Vox AC15H1TV Hertitage Series Hand Wired Combo...

[Meathead]

You know when an amp has such a nice chimey clean sound to it that you don't even want to use any reverb, delay, chorus....nothing!
You just want to hear that tone and you also realize that your guitar really does sound great...and moving your guitar's pickup height just a hair can make a world of difference because the amp is that articulate.

That's this amp...like a killer Fender Tweed...but better. I've never heard a clean sound like this.

 

[ratter]

How much $?

 

[OneArmedScissor]

Yeah, I never saw how much they cost, and I can't find them on the internets. I'd have to guess that it's astronomical for that sort of amp, as good as it may sound. The Korg AC30s were like $3,000 lol.

And cleans? You idjit, you used it all wrong. Damn canucks can't do anything right!

 

[Meathead]

I picked it up new for $1350 Canadian...which is equal to the US dollar as well.
I used to own the Korg Vox AC30 reissue which sounded quite good for a mass-made AC30 reissue...but this is a whole different thing, this amp sounds beautiful. It's rated 15 watts but it's loud enough for gigging in Pentode mode. I haven't even used a pedal in front of it yet, I'm just so blown away buy it's clean tone. I can just jam on it for hours all by itself.
In Pentode mode it's more open sounding and cuts really nicely with no ice pick highs at all, even when it's crank and distorting, it's quite loud but it's voiced so well no frequencies hurt at all. In triode mode it gets really creamy sounding (hard to describe) has a great touch sensitivity/feel to it, great compression and is about half the volume.

 

[Meathead]

Yeah, I never saw how much they cost, and I can't find them on the internets. I'd have to guess that it's astronomical for that sort of amp, as good as it may sound. The Korg AC30s were like $3,000 lol.

And cleans? You idjit, you used it all wrong. Damn canucks can't do anything right!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-AC15-15w-1x12-Hand-Wired-Combo-Amp?sku=481473&src=3WNTWXX

$1400 is a not bad price for this amp. It does break up so nicely...but the clean tone, my god!

 

[philb]

Congrats Adam!

Clips!

 

[Mudder]

Those are sweet, and those cleans turn to pretty nasty bluesy crunch with a flick of the volume. Great amp.

 

[Meathead]

Congrats Adam!

Clips!

Thanks Phil...for sure!
Doesn't seem to be many clips or reviews of this amp out there.

This isn't a bad example of it with a Les Paul, sounds much better in a room with it of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJugBp_YrF4
Around 2:00 when he starts playing some solos from Led Zep's 'Since I've been Loving You' it sounds kinda like Page used an amp close to this to record that song.

 

[Meathead]

Those are sweet, and those cleans turn to pretty nasty bluesy crunch with a flick of the volume. Great amp.

Oh ya...instant bonding happened for sure between me and this amp!

 

[philb]

Congrats Adam!

Clips!

Thanks Phil...for sure!
Doesn't seem to be many clips or reviews of this amp out there.

This isn't a bad example of it with a Les Paul, sounds much better in a room with it of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJugBp_YrF4
Around 2:00 when he starts playing some solos from Led Zep's 'Since I've been Loving You' it sounds kinda like Page used an amp close to this to record that song.

Sounds nice! yours sound like that too? I mean in the room?
The clean sounds sweet.

 

[Meathead]

Congrats Adam!

Clips!

Thanks Phil...for sure!
Doesn't seem to be many clips or reviews of this amp out there.

This isn't a bad example of it with a Les Paul, sounds much better in a room with it of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJugBp_YrF4
Around 2:00 when he starts playing some solos from Led Zep's 'Since I've been Loving You' it sounds kinda like Page used an amp close to this to record that song.

Sounds nice! yours sound like that too? I mean in the room?
The clean sounds sweet.

Much better sound here! ...that's not a very good recording of it...but shows the feel of it I guess.

 

[Meathead]

Gigged with it last night...had it cranked up, very simple setup...

Guitar-->Varidrive overdrive pedal-->AC15

Had just a clean tone and a distorted tone...no effects (the rest was up to the guitar's volume knob and pickup selector) this minimalist approach is so much fun....raw tone, loved it!

