Vox AC10c1: Review, Tone Tips & More
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
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Vox AC10 - a killer little 10 watt amp from Vox Amps, here is a demo, review and tips on how to get the best tone out of it. Using both a Fender Stratocaster and Gibson SG, each loaded with Lust for Tone Pickups, and one clip with an Ibanez TS9.
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I've played guitar for about 30 years and have had MANY different amps over the years; stacks and combos, tube and solid state...and I've never loved an amp as much as I do the Vox AC10c1.
It's simple, light, loud, and sounds amazing.
I agree
I've had mine for 5 years and I feel mostly the opposite of what you've said. I do wonder whether some people have hearing problems...there is nothing 'great' about this. In one frame the gain is cranked full and master about three quarter. That setting is noisy and loud. Too loud to sit next to like he does !
@@JosephX74 I don't mean the video itself, but the amp, which is good but not 'great' or brilliant - IMO
I'm a total Vox fanboy and have an AC30 and the AC10C1 and adore them both. I've actually got the British Green Racing AC10 and I would absolutely run back in my burning house to save that thing. I've got an American Strat, American Standard Tele, Jimmy Page Mirror Tele, and a Gibson 335 and with each one of them the amp is an absolute delight. You don't even need pedals to sound really overdriven. I feel like I can go from Paul Kosoff to Brad Paisley to Cream era Clapton with it. It has GOT to be the best "budget" tube amp surely! I HIGHLY recommend them.
0:17, that tone is what I'm looking for. Ordering one right now.
Ahhhh, I played there ! I have an AC10C1 for 5 years now for home use and lessons. Gotta love 603.
Your "speil" is such a thoughtful and intelligent reflection of the Vox tone. Surprised to see such an insughtful analysis in an amp review video. I appreciate it. Thank you.
Lovely playing my friend. Clean tones in the first minute are fantastic
Thank you!
Your tone tips are great. I finally pulled the trigger on this amp and love it.
Informative and thorough review. Well done, sir!
Thank you kindly!
Great Video, Jack. Very well done once again!!! More please 🙏
This Is the best explanation of the Vox AC10C1 that I ever heard. Good job.
I just got one, and it is great for home use. So versatile, thanks for the tips.
Another great amp review. I subscribe to tons of channels but nothing beats your reviews Jack. Clear and to the point. I wonder if you ever tried other speakers with it. I'm getting my ac10 this week. Cheers and thank you.
Good job Jack,
Like always!😇👍
Jack, thank you very much for this terrific video. I have an AC10 that I play with a Strat and a D'Angelico with humbuckers. I usually prefer to play clean, and I love the tone that you got in the first part of your video. This will be extremely helpful.
Brian Shank sure thing, glad it was helpful!
Same setup buddy! Love it.
Great video! I'm a vox and Marshall player. Mostly play rock kind of music. The trick with turning of the treble and bass on the vox to get that Rich midsound are just a beautiful thing. I do this all the time😎
Its a great sound!
Terrific explanation and review. Thank you!
Nice mention of the Stone Church, love playing that venue!
Great review! Really helpful. Thanks!
I had an AC10, great box for awesome tones.
Excellent review! I'm looking at picking one of these up myself.
Got one a month ago, dropped in a G10 Vintage series (V30) , Sovtek tubes, an air vent where the tubes sit and changed the resistor at the power tube board and it's simply amazing... Blown away and hands down the best tone I've had. Happiness :)
Why would you change the resistor at the power tube? Could you please talk about that? What resistor did you change to? Thanks a lot!
@@BrewerShettles Watch the YT channel 'The guitar amp tech' Video 'How to setup and bias a Class A amp: the Vox AC10' ... I followed his instructions : )
Great review - really useful. Many thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
I am playing now for 40 years with lots of different amps. This little amp kicks ass!
it was built to a price point...not a standard
Been thinking of getting one of these so watched a bunch of reviews. Yours was the best. Good job. Did you end up trying any different speakers with it?
Thank you, I appreciate that! I never did -- I wanted to try an alnico speaker in it, but unfortunately the circuit board hands too close to the back of the speaker for an alnico to fit with its larger bell.
