As a sound tech, the AC15 is a favorite of mine. I've worked with combos from Marshall and Marshall, as well as an Orange Micro Terror, and without a doubt the Vox just has the right tone fo a wide range of musical styles, from worship to blues to pop to rock'n'roll. Set up clean and throw a drive pedal in front of it (JHS Superbolt, for instance), and it lets the tone of the pedal shine through thanks to its naturally open sound. Add some grit in the preamp section on the amp, and the sound breaks down into a glorious fuzz that sounds like it's going to melt your face without screaming so loud it feels like it actually will split your DNA. Slap an SM57 on-axis near the edge of the cone, cut the high-mids around 2 kHz, and call it a day.
Thanks for the comment. I’m thinking about getting one for recording purpose, especially for clearing a bit the sound of an LP custom. Do you think I can get enough volume on clean sound to rehearsal with a band as well?
@@IvanoAntico you definitely can. Open up the master volume control and set your channel volume lower to maintain a clean tone. It'll get plenty loud for nearly any space.
Nice Video, boys! I've been running the Vox AC15C1 since they came out with it. Allow me to add my experience. My set up is 1997 Gibson LP special with p90 bridge/p100 neck -> fulltone clyde wah -> fulltone '69 fuzz -> wampler tumnus -> fulltone OCD -> Vox AC15. (yeah, I like those fulltones) The devil is in the bass and compression. When you run the pre-amp gain to the point of breaking up it starts to compress and the bass quickly turns into a wash of noise and obliterates the speaker response with any kind of additional input. This is the cause of most 'sucks with pedals'. You gave lots of demonstrations here. If you want to get your sound from pedals then you need to run the pre amp around 9 o'clock. Something like The Edge does, but I don't! If you want to use more of the natural amp sound you can get away with more pre amp gain and move toward 'transparent' overdrives or the treble booster - anything except bass heavy drive or too much mid hump (green pedals). Use your guitar volume when you have the amp compressing itself and you can clean up your tone without losing much volume in an old school and awesome way. Brain May leaves his amp cranked and uses his guitar volume knob all day long. The best sounding pedal I've ever plugged into an AC15 is the wampler tumnus which you know is a gold klon-ish thing. Set tumnus drive to 9 o'clockish, same with volume, 9-10 o'clock and then treble to taste. Just leave that pedal turned on and use your guitar volume to bring it down when you need to step back. I use an OCD in my chain for when it's time to go thick and full. For the OCD you want volume at about 9-10 o'clock with the toggle set to HP for the treble. Slap a tumnus in front of the OCD and heaven awaits. For my clean sound I use a germanium fuzz, fulltone '69 in my case, with the fuzz near full and the guitar volume turned down to about halfway. It sounds AWESOME and spanky like a fender amp and you can go full assault with a twist of the guitar knob. Just like Mr. Jimi Hendrix. The vox can really change its sound with volume input. Your pedal volume outputs and guitar volume are the most important knobs. Finally, Tonecut. OMG. Don't ever use tonecut unless people are actually bleeding from the eyes. It removes so much of the sound. You had it cranked near full for this whole video and I was twitching uncontrollably listening to the muffled sound. It works just like your guitar tone control. You never turn that down unless you think you are Eric Clapton for a day or just joined some boring jazz band. And so much for the Vox AC15C1. Keep rocking, boys. //edit Top boost is the channel for me. For the extra tubeness and dynamics, but I leave the tone controls at 12 o'clock neutral - they are strange beasts that don't work like most might expect them to. Top boost I would describe as a small rock rattling around in a thin glass tube. It has some character that I really like to play with. Normal channel is a simpler circuit that sounds great and perhaps more usable, but it's missing the bit of Jack Nicholson looking through the broken door that top boost has. This is all my opinion and taste. Mileage may vary.
+crush537 very interesting crush. I've found The Tonecut doesn't engage till it's at 3 o'clock, so even though it looks like it's cranked it's only just on, but I'll do some more experiments with it. Cheers mate
On a side note, does the 69 work well with the wah before it? Looking into fuzz pedals and judging by youtube videos the fulltone 69 is the one that suits my taste, was just wondering if it would be nice with the wah before
I've had a Vox AC15C1 for about two months now and love it. I play an American Standard HSS Strat with a "Shawbucker" humbucker as the bridge pickup. I predominately use the normal channel, with the pre-amp volume set around 11 o'clock-ish (pointing to the bottom of the "V" in "Volume.") and the tone control close to 2 o'clock. Although I sometimes use the neck or middle/bridge positions, I mostly use the bridge pickup. Given that the Shawbucker has a bit more oomph than the traditional single coil, I get a nice jangling/slightly dirty sound when playing rhythm (the bulk of my playing) on those settings. When I want more dirt and body (something akin to uptempo Gin Blossoms or late '70s-early 80's Petty), I use a Fulltone Full Drive 2 Mosfet with the comp cut and Mosfet on--volume at 10 o'clock, tone at 10 o'clock, overdrive around 9:30. I keep the boost around 7 o'clock; it gets unruly if you use it too set too high with comp cut on. Lastly, for the amp's sound to really shine, the master volume (when using my pre-amp volume setting) needs to be at least at 10 o'clock. That's a bit loud of house practice, but my family doesn't complain too much unless they're in the same room.
Jason Middlekauff ive got the Shawbucker 2 in mine. It seems hotter and more responsive to me. It seems to push my pedals even harder as well. I only use my strat on a super clean channel. Use my pedals for gain so as not to over do it. Tottally agree with oomph. That is exactly how i described it when i heard mine.
The characteristic Vox "chime" is caused by the power circuit having no negative feedback which makes it very sensitive in the top end. It's the same as an amp which has feedback but which has the 'presence' control all the way up which would effectively eliminate any damping from the feedback circuit. It's also why Voxes really enjoy running really, really hot while other amps will employ the feedback circuit to fight any distortion when you crank the power section.
Good info! thank you. HEading to my '59 Reissue Bassman now to turn the usual all-the-way-off Presence to full and then play with the treble tones to counteract...
You could not have timed this any better, it's like fate or something!!! Yesterday I bought an AC15, I ran all my pedals through it on the Normal channel and it sounds amazing. I also hooked up a Radial Bigshot ABy so I can switch between Normal and Top Boost or blend both. Perfection!!! I love it with an Xotic SP pedal as well as an AC Plus! Great job Gentlemen!!
Since I started watching your vids about a month or so ago, I have gotten an AC15, Mxr phase 90 script and a flashback delay. Now I’m going to decide on a fuzz and an overdrive. Thanks to you two my wife says I have to get a second job.
the first thing i would buy with an ac15 or ac30 would be a treble booster. If you're not sure go to the store of your choice and try it, in my opinion this is one of the best (maybe the best) driven sounds you can get, period.
@@havenotfoundit tree of life is very nice, but quite different from a good range master treble booster clone, like the fulltone texas ranger as an example.
I've been following the channel for 6 months now and have choosen most of my rig based on what I've learn here. About 2 months ago I got my Ac15C1 (Greenback) and this just confirm what a great amp its, but also how much wisdom you guys have. Thanks! and Regards from Perú.
I use an OCD and a Spark booster for my Vox AC30cc1. The rest of the drives i got them from the amp itself. When i first got the Vox AC30cc1 i thought the OCD sounded bad with it, was thinking about selling the OCD, but then i learn to use the OCD with the amp, get the sound i want from the amp first, then only boost it with the OCD to get more. Now i love my setup, VOX AC30 or AC15 in this matter, has a very defined tonal characteristic, we must learn to use the gears with the amp, not the other way around.
