Vox AC30.. old.. older..new ones..

[George Necola]

last night (mixing a livegig) a guy had a AC30.. it was one from the first revisions around 1960++.. he didnt know it exactly.. it looked like shit, but sounded like a dream

does anyone know a good site, where you

1. have a look at their history in detail
2. identfiy models by year


and

3. witch are the ones that sounded good, until when?

cheers

[FFTT]

George, AFAIK 1964 was THE year, but Wikipedia might have a better breakdown
of what was what.

Just this week I came across one fine custom amp builder who will custom build you
an AC 30 TB with Heads starting at $1700.00+
www.vintone.com e-mail Doug.

If the AC30 you were working with looked a bit road worn, take a look at what Doug
is doing for a re-cab.


Vox Tolex was utter crap anyway.

Doug also builds his own interpretation of a combo ACEY 30
******//www.vintone.com/aceythirty.html

You might also want to check out his wonderful Deluxe Reverb with the much better
3 dial reverb control.

The man is an amazing craftsman.

.

ACEY-THIRTY
1x12 combo
(as pictured)
$2000.00*

ACEY-THIRTY
2x12 combo
$2400.00*

ACEY-THIRTY
Head version
$1700.00*

PARAGON version
The ultimate!
Add $600.00
(Mil-spec potentiometers and auricap tone capacitors)

The only other best built AC 30 money can buy right now is the Divided By 13 ERT 33

[preben]

Generally if it's a JMI model and it has the blue or silver speakers (and is in reasonable) condition things shouldn't be too bad.

There's A LOT of talk about which of the transformers are the best sounding ones (my personal favourites are the Haddon ones) but there are SO many other factors with gear of that age (JMI's are 60's items) that things can go wrong so many places anyway.

Vox are coming out with a bunch of hard wired Chinese built amps later this year - among them a VERY tasty looking AC15 albeit without the tremolo - which is almost making me considering cashing in on my '62 non-top boost JMI. Have to hear the new ones first though

[Tibbon]

The best ones that I've played have been from 63'/64', and the AC30HW one.

The Divided by 13 ones are some of the best faithful replications. There's a TON of amps out there that have the AC30 "vibe" but have some major differences in their circuits, and are more "decendants" of the AC30 than clones (Matchless, badcat, etc..)

One thing about the older ones that I've found to be true anyways, is that you'll not be able to just say, "This year sounds good" and you'll have to just listen to each one individually. The components have aged, some been replaced at various times, etc... They will all sound different.

And of course, stay the hell away (IMHO) from the AC30CC or AC30CC2 amps. Unreliable, and... not great sounding.

[FFTT]

Since Rusty Anderson of McCartney's band is using Divided By 13's that's a pretty strong argument in their favor, but look out Jo Jo, thems running $3,700-$3,900 for the FTR 37 a bit less or the EL84 powered RSA 31.

In the studio, you could probably do just fine with the 9/15 10/20 or RSA23.

The problem is they are SO much in demand that no one is discounting them and
you'll probably have to buy both the head and their cabinets.

The most popular ERT 33 is sold out and now looking at their web site there are several all new COMBO models, but I'm not seeing much offering EL84's except the RSA 31

The RSA 23 is essentially a Vox/Hiwatt hybrid and like most of their new line-up runs
KT88's
The very cool small JRT 9/15 would be the closest to the Vox 15watt.
The SJT 10/20 would be an improved version of the Deluxe Reverb.

I would look at Divided By, Bad Cat, 65 Amp, and Vintone.

I've been doing this for an entire month, the mind boggles!!!!

[max cooper]

As an aside, CE Distribution has, I think, all the original Vox tolex and grille cloth.

https://secure.cedist.com/

They might be wholesale only, so perhaps you'd have to get a store to do the order.

[FFTT]

Buying an original '64 Vox would involve about the same commitment to tinkering
that you would expect buying a '64 Jaguar.

When they're running right, they're great, when they're running right.

If you have the money for a GREAT amp, talk to Fred at Divided by 13 or
to Doug at Vintone.

[Ruudman]

Ah, miss my old Voxie.........

Anyone tried a JMI?

Link:
******//www.jmiamplification.com/

ruudman -> -> -> -> ->

[Tibbon]

Yea, I'd imagine that Rusty Anderson using the / by 13 amps would be the ultimate statement that they are the best way to get the 60's Vox tone.

I'd say that it's a fair statement that the Divided by 13 amps are better even than real AC30's from 64' as Paul probably has a garage full of them, but yet doesn't use them. And Paul could afford easily to get them recapped, retubed, etc...

[FFTT]

It's not just Rusty Anderson, but a huge number of very important artists using these amps because they not only sound fantastic, but they are truly road worthy.

