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Posted

About a month back I bought an Vox AC15C1 for a fly-in gig, and I really liked it. But, I read so many reviews saying that the hardwired version was even better, so I returned that amp and bought the hardwired version. Well the reviewers were right, the HW version is one of the best amps I have ever plugged into. And mine is the lower cost Celestion Greenback version. Here it is...

9cf57cfb-8a06-4aae-9585-dc6d07bc5638.jpg

 

If you're the kind of tone hound that likesthe Vox sound, you owe it to yourself to check one of these out. Two things that I really like are; the hot switch for a gainier preamp setting, and the Master Volume bypass which really makes the amp feel like a vintage model. Also there is a 7.5 watt/15 watt switch that allows a little lower volume grind, and a much better built slightly bigger cab which is plywood as opposed to the MDF!

Posted

What is the price difference? My AC15 Custom with a Greenback seems to sound really good as it is so I'm not sure that my ears would be able to hear the difference with the wiring you described. I see a lot of fuss on the Web about hand wired amps so I'm wondering how do different wires make an amp sound better?

Posted

What is the price difference? My AC15 Custom with a Greenback seems to sound really good as it is so I'm not sure that my ears would be able to hear the difference with the wiring you described. I see a lot of fuss on the Web about hand wired amps so I'm wondering how do different wires make an amp sound better?

Nice amp! Is that an original ES330?

 

I would say any amp that's hand wired, (terminal strips) or turret board construction, is going to sound better than its pcb counterpart. Trace wire on a pc board is very thin and usually the resistors and capacitors are smaller. Wire passes signal in much of the circuit, so the thinner wire and shorter lengths will have an affect "tonally". Like a thinner hose will only allow so much water to pass through it; the wire is the hose and the signal is the water. Electronic "geeks" will argue wire is wire and a 470 ohm resistor is still 470 ohms at 1/4 watt or 1/2 watt. It may all look right on paper but let your ears be the judge.

Posted

Questions answered...

 

Price: I paid exactly double of what I did for the AC15C1.

 

Sound: There is a HUGE difference between the amps. The PCB version is a very good sounding amp,

and both the reverb and trem are excellent. But, the handwired version sounds GREAT, harmonics just gush out

of it, and it really has a vintage Vox sound. Also the cabinet is bigger and made out of plywood instead of MDF,

so the amps sounds bigger. If you've got the extra cash, it is worth it. If you don't, the AC15C1 is an excellent

alternative.

 

The Guitar: My ES330 is a reissue, and perhaps the best reissue guitar Gibson has made in years. This reissue

sounds as good or better than the vintage original that I used to play. Plugged in to AC15HW1, sublime:)

Posted

wow, that is a great looking amp!!

 

congratulations....I'm sure you'll put it to good use!!

 

if it were mine I'd swap in brass top vents, to dress it up a bit...they came stock on some of the handwired models I think

 

can't wait for the clips :D

Posted

wow, that is a great looking amp!!

 

congratulations....I'm sure you'll put it to good use!!

 

if it were mine I'd swap in brass top vents, to dress it up a bit...they came stock on some of the handwired models I think

 

can't wait for the clips.

What models have brass vents?

Posted

the vintage ones had those really thin brass vents ( marshall used them too ), but I'm sure I've seen new reissues with the modern style brass vents.

 

they look like this, although this is a '90's era AC30

 

278.jpg

Guest HRB853370
Posted

Nice job Daniel! Do these run over $2k in price if I may inquire?

Posted

Nice job Daniel! Do these run over $2k in price if I may inquire?

They cost $1199 Will. I think they are one of the best deals in ampland:) Plug in a Tele, and instant Tom Petty!

Posted

They cost $1199 Will. I think they are one of the best deals in ampland:) Plug in a Tele, and instant Tom Petty!

 

Man, that is EXTREMELY reasonable if it is a complete point to point wired amp!!! Wow, I might even look at these.... hmmmm.....

Posted

Vox recently stretched out with a AC15 2x12. Wish the hand wired was like that.

DB, trust me this thing sounds huge as a 1x12 and a 2x12 would be way too heavy! The cab is 4 inches taller than the regular ac15.
Posted

Vox recently stretched out with a AC15 2x12. Wish the hand wired was like that.

 

I prefer one speaker amps. I have two of the best (in my opinion) Fender amps made; 1967 Deluxe Reverb (1x12) and a 1967 Vibrolux Reverb (2x10). Mike (Slider13) and I have talked about one vs two speakers and I agree with Mike, one speaker is the way to go. Everything is concentrated into one speaker. The two speaker amps give you better spread of sound, but the single speaker has better tone.

Posted

Happy new amp day Rockabilly. Looks like a good one!

Posted

That sounds exactly like my amp does with a Tele. Very good demo!!! With humbuckers it's more creamy though.

 

Jerry Donahue's amp...

 

 

 

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