Vox AC15c1: Review, Tone Tips & More
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ค. 2021
- #voxac15 #voxamps #guitar @VoxAmpsVideos
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Welcome to this in depth demo and review of the Vox AC15! This is the C1 with a Celestion Greenback speaker. What do you think? Using a Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul, as well as a Keeley Eccos, Shnobel Tone Daily Drive, Tru-Fi Pedals Rangemaster, and a One Control Pale Blue Compressor.
Video Guide:
Intro Tones: 1:05
Review: 3:42
Clean Tones: 13:02
Amp Drive Tones & Explanations: 14:49
Reverb & Tremolo: 19:15
Pedal Tones & Explanations: 21:26
Outro & Cranked Tones: 26:59
This was not a sponsored video. The Keeley, One Control and Shnobel Tone pedals I original received through sponsorship deals, however those deals were limited to their individual reviews, and did not include their appearances in this video.
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How do you dial in your AC15? Let us know! Find a handy-dandy video guide in the description, and follow me on Spotify!
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Hi Jack, great video and tips. Being a fan of Rory Gallagher, I'm then a strat guy and a Vox guy. I plug my Fender American Vintage 62 reissue strat in my Vox AC15HW1, and if I bypass the master volume, it's a fantastic tone but so loud. With the master volume in, I tend to play the normal channel adding some Range Master like boost. I fitted my strat with Bare Knuckles Irish Tour pickups, representing the Rory's tones of his famous live album Irish Tour 74, so that I don't need to use the tone cut, and get that AC30 growling tone. The larger, heavier, thicker pine cabinet of the Hand Wire version of AC15, really change the tone from the standard C1, while having the same G12M greenback speaker , which by the way really needs to break in after lot of hours, to deliver the good tones it is famous for.
I usually just talk in front of it most of the time.
Let me start by saying that I'm not a fan of the Vox AC 15c1. But dude you just totally changed my entire perspect on the AC15c1!
I've owned 2 of the AC 15 HW 1x and I've also owned two ac30 HW 1x amps.The one ac30 that I loved the most was the version that had the ef86 in the preamp and that was the best sounding app I've ever owned.
if 2008 and 2009 hadn't happened I would still own that amp and one of my handwired ac15's. I sold those amps to pay the mortgage so it is what it is.
But I have to say this AC15C1 is definitely in the running for my next amplifier although I still am leaning towards the handwired AC 15 with the blue celestion.
it's just more flexible amp it has more bells and whistles to it. And it's actually a different Beast than the Ac15 c1. Kind of apples and oranges kind of thing.
Thank you so much for the upload and imparting your knowledge on us! I'm a new subscriber and I've already shared your video to a couple of my friends!!
I am watching this for the exact reason you said great video.
Great video, and a very honest description of the AC-15. Having been a Fender amp guy for most of my playing life, when I first got my AC-15C I was a little “confused” to say the least. The initial sounds I was getting out of it were disappointing. I knew there was potential, but I needed to change my brain from the “Fender setup” to this new unknown territory. It took me a while, but now I’m in love with the Vox. Jack’s basic setup tips are a great starting point for dialing in your own sounds. This amp needs your attention and your ear. Forget about what the knobs say, just listen and you’ll eventually get there.
Thanks! Yeah its surprising how different your approach has to be considering that the amps are suited for similar genres. I hadn't owned a Vox amp for a few years and when I plugged this one in, it instantly brought me back to a different style of playing.
How different the “clean tones” are between that “clean Fender sound” and this amp? I hope I made myself clear. Thanks a lot.
@@pauluribeorozco5162 I can only speak as to the differences between my two Fenders, a Pro Reverb and a 65’ Deluxe, and the AC-15. What I hear is that the Fenders have more pronounced highs and lows, (we also need to consider that fact that there are more tone-shaping controls on the Fenders). The Vox tends to be more “mid-focused” and the sound is more compressed. Also, the Vox breaks up more easily and you can hear how a more aggressive picking attack quickly makes the amp become a little dirtier. The Fenders can achieve a true clean tone but the Vox is always more edgy and aggressive, while still having that chime and clarity. I hope this helps, it is obviously something subjective and it is what my ear tells me, but pretty much sums up what I feel are the main differences.
Love my AC15. Lots of amps have come and go for me, but this one has always stayed.