CLIENT LIST

*Amp/Product Owners

Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top)
Jackson Browne
Timothy B. Schmit (Eagles)
*Rusty Anderson (Elton John, Paul McCartney)
*Joel Shearer (Alanis Morissette, Ben Taylor, Pedestrian, Writer, Sessions)
*Nick Lashley (Alanis Morissette, Jagger, Michelle Branch, Lisa Marie Presley, Sessions)
*Jason Orme (Alanis Morissette)
*Scott Thurston (Tom Petty, guitar)
Dave Mason (Traffic, etc.)
John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Jon Brion (Producer, Writer)
Dave Davies (Kinks)
Mike Ness (Social D)
Paul D'Amour (Tool)
Tracy Chapman
Nils Kline
Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel)
Al Anderson (Lauryn Hill)
Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)
Tommy Luya (Cypress Hill)
Dan Vickrey (Counting Crows)
*Jon Nichols (Beth Hart)
*Peter McCabe (Producer)
*Richard Bredice (Producer)
*George Lynch (Lynch Mob, Producer, Artist)
*Mike Chapman (Tom Petty)
*Yogi Lunich (Buch Cherry, Wallflowers)
*Brian Ray (Paul McCartney, Sessions)
*Mike Lockwood (Aime Mann, Lisa Marie Presley, Producer, Player, Writer, Sessions)
Smokey Hormel (Beck, Tom Waits)
John Spencer Blues Explosion
Zak Smith (Producer, Writer, Player)
Mad at Gravity
*Drake Bell (Nicolodian)
*Greg Leisz (K.D. Lang, Sheryl Crow, Sessions, Roadwork)
*Bob Hartry (Writer, Sessions, Producer, LA.)
*Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)
*Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
*Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace, Avril Lavigne, Writer, Producer)
*Jason Lader (Engineer for Rick Ruben, Player, Writer)
*Askol Buk (Writer, Producer, Player, NY.)
*Tariq Arkoni (Sessions, Roadwork, LA.)
*Eric Shermerhorn (Bowie, Iggy, Seal)
*Lance Konnerth (Sessions, Roadwork, LA.)
*Dan Schwartz (Sheryl Crow, Roseanne Cash, Bob Dylan, Brian Eno, Linda Perry, etc. etc. etc.)
*Paul Moak (Michael W. Smith)
*Lance Konneth (Sessions, Road, LA.)
*Matt McKenna (Rusty Anderson)
*Sean Hurley (Session, LA., Vertical Horizon)
*Daron Malakian (System of a Down)
*Tom Gioia (Producer, Writer, NY.)
*Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts)
*Alex Garcia (Ricardo Montaner, Sessions, Roadwork, Florida)
*Dave Stewart (Eurythmics, Producer)
*Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
*Robby Takac (Goo Goo Dolls)
*Julian Adam Zimmon (Shakira)
*James Valentine (Maroon 5)
*Jesse Tobias Morressy, Alanis Morissette, Chili Peppers
*Justin Meldalm Johnson (Beck, Ima Robot, Sessions LA)
*Lenny Kravitz
*Craig Ross (Lenny Kravitz, Sessions)
*Adam Levine (Maroon 5)
*Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth)
*Steve Miller
*Greg Suran (Goo Goo Dolls, Jewel, Sessions LA)
*Dave Immergluck (Counting Crows)
*Dave Bryson (Counting Crows)
*Paul Coleman (The Newsboys)
*Mike Ripoll (Megan Mullally Show, Sessions)
*Lyle Workman (Beck, Writer, Sessions, Film Scores, Producer)
*Val McCallum (Shelby Lynn, Wallflowers, Jackson Browne)
*Ory Hudis (Woven)
*Keith Nelson (Buckcherry)
*Jakob Dylan (Wallflowers)
*Dave Kahne (Sr. VP Warner Bros., Producer: Elton John, Paul McCartney, Sublime, Sugar Ray)
*John Shanks (Producer, Guitar Player)
*Sean Tubbs (Carrie Underwood, Session Guitar Player Nashville)
*Corky James (Avril Lavigne, Matrix, Sessions)
*Tom Petty
*Mike Campbell
Real Big Fish
Something Corporate
The Calling
*Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon)
Robi Draco Rosa (Producer, Artist/Ricky Martin)
*Mike Elzondo (Dr. Dre, Sheryl Crow, EMINEM, Writer, Player, Sessions)
*Oliver Leiber (Producer, Writer, Player)
*Glenn Pearce (Michael W. Smith, Sessions - Nashville)
*Tim Pierce (Session King - LA & International)
*Brian Wooten (Chris Cagle, Sessions - Nashville)
*Lance Keltner (Artist, Writer, Producer)
*Stuart Mathis (Jewel, Writer, Sessions)
"Beck" Hansen
Ivy Rorschach (The Cramps)
*James Harrah (Melissa Etheridge, Sessions)
*Brad Fernquist (New Radicals, Michelle Branch, Fastball, Sessions, Roadwork)
*Pete Min (Producer, Writer, NY.)
*Bob Rock (Producer, Writer)
*Abe Laboriel, Jr. (Sting, McCartney, Sessions)
*Steve Mazur (Our Lady Peace)
*Ricky Z (Sessions, LA.)
*Andy Abad (Marc Anthony, Sessions, Roadwork, Backstreet Boys)
*Pete Thorn (Robi Draco Rosa, Sessions, Roadwork)
*Frank Simes (Don Henley, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Eagles, Sessions, Roadwork)
*Scott Thurston (Tom Petty, Jackson Browne)
*The Edge (U2)
*Bennet Bradeis (Marilyn, McCoo, Demension, Solo Recording-Artist, Sessions)
*Kevin Kadish (Producer, NY.)
*Richard Thompson
*Dan Warmer (Session Great)
*Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)
*Mark Melchiorre (Silvertide)
*Danny Weissfeld (Kelly Clarkson)
*Jimmy Messer (Kelly Clarkson)
*Dwayne Larring (Kelly Clarkson)
*Skip Dorsey (Back Street Boys, Janet Jackson)
*John Mayer
*Jim Chapdelaine
*Al Berry (Kelly Clarkson)
*Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan)
*Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)
*Julian Raymond (VP Capitol Records)
*Mark"Spike" Stent (Producer, engineer, MIXER)
*Evan Taubenfeld (Avril Lavigne, The Black List Club, Writer)
*Devon Bronson (Avril Lavigne, Kelly Osbourne)
*Richard Fortus (Guns 'n' Roses, Writer, Sessions)
*Jamie Hince (The Kills)
*Dr. Lukafz Gottwald (SNL)
*Richard Marx
*Steve Garvey (Sessions, Writer, LA)

