plate?
Yep it's from Rock Rabbit from memory.
@@intheblues Yeah Cool. I don't know why fender doesn't adopt that plate or buy the patent .
Nice Melvin Taylor poster!
Why does it never occurr to any reviewers of any kind of Amp Head, how many ohms the cabinet has to be to be able to plug it in?
This head will work with 8 or 16 ohms BUT the attenuator only works on the 16 ohm setting.
How'd you reckon this would sound with my Bassbreaker 112 cab? Celestion V-Type. Not sure that's an appropriate speaker for the VOX thing, but I'm in the market for a head (that isn't a Bassbreaker, already got one of those). I was thinking Blackstar HT20 but this Vox has me intrigued. Always regretted selling my AC15 combo.
Great work, Shane.
Depending on what music you play, my selection would be Celestions G12M for rock, V30 for blues-rock, G12H for blues (and jazz if you dare with a Vox), 2x12 or 4x12 preferably.
@@gillesgenete9598
Thanks.i don't really have the space or need for a 212
I'm thinking Creamback
Already got a Vintage 30 in my Laney.
@@mattgilbert7347 a 212 or 412 is not only for power, it's also for better rendition of all frequencies of your tone. I do have a 412 that I put as an extension for my AC15HW1 fitted with a G12M.
Good review. Shame it doesn't cover the low wattage options for those of us who want to also use this head in the bedroom at home.
it has a built-in attenuator tho
Very nice!!! Wish it had fx loop, but it’s surprisingly has attenuation :))
"side handles might come in handy" HA HA GOOD ONE SHANE !!!!!!
AWESOME REVIEW SHANE ! :)
Vox rules, since getting my AC-15BC/TV combo in ‘014, I’ve not really had any gas for anything else.
Sounds great !
very good video thanks!
I've got a Joyo Atomic and that'll have to do me 😅
Hey Shane, might have to be careful with that lick you're playing at about 6.50. You might get done for plagiarism from CCR's publishing lawyers - even if you did write it ;)
Amp sounds pretty good clean and on breakup. Not so much of a fan of the gain channel though. But vox's definitely have their own sound.
I hav a 10c1 n tele does the topboost add that much ?
The AC10c1 is based on the AC30 top boost channel. You kind of have the best of both in that little amp.
Thx
I have tried every scenario to get Classic Vox amps to sound pleasing and It was impossible. The frequency and break up will not get a good marshall or fender or useable tone, they dont take pedals well either, to flubby in the preamp. Nice job though giving it a run.
I don’t know what you’re doing wrong, they sound pretty good coming from Queen, Dire Straits, Hendrix, Beatles, U2, Radiohead, The Kinks, Rolling Stones, Wolfmother, Status Quo etc. You don’t get a Fender or Marshall tone Vox has its own voice, and they do take pedals ridiculously well which has been proven for decades.
tarkett85 yes , exactly, they take pedals horribly, unlike fender and Marshall they are a terrible pedal platform, 1trick pony, no effect loop , so a delay pedal is distorted, better not need 2 sounds like every gigging guy on earth needs. Good in a multi amp rig like the pro guys.
Clarke Sr Studio use the normal channel and they take pedals just fine.
@@toddclarke1580 That's hilarious. The guys at That Pedal Show said the AC15 was one of their favorite amps for pedals.
That head is crazy big for just being 15 watts.
Vox circuit and reverb tank needs space
Why does it have to be so massive? Its only 15watts...
Quality of transformers, quality of birch plywood, size of cabinet.
some of that is too fuzzy & wooly with neck p/up
Doesn't work for me. I don't think that cab is right for the Vox.
Sounds real nice, but... no FX loop es no bueno. Booo....
Oldguyjammin tell the Edge😅
Agus G.T. The Edge has more budget and more room on-stage.
@@OtherTheDave at the end of the day he uses an ac30 and pedals in front of it.
@@agusg.t.8950 IIRC, mostly yeah. I think there were some fender somethingerathers in there, too, but it’s been a while since I watched that rig rundown.
Perfect amp for me if it only had an fx loop… 🙄
😜👍🇦🇺
Salfate!? Ajajajajaja de conspiraciones a Vox xb
Joe Biden pickups if ohhh....
Joe Biden pickups? WTF?
..
I want to say that upon my initial listening I'm a bit disappointed that I'm watching a video reviewing a guitar amplifier and you're playing along with a drum track that is WAY too loud.