why is vox retarded?

[Pikesoldier]

is there any technical purpose to the new ac30cc design that requires you to remove a billion screws just to access the tubes in a tube amp? or was it just designed by the chinese to torture americans?

[Rosewood]

I just worked on two AC30CC'S at the same time, they were both hard to get into but one had to have the speakers unsoldered before removing the chassis. The other amp at least had a speaker plug to pull and the reverb cable could be unplugged from the bottom of chassis. Then I had to remove the bottom board to get to the solder joints. It looks like they thought they would never need a repair. Very unfortunate.

[VikingAmps]

You could say that about a lot of newer amps. They are designed to be easily/cheaply manufactured with little or no regard to servicability.

[MichaelK]

10 screws, it's not all that bad. But not the most convenient design, it's true. I think they were going for similarity to the original design.

[MichaelK]

I just worked on two AC30CC'S at the same time, they were both hard to get into but one had to have the speakers unsoldered before removing the chassis.

My AC30CC1 was like that, shortest damn speaker cable ever made. Now THAT was plain stupid, really asinine. First thing I did was install a 1/4" jack.

[TomVanDeven]

10 screws, it's not all that bad. But not the most convenient design, it's true. I think they were going for similarity to the original design.

+1

Besides, unscrewing 10 screws every 6-8 months to retube is is a pretty nice trade-off for the tone I get during those 6-8 months.

:)

[seiko]

Part of the Vox tradition, the originals made it har to get to the valves too.

[mbratch]

The bad tube access does not impede the functionality of the amp. It only impedes one's ability to change the tubes quickly. The amp works fine.

[TweeDLX]

I had a new Traynor that had the tubes inside a cage accessed by removing screws. It was nice to know the tubes were safe from cords and switches knocking around the back of the amp, but I cringed at the thought of emergency tube changes at a gig. A non-functioning amp is definitely challenged in the arena of functionality!

Mike

[bunuel]

kinda like their tone, but one look at the hassle with changing tubes & I passed & never looked back. A prime function of tube amps should be easy replacement of bad tubes & the option of tuning the tone with tube swapping, both of which are a major hassle w/ these.

[Shiny McShine]

What surprises me is that after 50 years, they couldn't come up with a trap door or something clever that circumvents the problem and preserves the original appearance. Yes, that stops me from getting one.

[walterw]

i think the cages are a result of new safety laws. on some combos you could just dump the cages and go back to having a normal combo amp.

[donnyjaguar]

This is classic British engineering for you. It gets worse when its a car. Why use four screws when you can use 10 screws, a clever clasp & lever arrangement that will ensure premature requirements for servicing? If its a car, it'll leak oil even if its nowhere near the engine, BTW. :)

[Rosewood]

This is classic British engineering for you. It gets worse when its a car. Why use four screws when you can use 10 screws, a clever clasp & lever arrangement that will ensure premature requirements for servicing? If its a car, it'll leak oil even if its nowhere near the engine, BTW. :)
Don't get me started, I have two MG's, you just have to love-em I guess.

[teleharmonium]

It's because their clientele is retarded and they don't want them to burn their fingers.

[donnyjaguar]

MGs? You're a brave man! An old friend was very much into British cars at one point and had an MG and several Triumphs. His favourite being the TR6. He said once you actually understood how the collective engine, and especially the carburetors worked, which in his opinion was beyond most North American trained mechanics, you could really get some decent horsepower out of the engines. His Triumph was ferocious so I'm inclined to believe him.

[Rosewood]

MGs? You're a brave man! An old friend was very much into British cars at one point and had an MG and several Triumphs. His favourite being the TR6. He said once you actually understood how the collective engine, and especially the carburetors worked, which in his opinion was beyond most North American trained mechanics, you could really get some decent horsepower out of the engines. His Triumph was ferocious so I'm inclined to believe him.
I was lucky because my dad worked on British cars ( I guess that's lucky) so I got exposed early. It is funny how great mechanics had trouble working on them, they always say the carbs look upside down.:D

[trisonic]

MGs? You're a brave man! An old friend was very much into British cars at one point and had an MG and several Triumphs. His favourite being the TR6. He said once you actually understood how the collective engine, and especially the carburetors worked, which in his opinion was beyond most North American trained mechanics, you could really get some decent horsepower out of the engines. His Triumph was ferocious so I'm inclined to believe him.

So you guys are familiar with "Lucas: Prince of Darkness".
Hey, I'm British too and grew up with that crap from BL (a Mini).

Best, Pete.

[Rosewood]

Ah, Lucas, I'd like to meet that man someday, in a dark alley.:Devil

[donnyjaguar]

There are a few Lucas jokes around.
Why is British beer served warm? Because Lucas make refrigerators too.
Positions on light switch? Dim, flicker and off.

[Chris Scott]

I had a Norton/Triumph specialty shop in L.A. over 15 years ago, and I STILL have Lucas part #'s in my head.

Not to further derail, but the main distinction between British engineering and, say the American or Japanese equivalent, is British stuff was (and possibly still is - I wouldn't know) designed to be tinkered with, adjusted if you will, as in the owner out in front of his garden shed on a saturday, before being off to Brands to catch Baz and Kenny the Yank battle it out...

I'm sure Trisonic would agree.

[trisonic]

Actually the MG and the AC30 are perfect analogies for British engineering.
Awkward, have to fiddle with, but nice reward when perfect.

Best, Pete.

[Rosewood]

I don't know how but in almost 40 years of MG's I've never been stranded, probably jinxed myself now.

[TieDyedDevil]

i think the cages are a result of new safety laws. on some combos you could just dump the cages and go back to having a normal combo amp.

I'm pretty sure that this is the correct answer. Amps built for sale in the EU must protect the valves (that's what they call them in Europe) in a cage. Valves are not considered a field-replaceable unit. Y'know, lots of things could go wrong... you might burn your fingers or touch a partially-inserted pin with the power turned on. :rolleyes: Blame the lawyers...

It's probably easier for a manufacturer to build to the most restrictive requirements than to design and manufacture two different versions for sale in different countries. (This is a different matter than adapting the amp to national voltage differences. That involves swapping one transformer, power cord and fuse for another. The actual *physical* design doesn't change.)

[MichaelK]

Besides, unscrewing 10 screws every 6-8 months to retube is is a pretty nice trade-off for the tone I get during those 6-8 months.

I re-tubed it within the first week, then made some changes about a month later... but I dig it so much now that I'm not going to change any unless they go belly-up.