First off, you're very fortunate to be able to afford all of that gear! Then, some thoughts. I used to chain the Trem and Brilliant channels together (WITH my Tele!). The crowds loved it, but in the studio, the engineers were amazed at it's sound! The Tele combined with the AC30, ARE the best sound, live, AND in the studio!
That bandmaster that you have, I have the same amp. Cranked with my 78' LP with Super Distortions it breaks up almost like an old Marshall. I just love it!
I have an '83 Telecaster with Vox AC15C1. No doubt about it, my favorite guitar-amp sound on the planet. You can hear that Telecaster with Vox circuit in this video as well...beautiful sounds all over.
I 100% agree I just got one and i normally use my strat for everything but with ma ac30 I cant put my tele down it sounds so good , not to say the strat don’t sound good but oh my god with a tele it’s amazing
Excellent video on the versatility of a great sounding amp. I have both the AC30 and AC15 (English made with Celestions). Fantastic amps all around. The only thing is now I definitely need a telecaster, ha ha.
I started out a fender guy about 3 years ago I recorded at a studio that had a 66 ac30 it wasn't long after that I sold all my amps and bought a 63 ac30/6 candy panel with factory added top boost in the back alnico blues their is nothing like a real jmi era vox
This is called sharing and building a community. I've learned so much watching other youtube channels that I feel obliged to share it too. This is our TV, but we are in command!!!
got two JMI era AC30s - love 'em, the simplicity and the rawness of them - the newer ones just aren't the same, IMO. Only thing about the old ones is, at 'home practice'-friendly volumes they sound a bit lifeless and 'boxed in'. You need to push the volume a fair bit to really get that classic sound out of them!
brillant channel, cut, bass and treble at max, mixed with the vibrato channel....that's is the sound of the vox ac30......great video (as the others) and thank you for your advices...I follow you
What I seem to have found out about Voxes (older ones anyway, pre-2000) it really makes a difference what year and build it is since that company has gone through so many permutations each time changing their marquee product, the AC30. I have a 2010 AC30HW and its good and very loud and very heavy and a decent breakup but not one I really love but last month I played a 1968 "management buy out period" (just post Jennings) Vox AC30 and it was chime city, harmonic gold, just beautiful breakup, no spikey at all but no real loud overall. So different. I need to make a video!
Yes I have an ac30cc2 and when I first got it I was disappointed. It sounds good after playing with tubes (real vintage british Mullard in V1 for example makes a world of difference in that amp). But I'm not sure how it compares to a real ac30, I've never played one.
Man I don't know how you get that breakup so easily. I had a reissue from 2000, one of the ones made in England at the Marshall factory, and designed to 60's specs, and it was deafeningly loud before I started to get the slightest breakup.
Hello Budda, I have this same amplifier model, how can I know when it was manufactured? I'm sure it's from the 60's, but I do not know the year specifically ..... It has been a pleasure for me to have played with you in Braga, greetings from Spain !!!!!!!!!!!
Castor Montes Quintillán hi there my friend! I'm not sure but you try to search from its serial number in forums. It was a pleasure to play with you too and I'm looking forward to meet you again with more free time.
Many thanks Budda, I am going to investigate in the forums to know in which year my amp has been manufactured ..... I'm looking forward to going back to Braga and enjoying a great musician as you are !!!!!!
I am glad to see that you always have your Mesa TA in the background. Now that you review the AC30, do you also agree that the TA green channel sounds really like the AC30? I have the TA30, but never played on the AC30. I am still a big fan of you videos, man! Your music also made me buy an octave pedal :)
Tamas Veingartner the green channel on the TA series is more towards the brilliant channel on the AC30 but not as bright. It gives you that chime that VOX's are usually associated with. As you might have noticed the normal channel is in fact a very dark and fat channel. I think it also has something to do with the greenbacks.
Cool, love Petty! Love the Vox sound. I've got an ac4 that sounds cool running on top of Fender amps. Thinking of getting an ac15. Really want the handwired version. Have you played one?
Gobi Grey great! I've tried the AC30 hand wired version and it's very similar to my old one. I've never tried the AC15 but I think it's just less power and less headroom.