Always loved Vox cleans. You gave us some great drive tones. Thanks Jack!
Great video. Thanks so much. I have been playing with a band using a VOX AC15 and still experimenting with it. Your review was super helpful!
Use an A/B switch box like the Radial Bigshot or Lehle Little Dual, and run one line into the Normal Ch, and the other into the TB Ch. That'll give you the channel switching capability, plus you can blend the channels together for different voicings.
Thank Jack, love your sense of history, narrative depth, and practical insight. Your show is a joy to watch. God bless you!
Thank you for all that! What a lovely compliment
Fantastic again, very informative! Thanks for doing a top work with these videos.
A thoughtful and thorough demo, per usual. And some fine playing, per usual. I'm a Vox guy, two small home amps. Love 'em!
One of the best reviews I've come across. Concise and informative. You've hit all the salient points. Thank you. Terrific playing as well.
Concise you say?
Dude was 15 minutes in before he said anything we didnt already know.
Had mine for about 7 years now. Clipped the bright cap and added a switch, but I never switch it back on. Grounded the tone pot (long time ago, so don't recall which) to make the tone controls normal. I also put a Y cable to feed into both channels at the same time, and I find it fills out the sound beautifully. Lastly I ran an extension cab with an eminence private jack so I've got both speakers running. Pure bliss!
Fantastic review! Positives, negatives, history, advice and bad ass playing!
Had my Ac15c1 for around 5 years now and I love it. Just changed the valves for the first time and it has brought the sparkle back! Good video buddy, with great advice.👍🏻cheers.
Very nice! I haven't changed anything in this one yet although I'm planning a speaker shootout coming up.
Great in-depth video on how to adjust the AC15C1 for desired tones. I have the red tolex version with Greenback and at home usually run the Normal channel 50% volume, Cut at 3 pm, and Master between 9 and noon. That's with a Fender Stratocaster, volume and tone knobs on 6. I learned it takes some time to tweak the amp and significantly reduce the bright sounds. So I also use an EQ pedal and that adds to sound shaping. However, run a Gretsch hollowbody or Rickenbacker 12-string through this amp and it's sonic delight. Enjoyed your video, useful analysis.
Tks for this !! :-) Definitely cleared up a few things for me. Your dial-in suggestions were spot on for what I was going for -- playing with a strat and Firebird
Awesome, great to hear!
Fantastic demo, Jack. Cheers.
Thank you kindly!
Hi from New Zealand Jack. Thanks heaps for a truly excellent video on the Vox cr15c1 amp. Based on your advice and tips plus the incredible tones you were getting from the amp , I am buying one in a couple of days time. Thanks again, keep up the great work 👍
Really enjoyed your review Jack!
Nicely done! Well-presented, useful information.
Glad you liked it!
I’ve got the AC30 head with built in attenuator and with that turned off it was very shrill or harsch on lower volumes. But with the attenuator on full and the volumes turned up, that amp came to life. I truly love it to bits and can use it at home. I do use pedals with it to shape the sound.
I bought my AC15 head about ten days before finding your video and it’s going to be a big help. Thanks so much.
The AC15 sounds great clean with the master cranked though. The bright cap on the AC15 is implemented on the master volume circuit meaning the higher the master, the less the effect of the bright cap so you can get really mellow tones with the master cranked.
I love these tone clinics. I just wish some of the guitar players that I see in local venues would watch them too!
I got one of these from my wife for Christmas last year and it’s been great for gigging, the power amp distortion at reasonable levels is incredible. I just plug straight into the normal channel with a strat most of the time.
Great, Great, Great video sir! Two things you've mentioned are spot on and bear reiteration:
1) feel free to turn the tone knob way down, or up, but probably down. It's not like a Fender where they are usually set according to predictable positions. Takes fiddling and as soon as you get it dialed in and change guitars, prepare to fiddle some more.
2) Use the Tone cut liberally and use your ears - I like the idea of going all the clockwise and pulling back until you get the treble you need.
When using single-coils, I keep Tone cut at 12-2:00 (sometimes even higher depending on the room and mix). Bass tone around 11:00, Treble around 10-noon. Master all the way up always, Volume around 12-2:00 and regulate breakup with guitar's volume knob. Once the Greenback breaks in(took me over a year), it gets distorted before well it gets loud.
