VOX AC4tv

[Escondido Bound]

Originally Posted by theGecko71

I didn't know there was an 8" speaker version. Only a 10" that I'm aware of.

The 8" originally was offered only in Japan; now, GC appears to have an exclusive on it although Vox USA does list it as available on the main web site (it seems to have appeared only recently). I haven't seen the 8" on the GC website either so I'm wondering if it is only available in store. It wa promoted in the recent 45th anniversary catalog that went out a couple weeks back.

Also, unlike the 10", the 8" model's attenuator settings are 4, 1, and 1/10 watt (rather than 1/4). I'm curious about the sound comparison as well since I would assume the 10" speaker could make a noticeable difference even at very low wattage.

drewsblues, what do you think of the 1/10 watt setting? Is it useful for you?

EB

[mickeydean]

Originally Posted by theGecko71

I don't think the amp really shines fully cranked--it gets quite overdriven and distorted. At the verge of breakup it is really, really nice, however.

if turn it all the way up and then put it on 1/4 watt, i get terrific David Lindley
slide/lap steel tone.

otherwise i agree with you, i think it sounds best with the volume anyplace between 10 and 2 o'clock.


oh... another thing. i have a Carl Martin Red Repeat that does a better reverb than real reverb for live. the Van Amps reverb is really lush, but i have much better definition with the Red Repeat and it doesn't sound delay like at all. you can find used Red Repeats for much less money that a reverb so it might be a good way to go with this amp.

[drewsblues]

Originally Posted by Escondido Bound

drewsblues, what do you think of the 1/10 watt setting? Is it useful for you?

Useful only in situations where you have to be REALLY quiet. Honestly, it's pretty muddy and lacks character at that setting. So far anyway. I need to play around with it a little more before I can give you my "final answer."

The more I play it, the more it seems a little harsh, on all settings. I'm about 50/50 on returning it and ordering the 10" version from MF.

If I get some time today, I'll stick a mic in front of it record some samples.

[drewsblues]

Alright. I mic'd 'er up and noodled a bit. It's only vaguely musical, and completely unscientific, but it does the trick for conveying the tonal characteristics of the 8" version of the VOX AC4TV.

Apologies in advance for the almost inaudible dialogue on these tracks. I just stuck an SM-57 in front of the amp and stood in over it while I played. Be warned that the amp is LOUD in the mix, while the talking is very quiet.

On all tracks, I'm playing a stock American Standard Tele with .010 gauge strings, straight into the amp. The mic was set about 6" back. It's important to note that the Tele has a rosewood fretboard, so take that into account when you consider the tone.

Demo of 4 watt setting...
More 4 watt setting, playing around with the tone control...
Demo of 1 watt setting...
Demo of 1/10 watt seting...

Anyway, hope these provide some value.

[theGecko71]

1/10 watt? Actually, I wish mine had a setting that low. As it is, if I want to jam late evenings without angering wife and daughter, I end up with headphones on in front of my computer playing through my Line6 Toneport. And I hate sitting in front of a computer to play guitar. The interaction of the monitor with the pus isn't pretty.

[jjkrause84]

I'm playing through one right now!

I love this amp, I really do. This one I only bought to take with me to France so I'm gonna sell it (if I can) when I leave. Maybe if I get more money down the line I'll buy another but I can't afford to keep this one yet. No worries, my AC15cc has an EF86 and NOTHING gets played except that when I'm home....it's just TOO good. I think Vox has had a fantastic couple of years producing a bunch of really great, affordable amps and I hope they continue to do so.

I play with the tone at 11 o'clock and the Volume at 2 o'clock with my beater Strat that I take o nthe road with me and it sounds phenomenal. Put it in the 1 watt mode with an OD pedal (Vox Big Ben, for me) and It's just sings. Tons of great sustain (with or without the pedal) and really nice clean/dirty tones. If you CRANK it it can get boxy, I bet a cab would solve this problem though. I'd love to play it through a 2x12

[Will Chen]

Originally Posted by shinigami747

thanks for the clip!

may i know if any effects were used, or was it a guitar>cable>amp setup?

No effects. The amp was miced about a foot away and about an inch of center with an MXL V67G. The rhythm guitar is an SX SST57 and the lead a PRS Singlecut SE. Reverb and compression were applied to the mix.

Here's another clip paired with a Highland Royal (335 copy). The amp was miced about a foot away and about an inch of center with an MXL V67G. No effects were used.

[shinigami747]

Originally Posted by Will Chen

No effects. The amp was miced about a foot away and about an inch of center with an MXL V67G. The rhythm guitar is an SX SST57 and the lead a PRS Singlecut SE. Reverb and compression were applied to the mix.

Here's another clip paired with a Highland Royal (335 copy). The amp was miced about a foot away and about an inch of center with an MXL V67G. No effects were used.

thanks for the info! i appreciate the effort.