I have a Vox AC 10c1 and I have an Alnico blue 16 ohm 10-in speaker in an external cab. Sounds great!
Great Video! I‘m just curious what do u think is the better option and value as a home amp? The AC15c1 or the AC10? I like the two channels on the AC15 and think it sounds a little more ”open“. I know Vox amps get really loud, but which one do u think is best for getting good tones at home?
you're so right about power, i have a custom made 30w Matamp, built like 15 years ago, at the time i was giging a lot, and i thought it would be enough for gigs... i never was able to turn the damn thing up! always with a power attenuator on, and it's heavy as well! Even 10w with tubes is loud! but it's loud enough and lighter than a half stack !
Yes definitely. The whole wattage/volume thing is often very misunderstood. I played a Super Sonic 60 yesterday at an outdoor venue and barely turned it up to 3.
Oh yeah exactly, it took me a decade of buying and selling amps and playing and gigging to understand that tube amps are so damn loud and you really don't need more than 15 watts for 99 percent of the situations. Just once in my life i couldn't hear myself with a 100W full stack, the drummer was too loud, but it happened only once in my 30+ years of living haha!
Super thorough. Thank you very much!
Glad it was helpful!
Great review and the amp seems quite nice
Thanks!
This guy is a fantastic reviewer. Plus he seems like a genuinely smart guy and a great player. I’m not a huge strat fan but when he whipped out that Fender i just stank faced like I never had.
Thank you, appreciate the kind words! Now I can add "One who inspires stank face like you've never had" to my profile descriptions :-D
Jack Fossett oh absolutely 😂
Hey Jack, how would you compare a Vox AC 10 vs Fender Blues Jr NOS for bluesy, jazzy and overall clean tones... at home use to be played with a Epiphone Casino ? Much thanks Jack
I bought an AC10C1 and thought it sounding boxey and shrill at first. A lot of highs to tame. The amp also has a ton of distortion. I ended up changing tubes to JJ’s with 12AT7’s in both preamp spots. This definitely warmed up the amp and gave me a little more headroom with still enough distortion when cranked. I tried several speakers, VT Jr, Greenback, Jensen C10Q but finally was satisfied with the Jensen Falcon 40. This speaker (to my ears) tamed a lot of the shrill, controlled the bass at loud volumes and still gave it a hifi sparkle. I really like the power and simplicity of the amp and think your review is awesome. Keep them coming!
I have been looking at that falcon 40 speaker for a long time, but hardly any reviews so I haven’t pulled the trigger. Was worried it sounds too dark, thanks for your input
I have this amp and I also didn’t like the tone at first, this with my Tele and 51 nocasters. I swapped the tubes to JJs as well. I think a lot of it was the speaker breaking in. After having it for 6 months or so it is much, much nicer and sounds like a very classic Vox.
Does the falcon have alnico magnet?
No, it’s a ceramic magnet.
@@JamesA5 the stock speaker has the ceramic magnet, so does the Greenback 30 .the Jensen may have different cone structure
Got one today! Was looking at Fender Champion 100 and ended up with the Vox 😂 Thank you for the great review. I’ll test the 0 EQ and the tone nobs hack :)
I have had several Vox amps. One Amp that has always been in my arsenal of amps is the VOX AC30 Handwired 60 Anniversary. It's a big monster, but I am looking for a bedroom playing feel and that could come from a Vox AC10C1 now. After giving up a Fender Champ 600 5W Tube amp that I sold for dirt cheap last week, I am really focusing on this little 10 Watt now, The VOX AC10C1.
In my opinion, the original Anniversary Handwired Vox amps (the pre fawn ones) are the absolute best amps Vox has made in recent years.
great great vid ... thanks from Portugal ... just one question .. in your opinion what would it be the best Ac10 setting "clean" to use with pedals ??
thanks so much ... rock on ...
i really like to listen all your tips ....
thanks for sharing so much knowledge ...
Thanks! What pedals are you using? That makes a big difference in how to dial it in.
and with a boss gt100 ?
