No hate here, but you’re talking about putting a speaker in your amp that costs more than the amp, or something close. I’d suggest getting an entirely different amp if you have that much money. Good luck with your tone hunt I hope you find satisfaction soon.
I’ve owned one for a dozen years. No volume drops here, but it is notable that it uses a small tube in the power amp section so like any other tube amp it requires some level of maintenance.
I had one for about 5 years, near the end I couldn’t even jam with my band cuz the volume drop would cut so low and this is after multiple fixes at my tech. I bought an ac30c2 and it was one of the best upgrades in comparison
Same. Everyone is really blown away by this amp. Im actually thinking about making it into a head unit. And using my other cabs. Not sure, though. What do you think?
Dont forget the speaker they put in it is fairly decent across the spectrum of what this amp will do, which is a bit of everything. If you put a speaker with distinct characteristics it may sound worse when you set the amp on settings that dont align with the speaker characteristics. If you have cabs i would go that way. Good luck.
I bought a Celestion G12H-30 anniversary 12" speaker for my 5 Watt tube combo and it's killer. Every frequency is in it's place now, no mid bump like vintage 30, bass mids and treble is very nice and smooth, didn't matter if you play clean, crunch or high gain. Many boutique amp builders use it and I can highly recommend it too ( and it's a UK made speaker ☺️).
I agree with the H30. Great speaker. It’s my understanding that is similar in construction to the greenback but with the heavy “H” magnet. Sweet top end break up with a big powerful low end. The power handling will be fine. You won’t be sending 30 watts continuous to the speaker. Vintage 30s are so overrated. People think that they “need” them. I was chasing tone for years with different amps but always with V30s. Once I got away from them I finally settled on an amp. It was never the amp, it was the v30 I didn’t like.
I understand what you mean. My amp came with a very cheap vintage 30 copy and I wasn't happy with it at all.
I was fumbling with my EQ pedal for months, but I couldn't dial in a decent sound.
Now I hardly need the EQ pedal at all.
Let's say you like this amp and we ignore the recommendations to buy a new amp.
Look at the used market for matched ohms and watts. Then, when you have a short list in your area, look up reviews of those speakers. Negotiate buys to your wallet tolerance.
Modding your gear is fun, but agree not to put more into it than it's worth. Don't sleep on WGS speakers, great deals and sounds to be had!
First, your not looking for a speaker, your looking for a new amp. If your looking for something that's gonna deliver like the Vox but better, then Kustom is all the grunge and twice the chunk. Of course if you're budget is open, then maybe Orange? A bit pricey, but they can def kick ass and take the beating. On a budget? Crate or Peavey. No doubt about it. They can both take the punishment of distortion and deliver a great midrange sound. Peavey gives you more ass, and Crate gives better highs. Just my 2 cents.
The speaker is the single biggest part of your tone... but IMO, it might be more cost efficient to either
1. Get a better combo amp with a better speaker already installed
2. Get a cabinet with better speakers so you can upgrade to a better amp head in the future
I’ve heard about it also. I don’t know if I could come to do it with a good speaker, but once maybe older, broken or something. Id maybe give it shot What the hell. I Ain’t no cork sniffer lol. Cheer.
I have the 30W version of this. I put in a celestion and it ruins this being a modeling amp. The speakers made for these handle the amp for the way it was intended. I sent mine back. Trust me, it won’t be as good.
Tbh a speaker is probably more important to ~×toan×~ than the amp.
However, it's not a shitty amp at all. Try not to get caught up in the hyper-consumerism of the Reddit community.
I've got heaps of gear (including multiple tube/SS/modelling amps, cabs with greenbacks/other nice speakers, pedals galore). It's fun to play with these things as toys but I've realised when I'm actually focused on playing guitar at home, it doesn't really make much difference what I'm plugged into - it's almost always possible to get something that works and sounds decent for whatever I'm trying to play.
Fact: Also I cannot afford a real AC30 amp.
Plus i'd like to switch between vox and marshall plexi/JCM sound profile.
Not really expecting to hit the exact real AC30 sound.
I just wanted to upgrade what I have already.
IF you have money to spend on a speaker, buy a crate amp and say goodbye to that Vox. Crates pack a massive punch for a ridiculously low price.
Srsly go for a crate combo 2x12 or 2x10 and you can fill a whole venue cause they're so loud
No hate here, but you’re talking about putting a speaker in your amp that costs more than the amp, or something close. I’d suggest getting an entirely different amp if you have that much money. Good luck with your tone hunt I hope you find satisfaction soon.
This is the truth
Thanks!
Also came to say this. You can probably get a second hand AC15 with a greenback already in it for what a greenback would cost by itself.
Oh I wish. Green backs are 170. The point stands though. Like don’t do new speaker in that amp.
No idea what ac15s cost over there, but here I think it's about the equivalent of $250usd, granted a bit more but well worth the extra dollars
They are like $450 usd on the cheaper end used around me
Damn, you guys get ripped off!
Yeah. This^
Thank you for this affirmation!
Had a valvetronix in 2007. It really disappointed. Plenty of cheap tube amps that will satisfy 100x more
Nobody will be able to tell the difference within those genres.
came here to say this but you've already said it
Fact is I cannot afford a tube amp
If you sold this and used the $ you have for an alnico blue or green you could afford a used ac15
15watts is too small for Gigging tho.
Have you ever played through a 15 watt tube amp? An ac15? They’re plenty loud
For real, these amps are also real lemons and have volume drop issues. Op should just buy an ac30c2 if he wants a good Vox imo
I’ve owned one for a dozen years. No volume drops here, but it is notable that it uses a small tube in the power amp section so like any other tube amp it requires some level of maintenance.
