Vox AC30 Hand Wired vs Vox AC30C2 Amplifier - An Amplifier Shootout
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- In this video Dr Ric and Shane test the differences between the VOX AC30C2 and the Vox Hand-wired Amplifiers. We shoot them both out at gig volume so the amps are very loud
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I love the way he gazes longingly into the camera
He has the best guitar face
I think he smiled at me
Really hard to make any real judgement since greenbacks and blues sound so different to begin with.
The noise gate they're using makes the comparison even worse than the speakers.
That, and if they are just copying knob positions from one amp to another. Each amp has its own characteristics, and a HW will sound different with its normal at say 10 o clock vs a c2 at 10 oclock. The c2 can get some great sounds when twerked with some good pedals and tweaking.
w/e Didn’t even know they were using a noise gate. Yea, that’s gonna throw the results way off.
This is what I was going to add, along with drive pedals and such. Just a guitar, cord, and the amp makes the only true comparison. But Alnico Blues and Greenbacks are never going to sound the same, even swapped into the same amp. With just the guitar and amp, you could at least tell what each stock setup sounds like. I wouldn’t muck up the signal with any other processing.
Nice video...and for me it was helpful. I don't know why people are complaining. These are combos and they are sold with different speakers. It seems to me that the purpose of this video is to decide which combo amp is right for you and if its worth spending the extra for the alnico blues/hand wired. If this was a head comparison then sure, use the same cabinet/speakers.
That handwired sounds soooooo beautiful! I love it!
Such classic tone from both.
Iconic amps.
Both sound incredible.
it's not a shootout comparison when the speakers are different.
I play an AC30C2 hands down my all time favorite combo amp.AC30's and any Fender guitar sound great together .When the tubes start cooking the sound is unbeatable. Great amps.I also love Fender combo's but the Vox is very receptive to my style of play.VOX!
To get the best out of an AC30, turn it up all the way and use your guitar's volume control to dial in everything you need. You need to get those EL84s really cooking. Also, the Handwired amp's tone is superior to the C2 due to layout and parts quality. That's why it costs more. Next time you guys do a test like this, supposedly comparing "apples-to-apples", make it so by loading both amps with the same speakers - Blues or Greenbacks. Both sound great in AC30s. I use both. After a 54-year relationship with these amps, I should know know them pretty well. AC30s can do much more than you youngsters give them credit for. Quick example - If I want a cranked Marshall sound, I use Greenbacks. If I want a Brian May sound, I use Alnico Blues. If you want sweet, chimey tones, both speakers work just fine. Just use that guitar volume control. Remember - the Blue, the G12, was the first dedicated Celestion guitar speaker - 15 watts. The Greenback is the G12M, the second Celestion dedicated guitar speaker - 20 watts (now 25w). In the beginning, the only basic difference between the two models was the magnet. The basket, spider and voice coil were the same. - - - Eddie van Halen likes those ceramic magnet 20 watters.
If these were just the heads I’d agree with you an use the same cab with the same speakers. But why would you want them to play both combo heads threw the same cab and speakers when that’s not what you would hear if you bought the combo they are showing. For example why run the HWBlueAlnicos threw greenbacks when that’s not what the combo amp is sold with. So it wouldn’t sound like the demo you heard on TH-cam. Am I missing something? I’m only 30 and you said you have 54 years exp with ac30s. So learn me something lol.
ian, i notice you're in alot of the vox ac videos comment section, thanks for the tips . . . been browsing the vox vids as I dig the AC 10 . . .. the ac30 hw head with the blue cab already saving up for . . . i love fender amp tone (but I can always borrow my pal's bassman / twin reverb / princeton / blues ) but the vox tone just grabs me.
Dropping knowledge 🙏
I love it when Dr Ric is constantly keepin his mouth open meanwhile playing :) Classic.
That's what I call a magnificent Stratocaster ! The hand wired one would be nice to hear with a treble booster. There's less grind in the high frequency (blue AlNiCo maybe ?). Thanks guys !
How can you do a comparison when the amps have different speakers Blues v Greenbacks??
The handwired comes with both Greenbacks (HW2) and Blue (HW2X). Therefore, fair comparison.
