Vox AC30 vs. Fender Twin

[PanicProne]

Allright. I'll make this short. Been looking for an amp for ages and ended up round the bogner shiva and matchless indy. However none of these are possible to try out where I live and since I love the sound of my Mi Augdio Crunch Box (for my hardcore band) and my Keeley BD-2 (for my experimental band) I figured I'd just go with a nice clean amp. My question is: Which one eats pedals better? Ac30 or the twin? I love the ac30 sounds thrice have in some songs but also the kind of stuff Explosions in the sky etc get from fender twins.. Offcourse I'll be trying 'em out but opinions are always nice..

 

[onstage76]

either take pedals fine - the decision to be made is between those very different fundamental amp tones! the amps are so different, that any difference in the way they take pedals would be low on the list of discriminating factors.

But for what its worth - I have played both and they are both great for pedals - the twin reverb probably responds a tad more predictably to whatever i throw into it

 

[PanicProne]

either take pedals fine - the decision to be made is between those very different fundamental amp tones! the amps are so different, that any difference in the way they take pedals would be low on the list of discriminating factors.

But for what its worth - I have played both and they are both great for pedals - the twin reverb probably responds a tad more predictably to whatever i throw into it

thanks for a quick and awesome reply.. naturally the "pedal-eating"factor won't be what makes me decide..but still since I use a lot of them it's nice to know which does what..

 

[Gtowngearhead]

Well the Twin is 100w of pure clean power, while the AC-30 probably has the ability to break up.. I'm gonna say the Twin is probably the better pedal platform, especially if you're trying to get some high gain sounds. You won't be pushing that thing into over drive. I've never fooled with an AC-30 though so I could be completely wrong.

 

[panoramic]

get a super reverb man, the ac30 and the twin both have things about them i dislike #1 being THE WEIGHT.
unless you are a young dude in good shape.

 

[blackba]

I would go with the Fender Twin Reverb or Super Reverb. When I was more into hardcore music, Fenders were pretty popular.

The Vox AC30CC will take pedals fine once you clip the bright cap on the TB channel. The Twin reverb and Super reverb both come with a bright cap switch. I don't generally like bright caps with overdrive or distortion pedals on any amps.

The Vox AC30, Twin Reverb, and Super Reverb are all big heavy amps.

 

[onstage76]

Its true - both amps are heavy (aren't all good amps?? )

And yep - the AC30 tends to cut through better with more upper mids, but to that end, it responds less predictably to pedals because it has its own eq thing going on in the mids. The twin, while scooped in the eq, is flatter in terms of receiving pedals (esp those that emphasise mids - get a twin and a TS!)

 

[Rocksully]

The AC30 will be more noticed in a band, as it has a slightly sharper tone, the Twin will take every pedal under the sun and handle them all better.
Id use the Twin if you want to have OD pedals sound heavy, if you want a lighter crunch, for for the AC30.
Twins weigh more the AC30s as well.
On a side note, the new AC30CC are horrible in comparison to the old UK AC30s, so if you have to buy them new, Id suggest the Twin, as it will be more reliable.

 

[Yankee Univox]

Only acceptable rock n' roll answer...buck up,and get 1 of each!

 

[Guitar_Dude]

I prefer the AC30CC.

 

[PanicProne]

wow, thanks for all the input guys. On the distortion note of things we've just recorded a five track demo with the hardcore band where I did my guitars through a Crunch Box followed by an Empress Para EQ (Must have pedal!) into a clean set fender blues deluxe.. It sounded awesome..just..well..awesome really! So that really got me into fenders.. For my alt band I've always been doing my 72 tele deluxe into the Keeley BD-2 into my old crap amp. And distortion wise that just feels great to be honest.. Guess I'll just set up my PT mini with a "basic" set up and bring it along with my guitar to the local store..

To be honest, I'm in love with a LOT of bands who use AC30's. Thrice and Radiohead to name a few but I'm just not sure if it'd do it for me in the long run.. The fenders seem more tweakable and "open" sounding (stop me if I'm wrong!) where the Vox sounds great and has more of a killer signature sound to it rather than being that versatile..

 

[Yankee Univox]

^GREAT guitar btw...have you done the 500k cap upgrades to it?

 

[Doc W]

get a super reverb man, the ac30 and the twin both have things about them i dislike #1 being THE WEIGHT.
unless you are a young dude in good shape.

pan, you make me feel ancient. I put my back out so bad humping my SR that I got a DR.

 

[PanicProne]

^GREAT guitar btw...have you done the 500k cap upgrades to it?

No..not quite sure I'd want to either.. I kinda like that I can keep it clean if I want to..I always end up wanting more attack in my guitar sound anyway.. for my hardcore band I use an Ibanez AR250 with seymour duncan custom custom in the bridge (double tracked with my tele during the recording) and I love the sound of it...

 

[ROKY]

Get a Hiwatt 50 and plug into the brilliant channel .

 

[Cirrus]

On a side note, the new AC30CC are horrible in comparison to the old UK AC30s, so if you have to buy them new, Id suggest the Twin, as it will be more reliable.

An opinion I'm not sure I agree with, but I think that's only half the story. If you get a cc2x with blues, it's just a question of taste. They're great amps that only get better with good valves and as the speakers break in.

 

[neu18]

what kind of twin are you thinking? Fender twin Reverb, Tweed Twin?

I would suggest the 57 twin, support more of your economy. Made in the US, handwired and actually point-to-point.

I have an AC30, and it sounds great. If money is not an issue, I'd find a JMI 30/6 and ask that they put UK Celestion blues in it (i hear they can do that): I've heard this is what an AC30 should be (contrary to what 65 amps will tell you).

I don't see the point of buying an amp for pedals, you should crank the amp and get real overdrive (if only with an attenuator). If you're spending that much, get the amp for what it is.

It all comes down to preference.

I actually had the exact same dilemma not too long ago.

 

[Guitar_Dude]

On a side note, the new AC30CC are horrible in comparison to the old UK AC30s, so if you have to buy them new, Id suggest the Twin, as it will be more reliable.

Total BS
:Spank

In blind tests, with the right tubes and tweaks, most people wouldn't notice the difference and the AC30CC series are probably more reliable than the old ones.

 

[dughaze]

The Twin Reverb is too heavy.

 

[utterhack]

On a side note, the new AC30CC are horrible in comparison to the old UK AC30s...

Simply not true. Just never ever touch the standby switch and the CC will be reliable as any AC30. The AC30 series announced at NAMM today to replace the CC has a solid-state rectifier, which also solves the problem.

so if you have to buy them new, Id suggest the Twin, as it will be more reliable.

This I do agree with. Twins are pretty much indestructible afaik, and even a healthy AC30 will go through power tubes pretty fast comparatively.

Which would be fine except getting to the tubes in an AC30 =

Can't go wrong here, tbh. Just different flavors. I'd go AC30 myself.