EL84 Guitar Amp Magic: Vox AC15 & AC30, Matchless HC-30 & Victory VC35 Compared - That Pedal Show 

This video should get no negative feedback...just like a VOX!

Tele into a matchless is the clean tone I have in my head. I spent a long time messing with fender amps thinking something was wrong with me. First time I plugged into a vox, I was blown away. And matchless just took it to 11

Best Mick quote ever: "...for what it is...this is what it is." Best way to start a comparison/demo. Most comments INSTANTLY answered. Love it!

Dan's wearing his tone pants again - better look out. Intro was absolutely stunning!

13:50 This is by far the coolest way of showing, that a doubling of power equals a +3dB increase. TPSS: "That Pedal Science Show"!

Intro guitar was one of the best pieces of guitar I’ve heard in a while!

Best topic for weeks guys, loving it. Not knocking the guest episodes at all, they’re great as an occasional change of pace, but for me this kind of stuff is what you’re about. 2 effortlessly likeable blokes in a room, experimenting and educating with guitar gear. Love it.

It will be a sad day when the show ends! A lot of us look forward to each weekly episode. Thank you Dan and Mick (and crew) for all of the hard work you put into each episode! We love your playing, knowledge, and hearty laughs!

I've seen almost every episode of TPS but outside of ones with special guests, these are the best tones I've ever heard from you guys! I was a Fender-style amp only guy for a long time, then came across a modded master volume AC30 built to Thom Yorke's specs by my local amp guy and I fell in love. Rented it for a few gigs and had to buy it before someone else did. EL84 amps are simply magical!

Love that moment when you switch from the close mic on the AC15 to the room mics. Really demonstrates the difference from what you hear in most amp demo videos to what you're going to actually hear in person when you get one home.

We're so lucky that we get to listen to Dan rip through a Vox amp so often. Beautiful, beautiful guitar tones. Cheers gentlemen!

I love Dan’s World! His playing at the very beginning was heavenly and worthy of shedding a tear. Also, what Mick played on the Strat at a little over the hour mark was sublime. Great video lads!

You two are blooming genius’s that are apart of my love for the guitar and for that mates I thank you🙏

I felt awe hearing the tones of the Victory and the Matchless. I've concluded that the TPS shines in greatness due to several strong pilars: experience in seeking best gear, positive humor and tangents, Simon's hard work, Andertons support, yet IMHO the strongest power of TPS is the exquisite choice of notes, melodies and sensitive playing that prove that Mick and Dan are indeed musicians with the biggest mojo soul. Inspired you are both good sirs and keep the joy of schwang alive. Live long, keep rocking and prosper. Thanks a million for being part of making us gear nerds happy.

Amazing show guys, the love and enthusiasm for what you do is totally contagious! Keep up the good work.

I love this show and watching you guy so much, its like I'm in the room with you having blast. You guys kill it, thanks.

Loving Dan's facial expressions playing through that Matchless, pure enjoyment and tone. Great sounding amp.

I just have to say, your joy while playing always makes me want to go play my guitars. I can’t say that for any other guitar shows. Thanks!

Beautiful tone inspires us in our playing. Discovering how, and what we play, what tone inspires our style(s), and how to achieve that sound with the gear we have...or realizing there is a straighter path with different gear can be maddening? Seeing Dan’s face in the happy place playing the Matchless was priceless!

That intro playing is the best tone I've heard on this channel that wasn't from a guest, damn.

Everyone: So how's the midrange on that amp? Dan & Mick: Very specific

Loved Dan's clean tone on the Gretsch into the AC30 at the beginning. And the playing was on point too. Very nice , Dan.

Wow- great intro Dan! I love it when your first few minutes of the video are so captivating!! Well done sir.

I'm at 1:42 and i'll stop now and say thank you for an awesome show. inspired playing, Dan!! can't wait to see where all this goes!!!!

