Vox AC15--Speaker/Tube Options

[smoke]

Hey All, recently picked up an AC15 and, as usual for guitar players, want to start changing things. To be honest, I just want this amp to 'be all it can be' and I know it can sound better than it does..even as good as it sounds now. So, I am asking for your help...Any recommendations for replacement tubes and speakers. For reference, I am looking to retain the 'vox' sound, only perhaps enhance it especially not allowing the bottom end to get muddy or the highs to be piercing. Also, what can you expect to hear different when you replace a)tubes, b), speakers, or c) both? Thanks so much in advance. BTW>>I have built most of my own f/x and modified several guitars, but never done anything with amps..mostly because I played older Fenders. This will be my first attempt so take it easy on me!

[Acephspades]

What's it got in it already? We might accidently recommend you the same thing you already have.

I can notice a difference in tubes almost immediately. I really don't like Groove Tubes brand. They sound shrill and brittle to me, so for preamp tubes I really like the Ruby ECC83's. Ruby has a 12AX7 that is a little brighter than the ECC83 but I like the 83's better cause they have a lower gain and sound smoother. I recently got a Carvin Belair 212 and it is my first EL84 tube amp so I recently installed a set of JJ EL84's and I really like those. Eitherway though that is my preference and I am not the final word, there are so many options to choose from.

Speakers are tough because the options are limitless. IMO you really need to know for sure what you want. While some speakers sound really good with say a clean tone they might not do your lead tone any justice or vise versa. I've had good luck getting what I want out of replacement speakers but it takes a lot of research. My favorite speaker company is Eminence. The have a wide selection of options and are really good at returning e-mails plus they have a user friendly website. One thing to remember when ordering speakers is once you open that box they are non-returnable.

[NewOldStock]

I love the Celestion Blue...a factory option on the AC15 Vox("x" version).

The X version sells for $300 more($599 vs $899) than the standard(Wharfedale) AC15's, yet the new speaker can be had from the same dealers for $249. So it's cheaper to buy the standard AC15 and purchase the Blue speaker separately, plus you already have the Wharfedale at no extra cost.

Guitar Player Alnico Speaker shootout.

[Wayne Alexander]

The Celestion Blue is the classic voice of that amp. If you want to make the sounds that you expect to hear historically from an AC15 or AC30 (they sound about the same), you need a Celestion Blue. If you can't handle the price of it, an Eminence Red Fang or Weber Alnico Blue Dog (15w or 30w) would be much better than the stock Wharfedale speaker, but not as good as the Celestion Blue (with "good" defined as "making the sounds an AC30 or AC15 has classically made". If you want a different sound from it than that you've got more options). As to tubes, the best cheap modern ones for that amp are EI's, both 12AX7's and EL84's, but they're hard to find. The new Tung-Sol 12ax7 reissue is probably the next-chimiest sounding new preamp tube, JJ 12ax7's are pretty good but a bit muddier/dirtier than the other two. As to EL84's, I'd suggest NOS Polams or NOS Mullard if you can afford them, if not the EI's as mentioned above, or JJ's if you want a little warmer/muddier.

[smoke]

I wish I could buy you all a cold beer. Thanks so much for the info. I will start digging around a bit. BTW>>This being my first amp mod, are these mods you would recommend a tech do or are they 'doable' by someone who is somewhat savvy w/ electronics but hasn't done any tube/speaker swaps?

[marshman]

Most 'small' tube amps, particularly those with el84s in them, are cathode biased, so there really is little to do other then switch 'em out. NOS EL84 tubes from Europe and RCA are highly regarded, but the recent surge in popularity of smaller-powered amps has driven their cost up accordingly. JJ seems to be very popular these days of the new production, although not universally.

As for 12A?7/ECC8? pre-amp tubes, there are tons of options. Generally, they're not too expensive, so you can play around with them without breaking the bank.

Groove Tubes doesn't actually make tubes. They buy them from whereever they can get them, test them, rate them, then rebrand them for sale. They do, as a rule, clearly state where they get their tubes, and don't remove the old labels before putting their own on them, so you will know what you've got once you get them.

I do remember reading somewhere that a soldering iron is actually required to remove the speaker from an AC30, so you might want to check that before you get started.

Happy hunting

[smoke]

Thanks to you all. I am fairly overwhelmed by the options but have some direction now and will start digging. One final question...most bang for the buck...new speakers or new tubes? I will likely do both, but I am really trying to set my own expectations. I am pretty excited about playing around w/ this stuff. I have spent a ton of $$ on pups, f/x, etc but have always left the amps stock. Time to get jiggy with it.