This is the first time I have listened to an amp demonstration where the tones sounded like actual iconic recordings from the 60s. I don’t know how Vox does it, they cheapened every aspect of construction for this amp and it comes out sounding like one of the best amps they have ever made, from particle board construction to transistors/tubes hybrid preamp, to that cheap speaker!
@RyanORourkelol look at the schematic, 2 of the 4 gain stages in the preamp are transistors. Look at the tube complement, 2 12AX7 preamp tubes and 2 el84 power tubes. One of those preamp tubes has to be used for the phase inverter, leaving only one preamp tube for the preamp - or 2 gain stages. This is fine for the Normal channel, but this is sold as Top Boost Channel Vox, which requires 4 gain stages, minimum 3 stages. For this to be a true all tube top boost Vox, there would have to be three(3) 12AX7 preamp tubes and between 1-4 el84 tubes depending whether it’s an AC4, AC15, or AC30. My Vox AC4 has two(2) 12AX7 preamp tubes, but it’s single ended- so it doesn’t have or need a phase inverter tube, the AC10 is not single ended! It may be class A, but it’s still a push/pull design requiring a phase inverter tube.
@RyanORourkelol well, I think in all fairness of the 4 gain stages - they chose the two that have the least impact on tone. The only thing that might be not kosher is using a boost into the amp. Then you’re driving a transistor stage, which might not get what you want? As to how common? It’s the only one I know of that tried to come under the radar like this.
Tube screamer have transistor@@voxpathfinder15r
I mean it’s not really that cheap.. it’s actually pretty well constructed and you actually have an option what speaker you want installed, at least from Sweetwater. For $600 in my opinion they did a slamming job with this guy… just my biased owner opinion 😂
@@LearningGilmour you will need an ext. cab. A good may replacement speakers will not fit
Very good information!
Glad it was helpful!
Too loud while playing at home. Will a volume pedal work as a solution?
I'm really inspired by your playing! I just started not too long ago. How would you suggest I start learning? The intro was so nice!!
Awesome! Thanks for the kind words, I'm always thrilled to be a source of inspiration. If you can, I'd definitely find a good instructor to get started. Given that we're still in the middle of covid, if you can't, there are alot of great beginner guitar lessons on CZcams for free, and also apps you can pay for. If you've learned some basic chords and scales (like pentatonic) then a good way to go is to pick a song that you like and see if you can learn how to play it (again, search on CZcams for lessons). Playing something that you like and having it really sound like music is the best morale booster for going forward.
Sounds great with the Stratocaster
Love the channel and you are my go to guy. What would you recommend for a first home tube amp?. Prob end up getting a couple eventually. Thank you
Thank you! What artists do you like and want to get a sound similar to?
@@JackFossett I got the blues junior 4 sonic blue tonight. Prob gonna do one or two more combo amps for the house before I move onto to heads. I'm more of a one guitar guy who wants multiple amp setups for fun and jamming of course. I have my first good guitar and played it for 10 years. Just got my dream guitar, only my 2nd guitar, a Nashville Tele which I play all the time now. Still wanna get a vox or something other than the FBJ. I play mostly blues and country some southern rock and funk when possible. I play with friends and like a good open mic. I never gig with my amps as the open mics have their own setups. My favorite guitarists to listen to are Freddie King, Duane Allman, SRV and Randy Rhoads with a dash of slash and santana. Lots more of course. I'll prob have more amps than guitars.
I'm a big fan, there's a lot of channels out there but I really find your content very enjoyable. All the best and continued success. I look forward to supporting the channel in the future.
What 2nd small home amp would you recommend? Thank you
If you can find one used, the Laney VC30 in my opinion beats anything Vox has made in the past long time. Otherwise, their current AC15c1 is a really solid amp, or if you can go a little pricier, their handwired AC15 is great too.
Have you ever tried the stage right 15? I always wondered if an expert guitarist would think of that.
I just want to use the vox in clean with a bossgt100 and give it distortion and delay, would it sound good or better go for an amp with an effects loop?
I’d go for a different amp. This one is pretty brash and breaks up early. It’s not a “bad” choice, but there are better amps for your setup.