IHIKML no it isn’t
@@bryanspencer4856 If hes using the version with greenbacks it is. They didnt specify though right?
If you freeze the vid at 0:17 you will see that the HW has Celestion Blue speakers (AC30HW2X). The C2 has Greenbacks. Hence my point above.
@@colinmortimore218 these are two different combo amps tho. If they were just testing regular amps without a cab then you’d use the same cab with the same speakers. When your doing a shootout or even just back and forth with combo amps then you just use the speakers that are in each combo amp. To see the differences. But them using a noise gate(which I didn’t hear them say they were but a lot of people in the comments think they used one)really defeats and point to this video because it’s not a true representation of the amps output.
They sound almost identical. I’ve owned many amps and tried tons of speaker combos. The main difference to me is probably the speakers. These are great amps. Use an AC15 with a Scumnico 25w.
Cool demo, but I think if both amps had the same speakers it would be a better comparison. Alnicos and Greenbacks are totally different beasts.
I get what your saying but they are showing the differences in the combo amps. And the speakers are half of the combo. If they were just the heads then yeah I’d go with using the same cab. You wouldn’t want to hear the hand wired amp with the greenbacks because that’s not what you would get if you bought the hand wired combo amp.
@@donnaillingworth2311 You can buy the HW combos with either speaker (greens/blues)
@@donnaillingworth2311 anyone can go into a store and A/B the two amps...these guys have the ability to switch up the speakers for a much more useful review. This was a waste of time to watch.
Those sound iconic man ! Thanks Dr Ric and Shane for another fantastic demo ! :-)
Liked them both, I have an ac15 so I’m a fan already!
sweet, love the vox action. THE custom non handwired one sounds good too
Best vox review!
Nice job. I use the Vox AC 30 S1 with a Boogie Mark V25 and have owned the Vox Ac 30 cc and the Ac 30c. I can hear a difference on the HW but for coverband gigging I don’t think the HW is that much better and I wouldn’t want to give up the effects loop.
I prefer the C2 because they sound virtually identical but the C2 has reverb, tremolo and an fx loop and is still way cheaper. There is really no comparison for me. Unless I got a crazy good price on a hand-wired I would always choose the C2.
I really wish Vox would put out an AC30 where the two channels were actually useable to switch between. What I mean by that is that the top boost and normal channel should both have their own master volume and gain controls and ditch the two inputs for a much more practical channel switch that is foot-switchable. Make that change and keep the FX loop to drag Vox into the 21st century finally. I say this as a die-hard fanboy that uses Vox despite their obnoxious idiosyncracies.
yeah the extra money of the handwired is definitely not worth it, I'd stick with a regular AC
Handwired, but mainly because I've had my fill of desoldering lead free pcb's.
Is it me, or was the hand wired more consistant across the strings? It seemed more mellow. I prefered it.
Nevermind. The good Dr. mentioned it at the end.
Good morning guys! 1st I want to say thanks for your videos, I thoroughly enjoy them. 2nd , does the HW unit use different resistors, capacitors, tubes and speakers than the production model? It seems to have a better sound.
To everyone commenting that this is not a real comparison because these combo amps are loaded with different speakers... This is what they come with stock, and that's the point of the comparison; stock vs stock. Yes, once upon a time basically all AC-30's came with Celestron Blues, but this is a comparison of the modern Vox offerings.
P.S: I am not an authority on anything. Anyway, that's my two cents, and that may very well be what my observations and thoughts are worth; two cents... If even that.
Oh well.
Both versions of the amp can come with either type of speaker, greenbacks or alnico Blues. That being said, I doubt most anyone would be disappointed to own either amplifier.
The HW sounds warmer, but that might be because of the speaker difference. The noisegate shouldn’t affect the tone, but it depends on what gate they used.
Thanks. I'm going to flip a coin. Both have classic sound.
They really are two very different amps. Might not hurt to have one of each!
They both sound great. The AC30C2 is a great amp and a better value.
If money is no object the handwired is definetly higher quality, however to my ear the AC30C2 has the classic sound that made VOX so highly prized and sought after.
