Good stuff, Lyle. As the happy owner of one of these fine amps, it's great to see you take a deep dive into it. While I prefer the clean tones of my Fenders, this is the amp I usually bring along, simply because it's so much more versatile and capable of many styles of music without needing pedals.
Thank you for your great work ! I' m not a tech but I love these videos. So much to learn. I found the cabinet screws lesson very helpful. I have a 2016 limited edition AC 15 C1 in Tan Bronco and I love the sounds and the reverb. I also have a 1974 Pro Reverb and so I can compare the reverb quality.
I have the big brother of this amp briefly mentioned here, the AC15C2. Which comes with 2x 12 inch speakers, has served me for hundreds of shows from small clubs (100-300 cap) to large venues (1000-3000 cap). Interesting to note the normal channel voicing, thanks for the info and great video.
These are very nice amps for the price. One mod I like with these and the 30, is to fit a mini toggle in allowing me to switch between the normal and bright coupling cap value. The more compact ac10 is also a great value, but with one HUGE caveat- they replace the first gain stage triode with a FET. Most will never notice the difference, EXCEPT for people who like to boost the front end with an overdrive pedal+ here is where the FET does rear its head
I had the ac15c1x for 3,5 years, played it every day at home and rehersal with not even a hickup during those 3,5 years, in my opinion it is a superior amp to lets say a Blues Junior in every way.I only sold it because i got a H&K Puretone so the Vox didn't get much attention anymore😕,still sad about it.Thank you for the video, I love this channel.
I have a Vox AC30C2 reissue after they worked out some of the kinks and it is a great amp just replaced the tubes and I love it.Vox tremolo sounds really good to my ears.Different than a Fender tremolo .Very infomative channel my friend.I use JJ tubes.Great Advice on using proper hardware
Just traded in my Fender BJ that had Bill M mods and a new speaker for an AC15. Thank you so much for all the info you provided that helped steer me in that direction.
Great video! I just bought a brand new Vox AC15C1 at Sweetwater because of this video. I’m happy to report that mine came with a Ruby Tubes Reverb tank like this one.
I own this in head + 2x12 cab format. The extra 12" gives it a bit more body and low end, and it doesn't hurt that they are Greenbacks too. If I want the classic chimey sound, I'll play my AC4 with a 1x12 Celestion Blue. Best of all worlds!
Had mine for 10 years, all original (except for the tubes). Been with me on a lot of gigs and rehearsals. Never failed me once. Great pedal platform too. Love this amp!
Awesome Video, you. I always wanted a vox but couldn’t afford the tag on a hand wired non PCB. So I built one, those of you who that have the ability to I highly recommend this amp. I built mine(non reverb) AC-15 using Hoffman’s Board based off of Sluckey’s 1960’s vox. I was the Guinea pig building this when it was first designed. Check it out, Hoffman, el34 world and Sluckey amps. You’re going to dig Sluckeys designs.
Love the custom colors. Looks great in red. Purple would look cool next to it if you had two. ;) I had a purple AC30 TBX I regret selling. These AC15's are good little amps for the money if you find one used. Nice video....Thanks again!
I bought an AC30CC head a number of years ago. I got it for a great price because the reverb wasn’t working. When I got it and opened it up the problem was very obvious. The tanks RCA plugs weren’t plugged in! Plugged them in and…glorious Vox reverb.
Hi congrats on the 25k just wanted to say I really enjoy the channel and your no nonsense slow key style. I have no interest in fixing an amp myself as I like being alive but find the shows informative and fun. Cheers, Neil, Manchester, UK
Once you drain the caps your life is safe while poking around inside, but if you do NOT drain the caps - watch out! An amp tech told me about touching a live amp with a screwdriver which subsequently shot out of his hand and embedded itself in the all behind him!
Well great to see your expert knowledge on this Amp,i used to own many 60s AC30s sadly they all burnt up while playing ,my AC50 never had a problem rock solid, used an 100 w ACOUSTIC amp that blew the buildings down ,then later moved back to an AC15 c1 for the house ,at first i did miss the twin BLUE ALNICO speakers, but apart from that was very pleased with it, and found it very controllable unlike the vintage ones ,neither was i disappointed when it was cranked up full it did miss the blue twins then ,sounds great at lowish levels meaning amp working above half but not full guitar on half,it seems ok with pedals too,going to change tubes for JJs ,get a cab with Alnico twin blues perfect, They are great for any Amp , nice to see you had no major problems with this amp,keep up the good work
The only advantage of a tube rectifier is that the B+ voltage rises softly when tube rectifier warms up. If the tube recifier voltage sag is what you want, it can be quite accurately achieved just by using in series with a solid state rectifier a series resistor which roughly matches the inner resistance of the tube rectifier (which is of course not constant, but quite close) at normal operating point. And if you have original unused NOS Mullard/Miniwatt GZ34 rectifiers, you probably will notice that they give full B+ voltage so quickly that the cold start max B+ will be at the same level as by using SS rectifier without preheating, only for a bit shorter time. SS rectifier allows using much much higher B+ filter caps as well because for example 1 amp rectifier diodes of today can handle huge short time surge currents without problem.
