Bedroom tube amp for AC30 vibes

ThePrettyDamned

I'm obviously going to plug my Danplifier. Bargain price for a stunning handwired vox ac15 clone with switchable valve top boost, switchable master and a wonderfully simple 6 way tone switch...  

chrisj1602

BrizzleRocker said:

Here's an idea for the bedroom - Strymon Iridium! Great for recording too but does just as well with headphones.

The AC30 model on the Iridium is great.

NervousJohn

slowpilgrim said:

has anyone tried a 60s AC4? I know it won't be at all similar to the AC30 but I really enjoy these tiny amps. They still seem fairly cheap compared to other big brand vintage amps, maybe for a reason.

I own one, a late 63 AC30 non MV, non top boost with blue speakers.  Bought in 1989 when they were genuinely cheap (£250). 

Frankly it sounds superb regardless of volume, from ticking over in a bedroom to roaring at a gig. I did refit a GZ34 rectifier and increased the bias resistors in the PA stage as it was showing some signs of toasty transformers. 

It’s the only amp I’ll ever need. 

AndyJP

Have got the Victory Copper head. I've never played an ac30 for comparison. 

It's a loud amp but on the 12w setting I can use it at home.  The master volume is good.   I think the best tones inside it are the clean and edge of breakup. It's got plenty of mid range and a little compression.

It does the jangly edge of breakup el84 thing nicely. But is it ac30 ish? I don't know.  But It's great.:)

slowpilgrim

ICBM said:

For bedroom-sized amps with the real Vox sound you can't go wrong with the AC10C1.

But if you can afford it, fit it in your house and lift it, an AC30 still sounds better.

Gonna give the AC10 a go, thanks everyone!

Wazmeister

Imho, an AC30 is almost impossible for home use... unless you want to blow the lintels out...

ICBM

Wazmeister said:

Imho, an AC30 is almost impossible for home use... unless you want to blow the lintels out...

They have volume controls. You can turn them down .

stickyfiddle

ICBM said:

Wazmeister said:

Imho, an AC30 is almost impossible for home use... unless you want to blow the lintels out...

They have volume controls. You can turn them down .

I'd say it depends how you want to use it. If you want clean clean, then obviously they sound amazing at low volume. But if you want that point where it all starts compressing it just doesn't work at home volumes unless you add an OX box or something

ICBM

stickyfiddle said:

I'd say it depends how you want to use it. If you want clean clean, then obviously they sound amazing at low volume. But if you want that point where it all starts compressing it just doesn't work at home volumes unless you add an OX box or something

Of course. That’s true of any amp where you want power amp compression. But the idea that they aren’t usable at home volumes is nonsense - in fact all the ones I’ve played, of any version, have nice tapers on the volume controls. The ones with master volumes sound decent overdriven as well.

meltedbuzzbox

ICBM said:

stickyfiddle said:

I'd say it depends how you want to use it. If you want clean clean, then obviously they sound amazing at low volume. But if you want that point where it all starts compressing it just doesn't work at home volumes unless you add an OX box or something

Of course. That’s true of any amp where you want power amp compression. But the idea that they aren’t usable at home volumes is nonsense - in fact all the ones I’ve played, of any version, have nice tapers on the volume controls. The ones with master volumes sound decent overdriven as well.

completely agree. 

I dont get the whole anti big amp movement at home. I've always played 50/100 watt amps forever at home and they sound good and dont blow the doors off the hinges etc.

If you want drive, use a pedal.  

suitablyswell

The current AC30s and AC15s have built in reactive attenuators that step you down to home practising and bedroom levels.

mart

suitablyswell said:

The current AC30s and AC15s have built in reactive attenuators that step you down to home practising and bedroom levels.

This is only on the heads, not the combos, I believe

russpm

meltedbuzzbox said:

ICBM said:

stickyfiddle said:

I'd say it depends how you want to use it. If you want clean clean, then obviously they sound amazing at low volume. But if you want that point where it all starts compressing it just doesn't work at home volumes unless you add an OX box or something

Of course. That’s true of any amp where you want power amp compression. But the idea that they aren’t usable at home volumes is nonsense - in fact all the ones I’ve played, of any version, have nice tapers on the volume controls. The ones with master volumes sound decent overdriven as well.

completely agree. 

I dont get the whole anti big amp movement at home. I've always played 50/100 watt amps forever at home and they sound good and dont blow the doors off the hinges etc.

If you want drive, use a pedal.  

Some amps do sound garbage at low volumes. I’ve had a handful over the years.

ICBM

russpm said:

Some amps do sound garbage at low volumes. I’ve had a handful over the years.

That's true. Most of them sound garbage at higher volumes as well .

There are also certainly some which have ridiculously steep tapers to the volume controls which makes dialling them in for a low volume quite difficult, but there are ways around that. AC30s are not one of them though.

Jonathanthomas83

@subsemol, what's your thoughts on the Victory Copper then?

noisepolluter

I’d have one of the new(ish) AC15C1’s like a shot if they weren’t absurdly heavy. How can a 15w amp weigh 48lbs? Even if you put a neo speaker in there it would still weigh more than a stock HRD or Deluxe Reverb. 

MrBump

I've got an AC30S1 in the classifieds right now - a single speaker makes a difference to the volume, but I won't lie to you - it's fecking loud!

But ping me if you are interested.