AC30 with and without pedals vs other amps

[chaosgow]

I've got some limited experience with both these amps. The Hot Rod is a good, solid amp though if it were my money, I'd put it on an AC30 every single time. I much prefer that classic VOX AC30 sound. It's a really fulfilling sound.

Both amps work well with pedals, but I suspect the AC30 wins again.

Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in with more for you.

Good luck and good music.

[litepipe]

Ac30 all the way!!

[isawsasquatch]

I've got a vintage '62 AC30 that sounds phenomenal with a Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone in front of it. Especially with a Tele.

Maybe try that.

[Silent Sound]

Everything effects tone. The same stomp box will sound different coming through two different amps. The same amp will sound different with two different stomp boxes. Which is better is a subjective question that only you can really answer. Both amps are fairly popular for good reason. A good guitarist could make either amp sing and a bad guitarist could make either amp sound like crap. My advice would be to play both and see which one speaks to you. If you want to emulate a specific artist, it would be easier if you started with the same equipment, but most guitarist worth their salt could get pretty close with some careful tweaking of whatever setup they had in front of them. So much of the tone is in the hands, you know. So I'd say go for the Vox. Plus I'm not a fan of the Hot Rod series, but I know and respect plenty of people who are, so I can't say there's anything wrong with them. They're just not my cup of tea.

[drbob1]

Hmm, two threads... Well, both amps work really well and sound great. Although, for my money, only the clean on the HotRod is useful, and on that basis I'd just get a used Deluxe Reverb Reissue, clip the bright cap and maybe change to a Fane or Celestion speaker.

Either the AC30 or Fender amps take pedals really well, but different pedals work well. The AC30 is a little fussier in what it likes than the Fender. Fenders really like TS style ODs with a little mid bump. AC30s are happier with something flatter, like the OCD or a Cornish (if you can find them used over there).

[Arichlsss]

+1 for ac 30

[FadersmakmeHappy]

The main amps used by radiohead are a Vox AC30 TB with Alnico Blue speakers and a fender 85 solid state.

As I understand it, a lot of the high gain sounds aka "creep" are actually the solid state amp with pedals out in front producing the gain. I think he uses a Marshal shredmaster pedal for the high gain.

[tideiscup]

a vintage '62 AC30 that sounds phenomenal with a Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone in front of it. Especially with a Tele.

[lane thaw]

I never liked my Hot Rod Deluxe and sold it. I love my AC-30 TB w/ Blue Celestions. (I am strictly a Tele player so consider that).

I have tried the pedals you mentioned and the one's that stayed on my pedal board are the OCD and without a doubt, the Hotcake.