If you can find one, try yhe 2007 Heritage AC15H1TV, a better amp IMO than the current HW: sounds great and the EF86 channel (the original AC15 circuit) it's just ridiculous! :D But yes, it is a little dirty amp, not much clean headroom...get an AC30 if you want LOUD and CLEAN(er)!
Hey! Take it easy. The goal of this channel is to share my knowledge and opinion, trying to help others to have their own. There’s an amp for everyone and the beauty of music is in the difference. What works for some, might not work for others. AC30 is a difficult amp for me. It depends on my mood!!!
I've been having problems with my AC 30 completely shutting down and blowing tubes when switching on the Standby switch ... any thoughts? Is this a common problem ?
I could be wrong, but I think I've read this is common with a certain type of AC30s that have a rectifier tube. Maybe the CC2X? Anyway, you can find some talk about it on the web. Guys with those amps don't use the stanby switch.
My understanding is that there are different AC30 amps on the market - some cheaper ones and some with circuitry and components much closer the the originals (which cost a lot more!).Which one are you playing here?
I can save you a lot of time. Unless you can afford a vintage one then you want a CC2X (put UK made alnico blue speakers in it). 👍 Hands down the best modern AC30.
I can also recommend the CC2x. Great reverb is a plus in case u like that. Some people prefer blue speakers, some Greenbacks for a different flavor. U should try both. I really like a closed back 2x12 greenback cabinet with my AC30C2... really brings out the mids without the harsh top end that is sometimes associated with blue speakers.
A most unusual version that is ... mine has 3 handles and a continuously variable Vibrato speed knob. The ventilator slots on mine are much bigger and let more heat escape .. and one more thing mine is earthed 🥹... with no hum !
Thank you Budda for great video as always! I am thinking of buying Vox AC4TVH head with V112TV cab. Any opinions would be great, because of your video I bought Fender Blues Jr and I am happy man (Planing to buy tweed version as well).
I think it is a toy amp, but there’s always a use for those too. But it has nothing to do with an AC30. And mine is hand wired point to point, what makes it even more special
You make some of the best videos on here, Budda. The problem is, every time I watch your videos, I want to go out and buy more amps and equipment...hehe....Great collection you've got. jj
Did you actually describe the holy AC30, gods own amplifier, as a one trick pony? Wash your mouth out and pray for forgiveness! 😂 And you are wrong about the mids being fixed - on AC15/30 as you turn down the bass it boosts the low mids, and turning the treble down boosts the high mids. I think you may need to spend a bit more time getting to know your amp and the subtleties of dialling it in. It will always sound like a Vox just like a Fender will sound like a Fender etc. but it will do a lot more than I think you realise. The reward will be worth the effort.
Thanks for the tips. To me it’s an amp I use in one situation, but it handles pedals really well. As for the miss being fixe mean you have no controls on the mids. By lowering the bass and tele you leave the mids untouched. By turning bass an Treble up you how the mids.
It doesn’t sound like that to me. When you cut bass you unmask the low mids and they seem louder. But you’re actually left with what was there in the first place. Nonetheless I will check it out on the amp, because I might be wrong. Thanks for sharing again
never liked vox amps. they seem too tinny to my ears. Whats kinda odd is many of my favorite bands played vox amps (kinda odd because...studio). Wasn't impressed with this one either.
That's for jumpering the channels (also called jumping) where you use a short cable to combine two channels and you can blend to sound of each. It only works for amps with at least 4 inputs. The Vox AC30 is not a channel switching amp, so you would need an A/B-Y switcher to accomplish that.
The AC30 makes a guitar sound like a guitar. Wood, metal and feeling. It enhances honesty. I've finally got one. It sounds so very good.
You speak the truth...
I love it
About to test an amp with the G chord is exactly what I also do! 🎶🎸 100% agree with you!
👌
I never heard the vibrato channel on an original. Just amazing! You have a tasteful collection of gear.
Thanks a lot
First off, you're very fortunate to be able to afford all of that gear! Then, some thoughts. I used to chain the Trem and Brilliant channels together (WITH my Tele!). The crowds loved it, but in the studio, the engineers were amazed at it's sound! The Tele combined with the AC30, ARE the best sound, live, AND in the studio!
I totally agree with you!! I just love it!!
That bandmaster that you have, I have the same amp. Cranked with my 78' LP with Super Distortions it breaks up almost like an old Marshall. I just love it!