When I've had Matchless amps in the past, I've always felt it was a best of both worlds between Vox and great Fender amps with something special that gives it more depth. Such incredible amps

I love these more amp focused episodes! Something that I think is long overdue is an episode on preamp overdrive vs power amp distortion, the differences in inherent sound characteristics and how it may or may not affect the way you want to set up your pedalboard. Quite often when you talk about "gainy amps" it isn't specified whether you're pushing the preamp or the power amp which might lend people to assume that a certain pedal is going to work just as well into their amp's distortion channel as it does into your Marshall Plexi. I haven't looked back since I got my attenuator and could rely on power amp breakup at any given volume level, and it certainly has saved me a lot of money trying out different distortion units. If one could dream further, you should get Johan Segeborn aboard for such an episode.

I really love it when you really get into a specific piece of kit and explore its history and workings. Could you do similar episodes on other famous amps? Bassmen and their derivatives, maybe?

Wow Dan that's impressive. You are a wizard. Thank you for that magical intro. Mattia from Italy.

Theres absolutely nothing like the sound of p90s or darker pickups through a chime amp. Its like peanut butter and jelly. A match made in heaven.

Dan’s beard did grow fast since monday

Dan I am amazed, the Matchless HC 30 with their 2 X 12 Cab is my favorite amp. I was blessed to get a Mark Sampson made version brand new. Also, I have a Fender Custom Shop Tele new old stock just like yours and it is my favorite Tele. I chose it because it feels amazing in your hands and plays like butter, the neck felt perfect and the frets have an excellent finishing job, it has fantastic sound, and the candy apple red is so beautiful. Muddy Waters played an original 1960’s model. I met his son in my home town at a festival, Little Walter, Muddy’s harmonica player was raised here until he moved to Chicago. Our past time mayor of the town was really into good music and the city would fund the Little Walter Festival. It is amazing we are oceans apart and have real similar taste in musical gear. I love ya’lls show. Thanks for the video. Wishing you and Mick the best. GOD bless ya’ll. Play on Jimi !!! 🎸👍👏🙏✌️😎

Excellent episode guys! Y’all definitely have a great show! Cheers from Texas

As a huge Vox fan, I would live to see the new AC30HW2 vs. Dans AC30 shootout style.

Guys, I look forward to your videos each and every week...I enjoy your playing and your excitement which shines through...can you do show on Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb?

Sweeping through the master/gain controls on the AC15 from roughly 10:15 forward for a couple minutes is one of the most illuminating things I've seen in many, many (many) hours of watching TPS. SO instructive!! Thanks for doing that.

I already love this video before i even pressed play!! You guys at TPS smashing it out the park as always!!

I have a late 90’s Vox Ac30tbx and its been my main amp for 10 years. (Built in the Marshall factory as Mick mentioned) What fantastic amplifiers.

The Pearly Gates story, if I remember correctly, goes something like this; ZZ Top had an aspiring actress friend who needed to travel from Texas to Hollywood to audition for a role. The band borrowed her their car, she made the trip, auditioned and got the part. The car was subsequently named Pearly Gates, because it had brought her good luck, as if it had “divine connections”. Later the actress friend sold the car and sent the money back to Billy, who received it just as he found out about a certain ‘59 Gibson Les Paul whose owner was willing to part ways with it. Because the guitar was bought with Pearly Gates money, and sounded so heavenly and was so inspiring to play, as if it had “divine connections”, it was named Pearly Gates.

Super exciting realisation that Mick and Dan now both own their dream amps, it was a journey (and will continue to be) but you made it fellas! Now just for those Strat pickups to complete the final piece of the puzzle 👀

Excellent presentation, spot on. Loved every minute of it.

That fly on the pedalboard at 16:40 🤘😎

Oh f.... That intro by Dan just blew my mind! Phenomenal!

Great set! Awesome production! Super episode!! Thx😁🙏🏼

You guys are unbelievable. You make hour long videos and for the most part, I watch most of it. This never happens to me. Well done. It's like if Anderton's Captain and Rob Chappers had an actual personality, were not insufferable, were down to earth, and provided actual useful information. LOL. Thanks for the work you guys do. Very informative.

The tone at 44:45 was some of the best Dan tones I’ve ever heard. I’m always amazed at how well this show is mixed/engineered. Keep it up gentlemen!

We need a "our guitars and gear" video about the matchless. Spectacular amp.

I always comment on the recording, but it really is getting stellar! Closer and closer to the sound of an amp in the room!

