AC30: Easy or hard to play?

I'm undecided on wether the AC30 is an easy or hard amp to play. I love the natural compression and tone it has. I also dig the sag that it offers with the switch on the back in vintage mode. Everything sounds just so fantastic when you're in the groove. However, if I don't dig in hard enough or I don't hit every note EXACTLY spot on with the attack, it really lets me know. What do you other Vox owners think? Is it easy to play because of the tone or is it hard to play because of it's honesty....or somewhere inbetween?

I found the tone stack so interactive on mine that it was hard to get the tone I was looking for. I probably missed a few good ones in the process too. Yes, it's a very articulate and unforgiving amp IMHO. However, pair that with the articulate and unforgiving Telecaster and you somehow have a great rig. My biggest complaint with the AC30 is that it's harder to move than play. :lol:

Judging from your reference to "the switch on the back in vintage mode", you must be talking about AC30CC in specific.

I didn't find mine to "bloom" very well and had to devise ways to make those things happen. I don't know what you mean by "hard to play" because it could mean "hard sounding" opposed to "soft sounding" amp, or for whatever reason, it's a "difficult" amp to play. *BUT* with that said, I didn't think it was a soft sounding amp and at certain setting, it could sound a little brittle. I was also overcome this issue with a bit external help and a minor component swap or 2.

After I had worked out all the issues, it was hard to beat and I used it for everything for a couple of years.

I think my AC30cc Head With Alnico Blue Speakers plays it self

I had a 1968ish Vox AC30 and the new ones blow the old ones away

Very easy to play it won't sound like a Dr Z but the AC30cc does sounds like like The Beatles, The Stones, and does country FANTASTIC

Bottom line its a great amp!!!...

It's easy to play when you get used to it.

El84 amps are to me anyway, the telecasters of amps. You really have to learn how to play them, but when you do, they take you places no other amp can take you. I absolutely love how they cut right thru the mix of bass/drums/keyboards and give you your own sonic space. With single coils or filtertrons the tone moves right up on top of everything and put you out front.

Both of my amps are el84 based and are tele heaven!!!

I always thought you played the guitar, and just plugged into the amp.

I love AC30's and AC30 based amps. I avoided AC30's like the plague, but then I got one, for some weird reason one day, and it opened up a whole new realm of tones to my ears.

I grew up playing a Fende Deluxe, so the AC30 was a bit different and even felt "stiffer" to me, but the more I played it the more I liked it. I eventually wanted "more" and sold it for some Dr. Z stuff (along with a few other amps). The StangRay is very AC30 ish, so it's my main amp now.

Sorry to get off the subject...... Keep the AC30 it'll make you a better player. A speaker upgrade to Alnico Blue speakers is a HUGE improvment (IMO), and Weber makes some great speakers at a good price. Also, the more you crank it, the more it shines.... even being a master volume amp, it'll sound better with the master up past noon so the poweramp tubes are cookin' a bit.

That's my $.02 worth.

I always thought you played the guitar, and just plugged into the amp.

Dang tremo! Beat me to it...:mrgreen: