VOX AC 15 CC Forum

[ESQUIREoholic]

I'm still toying with the idea of tweeking an AC 15. I actually sent back the Night Train as it was one of many parts I would have to carry to jam and Gig with ( a Cabinet, extra cords, reverb pedal, vibrato pedal, amoung other stuff. ) Really cool unit but just a hassle if you're trying to keep things simple.

So I got an AC 15 CC to go with the Deluxe Reverb. Reverb on both, trem on
both, A master on the AC 15 for a touch of dirt. Should be great each as a stand alone or together for a nice mix.

AC 15 CC- what have you done to yours? I know a better set of tubes can make a difference, certainly a different speaker to change the voice ( Celestion Blue, Red Fang,etc.)

Check out this link:

http://www.guitarpug.com/2008/06/vox-ac15cc-mod-guide/

[mepst]

Nice link.

How do you like the AC15 in comparison to your Deluxe? How does the volume compare?

I'm saving for a Dr. Z, but in the meantime, I'm seriously considering getting one of these to replace my Hot Rod DeVille (which is way too big for my needs).

[FMA]

I have a Red Fang in mine and it sounds great. It's my primary gigging amp.
And it's very complimentary to a DRRI. The two tones work well together.
Volumewise, I'd say the AC15 is about as loud as a DRRI. It might have a bit less clean headroom though.

[mistermullens]

Great thread. I think an AC15 will most likely be my next tube amp so this will be interesting to follow.

[weiner71]

I bought an ac15cc two years ago. I bought the lower version with the wharfdale speaker in it. I put in a 12" weber blue dog speaker. I won't say that it made all the difference, but it was significant over the wharfdale. I have heard that the wharfdale are great speakers, but take forever to break in. I play mainly through P90's and I don't use any pedals unless i play the strat w/ singlecoils then I will put an analogman beano boost pedal in the chain. the amp itself mainly cleans up with just the volume control on the guitar.

the amp has some clean headroom but breaks up past noon on the volume with the gain/preamp control at about nine o'clock. the tremolo on this amp is amazing. the reverb isn't that good. I shouldn't say isn't good, just not for me. it goes from off to dick dale in two notches. turn the reverb all the way up and it sound like your under water. All and all the amp is outstanding.

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by ESQUIREoholic

AC 15 CC- what have you done to yours? I know a better set of tubes can make a difference, certainly a different speaker to change the voice ( Celestion Blue, Red Fang,etc.)


http://www.guitarpug.com/2008/06/vox-ac15cc-mod-guide/

Honestly I don't think you need to mod anything on the current round of AC-15CC's. I mean...if your after the AC-15 sound it's already there in abundance. Wharfdales aren't gonna change things that much. Blues are great but not at all necessary for a great Vox tone especially in a live situation.

I'm still using the original tubes in all three of my Vox's and they sound like well....Vox's.

I currently have an AC-15 WITH the bright clip and an AC-15 without the bright clip. I'm not sure I don't like the non bright clip tone interaction better. Either way it fairly subtle in the overall scheme of things.

I dunno I'm not sure I follow the logic of buying an amp for it's signature sound and immediately attempting to change it. I'm guessing the good folks at Vox knew what they where doing when the ok'd the production of the current AC-15's.

YMMV and it's only my 2 cents

[mepst]

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

Honestly I don't think you need to mod anything on the current round of AC-15CC's. I mean...if your after the AC-15 sound it's already there in abundance. Wharfdales aren't gonna change things that much. Blues are great but not at all necessary for a great Vox tone especially in a live situation.

If I get one of these, I'll probably wait a couple of months before making any mods. I find that my perspective on amps, in particular, can change after a a couple months of playing. It's actually good to hear from someone who likes the stock speakers in these things -- I seem to constantly read about people replacing the stock speakers, and I always wonder how many of them actually give the Wharfdales a chance.