Auuuuu very good Amps and Stratocastera
I am finding with Vox amps, that any complaints about their tone like being farty or whatever can easily be corrected with a pedal. They are for me easily the most versatile amp in tandem with pedals
Totally agree
Also agree. I love VOX or VOX-voiced amps with pedals.
@@JackFossett not when it comes to delays, tremolo, . too much background noise
I have two AC10C1's. Split at the pedal to true stereo, I can ping pong back and forth, which is cool but not exactly useful. I am thinking about putting green backs in them. I looked into new valves, but when listening to someone who did both green backs and new valves, he played it with original speakers and valves, greenback and original valves, and new greenbacks and new valves. I really preferred the greeenbacks with original valves.
Thanks for the advice on settings, I will be trying rolling bass and treble off completely. I am having some treble issues. This may be my fix. I mostly play a Brian May Signature Jubilee Gold top.
Heya, Great video!!! Super helpful
Do you think a Catalinbread Dirty Little secret (DLS MKiii) or the Catalinbread RAH will sound good over the VoxAC10 ??
Thanks!
Thanks! Thats hard to say. I usually don't care for Marshall style pedals into Vox amps, but the Catalinbread pedals are sort of semi modeling, so definitely worth a try.
@@JackFossett thanks!
This vox is good for playing jim hendrix gilmour srv?
I run this live into a celestion 15” fullback and it kills unmiked with a band
Hi Jack. Have you ever tried the AC10 with a Muff or similar Fuzz/Distortion? I'm shopping around for a Vox. Torn between AC-4HW, the stock 10 & and 15. They're all good in their own way, and I loved my old AC15, long sold. Wasn't a pedal guy back when I owned that amp!.
Looking to pair a Vox with my Champ clone (6V6, tube rectified) as they occupy complimentary frequency spectrums.
No not really, I've never liked the pairing of Vox with fuzz - just way too much top end aggressiveness. Hard to say on that lineup - my favorite of those amps is by far the 15, yet Im not sure how it would pair with the Champ.
@@JackFossett Thanks. I do like a Tonebender with a Vox, at least as used by other players. Idk if I can pull it off! Maybe be the "guy who makes Muffs work into Voxes" 😄
Cheers mate. It's looking like an AC15. The 30 is too big, and the 10 lacks headroom and a normal channel (but it does sound lovely!)
You make great content and deserve to have a bigger channel. Peace
Thank you kindly!
I know this is 5 months old, but for a speaker upgrade I'd recommend trying the Celestion G10 Creamback 16R. Ceramic approximation of the alnico 12" Creamback and it sounds GREAT in there! No known alnico will fit. Some people have experimented with the Eminence Red Fang RF10C but apparently the magnet diameter makes it a squeeze.
Oh yeah, and the 16ohm RF10C is an Eminience special order. Try the Creamback :)
Those are great suggestions. I did move on from this amp though. I liked it, but I cycle through alot of this gear in trades trying to get my hands on other things to review for everyone.
What's your recording equipment for this vid?
Nice review. It's important to know how it works with humbuckers and single-coils.
Do you think AC10c1 is suitable for usage in small apartments or I'll need to buy an attenuator to avoid problems with my neighbors?
Hélio Silva it depends on how much you crave power tube distortion - to really open the amp up, it would be way too loud for an apartment. But you can get nice drives at lower volumes either using the gain knob or pedals.
@@JackFossett I bought my ac10c1 yesterday. I've found a good deal and your review convinced me that it is a good choice.
I like the clean tones with spring reverb and probably I'll buy an OverDrive and reverb pedals at some point.
I was thinking about those DI boxes with attenuation and cabinet emulation for home studio recordings, maybe something like Bugera power soak.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!!
Hélio Silva I use a Nobel’s ODR 1 on all of my Vox amps. Give‘ em a try. Incredibly natural and transparent. It doesn’t mask the amp, it works in concert with it.
@@guitarradioshow I'll check it, thaks !!