I never crank my OCD drive knob pass 10am, and level at unity in the LP setting, but i can sleep happy knowing i can get more out of it if i want to. I use the Spark Booster in the MID setting just to push the mids a lil bit, if i ever need it for some songs. Thats all i need for my drives department, the rest of my board are filled with modulations, delays, reverbs. Haha
5 month update from my previous post. I still use the normal channel. Crank it so with guitar at max volume i have a nice breakup, roll it back it's nice and clean. Works for me! Every pedal I throw at it is great, EXCEPT the Earthquaker Gray Channel.. been struggling with the tone. It sounds fantastic with my friends amp though. ( Guy has not one, but two Sunn Model T's! So of course its great!)
Interestingly here in US one of the biggest market for VOX amps is worship music. Soundwise worship music is very similar to ambient guitar/U2. The Vox is preferred over other brands for its ability to take pedals well and to cut the mix even on big bands. The ability of an Vox amp to take massive amounts of reverbs and delays w/o sounding mushy and muddy is legendary.
Great video guys! The gem here from Dan is that the AC15 sounds great in a band mix!! This is the reason they have always been and continue to be a very popular amp. Can’t believe how many times I’ve had a glorious tone disappear when I get to band rehearsal. It’s bizarre how few gear demos focus on this.
Thank you!! It makes ALL the difference.........but I suspect (I could be wrong) that most of the audience are home players only. I am lucky enough to gig lots, and it's the live character of an amp which I'm most interested it...........sadly, this whole video has seriously muffled tones to my ears (Dan, why did you do everything for the first 20 mins on the neck pick up? I was DYING to hear that Tele bridge sing! )
The AC 15C2 is an absolutely fantastic amp for live stage work given its only got 2x EL34's,however if you are looking for extra bottom end, you can put an MXR 10 band EQ and dial in a great sound to suit. Gone are the days a muso needs a 100w Marshall and all those other huge big amps - The world of micing up a guitar amp is well and truly here. The combo is back in town.
I know this video is old but: even though I love all the different sounds you're getting out of this Vox (I gotta get me one of those), the sound at 16:50 that Mick gets is just absolute bliss. Incredible clean tone with a bit of hair on it, sounds absolutely sublime. Perfect for some sad, rainy-afternoon blues. Keep up the great work guys!
AC10 here. Simple Amp, but oooooh yeaaaaaah. Apartment dweller, so I have to wait for my neighbours to go to work:) The sound of tubes is so nice. Pedals are fine with it. I clench my jaw when playing, have to relax those muscles so my teeth don't hurt. Who knew?
Fridays are always best at midday. Yesterday night I watched the episodes with Joey Landreth, and oh my, what a player. I have a new mancrush, stylecrush, collingscrush, suhrcrush, brownfacecrush, tremolocrush, etc etc. Can I suggest an episode on tuners? A short one, showcasing some pedal tuners (quickness, accuracy, etc), rack units, clip-ons, etc? Cheers guys
I have the limited edition red AC15 with the Celestion V-Type and the RAT is my favorite drive so far with that amp, but the Broadcast is definitely calling my name. Hot Cake as a close second. Also just upgraded my tubes with the JJ SRV custom package and it's absolutely fabulous.
All my dreams have just come true. I have been awaiting for someone to demo my very own Vox AC15 (blue) for the last two years since I bought it. Couldn’t have asked for a better duo to put it through its paces! Awesome guys 👍👍
Most helpful Pedal show for me personally. I've heard and read the same thing about this amp except from one guy who somehow gets an amazing tone. Thanks guys; what you do means a lot to me.
@14:15 These are the tones that helped me to buy an AC15C1. A very nice and humble amp. Today, I watched again this video and recovered these amp settings, the first one is the one that I actually use for my clean sound, and then I put all the pedal settings just to push a little or to blend good with the amp's sound. Some drives might sound harsh or with a high treble, but the trick is to use the Tone Cut knob, the tone knob in the pedal and the guitar tone knob. Another trick is to turn on the tremolo depth a little bit, so the tremolo function attenuate the peaks. If you use the Top Boost Channel, you can also equalize the sound easier.