Have you had any reliability issues with your AC-15s? It seems that a lot of people had issues with the early Chinese-made AC-15s. I would hope that they've worked most of the issues out of the manufacturing process by now.

[DickensCPA]

Originally Posted by mepst

If I get one of these, I'll probably wait a couple of months before making any mods. I find that my perspective on amps, in particular, can change after a a couple months of playing. It's actually good to hear from someone who likes the stock speakers in these things -- I seem to constantly read about people replacing the stock speakers, and I always wonder how many of them actually give the Wharfdales a chance.

Have you had any reliability issues with your AC-15s? It seems that a lot of people had issues with the early Chinese-made AC-15s. I would hope that they've worked most of the issues out of the manufacturing process by now.

Good call. I'm fickle with amps and I rarely mod until I've had it a while and KNOW it's a keeper. I find it's easier to unload an un-modded amp. I know I hesitate to buy a modded amp. It's too hard to know whether they know what they're doing.

[ehren]

I've gigged with an ac15cc for the past two years with zero issues. I plan to upgrade the reverb tank and speaker at some point, but it's been a good amp for me. Lots of people have claimed reliability issues, and I don't doubt that, but some of the stories seemed over the top. One guy claimed to have 3 or 4, (I guess he couldn't remember?!) go bad in a row before he gave up. I find those type of stories hard to believe considering the abuse I put mine through, but I guess everyone has different experiences.

[bassame]

This is, to my thinking, one of the many examples of how people's impressions are based on too much Internet reading and not enough playing, not realizing that the most articulate writers on the Internet are the negative ones. I have one of these amps, I play it at home all the time, and it sounds amazing for country music, for blues, and for 60s rock. Mine has the Alnico blue which I am still breaking in, but the Master Volume control makes it possible for me to play in my apartment and everytime I do, I wonder why I put off getting one of these amps (the answer: the Internet).

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by mepst

Have you had any reliability issues with your AC-15s? It seems that a lot of people had issues with the early Chinese-made AC-15s. I would hope that they've worked most of the issues out of the manufacturing process by now.

No I really have not had a single issue with either of my 15's or my 30. I had a friend that purchased a new (in the shipping box) Mesa Express and it literally went up in smoke the first week he had it. Not at all a knock on Mesa's just pointing out all amps can crash and burn and it's not exclusive to Vox.

There were some early issues with the 1st AC-15CC1's as one reasonably might expect when spinning up a new factory.

The rest is internet lemming fodder.

[JohnnyCrash]

A Celestion Blue is worth every penny.

Vox's are great amps, but as Wayne Alexander here on TDPRI told me - a Vox aint a Vox without a Blue... I didn't believe him at first and built my AC30 (with half power switch for AC15 mode) as a head using different cabs.

Vox amps practically NEED Celestion Blue speakers. I'd go as far as to say almost half of that classic Vox sound is the Blue.

[ESQUIREoholic]

I've owned 2 AC 30's over the years - Great amps - big and alot of volume if you need it. I agree that the Celstion Blues are the ticket especially with the AC 30 from experience. I've played through an original AC15 212 which was really cool and had that Vox sound we all know.

This will be my first AC15CC and I really like it out of the box but I will be putting in a Celestion Blue that was in my Deluxe Reverb. I'm putting the Celestion G12H back in the Deluxe since I bought the AC15CC.

I really like the mix of the Deluxe and the Vox AC15 - great match!
I just replaced tubes and rebiased my Deluxe Reverb and there is something to be heard in a good set of tubes.

Certainly when Vox puts into production an amp it wants to do so and give the customer a good sounding amp but it is a business and I'm sure they plan on getting the product out with a reasonable overhead. There can be some subtle changes that can give the amp a different voice or possibly closer to the original Vox sounds. Hence that original link I posted from "GuitarPug".

I know this is a good amp out of the box that's why I bought it but there are some things you can do to bring some satisfying changes in performance and tone. That's why I wanted to hear from the rest of you who already have owned or own an AC 15CC.

I've modded my Deluxe and love the outcome. Mercury Magnet trannies actually do make a difference. Speaker choice, tubes, the cabinet wood, baffle material, etc.

I know that some of you have had some great results from your AC 15CC mods and tweeks.

[DMace]

but are the new, Chinese Celestion Blues the same speaker? Are they still worth the extra $$?

[bassame]

Originally Posted by DMace

but are the new, Chinese Celestion Blues the same speaker? Are they still worth the extra $$?

The same speaker as what? As the version made in 1964? Of course not. For me, the comparison here is between the wharf and the celestion. [I was about to quote to you all that I have read on the Internet about which modern speakers best approach the original Celestions in sound, but that would undermine my argument made earlier about Internet reading].

[Singin' Dave]

Hard for me to let an AC15 thread go by these days without gushing over my Winfield Cyclone, an amazing AC15 clone built by Winfield Amplification (forum member Zook) in either head ($750) or combo w/ Blue ($950). Stunning tone.

[Wayne Alexander]

Celestion Blues that come in Vox amps now are made in China, most if not all aftermarket Celestion Blues are made in UK at this time. I've got both a Chinese Celestion Blue in my AC15heritage, and UK ones in my AC30. Both species sound pretty similar, but some Vox freaks feel that the UK ones sound better. I don't personally have a clear opinion on this.

What I'd recommend, if you're buying a new AC15CC, is to buy the cheaper Wharfedale version, sell that speaker (or use it somewhere else) and buy and aftermarket UK Celestion Blue from Avatar or somewhere else. That's cheaper than buying the AC15CC1x and if the UK version sounds marginally better, you get that. But if you buy used, and can get an amp that came stock with the Chinese Blue in it, there's certainly nothing wrong with it and it's a huge upgrade over the Wharfedale (this presumes that your focus is to get the classic Vox sounds - I keep saying this -- these amps can sound fine with various speakers, but they will only sound like early Beatles, Queen, U2, REM, Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, or other bands that have used AC15s and AC30s, with the Celestion Alnico Blue).

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by Wayne Alexander

I keep saying this -- these amps can sound fine with various speakers, but they will only sound like early Beatles, Queen, U2, REM, Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, or other bands that have used AC15s and AC30s, with the Celestion Alnico Blue).

Amen. It stands to reason that if your intent is to sound like someone who uses a particular speaker by all means that is a logical means to an end. I agree 100%.

That said and for the benefit of some here that are new to either Vox amps or replacement speakers, or guitar in general. I have always maintained that the amps sound great out of the box and for some a Blue wouldn't make a substantial difference one way or another. Imagine a 15 year old kid that has only been playing 2 months, coming here to learn and feeling he HAS to spend another $200.00 or $300.00 to be legit. It's simply not the case. An AC-15 with (gawd forbid) Whardales and original tubes for some kid out in the garage banging away at what little he knows is a GOOD thing. Hopefully he or she will spend more time "banging away" than experimenting with the v1 pre-amp tube.

I can only imagine how screwed up I'd of been as a kid learning guitar and guitar equipment if I had the internet to plant some of this stuff in my impressionable little head.

[bassame]

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

I can only imagine how screwed up I'd of been as a kid learning guitar and guitar equipment if I had the internet to plant some of this stuff in my impressionable little head.

Amen bro

[DMace]

Originally Posted by bassame

The same speaker as what? As the version made in 1964? Of course not. For me, the comparison here is between the wharf and the celestion. [I was about to quote to you all that I have read on the Internet about which modern speakers best approach the original Celestions in sound, but that would undermine my argument made earlier about Internet reading].

No, of course not. The Blue was still being made exclusively in the UK until fairly recently, iirc. The question would be whether the China version is as good as the more recent UK version. But Wayne Alexander answered the question.

