really appreciate such a clear explanation of the circuit and how it affects the sound - everyone can have different opinions and give those aspects different significances, but it’s so much better than just arguing about taste without any technical detail. really loving the channel!
@@killnoni5032 the age old question. It has a master post phase inverter volume, so in theory yes. But for some reason guitarists still didn’t think that makes an amplifier playable in a bedroom. It’s up to you to figure out
@@voxpathfinder15r Thank you for the answer! I'm actually in between AC10c1 and ac4c1-bl cuz i didn't like the 12 inch version. I found it lifeless especially with single coils tbh.
@@killnoni5032 I have the AC4C1, one of my all time favorite amplifiers. To this day if someone says they couldn’t get along with one - I am in total disbelief! And if I want it to be louder, because I temporarily turned insane, I hook it up to my 4x12. I can’t for the life of me understand the space someone is occupying if they say the AC4C1 is crap? Some will talk about the crappy Chinese tubes, and as much as it pains me to say because I hate China, I have heard back to back recordings with those Shuguang tubes up against nos mullard and JJ’s. And I thought those Chinese tubes absolutely nailed vintage Vox chime. If you upgrade and put in one of those ice picky Celestion blue Alnico in the 10” version, slap in the JJs with extra warmth to combat the ice pick. I even prefer the AC4 to the AC10
I don't own one, but someone brought one into the studio I work at the other day. Long story short: this thing records really well. I don't care about anything but what comes out of the speakers, and this amp does the thing. To each their own I guess.
61 here...tons of experience...got one TODAY. It sounds great...lows especially are very deep and clear (10 inch speakers?)...didn't expect that. Compares very favorably with my new Blues Jr. Research convinced me to find/buy a used one...reviews were very predominately positive...and the hype is warranted. A very nice sounding amp!
Thank you so much for this information and your perspective. With so many people gushing about pretty much every amp out there (including this one), I really appreciate your giving us a better insight. I've been binge-watching your channel because you are really putting out great information.
I like the sound of the AC10 over the AC15. The AC15 is ice picking brite. I use JJ EL84, they can handle the air pressure. If you want a sweet sounding bed room or couch amp, the AC10 is the one.
@@matimoksa My AC15 takes od/distortion pedals well.Some better than others.I have never ran any through the AC10.I bought it just to keep next to the couch because it sounds so good at low volumes.
That's why I bought it, sounds wonderful at low volume, and gets quite loud when you crank it. Install a better speaker, or connect to a separate cabinet with a Celestion Blue type speaker and I assume it would sound awesome, but wish it had the 8/16ohm switch like the AC15C1 has.
I use mine with a gretsch g5422tg, an epiphone les paul custom and a classic vibe 60s semi tele. With various pedals. I've never had a bad tone, with or without pedals
The Creamback version is sublime. I like that crispy attack tho it's definitely more mellow with the Cream. If you back the treble and bass down to 3 o'clock and crank the gain and master it is VERY Marshally in all the good ways
ive had my Vox AC10 C1 Custom (greenback speaker) for 6 or 7 years with no issues. i run it relatively clean and overdrive it with an Electroharmonics Glove. the sound stays smooth and full, to my ears.
I think only well versed Vox owners would notice this. I'm new to Vox, I chose this amp as it was cheaper than comparable Fender amps available to me. It does what I need, and being new to this style of amp, I truly love it. Sounds fantastic to me. Then again, I haven't compared it to a bigger 'better' Vox amp. Just my inexperienced 2 cents
Thanks again. I wish I could manage the extra weight of the AC15. 48.5 lbs vs 27 was the deciding factor in the store on the day. The Traynor YGL1, at 35 lbs, was too much for me to carry, but that amp is a monster compared to other economical el84 amps.
Tone is personal as you say and we all know to be true. Add to that our ears are trained to hear what we want to hear. I really think you were fair and analytical; based on that your advice is spot on!
Good on you for being so honest and saying what many others wont. This amp is built to fail within 3-5 years and good luck after that, PLUS it doesnt even nail the tone. Maybe if it were 200 bucks but you can buy a great condition ac15 used for less locally that will last you a lifetime.
You should do a comparison video between this amplifier and a vintage Vox or a custom classic you have modded. That would be great content illustrating the differences. I haven’t seen any comparison like that.
I found an AC10C1 used for half the money of a new one, Replaced a noisy Power Tube (plus the other 3) and found a Celestion Greenback to replace the VX10. Speaker was a noticeable upgrade. It's a home use amp that I use at low gain and lower volume settings. Sounds good to me. It does have some of the noises as mentioned in the video if cranked up but I don't play that way so I'll keep it.
Been thinking about this amp, thanks for the video, any thoughts on the fender vibro champ? That and the box were my two choices, home use/recording and small gigs, cheers!
Even though its an apple and oranges situation, the reasons he has issues with the AC10C1 remind me about my issues with Marshal's DSL40CR. Both of these amps are tube but have a very emulated sound and feel like solid state amps. Go with the AC15 and the Marshall SV20.
Not sure if you'll agree with this, but here goes... There's an art to voicing an amp so it sounds appealing throughout its range of clean to dirty, with a given speaker and enclosure. If the speaker and cabinet have dips in the response, it might sound a bit lacking but relatively unobtrusive. If there are abrupt peaks, it can be like trying to roll a boulder up a hill. If the dirty is particularly nasty, the boulder just got bigger and more angular.
Love all the Vox content on this channel. I'd love to hear your opinions on the HW models, hopefully one comes across your bench soon! Obviously just because it's "handwired" and other such buzz words doesn't make it exempt from bad circuit design in the first place, but they do sound like good to my ear at least
My AC10 has had it's tubes (jj tubes) & speaker Celestion G10) changed. I like it way better now than I did stock (not an alien but I do live in the Windyke area so ... there's that)
I just got a ac10(with creamback), and it's totally blown me away. Not sure why, but I do play at low volumes, so maybe that's influencing my perception. I actually prefer it to my deluxe reverb, and z-wreck currently. But I am in the honeymoon phase so lets see
Want to add my appreciation to others here for the ridiculously thorough and balanced level you go to in your reviews. I get it: this isn't a forum for debate. You say what you've got to say based on facts not opinion and let the chips fall - actually impresses me more that you actually bother to read the comments, much less respond to them or take them as a prompt to post an entire follow-up video. That said, there's no free lunch and as long as folks go into this knowing and accepting that, all's good. Folks like me because regardless of $$$ there's no way in hell I can hoist an AC15 much less a 30, so I'm willing to cough up an additional 250 and upgrade the tunes and speaker and hope for the best in the long(-ish) run. Thanks for what you do!
I want a AC60 now that you mentioned it ! :-P hehe. Thanks for the video. I think ill look into a AC15 head over getting this small combo. I watched both videos and there are TOO many reasons for me NOT to buy this amp haha. Appreciate it. I owned a nice AC15 2x12 a few years ago that I really liked, shouldnt have sold it. But that was a heavy amp for sure. If I get the AC15 head, I can split the weight and with the cab and head being separate.
Is there magnetic oscillation between the speaker proximity to the main tubes? You mentioned that it needed capacitors in the 5v circuit? Maybe a block between the tubes and speaker?
I wish Vox made something inbetween the 15 and the 10, like an AC 12.5 with a larger cab than the 10. Around 40 pounds would be nice. I play a 15 HW and it's great but at 50 pounds it's a bit much, and is too loud for a lot of venues these days.
I wish someone would make a small and light single channel tube amp with no trem or reverb, a good solid state rectifier, decent speaker, thick PCB, and no stupid corner cutting.
Thanks for your rundown. I was disinclined to get an AC10, even though it would serve my needs because I was skeptical of a tiny, closed-back 10" design. As I imagined, the amp has some limitations. My main incentive for getting one would be that I have a G10 Greenback sitting in my closet, but that seems like it would make the mechanical stress on the tubes even worse. I seems like an AC15 would be more fun and versatile all around. I've noticed that you haven't talked about any of the small but popular Orange heads. Any plans to do so in the future? Any blazing red flags that you feel the urge to divulge immediately?