And it does!! One year after getting a Vox AC15C1, which I don't regret having it, amazing rock tone at bedroom volumes, now I got a Fender Custom Deluxe Reverb '68 to pair with the Vox. Both together in stereo sound awesome, and with the Empress Echosystem, I can do some kind of Stereo or Wet-Dry setups, can be storaged in patches. The instant tone using a delay pedal is to make The Edge from U2 tones, it sounds very professional and sweet. Now I think I my rig surpasses my ability, lol.
Once Again The Fulltone OCD Crushes the Rest. Its a Beast for: Raw Classic Rock Tone's. I Love Mine. Another Great & Informative Episode. You guys are Phenomenal. I can Never get Enough of That Pedal Show !!!
I never thought I'd hear you guys playing through a green PCB... but sounds amazing. I really appreciate when you use amps normal humans are likely to own.
Brilliant video. Thanks so much for doing this. I’ve owned an AC15 for 3 years now and have been struggling the entire time to find the tone. I’ve always sensed that wasn’t the amps fault, but mine. This video helped me learn more about it to the point I now love this thing.... THANKS!!!
One of the most important things worked on Guitar Craft with R Fripp is the breathing, "can't live if you don't breathe!" :) P Metheny also speaks of it.
I've taught workshops on breathing... Most folk use a backwards breathing mechanic when taking in a deep breath (the shoulders get closer to the ears). To counteract, bring the breath lower into the body, getting the lower ribs engaged so the diaphragm can go through it's full range of motion. And, yes... Breathing while playing is so very important and will really change your phrasing. Always dig what you do, dear lads. Watching your Guitcon footage has been a joy.
Loved watching this after picking up a (barely) used AC151C....the purple edition. Amp totally rocks...never have a problem keeping up with the band (lead guitar in modern country cover band). I always stay in the Normal channel and adjust the mix of the the volumes to the room. I use a PRS S2 Singlecut with 59/09’s...an Xotic EP Booster is ALWAYS on. I stack an OCD and a Tumnus Deluxe for more classic rock tones and then have a Wampler Pinnacle Deluxe and a Boss Angry Driver that gets used for different gain needs. This amp is a BEAST!!! If you’re looking for a smaller gig worthy amp that won’t suck in the “tone” dept...try one out...you won’t be disappointed!!!
Corey McCartney I have the purple AC30 and it absolutely screams. I love running tele’s through it because you’ll NEVER get lost in a band mix with that bridge pickup
AC-15 supports an extension cab too. You can fill out the sound and it decreases the overall volume slightly for home playing. Put a blue speaker in the amp and the greenback in a 1x12 cab for the best of both worlds. In the words of Dan- "Righteous noise".
Love these newer ac15s. I've been gigging with one for years. Once I got past the learning curve it has really become my go-to for country and rock gigs. Love it with a tube screamer or a zendrive or sometimes an RC boost.
I feel like you guys probably know this by now but it's worth mentioning that the preamp gain and eq on the top boost channel effects the normal channel and vise versa, they are most definitely not independent channels.
My two favorite overdrives for an AC15 are the Jeckyl and Hyde, and Sparkle Drive. The distortion side of the Jecky and Hyde sounds fantastic in the Vox as well.
I have the head version of the AC15. I did once own a late 70’s combo version and I don’t think the newer Chinese models sound much different, however the addition of a master volume is a huge plus. Back in the day it was hard to get an AC15/30 to overdrive without severely pissing people off. At first I wasn’t too keen it at all but after some experimentation Ive come to the opinion that the top boost channel and a strat are a match made in heaven. A Tele sounds great using the normal channel also. Nice and fat sounding. I’m running it through a 2 x 12 with a creamback and a cannabis Rex which I think tames the top end quite a lot.
That Hot Cake combo is really special, for sure! I highly recommend some boosts and overdrives that add some warmth with an AC15. The Box of Rock boost does this really well, as does the King of Tone set to Boost. I also like a preamp pedal at the end of the chain to play with the EQ a little bit and push the amp's tubes harder.