[weiner71]

I find it odd that someone would buy the ac15ccx. after all the ac15cc is $599, then the celestion alnico blue is $299 new. You can put it together for $900. But if you buy the ac15ccx it cost $950.

Is there that much extra mojo in the ac15ccx version that cost $50 more?

[s360guitarist]

I have the AC15CC1 with a wharf broken in by time and chords. Sounds ok to me but it's just me.

I did the bright cap mod and can tell the difference when playing a Tele. I replaced the verb tank. I picked the amp up used for just 400 and the tank cost me 30 shipped. I had a tube go and replaced them all.

All of that and I am about 500 deep. Not too bad in today's tough economic climate I guess.

Wish it was a bit lighter but it's not and I only play out about once a month so we survive.

Oh, and that foreign quality control thing...I have never had a problem with my Vox made in china or my Tele made in Mexico...but I have a jeep made in detroit in my driveway leaking oil as I type this...hope it starts in the morning.

[jmaul]

1) swap speaker to celestion blue OR undoped alnico weber blue dog. I have two alnico blue dogs- one is 15w and doped, the other 30 and undoped. The doping makes more tonal difference than the wattage, and undoped is closer to the vox sound. Never heard a red fang.

2) swap the reverb pan for accutronics. If you want the reverb to be usable at all, this is a must.

3) build or have built a new cab, the stock cab is about 90% 3/4" MDF. This is why the amp is so effin heavy! If you remove the chassis and load the speaker in a nice cab, you will see it changes the tone of the amp somewhat. I noticed much tighter and mroe focused mids and lows, but it did deviate a bit from the standard vox sound. Even an identical cab made of bb ply would be significantly lighter. This will also allow other minor touches like using better tolex (stock vox tolex nicks and rips like nothing else, and the glue sucks- its easy to get bubbles and pulling away) and brass vents.

After that, I think its all good. The transformers sure seem good, even though they are from some asian supplier. I personally dont see any need to change the circuit.

[mepst]

Well, my DeVille died during my last band practice. I don't have the tools to open it up and diagnose the problem at my house, and I also don't feel like paying a tech to fix it right now. The DeVille hadn't been doing it for me for a while, so I figured I'd put the money toward something new, and resurrect the DeVille later.

I went out to bunch of stores yesterday, and to be on the safe side, played everything that I've been interested in lately (Bassman Reissue, Dr. Z Mazerati, Mesa Express Series, VVT Fralin). I settled on the AC-15 CC1, because it sounded great and I want a workhorse amp that I'm not afraid to take to practices and gigs.

I've played it for a few hours with my Teles and Jazzmasters, and it sounds great with both. I really like the sound of the tremolo. Right now, I'm really happy with the purchase.

I'll probably be replacing the speaker, but I want to give the stock Wharfedale a chance to break in. The reverb and tubes are also potentially on my list, but I'm going to wait until the honeymoon period is over . . . I'll write back to detail any changes I make.

Once I start playing/recording more I'll probably spring for a Z or a Winfield, but until then the AC15CC1 is a great amp for the money.

[pcypert]

I realized that after all the upgrades and amp hacks I'd be better off just buying the Handwired. Went that way instead of the Night Train and am incredibly happy.

Paul

[mepst]

Okay. So, I've been playing the AC15 for a few days now, and I've noticed that the reverb adds a good deal of hiss to the sound of the amp when engaged.

My first question: Is this normal? The reverb on my Hot Rod DeVille adds very little noise to the overall sound of the amp.

My second question: If the culprit is just a lousy reverb pan, is it difficult to replace it with an accutronics spring reverb unit? Is replacement as simple as unplugging the old unit and plugging in a new one? I can't find much information on swapping the reverb out.

[tonfarbe]

Originally Posted by mepst

My first question: Is this normal? The reverb on my Hot Rod DeVille adds very little noise to the overall sound of the amp.