You said the AC15C1 and AC30C2 don't have gain controls. The volume knobs on each channel controls the input stage of the preamp. That's gain. It's the same function as the labeled "gain" knob on the AC10C1.
You said the AC30S1 and AC10C1 don't have master volumes. That knob labeled "volume" is a master volume. It comes right before the power amp and affects all channels on the amp, which is just one in this case, so it is essentially a master volume.
I'm only commenting because I don't want beginners watching this to be misinformed as to what the knobs on their amps actually do.
Say what?
@@dzjc01 LoL 😂
LOL, I have a buddy who would drag his AC30 to small pub gigs and “dime it”. Best way to clear out a crowded pub!😆
I bet the owner was THRILLED
Jack Fossett , I was at one of his outdoor gigs. Most of the crowd were older but looked like they were up for a good time. Then BAM that first piercing treble note came out and I saw many of crowd wince visibly. There was no need for that level of sound, and my god when an AC30’s treble is cranked up it can split your head! 🤯
I’ve been on the fence between this and a blues junior iv for a while. I’m leaning AC10 because it sounds amazing dimed BUT when I praise home I’ll mostly be achieving dirt with a TS. Lots of people seem to indicate that blues junior is a better pedal platform (but the jr can sound boxy and the bass is weak).
I’m not a huge pedal guy, but I would want to use a TS, and an occasional tremolo and delay. Your TS sounded great to me.
I think the Blues Junior is an all around better amp, to be honest. I also trust Fender's quality control more than Vox.
Amazing clean tones with the Strat. Not sure I could live without the cut control tho. That distortion is nasty.
Yeah I agree with that -- Vox without a cut is super edgy and bright.
Thanks for all your advice on amp choice. Love the Vox sound. What about that walnut Gibson, I just love that look, the cherry satin is growing on me, but that walnut is my dream guitar. What model is that?, I only see tribute guitars in walnut anymore. My next guitar is an SG for sure, but I'm working on my Vox head now.
12:24 got the guitar info, LoL
Guys, any here compare the ac10c1 and the ac10c1vsltd?
Hi! when you're sayin rolling the treble back ... what do you mean ? Roll the knob to Max or to Min ???!! sorry for asking but my english is not that good and i cant figure wich side you are mentioning when saying "back" is rolling it to max or min ?
Thanks so much for your vds ...
i'm keen to try those tips on my Ac10 ....
Greetings from Portugal
'Rolling back the treble' means turning down the treble on either your guitar tone knob, or on your amps treble control. The reason to remove some treble is to lessen harsh, bright tones, leaving you with a bit more warm tone. Hope that helps!
@@danielcarter2980 thanks so much ... i am portuguese and sometimes english makes me wonder what it real means a word or expression ... now i know ... thank you so much !!!!
Excellent. Thx
Really great video. My ONLY suggestion is to look into the camera.
I do love my AC 10 but just one question .. every time I play OD fuzz or disto pedals I notice that the amp sounds " BOXY " so how can I solve that?? I'll appreciate someone reply me .. t-you =)
I threw a super overdrive on it to clean up the distortion just roll your gain down a touch and use your pickup volume to turn up accordingly
@@Wargy16 thanks a lot
Love the strat stuff
Ac 10 (10 watts, 10 inches speaker) VS ac4 c1-12 (4 watts, 12 inches speaker): for home studio. (Practice, duo jams, recording in a 9X16 ft room) Anybody here has an advice for me? Thanks!!!
Denis Pellerin AC10 will give you way more versatility
@@JackFossett Thanks for answering. Keep.doing your demos, the info is very valuable!
Bought the AC10c and it stopped working after less than 10 hours use. They wont replace it so now I have to hulk the thing across town to get is fixed - Uber fairs + paperwork + pain in the ass. I recommend you consider a different make (wish I had) jeeezzz!
What are your thoughts on 10" speakers. Deal breaker or no big deal? I always hear people say 12" speaker is a must for guitar combos.... But I don't have the room or strength for a AC15
Oh I love 10" speakers, I really do. Tames a tad of the high end, adds a hint of compression, and loses just the right frequencies of low end that can get muddy but without sounding small (depending on the speaker of course).