It is quite a hot little amp, and hard to control. To me a 12AU7 in V1 makes it much more managable, getting an acceptable level with gain and master at 12 o'clock, not possible with the 12ax7 FWIW
the 12 AU7 has a much lower amplification/ gain factor than the ECC83/12 AX7..I dont see how you got decent overdrive at mid way point. 12 AX7 is the standard on nearly all amps
I agree with the fizziness...I call it harshness but I put a EQ pedal on it and it really helped. Is it perfect nope but it does have some usable sounds in it? Yes...Mine has the creamback in it..With the bass kicked up..I have heard the "Ringy-Dingy" lol the EL84's ringing...So if I can't find a solution it might be going away, I can't stand the wind-chime sound in an Amp
@@PsionicAudio I suggest two reference points to whether the voicing or tone from this is 'Vox correct'; the early recordings of U2 and the recordings of British instrumental group The Shadows from the early 60s. The Shadows were important in the development and promotion of Vox and not the Beatles
Now when you mentioned it, the AC60, in fact you could build it! Without problems! Octet of matched EL84s etc. It would sound amazing! I am looking forward to it! 👍 If I was Brian May I would buy it without asking the price. 😁
Technically, once you go beyond 4 output tubes, the combined capacitance of the tubes adds up and starts to become problematic. In most cases, six output tubes is about the maximum.
@@goodun2974 But then with 6 tubes it won't be AC60, it will be AC45. 😩 It makes a difference. The same thing when the pot goes to 11 instead of going only to 10! 😉
@@jutukka Matching six EL84's could be pretty tough nowadays, and might become expensive over the long term If the amplifier designer insists on flogging the output tubes like rented mules, which so many amplifiers nowadays do.
@@jutukka , Perhaps a lopsided stereo amplifier with one channel being an AC30 (four EL84'S) and the other channel being an AC15 ( two EL84'S), and different preamp/tone topology. Pentode input perhaps for the AC15, and triode input, maybe with reverb or tremolo for the AC30. Make it into a head form. Or, since many players want the tone of a cranked high-power amp but need it to be at lower volumes, a single-ended AC6 plus an AC15 built into one head, with separate cabinet(s). Or, something like a Champ and a Deluxe, or at least a Princeton (maybe with a bit more gain), built into one head....
Yeah, it's not awesome but my Strat and Tele sounds good through it a small jam session I attend. Not many stellar amps to choose from these days but good hands make my AC10 sound fine.
I love my Vox AC10!! 1:09 - 6:28 - 7:00 - 7:16 - 7:48 - Very valid criticisms. What are your amp settings? You're not playing guitar on this amp. 0:26 - 9:21 Didn't even try to find a tone. Even still it didn't sound bad. Why not make suggestions on how we can improve this amp with all the knowledge you have? The amp has presence. I have Telefunken Tubes in the preamp and power section. Makes an interesting change. Also play neck pickup on a strat. You don't trust aliens from outer space? Parachutes only work when open. Open minds open doors.
I had to send mine back to Sweetwater 2 different times due to overheating. They put in Gold Lion tubes the last time and called it a day. I then since it was out of warranty, I cut the back open to let it breathe. Blew fuses in any room over 80 degrees before, and twice on stage. Much better now.
@@PsionicAudio At best they come out of the same production line as all of Mike Marks' Russian tube . They may be graded better but I would agree that it at least 90% marketing . There are what 5 brands off the same line Mullard ,Gold Lions, EH , tung-sol , Sovtek .
@@PsionicAudio Agreed. I just always thought the design was terrible because they basically put a tube amp in a sealed box and it was some kind of surprise when the thing gets hot. Got me into tube amps though, and bought a AC15 head soon after followed by a SV20h. Love the channel and info on different amps!