I have watched every TPS and I basically never comment but I had to pause at the two minute mark to say this. Dan - your playing on the intro is inspirational, and I love that Gretsch it sounds beautiful. Keep up the amazing work guys!

That matchless just sounds epic!

I've recently grown to love the Vox AC-sound, especially with my Fender Cabronita and I've been looking into that Victory and then this comes along… Music to my ears! If you do a follow-up, how about including the Orange TremLord 30? While not just a Vox-amp, it definitely has some of that embryo, with 4xEL84, high headroom and a speaker by Lavoce (meaning The Voice, from the Latin word "Vox"). It's also touted as a amp for use with pedals, which feels appropriate.

Thanks for doing this video! I love my VOX AC15 C1! I would love to have a AC30, but too heavy and loud for doing shows today. The sound guys always want low stage volume and the AC 30 has a sweet spot and that spot is too loud for most situations. I also have a AC10 which is a great sounding amp cranked for recording. I have done gigs in small bars with the 10 and have had so many people come up and tell me that the sound coming from the amp , was epic! Great sounding amp Dan with your 61 Vox! Keep rocking boys!

You guys have consistently made awesome videos but your last 5 or 6 videos have been outstanding. Cheers guys

Amazing show, as always. I recently got a Matchless SC Mini on a trade. It is basically a 6W version of the C-30 series, and it is based on the second channel (EF86), it has the 6 positions rotary tone switch, a volume, a Master volume, and the cut control. It has a 12" Celestion Heritage G12H30. I am curious if you ever tried it ? I find it awesome but I never tried the real deal. Cheers guys !

My favorite all time combo amp of mine was a Mesa Boogie DC-2 Studio Caliber, (2x EL84 Dyna-Watt power section) imho, one of the greatest amps they ever made!

As much as all of us here delight to hear any and all intros, outros and everything in between from such fine players as yourselves, what we REALLY yearn to hear is the 2 of you in a band setting, just really digging in and producing incredible music. While that might not always fit within the parameters or format of the show, still I wish (we wish) you could occasionally figure out a way to do it. Consider it showing real world applications of the things you weekly discuss.

While I am learning just about everything I currently know about amps and pedals from your channel... I have only had a guitar and amp for about 6 or 7 weeks now and teaching myself something new as I go through the wrong side of my 50’s . The “Victory” sounded noticeably flat when you first started playing there. That “Matchless” seemed to have a depth unlike all the others.. amazing. I am learning so much from you all. I am trying to learn about my little 57 champ reissue... so far it seems to be getting better as I learn new cords. One day I am going select a pedal to pair it with. Love the channel,

49:22 is some of the best playing that's ever been on the show, beautiful. Also I love how emotional Dan gets over hear a moving guitar tone. I've only ever felt that way once over a tone and have never been able to repeat it.

TPS with a Gretsch in the thumbnail = immediate click!

Great show guys, made me lust after another new amp .... I can't afford to keep watching your show!!!! The '61 AC 30 is gorgeous ....

Sublime tones in this episode, excellent job chaps. Makes me miss my AC15, but after spending almost the value of the amp on repairs just out of warranty it was time to say goodbye. 😞 Everytime that Beano Boost is brought in the gates of heaven open.

I seem to be settling to prefer EL84 amps vs. the rest. There's just something about playing rhythm with an over-driven EL84.. it just rocks, and then you have the clean chime. Winning.

Nothing beats the vox midrange. As much as I love the matchless, having all the extra bass and treble makes it something totally different. in some cases it may work better, but the thing I love about the AC30 is how well it slides into a mix precisely because its all midrange

The intro to this video is very pretty. Some of the best TPS audio has generated in a while. There is a real nice interaction between the DD-200 and the Meris Mercury7.

Haven't tuned in for a while. Videos are kinda long and I'm time poor. But drinking rum and staying up late tonight, watching "That Pedal Show". Rawwwwkkkkkkk!!!! Hello from Australia!

THAT Strat through THAT Matchless (around the 50:00 mark) = as good a clean sound as I have ever heard. Feel free to have a shootout where anyone tries to better that. P.S. And thanks for demoing the Vox style amps with that Gretsch. That's a good marriage too.