******//www.dividedby13.com/clientlinks.html

From the client comments
"Love Rusty's sound on the record (recorded with 37 #2)
--Paul McCartney"

I'm still puzzled why the ERT 33 is no longer showing on the main page
but you can still bring it up with the right URL.

It has the specs I'd want in every way.

******//www.dividedby13.com/ert33.html

33 Watt, Cathode Biased
Power Section - (4)EL84 GT
Tube rectified
2 Discreet Channels
Reverb
Push/Pull Mid/Gain boost and low level Bass boost
Half Power Switch (drops output down to 16 watts)

BTW the JMI's looks nice, but like all other fine attempts to re-create the original
they're up there near $4000.00+

[George Necola]

Very good inform guys!

FFFT, Ruudman, I will check those amps out or at least talk to those guys.

I tested the badcat combos a while ago, and its just not my priceleague to pay 5k $ for one combo.

cheers

[FFTT]

I'd go for a head-cabinet set up anyway.

Money permitting, one cabinet loaded with Alnico Blues and another loaded
with Tone Tubby Alnico Hemp Cones or one stereo cabinet with one of each.

Doug at Vintone also builds simply beautiful cabinets.

Cas at Tone Tools is someone else I would talk to about fine speaker enclosures.

Here a few examples I posted in my cabinet search thread.
******//www.gearslutz.com/board/showp...6&postcount=10

[megl]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

And of course, stay the hell away (IMHO) from the AC30CC or AC30CC2 amps. Unreliable, and... not great sounding.

I don't agree about the CC2's. Yes - some of them had some reliability problems because of a bad rectifier tube, but change all the tubes and you have a great sounding amp for the buck!

/megl

[Tibbon]

To each their own, but then again IMHO the non CC AC30's that Korg/Vox was making recently didn't sound or react right either.

With ANY tube amp it's a good idea to have a backup in any mission-critical scenario (studio, stage...). In your bedroom it doesn't matter, but if the clock is ticking the amps need to be perfect.

[megl]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

To each their own, but then again IMHO the non CC AC30's that Korg/Vox was making recently didn't sound or react right either.

Agreed! If you look at the diagrams, the CC's are much closer to JMI specs than the AC30's from the 90's. I agree, that they are NOT JMI's, but I still think they're great amps

/megl

[analogtodd]

I don't know why, but I really liked the sound of these new ones. No they aren't 60's era Vox, but they sound pretty close, and they are cheap!!!

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by monkeyt

I don't know why, but I really liked the sound of these new ones. No they aren't 60's era Vox, but they sound pretty close, and they are cheap!!!

I've got the new head and love it. I record several punk/emo bands and they all love the Vox.

[SurfingMusicMan]

Well, I've got the new CC version. I loved it at first, and posted a few times about how I loved it. I've recently become very disenchanted with it. I've noticed that I don't really like the tracks I've recorded with it. It seems like to me that it's always really close to this awesome sound, but hardly ever just really makes it to that awesome sound. I kinda felt, uh, decieved I guess (haha).

It sounded really good at first, but now that I've spent more time with it I'm not that crazy about it.

...Check back later next week when I'll probably love it again...lol