Love watching your videos and would like to share this with you and your viewers. I tried so hard to love VOX amps so I bought a ton of them in a short period of time and they were all brand new, so not broken or messed around with in any way: AC4TV AC4C1 three of them: green, blue and a cream one AC30CCH + 4X12 Vox speaker cabinet (nice cleans and reverb from what I remember) AC15CC tried it also with a Celestion Alnico Blue AC15X Hand wired (Alnico Blue) I ended up selling all SEVEN of them B/C they sounded to me: thin, super boxy (the AC4s), sterile, cold, bassless. fizzy, etc. I also tried an AC15C1 with a Greenback that replaced the AC15CC and it sounded horrible to me, worst that the AC15CC it replaced. At that point I gave up on VOX amps for some 6-7 years until I tried an AC10 in store and went and I bought a second hand one. That amp sounds big, warm, loads of bass , not fizzy at all, sounds more like a good cross between Marshall and Fender when pushed hard. Don't know what chips and circuit it uses but this is my pure ear experience when comes to VOX amps.
This is pretty much the exact experience I have with mine. Cleans sounds pretty solid if you run it through an external cab with a good speaker. Sadly the drive just always sounds terrible if I turn it beyond 1 or 2. With a good overdrive pedal and an external speaker it's much better, but at that point you have so many peripherals to get a good sound out of it you might as well get a different amp. Shame. Mine has cream vinyl sides and it looks gorgeous.
I almost bought an Ac10 thinking it would be like my Ac 15 and clearly is not. I will be getting a Fender champ 12 to cover the small amp stuff. The design of the Ac10 was not thought out well at all. Thanks for your videos
Aliens not to be trusted. Hilarious. The wharfdale is excellent in my opinion. I’ve compared them directly (via DOD 270, same cab) to current greenback and G 12 h 30 and I have to say it is right between in terms of brightness and all other respects. Makes sense because the magnet weight is right in between and the cone is more or less identical. And the cone is identical in the green and the h. What sucks more about the 30CC line is that the upper cabinet volume is chopped off by the “head in a combo” configuration. That upper hollow space really contributes a lot of lows and mids actually. And as you know it was brought back in the custom line.
I understand you're a tech who's seen and heard it all, so your standards are super high, I feel a bit bummed as I got this particular model as my first ever tube amp. I really like how it sounds and done quite a bit of research not to end up with a toy amp. Is it worth getting an amp tech involved to mod the reverb section? As you mentioned it's pretty poorly implemented in the circuit.
If you think it sounds good and you like it that should be good enough. Don’t let another person’s opinion about another amp sway how you feel about your amp. Maybe you got a better speaker and tubes than the one reviewed. I wouldn’t take it to someone unless it stops working. Probably easier and better use of money to by an extension cab with a better speaker
Just enjoy it as-is. It's not worth throwing money at. The cost of improving it could get you a better amp to begin with. If it makes you feel better, there are a lot of worse amps out there.
I have a Deluxe Reverb clone, hardwired '64 circuit, solid pine cab, Weber 12F150 speaker, and it sounds awesome. I sort of prefer playing through my new Vox AC10C1, but they both sound great, two of my favorite clean tone amps!!
Thanks for the honest opinion on this amp. I am more and more convinced not to buy any China made amp. Moreover, I think that like smart phones, guitar amps should get a note on how reparable they are in order to warn the consumer. You see too many of the amps for sale in the ads after two or three years because the users do not want to even bring the lowest maintenance. I wish I can afford a point-to-point handmade amp.
Do the AC15/30 "Handwired" units punch at their price point? Or do bubblegum ice cream connoisseurs buy them? They look great on paper, but I'm gonna venture to guess the caps and transformers aren't optimal.
Its suppose to break up. That is desirable, and the gain knob saturates nicely, before pissing off the whole neighborhood. The reverb is a little suck. Get a Wampler transparent overdrive, and a nice Del-Verb delay/reverb peddle. This thing is awesome and can make a pro sounding recording on the cheap, without any pedal. You can carry it, if you still have a decent back. I dont disagree with his knowledge, just that it sounds bad. Use dynamics as a player. If you think the attack is harsh, than dont attck it harshly. This amp can go from clean Jazz, like Julian Lage, Beatles sounds, AC/DC, BB King, Hendrix, Paige, Stevie Ray, Chet Atkins, Rockabilly, Spaghetti Western, and Surf sounds, without a single peddle for 600.00. It will rock the garage and your grandpa band. When you get some covers tight, you take it to the pub, and mic it. It probably is an insult to a craftsman, but it still sounds good. Recording engineers use it.