One thing to realise about the current AC15 is that the normal channel has a bright cap on it's volume pot, while the vintage AC15s and AC30s did not. This is quite important - the vintage AC15 channel 1 and AC 30 normal channel was therefore quite a bit darker with the volume pot set low... Note that this bright effect is reduced as the volume pot is raised and when cranked the bright cap is effectively out of the circuit. So players using the amp set clean with OD pedals in front will get a very different sound from the same pedals into the vintage amp. Of course cranking up the volume pot addresses this, but then we are talking about a dirty amp in the first place.... This was part of the reason that Vox added the top boost circuit in the first place (only to AC30s though until more recently) - to make the amp brighter. Also note that the top boost channel has always had a bright cap on it's volume pot - perhaps partly why people have found this channel harder to dial in with OD pedals.
Hi Mick! - not sure if Dan's AC10 and AC30 are stock, but if they are, this may be partly why he favours the normal channel for pedals perhaps... By the way, great playing (both of you)!
Yeah, it was odd to see Dan determined to prefer the normal channel over top boost... he came round eventually though! On my AC15 greenback, I never use normal for anything - I find it dull and don't like not having any tone controls.
Yep. This makes the channel volumes and the top cut on the oldies quite interactive. I tend to raise or lower vol and cut in tandem. The EF86 in the normal channel gives it a thicker tone with more bass than other Voxes too.
Just bought this exact amp yesterday. After swapping all of the Chinese tubes for some nice cork sniffery NOS EL84’s & a couple of Mullard 12AX7’s (and a nice 70’s Japanese 12AT7 in V1)... it really is quite magnificent. Tone for days, mmmmm!
Just for anyone that doesn't understand why Vox amps have a tone cut instead of a presence control, the reason is that presence is integral to a negative feedback loop circuit. Vox amps do not have negative feedback, so no presence is possible - instead they just institute a low pass filter in the power amp section that either subtracts or adds back in the high end.
+VoxPathfinder15R Really Interesting. I’ve had that explained to me many times (Mick here) which I guess is why I was half way there with the experiment! I’m always astounded at the effect of negative feedback - Victory make a couple of amps where you can essentially switch it in and out. Can’t understand why anyone would have it in. Cheers!
+That Pedal Show - the reason to have negative feedback is to correct for distortion, it's absolutely necessary in hifi stereo equipment. In guitar amps, not so much, but every amp you know of that has a presence dial has that negative feedback loop - marshall, fender, etc. So they think that having some is integral to their sound? What's really interesting to me is the fact that amps with a lot of negative feedback should in theory render the differences in sound between different speaker models/brands to be null. This is because the speakers are being damped and forced to vibrate in a certain way. So why do you tubers pick these amps and try show differences between speaker changes? They should use an amp like a vox that allows the speaker to travel the way it wants.
I'm using an AC30CC2 for the last 4 years exclusively in TOP BOOST Chanel and it's absolutely stunning with pedals. Just after I saw that video I used the Normal Chanel and a whole new world opened for me! Definitely better for pedals, I could say smoother but to be honest the top boost Chanel is pretty decent too! VOX rules!
I’ve been gigging with an ac 15 for more than 10 years now… Normal channel 11 or 12 o’clock tone cut on 3 o’clock and the master dimmed . Couple of pedals … LP junior , Teles and strats. Glorious ... Mic it with an sm 57 . I get a lot of comments from players about my tone . Luv you guys and what you do .
I agree with Dan so much on here. The normal channel is such a great pedal platform. I only discovered that when someone unplugged the amp and plugged in the normal rather than the top boost without realising and telling me. Running an Fulldrive 2 into it has such a great sound now!
Greetings from NY - Started watching you guys a few months ago. Love your show - I finally bought my first tube amp after decades of playing off/on. Got a 2015 AC30 with Greenbacks. Looking forward getting with my band soon! I want to play around with it for a bit, and then possibly check out a treble boost. Thanks again for your awesome show!