It’s a killer amp indeed
Phew, that switch to the neck pickup at the end was a relief.
Your studio looks awesome!!!!!
Sensacional Buda 🎸🔥🎵♥️
Thanks
I have an '83 Telecaster with Vox AC15C1. No doubt about it, my favorite guitar-amp sound on the planet. You can hear that Telecaster with Vox circuit in this video as well...beautiful sounds all over.
It’s a perfect combination. Thanks
ac30 was made for use whit telecaster.
Gon I totally agree! It’s my favorite combination
I 100% agree I just got one and i normally use my strat for everything but with ma ac30 I cant put my tele down it sounds so good , not to say the strat don’t sound good but oh my god with a tele it’s amazing
That’s right. They were made for each other
That's my setup. White tele with 1/4 pound pups into the AC30.
It’s a great setup
Excellent video on the versatility of a great sounding amp. I have both the AC30 and AC15 (English made with Celestions). Fantastic amps all around. The only thing is now I definitely need a telecaster, ha ha.
That’s right!!’ Eh! Eh!
Thanks
Wow I really like that trem-vibro channel! Much nicer than just a regular tremolo imo.
It’s lovely indeed
I started out a fender guy about 3 years ago I recorded at a studio that had a 66 ac30 it wasn't long after that I sold all my amps and bought a 63 ac30/6 candy panel with factory added top boost in the back alnico blues their is nothing like a real jmi era vox
I like this guy. Good player, good info and a lot of fun.
thanks a lot
I love my AC30.
Great amp and one of the classics for one reason. Which amp would you consider a "main amp" for you and why?. Thanks for your valuable info.
If I would only have one it would be the deluxe reverb! It has a great clean tone it’s powerfull enough and it can drive great
I don't think I've ever watched a video with a G chord being played this many times! Sounds great though, so can't complain.
it's a great chord to test amps because of its harmonic content. Eh! Eh!
I agree, if the G chord doesn't sound great somethings up
It starts at 3:30
your welcome!
Brittish amps are just wonderful!
I’m more of a fender guy but I love this British midrange
@@BuddaGuedes I thought you were Supro. Are they Fender voiced?
They are in the middle of fender and British. That’s why I love supro amps
are these youtube videos of players testing amps/speaker comparisons, THE NEW ROCK? Shit, better than anything on radio, that's for sure!!
This is called sharing and building a community. I've learned so much watching other youtube channels that I feel obliged to share it too. This is our TV, but we are in command!!!
got two JMI era AC30s - love 'em, the simplicity and the rawness of them - the newer ones just aren't the same, IMO. Only thing about the old ones is, at 'home practice'-friendly volumes they sound a bit lifeless and 'boxed in'. You need to push the volume a fair bit to really get that classic sound out of them!
It’s really cool in fact
brillant channel, cut, bass and treble at max, mixed with the vibrato channel....that's is the sound of the vox ac30......great video (as the others) and thank you for your advices...I follow you
Thanks a lot for your comment and support
@@BuddaGuedes I’m seeing all your episodes
Great!! I hope you’re having fun
What I seem to have found out about Voxes (older ones anyway, pre-2000) it really makes a difference what year and build it is since that company has gone through so many permutations each time changing their marquee product, the AC30. I have a 2010 AC30HW and its good and very loud and very heavy and a decent breakup but not one I really love but last month I played a 1968 "management buy out period" (just post Jennings) Vox AC30 and it was chime city, harmonic gold, just beautiful breakup, no spikey at all but no real loud overall. So different. I need to make a video!
elwrongo that’s really true
Yes I have an ac30cc2 and when I first got it I was disappointed. It sounds good after playing with tubes (real vintage british Mullard in V1 for example makes a world of difference in that amp). But I'm not sure how it compares to a real ac30, I've never played one.
I’ve played through some modern ones that are pretty close to mine
Man I don't know how you get that breakup so easily. I had a reissue from 2000, one of the ones made in England at the Marshall factory, and designed to 60's specs, and it was deafeningly loud before I started to get the slightest breakup.