I'm the resident FNG ( "F'ing New Guy for those that never served in the military) at guitar. Its nice to know being a 62 yr old cynic pays dividends. Lyle very kindly proved my expectations correct that the new AC10 would sound NOTHING like the 1965 AC10 I love that those old geezers (the) Doug and Pat (show) use on their YT channel.
I am interested in the technical reasons why a capacitor in parallel of the plate resistor of a plate driven tonestack makes it simulate a cathode driven tonestack
@@PsionicAudio ok, I understand. But don’t you run into similar issues putting a bypass cap around the plate resistor as you would putting a cathode bypass capacitor in a cathode driven tonestack?
@@PsionicAudio it shouldn’t be an issue, I was thinking of 25 mF cathode bypass capacitors that would be charging discharging and screwing up the signal on a cathode follower into tonestack. But you’re mentioning something really small- so it wouldn’t have the same issues
As they say, you get what you pay for... They're "cheap" for a reason.. I've got a Monoprice 15w, and i certainly don't expect it to sound or last as well as a vintage Marshall or something... Especially in 2022, where programmed obsolescence is key.
Would agree that the fet chip should be running on =/- 15 to 18 volt rails to give enough head room for the real signal value . Unlike tube overdriving fet chips produce those odd order harmonics hard sound. Good advice on smart purchases.
@@PsionicAudio Have used the lnd150 in current regs for tubes low current use they will take voltage the chips not having a lot of head room is a very bad design . A case of a lack of in the field time . Not knowing the parameters that is is really used at . My understanding is that you can often see 10% overdrive on notes as such when designing a circuit it would be prudent to know how the circuit acts when say over driven 15% . Well that is my design consideration just my thoughts.
@@PsionicAudio seems the MOSFET is there to avoid installing a third pre amp tube to acheive desired gain. Do you think a MOSFET in the pre amp means some pedals don't work as well ?.
No surprise. I liked the AC4 with 12" speaker and I liked the AC15. I could not find good tone when I spent time on the AC10. Played them all many times at GC.
I have the AC4 with the 12" too, and it works fine for the clean gig that I use it on. I did re-tube it with "Preferred Series" from the Tube Store. Loud gigs get a Lab L-5
@@motokev2727 the AC4 gets more of the original AC30 tone. I have a 63 AC30. Of course it's just a hint of it but the AC10 doesn't sound anything like a JMI Vox. It sounds too bassy first of all and why such a closed off back on these new amps? AC15 is much better than the AC10. I don't like the AC10 much. I did like the AC4 12 for a practice amp. Maybe a better speaker like a blue alnico would be really nice but not sure it would make sense for a cheap amp. Clean my ears chap?? Wow.
@@HiHello-ku1fl I haven't played through those two, but have watched many videos by excellent musicians like Jack Fossett, and most of them say the AC10C1 is a better amp for home and studio than the AC-4 or AC-15 (new versions). All I know is the AC10C1 sounds great to me, and I'll picky about amps. I usually play through vintage Gibson amps with Weber speakers, which imho sound better than Fender tweed amps of the same size. I used to have a couple Princeton Reverbs, but sold them because my Deluxe Reverb clone sounds better (bigger cab and speaker, better reverb - not tremolo though). Yet I like playing through my new AC10C1 in Royale Blue discounted by Sweetwater. I was skeptical about a new amp sounding good, but this sounds great to my vintage amp tuned ears, and I play through it all the time even though I also have my GA-40, GA-20, GA-18, GA-14, GA-9, GA-8, and Gibsonette gutted and rebuilt into a old Les Paul Junior circuit using octal preamp tubes and Chicago Jensen P10R....should have kept my GA-5 too!
I guess we would I love a smaller & lighter version of the AC-15. After spending time with fender & Marshall I always come home to my AC-15. Maybe it isn’t possible - there’s this thing called physics that you can’t work around. Unless VOX went done the Tomemaster route. That might be fine for folks like me who don’t really use pedals but no use those who do…
Companies do offer unaffordable, real versions of their past flag ships. But in order to survive, cheaper, inexpensive versions are designed. No, they’re not bulletproof like the old ones, but I like to think they try to make them sound as good as possible at the price point. Otherwise, they don’t sell. Not everything has to sound like a ‘59 Bassman, a Plexi, or an AC30 Top Boost.