Unlike a Fender combo or a dual input Marshall, both input jacks work at the same time (at least, in the one I tried 10 years ago or so). I was able to hook up an ABY box and footswitch between both channels. Takes some tweaking of the channel eq's (tone ctls and top cut) to balance it out, but the salesman was intrigued that it was able to be set up that way.
I haven't finished the video yet, but as an aside, I believe all Vox amps from the Dallas Arbiter era to when Korg made the AC15/30TB amps were solid state rectified. My AC30 has a solid state rectifier and no standby switch and one of the last of the old hand-wired models. According to North Coast Music these AC30s put out closer to 40 watts than 30. I've currently got Electro Harmonix 7025s in the preamp and they've held up fine, tho my amp only sees bedroom use.
Ended up returning my ac10 to grab a used ac15 because of your insight, i have a good feeling this is going to be my holy grail amp! I loved the ac10 didnt stop playing it for the month i had it. The thing i liked ab it is that it basically plays itself!
@@lauratanner8475 yep! I have zero regrets trading up. I actually got lucky and the one i got looked barely used inside and out. Also the previous owner had already did the reverb tank swap that Mr. Psonic did. Looking for a nice delay pedal now to round off my rig
@@brendanjames8818 hey that's awesome 👍. I missed whether or not this amp has an fx loop. Delays, especially digital ones, sound much better in the loop than in front of the amp. It's usually not too bad with clean tones but definitely beneficial for dirty tones.
@@lauratanner8475 it does not sadly but i mainly use it very clean, only breaks up ever slightly when i really dig in on the strings. Its more of a squish sound than a break. My main source of dirt is a JPTR FX pedal (katastrophe)
Great amp! I use mine in the pit with a semi-hollow and of course a Ric 660/12. Nice clean tones with the semi-hollow, and the Ric was made to be run through a Vox. Find it takes pedals really well if done in moderation. Run a bit of compression chorus and reverb to taste. Mikes well to the house.
I’ve got one of these with the creambacks paired with a 5F6a clone as a wet/dry rig and it’s the BEST tone I’ve gotten in the past 20 years… I’ve had the boutique Morgan’s, Badcat’s etc, and those are great amps… But I personally don’t hear a difference tone-wise and I can tote my AC15 anywhere to any gig and I’m not constantly worried about it getting damaged. These are workhorse amps for real working musicians.
i have the blue and cream version, almost the same month as your red one. i like using an aby pedal in the top boost input as well as the normal. i've changed the tubes and reverb tank and it sounds much better. great amp! thanks for the great review!
Just wana say thanks for making these videos. Just recently found your channel and you really know your stuff. Videos are a bit long but long for a purpose and you inform your viewers on every relevant aspect of the amps you break down.
I have a Vox AC30C2X...gotta love the blue speakers. They knock off a tiny amount of top end which is good because the Vox has heaps... An amazing amp.
I am enjoying your content and appreciate the information you provide. Have you had any dealings with Hughes & Kettner amps, specifically the the GM40. Would like to see the guts on that picked apart.
Absolutely awesome video. There's a drop out happening on my clean boost so it gave me the confidence up open it up and check the input jack. Also super big question! Is it possible to add an FX loop to these amps?? Thank you!!
Great series of videos. Thanks! Question, If I buy a AC 15 used, for say, $500, What is my worst case scenario for professional repairs if I get a lemon? Is there anything which is completely unavailable? I am good with tools, but I know almost mothing about solid state electronics. If it was a '72 Cadillac, I could re-wire it from scratch (that is what I used to do for a living - automotive electrical, pre computers) I am not going to play it 2000 hours a year, more like 250 - 300 hours.
I am starting to like my AC15C1X after damping my stock chinese tubes with some cork pieces I am cutting and experimenting. Also the main pcb has to have somethin damping it in the middle, close to the power tubes connector socket. I still got some ringing, maybe a tube filament (EL84). The main power transformer has a thin metal cover that rings on some frequency, so I stuck a piece of styrofoam that dampens it. I suspect the pcb tube sockets rub against the chassis, will investigate. I got a more defined tone, and it is ringing nice at high gain as guitar combos should. You got to really crank it with some overdrive (I like he treble booster) then explore the weird resonances. I also removed all of those cheap tube retainers, since the sockets hold those tubes so well, and they also introduce weird resonances. Awesome channel with tons of info!