It was very loud indeed
Agree with you, I have same reissue amp. Doesn't get crunchy until 75% up, have to use an attenuator to hear the overdrive. Beautiful throughout
eu costumo linkar os canais uns aos outros através das entradas Low e Hi e misturo os canais
Great review.
@Budda Guedes - How does the Transatlantic compare to the vox? Does it get the vox flavor?
Different beasts although the Transatlantic can get a cool box feel. But not the same at all
Very nice review and great tone!
Excuse me: wich song do you play at 5:33?
It's Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds.
Budda Guedes OK thanks!
@@stratosergio your welcome. Thanks for asking.
Nice video Buddha. I have a small ac10c1, witch tremolo pedal do you think I should use to have that kind of effect ?
Bertrand Veneziani it’s very hard to get that harmonic tremolo in a pedal, but the walrus is a great one. And só is the Supro pedal.
Budda Guedes give a look in the VOX COOLTRON VIBRATO/trem. Ot sounds similar to the amp’s effect (is vox)
Hello Budda, I have this same amplifier model, how can I know when it was manufactured? I'm sure it's from the 60's, but I do not know the year specifically .....
It has been a pleasure for me to have played with you in Braga, greetings from Spain !!!!!!!!!!!
Castor Montes Quintillán hi there my friend! I'm not sure but you try to search from its serial number in forums.
It was a pleasure to play with you too and I'm looking forward to meet you again with more free time.
Many thanks Budda, I am going to investigate in the forums to know in which year my amp has been manufactured .....
I'm looking forward to going back to Braga and enjoying a great musician as you are !!!!!!
You'll be more than welcome here.
i can hear beatles sound in that amp
fantastic sound
Gregory Dorrell it’s a great one for sure
I am glad to see that you always have your Mesa TA in the background. Now that you review the AC30, do you also agree that the TA green channel sounds really like the AC30? I have the TA30, but never played on the AC30. I am still a big fan of you videos, man! Your music also made me buy an octave pedal :)
Tamas Veingartner the green channel on the TA series is more towards the brilliant channel on the AC30 but not as bright. It gives you that chime that VOX's are usually associated with. As you might have noticed the normal channel is in fact a very dark and fat channel. I think it also has something to do with the greenbacks.
Cool, love Petty! Love the Vox sound. I've got an ac4 that sounds cool running on top of Fender amps. Thinking of getting an ac15. Really want the handwired version. Have you played one?
Gobi Grey great! I've tried the AC30 hand wired version and it's very similar to my old one. I've never tried the AC15 but I think it's just less power and less headroom.
If you can find one, try yhe 2007 Heritage AC15H1TV, a better amp IMO than the current HW: sounds great and the EF86 channel (the original AC15 circuit) it's just ridiculous! :D
But yes, it is a little dirty amp, not much clean headroom...get an AC30 if you want LOUD and CLEAN(er)!
From WHAT era is this VOX? That makes a huge difference.
1966
@Angel. Do your fingers have a mind of their own?
@Angel. Dude I don't even know what a pennis is but cool story.
Hey! Take it easy. The goal of this channel is to share my knowledge and opinion, trying to help others to have their own. There’s an amp for everyone and the beauty of music is in the difference. What works for some, might not work for others. AC30 is a difficult amp for me. It depends on my mood!!!
I've been having problems with my AC 30 completely shutting down and blowing tubes when switching on the Standby switch ... any thoughts? Is this a common problem ?
I think ac30 are problematic amps. But I don’t know what might be causing it.
Better to take it to a tech
I could be wrong, but I think I've read this is common with a certain type of AC30s that have a rectifier tube. Maybe the CC2X? Anyway, you can find some talk about it on the web. Guys with those amps don't use the stanby switch.
Thanks for sharing
@@fdg6832 Thanks ... Yeah , it's happened twice ... I normally don't use the standby , but I thought the last time they fixed it , but ... nope ...
Thanks for your comment
My understanding is that there are different AC30 amps on the market - some cheaper ones and some with circuitry and components much closer the the originals (which cost a lot more!).Which one are you playing here?
This is a 1966 AC30 point to point handwired.
I can save you a lot of time. Unless you can afford a vintage one then you want a CC2X (put UK made alnico blue speakers in it). 👍 Hands down the best modern AC30.