Clearly you are a brilliant engineer, and very articulate in your presentation, and I have learned some things watching your videos; but here's the thing with the AC10, everything you say about the technical and design shortfalls of this amp are true, and if it ever breaks good luck, but this is where art leaves science behind because this amp sounds like heaven. I can't understand how you can say the AC10 isnt/doesnt sound like a real Vox amp. I think it sounds like all of them, all at once. It's the difference between facts and truth.
Very helpful video. After watching tons of reviews, I chose the AC10 over the AC15 mainly for weight savings. I've had it for two years and I'm still struggling to get the tones I was hoping for, especially when recording. I wonder how difficult it would be to bypass the reverb board myself and if that would help to get a smoother tone.
Would rather have heard how the amp sounded than you telling us how it sounded. I've watched many guitar oriented channels and have never seen the host comment negatively or condescendingly about another RU-vidr...not cool.
580 bucks compared to a 2000 dollar AC 30, yeah, i'm sure most people will find fault with the quality in that context. The old adage; you get what you pay for applies- but sometimes their are pleasant surprises of which i've found this AC 10 C1 has definitely been for me and many others i've talked to.
I bought one after lots of RU-vid bollox, and I thought it was a nice little amp to collect ONLY!, I really hoped it would be a good little pedal platform for home practice, ha! ha! HA! it hated all of my drive pedals, it was too loud for home to wimpy for gigs, I couldn't see the point, so I sent it back and bought a boss katana 100, not a valve in sight, it's my main amp now it does everything I need...apart from...a fender clean sound!
Anything less wattage than an AC15 just doesn’t sound like a Vox, badge or not. These amps were made because they would sell, not because they have that signature “Vox” tone. Just my opinion and I’m not saying they don’t sound good to some folks or I know anything. 😁
So true, I have this amp, 500 euros paid, not worth the money, swaped the terrible chinese tubes, did make the change, but when you engage pedals or you want it louder, Jesus it sucks. And I have Xotic Ep, Soul driven, Koda Komet and this amp cant handle that. Such a shame
In your previous video, went played dirt, It lost all the clarity it produced when playing clean. I only heard too much medium. Personally, I do not like when that happens.
@@pharmerdavid1432 I bought mine new and really liked it but I felt new tubes and a creamback would make it even better...now it has white noise in the background which I just can't get over and I don't feel like using it, kinda wish I'd never messed with it
@@richardlynch5632 Not a real question is it, no money, no product. Don’t know any companies that mass produces stuff that does not have some sort of control on the budget. If you want a suit and can’t afford a bespoke one then you get a mass produced one simple.
Why does it seem like amp companies just can’t be themselves. They’re always trying to be everything to everyone and wind up losing the trust of a lot of loyal customers.
Maybe the AC4C1 is a better amplifier? I know it is more traditional in build, all through hole components, no mosfet stages - but no reverb either. This is mine where I am using my nephew’s line6 amplifier as a 2x12 extension combo with its Celestion 70/80 speakers. Ironically, I haven’t tested my AC10C1 and AC4C1 side by side yet. I did have that annoying Chinese tube rattling that made higher volume playing really annoying. Was going to test it with an extension cabinet to see if That was an easy solution rather than retubing, but it got buried with a lot of stuff before I had a chance to play with it again. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3Nm1vT5hD54.html
@@PsionicAudio LoL - you’re killing me. Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t know how real Vox amplifiers sound like. Because I would be depressed I couldn’t afford them. I am doing something in the future for my Vox AC10C1. I am duplicating my 2x10 Vox Cambridge reverb combo box but using 1/2” birch plywood. But I am making it so the cutout fits the AC10C1. Then I am installing a couple of vintage Magnavox console Alnico speakers. Hopefully it radically changes the tone!
@@motokev2727 Plug our AC-10C1 amps into an external cab with 1 x 12" or 2 x 12" (Celestion AlNiCo types) and it would sound awesome with a loud band..?
