Vox Clone

Tacobrown · September 21st, 2003, 10:43 AM

Here's the story. I'm looking for a Vox type amp, 15 watts. I'm looking at the Ac-15, as well as the following:

SMF
Bad Cat Cub II
Top Hat Club Royale
Dr. Z Maz-18 (I know its not strictly a Vox-type amp).

Anyone have any experience with any of these amps? Any other suggestions would be also be greatly appreciated.

John Harrison · September 21st, 2003, 10:59 AM

All are wonderful amps, but, to my ears, the blue-framed Celestion Alnico speakers have much to do with the Vox mojo. My main amp is a Korg reissue AC-30 with the aforementioned "Blues". I have used a vintage Deluxe Reverb, a Marshall Jubilee, a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia, and numerous other amps. The Vox gets the closest to the sound I want (and, thus, sounds better to me) than any amp I've ever used.

Teleman · September 21st, 2003, 12:28 PM

I picked up a Club Royale 2-12 last month and have played about 12 gigs with it so far. For the first gig I brought along my trusty Deluxe Reverb just in case. For me the Club Royale may be the ultimate tele amp. It doesn't have alot of super clean headroom but has that bit of "grit" which I love. It is definately more adaptable to gigging than the AC30 I owned.

Reno Sepulveda · September 23rd, 2003, 09:11 AM

Savage Rohr 15 is a wonderful EL84 based amp.

http ://www.savageamps.com

I've played a Club Deluxe a 6V6 based AC15 clone by Top Hat, a beautiful sounding amp. For me it was just a matter of a Celestion Blue in my Deluxe Reverb reissue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tacobrown

Here's the story. I'm looking for a Vox type amp, 15 watts. I'm looking at the Ac-15, as well as the following:

SMF
Bad Cat Cub II
Top Hat Club Royale
Dr. Z Maz-18 (I know its not strictly a Vox-type amp).

Anyone have any experience with any of these amps? Any other suggestions would be also be greatly appreciated.

Tacobrown · September 23rd, 2003, 11:39 AM

I went for the Bad Cat Cub II after I found a used one for a great deal. I should get it later this week.

swingin.little.guitarman · September 23rd, 2003, 05:08 PM

Having owned a Vox AC15 reissue, Maz 18 JR, and a Tophat Club Royale I can safely say the AC15 reissue and Club Royale will get you more Vox tones than the Maz 18 JR. The Maz 18 JR is a great amp, but it has its own unique tone thats more removed from the traditional Vox sound.

The AC15 reissue will give you more of the famous Vox top boost sounds than the Club Royale, but the Club Royale will give you a bit more of a Marshall tone than the AC15. It really comes down to a matter of personal preference and desired versatility. I would rate the Tophat far superior to the Vox AC15 for materials and workmanship.

Another amp that was not on your list that is worthy of consideration is the Cage Audio 18/00. It's a two channel 18 watt amp with a pair of EL84's. Each channel has individual volume and tone controls. The brighter channel is a dead ringer for my AC15 reissue. The other channel is voiced similar to a plexi Marshall. Best of all, the amp has a mix switch that allows you to combine both channels together and control the volumes and tones individually. Point to point construction, high quality components, for a little more than a used AC15 reissue.

No matter which amp you choose, the Celestion Alnico Blue or WeberVST Alnico Blue Dog speakers are an essential element of the Vox sound. I routinely run my AC15 and my Cage 18/00 through a 2x12 with one Weber Blue Dog and one Silver Bell. Add a '52 Tele and you have a match made in heaven.

'ol hank pank · September 24th, 2003, 08:41 AM

BC 50 is my main amp and I love it.

Bill Ashton · September 24th, 2003, 06:44 PM

Laney VC-30? I know this is more power than 15 watts, but they have one 12" or two 10" versions. Very nice amps.

Billy Claire · September 25th, 2003, 05:28 AM

Orange AD30TC- 30 watt twin channel combo with V30's. Fantastic sounding amp with channel switching!

'ol hank pank · September 25th, 2003, 08:11 AM

15 watts spec. Sorry the BC 50 is 50 watts.

I just got a little (heresy I know) Danelectro 15 watt SS
'nifty-fifty' amp for 30 bucks used !!!!

little 8 inch speaker. If you see one, try it out. I t may hold you over until you can try some of those amps that are harder to find.

Tacobrown · September 29th, 2003, 06:05 PM

I recieved the Bad Cat Cub reverb last week, and it has completely met all of my expectations as to how a Vox-type amp should sound. On the clean settings, this thing is one of the best clean sounds out there. Great for country music. Dirty, it provides great blues tones and a pretty nasty rock tone (think Stardust-era David Bowie or Iggy and the Stooges). I love it.

FYI, there is absolutely no comparison between the Laney VC-30 (I had one) and this amp. You can argue whether the Bad Cat is worth the extra money (some would say not), but tone wise we're talking Ford Contour v. Porsche 911.

September 21st, 2003, 10:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tacobrown TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 27	Vox Clone Here's the story. I'm looking for a Vox type amp, 15 watts. I'm looking at the Ac-15, as well as the following: SMF Bad Cat Cub II Top Hat Club Royale Dr. Z Maz-18 (I know its not strictly a Vox-type amp). Anyone have any experience with any of these amps? Any other suggestions would be also be greatly appreciated.

September 21st, 2003, 10:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
John Harrison Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 1,043	Vox All are wonderful amps, but, to my ears, the blue-framed Celestion Alnico speakers have much to do with the Vox mojo. My main amp is a Korg reissue AC-30 with the aforementioned "Blues". I have used a vintage Deluxe Reverb, a Marshall Jubilee, a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia, and numerous other amps. The Vox gets the closest to the sound I want (and, thus, sounds better to me) than any amp I've ever used.

September 21st, 2003, 12:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Teleman Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Plainville, CT Posts: 389	Top Hat Club Royale I picked up a Club Royale 2-12 last month and have played about 12 gigs with it so far. For the first gig I brought along my trusty Deluxe Reverb just in case. For me the Club Royale may be the ultimate tele amp. It doesn't have alot of super clean headroom but has that bit of "grit" which I love. It is definately more adaptable to gigging than the AC30 I owned.

September 23rd, 2003, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
swingin.little.guitarman Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 146	Some very good amps. Having owned a Vox AC15 reissue, Maz 18 JR, and a Tophat Club Royale I can safely say the AC15 reissue and Club Royale will get you more Vox tones than the Maz 18 JR. The Maz 18 JR is a great amp, but it has its own unique tone thats more removed from the traditional Vox sound. The AC15 reissue will give you more of the famous Vox top boost sounds than the Club Royale, but the Club Royale will give you a bit more of a Marshall tone than the AC15. It really comes down to a matter of personal preference and desired versatility. I would rate the Tophat far superior to the Vox AC15 for materials and workmanship. Another amp that was not on your list that is worthy of consideration is the Cage Audio 18/00. It's a two channel 18 watt amp with a pair of EL84's. Each channel has individual volume and tone controls. The brighter channel is a dead ringer for my AC15 reissue. The other channel is voiced similar to a plexi Marshall. Best of all, the amp has a mix switch that allows you to combine both channels together and control the volumes and tones individually. Point to point construction, high quality components, for a little more than a used AC15 reissue. No matter which amp you choose, the Celestion Alnico Blue or WeberVST Alnico Blue Dog speakers are an essential element of the Vox sound. I routinely run my AC15 and my Cage 18/00 through a 2x12 with one Weber Blue Dog and one Silver Bell. Add a '52 Tele and you have a match made in heaven.

September 24th, 2003, 08:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
'ol hank pank Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Scotia NY Posts: 436	Bedrock BC 50 is my main amp and I love it. __________________ TDPRI tpyo Myster

September 23rd, 2003, 11:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tacobrown TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 27	I went for the Bad Cat Cub II after I found a used one for a great deal. I should get it later this week.

September 24th, 2003, 06:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bill Ashton Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Massachusetts Posts: 462	How about a... Laney VC-30? I know this is more power than 15 watts, but they have one 12" or two 10" versions. Very nice amps.

September 25th, 2003, 05:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
Billy Claire Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Marlborough MA Posts: 934	Orange AD30TC- 30 watt twin channel combo with V30's. Fantastic sounding amp with channel switching! __________________ www.myspace.com/sherylamour www.theallens.theallens.com tear off my arms and beat me to death with them...

September 25th, 2003, 08:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
'ol hank pank Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Scotia NY Posts: 436	I just saw the 15 watts spec. Sorry the BC 50 is 50 watts. I just got a little (heresy I know) Danelectro 15 watt SS 'nifty-fifty' amp for 30 bucks used !!!! little 8 inch speaker. If you see one, try it out. I t may hold you over until you can try some of those amps that are harder to find. __________________ TDPRI tpyo Myster

September 29th, 2003, 06:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tacobrown TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 27	I recieved the Bad Cat Cub reverb last week, and it has completely met all of my expectations as to how a Vox-type amp should sound. On the clean settings, this thing is one of the best clean sounds out there. Great for country music. Dirty, it provides great blues tones and a pretty nasty rock tone (think Stardust-era David Bowie or Iggy and the Stooges). I love it. FYI, there is absolutely no comparison between the Laney VC-30 (I had one) and this amp. You can argue whether the Bad Cat is worth the extra money (some would say not), but tone wise we're talking Ford Contour v. Porsche 911.