I can also recommend the CC2x. Great reverb is a plus in case u like that. Some people prefer blue speakers, some Greenbacks for a different flavor. U should try both. I really like a closed back 2x12 greenback cabinet with my AC30C2... really brings out the mids without the harsh top end that is sometimes associated with blue speakers.
A most unusual version that is ... mine has 3 handles and a continuously variable Vibrato speed knob. The ventilator slots on mine are much bigger and let more heat escape .. and one more thing mine is earthed 🥹... with no hum !
Eh! Eh!
The Helix can do it and you would be amazed.
What can it do?
Oh yes, helix native software is incredible in reproducing a mic recorded AC30. I love it!
I can imagine
It would be really cool if you could control the vibrato speed with an expression pedal =)
that is a pretty man cave - to say the least!!! It's a beastly Castle to put it another way.
Yeah!! Thanks
does the AC30 work well with pedals?
Yes it does
Awesome video!
Are you in a band or do you have a soloist project?
Cheers from Mexico
Alejandro Salazar thanks. I have 3 bands at the moment and I'm also a producer. At the moment I have Budda Power Blues, Dona Carioca and Trio Pagú.
Great! I'll check them out
Thank you Budda for great video as always! I am thinking of buying Vox AC4TVH head with V112TV cab. Any opinions would be great, because of your video I bought Fender Blues Jr and I am happy man (Planing to buy tweed version as well).
I think it is a toy amp, but there’s always a use for those too. But it has nothing to do with an AC30.
And mine is hand wired point to point, what makes it even more special
@@BuddaGuedes Thank you Budda!
Great demo, what song is that part, from 8:06 to 8:24?! Thanks, Lucas.
lucas borja thanks a lot. It's a Monstro Mau's song called "lixo" (one of my bands)
Budda man, este AC30 é de que ano=? eu tenho um de 1989.
1966
Thanks
You make some of the best videos on here, Budda. The problem is, every time I watch your videos, I want to go out and buy more amps and equipment...hehe....Great collection you've got. jj
jjbarnone thanks a lot!! I have the same problem when I watch other channels!! Ah ah ah
What year is this Ac30?
1968
This amp is an 1976/78 model
No voltage selector
Green backs
Grill cloth Dallas arbiter era
Great amp
Did you actually describe the holy AC30, gods own amplifier, as a one trick pony? Wash your mouth out and pray for forgiveness! 😂 And you are wrong about the mids being fixed - on AC15/30 as you turn down the bass it boosts the low mids, and turning the treble down boosts the high mids. I think you may need to spend a bit more time getting to know your amp and the subtleties of dialling it in. It will always sound like a Vox just like a Fender will sound like a Fender etc. but it will do a lot more than I think you realise. The reward will be worth the effort.
Thanks for the tips. To me it’s an amp I use in one situation, but it handles pedals really well. As for the miss being fixe mean you have no controls on the mids. By lowering the bass and tele you leave the mids untouched. By turning bass an Treble up you how the mids.
@@BuddaGuedes Perhaps I wasn't clear, the bass and treble controls are designed to adjust the lower and upper mids as well.
It doesn’t sound like that to me. When you cut bass you unmask the low mids and they seem louder. But you’re actually left with what was there in the first place. Nonetheless I will check it out on the amp, because I might be wrong.
Thanks for sharing again
@@BuddaGuedes Ask Vox.
picture yourself
Gregory Dorrell ah ah
never liked vox amps. they seem too tinny to my ears. Whats kinda odd is many of my favorite bands played vox amps (kinda odd because...studio). Wasn't impressed with this one either.
sempercompellis I felt the same way because I had only played them alone. Take that glassy tone and throw it in a band situation and it kills.
....so instead of footswitch you have to replug it each time. W t F?
That's for jumpering the channels (also called jumping) where you use a short cable to combine two channels and you can blend to sound of each. It only works for amps with at least 4 inputs. The Vox AC30 is not a channel switching amp, so you would need an A/B-Y switcher to accomplish that.
Thanks for your comment and help
Look at it not as a foot switchable amp but as a 3 preamp option
Vox AC30.....thin thin thin.
Squizzy Bollocks lol
Well he has the treble almost dimed on the TB channel. Ouch!
@@Billywagner22 Full treble and no cut on the TB channel is so bright it can make your teeth hurt!
That’s true