Another thing, the GB speaker gives tons of speaker distortion and accentuates the spikey high end - Some seem to love that, but if like me, you want only tube distortion then feel free to swap the speaker with a higher wattage(and ignore those purists who think anything but a GB or Blue is heresy in a Vox) I am going through various Eminence speakers to see what gives the right dB and Breakup mix. A British voiced Legend, for example, is more neutral and would be a good improvement for taming the icicles and cleaning up early distortion.
Amazing video - you are so comprehensive dude
Great video Jack! I'm a beginner/intermediate player and have this amp. I think this video will help me dial in my AC15. Your tones and playing sounded Awesome.
Glad to hear it!
Great video per usual. I have the AC15C1. Just ordered a WGS 50 Blackhawk Alnico for it. Can't wait to throw it in. Cheers Jack!
Good choice!
Great review, I don’t own an AC15 but would like to get it, every time I’ve heard or played one I’ve just loved the sounds it gets
They’re very unique among guitar amps, really nothing else quite like them (with the exception of amps based on them)
My all time favorite amp. I have an ‘014 Blue/Cream TV, 100% stock. The AC-15 does have a bit of a learning curve, because the tone controls, and channels interact with each other differently from most other amps.
I usually run my MIM Standard Strat, and American Pro Tele at about half volume on the guitars into the top boost channel, with the normal channel volume all the way up (that causes it to bleed over into the top boost channel a bit, fattening up the sound, kinda like the fat switch on a Blues Jr.)
It’s a bit tricky, but once you dial it in correctly to your guitar, there’s nothing quite like it, gorgeous tone! Alas, most demos don’t bother to find the sweet spots, and end up giving people a bad impression of this great amp - you did great tho, thanks! 👍
I gotta thank you for this. My amp recently died and I have a major gig coming up. A friend of mine had one of these lying around that she let me borrow. I could not get a good sound out of it until I saw this video. Now it sounds amazing and I think I am a Vox guy now. Dope video. Gracias.
So ... I very recently got my hands on a Vox AC15C1 ... and it feels like I'm in a dream state with all they sonic joy of the amp to explore ... and that dread building up behind it that I'll wake up and be back in the state I was in before getting it. I have a Vox Pathfinder 10, though, and - once modded (sorely needs a reverb pan in it!) - that'll be perfect. But that is no gigging amp.
I'm still exploring tones, as you can well imagine, and I'm glad of this video for that very reason: useful bit of education, really. But I am utterly amazed at how the same setting gets me a lovely, sweet-n-creamy rock rhythm tone and my disability assistant a gorgeous mellow jazz tone. It's like the amp is bilingual!
Thank you for this video. 👍
I've had my ac15 for 10 years now. This long i've had it and i'm still watching videos to get even more unique sounds out of it. Definitely a complicated one, for which I have almost lost my mind over not getting the tone I want, potentially punched a wall or two. But I love the thing, thanks for the video i'm going straight back to messing with it.
Really nice videos! I like that, you really tell stuffs about your... well stuff but you go deep :)
Great video!! I have this amp and will try some of your settings although I can guarantee mine won’t sound anything like yours!! Currently I’ve been playing it with the treble up, bass down and primarily neck pickup on my Strat
Ran across your excellent video and review for this amp! Great job. As a plus, Maine is a beautiful state.
Thank you kindly! It is, lived here pretty much my whole life.
I had a spotless AC15C1X (alnico blue speaker) that I bought used for $500 and stupidly sold. Was a solid amp and I like that the modern ones have reverb and trem built in (I do not use pedals). Great tone tips!
First time here. Really enjoyed the way you speak and convey info. Nice playing too. You seem like a really cool guy. Liked subbed.
Hey thank you! Appreciate that. Although I don’t know about being cool, I’ll settle for “well, at least he’s not a deadbeat”
Thanks Jack, have considered buying one for years.
I love my AC15c1, you're wide open demo is why
It's a proper amp. Great tone. Nice review. Thanks.
LOVE my AC15C1 with the greenback
And my AC10...I had the pleasure of gigging and recording with a 64 BFDR and a 65 BF princeton...the only Fender amps I like are the tweeds...so for me smaller amps like these two are in my wheelhouse...but I never met an amp that didn't benefit from a nice clean boost pedal, maybe a little compression...just saying...