Thank you for your technical input/evaluation of AC10. I have Fender Blues Jr. and a friend told me a Vox is tone I'm looking for and he was right. but, Should I get an AC15 or an AC30 for an extra C-Note? What is your input/evaluation of a Marshall DSL20 compared to DSL40 Or the best Marshall tone Amp for a non gigging guitar enthusiast?
For under $ 10 , Harbor Freight Tools has plastic trim removal tools that you should be able to slip in there and not damage anything . Once a L shape tool is hooked behind it , you can pull it forward .
do these ones have the ef86 preamp? ef86s are really great with pedals, they got a ton of gain to accommodate the losses of using effects and the cabling in between. I wish some company would start making really good modern ef86s. I love them, and they have certain advantages, but of course can be temperamental.
@@Rau1S You can’t get good overdrive sound at low volume with any 15 watt tube amp without pedals. You have to rely on good overdrive pedals into clean sound on the AC15. I use a BB preamp or a Wampler pantheon but there’s lots of options. Transistor amps or digital amps can get you quite good overdrive sound at low volume. Boss Katana is a good option then.
That direct coupled cathode follower design causes stress to that 12AX7/ECC83 in two different ways: One is the cold startup situation with cold heaters which causes too high grid to cathode voltage to the cathode follower. The other problem is that in many amps the cathode to heater voltage of the cathode follower of DCCF is around 180 VDC or even more and it is often too much for some tubes and the high cathode to heater voltage causes heater to cathode insulation to fail. To make that risk lower, I sometimes use on purpose a clearly mismatched double triode where the cathode follower is lower current triode and the first triode is higher current triode at same bias voltage. The first higher current triode causes larger voltage drop at plate resistor (100k usually) which then gives lower DC voltage to the CF grid. If the plate voltage driven to the CF grid is less than 150V even those bad reputation russian tubes can often, according to my experience, handle it without problems. Well perhaps the sound of that mismatched triode DCCF is a bit different but it still sounds DCCF because it still is a DCCF. 😁
Hey Lyle. Thanks for the wealth of information. Ever had one of the Tony Bruno designed Voxes on your workbench? Wondering what’s your take on ‘em. Cheers and looking forward to more of these pirate’s parrot’s views of whatever you’re working on.
Amazing videos! Thanks so much! I am surprised by your dislike of the Traynor YGM 3. You mentioned in another video that they are cheaply made and sound crappy (paraphrasing here) I have had quite a few over the years and found no cheapness at all. AFAIK similar resistors and caps to the YBA. OF course, replace the dynamite stick power caps, The weak point IMHO is the terrible Marsland speaker. The Reverb is also too much even at modest settings. There are good mods available to channel more signal to the next stage and remove the excessive reverb. Also i tend to slow the trem down and rearrange the bright cap setup I would love to hear more of your thoughts on this
Thank you very much about this valuable info. I have the AC15c2 and I finally got a proper answer to my question - should I bother with the standby switch or not. I have not heard the AC15c1, but my c2 sounds amazing.
Hi. Very informative channel you have here. Thanks for the work. I have a question that I haven't heard you address; what about the fact that the powertubes are directly mounted to the board? Wouldn't you suspect that to cause some problems down the road?
I'm only 13 minutes in to the video but seeing all that threw board components would make me happy, No microscope needed, probably simple to follow traces and bog standard two legged caps. Easy working.
And you can pull the boards separately. And it only takes 10 minutes to pull. And no morass of cables to detach. Different sized connectors, all well labeled. It's like whoever did the board spent time in the trenches.
I’d like to know your thoughts on victory amps. I personally own the v40 deluxe combo. I love it and made the purchase because it’s lifer amp imo. But would love your opinion
I enjoy your videos and information which has saved me a lot of money and headaches. Most of the amps I like that would be a stable option have no effects loop. I use a delay a lot and this is a problem for me. Hopefully I can find a good tube amp with an effects loop under $1000. Thanks for your info.
Thanks. I would point out that Edge, Radiohead, Gilmour, Page, and May have all done very well for themselves running delays in front of the amp. And it offers the neat trick where trailing repeats get clean but initial repeats can break up. Loops are really only really needed with higher gain amps where time based effects would fall apart with the distortion and compression. That said, the AC30C2 has a good effects loop.
@@PsionicAudio Thank you. I use clean, bluesy and high gain which is why I need the effects loop. Delay and reverb just don't work well with my needs in the front end. The only other solution would be a clean amp and then use pedals, but I prefer good tube overdrive vs pedal circuit gain. Thanks again.