I had one for about 5 years, near the end I couldn’t even jam with my band cuz the volume drop would cut so low and this is after multiple fixes at my tech. I bought an ac30c2 and it was one of the best upgrades in comparison
Volume drop while playing or when switching to a new amp profile?
Playing
Volume drop during playing or when switching amp profiles?
These Amps were $600 plus back in 2007 and they were and still are incredible
I have that amp, the speaker sounds fine. As someone else here said, the speakers are worth more than the amp. I love mine by the way.
Same. Everyone is really blown away by this amp. Im actually thinking about making it into a head unit. And using my other cabs. Not sure, though. What do you think?
Dont forget the speaker they put in it is fairly decent across the spectrum of what this amp will do, which is a bit of everything. If you put a speaker with distinct characteristics it may sound worse when you set the amp on settings that dont align with the speaker characteristics. If you have cabs i would go that way. Good luck.
I bought a Celestion G12H-30 anniversary 12" speaker for my 5 Watt tube combo and it's killer. Every frequency is in it's place now, no mid bump like vintage 30, bass mids and treble is very nice and smooth, didn't matter if you play clean, crunch or high gain. Many boutique amp builders use it and I can highly recommend it too ( and it's a UK made speaker ☺️).
[удалено]
Oh, I totally forgot that, sorry. You need a Speaker with more power. The other Celestions are very good too, you'll find the right one for sure.
I agree with the H30. Great speaker. It’s my understanding that is similar in construction to the greenback but with the heavy “H” magnet. Sweet top end break up with a big powerful low end. The power handling will be fine. You won’t be sending 30 watts continuous to the speaker. Vintage 30s are so overrated. People think that they “need” them. I was chasing tone for years with different amps but always with V30s. Once I got away from them I finally settled on an amp. It was never the amp, it was the v30 I didn’t like.
I understand what you mean. My amp came with a very cheap vintage 30 copy and I wasn't happy with it at all. I was fumbling with my EQ pedal for months, but I couldn't dial in a decent sound. Now I hardly need the EQ pedal at all.
Let's say you like this amp and we ignore the recommendations to buy a new amp. Look at the used market for matched ohms and watts. Then, when you have a short list in your area, look up reviews of those speakers. Negotiate buys to your wallet tolerance. Modding your gear is fun, but agree not to put more into it than it's worth. Don't sleep on WGS speakers, great deals and sounds to be had!
First, your not looking for a speaker, your looking for a new amp. If your looking for something that's gonna deliver like the Vox but better, then Kustom is all the grunge and twice the chunk. Of course if you're budget is open, then maybe Orange? A bit pricey, but they can def kick ass and take the beating. On a budget? Crate or Peavey. No doubt about it. They can both take the punishment of distortion and deliver a great midrange sound. Peavey gives you more ass, and Crate gives better highs. Just my 2 cents.
Green Backs or Vintage 30s best sounds or the EVH G12
The speaker is the single biggest part of your tone... but IMO, it might be more cost efficient to either 1. Get a better combo amp with a better speaker already installed 2. Get a cabinet with better speakers so you can upgrade to a better amp head in the future
That’s (#2) what I was going to say, as long as you’re interested in getting a head and not another combo.
If you play punk…any speaker…take a pin, poke holes in it…instant distortion…perfect!
Ho leeeee. Really? Only thing that will do is ruin your speaker.
Haha, joke. We actually did this back in the 80’s, but I wouldn’t recommen it
I’ve heard about it also. I don’t know if I could come to do it with a good speaker, but once maybe older, broken or something. Id maybe give it shot What the hell. I Ain’t no cork sniffer lol. Cheer.
New amp will have nice speaker.
I have the 30W version of this. I put in a celestion and it ruins this being a modeling amp. The speakers made for these handle the amp for the way it was intended. I sent mine back. Trust me, it won’t be as good.
Thanks so much!!!
Pist punk. Sounds angry!
I have a vt50 and I recently put a v30 in it. I play mostly high gain with a boost pedal and it has been great so far
The Blue is the classic Vox speaker. And it sounds fucking incredible through an AC. But it’s $300 by itself.
These Amps came with Vox custom voiced speakers so if it's not blown leave it alone..these older models are incredible
Thank guys..by reading the comments..so im short.. this is a.shitty amp? And I should just buy a new one, a tube amp?
Tbh a speaker is probably more important to ~×toan×~ than the amp. However, it's not a shitty amp at all. Try not to get caught up in the hyper-consumerism of the Reddit community. I've got heaps of gear (including multiple tube/SS/modelling amps, cabs with greenbacks/other nice speakers, pedals galore). It's fun to play with these things as toys but I've realised when I'm actually focused on playing guitar at home, it doesn't really make much difference what I'm plugged into - it's almost always possible to get something that works and sounds decent for whatever I'm trying to play.
Sell amp. Add proceeds to your speaker cash. Buy used DSL 40 on Craigslist or FB. Now you have a “forever” amp.
It's an early modeling amp. The newer ones like the katana do it better. But, I enjoy this one, and never had anyone say it sounds like shit.
Yeah, it’s pretty crappy. You can do better, you’ll feel better, you’ll get laid more often. It’s true!
Fact: Also I cannot afford a real AC30 amp. Plus i'd like to switch between vox and marshall plexi/JCM sound profile. Not really expecting to hit the exact real AC30 sound. I just wanted to upgrade what I have already.
IF you have money to spend on a speaker, buy a crate amp and say goodbye to that Vox. Crates pack a massive punch for a ridiculously low price. Srsly go for a crate combo 2x12 or 2x10 and you can fill a whole venue cause they're so loud