Great review
Great demo Jack. I can't say I like the Vox amps that I have heard reviewed online , they just sound a little bit brittle to me, especially with Fender guitars.
Just scored one myself, a sweetheart deal on a 2014 AC15 w/GB (same model as the one you're using here) + a Boss DD-7 for $550AUD total. That's a pretty amazing price for Australia. It's in excellent condition with everything working like gangbusters. I'm very happy - and back to re-watch Jack do his tips & tricks tone guru thing. Thanks, Jarck! Definitely going to use my Keeley Java Treble Booster and a nice full-range overdrive like a Boss BD-2 or the Vick Audio Mount Pleasant.
The Keeley is my secret weapon lol
I've tried a couple other Treble Boosters (one silicon, one germanium) and came back to the Keeley. It's so good
You can use an A-B-Y pedal to switch between normal and top boost for sort of a clean dirt channel switching setup. The Boss Line selector is great for this and you can run both the normal and top boost together as well.
Sounds blooming great, never played one myself and never wanted to, but that was based on hearing the tone from others playing through one, hopefully given the chance i'll be putting that right.
They really are just that finicky - a lot of good amps sound at least decent even if they aren’t dialed in the best. But not these, they can sound downright awful unless you get them just right. But then they sound awesome and it’s a whole tone unto itself
@@JackFossett Your not wrong, on my Yamaha thr theres a amp mode called mini, it was a sound i didn't like at all untill a few weeks ago i was messing around with the settings on the amp and my guitar, now it's one of my favorites, especially with the volume on the guitar rolled back.
Great video, Jack! The AC 15 is a damn good amp, for sure. It's got a ton of high end clarity.
Great video! I have the ac15 c1 and I honestly like it better than my Princeton 65 reissue.
Have one coming this week, the royal blue limited edition. I'm more of a Fender guy but looking for some British voicing to add to my collection. Can't wait to try it out!
I like the AC15C1X with the blue speaker. Once I learned how to dial it in, I can capture a lot of the classic British tones. Once you break the speaker in it becomes easier to dial in. With this amp I always have the volume dimed on all my guitars and shape my tone using the amp's knobs. The amp sounds better this way.
Very helpful video! Thanks a lot. Maybe you can spend a video how to influence sound with the top boost controls on the normal channel.
I have a AC15c1 and play the normal channel all the time in combination with the top boost tone. I definitely going to check out the top boost channel again.
I bought one used that someone had really messed up. They had put a terrible speaker in it and miss matched the tubes. I sold it to my bass player and he put it back to what it should be. OMG it is a completely different amp. I still get to play it but now I have to get one for the house. My Strat and tele are magical through it. Love that Vox AC sound.
Thank you! What a great vid - I've been mostly using my AC15 as a clean platform and getting crunch/OD sounds from a multi-effects board. By itself, I've never been tremendously satisfied with its dirty tones, it always sounded either honky or flubby. I'll have to try the top boost wide open w/ the treble and bass at zero now.
Also, how on earth are you able to stay in the same room as the amp with the volume dimed? Do you put in ear plugs? Mine clocks in well over 100db at max volume. I switched to some EL844 tubes (low power versions of EL84) to bring the power down to around 9W, and it still is deafening - I still rarely ever have the master past about 9 o'clock, maybe 10.
From Leo: I tuned in to see if you could get a great tone out of it. I was never able to find what I wanted, so no AC series amps ever followed me home. Some bands that recorded with them were able to find great tones, so we know it can be done.
I put a Celestion Creamback in my AC15, and it's a new animal. Use an A/B switch, to get the use of both channels. I watched a video from the guys on That Pedal Show. Both are long time users of Vox amps. Their thoughts were, run everything, except for reverb and tremolo, at 2 o'clock. Works for me.
I have bought and sold 4 of these. They have the best clean to mid breakup tone with a Telecaster I've ever achieved , even with amps 3 times the price. I only sell them as I can never find a suitable overdrive pedal....until now. A handmade treble booster coupled with a wampler plexidrive set very low did the trick. Always do a jj tube swap and V type speaker, never a blue, just don't get the blues. Wonderful live amp and very loud and clean if you want that.
