The UNOFFICIAL "I GOT MY BARGAIN AC4" thread

[cooktimj]

I'm wondering where $109 came from.... The original price was $139 and the geico10 code took $10 off. Unless it changed... Hmmmm.

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by cooktimj

I'm wondering where $109 came from.... The original price was $139 and the geico10 code took $10 off. Unless it changed... Hmmmm.

They've dropped the price to $119 before the promo code!

[David Barnett]

How does this amp stack up against a blackface Champ?

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by David Barnett

How does this amp stack up against a blackface Champ?

The Vox has very little clean headroom.

By 12 o'clock it's pretty gnarly. But in a good way.

Since I like to play in the dirt most of the time, it works for me. Those who prefer clean tones are likely to be disappointed, IMHO.

The tone control on the Vox is pretty limited as well.

The Vox has the 4, 1 and 1/4 watt switch.

Cheers,
Geoff

[goldtopper]

Just ordered one, with the geico10 and got it for $109.
Thanks folks!!!

[cooktimj]

Alright, so I just plugged my Tremolux 210 xt cabinet into the AC4. I know the impedances aren't right, but I had to try it out for a few minutes with real speakers...

WOW.

What the stock 8" Celestion lacks in bottom end, the 210 closed back picked right up. In 4w mode at around 12 o clock, I'm hearing a subdued AC15. Obviously not as loud, but similar tone. Unlike a couple of posters on here, I'm finding that the tone knob is pretty useful. I'm playing a 1991 '52 RI w/ Adders straight into the amp. I find that I prefer what's coming out the amp with the tone anywhere b/w 1/2 and wide open. Seems more open and less like a blanket has been thrown over it.

W/ the xt cab still plugged, switch it to 1w mode and crank volume and tone to 75% and you've got some good classic CCR or Beatles tones. Seriously! First thing I started playing was the intro to "Up Around The Bend" by CCR. It just felt right.

Anyway, I'll quit posting now, but I have to say I'm much more satisfied with this purchase than I suspected. This could definitely be a keeper for practice, recording, and maybe some small coffee shop type gigs....okay, probably not any gigs! We'll see....

[buckfuzzard]

Officially I am part of the unofficial "I GOT MY AC4" Thread now, I've had mine for better then a week now. For the money its real nice, have played it alot and its seems to be less harsh (maybe speaker is breaking in or my ears are getting used to it (I choose to believe the speaker is breaking in). I have also tried it into a Marshall 1922 cabinet. Sure is a fun little amp. The 4 watt setting sounds good. as others have found Vol above half and sounds gets more distorted. but sweet spots can be found making it real enjoyable.

[bensamo]

Got mine in the other day. Really enjoying it so far.

[Trout]

My "GOT MY BARGAIN AC4" came as a used AC4TVH head off craigslist. I love it. I took the amp out of the cheesy stock cab (no offense to the fans out there) and put it in a homemade cabinet. It's plugged into the big 12 incher in my Classic 30, which makes the amp sound much better than either the stock 8 or 10. To round it all out, I bought a EH Reverb and I built a SHO booster/overdrive to put in front of the amp. The Reverb gives it all some dimension and the SHO turns the weak Tele neck pickup into a growling monster. It's the perfect home setup.

[Mechanic]

Mines on the way.

[Mr. Esquire]

Got my AC4TV8 in today and spent several hours with it already and here are my initial impressions.

I was worried that the tone knob would not provide a sufficient amount of EQ for me. I’ve owned other Vox amps in the past that were a little on the dark side of things . . . and those amps had separate treble and bass controls. I’m happy to say that the AC4 is pretty bright. And I don’t even have to turn the tone knob all the way up. The bad news is that the amp doesn’t have a lot of bass. I have heard other amps with 8" speakers put out way more bass that this. Of course, the speaker isn’t broken in yet but I doubt I’ll get much more bass over time. I have yet to plug it into another cab.

I swapped out the stock Sovtek tubes for a Sylvania 12AX7 and GE EL84. Definitely a smoother sound. The amp starts getting distorted pretty fast. Like 10 or 11 o’clock on the dial. That’s fine by me but some might want an overall cleaner sound.

The amp is also smaller than expected. Overall, I would feel a bit cheated at the normal price of $199. But for $110, this amp isn’t bad. I’m looking forward to living with a while and seeing how it develops.

BTW, J&R has put the price back up to $139.99.

[SnorkelMonkey]

BTW, J&R has put the price back up to $139.99

They went back to $119 () and $10 off with the coupon code. There's a few other online stores selling them at $119. They must be blowing that model out for whatever reason? I could not resist... $109 shipped for a Champ? Thanks for the tip.

[nvilletele]

I had already ordered mine for $129 (with the geico10 code) . . . it's due to arrive today . . . but after seeing this thread, I called them up and they gave me back the extra $20.

$109 is cheaper than I was once planning to spend to buy a used one . . . now glad that deal never happened.

[z8894]

I didn't need another amp but for $109 including shipping, I couldn't resist. I play clean most of the time but a little dirt is good too.. I've got amps that can do dirty quite well but not at family friendly volume. I played it for an hour last night on the 1 1/10 watt setting and loved it. I had the volume at about 3/4 and found the tone control very useful, every guitar I have sounded good. No complaints about the noise either.

[nvilletele]

Mine arrived the other day . . . fantastic. For only $109, cant think of many things more worth the price.

[In Tune]

Originally Posted by nvilletele

Mine arrived the other day . . . fantastic. For only $109, cant think of many things more worth the price.

^^^This^^^ Nuff said. Love mine too.....I want another one.

[smsuryan]

whew! im glad i didnt buy one when i had the chance because a certain store wanted to sell me one for 360 bux....they told me that was the going price...maybe that was the list price idk..i may have if it were as cheap as this thread describes....anyway i opted out and bought a weber kit...:)

[guitarworship83]

I bought the 10 inch version as soon as they came out... and I use mine live in church every week! I mic the amp, so the 1 watt setting is plenty to get a nice tone at a low volume. I plugged it into a Fender Deluxe 112 and the bottom end just explodes! Like someone said above... it really turns it into a nice AC15 or AC30 sound... but at less volume. Love the tone and versatility of this amp! My sound guys also love it because it gives them so much more freedom can control over the overall mix.

I tried the 8 inch version at a local GC, and didn't like it nearly as much... but plugged into a 112 or 212 cab, its the same amp... for about $100 cheaper... nice deal

[T Prior]

we may need another AC4 thread..

" the $109 with free shipping AC4 bargain thread "

as opposed to

" Oh geeze, I had to pay $129 for mine"

[OGAL]

Dang, I picked up a ac4tv10 for $160 on craigslist a few weeks and thought I got a bargain. What a great sounding amp though!