[walpow]

Here's the bottom of mine with the pedalboard I cooked up specifically to use with it:

[Escondido Bound]

Originally Posted by drewsblues

Anyway, hope these provide some value.

Hey Drew--

Thanks for posting the samples. I listened to them in reverse order for the 1/10-watt up to the 4-watt settings, and wow!, you can hear a big difference in the quality of the sound. At 1 and 4 watts, this is a very nice sounding amp, even over my cheap laptop speakers.

Very nice recording and playing, by the way. You offered a most useful overview of the amp both clean and dirty, and now it's just a matter of me getting my butt over to GC to do some A/B-ing myself with the two amps, if possible.

EB

[drewsblues]

Originally Posted by Escondido Bound

Hey Drew--

Thanks for posting the samples. I listened to them in reverse order for the 1/10-watt up to the 4-watt settings, and wow!, you can hear a big difference in the quality of the sound. At 1 and 4 watts, this is a very nice sounding amp, even over my cheap laptop speakers.

Very nice recording and playing, by the way. You offered a most useful overview of the amp both clean and dirty, and now it's just a matter of me getting my butt over to GC to do some A/B-ing myself with the two amps, if possible.

EB

Thanks for the kind words, EB. Glad you managed to get through all that stuff!

You might have a hard time finding a 10" candidate for A/B comparison purposes at Guitar Center. I've been to three different locations in Orange County, CA and none of them had the 10" version; only the 8". I suspect that they don't carry the 10" in store. Of course, I could be (and often am) wrong...

Good luck!

[mountainman]

A pic of my Vox that I picked up the other day. I was just blown away by it (actually almost was blown off my chair when I switched it from 1W to 4W) a little dramatic but you get the point. It gets LOUD and it one of the sexiest amps I have seen.

[mickeydean]

Originally Posted by mountainman

A pic of my Vox that I picked up the other day. I was just blown away by it (actually almost was blown off my chair when I switched it from 1W to 4W) a little dramatic but you get the point. It gets LOUD and it one of the sexiest amps I have seen.

if you get the head and cab like that it's a 12" speaker as opposed to the 10" in the combo.

i am dying to know what would happpen if you upgrade the 12 and the tubes.

i wonder if you would gain enough clean volume for small gigs?

[theGecko71]

All depends on the size of the gig, how loud the drummer is, and whether you're miking the amp or not, doesn't it?

[mickeydean]

Originally Posted by theGecko71

All depends on the size of the gig, how loud the drummer is, and whether you're miking the amp or not, doesn't it?

i upgraded my combo and it would still not have enough clean volume for most drummers, but it's close i think. if it were mic'd then yeah but i am trying to avoid that if possible.

i just wonder if i could get another 10% or better out of the head and cab.

i think i am looking for an excuse to buy one.

[myk2e]

When I used mine I had a monitor in front of me. Basically set up for a little hair at full volume. Had to pull some teeth to get a hot mix out of the soundman but really enjoyed playing. We listened back to the recording, played it at church, and it sounded great.

Still needed some eq tweaking from the board but was great otherwise.

That being said, I had issues with hearing it with the drummer (b4 getting a mix setup) even enclosed in a plexi glass iso booth

[whart]

I bought one as a practice amp, and it serves that purpose well. I love the "chimey" tone that it offers. It gets extremely dirty very quickly on the lowest wattage settings.
The biggest limitation is that even at the full 4 watts, it doesn't seem to have alot of headroom before it distorts. Not complaining since I obviously have a bigger amp for playing louder, but I wouldn't mind something in-between. At the price, it is a relative bargain. And, it has whet my appetite for a bigger Vox amp. Or maybe one of those lovely TMI's. Of course, those are no bargain.
Oh, one last thing. I haven't tried using the amp with an external cabinet. (I have a Marshall with 2 x 12 at 16ohms which matches my 2061x head). I wonder how much louder the 4 watt Vox would sound before it clips into the bigger speaker box. I'll report back.
So far, highly recommended, recognizing its obvious limitations.

[theGecko71]

I notice everyone has the same complaint about this amp: not enough headroom. Too true, but she is a little gal at only 4 watts (obviously). And, I admit, this amp does whet my appetite for a AC15 or 30. I don't think they ever advertised the little girl for big shows, though. She only wants to do intimate shows in your living room or at the local coffee bar. For that she is so sweet. I was doing some clean E maj blues freestyle yesterday in my basement on the 1/4 setting and the guys redoing our upstairs bathroom could hear me just fine, they reported.

[kerc]

Guys, tell me about the 1/10 watt setting...Does it sound as good as the 1/4 watt setting of its bigger brother?

[mudbean]

Originally Posted by drewsblues

The more I play it, the more it seems a little harsh, on all settings. I'm about 50/50 on returning it and ordering the 10" version from MF.

Hey Drew!

That wouldn't be yours on our local CL right now, would it?

mud