So what kinds of effects are you guys running with an AC30?

[jack94]

I just picked up an AC30C2 last week, and I love the thing, already played a gig with it Saturday and it was just about perfect. The only thing is that the Tonelab EX I have that I used with my Valvetronix amp doesn't sound that great with the new amp. Any suggestions on delay/chorus etc. type pedals? I am already pretty much decided on getting a Tube Screamer and Big Muff for some chunkier sounding chords, but feel free to give me your opinions on other overdrive/distortion type pedals with an AC30 as well!

[KC]

Malekko 616 sounds fat with an AC30. Modulated delay will entertain the monkey for hours on end.

My experience is that TS-type pedals sound very harsh with this amp. Others have had better results. Lately I'm using a Zvex Distortron for a fairly mild effect -- not full-on Marshall grind -- and I like it quite a bit. The Austin Gold seemed to work well with this amp, too, and it's dirt-cheap. The sparkle drive, on the other hand, sound like nails on a chalkboard to my ears, which is weird, as it sounds perfectly nice with a fender-style amp.

[Dave_O]

Originally Posted by KC

My experience is that TS-type pedals sound very harsh with this amp. Others have had better results. Lately I'm using a Zvex Distortron for a fairly mild effect -- not full-on Marshall grind -- and I like it quite a bit. The Austin Gold seemed to work well with this amp, too, and it's dirt-cheap. The sparkle drive, on the other hand, sound like nails on a chalkboard to my ears, which is weird, as it sounds perfectly nice with a fender-style amp.

I kinda agree with you. I found that (with a Vox) Tubescreamers (or clones) are very picky about settings.
And they can change drastically from individual-amp-to-individual-amp. However, that's what I use
I do have a mate who gets a KILLER sound with a Hotcake into the AC30's "Normal" channel, so I'm not really one-eyed about this topic.

I've thinned the herd quite ruthlessly this week. But for my AC30, these are my "need" pedals.



I use the TS side of the RT66 for dirt when I play slide (I don't really use the comp side), and the stomper EQ for a clean solo boost.
When I used to play with this amp running flat-out, I'd use either a TS(808) set for boost or a stomper EQ for solos.
You'll never get any pedal OD to sound better (IMO) than an AC30 set to "STUN", anyway

I've got some nice pedals (a Zoom multi FX, a Marshall VibraTrem, a Crossfire delay and various dirt boxes).
However, I can live without delay, and I can jumper in the Vib-Trem channel for some yummy valve-powered wobbliness if I need it.
In the 20-ish years I've been playing through an AC30, I reckon a good OD and a clean boost is all I "need".

[jmiles]

Well,,, with my Dr Z Prescription, which is fairly similar in sound to an AC 30, I just use this;

[kedj11]

I am running a Tech 21 Orange Character Pedal for the over-the-top cranked Orange style Harmonically rich distortion but most of the time I just play it chimey-clean sometimes adding a compressor (MXR Super Comp or the Boss One, the MXR is a bit more transparent and I don't seem to lose as much natural attack on the front end of chords but the Boss can sound really good too). I also like to use an A/B A+B box so I can either switch back and forth or play simultaneously through my Dumble Modded SF Twin (I use an MXR Distortion Plus and/or a compressor, with that when getting really heavy and that is quite a SOUND) so between the two amps and the different flavors of distortion and compression on tap I get 6 different sounds at my disposal which is pretty awesome. In addition, I can run a second A/B out of the first and go through either channel of my Twin which adds more options since the Normal channel is exactly that while the Dumble modded Vibrato channel has an added gain stage which gives off a great overdrive sound.

[bossking7]

I have an AC30 clone, and I use a Boss SD1 and a MXR '78 distortion.

[Dave_O]

Originally Posted by jmiles

Well,,, with my Dr Z Prescription, which is fairly similar in sound to an AC 30, I just use this;

This may sound a little harsh, but where do you plug into the cat?...




In all seriousness, I won't pretend to know-- is that an old piece of radio or studio equipment you've drafted into service?

[Del Pickup]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Crowther Hotcakes were designed with an AC30 in mind. (That would make sense seeing as how Paul Crowther played with Split Enz and Neil Finn has been a Vox user for many many years.)

Rory Gallagher used an AC30 as well as several Fender combos and I think he used some sort of treble boost pedal to beef up his tone (which could be pretty grunty sometimes).

I have never had - or even played through - a Vox so have no other suggestions to make as to suitable pedals to try. But I do know that some pedals sound better with some amps than others regardless of how you dial them in. So it's really a case of taking any Vox users suggestions and getting out there and trying as many as you can to find any that suit your ears.

[Dave_O]

Hey, Del...

Originally Posted by Del Pickup

Rory Gallagher used an AC30 as well as several Fender combos and I think he used some sort of treble boost pedal to beef up his tone (which could be pretty grunty sometimes).

Yep. Check out the new version of the Hawk Booster. Interestingly, it talks about how he used it with his Tweeds...

[Del Pickup]

Mmmmm interesting! Wonder how that would sound with my 57 Twin...... Do I feel a GAS attack in the making.............. oh no not again!!!!