@@JackFossett good to hear Jack, I just got my ac10 today. I'm not doing anything right away but if you modify your ac10 speaker or tubes will you let us know? Thank JF, all the best
Do you think this has enough volume for playing like clean/light overdrive at small venues. Like on a scale of 1-10 level of overdrive like 4
Doesn’t have to be pristine just not super overdriven
Small venues, probably. It has the benefit of being an amp that really cuts through the mix due to its character, so it sometimes can be perceived as louder than it actually is. But it depends on your band too. I wouldn't play it in small venues in a 5+ piece band. 3-4 would be fine.
Jack Fossett awesome thanks.
Hi, I really like your playing! I have a vox AC10. Bought it for that classic vox sound. Audio engineer who plays guitar. Rock blues! Squire strat and Tele with EMG 85 pickups. How can I get the vox edge sound losing the darkness without becoming too bright? I think you might have mentioned the strawberry red pedal : I have one on the way. Professional guitarist I know told me to get a Nobles OD1 pedal - which is on the way as well. Will be trying to learn your riffs on guitar! Reaper has a way to slow things down so I can learn. I think you made a great demo. What about attenuators? I just bought a Weber mini mass 50. Pathway: Amp speaker out - mutes the amp speaker - going to the attenuator. Then, Attenuator back to attaching to the speaker either directly or creating a hole with a 3-in circular saw drill bit attachment to attach a backplate with a female switchcraft jack hardwired to the speaker. This professional guitarist is using IR amps, but to me there's nothing like plugging a guitar into my vox AC10 and playing blues riffs! It really reaches into your soul.
Can you play clean with a drumer and bass player without a mic?
Depends on how loud they are but my gut would say “almost”
Would this amp sound good with a boss me-70?
Sure
just curious, did you get the vox ac 10? , i got me 80 and on the edge to pick up this amp. thanks
que tal suena con la me80?
Is this a good pedal-plateform amp?
yes
which do you like better the Supro 12 or this Vox...I am leaning toward the Supro...10 vs 12?
Definitely the Supro. No contest.
@@JackFossett Thanks...while i like the "glassy " my strat is already glassy enough I am thinking. You talk about amps the way a wine connoisseur talks about wine :>)
@@kenmcf hey, I love wine too!
Best value tube amp. Switch out the cheap stock made in China tubes for JJs to give this amp noticably more bass and better volume. My Fender 65 PRRI with Eminence Copperhead speaker isn't loud enough to hang with a drummer but my AC10c1 can. This amps gain dial can be used to blend with drive pedals. The Vox made AC10c1 amp cover is only $30- theres this unique flap on top of the cover that slides underneath the amp handle where other amps get that exposed rectangle of dust on top. We can tell a lot of development went into the Vox AC10c1. It weighs a mere 27 pounds. I watched some CZcams videos that reccomended changing out its factory speaker for a Celestion Greenback. I tried that; the amps tone lost its all its high end which made it sound more like a hemp cone speaker. The factory speaker is the right match. If you're buying your first tube amp, get this one. Its got the power and portability you're looking for plus gain. The digital reverb effect it has isn't that great. Try the EQD Dispatch Master Reverb and delay with it and you'll be satisfied. People talk about an overdrive pedal made in New Zealand called the Hotcake, they say it was designed for Vox Amps. I really like the JHS Moonshine v1 and the Paul Cochrane Timmy and EQD Westwood pedal with this amp
How will a wampler plexi deluxe sound through a vox ac 10? Any good?
And thanks for your channel. I have seen two of your videos on Vox’s and they are very helpful!!! Thanks
Thanks! So I dont like Plexi style pedals into Vox Top Boost amps. The Wampler Plexi is a great pedal, but just this amp has too much edgy upper midrange already and I find it sounds to grainy.
Thanks man. Ended up getting a suhr riot. Hope that sounds good. Anyway idea for a video. Pedals that go well with a vox tb channel or ac 10. There is very little reference out there. At least the tube screamer is one a can tick. Thanks for the reply.👍
Hi, they said the ts9 is not good in ac10c1. Is it true?
