Boutique Vox alternatives?

[gear007]

Which boutique builder/model is a good alternative to the AC15 or AC30? After looking at the new Vox 15 & 30, I would much prefer an amp with less whistles and bells.

[...rock...]

Bruno amps
Morgan amps
Xits amps
JMI amps

[Deathmonkey]

I haven't heard one in years, but I remember being blown away by the older Top Hats.

[digiTED]

Dr. Z!

[the floyd]

Matchless? Not quite the same, but the two do share many features AFAIK.

[tele_jas]

Don't forget the Valvetech Hayseed 30.. www.valvetechamps.com (http://www.valvetechamps.com) .

You can get it customized to certain specs and choose the colors you want your amp to be.... You can also choose weither you want top or front facing controls. Plus, Rob is a great guy to deal with.

The others are listed above....... If you're on a budget, don't overlook a used actual Vox AC15H1TV (handwired series).

[Tonesmiths]

Magic amplification

[jimmyj]

There have been a few versions of the Top Hat Club Royale with varying degrees of more Vox-ness or Marshall-ness.
They are all excellent amps, though. I highly recommend a CR for a 20 Vox alternative.

[Shiny McShine]

Dr. Z!

I had a Maz 18 Junior and it seemed pretty much like a Vox... EL84's, 2 X 10's etc.

[Strat]

This

http://www.savageamps.com/the-amps/rohr-15

Mine is a 2x10.. Want to buy it ?

[FFTT]

Hands down for me, The Magic Amps Brit series.

[Coldacre]

Which boutique builder/model is a good alternative to the AC15 or AC30? After looking at the new Vox 15 & 30, I would much prefer an amp with less whistles and bells.

What do you consider bells & whistles? Tremolo? A master volume knob? :confused:

[v-verb]

Magic amplification

There was one going for cheap in the emporium - not sure if it sold

[Powerpopfan]

Valvetech Hayseed ended a similar three year quest for me.

[Tonal Comfort]

Another vote for the Hayseed. I love mine!

[Uncle Pat]

Hayseed.

[stompboy]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Jon C]

Magic Brit preferred here ...

[guitarpkr67]

I use a Gabriel Voxer 18 (http://www.gabtone.com/) and the other guitarist in my band uses a Hayseed 15. They are both great amps.

[Masco]

Recent JMJ-30 pics. : http://vintageamps.com/plexiboard/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=92786&hilit=jmj30

Enjoy. Happy Holidays!

[skeeterbuck]

Hands down for me, The Magic Amps Brit series.

:agree If you want the original old school vox tone, this is where you want to go. With a top boost channel and a EF86 channel Magic Brit II) you can go from " I Want to Hold Your Hand" to "Paparback Writer". I got one to cover old Beatle tunes and this amp just put to shame any others that I tried, but I have never had a chance to try the JMJ or a JMI. all the others are similiar but not totally vox IMHO.

Not to mention Mike is just a great guy.

[voodoovox]

Hayseed

[g-fry195]

Try River City amps.

[mcarte07]

I really like Matchless. For an AC15, the Nighthawk is it. Single channel 15 watts. Matchless just has an extra something that you don't get in some others. A bit of complexity that mass produced amps don't have. You'd have to do a side by side probably to get it. They're great

[jetydosa]

Nolatone CL15 or CL30...amazing!!

wDQBmFw2-jk

[Rick360]

Howdy,

Dr. Z's Stangray was designed to sound like an AC-30. My Carmen Ghia is a tonal half-sibling of an AC-15, IMO.

[8nthatK]

Bells and whistles? Um...An AC30 *is* an Ac30. The handwired series I had was head and shoulders better than the Hayseeds and offbrand equivalants I've owned.

[fiveightandten]

What do you consider bells & whistles? Tremolo? A master volume knob? :confused:

Bells and whistles? Um...An AC30 *is* an Ac30. The handwired series I had was head and shoulders better than the Hayseeds and offbrand equivalants I've owned.
I believe he's referring to the custom classics.

I have a mid-90's TBX, which, IMO, romps all over the custom classics. I appreciate the simplicity of the traditional circuit AC-30's. I have not played a Hayseed or heard one in person.

And the CC's do have bells and whistles compared to the originals:

-Reverb
-Effects loop
-Cathode resistor switch
-Bypass cap switch
-EQ voicing switch
-Channel link switch

[skunx]

I haven't heard one in years, but I remember being blown away by the older Top Hats.


Yes Yes Yes. A build doesn't get much better than this. Lovely amplifiers.

Still regret parting with my Super Deluxe, even though it wasn't really suited to the crap I'm playing currently. So smoothe tones in that amp. ugh

[prop joe]

I've tried/owned a Hayseed, AC30TBX, AC30H2, and a Custom Classic with Blues. All great sounding amps, but the one that came out on top surprisingly was the Custom Classic with blues and upgraded tubes, YMMV.

[spaceman_spiff]

I went through a major Vox search last year. For a while I had a Hayseed 30 and that Top Boost is amazing, but I learned that I prefer the normal Vox channel more and the Morgan AC20 is IT for me. Now that Joe is making the AC20 Deluxe, that should be considered.

Can't go wrong with a Morgan or Hayseed IMO.

Cheers,
Carl

[cyguitar]

I've tried/owned a Hayseed, AC30TBX, AC30H2, and a Custom Classic with Blues. All great sounding amps, but the one that came out on top surprisingly was the Custom Classic with blues and upgraded tubes, YMMV.

:agree Easily the best sounding amp I ever played. I owned two of them, the second one I put Celestion Blues in, and never had the slightest problem with either one. I shouldn't have sold it.

[Wagster]

JMJ-30

[Leonc]

JMJ-30
:agree
I've never played through a better sounding AC-30 type amp than the JMJ. For a smaller vox-type amp, the Magic Brit is my fave.

[Hangfire]

This

http://www.savageamps.com/the-amps/rohr-15

Mine is a 2x10.. Want to buy it ?

Can't believe they don't have a Strat/2x10 demo...

They have a Les Paul/1x12 and an SG/1x12 demo but no Strat, go figure.

:bonk

[ebenezer]

JMJ is the best in my book. Do a search here on TGP to see the reviews.

[Tonesmiths]

Play this video back-to-back with the Nolatone clip to see what all those Magic freaks are raving about. The only other amps I've heard come close to the vintage Vox stuff are the ones by Xits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhyxWljme3w