The amp sounds damn good ---- retains individual note/string definition even when overdriven. Very fine playing too! Too few folks palm the pick and go fingerstyle!
Great work Lyle. Your friend is a fine player and I think you've given him a great pallet of colors to work with. Kudos. Happy holidays to you and your family.
In case I don't make it into the chat this afternoon ----- got a family gathering to attend ---- I hope everybody has a safe holiday, especially you Lyle, as the news showed trucks sliding around helplessly on ice-covered Memphis roads. Everybody stay safe and warm, and keep your fingers crossed that the electrical grid holds up (thankfully, most of us are resourceful guys who can unleash our inner McGyver to survive potential disasters ---- I saved someone's life with a battery-powered tire inflator once), and if you don't absolutely have to go out on bad roads, stay home! Up here in New England, we had numerous country roads blocked by downed trees, and my wife had to take a bunch of detours to get to the hospital where she works, but at least we never lost power, although my sister who lives nearby, and many of my neighbors, did. I do have a generator that I can patch into the house if needed. It's 5 degrees outside at 6:00 am., actual air temperature, not including wind chill....
hey man. you're recordings sound so clean! your videos made me realize the buzzing(60,120hz and all of the above lol!) in my newish ac15 is not normal. even with single coils you seem to get a very clean sound with no humming hissing or buzzing! I simply cannot record anything. I figure its my old house, and probably running a 40 foot extension cable for a grounded outlet. is there anything you suggest for recording clean gtr (minimalizing noise) - without rewiring an entire house?
Thanks Johnny. First, it’s pretty rare for any of the guitars on the channel to be true single coils - my strats all have noiseless pickups - though if you find the ones where Steve has his red Tele those are actual Lollar SCs and sometimes you can hear the 60Hz with those. Second, a 40 foot extension cable won’t be an issue if it’s in good condition - that same AC has traveled miles from the local substation, and another 40 feet is nothing (Edison won over Telsa due to this). But make sure your ground is good - that is crucial. Make sure the input jack nuts are tight on your AC15C1. They can buzz if they’re slightly loose. Don’t over tighten them - you can strip them - but make sure they aren’t loose. In this video at some points you can hear (during the talking bits where the phone mic compression was being evil) some buzz the 335 was getting from being so close to the amp and facing the amp. So in the room, how close the guitar is to the amp matters. And what axis the guitar is on in the room can matter a lot - you can usually rotate left to right to find the quietest axis. Steve wasn’t caring about that here because he wanted to futz with the knobs as he played. But if we were recording “for real” he would have been further from the amp. This was guitar straight in to a mostly stock AC15C1 with stock preamp tubes and an SM57 on the stock speaker running into an inexpensive Focusrite 2i2. I intentionally keep the recording chain “low brow” so the results I get are attainable for home studio viewers.
Sometimes single coils quiet down if you turn yourself. Sometimes a computer monitor, transformer in a piece of gear, etc induce into the pickups. Bad cable or jack as well.
Have you ever even seen an AC 80 or worked on one? Could be totally wrong but is it something like 4 EL 34's Cathode biased running in parallel for class A. Something that Laney does with some of the Lionheart amps. I think they also had an AC 100 that was the same amp but used fixed bias. Would be awesome to see and hear but probably super rare. Enjoy your videos and Happy New Year (Early LOL!)
I played through one of these at a store once, and we hooked up an A/B/Y box to it and was able to get a footswitch-type thing going between both channels alone and combined. Wonder if that would hurt the amp? (Was kind of surprised both inputs could be used simultaneously, unlike a dual input Marshall head)
What value is on the mid switch? Assuming it’s the mid cap on a switch? I put the top boost JMI mod on a push pull on the volume but the mid shift is cool too.
Lyle, nice tones!!! Excellent mods!! I would love to try them on my AC15C1!! However, shipping from Canada isn't too practical. Would you consider selling me instructions for shifting the tone stack? Lol!!
Have you had a chance to try the fane a30? Seems like it could be a solid speaker for the ac15. Also curious to see if you still have good thoughts about the wgs black n blue.
DANG, my C1 sounds nothing like this! I'm certain now that something's wrong with it, overdriven it sounds like a transistor radio beyond its limits. It could have been so nice...