My main amp died right before a gig so I went to GC and narrowed down some choices to this and a Blues Junior. I took the BJ for the gig but after watching this video and the 15w amp shootout I went back a few days later to swap it out for the ac15. I’ve tried the vox with single coils, humbuckers, clean tones, drive pedals etc. and it takes them all in stride. (I found the BJ to be a little less versatile) Thank you so much for the informative videos!!!
I am enjoying this very much, with headphones on, as it is very early time in the morning, and my 6 year old son is asleep. I keep hearing a child speaking a single word. I pull off my headphones and yell out, "Hello?" and there is no one there. It is in the audio for this video. Here is one example... At 35.05 the Tube Sreamer is turned off. Listen and you will hear a sound like a young man asking "Dad?". It is haunting, and it is funny. I am yelling out "Hello" to a sleeping household. Anyone else hear it in the audio? Anyhoo, another spectacular episode.
PERFECT! I nearly sold my AC15, but at the last second decided not too. And not every time, but SOME of the time, it makes the best sounds. Thanks for this.
I am only 25 mins into the video and I LOVE the AC15 I am absolutely sold!! And you haven't yet used the OCD and I just know that in HP mode is going to sound enormous!!
Big part of the magic is keeping that alnico blue speaker near its buttery-flappy 15 watt limit. RU-vid and my crappy ear buds usually make amps sound awful but Mick with humbuckers through the Hudson Broadcast pedal sounded so good I keep playing it over and over. Dumbles can't do that.
I had a Vox AC15 from the 90’s, which I believe were the first reissues after Korg bought Vox. It was very different from the later reissue version (2010 I think?). The biggest difference was the 90’s version employed a rectifier tube, while the 00’s C1 was solid state rectifier. Oddly enough, the 90s version was considerably lighter weight! The 90’s version didn’t have an actual top boost channel, but it had two inputs and I feel like it had some kind of tone capacitor on it to vaguely emulate a top boost… it was the only cheesy gimmick about that model. The last difference is that mine was equipped with the “Bulldog” model speaker, which I greatly preferred to the bluebacks. I had this thing in college at music school and it was incredible - everyone was jealous. The Achilles heel was the reverb channel. It would break if you just looked at it wrong! After having it worked on probably 5 times at the only amp repair shop in Seattle, I finally learned enough about electronics to fix it myself. This led me down the slippery slope of building pedals back in the pre-RU-vid days! I parted ways with that amp round 2012, but if I ever saw another I’d scoop it up in a heartbeat. **Edit: when I played those early 2010 models I specifically remember thinking they did NOT take pedals well, and really sounded nothing like my 90’s AC15. I think it had something to do with the way the solid state rectifier in those models clipped in a weird way. I saw so many shows where guys played Telecasters through those AC15s and they had that unpleasant rasp. I haven’t kept up with modern Vox amps, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if that’s where the myth of Voxes “not taking pedals well” started off.
Great! Finally a show about my Ac15Cc1 I always email you about for help! My Vox ac15 and pedals! I use KOT, EP Booster, Soulfood, TC Corona Chorus, TC Poly Tuner 2, Bruce Zinky Master blaster clean boost and TC Flashback with my Vox ac 15, and voc ac10!!!! Nothing but great TONE! Dan, You hit it right on the head, I use the normal channel for my pedal plat form! Takes pedals great!! The best part of the 15 and 10 is that they sound great at low levels. Can't do that with most high watt amps. They need to be run hot to get the tone the Vox gets at low levels. Great for recording and live miced. Keep up the good work and videos boys! Thanks for all your help creating my sound!
Although the combo (Vox) "Pathfinder" is a tinny amp, I could achieve great learnings on how to tame my overdrive pedals. The hard thing about VOX amps with pedals is the "TONE" trick, which the tone shifts a lot as you increase or decrease volume. You should decide the volume you want to begin editing your overdrive settings, something a bit hard to nail. But POSSIBLE. Jack Hammer, Blues Driver OD-1 are just some pedals that go very well with VOX amps.