[Opaltone]

Originally Posted by Wayne Alexander

The new Telefunken 12ax7 reissue is probably the next-chimiest sounding new preamp tube

Call me sheltered, perhaps, but I've not heard of a "Telefunken 12AX7 reissue" - is this really out there? Or was it supposed to be New Sensor's "Tung-Sol" that's made in Russia?

- Thom

[tube tone]

Another great sounding NOS el84 tube is the Tesla Roznov el84. Last I checked, (about 6 months ago) they could be had for about $45 a pair, so they are reasonably priced for an NOS tube.

Ken

[GUITARmole]

Originally Posted by tube tone

Another great sounding NOS el84 tube is the Tesla Roznov el84. Last I checked, (about 6 months ago) they could be had for about $45 a pair, so they are reasonably priced for an NOS tube.

Ken

Where did you find the Tesla Roznovs? I wouldn't mind picking up a pair to try but haven't seen them.

[Wayne Alexander]

Oops, yes I meant Tung-Sol reissues. I fixed the first post, thanks.

[eddiewagner]

i never had a bad experience with jj-tubes and celestion vintage speakers. in fact, i always kept my vintage , while i changed amps four times. i feel like this speaker fills the room with exitement, so to say.....

[abraxas]

Just to point out that, the Eminence Red Fang is a very good alternative to the Celestion Alnico Blue. And much cheaper at that.

[Opaltone]

Originally Posted by Wayne Alexander

Oops, yes I meant Tung-Sol reissues. I fixed the first post, thanks.

Okay - had me worried there for a moment, that we'd have another new-production imposter tube to be confused about . Mullard and Tung-Sol is enough!

Hey Wayne, by the way, thanks for your encouragement to change my AC30CC1 speaker to the new Celestion Gold (on the WeberVST board) - I've got one on the way!


For those of you inquiring about the NOS Tesla EL84 - they are an excellent upgrade from current-production options. KCA NOS Tubes sells them, but for $65/pair. I don't know anyone who sells them for less.

- Thom

[Wayne Alexander]

Thom, don't judge that Celestion Gold until you've played it LOUD for at least 10 hours or so. They're a bit tight and cold sounding at first, but will be fully broken in and more responsive/sparkly/chimy/warm after about 100 hours.

[Opaltone]

Originally Posted by Wayne Alexander

Thom, don't judge that Celestion Gold until you've played it LOUD for at least 10 hours or so. They're a bit tight and cold sounding at first, but will be fully broken in and more responsive/sparkly/chimy/warm after about 100 hours.

Thanks for the heads-up on breaking in this speaker, Wayne. Same goes for the NeoDog that it'll be replacing, and all new speakers, for that matter. I've had the good fortune to be able to break in about a half-dozen Weber speakers, and know the drill - but I appreciate the reminder anyway.

As for playing the AC30CC1 LOUD, there's no problem there, either. I like it with the master cranked - makes my Mullard and Valvo pairs sweat a bit. I could really do without the master volume. Too bad the Brian May version costs four times as much.

- Thom

[Arttuonline]

Hello everybody! I have a Vox AC15 and I've been modding it for a while. I've done the "Bright cap mod", changed all tubes to JJ and for a while I had a Eminence Texas Heat speaker in it. I changed the Eminence back to the stock Wharfedale speaker 'cause I think it really didn't sound that much different/better... I'm still having problems with the amp because it sounds really "cold" and REALLY bright with my Tele. Any ideas how to find the warmth and the "sweet spot" for the amp? :)

[Wayne Alexander]

Get a Celestion Blue speaker. A Texas Heat is voiced completely wrong for that amp.

[Arttuonline]

Hmm... It's quite expensive imo. Would Eminence Red Fang be an option? I'm still thinking about the over brightnes of the amp and for the best of my knowledge those speakers aren't that dark..?

[ehren]

Originally Posted by Arttuonline

Hello everybody! I have a Vox AC15 and I've been modding it for a while. I've done the "Bright cap mod", changed all tubes to JJ and for a while I had a Eminence Texas Heat speaker in it. I changed the Eminence back to the stock Wharfedale speaker 'cause I think it really didn't sound that much different/better... I'm still having problems with the amp because it sounds really "cold" and REALLY bright with my Tele. Any ideas how to find the warmth and the "sweet spot" for the amp? :)

I use an ac15 as my main amp and I find it really "cold" until it's cranked. What I do is point it at the back of the stage, or towards a wall, if that is what it takes to get it going. Once I can get the master up to say 7-10, it really starts to open up, IMO.