Is the filtering of the C1 the same as the HW? I have an HW and it sounds pretty nice clean but quite harsh when pushed into breakup. Based on some of the info I've seen in your videos I'm considering lowering the filtering and removing the resistor ahead of the normal channel volume pot. Figured I'd start there and see if that smooths it out
The filtering is different on the C1 because of the resistor in place of a choke. No need to replace/change the filters, but if you want it closer to JMI and feel comfortable cutting traces you can reroute the first two preamp filter caps/dropping resistors to be fed directly from the screen supply. The stock circuit is laddered like a Marshall. JMIs took the pre nodes from the screen instead of pre 1 from pre 2 from PI from screen. But it sounds quite good in stock form. Not a harsh sounding amp.
@@PsionicAudio I have the HW... sorry if my post was confusing. It's a bit harsh but it's kinda growing on me. On the HW do you recommend removing the resistor ahead of the master volume pot? If so, what effect would that have?
Ah, sorry. Yes, change the filtering to 22 22 10 22 10. Those two 10Ks slightly limit the max gain - they are supposed to keep the Cut circuit working the same at all MV levels. But they aren’t needed and you can hear the difference with them jumpered.
You said “stock doesn’t t do this trick”…..is this a well known mod that most amp guys know about and can do simply (fairly cheap ) …..eh you know what iam just a noodler looking for an amp that goes from cleans to crunch and occasionally with pedal help get little (maybe a lot too)dirtier …. And with my very limited ability to play (seriously suck ,but it’s fun) I’m sure stock would be more than my ability needs 👍🏼✌️🤘🏼.. but just in case down road (assuming iam going with this amp ) … it’d be nice to know
About two hours as you have to remove the board. So that fits in my bench fee that covers the first two hours. I can only speak for myself, but that’s $150. The switch thing I don’t give out, but any tech can look at how lugs 2 and 3 of the Bass pot are wired vs the JMI schematic. That’s cutting a trace and running a short wire.
@@PsionicAudio So you just disconnect (cut the trace) the wiper from other end of the bass pot and connect it (the wiper) to "lower end" of the "middle's cap" and upper end of 10k resistor, I suppose. ? (Lower end of bass pot must be connected to ground.) ? So in JMI tone stack if you maximize bass, you in fact cut middle tones simultaneously.
maybe a stupid question but do you know if its possible to get this done in the UK? , im gusssing you wont give away the details to anyone to do themselves lol
Nice tones. I love listening to a highly capable player noodling. It’s like riding with a pro driver test driving your car. Well done Sir.
That's the best I heard a Vox sound in a demo!
The opening arpeggios were seasonally appropriate.
Fun for all
that children call
their favorite time of year.
OMG, Steve’s great. Big fan of Hold Steady and B&P. Can never deny my Twin Cities roots! Sounds awesome!
Steve does an awesome demo of putting it through its paces and presenting to range of this amp. Props to Steve and Lyle on this one!
I love it when you can turn the owner on to the capabilities of the amp. It’s like getting a new amp. Nice job player
Cool to hear some riffs from the last Hold Steady record!
That tone he sets up at 18:04 and forward going! Just Amazing! Doesnt get better than that in my book 🎉 great Job on the Amp Lyle 🔥
Fabulous sounding combination.
Brilliant and underrated amp! It's a modern classic!
Wow! That guy really boogies! And so does the amp! Thanks for posting!
Man that sounds killer! I've never owned a Vox, so I had no idea they could do so much shreddy stuff!
The amp sounds damn good ---- retains individual note/string definition even when overdriven. Very fine playing too! Too few folks palm the pick and go fingerstyle!
Damnit Lyle! My Cherry Red ‘64 ES-335 is still in shipping and you have to release this video!! IT’S TORTURE!
Good times! Really enjoyed the playing. Amazing how much slight modifications by a master tech can affect tone.
Great playing, also 14:35 gave a Caravan vibe..nice.
Well done! that thing's a ripper for sure 👍🏼
I really enjoy seeing & hearing the results of your upgrade mods, Thanks man.
Great work Lyle. Your friend is a fine player and I think you've given him a great pallet of colors to work with. Kudos. Happy holidays to you and your family.