Yeah the treble is clearer on the C2. eye opening.
Hand wired is a marketing exercise to charge more for the same product. Such things are endemic in an industry which feeds and creates perceptions. But amp makers know some people think a perceived extra 2% of anything is worth whatever it costs. Best thing about this was the Brian May riffs.
Having owned a handwired for a month, imo theres a clear difference. Watching on a computer you're not able to really hear the difference unsurprisingly, but the handwired in person definitely has way more tone and life. In the context of a band however you wont tell the difference at all tho so it just depends on what you're after. Personally, I would opt for a boutique ac circuit amp that suits your tastes more but thats just me. I ended up getting a kemper and its way better since they're comparable in price
So did you compare it to a non handwired? I'd imagine the speaker choice would make a bigger difference in total
@@burt2800 ive played a bunch of regular greenback vox's since theyre common. The handwired vox i owned was also greenback since thats my preference.
You really just have to figure out what ur needs are. buying a nonhandwired opens up your budget so that if you wanted, you could buy a second amp if you wanted to run stereo or invest in a pedalboard. If you already have a second amp and a good board, then go for the handwired. If you're not interested in stereo or you already have a good board or dont need one, then go for the handwired since its just a better amp.
again it just comes down to budget and needs. I needed both a board and stereo so i had to go the kemper route since an expensive am didn't suite my needs.
but yes, they sound different. Just buy one and try it out tbh, return policies are great
@@MetalBuffalos I was thinking along the same lines. There's a HW one available locally so I'll go and try it out. Thanks for taking the time to write a reply, I appreciate it!
Nice video, but I believe the biggest difference is that you used a C2 that brings the greenbacks, making that the most difference in the sound.
For me, the Hand Wired had a fuller, creamier tone. Loved them both but would go HW.
I like the C2 better. To much womp on the HW.
Both pretty similar. Maybe HW clearer. There are plenty handwired myths for sure. I own a 1999 korg AC30TBX and is Amazing.
Agus G.T. Bro! I tried the same amp that you have and it’s unbelievable! Amazing tone
I've spent hours A/Bing my 2012 AC30C2 with a 2000 Marshall-made UK-era Korg AC30/6 TB and the tonal differences of their top boost channels are null. Both wonderful amps for certain and virtually identical tonally...at least with respect to their top boost channels.
I personally prefer the C2 overall as I feel its global trem and verb are both fantastic, and I find its normal channel to be much more useful and much less dissimilar to its top boost channel. As is the case with my 1964 AC30TB, the Vib/Trem channel on the 2000 AC30/6 TB is significantly lower in output and is tonally less than ideal compared to the top boost channel, causing me to avoid the channel altogether even though I depend on tremolo and much prefer onboard trem to a pedal. I tried jumpering the channel inputs, but it's a sad compromise. Anyway, total tangent. Just wanted to note that the TBX does indeed sound fantastic and the C2 sounds just as much so.
My first good amp was my fathers. He let me have it. When i was 16. A vox ac30 cc2x. To this day. Ive never found a modern vox that compares to the cc2x. Alnico blues. And a circuit with utmost diversity. Ive used it for everything from clean to heavy metal. For an amp so unique. Versatile. Ive yet to play any vox that compares to the cc2x. Which have become a bit of a cult amp. Short lived series. . Though not the purest tone. For whAt you get is a great tone. Adjustability. Dynamics. That is reliable.
It has a breaker in back to set the heater circuit between different tube drives. N a smoothing setting that alters the tone stack.
which one is better? i want to buy one of these. i need opinions. Are the hw's worth the money?
Richies Playground , The HW's are different amps than the standard's. The standards (depending on model) have Trem and / or Reverb, while the HW's have a lot of tone-shaping features. All the HW's have Baltic Birch cabs and Greenbacks or Blues and are bigger / heavier. 15 and 30 have 1/2 power switches. I have a AC15HW with a Gold and it's fantastic, but it weighs 52 lbs and it's big and LOUD for my use, which is practice or playing with my kid who drums. Even at 1/2 power I have to turn my LP Special way down to get the "gain" going on the Vox. In fact I'm looking into an AC4HW which would probably fit my needs better.