+ForViewingOnly Hmmmm. Dan and I are a bit meh about the whole amp-in-box thing, because all they are really is a bit of gain and EQ. No power section, valves, transformers or speakers and to us, that’s what an amp needs to sound like an amp! We’ll try some and see if we can get more enthused. Cheers!
That Pedal Show we recognize you're committed to actual amps, but I think we would appreciate a demonstration of the difference. Just how much of a compromise is it? In my apartment, I just can't crank an ACanything....
That's very interesting; with this in mind, what are your thoughts on the SL Drive that you've used in a couple of these vids - do you consider it to be an amp-in-a-box (which is kind of what it's known as), or simply as another gain pedal that does a certain job (like a tubescreamer with the mid-hump for example)?
Jeff, I also have a Hotcake, but it's the only overdrive I have. My question is, if I want another overdrive to supplement the sound, what should I get? I've paid attention to the various "types" of overdrives, but the Hotcake doesn't seem to fit into those categories.
@@allanflippin2453 the Hotcake is very much a transparent, full range dirt pedal. I’ve experimented over the years. I used to run it as my dirty rhythm sound with a TS9 as a dirty boost for solos, that sounded okay.. but I now use a TC Spark clean boost pedal with it in front of my Vox AC15. I’d think about using a boost pedal as well as an overdrive with it.
I run mine generally with the channel volume knob about the same position as the Master. Tone Cut has a significant effect on how drive/fuzz pedals sound. Use and OCD and Box of Rock and a SoulBender, all sound really great through this. Top Boost channel can be squirrely and get mushy if you aren't careful but dialed in, it's pretty mint.
Mick, when you turned the gain down on the broadcaster I nearly chocked on my dinner. That sound was just godly, for me one of the best tones Ive ever heard not just on the show but ever!
I wish I hadn't sold my AC15.... Coming soon: That Yoga Show (with pedals) You guys might want to do one of these "how to get the most out of" for the Bassbreaker. A lot of players looking for an affordable amp are picking these up, or at least this is what I've noticed. Wait and see, I guess, if the amp becomes a staple. I have one, a 15W combo. I guess the problem with the BB is - which one do you test? Anyway, just an idea. Love the show!
Check out the andertons channel- some of the same guys. they use the bassbreaker quite a bit. Its a really nice amp that ive used a few times. i think they have some videos dedicated to just that amp.
Each of the BB amps are different. I had an 18/30, but only kept it for a month, which is very unusual for me. I didn't try any of the others, but I found the 18/30 just too loud and aggressive being non-master volume. The 18/30 does not come with attenuation either, where some of the others do. It's not a subtle amp and you have to get it above 2 to get it to a usable tone. It's also 2x12, which just makes it louder. On a positive note, if you can make it work, they are extremely affordable well made valve amps. It just didn't work for me. Perhaps I should have gone for the smaller one.
Nick Denbow - I had the BB45 for a few weeks as well. It did have the attenuator, but even at 1 watt it was still too loud and completely lacked the ability to play clean at any level. You're correct, if they fit your needs, I found them to be built like tanks and well worth the money.
I watched this yesterday and there happened to be a hot cake v2, on fb marketplace today. It came with a stone deaf pdf 2 and a MXR micro amp for $400 Au. I didn't want to stop playing the hot cake. Thank you TPS!
Just got mine recently and I love it. Just wanted to add there's a lot of tonal options when using both channels at the same time if you spend enough time dialing them in, just as the tone controls in the top boost channel, the volume knobs are very interactive with each other. Once I found the sweet spots I stopped using the channels individually :).
I love you guys' show so much! My bandmate just bought one of these AC15's yesterday and it is a banger! I wanted to mention that I'm usually listening through a pair of studio monitors when I'm watching your videos, and I constantly have to turn it up when you play and turn it down while you're talking. Anyway, maybe that's just my picky ears, but more importantly, your show is some of the best that guitar-related youtube has to offer, and you've both helped me in making many decisions in my own rig. So thank you!