Whoa. That’s a great amp with the upgrades. Tremendous
Just got one of these! Loving it so far.
Sweet demo. I'd say Steve knows his way around a guitar like you know your way around an amp.
Great playing and tones… wow!
In case I don't make it into the chat this afternoon ----- got a family gathering to attend ---- I hope everybody has a safe holiday, especially you Lyle, as the news showed trucks sliding around helplessly on ice-covered Memphis roads. Everybody stay safe and warm, and keep your fingers crossed that the electrical grid holds up (thankfully, most of us are resourceful guys who can unleash our inner McGyver to survive potential disasters ---- I saved someone's life with a battery-powered tire inflator once), and if you don't absolutely have to go out on bad roads, stay home! Up here in New England, we had numerous country roads blocked by downed trees, and my wife had to take a bunch of detours to get to the hospital where she works, but at least we never lost power, although my sister who lives nearby, and many of my neighbors, did. I do have a generator that I can patch into the house if needed. It's 5 degrees outside at 6:00 am., actual air temperature, not including wind chill....
Now that amp sounds great. I have a stock AC 15C1x and love it but those mods you did are killer.
Wow. Nice job by both you guys.
That top boost channel sounds great.
Damn Lyle, I need those mods on my AC15. That sounds killer!
hey man. you're recordings sound so clean!
your videos made me realize the buzzing(60,120hz and all of the above lol!) in my newish ac15 is not normal. even with single coils you seem to get a very clean sound with no humming hissing or buzzing! I simply cannot record anything.
I figure its my old house, and probably running a 40 foot extension cable for a grounded outlet.
is there anything you suggest for recording clean gtr (minimalizing noise) - without rewiring an entire house?
Thanks Johnny.
First, it’s pretty rare for any of the guitars on the channel to be true single coils - my strats all have noiseless pickups - though if you find the ones where Steve has his red Tele those are actual Lollar SCs and sometimes you can hear the 60Hz with those.
Second, a 40 foot extension cable won’t be an issue if it’s in good condition - that same AC has traveled miles from the local substation, and another 40 feet is nothing (Edison won over Telsa due to this).
But make sure your ground is good - that is crucial.
Make sure the input jack nuts are tight on your AC15C1. They can buzz if they’re slightly loose. Don’t over tighten them - you can strip them - but make sure they aren’t loose.
In this video at some points you can hear (during the talking bits where the phone mic compression was being evil) some buzz the 335 was getting from being so close to the amp and facing the amp.
So in the room, how close the guitar is to the amp matters. And what axis the guitar is on in the room can matter a lot - you can usually rotate left to right to find the quietest axis.
Steve wasn’t caring about that here because he wanted to futz with the knobs as he played.
But if we were recording “for real” he would have been further from the amp.
This was guitar straight in to a mostly stock AC15C1 with stock preamp tubes and an SM57 on the stock speaker running into an inexpensive Focusrite 2i2.
I intentionally keep the recording chain “low brow” so the results I get are attainable for home studio viewers.
Sometimes single coils quiet down if you turn yourself. Sometimes a computer monitor, transformer in a piece of gear, etc induce into the pickups. Bad cable or jack as well.
Hey Bulldog is on Yellow Submarine, so right in the middle of Pepper, MMT, and White Album. Easy to forget the YS album though has some great tunes!
Yeah, realized right after I said MMT but didn’t want to beat the horse.
Holy crap. Who is that dude? Wild playing. :)
Sounds amazing. How do I get these mods done in the UK?
Have you ever even seen an AC 80 or worked on one? Could be totally wrong but is it something like 4 EL 34's Cathode biased running in parallel for class A. Something that Laney does with some of the Lionheart amps. I think they also had an AC 100 that was the same amp but used fixed bias. Would be awesome to see and hear but probably super rare. Enjoy your videos and Happy New Year (Early LOL!)
I played through one of these at a store once, and we hooked up an A/B/Y box to it and was able to get a footswitch-type thing going between both channels alone and combined. Wonder if that would hurt the amp? (Was kind of surprised both inputs could be used simultaneously, unlike a dual input Marshall head)
What value is on the mid switch? Assuming it’s the mid cap on a switch? I put the top boost JMI mod on a push pull on the volume but the mid shift is cool too.
