Finally picked up an AC30!!!

Lublin

Senior Member
Messages
3,691
My Vox search started off with me scoring an absolutely awesome AC15 from TGP's own Shark_Bite. Awesome tones but I was really missing clean headroom while rehearsing with my band (I don't mic my amp). I ended up selling it to a local TGP'er who really loved it.

A few days later I walked into GC to see what their "Guitarathon" was all about. It was basically a joke and I was on my way out when I noticed an AC30CC2 with Wharfdales in the used amps section. I walked up, checked it out and it was dusty but looked great with only a few very minor blems. The price was $699 and it came with a hefty Vox cover. I tried haggling with my usual guy there but he sang me some song to the effect of "it hasn't been here over 30 days so my manager won't let me discount it too much." Whatever. They dropped $50 off for me and I walked out with it for $694.XX.

I got it home and it was love at first friggin' chord. The AC30, although being a much different amp than the AC15, picks up where the AC15 greatness left off and got me the headroom, volume, and effects loop that I needed and was searching for. It's a heavy beast, but there's no substitute for the sound. I'll lug this thing around until my arms fall off.

Now a question: Even with the awesome sound it now produces, is there any way to bring it to an even higher level of aural excitement? Like I said, it came with Wharfdale speakers and I popped it open to see it had (IIRC) Tung-Sol 12AX7's, Sovtek EL84's, and a lone Ruby tube (tremolo, I believe). I play higher gain rock/pop rock and my board consists of a Keeley 2 knob comp, Zakk Wydle wah, Box of Rock and a Keeley Line 6 DL4.

 

Lublin

Senior Member
Messages
3,691
Will alnico speakers also give me less clean headroom? Should I bother swapping out the tubes?
 

studiodunn

Platinum Supporting Member
Messages
2,554
Will alnico speakers also give me less clean headroom? Should I bother swapping out the tubes?

yes and no. you will have a much brighter/articulate clean that will sound louder, but the saturation will come on faster and compress much harder when driven.

they really are a must upgrade to a Vox circuit IMO, Mixing them with a 12H30 or 12M is really nice also.

Sounding better than the Warfdales won't be too hard.
 

rockabilly69

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
2,488
try changing the V1 tube to a 5751 for a smoother breakup.

one alnico blue + one greenback

the greenback keeps it honest rock and roll (this is what I have in my AC30TB), and I would never change it.
 
Last edited:
Messages
1,750
"Finally picked up an AC30!!!"

Yeah, it's the "picking up" that is the hard part. I had the AC30cch head and 4x12. Just the head itself is pretty heavy. I found the 4x12 cab easier to move around than a heavy 2x12 combo amp. Had to sell due to money issues. If I ever have one again, I'll do the head and cab again. Lugging an 80 pound combo is not for me. They do sound beautiful.
 

Guitar_Dude

Member
Messages
288
Congrats on the AC30CC2. Its a great amp. I love mine. I too have the Wharfedale speakers and I think that they sound fine. They have a Greenback ish tone to them.

In terms of tubes, I noticed a difference when I swapped out the EH EL84 with JJ EL84s. The JJs seems do fair better in the Vox. I'd love to try the Gold Lions eventually.

For the preamp, I like Ei 12AX7s in V2. I think I put in a Tung Sol in V1.
 

Rattle&Hum

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
289

enocaster

Member
Messages
5,430
Love my AC30CC1 - same circuit in a more manageable 54lb. 1-12" combo. I'm debating a speaker swap (it has a stupidly lightweight Neo-Dog stock) but funds are pretty tight, it sounds ok as-is, and I'm not sure I want to make the amp heavier!

Anyone have an Alnico 16ohm 50 watt Blue Dog they wanna sell dirt cheap? :)
 

n4p226r

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
8,491
i have a bad cat open back 2x12 cabinet with a pair of celestion blues in it. let me know if you want to check it out with your AC-30.
 

Rattle&Hum

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
289
Love my AC30CC1 - same circuit in a more manageable 54lb. 1-12" combo. I'm debating a speaker swap (it has a stupidly lightweight Neo-Dog stock) but funds are pretty tight, it sounds ok as-is, and I'm not sure I want to make the amp heavier!

I loved the AC30CC1 I had... should have never sold it. :facepalm
 
Messages
1,091
congrats on the AC30. sounds like you got a killer deal on it. i've played through some of the newer AC30s with the wharfedale speakers and i thought they sounded okay, but not great. if you're able to upgrade to some celestion blues you really won't regret it. the ac30 amp circuit and blues speakers were made for each other.....

if you're happy with the wharfedales, then by all means keep 'em in there as it's down to personal preference.

they are indeed heavy amps, but nothing looks and sounds quite like an AC30!
 

enigma

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
3,433
I used to own an AC30CC2 with Wharfdales and they sounded just fine. Then, I sold it and got myself a AC30CC head and custom ordered a 2x12 with Blue Alnicos. They also sound amazing but, to be frank and since I don't really crank the volume past 3-4 in front of 250 ppl every Sunday, I can't really tell a huge sonic difference between the two. Perhaps I should really crank the volume up and control overall output from the guitar volume knob.

I do like the idea of having one blue alnico and one greenback!

Congrats!
 

Griz

Member
Messages
2,833
try changing the V1 tube to a 5751 for a smoother breakup.

one alnico blue + one greenback

the greenback keeps it honest rock and roll (this is what I have in my AC30TB), and I would never change it.

:agree

I can vouch for the tastiness of the Blue + Green combination. That's what I have in my mid '90s AC30/6TB.
 

XmasTree

Member
Messages
3,960
Good job dude
they are heavy HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY
but u are a STRONG MAN!!!!! ...with similar gear interests, I see.
 

Lublin

Senior Member
Messages
3,691
Good job dude
they are heavy HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY
but u are a STRONG MAN!!!!! ...with similar gear interests, I see.
Thanks. They're heavy but that's where my home depot collapsible hand cart comes in handy. I just throw a bungee cord around it so it doesn't come off. I found an old wooden TV stand with some large casters and I'll sit it on that for easy moving around the studio.

I just noticed your gear list. Similar interests indeed! Great lineup!
 



Trending Topics

Top Bottom