The 30 is the holy grail. The 15 is a more compressed deal I know it came 1st. I’ve had both. The 30 is heavy and all the usual complaints. It still remains the holy grail. Just sounds amazing

Intro = goosebumps. literally. Dan! Wow. Right there again proved why I am aligned to the Vox character too.

Even though I love the EF86 side of my HC30, I use the 12AX7 a whole lot more. SUPER awesome video - it's always nice to get a cool change of perspective and see what aspects other people gravitate towards. Thanks, dudes!

That Gretsch sounds phenomenal!

My God that Matchless sounds heavenly!

Kudos to you guys, for doing this amazing show. Such a delight to watch. With that being said, I'm not a fan of the vox sound, however, some Matchless, Bad Cat and Morgan amps always surprise me. The HC30 and the Luca are very good examples... Definitely looking forward for part 2. Cheers and thanks again.

Such a good sound!! Having just got a VC35 to replace my Morgan PR36 and due to gig it later with my V140 I now can’t wait!!! Such a good sound!!

This is perfect. I just bought an AC15 yesterday and I’m currently figuring out a pedalboard situation for it. Cheers!

Also, I would LOVE to hear how the ac10 hangs with its peers!

This might be my favorite comparison video, ALL of these amps sound gorgeous in there own way.

I really like it when you have Guests in the Show, but "my" TPS is when you 2 talk Gear. Awesome interesting Show, thx Guys :o)

Oh yeah...after working a normal 14 hour day on the railroad, I come home to have a couple beers and slip into guitar & gear geek heaven. Exactly where I belong. Great review of gear gents. Hailing from Nebraska USA.

I’m actually pretty impressed with the Victory in this demo

very beautiful intro. you are extremely creative and express yourself wonderfully.

Brilliant show!!!! Love Matchless Amplifiers!!!

I love my EL-84 Peavey Classic 30. One of the best < $1000 amps ever made.

Matchless HC-30 for the win. When I imagine THE sound of what my tone should sound like....nailed it.

What an amazing array of amps, outstanding, Dan in his element !! 😃

Great episode. Timely as I've recently acquired an EL84 equipped Mesa TA30 combo, ostensibly to partner my Lonestar in a stereo rig. It does this beautifully, blending really well, but I'm finding that I'm often using the TA30 on its own. I'd never owned an EL84 powered amp before and I am being seduced by the Vox-y, chiming tones of the TA30 both clean and surprisingly for me, overdriven. Wonderful. But that Matchless does sound.....AWESOME!

seriously though, you guys need a dr. z (or 12). Knowing what you guys are into, you will LOVE them

“Why don’t you have a morgan amp in todays show?” - “because we haven’t received it yet”. No comment.

Great show guys! Looking forward to a part two! ;) EDIT: AND, you guys should def compared the other boutiques to the matchless! A matchless I once played still icky me as being closer to a Dr. Z than the vox I was A/B’ing it with.

I know Carbon/Kiesel amplification and guitars in the USA hasn’t gotten a lot of attention worldwide but as a guitarist but some of my favorite guitars and amps were built by Carvin/Kiesel. My “hands down” favorite tweed amp is a Carvin VT-50 (used by the legendary guitarist Steve Morse) or the Belair 212 combo (VT-50 head). This is an EL84 power tube head with 5 - 12 AX7 pre-amp. I have always loved the sag, warmth and tube stacking of this amp which has extremely high headroom like a Hiwatt and pedal friendly! I religiously watch “That Pedal Show” and would love a show using showcasing the VL-50 vintage head