I loved my ac15cc. I only sold it because I got a matchless DC 30 on a killer deal, and a buddy sold me a heritage handwired ac30head at a steal. I wanted a vox head to put on a head shelves in the studio, and combos just take up space for me.
@Psionic Audio What are your thoughts about the bias? These come with a 120r cathode resistor that runs the el84s quite hot. I have seen one running at 130% dissipation. All that heat ends up going into the tube sockets and board above the tubes!
Great Video. Hugely informative. I only wish you had a camera (or a mirror?) on the control panel of the amp so we could constantly see the settings as you play.
May i add that if you can move the reverb away from any replacement speaker, or test it first. The anount of draw on the cheap springs in the area of the magnet can be a noise issue when your pushing the amp
Great video Lyle! I'd love to know if you measured the tube bias and where it was set. I'm going to try and measure mine this weekend before my EL84s melt.
Just received a used one yesterday. Annoying high speed woodpecker noise changing in sync with reverb knob. It was caused by Ethernet powerline homeplug adapters on my house mains circuit.
I have an early unit from 2010, got it new for 500 bucks back then, and that's what I've been using since then, AC15C1 and AC30C2X for bigger venues, never failed once, funny how they tried to emulate the Treble normal channel of the AC30, it always sounded too boomy on me especially with Gibson guitars, not as boomy as the one on the TBX but boomy enough to get muddy with lack of clarity on single notes, especially if pushed with a thick treble booster like the Cornish TB83.
I bought an ac15 c1 white bronco. It is the best amp! The issue is i started building a two 6l6gc amp. I have to compare it to the Vox, so I am forever unhappy with my build. One day, hopefully, one day.🙂
my Vox AC 10, the little brother to this guy, has the same amazingly sweet tone thats really unlike any other amp, at least that i've ever tried... my one complaint is; it just seems a little noisier than it maybe should...i don't really know if its me or not, but my other tube amps like my old music man hd 135 is much quieter .... i found it interesting that the problem cited with your amp here is a noisy channel... anyone else have issue this i wonder?.... thanks again, great stuff!
My ac10 was quiet when I first got it, then I switched the tubes to sovteks and the speaker to a creamback, and now it has noticable white noise in the background, wish I'd never even toyed with it
A couple things that keep me from wanting and gigging this amp. I don't like that you have to take off that whole back panel just to change tubes. I also don't like that there is no access to the speaker cable to the greenback, I keep a quilter guitar head in my gig back in case my amp fails and in this case I would have no way to quickly plug the speaker in to the quilter head in case of emergency.
I've had one of these for 8 years now. Dragged on countless miles, thrown in many cars and it now resides in a friends studio being used on records small and large. For the money I don't think you're going to find anything much better. Now... If Vox could start making a Fender style amp of the same quality and rough pricing of the AC15.
How can anyone not love Vox AC15s? Really appreciate these videos, I'm learning alot (as a non-techy person). I notice the power tubes on my AC15C1 (i'm using JJs) get ridiculously hot to the point that I think they are 'redplating' so I'm worried to use the amp in case something goes horribly wrong. Forgive my inexperience, but am I correct to assume that if I change those screen resistors as you suggest in this video (I'm good with a soldering iron) then this will reduce the power going into the power tubes and make them cooler, thus reducing the possibility of redplating, and generally increasing power tube life and reliability?
Somewhat off topic but not too much - what is your opinion on the differences, good and bad between the “C” and “CC” ac15s and 30s. I’ve had both and somehow landed on thinking the c not cc versions are “better” even though the cc is tube rectified. Any thoughts would be appreciated as I’m looking to buy an ac30 again after being without for enough time to decide I miss it. Thanks!
I used to be a vox fanboy, but nowadays I dig my silverface fenders more than ever, no amount of features can make up for that warm clean tone that takes pedals so well
Where do you think the longer-term reliability for these AC15s stands? Mine recently died just short of its 2nd birthday while in Standby mode. The amp guy said that he's had a couple of these in with transformer failure. Fingers crossed it's not that...still waiting for the diagnosis. Great sounding amp though. And yes, the stock reverb is terrible.
Mine is awesome, stock with no issues but I have an annoying resonant cabinet vibration/buzz at loud volumes. Only certain notes, sounds like it’s coming from under the handle but I can’t seem to isolate or fix it. Any suggestions?
On Tube Rectifiers - I heard it will sound better at lower volumes without and also Dumbles (considered by many as the best amps) are always made with solid state rectifiers. I'm not sure if you can confirm or not
I got a AC30 Custom Classic with tube rectifier it had bad wiring from the factory and blew tubes every week till a found a tech who found the problem, I said my amp is the second best AC30 he’s heard and worked on the best being one owned by crowded house