Interesting thought on the Blue. My first thought was that thing sounds pretty good with that strat,, I wonder what it could do with the blue and a tele. What was you’re experience with the blue?
I’ve always felt Vox amps give out what you put in. Unlike a Marshall or a Fender, you really can’t just plug into it and make it do its thing. It asks you to kinda figure out what you want from it and really learn the amp. But once you do, Lord will you love it. And to anyone asking, yes you can definitely gig with it. If you want pristine cleans, get an AC30. Part of the Vox sound is the “clean but dirty” at the same time sound. Picking dynamics also matter big time.
I had an Vox AC4 Handwired, and it did not have a Tone Cut. I don't have that amp anymore. I have a few 65 Amps with AC15 Style Preamps, and the Tone Cut is needed.
I didn't like my AC15C1 until I cut the bright caps out of it. It took forever to get at the board (lots of screws!), but 5 minutes max to locate and clip out the 2 bright caps - found a how-to somewhere on line. After, it was much rounder and balanced, and the tone cut was still useful with a Strat.
YMMV, but it made it usable for me.
I clipped the bright cap out of my old AC30 and also found it helped. I haven't done any sorts of mods to this one... not sure if I will or not.
Thanks very much for the review. You've confirmed my decision to opt for a Blues Jr. The Vox makes some very nice sounds, but not particularly the ones I'm looking for.
I personally love the reversed tone knob. I guess it’s just the way things work in my head. I play a rat pedal and it has the reversed knob too and I can’t quite explain it but it’s easier for me to dial in
You can switch channels on these with an A/B switch. That's how I use it. I have mine dialed in with a nice rich clean tone on the normal channel, and a crunchy overdrive on the Boost channel. Easy to switch between them with the A/B and even combine them, similar to jumping an amp with 4 input jacks. Try it sometime, really useful onstage.
I love vox amps.. i seem to never get a bad tone out of them... The real secret is to get a modle with the cream backs... It is the best speaker to use to cut out the glassy tone.... I have a ac30s1 top boost chanel only and the ac15 black and tan. Both have the cream back.. sound great
Which pickups do you use in the Strat and the Les Paul? And in which positions? I loved the tones of each, and am possibly looking to change them in my 2013 Les Paul Standard.
P.S. - I own a Vox AC15 C1. Also, do you, or anyone else hear, have any brand/model recommendations for replacement of each of the factory issued tubes? It has a 12AX7 Pre tube and an EL84 Power tube.
A guy wanted my Roland Blues Cube and traded his Vox15ac1 for it. 😅 This amp is a keeper!! The Bluez Cube I had was extremely limited and noisy.
I had the AC15c2 which is the version in the AC30 cabinet with 2x12 Greenbacks. The amp sounded great. It was surprisingly warm especially since I was expecting some Beatle-esque chime. I think the Greenbacks had a big hand in that. Dialing it in took some experimentation. The Top Boost channel was awful for drive pedals which may have been because of a bright cap. I never took the time to figure out if I could clip it out or not. The reverb was ok, but nothing compared to a Fender reverb.
Jack totally loved this Vox. He may not be saying it, but you can tell.
I bought one a few years back just because I always love to play the AC10 when I'm trying guitars out at GC, and found a 15 in my area for a great deal. I didn't keep it long though, played it for a couple months and when I went back to my good old hot rod deluxe I never plugged back into the vox again. It amazes me that every time I get excited about an amp and want to try something new I always end up going back to my HRD. If I were to buy anything else now it would just be to try to get something more for home use at lower volume. Maybe a Princeton or AC10
ac 10 is incredibly loud..thats a gigging amp
@@sooparticular Idk man. You can crank it up and it will keep up with a drummer, but you'll run out of headroom. I guess if your being mic'd up well then almost anything is a "gigging amp". I'd consider the ac10 and Princeton studio amps before I'd buy them for the purpose of gigging.
@@Joe_whatuknow I agree I had one for a while and was shocked how loud this 500 dollar amp could get!!!!
I love my amp with the tele and Les Paul but i can't get a good sound with the strat. It has its times i guess, cause after not using a strat for a while it suddenly sound great. Idk maybe is just me. I never touch the tone cut, ever. I roll off the tone knob on my guitars for around 3-5, depending on the type of sound I'm looking for. Except the strat, it has fender 57/62 pups, not sure if that might be the reason.