Have a listen! I think it sounds good. And I never put too much stock in what "they" all think.
I have a theory about players that want really high headroom amps. In this day in age of do it everything pedals, they want absolutely no breakup coming from the amp when they are driving it with pedals. But guys that use tubescreamers understand it’s the marriage of the pedal clipping and some amp breakup that is glorious
I generally agree, although I do prefer big clean amps now in part because I play alot of clean, and I tend to like their dynamic depth a little better.
Nice video. Tubescreamer over treble booster for this amp?
Red Rocker I personally think so as this amp is super bright and glassy already. The TS with it’s warmer mid Boost really works
A treble booster, contrary to popular belief, boosts high mids (around 800Hz-1.2K). This fills in the scooped area on a vox perfectly. It gives a very vocal like quality to the amp and causes the higher frequencies to not be as noticeable.
Conversely a TS style pedal will boost the center of the mids 475hz-800hz. Therefore, a TS pedal will fill the scooped area of a fender/blackface amp. Because of this a tube screamer used on a vox results in an insane amount of middle mid range boost that sounds quite undefined and wooly.
Long story short: a treble booster tends to sound more pleasant though a vox than a TS pedal according to most players/listeners.
czcams.com/video/Ggi4Nkwmkf4/video.html
They use both a TS and a treble booster through an ac15 here. Time stamps are in the more info section so you can compare back to back. I highly recommend the treble booster.
If you want something that is warmer than a treble booster then I recommend the crowther hotcake. It’s also demo’d in the video.
AC Booster>Blues Driver>Tumnus>Crowther Hotcake works for me. Germanium Fuzz and/or a Russian Muff covers the heavy stuff.
The EQ on the Xotic and the tone control on the Tumnus "fix" that treble and/or mid-range thing. Maybe swap out the BD-2 for a Bluesbreaker pedal depending on the variables and my mood, and I'm done with my AC10 gain stack. Very similar to how I approach my Tweed Blues Junior w/ Strat, Gretsch Streamliner, & SG w/P90 Buckers setup.
It took me years to find my rig(s) but I'm pretty much there.
One of those two amps with a darker amp like a Laney Cub12r, Blackstar HT20, or Bassbreaker15 makes for a killer small wet/dry or stereo rig. Fits in the fat-bottom boot of an Uber or taxi!
On the treble booster thing - the only one that ever did it for me was the D*A*M Rooster Booster. It's quite dark, almost like a "dirty boost" than a Rangemaster per se. They say it's a straight-up OC44-fitted RM clone but it sounds more like a Ge fuzz with the fuzz rolled back and mids enhanced. They are really pricey tho, but a Boss SD-1 with the Monte Allums GT mod will get the job done ;) Think "Lemon Song" kinda tones.
$400.00AUD for the amp - total bargain. Flogged my old Laney 30watter for $450.00 and pocketed the change.
Agree with chimey analysis
Nice! Is it good for gigging?
Might be too quiet depending on the size of the gigs, if you're unmic'd.
Jack Fossett Ok Thank You
Amp goes great with a 10 inch celestion greenback
Yeah I bet
Ohh yeah. Good suggestion.
There's one that just arrived at my mate's store - pre loved guitars/amps/effects etc. $359AUD in good condition.
Seriously tempted. I miss having a Vox.
Would you say it sounds more salty or tangy?
Actually I was getting more of a garlic vibe.
@@JackFossett Lofl
Does anyone know if you can get some good metal rythm guitar tones out of this?
Perhaps with a pedal like the proco rat 2?
Which would you rather have the vox ac10 or the fender superchamp x2?
Locke definitely the Fender. Less expensive and covers more tonal territory.
No Treble Pickup on the SG? No Paperback writer or Day Tripper, Kinks etc licks?
Blake Thompson the first part with the Sg is on the treble pickup
@@JackFossett - Somehow I skipped through that part... duh.
I think the correct term would be "Jangle"... is what we are looking for in the naming.