The stock reverb in my AC15 also added noise to the sound, so I guess that's normal.

Originally Posted by mepst

My second question: If the culprit is just a lousy reverb pan, is it difficult to replace it with an accutronics spring reverb unit? Is replacement as simple as unplugging the old unit and plugging in a new one? I can't find much information on swapping the reverb out.

Not difficult at all. It's 'Plug and Play' - go for it.
I replaced mine with an Accutronics 8EB2C1B.
Huge improvement: sounds much better and doesn't add noise when crancked.

[pcypert]

Yeah, the stock trem on the AC15 is doable but the verb is to be avoided if at all possible. Replace or turn off...which is odd because it's decent on the lowly Pathfinder...at least much more so to my ears than the AC15's.

Paul

[pcypert]

Hey all,
Didn't see a club yet for the great AC15 and all it's great little variants.

Personally I have the AC15H1TV. Opted for it over the AC15 and Night Train due to it having all the mods and speakers I would have paid to upgrade to from the get go...plus it's in a sexy case and hand wired :p

Paul

[Ivan]

I got to try one of these a few weeks ago and love the clean sound but didn't really get to turn it up so I'm still thinking about it.

I have a really trivial question so don't laugh! How big is this amp? The website states the width as 732mm, but some places online says 605mm. Are there actually two sizes for this amp?

[pcypert]

My handwired is a good bit taller than the regular 15, that much I know for sure.

Paul

[starkj]

Hey, I just got myself a used Vox AC15 CCX 1 (with the Celestion Alnico Blue of course). Otherwise it sounds as great as it looks, BUT: when I turn just the power on, everything's ok, I'm giving the tubes a couple of minutes to warm up. Then, when I also turn on the standby switch, it immediately begins to hum. A low frequency hum, which stays the same independent of if the guitar is plugged in or not, and independent of tweaking every possible knob on the amp. Since it doesn't hum when only the power - not the power AND the standby - is turned on, can it have something to do with the power tubes? Can they for example be loose or something? I'm a newbie in these kinds of things, so any help is greatly appreciated!

[drummerdarko]

my '96 English AC15TBX is my favorite amp that I own....

[Jenix]

Vox AC15 owner checking in, sorry for being late. Great Amp!

[Jenix]

so what mods are you guys doing? Whats the first thing you would do to a stock AC15CC? I've only changed the tubes on mine

[JCMNelson]

I bought my AC15CC1 about four years ago and I absolutely love it!! I've got four valve amps and it's definately my number 1.

I took it to practice about a month ago and switched it on - nothing. Took it home and saw that the fuse had blown, and thought 'that's great, easy fix, just get another fuse' - wrong! I bought a pack of fuses and blew 5 in a row without getting the thing even on!

It's with a tech now and it turns out the legs of two components were sticking out quite far under the board. As time has gone by the board has become more flexible and these shorted out on the chassis. He's sorted the short, but it's damaged my power transformer, so he's replacing that now.

I suppose this is just unlucky, and isn't really a quality issue, oh well...

BTW, the only upgrade I've made is replacing the valves, with very good results!

[johnqpublic2718]

I am definitely purchasing a vox before the month ends, my mesa just isn't doing it for me anymore (mesa 100w s.o.b.)

I play using mostly clean tones, occasionally I like to add a bit of crunch, and I mean just a little bit. I definitely need to be able to hear myself over the drummer but still maintain plenty of clean headroom. Of course my 100 watt mesa is able to do this but the tone is just too sterile for me. Having played on a friend's ac30 I now know that is the tone I have been looking for. Would I be able to maintain plenty of clean tone at high enough volumes to hear myself over a drummer with an ac15??

[Groovey Records]

Just Curious

Do any of the modern configurations of the AC 15 use an EF86 tube?


Gotta have it if you want true AC 15 Tone

[pchilson]

The handwired series uses EF86 tube.

[Groovey Records]

Ah ha !!