 

[OneArmedScissor]

Wtf that's only like $400 more than the AC15CC with the alnico blue, and that's less than the AC30CC with them. Whoa, and there's a head for $1,000! *head implodes*

 

[Meathead]

Wtf that's only like $400 more than the AC15CC with the alnico blue, and that's less than the AC30CC with them. Whoa, and there's a head for $1,000! *head implodes*

I'm hearing the Chinese factory that's assembling them has high quality control...so it's pretty cheap for us, yet still very good quality. To me it doesn't really matter where something is made...if the quality control is kept high it should be no different than having them assembled in Britian.

 

[OneArmedScissor]

I didn't know these were Chinese made, but I don't give a flying carp on a stick where it's made, as long as it's good. The cheapo $600 Chinese made AC15CC with the "crap" speaker sounds better than the vast majority of amps I find in stores. A lot of good that US manufacturing does the other typical brands at Guitar Center and the like.

I was always curious of what a higher quality one would sound like. Hopefully I get to find out soon, though I believe these have been out, and I have not seen one yet.

 

[Meathead]

I didn't know these were Chinese made, but I don't give a flying carp on a stick where it's made, as long as it's good. The cheapo $600 Chinese made AC15CC with the "crap" speaker sounds better than the vast majority of amps I find in stores. A lot of good that US manufacturing does the other typical brands at Guitar Center and the like.

I was always curious of what a higher quality one would sound like. Hopefully I get to find out soon, though I believe these have been out, and I have not seen one yet.

It's only been out for a few months. I didn't know it was a HQ Vox offering when I sat down to try it out at a store...I plugged in and ...."holy crap...this is mine!" I also tried the new Line6 Spider Valve amp that day...
If you are a real lover of the chimey Vox tone, you'll really love this amp. That Celestion alnico Blue speaker is such a perfect match for this amp. I recommend just grabbing the combo, it's voiced really well and is not boxy sounding...if you get the head you'll need a cab loaded with Blues to go with it which would get pricey...this amp has to be used with the Blues.

 

[blackba]

I really want to try one of those. They are getting most good reviews at the plexi palace. The heritage AC30 is going to hit stores too later this year if it hasn't already....

I have seen pictures of the buts, they are built better than the Custom classic series, but they are still PCB and made in China. The biggest issue with the AC30CC's was that they changed designs and manufacturing locations. I don't expect there to be any major issues with Vox's tube amps unless they make another manufacturing change.


right now I am sticking with my AC30CC1 with an alnico gold. That amp is great, don't need any more gas...

 

[Meathead]

I really want to try one of those. They are getting most good reviews at the plexi palace. The heritage AC30 is going to hit stores too later this year if it hasn't already....

I have seen pictures of the buts, they are built better than the Custom classic series, but they are still PCB and made in China. The biggest issue with the AC30CC's was that they changed designs and manufacturing locations. I don't expect there to be any major issues with Vox's tube amps unless they make another manufacturing change.


right now I am sticking with my AC30CC1 with an alnico gold. That amp is great, don't need any more gas...

Don't try this amp then...insta-money-remover!

 

[OneArmedScissor]

Could you compare it to the CCs, by any chance? I don't really care which one, but I assume you've played them, and obviously, you like this one more.

I guess if I did end up going for one, I probably would get the combo. I'd been contemplating an AC15CC, because I could use a combo that sounds good. I have a very light head and a 2x12, but that's still a pain in the ass if I just want to bring it somewhere for nothing important. Kind of retarded that it costs $400 more for one speaker, but oh well. I have a 2x12 that I was considering putting two of the Warehouse alnico blue clones in, but that would still be probably like $300-350, and there's no telling when they'll even come out.

 

[Meathead]

Could you compare it to the CCs, by any chance? I don't really care which one, but I assume you've played them, and obviously, you like this one more.

I guess if I did end up going for one, I probably would get the combo. I'd been contemplating an AC15CC, because I could use a combo that sounds good. I have a very light head and a 2x12, but that's still a pain in the ass if I just want to bring it somewhere for nothing important. Kind of retarded that it costs $400 more for one speaker, but oh well. I have a 2x12 that I was considering putting two of the Warehouse alnico blue clones in, but that would still be probably like $300-350, and there's no telling when they'll even come out.

I can't compare it to the 15, but I have tried the 30...didn't really do it for me. I don't know if it was the amp itself, or maybe it didn't have the Blue speakers (didn't look inside)...those speakers sound perfectly matched with the Vox voicing. They are damn expensive speakers, it makes the price of the combo I picked up seem very reasonable.