Vox AC30, must have effects?

I just bought a Vox AC30CC2. I want to start making and effects board for it. What do you guys think are some must have effects. I know a wah and a treble booster, but what else beyond that? Also what would be the best brand of effects to purchase?

Man that's a broad question I'm sure you will get many different replies. My 2 cents...I just bought a Dr.Z Mazerati similar the AC30 and I use...Full Drive 2 Mosfet, Electric Stereo Mistress, BBE two timer delay and sonic stomp, 535q wah and a few others sprinkled in. I might be getting rid of the Sonic Stomp because the "Rati" needs little sonic help.:smile: My board is a Furman SPB-8C which is a killer board. I like the Full drive it adds a nice crunch when needed. I'm going to pick up a Carl Martin compressor/limiter soon which should work nicely.

I was thinking about getting mostly MXR effects. I have heard nothing bad about them.

The first question to ask is what kind of music are you playing and what kind of tones do you seek?
Without knowing that, I don't think it's possible to give you any advice.

I play many different styles of music. Everything from Sabbath to Radiohead

Don't limit yourself to just one brand of pedals - MXR makes great stuff but there's a ton of people out there (even smaller companies) making some absolutely killer stuff.

Tell you what - go talk with Chad @ CMATMODS and I'm sure he'd come up with something for you. www.cmatmods.com

All handmade pedals at reasonable prices. Wampler is another good one to speak to. If you need some modded stuff Keeley is the way to go.

Now with that said - MXR Distortion III for you.

It needs to be said; there are no 'must-have' effects. An AC30 is a pretty potent starting point. The simpler you keep your setup, the fewer headaches you'll have and the more you'll rely on your amp, your ear and your touch. After that, add effects only as you 'need' them to find the sound in your head... and try a bunch to see which one gets you closest to that.

a treble booster with a top boost ac30? I doubt it. makes my ears bleed just to think about it.

a sparkle drive and a dan-echo will get you started.

For me, I'd skip the treble boost and wah, and just have reverb and tremolo. Anything beyond that, maybe some compressin, slap-back echo, and maybe, possibly, some very subtle chorus.

I've heard chorus boxes cranked up to sound a lot like a rotary speaker.

My version of essential pedals:
Wah, Fuzz, OD/booster pedal (I use a TS9), Analog Delay (I can live without 'verb w/ my DM2), and if I've been listening to too much Hendrix I need my Deja-Vibe.
But I also like having non-essential pedals too.

a treble booster with a top boost ac30? I doubt it. makes my ears bleed just to think about it.

a sparkle drive and a dan-echo will get you started.

As always, when we're talking tone and amp/gainer preferences, different strokes. Top boost model or not, a 30 or a 15 still has a stong compressed mids presentation, more so as pushed, obviously. I like the Sparkle Drive, I have one that's modded by Robert Keeley. However, for my tastes, circuits like this - and Klons and Green Screamers and such - have their own inherent mids presentation and compression, and personally (of course!), I've never been a fan of piling more mids and compression onto an amp with strong mids and compression. They can be cool for saturated single note lead lines, but for the player that plays a variety of parts and seeks workable tonal balance across the strings, I'll just say that I'm not a big fan.

There are lots of classic examples of AC30/treble booster use; Ritchie Blackmore, Rory Gallagher, Brian May, off the top of my head. If those guys were using "non-top boost" models, well, there's still a "normal" channel on lots of post-vintage VOX amps; hence, I wouldn't discourage someone from using a treble booster with an AC30 if they desire "that sound". I don't know precisely what those and other guys were using, but most guys during the era were using a Dallas Rangemaster or similar circuit.

For what it's worth, I have 90's KORG reissue AC30 and AC15, both with Celestion Blue speakers. I don't use any traditional treble boosters per se currently, but whenever the subject comes up, I usually mention that my favorite booster (including for "top boost" channel) is the Prescription Electronics "Germ". It's a germanium-based clean booster that is somewhat neutral (EQ-wise) in the lows, low mids, and mids, but definitely presents some subtle sheen and presence in the highs, which is what I want with a pushed VOX amp.

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To the original poster: I'd love to offer a really concise, cut-and-dry response. I've screwed around with lots of amps and circuits over the years. I'm not technically savvy, I only know what my ear likes. What works in the basement, at the rehearsal space, at the bar, at the concert venue, and within the recording environment - is often vastly different. I know what works for me and my approach and my signal path and my material, but my opinion is neither right nor wrong, it's simply the best that I've been able to come up with for me.

My advice is to try different stuff and learn to trust your ears over time. It's cool to consider internet opinions, but there's absolutely no substitute for doing the time and the trial & error yourself. That's the only way that you'll find your own way.

If you don't know what you want you don't need it!

Best way to ensure a pedal is "must have": sell it.

I sold my Ibanez FL-9 Flanger (mid-2000s model) a couple weeks ago...and just tonight I decided I really, really needed a flanger. Doh.

Don't know what I was thinking when I sold it.

Rangemaster into the normal channel is a match made in heaven. Look for deals on a Baja Boost, Beano, or Red Rooster.

If you don't know what you want you don't need it! :neutral: nice...