Captain America Thanks. I got the ac30hw. It’s a monster. The cleans are sparkly especially with a strat. I really like the top boost channel with a les Paul on the cool setting. The hot setting is outta control distortion but a little thin sounding. I connect it to closed back 2x12 with greenbacks and its kinda Marshally sounding maybe a little grittier.
@@richiesplayground7092 , nice, if you need that much power! I agree the "Hot" setting leaves a little to be desired, but you should be able to tame it using the "Tone Cut". Turning the TC clockwise is supposed to bleed off treble. I have other amps with Trem - Reverb but love what the Vox can do. My AC4HW is on the way. It will have a S.S. rectifier and no "Tone Cut". We'll see if I can just reduce the Treble on "Hot".
I actually preferred the sound of the C2 bit seamed to hold together a little more. I will say that the neck pickup through the hand wired sounds incredibly beautiful though
Does the C2 have gold-label speakers, couldn't quite see? And does the hand-wired have a tube rectifier?
Two différents speakers, two différents sounds. Hwx vs C2x or HW vs C2, no??!!
The blonde vox vs fender twin reverb. Anybody?
Screw the pedals overdrive the amp please.
I agree I personally hate pedals .Plug in .Play .repeat.
If you upgrade the c2 vox like i did with russian mullard tubes and alinico blues which by the way are in the handwired series ,you will get a completely different tone 👌.
Changing speakers will always change the tone significantly.
Changing tube brands dont makecany noticeable difference. It's the speakers worth experimenting with if you want to get different tone.
Smh he put the tuner right on the Fender logo decal?
Both great sounds but if I had to choose I would select the hand wired model.
Vox seem to sound best with single coils, that is why you will see most all reviewers using single coil guitars when they are demo'd. Marshalls seem to sound best with Humbuckers, and Fenders sound great with both, even though Fender made their name on single coil guitars. I'm partial to Marshalls, especially the 1987.
Both amps sound great! Of course they have different speakers, that's the way they're made... that's part of what we're comparing when we watch this. "Oh but the speakers are different!!!" Why not, "Oh, but the amps are built differently!! Get two that are built exactly the same so we can make a fair comparison...." Shut up.
Not even remotely a comparison worth doing. Given the speaker differences you might as well be comparing apples to onions.
The hand wired is less forgiving on playing, all sounds are pronounced evenly. Blues speakers are more chimmy.
I'm going to go with the C2 primarily because the Celestion Blues are far better speakers IMO than the Greenbacks. Sounded to me like the C2 was sharper, less muddled than the hand-wired. Chalk it up to the Celestion Blues I think. Disclaimer: I have a C2 and it's a great amp. I also have a Deluxe Reverb in which I switched out the stock speaker for a Celestion Blue...what a difference!
The C2 has the greenbacks though.
Two versions, C2 and C2X. Former Greenbacks, latter Blues.
Dude stop staring at the camerea like that!
Biggest difference we are hearing here is the speakers
He’s good should join Slipknot
Good and slipknot should never be used in the same sentence
Jason Holt lmao CLASSIC 👍
Hand-wired all the way
I’m surprised I prefer the C2
Hand wired hands down, but saying that a few resistor changes with the C2 and it will be just as good...
Oil the fret board. that ish is dryer then ashly larry
LAST!
Out of the Chinese models, an AC30CC2 kills them both.
the C2 sounds softer and better in my opinion.but the handwired sounds crisper and more articulate. probably from the alnico speakers,not the wiring
My thoughts entirely. The C2 is brighter and softer (my preference) I bet if it were put through the Blues it would sound incredible.
Watch out for the jaw
Just noticed he's playing without a strap... mind blown
Rick comes across super arrogant at times.
Shane, seriously dude!
You can’t shoot out using two different amps when each uses different speakers.
Come on man, you know better!
But... they both sound great!
😐😐😐😐😐😐😐
Useless apples and oranges comparison when both amps have two very different speakers.
Terrible tone ugh
the regular Vox sounds better to me, save your hard earned cash!
why the hell wouldn't you put the same speakers in both cabs....ridiculous.