anyone mentioned these yet? (AC4)

william · Post by **william** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:04 pm

not sure how long theyve been out, but they are quite nice looking/ ly featured.

its my favorite look of all time (blonde vox) combined with features ive been looking for (low switchable wattage, nice speaker) and for a price that i might be able to afford one day, but probably the next big thing will come around that i cant live without before i ever have the money and ill forget all about it (199 USD)

the speaker might not be nice, maybe its just the celestion name slapped on some generic speaker, like the 'eminence' in my HRD. does celestion play that game?

Post by **Mike** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:09 pm

Celestion make all sorts of budget speakers. From what I've heard of this thing it's pretty wank.

william · Post by **william** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:12 pm

Mike wrote:Celestion make all sorts of budget speakers. From what I've heard of this thing it's pretty wank.

sad.

but the feeeetures!

Post by **Mike** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:14 pm

What features?

You do realise "switchable wattage" does not result in a large tonal, volume or headroom change?

william · Post by **william** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:23 pm

Mike wrote:What features?

You do realise "switchable wattage" does not result in a large tonal, volume or headroom change?

1/2 a watt isnt quieter and with less headroom than 4 watts?

the features being it looks nice, is portable but still sounds good and is loud enough but not too loud, and doesnt make my girlfriend hate me for keeping it in the living room so i can play guitar on the couch. and it has a tone knob, which some of these little amps dont have. and i could potentially afford it.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:33 pm

I think you need to do some reading up on Logarithmic Audio response.

2 Watts is not half as loud as 4 Watts for example. It is more like 90% of the Volume.

1/2 = 4Watts x 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5

Perceived output = 1 x 0.9 x 0.9 x0.9 = 72.9%

william · Post by **william** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:04 pm

Mike wrote:I think you need to do some reading up on Logarithmic Audio response.

2 Watts is not half as loud as 4 Watts for example. It is more like 90% of the Volume.

1/2 = 4Watts x 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5

Perceived output = 1 x 0.9 x 0.9 x0.9 = 72.9%

i should! these things are all important for me to know in the future. i just need to get reading.

the idea of the attenuation isnt to make it actually softer, but to get the effect of breakup without having to be as loud, i thought.

i know that benecol (i think it was benecol) was pretty proud of the attenuator built into his matamp. id like to hear him weigh in on its usefulness now that he's had some experience with it.

even so, features to price wise, this amp is a looker. however, if hands on accounts have turned up no so good, ill look elsewhere.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:19 pm

The Output Level (not a continuous Master Volume?) in conjuction with the Volume is likely to be more conducive to you getting breakup at low volume, but I'm inclined to think any classic Master Volume/Gain setup would be infinitely more effective for getting dirty sounds at low volume. What happens if you set the Ouput to the 1/4 W setting but need to dime the volume to get the grit you want and it ends up very loud (as it will)? A master volume lets you dial the volume right down with preamp gain wide open.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:21 pm

Yep, it was me. Although (and I have very little in the way of science to drop in order to back this up) I don't think the switch you're talking about above is attenuation. My attenuator makes my amp quiter, doesn't seem to effect headroom much. It's a bit like a an extra master volume, but one where my valves can run at full tilt, but not all that loudness is going to my speaker. I'm sure Mike can explain it better.

It sounds ace, though.

My amp, not that magnolia lunchbox ^.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:23 pm

Tim, yours is a continuous control is it not? Like a regular pot.

The Vox AC4TV has a three position switch I believe.

william · Post by **william** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:30 pm

Mike wrote:Tim, yours is a continuous control is it not? Like a regular pot.

The Vox AC4TV has a three position switch I believe.

his is labelled "attenuator" and he said made a mad scientist "clack clack clack" as he turned it, iirc. sounds similar.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:34 pm

Lots of little clacks. It's a pot.

william · Post by **william** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:44 pm

benecol wrote:Lots of little clacks. It's a pot.

ah. i see.

well, sounds like this amp isnt the shit (at least not the shit i thought it was.) i might see if there is one locally i can try out, but im not holding my breath.

thanks for the input, guys.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:48 pm

How much is this thing expected to cost, anyway?
I find that the price-to-performance ratio of recent non-transitor Korg/Vox stuff is just way off.

Have you considered getting an older small tube combo, like a Silvertone or Harmony?
These are often better featured than that Vox and I'm sure you can get a good one for
way cheaper, too. I got mine for $150 and altough I did have to put up another 75 bucks
in replacement parts and then throw down and fix it up a little, I still think I got a really
good deal, considering how much a decent, low power tube combo costs these days.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:51 pm

None of those have a Master Volume.

If you want tube crunch at low volume you need a Master Volume. Something like a Tiny Terror or that Vox Nighttrain or something.

william · Post by **william** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:51 pm

laterallateral wrote:How much is this thing expected to cost, anyway?
I find that the price-to-performance ratio of recent non-transitor Korg/Vox stuff is just way off.

Have you considered getting an older small tube combo, like a Silvertone or Harmony?
These are often better featured than that Vox and I'm sure you can get a good one for
way cheaper, too. I got mine for $150 and altough I did have to put up another 75 bucks
in replacement parts and then throw down and fix it up a little, I still think I got a really
good deal, considering how much a decent, low power tube combo costs these days.

sweetwater has them listed for 199USD, which is pretty good, i think.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:53 pm

Mike wrote:None of those have a Master Volume.

If you want tube crunch at low volume you need a Master Volume. Something like a Tiny Terror or that Vox Nighttrain or something.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:53 pm

Mike wrote:None of those have a Master Volume.

If you want tube crunch at low volume you need a Master Volume. Something like a Tiny Terror or that Vox Nighttrain or something.

doh.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:54 pm

Post by **Mike** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:56 pm

BTW if I was in the states, I would be lapping up the cheapness of second hand Fender Silverface 70s Champs and VibroChamps and would just get an overdrive pedal.