Anyone make an AC15 kit ?

I sold my Fender Blues Junior recently, and I'm kinda missing my little amp. I would love an AC15, and a handwired amp is the way to go IMHO. I can't realy afford a Vox AC15HW1 right now, or even an AC15 kit for that matter. I might sell a guitar to fund my GAS. Does anyone make a good kit ? I don't need a chassis or cab, but it would be nice. I looked through Weber's amps, but he doesn't make one, only the AC30. I currently own a 66 Super reverb and a 66 Bassman. I need a little amp to carry around for the smaller gigs and jams. Plus it would be nice to have that Vox tone aswell. I don't have the cash right now, but I'd like to know my options so I can start saving.

I'm not aware of an AC15 Kit, though Ceriatone has a Matchless Lightning which is in the same ballpark, though it's louder with more clean headroom and tighter bass because of massive filtering and really big transformers. If you're in the US don't order the transformers from Ceriatone, get them from Westlabs.

A used AC15 can be had for @ $500. This is probably going to be a lot cheaper than a kit, if money is the driving factor here.

A used AC15 can be had for @ $500. This is probably going to be a lot cheaper than a kit, if money is the driving factor here.

That is a possibility, but I prefer handwired. It's something that I'll definetly consider though.

Also, you mentioned in the OP about missing your "little amp." The AC15 weighs 48 pounds. I don't know about you, but I don't consider an amp that heavy to be "little."

Also, you mentioned in the OP about missing your "little amp." The AC15 weighs 48 pounds. I don't know about you, but I don't consider an amp that heavy to be "little."

Well, by little I mean low wattage. I didn't know they weigh 50 pounds though. That's pretty heavy for a 15 watt amp. I'd still like to build one, maybe I'll just get the AC15C1 instead.

I built one out of the tino zottola book. Easy to follow instructions, but you have to source your parts. You can get everything you need including the book from Antique Electronic Supply. The book has a parts list so if you can set aside an hour or two to do the leg work you can order up al the parts and go. In the end I used a Weber 18 watt power transformer because it was cnvenient butthere are lots of options. Oh but i had the tools to drill out my own chassis, and build a cab.

Well, it looks ike I have two options. Either I have to build one and buy all the parts, or I can just get the AC15C1. There might be a third option, but I doubt it. I could save up and buy the AC15HW1. I don't have a grand to spend on an amp though, and I rarely see a used one.

You could always update the AC15C1 down the road with PRO wiring.

You could always update the AC15C1 down the road with PRO wiring.

That's a great idea. I think that's what I'll do. I was actualy thinking about doing that to my Junior, but ended up installing the Billm mods.

There's pictures of the guts on the internet of the Handwired AC15 which sounds worlds apart from the AC15 cc Chinese specials. To upgrade an non handwired model would be redonkulous. You'd have to take it down to the cab......and that's even different.

Good luck......great choice. You8 can build a hand wired AC15 clone and get it right.

Jonhart maybe there is another option...Maybe just to get you playing something like an AC15 until you get one. I just bought a Vox VT15 modeling amp real cheap $60. It has the AC15, AC15TB, AC30TB and AC30HH models. I could not tell you if any of them sound exactly the same as these amps but Vox ought to know how they sound.
There are several VT models, VT15, VT30, VT50, etc and they use the 12ax7 tube.
Just a thought. Around here VT30 are around $100 or so.
Rob

I actualy have a new plan. I would like the british sound, but I've decided to stick with my Fender sound. I'm going to build a blackface Deluxe (non reverb). I have a reverb unit so I don't need verb, but I will keep the tremolo. I just suddenly thought of it. Why should I get an amp that sounds so different from my favorite tone, I can just keep the Fender tone in a smaller package. It wasn't what I originaly planned, but it seems like the best idea.

The new Vox amps are Vox's only by name. A friend of mine picked up a new AC15 for stupid cheap on CL. I opened it up and they are nothing like the vintage ones. The tremolo is solid state and the reverb is a tiny pan that sounds pretty anemic. What I am doing is building an AC10; which is very similar to the 15 and the schematic is on the Vox website. When it's all said and done I will have it built for less than a new AC15 (including a custom made Vox-like chassis) with all the Vox qualities (EF86 mainly) and be hand wired. I will also build my cabinet so that's several hundred dollars of savings, too. Just a thought.

I built one thats AC15 on one channel and Marshall 18W on the other. It's a beast.

132404

Another option is the Trinity Amps TC-15. It's more of a Matchless DC30 clone only a 15 watt version. I built one over the winter and the tone is fantastic, it's cured all my gas for any new amps. Definitely worth checking out.

I built one thats AC15 on one channel and Marshall 18W on the other. It's a beast.

132404

That's a serious bit of gear :eek:

The new Vox amps are Vox's only by name. A friend of mine picked up a new AC15 for stupid cheap on CL. I opened it up and they are nothing like the vintage ones. The tremolo is solid state and the reverb is a tiny pan that sounds pretty anemic. What I am doing is building an AC10; which is very similar to the 15 and the schematic is on the Vox website. When it's all said and done I will have it built for less than a new AC15 (including a custom made Vox-like chassis) with all the Vox qualities (EF86 mainly) and be hand wired. I will also build my cabinet so that's several hundred dollars of savings, too. Just a thought.

Realy, the trem is SS ??? That seems very cheap, and the new Vox amps sell for more than the Fenders. Even the reverb in my Blues Junior was tube.

Another option is the Trinity Amps TC-15. It's more of a Matchless DC30 clone only a 15 watt version. I built one over the winter and the tone is fantastic, it's cured all my gas for any new amps. Definitely worth checking out.

The DC-30 was another amp that caught my eye. A 15 watt version of that would be pretty cool. I'll look into that, but I'm pretty much set on Deluxe non reverb idea.

Realy, the trem is SS ??? That seems very cheap, and the new Vox amps sell for more than the Fenders. Even the reverb in my Blues Junior was tube.

No reason for a tube for tremolo, basically an oscilator with no signal going through it.

I've got the DC30 tone control wired up in mine.

Watts Tube Audio has turret boards (prewired if you want them) and layouts for clones of the Matchless Spitfire and Lightning. I built a Spitfire combo with 2x10 Weber British alnico speakers (blue pup and silver bell), and it chimes like an AC-15. You should be able to get it done under $500 (less cabinet).

Quick Revive, I was building an AC10 clone out of a Filmosound, but was having serious noise issues without being able to quiet it. I finally decided to put a turet / circuit board in, and was trying to get a layout done. I found that Ciera Tone has a "Creme Brule". Although not an AC15 clone, it does have much of the AC15 circuit.

Check out Weber amp kits

I have a Vox AC15CC1, as another poster said, it's heavy. At 15 watts (which doesn't sound like much ) it gets quite loud. I've read a lot of negatives about the CC1, but I'm real happy with the way it makes my Tele sound. And when the Deluxe Reverb and AC15 are ABY'd together it's pure heaven. You can get one (used) real cheap these days and do what you want with it, that'd be the route I'd take.