Lyle, nice tones!!! Excellent mods!! I would love to try them on my AC15C1!! However, shipping from Canada isn't too practical. Would you consider selling me instructions for shifting the tone stack? Lol!!
Contact my buddy Chris Church in Hamilton, ON. He can do this for you.
Much appreciated!! Keep doing what you do!!!!
Any upgrades to the vox ac30s1?
Have you had a chance to try the fane a30? Seems like it could be a solid speaker for the ac15. Also curious to see if you still have good thoughts about the wgs black n blue.
Yeah, my C1 didn’t do that. Neither do any of my guitars. Very cool.
Happy Ho-Ho's
😎👍❤🖖
thats a sweet amp
Well that's the closest I've heard a C1 sound like a vox. I'm more of an AlNiCo blue guy though it does get marshall (y, ish)...
We talked about other speakers but this GB doesn’t exactly suck here, even if it’s a different thang than the blue.
@@PsionicAudio Indeed! No detection of suck whatsoever.
DANG, my C1 sounds nothing like this! I'm certain now that something's wrong with it, overdriven it sounds like a transistor radio beyond its limits. It could have been so nice...
Is the filtering of the C1 the same as the HW? I have an HW and it sounds pretty nice clean but quite harsh when pushed into breakup. Based on some of the info I've seen in your videos I'm considering lowering the filtering and removing the resistor ahead of the normal channel volume pot. Figured I'd start there and see if that smooths it out
The filtering is different on the C1 because of the resistor in place of a choke. No need to replace/change the filters, but if you want it closer to JMI and feel comfortable cutting traces you can reroute the first two preamp filter caps/dropping resistors to be fed directly from the screen supply. The stock circuit is laddered like a Marshall. JMIs took the pre nodes from the screen instead of pre 1 from pre 2 from PI from screen.
But it sounds quite good in stock form. Not a harsh sounding amp.
@@PsionicAudio I have the HW... sorry if my post was confusing. It's a bit harsh but it's kinda growing on me. On the HW do you recommend removing the resistor ahead of the master volume pot? If so, what effect would that have?
Ah, sorry. Yes, change the filtering to 22 22 10 22 10. Those two 10Ks slightly limit the max gain - they are supposed to keep the Cut circuit working the same at all MV levels. But they aren’t needed and you can hear the difference with them jumpered.
You said “stock doesn’t t do this trick”…..is this a well known mod that most amp guys know about and can do simply (fairly cheap ) …..eh you know what iam just a noodler looking for an amp that goes from cleans to crunch and occasionally with pedal help get little (maybe a lot too)dirtier …. And with my very limited ability to play (seriously suck ,but it’s fun) I’m sure stock would be more than my ability needs 👍🏼✌️🤘🏼.. but just in case down road (assuming iam going with this amp ) … it’d be nice to know
That mid boost is just the stock/jmi switch?
No, a little thing I like to add to the JMI tone stack (which isn’t done quite right in the stock amp).
A larger than 10k mids resistor?
What’s the best way to get on your schedule for an amp upgrade?
Thanks Matt. I’ll be opening up the gates after Jan 1.
@@PsionicAudio Great! Thanks for getting back to me. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
What’s the cost range to upgrade the tone stack?
About two hours as you have to remove the board. So that fits in my bench fee that covers the first two hours. I can only speak for myself, but that’s $150. The switch thing I don’t give out, but any tech can look at how lugs 2 and 3 of the Bass pot are wired vs the JMI schematic. That’s cutting a trace and running a short wire.
@@PsionicAudio So you just disconnect (cut the trace) the wiper from other end of the bass pot and connect it (the wiper) to "lower end" of the "middle's cap" and upper end of 10k resistor, I suppose. ?
(Lower end of bass pot must be connected to ground.) ?
So in JMI tone stack if you maximize bass, you in fact cut middle tones simultaneously.
I mean a CHEAP transistor radio!
Tone cry is sometimes cool... But not all the time of course
maybe a stupid question but do you know if its possible to get this done in the UK? , im gusssing you wont give away the details to anyone to do themselves lol