This amp is great as is, but throw some pedals,fuzz, delay, etc through it and it’s legend. I didn’t get it at first, but a few days in and I felt like life changed. Amazing amp.
does this amp loves fuzz?
Yes, hell yes!
@@matimoksa it does. you can hit these as hard as you want and they just sound better
@@lucistiredI bought ac15 and jdm pedelas tonebender mk2 five months ago. yes indeed, it sounds glorious
What is the difference between AC 15 AND AC15 VT?
You have a stunning good ear for vintage tones. And your vivid vocabulary made your explanations so well put. You confirmed many suspicions I have had about my tone problems, especially the top cut. I just havent yet explored enough but now know I am headed in the right direction. And you really nail 4 or 5 vintage tones I love. All on a dinky amp I wouldn't have looked twice at. The amp is now worth 5X what you paid for it (but don't let VOX know).
Thank you kindly! If you’re really into the classic tone also check out the C1X - that alnico blue speaker is a big part of early Vox tone. The greenback is cool, but the blue is “the sound”
I use the AC 15. Great amp!
I just got the limited edition one with jj tubes and the creamback speaker. It sold me the first note I played
I just grabbed one today too, awesome amp
Sorry, mate, that Daily Drive is such a transparent drive i´nit? Im asking cos I have got the Ac15 c2 twin (which is basicly the same but equiped with 2 greens) and I use that Nobels drive. That black bug of yours sounds amazing! great vid, Jack, thank you so much.
GOOD VIDEO. FOR HOME USE WHAT SETTINGS? OVERDRIVEN TERMS. Master volumen is my problem . THANKS !!
I love my vox ac15c1. Took me a while to learn how to use It. The only thing missing for me is an FX loop.
I agree on the FX loop - and that’s just the thing, great tones once you figure them out, but a lot of people can’t seem to figure them out…
I got one on loan for a week from Long & Mc Quade. I spent about an hour trying to get edge of breakup tone, amp only. Can’t find anything I like for now. Can’t wait to spend more time with it tomorrow with the pedals in my HX Stomp. I have a 25 watt jcm clone that was a lot easier for me to find my edge of breakup tone. Anyways lots of fun to tame this beast.
Going to pick one up today used for $350. Not sure what speaker... thanks for the demo
I just got this amp, tried to use it with my catalinbread dls, which replicates a Marshall superbass.
I micd the amp with an sm57 and found the upper midrange to be super harsh, almost like those frequencies were clashing with each other. It’s hard to explain but it just sounded wrong and uncomfortable, at least compared to my orange 60c.
I tried using the tone cut, and turning down the gain, moving the mic, testing both channels, just trying to close to a neutral eq. I thought the greenback speaker would work well with a Marshall sound, so I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. I’ll try out some of your settings in this video, but would you have any other tips or suggestions?
I've had the same experience. Oddly I know alot of players who use a Marshall-in-a-box with Vox amps, but I've never thought they paired well at all. I think Vox amps really need a softer, warmer overdrive or else they're just as you said, super harsh.
i own a VOX AC15HW with greenback speaker... absolutely fantastic... pretty similar to the AC15C1 anyway... i run my top boost channel with volume at 2:30, bass at 12 and treble at 10:30 then cut at 2... normal channel with bright enagaged with volume at 10:30/11 with a boss GE7 to tame the extreme treble... channel switching with a simple AB box... i can do anything just switching guitars... i will always be a vox fan
Hi, I also have the HW1 , so pleased with it. Have you tested it bypassing the master volume ? What do you think? I like it so much that I barely need any pedal.
@@gillesgenete9598 always play it with MV bypassed... I am playing it with some changes these last months: top boost channel and normal channel with bright engaged both at 10.30 with channel jumped... Super dynamic and need just few gain pedals to achieve different flavor of sounds... Best amp ever owned
@@billcarson4749 what's your rec for some cool blues type OD at lower vol levels (bedroom)..something transparent. I heard wrangler has nice ones
@@bleakcandour I love my Hudson broadcast 2 channel pedal... Very transparent, but also gritty and fuzzy if needed. I also own a wampler tumnus, a klon clone, very nice and smooth with gain set lower than a quarter and volume just a bit more than unity
Love my ac-15, another great tone is with mini humbuckers, it’s more focused and mid range punchy.
