Smaller alternatives to an AC30

George · Post by **George** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:51 pm

I've been playing about with Guitar Rig on my PC and the AC30 setting is just great fun, especially with the 12 string.

Do Vox do a cut down 1 x 12 combo or head that encapsulates the AC30 sound without the big size and weight?

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:56 pm

ac15? or is more power needed?

George · Post by **George** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:01 pm

Ha! Shows what a noob I am.

Does it sound like an AC30? If so it ticks all the boxes and I'd have to try it out. 15W would be great for getting easier breakup too.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:30 pm

far as I know its just a 15w version of the AC30..... only about $600 new or $400 used stateside

people swear by them.... Maybe HotRod will pop in... he is a AC30 dude

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:37 pm

Perhaps you could snag one of these 4watt amps? Click for lank

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ ... rc=3WFRWXX

I don't have any first-hand knowledge on these, but I saw one on the local craigslist and almost emailed the guy. Looks hawt anyhoo!

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:51 pm

Vox also has the new AC15VR and AC30VR.... tube/ solid state power amps... cheaper...more rugged and supposively are really ace... Again HotRod has the experience on these too

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:53 pm

Did'nt mrperson say the Vox modeller amp emulates an AC30 very well?

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:06 pm

Fran wrote:Did'nt mrperson say the Vox modeller amp emulates an AC30 very well?

Yh does a great job, suprisingly so. I a/b'd my old AD30VT with my AC30 and was suprised with the sound. The difference in speakers is the only main difference to be fair.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:11 pm

And, in turn, the Tiny Terror is effectively a tweaked AC15 circuit. The Laney LC and VC series is very similar too.

riotshield · Post by **riotshield** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:12 pm

[youtube][/youtube]

DO IT!

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:45 pm

George, check out the Laney VC 15s or VC30s. I love my VC15 and if you want to have a blast I can arrange to meet up with you. Mine is the ltd edition one which is hand made in the UK but you can get normal ones for around Â£200 new.

[youtube][/youtube]

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:23 am

ace choice, george!

people will always suggest the laney stuff, but these days our choices are much more practical. i love the way the laney stuff sounds, but am a ponce, and cannot deal with the look and branding of them.

i want an AC30 to replace my borked english reissue, but i don't have 1200 bones to shell out. i've found a suitable substitute in the AC30VR.

LOUD. LIGHT. LOVELY. srsly. it's fucking awesome. i played the shit out of a friends this weekend (which i'm a total dumbshit for not demoing), and it was one of the nicest amps i've ever played. nevermind the fact that it's only $500 - $600 all day long!

play one. i'll be liquidating a lot of my shit in the aim of purchasing one a.s.a.p. the only thing i could see tweaking is the speakers, but the ones that are in it are voiced for this particular amp, and i saw no fault with them in the brief enchanted encounter i was so lucky to have.

i still love the celestion blue/greenback combi pushed with any vox, so i'd love to hear what the VR series sounds like through it.

if the AC30 is simply too big for your tastes, definitely try an ac15, but i personally don't believe that they capture the sound of an AC30, but are a great amp on their own.

happy hunting, jorge.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 1:33 am

bit of a random interjection, but my mate has a '60s AC30 that is without a doubt the nicest amp i've ever played through. it smells of fish though.

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:56 am

That ain't fish........

I have an AC4tv head and cab. Love it.

George · Post by **George** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:00 pm

Wow, didn't realise Vox was so popular! Thanks for the advice guys. There seems to be a million different flavours of the AC series so I've my work cut out for me. If I sell up my amp and a guitar I might be able to get one used.

So do the Laney VCs sound "close enough" to the Vox ACs? I'd like to see a shootout.

Rayjaysonic · Post by **Rayjaysonic** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:03 pm

George wrote:Wow, didn't realise Vox was so popular!

If Vox was good enough for The Beatles.......

The AC30 is a legend of an amp.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:03 pm

george I think I would love to go for a vox as well but funds won't stretch that far at the moment, the other week I was really hanckering for them and was trying out a bunch of them.

If you want to try my laney out PM me and I can arrange to meet up for you to use for a week or so.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:27 pm

Vox are some of the best Chinese made amps around at the moment. But you gotta give Laney and Co a shot.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:27 pm

George wrote:Wow, didn't realise Vox was so popular! Thanks for the advice guys. There seems to be a million different flavours of the AC series so I've my work cut out for me. If I sell up my amp and a guitar I might be able to get one used.

So do the Laney VCs sound "close enough" to the Vox ACs? I'd like to see a shootout.

they're remarkably similar in tonal abilities and features, and definitely for the price they're a viable option. they're just not my cuppa aesthetically, but that's coming from my inner bedroom butthole. i'm pretty sure i've seen a youtube vid with sound comparisons, but i'll have to check again.

with the advent of the VR series, there's no need to seek out an alternative model due to price anymore. they're beautifully crafted, solidly built, and classically fucking gorgeous. not to mention the sheer excitement of having an amp that weighs significantly less, yet provides the same amount of headroom, and handles effects in the same (if not slightly improved) manner as the originals, and english RI's for that matter. (the chinese ac's are just such shit quality on all fronts, that i won't even weigh in on them in this consideration. EDIT: GRRRRR, fran.)

needless to say, i'm so fucking impressed and even elated that the VR series were created. you can't get a more accurate reincarnation of such a classic combi for that price, and i'd love someone to argue that. don't even say marshall blah blah or whatever shit because that's a totally different sound, one i have no experience with, and would be forced to believe your story.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:36 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:the chinese ac's are just such shit quality on all fronts, that i won't even weigh in on them in this consideration. EDIT: GRRRRR, fran.

Nope mine is top-notch, been gigged quite alot by the previous owner and also by myself. Not had one issue. Sounds great - even when it needs re-tubing desperately.

They crop up on eBay really cheap, I bought mine for around Â£400 so just keep your eye out. If you want a 1x12 they sell for even less, as do the AC15s.