Very articulate
"Jangly" so tired of hearing jangly. I have had this amp for 3 years and I absolutely love it. And I WAS a Vox HATER, so I went in to it plugging in just to fairly eliminate it. I kept coming back to it. I took it home. And I've never looked back.
Dude I was the same way. I literally just bought one yesterday. Anything bad that I remember people saying about Vox amps I haven’t been able to find. I literally haven’t run into anything I don’t like with this.
Mate I’m about to buy this amp and guess what! I have the exact same strat as you too haha. Fender in candy red 😂 funny coincidence 🤣
I have just bought one yesterday, love it, so creamy even at low volumes. Black Strat here :)
Every Vox sounds like a Vox, that is why they make the "Cut" control is what is essential to cut the high end.
The tone knob is your friend! Listen to this guy, far easier to manipulate your volume and tone instead of you always on 10 guys - then your like nuts swapping speakers, etc trying to achieve your tone.
Why does my ibanez TS9 and catalinbread sabbra caddabra sound so crap on my vox ac15 with a Gibson sg
Lee Weild the Sabbra Cadabra is probably a bit aggressive for a Vox amp
@@JackFossett I think you are right Jack, I'm.gonna get a fulltone OCD pedal, supposed to be a good.match with the Vox amp
@@JackFossett would sabbra caddabra sound better on my Roland jc22 clean amp
Turn down the gain on the Vox , turn down the gain on the TS9 to about 9 o’clock and use it as a volume boost hitting the front end of the amp, it will be tone heaven
Love the tone from both guitars. This or the vt100x. Ugggggh. Leaning towards ac10.
jedijim57 although vtx100 would be way more versatile
how do u look tiny compared to an sg theyre so Little
I have an AC4 and an AC10 , if you want a Vox driven sound for the home , go for The AC4. Even then you’re better off getting the TV version with built in attenuators. But that amp mimics the normal channel, not the top boost channels of the AC4 and AC10 custom line of amps. These amps are loud!!!
VoxPathfinder15R yes I agree - and due to the eq/presence, they come across as even louder than they actually are
You know from looking at the schematic, the volume could easily be converted to a tone cut, it wouldn’t be a master volume amp anymore, but it could maybe fix some brightness when driven. Heck a different cathode resistor on the power valves to bring down some volume and maybe smaller filter capacitors to get an early 60s tone
Which of those amps have a better overall tone in your opinion?? Struggling to pick; wish I could try both in person!!
@@RedCarRecords they are both awesome! I am in a minority, so just keep that in mind. But I think the AC4C1 is the best sounding tube amp in existence. It is all real tube, the AC10C1 is actually somewhat a hybrid amp - if that matters to you? Half the preamp is mosfet - but I like solid state. Vox ac4 is true single ended class A, no matter how much Vox likes to discourage you from believing, all their amps aside from the 4 watt are all push/pull class A/B. They sometimes try to say it’s a very inefficient design that’s mostly class A, whatever- it’s still push/pull. So it suppresses even order harmonics. Perhaps it’s more suited for 70-80% of the players out there that prefer a more modern tone with lots of available gain. My AC10 rattles tubes, many people blame Vox for using cheap Chinese tubes. While I hate the Chinese, their government, I don’t think Chinese tubes are cheap - and Chinese manufactured Vox amps put reliability back into the product line. My Chinese stock tubes in my AC4 are perfect! They don’t rattle, sounds awesome!!
@@RedCarRecords here is a link to my AC4C1 using both stock speaker and being plugged into a 4x12 extension cabinet. No pedals, and truly the only amp in existence that I don’t mind that there is no reverb. Just listen to that tone swirling around, how many amps sound that rich when being run dry with no effects? czcams.com/video/kyFfEQbqF80/video.html
Wish woody Allen did amp reviews
Hey jack would you say this is ideal for a small church set up?
Certainly!
Can you crank this loud enough at relatively clean volumes to jam with a drummer?
Not really clean. I think loud enough to really keep up with a drummer and you'll at least be mildly overdriven. However, it depends on your guitar and how loud your drummer is. Also, if you try it, set the amp high (like on a side table or a stand) so that its closer to ear level.