First time I’ve watched this I forgot to comment on the cathode resistor thing. You keep on watching and enjoying the video and forget to share the information. So now before I forget again let me share. Reason Dan mention is the proper one, old tubes could/can handle more current. But it all comes from the current voltage in the mains. During 60’s, when best amps where made, mains voltage was hardly hitting the spec of 110V and 220V depending on the Country. I remember that even in the early 80’s net was challenged to keep up. Now days mains is well over 120V and between 230 and 240V. Higher the Voltage they get better efficiency and less issues so distributors went up. Considering that amps DC voltage is always higher then mains that bump of 10% on the primary side is getting important. For example old amp with cathode bias like Vox AC30 was designed and biased with 220V coming into the amp. DC rail first node would hit for example 320 volts. 50 Ohm resistor would be good enough to bias the tubes. Now if you put in 240V your first node would hit 350V. You feed the output transformer with the first node and it feeds the plates of the output tubes. Hence plate voltage gets 30V higher. This means that tubes get like 330-340V plate voltage. First that is out of the spec for most new tubes. Some old tubes can handle it though. But now comes the even bigger issue. Raising plate voltage will rise the plate current and that results in higher plate Power. If that power figure is bigger than what tube can handle tube will get into the major issues. It might fail to balance it self and it will keep on rising the plate current until something gives up or it is going to be stable but way to hot and red plate. First one can take tubes out or output transformer or the power transformer or start the fire or all of the above. Red plating and or to hot tubes and amp will chew true the output tubes rapidly. Now some NOS tubes can take it and sound awesome when under such scrutiny. Most modern tubes give up though. Therefore people change cathode resistors to higher values to bring back the biasing to a normal position. One uses 80 Ohm in 4x output tubes amps, 150 Ohm in 2x output tube amps and mostly 240 Ohm in single ended amps. This in the most of the cases tames the amps. This numbers are depending on the amp and it’s voltage. Amps that make higher DC voltage will need higher values. Changing the output tubes in cathode biased amps is simple compared to same thing in the fixed adjustable bias amps but one needs to check basing from time to time. If not every change than check biasing when going to new tube brand or batch of the tubes. Always check at least for red plating. Turn the amp on with no signal and look at the tubes (dark condition). Tubes should glow up and down but plates should not glow. If they do turn off the amp immediately and you might save the tubes. Leave it and something will go wrong. In doubt look for good amp tech. Most of the cathode biased vintage amps need higher value cathode resistor even with NOS tubes. Currently produced ceramic power resistors are not bad and should not change the sound of the amp. They need to be high power handling. I use 10 Watt resistors mostly. For some amp I use two. Like two 150 Ohm in the parallel. This is overkill but they do not go as hot as single resistor does. When checking old amps I do check filter Caps and at least output tubes coupling caps. If ESR value is off, as it mostly is replace the filter caps. If the coupling caps leak the DC you will not be able to bias the tubes even with the higher value if the resistor. So if the positive voltage is leaking into the grids it will send the tubes into the warp. Remember that leak does not mean that the have 0 Ohm for DC. If the coupling caps leak just 10% of the rail voltage it will negate the negative grid voltage created by the delta made by the cathode resistor and will kill the tubes. Same happens in the fixed adjustable bias amps. Leak over powers the negative supply and tube grid looses needed negative bias voltage. So often coupling caps need to go as well. I try to keep as many original parts in as possible but what needs to go needs to go. You keep the original parts for collectors value. Anyways one single resistor and still so important.

This is a wonderful example of how tone is subjective to me as I actually preferred the AC15 breakup to the 30. All the amps sound amazing though

I love this! Would love some more valve amp family/amp type deep dive videos in the future. I'd much rather hear you guys play than read hearsay on forums.

Hey Dan! One of my clients that comes to rehearse at my studio surprised me when he showed me his pedalboard. It was a gig rig! I was shocked, it was the first one I ever saw! We wired it up through my Fuchs and my Messa Boogie and my oh MY Did it sound BONKERS! Just wanted to let you know, cheers from NY 🗽

That delay sounds bloody good

Have I missed something? Where did this mysterious black strat come from? Or should I say long wheel base Ford transit..

Just a great bromance with a camera and some gear. It never gets old.

That intro was heavenly Daniel, oh my! Ok I need to go back and revisit owning an AC30 😅 so heavy, but tone comes at a physical and financial toll that is well worth it

When might we be able to purchase a copy of “The Joy of Schwang” from the TPS store?

AC15 more than holds its own.

Great video Gents!! Came across your channel recently and I am really enjoying it. Thanks for the great content!

The triumphant return of Dan’s mustard pants haha. Hope you guys are considering bringing back VCQs. Talking about Vox-style amps, Brian May is on the brain (for Mick too in this video), and I’d love a show on some of your favorite treble boosters/Dallas Rangemaster clones out there through some of these Vox and Vox inspired amps.