Should I buy the AC30CC2

[AdamCaudle]

There's a Vox AC30CC2 on craigslist locally for $550, which seems like a pretty good deal to me. I've played the C2 a lot at my local music shop so I was wondering how it compares to the CC2. The AC30 is pretty much THE amp that I want. How is the quality/sound on this particular model?

[kro762]

Pull the trigger, I paid $800 for my cc2 and don't regret it in the least, it has the wharfedale speakers in it, which were the original AC 30 speakers

[AdamCaudle]

Thanks for the feedback man! Anybody else?

[lauke]

I own the CC1, smashing amp. If you've been dreaming about the Vox sound then you're in for a treat because these amps have it in spades. I'm never parting with mine, that's for sure ;)
And as far as build quality goes, don't let the whole Made In China thing put you off. It's built like a tank, very thick pcb as well. If it still has the original tubes I'd suggest replacing them right away though, the rectifier and power tubes at least.

[Cliff Schecht]

I repaired one of these where the rectifier arced and caused some solder to melt and short some stuff out. When I pulled the amp apart (a BIG chore in itself) I was in some ways pleasantly surprised and in other ways very annoyed. It wasn't terribly built but they had a few practices that I wouldn't do in a production amp, especially the way they interconnected the boards (seemed flimsy). Also the fact that you have to remove the entire chassis to change any tubes is a big negative. The last thing that bugged me was how cheap the transformers were and how loosely they were mounted to the chassis. When I got the amp back together and tested it you could easily hear the transformer rattling inside the combo..

But yeah not a bad sounding amp, just not worth the asking price IMO..

[AdamCaudle]

Thanks for the opinions, both good and bad. I just want to make a good decision. I'm still on the fence about it and the guy hasn't emailed my back yet. If I don't get this I'm going with a Hot Rod Deville which would be cheaper and there are a lot more in my area on craigslist.

[mrtoulouse]

Originally Posted by AdamCaudle

Thanks for the opinions, both good and bad. I just want to make a good decision. I'm still on the fence about it and the guy hasn't emailed my back yet. If I don't get this I'm going with a Hot Rod Deville which would be cheaper and there are a lot more in my area on craigslist.

Please do yourself a favour and compare with the blues deluxe/deville first.... I dare you not to like its natural response to the attack better than the hrd:

[mrtoulouse]

oh and yeah.. jsut have to throw in a must try which is the peavey delta blues or classic 30.. clean channel on 6 with those are greeeeeaat... also when you try the blues deluxe/deville, try those also on the clean at 6..

Best of luck

[KC]

Well, just to go back to the original question, the AC30 is a really sweet-sounding amp and nothing like the Fender / Peavey sound. Very bright in its natural state (though the brightness is easy to tame with the Cut control). Big and loud enough for any gig. Great trem and so-so reverb. A lot of different sounds with two channels & master volume and switchable everything.

I've had mine for two or three years with no problems at all (except lifting it). Mine's the CC1 and I went and threw a Gold in there and it sounds, well, great. A tele through an AC30 right at the edge of breakup is really one of the classic sounds ever. And it'll do a convincing blues sound, too (check Kid Ramos videos for proof). $550 seems fine if it's in good shape -- factor in a retube if it hasn't been done already.

[AdamCaudle]

Yeah from the few pictures it looks like it's in good shape cosmetically. Hopefully this guy will respond to my email soon. When you say a Gold, I'm assuming you mean the Alnico Gold speaker, right?

[Mad Kiwi]

I have a CCh (head) with a 1 x12 wharfedale in it and had a CC2x with the 2 x12 Blues.

I ended up with the combo from a friends music shop that was shutting down and couldn't resist the special price.

I think you would do yourself a huge favour by getting it. They sound very nice.

To be honest the difference between the blues and the wharfedale 1x12 isn't as much as people would have you believe. I am quite happy with just the wharfedale.

[Capel]

Originally Posted by Mad Kiwi

I have a CCh (head) with a 1 x12 wharfedale in it and had a CC2x with the 2 x12 Blues....

To be honest the difference between the blues and the wharfedale 1x12 isn't as much as people would have you believe. I am quite happy with just the wharfedale.

That's because they're designed by Steve Hewlett - he used to be the speaker designer for Celestion - he's responsible for the Greenback!!
Nice guy as well - I met him when I got to go see Wharfedale's factory in China a couple of years back... we weren't allowed on the Vox floor of the factory though :(

[tehanallang]

BUY IT!

[ThermionicScott]

Originally Posted by Cliff Schecht

I repaired one of these where the rectifier arced and caused some solder to melt and short some stuff out. When I pulled the amp apart (a BIG chore in itself) I was in some ways pleasantly surprised and in other ways very annoyed. It wasn't terribly built but they had a few practices that I wouldn't do in a production amp, especially the way they interconnected the boards (seemed flimsy). Also the fact that you have to remove the entire chassis to change any tubes is a big negative. The last thing that bugged me was how cheap the transformers were and how loosely they were mounted to the chassis. When I got the amp back together and tested it you could easily hear the transformer rattling inside the combo..

The bolded part has been a problem since 1960 or so.

Just out of curiosity, had the owner been using the standby switch?

- Scott

[lauke]

Perhaps a little off-topic; but how have the prices of Vox amps behaved for the past few months over there?
Here in the NL they've went up quite a bit in just a few months time following the release of the new Classic series. I'm talking Custom Classic series prices, mind you. I bought mine for €450 about 7 months ago and now they're going for around €600, both the CC1 and CC2.
Might be an interesting little investment as well then ;)

[AdamCaudle]

This is the cheapest one I've seen for my state. The rest of the CC's go for $700+ around here.

[tuberoast]

Love mine, nothing wrong with the Wharfdales either, sure, there may be better speakers but I think they sound very good and I'm in no hurry to rush out and spend. I changed the preamp tubes to some old stock from my stash...although one of them that came in it is a China 12ax7B and I'm leaving it in (excellent sounding tube). I love the sound of this amp. For dirt I use a pedal with it, the cleans are excellent.
I paid $300 plus a decent parts strat.

[tele_jas]

I see the original post date is about 5 weeks old... Just wondering what the OP decided or if the guy got back with him?

[Cliff Schecht]

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott

The bolded part has been a problem since 1960 or so.

Just out of curiosity, had the owner been using the standby switch?

- Scott

Just saw this Scott and I honestly have no idea. This was an amp I worked on for Wally a good few months back. I've read the issues with these amps and that the standby switch should just be left on though. I just remember a bad rectifier, a lot of solder cleanup around the rectifier socket and about 500 screws to get to the damn tubes!

[DOGMA Dunn]

Originally Posted by AdamCaudle

There's a Vox AC30CC2 on craigslist locally for $550, which seems like a pretty good deal to me. I've played the C2 a lot at my local music shop so I was wondering how it compares to the CC2. The AC30 is pretty much THE amp that I want. How is the quality/sound on this particular model?

Those old hand wired AC30s are great amps and at $550 its a pretty good deal.