Ac15 and vox amps are similar to me as a les Paul. Its interesting, not using every day but if you need a special sound for something there it is
I just got a Vox AC15 C2 used. I kind of have the opposite with mine. the trebleness is easy to tame, imo, but the only way to get some low-end and fullness is to plug into the top boost channel and then crank the normal channel all the way up. I don't know why, but settings on one channel influence the sound, whilst plugging into the other channel.
Just got mine; been playing it for two days.
Speaker is already loosening up.
So far, it’s pretty damn cool!
I own the ac15 with the alnico blue. As much as I wanted to love the amp, it just doesn’t do it for me. I’ve tried every conceivable setting on the amp to no avail. If you like the ac15 sound that’s great! I’ll stick with my Deluxe Reverb. Thanks for a great video.
You have to lose the cheap Chinese tubes right away. I run a 5751 in V1 on my AC15C1X and Reflektor Russian 6p14p power tubes, these are high grade long life, military el84s. The amp really responds and has tone and touch like a vintage Vox now.
Been using a guitar-Vox wah-SoulBender instead of a Treble Booster to get Zepplin-esque tones. Thoughts on this approach?
Oh thats interesting - never tried it but I bet that sounds cool. Any feedback issues?
The AC15c1 can actually sound too bright or brittle - until you break the speaker in. It might take some time but it's worth it - once the speaker settled in, I no longer thought of selling the amp.
This is nice to know, since so many people seem to swap out the stock. Which has been discouraging since I got mine. I already struggle with trying to get the tones I want as is 😭😅
Fryeburg Maine...loved the overview.
Fryeburg! Cheers from a fellow Mainer. I used to play at the Bretton Woods Mount Washington resort and drove through on the way.
Have you done any tube changes or substitutes on your AC 15?
lol I like the glass analogy. I'm with ya lol. 09:41
Excelent! What is your strat pickups?
just bought a used one online twenty mins ago. It will look good with the Blues Jr,Deville,Deluxe Tonemaster,AC 4,DSL 40 & DSL 15. BTW I thought the thing sounded great on this video! Ive never even tried one but I dont care.
Hey Jack, can you remind me what you’re playing at right about the 14:00 minute mark? Been playing those chords for the last hour and can’t remember if and where I’d heard it before.
That’s actually a little jazzy thing I wrote. Has similarities to plenty of other jazzy/blues arrangements though.
@@JackFossett it sounds great! Thanks for the awesome review, it got me to re-think how I look at the VOX tone.
I’m looking at both this or the Origin 50 (seeing as they’re both the same price). Which one would be better for gigging?
Well the origin is way louder, but I think this one is generally better.
Hey Jack. I need some help. Will this amp cut through a loud drummer and bassist? I mean, is it enough for a rehearsal without the need of any PA?
It is! We have a loud drummer and bassist. The amp cuts through the mix without mic ing it.
What are your controls set too in the demos?
Wide open and you were able to sit in front of it while playing without ear plugs? Wow! I am afraid to crank mine that high, but might give it a try in the garage, playing via wireless remote from orbit, around a completely different planet!
The AC15 is my sound, it`s like my right arm, or something. Takes pedals extremely well and is super versatile. You can also use an AB box and set one channel to drive and the other to clean, kinda works like a channel switching thing that way.
Only trouble with that I’ve found is balancing volume. Generally I think you accomplish something similar just by using your volume knob
@@JackFossett Yeah that or a boost, for sure. :)
I use an ab pedal as a 3 tier volume, top boost is my main volume, switch to normal channel for quieter or both together for the loudest. I let an overdrive and distortion pedal do the rest.
@@MrJonnyYen that sounds like a good strategy! I don't have an A/B switch, but should probably invest in one. So i.e., you have your Norm & TB channels set to your liking & use switch to alternate? I'm curious on how you use the channels, esp since you're also using drive & distortion pedals in combo
excellent
Thanks!
Miss mine it blew up after owning it for only 5 weeks. Now they can’t get any shipped over here and have no idea when I’ll have a new one
Oh that’s too bad - yeah I didn’t get into the reliability in this video but generally speaking, Vox amps haven’t faired well for me in that regard. I’m going to do a shootout with this and a Blues Jr and talk about it there