I miss the hell out of mine, but as a home player, it was a little too loud to get the tones I wanted without driving my wife nuts. Playing through a Silverface Bronco (Vibro-Champ) now most of the time. But I will have to get another one one day .
AC15C1X (Blue alnico) with a 16 ohm, vox greenback twin cab in the extension output (with the switch at 8 ohms) now that is very sweet (runs the bluse speaker and the cab at the same time). its a lovely way to experience this amp :-)
Wow! Just wow! I have the Ac15C2. One with two 12" green backs. Definitely learned a lot lot. I have definitely been using it the wrong way. Thank you so much!! After watching this, I immediately jumped up to go to my amp. It sounds so good now!! 😊 thanks!!
Those fuzz tones are some of the best tones I've heard on this channel! :D I've never heard the "Vox dont take pedals well" statement before, but I couldn't agree less. I use an AC15 with my way too big pedalboard, and it is honestly brilliant every time... Every time I try it together with another amp in stereo I prefer the Vox's sound.
I think it's a bad case of forgetting to say "I heard someone say that Vox don't take pedals well" and that someone heard a demo on RU-vid, the guitarist had probably a poor man's guitar with nasty humbuckers, bad cables and used cheap pedals with tone and gain maxed out. And the video was recorded with a potato.
Wow, awesome tones here!!! I picked up my AC15C1 last night and played for about 20 minutes before bed, really happy with the sound and the response to my picking dynamics is really impressive. Tonight I'm going to try it out with the Walrus Audio Eras fuzz and I expect good things.
Great amp, been using one for a year or so. My favourite sound is into the normal channel on about 7 with master volume to taste. Interestingly, the top boost channel controls affect the tone when plugged into the normal channel, more noticeably as you wind up the master volume. 🤯
Thanks guys - whether you meant it to be or not this was a highly entertaining edition of the show! Between talking about internet howling and dropping product boxes while filming I learned one or two things. So when do we get Dan and Mick cameras, so we can see everything you do in real time?! Might bother Mick's OCD though ....
I'm stoked this video came when it did. I rescued a homeless RED AC15 over the summer - and have LOVED playing it - but this gives me a bunch of extra food for thought. Just FYI - a Rockerverb 50 MK III dirty channel and the AC15 TB CLEAN channel together are sublime...really great sounding.
I must just say that I love my AC15 it is versatile, and I like it with fuzz, or natural overdrive, clean, just every way. I find fenders to be too bright for me when over driven. I used to do live sound, and I had a band that used a loud fender twin with fuzz, and it made my inner itch, at least that was the best way I can describe the sensation.
Just had a result, and needed to share it. There is a many a benefit to buying a new bed. Other than the obvious sleep improvement for both me and the other half, you get to look at what was stowed away under the old bed. A box of homemade pedals made by my brother in law (thanks Geoff) who has moved to Japan . He once told me that what I needed was an equaliser pedal, and promptly bought a cheap behringer one for me for Xmas. At the time ( many years ago) I scoffed at this, and it has been under the bed since. Watching your shows, I thought about getting various top boosts, clean boosts, over drives, that Dan and Mick thing, for those times you need 1 louder. Just tried it out after all other pedals but before a breaking up amp. Dint even move the sliders, and it did the clean boost thing perfectly. So much for needing to purchase one of the pedals you have shown me! Good job, cause I don't know if I mentioned, but I have just bought a new bed
Thanks so much we have an ac15 with the Greenback and we love it, it's great to hear how different pedals sound especially with single coils vs humbuckers! Love the show
I had no idea people hated on the Vox’s for pedal platforms. Always loved the AC15 and how it took pedals. My three takeaways were: 1. to experiment with both channels and settings again (so many great sounds in the amp alone) 2. I now need a Broadcaster. 3 You confirmed that I need a Hot Cake!
