Making a vox ac30 into a head???

[iluvledzepp]

Hello to all, Im sure you all remmeber the discussion about amps and im still looking, but i've had a love for the ac30 for a while now. I played the c2 in multiple guitar stores and love it, but what if i were to make it into a head? I dont want the ac30 CC2 due to having to take off the back to replace tubes(my mind is made up, don't try and change it ) so any thoughts, would it be doable? would it affect tone? thanks alot

 

[Leep Dog]

How about buying a used AC30 head? I've thought about doing this myself.

 

[metropolis74]

Yeah I remember your previous amp discussions. They were very entertaining.

Converting an AC30C2 into a head is not practical in my opinion. If you are hesitant to take a few minutes (electric drill works wonders) to unscrew the back panel every time you change tubes (and how often would that really be?), are you sure you want to tackle a combo to head conversion? Are your woodworking skills good? Not trying to be a jerk, but just trying to put things in perspective.

Most tube amps are going to have a back panel or some sort of protective cage protecting the tubes. Heck even the AC30 head that Leep Dog suggested has a back panel also. But that would be my suggestion also...find a used AC30CC2 head and just deal with the back panel like the rest of us.

Some easier options then converting into a head:
*Or get the AC30C2 and remove the screen in the back panel so you have easy access to the tubes.
*Or cut the back panel in half (the bottom half with the screen) so you only have to remove 4 screws to get access to the tubes.
*Or cut the back panel in half and leave the bottom half off, just be careful not to disturb the exposed tubes.

Let us know how it turns out. Good luck!

image removed

 

[metropolis74]

Oh yeah one more thing, you'll have to get a new cab for the speakers. You can't just cut a combo amp in half horizontally and use the top half as a head and the bottom half as the speaker cab if that's what you were thinking. Not enough room to do both unless you get really creative with the wood work. How much do you want to invest in this anyway just to save a few moments to unscrew the back panel? Yes I admit I am trying to change your mind and trying to see your logic.

 

[Big_Bend]

Give the folks at Mojotone a call, maybe they make a head cabinet for the Vox.

I used them when I split my Twin into a head and cabinet. MUCH easier to move around. Good luck!

 

[iluvledzepp]

How about buying a used AC30 head? I've thought about doing this myself.

the only ac30 head i can ever find are the cch's and i am still unsure if thats what i want or not

 

[iluvledzepp]

Oh yeah one more thing, you'll have to get a new cab for the speakers. You can't just cut a combo amp in half horizontally and use the top half as a head and the bottom half as the speaker cab if that's what you were thinking. Not enough room to do both unless you get really creative with the wood work. How much do you want to invest in this anyway just to save a few moments to unscrew the back panel? Yes I admit I am trying to change your mind and trying to see your logic.

yes i did know that, thanks for the replies, how hard is it to take the back off the cch? cuz if its not difficult then i would be willing to look into it, also are there any clone heads i could look into? maybe laney stuff, thanks alot

 

[iluvledzepp]

also does anyone know the weight of the cch head? any bad reviews on it, ive looked around and seen mixed ones, does anyone own this head and have personal experience

 

[jefrs]

The AC30HWH is 18.8kg - hand wired head - appears to be the only AC30 head now in production.

Cutting any AC30 about will ruin its value and none of them are cheap.
Sell the combo and buy a head and cab.

Btw - you are not meant to take the back off an AC30, it's a semi-closed back amp.

Don't forget, nanny says poking things filled with electricity is dangerous.

The nearest Laney is the VC30-212 combo ~ £550 no head in that range
The Laney LH50 is more of a Marshall 2xEL34 50W

The Laney GS212IE I have is 2x12 Celestion Seventy80 160 watts Ext Cab - light (one hand lift) and fairly cheap, closed back mono/stereo series/parallel 4ohm 8+8ohm or 16ohm, sounds good for reinforcement as an ext cab on a combo making up a 4x12 system, reasonable on its own when cranked up to get the drivers working. The Seventy80 aren't Celestion's finest offerings but the good size deep box flatters them and gives them that classic Celestion whump and roar.

 

[iluvledzepp]

Thanks alot for the reply, but you HAVE to take the back off to replace tubes on the CCH, not handwired. So im guessing the verdict is don't put the amp into a head cab? im also looking into the ac15? someone once told me you can put the ac15 through a 212 and by unmatching the ohms in some way (just an example ex. 4 into 16 ohms or something) that would make the amp twice as loud?is this true? but thats kinda confuzing soo can someone explain thanks alot for your help

 

[vanklomk]

I've seen Genz Benz Black Pearl heads go cheap on GCs used site. 30 watts switchable to 15 or 7.5 and gets a great Vox sound. I had a 3x10 version which was great but a back breaker.

 

[jefrs]

Thanks alot for the reply, but you HAVE to take the back off to replace tubes on the CCH, not handwired. So im guessing the verdict is don't put the amp into a head cab? im also looking into the ac15? someone once told me you can put the ac15 through a 212 and by unmatching the ohms in some way (just an example ex. 4 into 16 ohms or something) that would make the amp twice as loud?is this true? but thats kinda confuzing soo can someone explain thanks alot for your help

Point - you have to put the back back on after changing valves.
1) for electrical safety, yours, your mates, and your kiddies.
2) it's a semi-closed back, it sounds rubbish with the back off.

An AC15 has a 16ohm speaker - so you run a 16ohm 2x12 ext cab i.e. 2-off 8ohm in series - most 2x12 cab have a pair of 8ohm, many can be connected series or parallel with a simple switch/jack arrangement. The AC15C2 Twin comes with two 8ohm Greenbacks.

Do not connect the wrong impedance to an AC15.


OT - the "ideal" load for a valve amp is around 25ohms. This requires a special OT and now-unobtainable 25ohm speakers.
Point - a 16ohm load is more efficient than 8ohm load - correctly matched.

 

[Dave_O]

No problem.

Just get one of these...

...and a roll of gaffa. You'll be good to go.

WAIT... here's an idea.
Perhaps go to a guy who puts in kitchen cupboards and get him to make a box to fit the chassis. Shouldn't cost a fortune.


NAH,...

on second thoughts, go with the saw.
Pics afterwards, pleez.

 

[iluvledzepp]

I've seen Genz Benz Black Pearl heads go cheap on GCs used site. 30 watts switchable to 15 or 7.5 and gets a great Vox sound. I had a 3x10 version which was great but a back breaker.

does it respond similarly to pedals loke a vox? because the ac30c2 took a ds-1 and made it sound amazing, it was the EXACT sound i was looking for. So does it take pedals as well as th ac30?

also how different are the tones between an ac30 and the ac30 cch? thanks

 

[iluvledzepp]

Point - you have to put the back back on after changing valves.
1) for electrical safety, yours, your mates, and your kiddies.
2) it's a semi-closed back, it sounds rubbish with the back off.

An AC15 has a 16ohm speaker - so you run a 16ohm 2x12 ext cab i.e. 2-off 8ohm in series - most 2x12 cab have a pair of 8ohm, many can be connected series or parallel with a simple switch/jack arrangement. The AC15C2 Twin comes with two 8ohm Greenbacks.

Do not connect the wrong impedance to an AC15.


OT - the "ideal" load for a valve amp is around 25ohms. This requires a special OT and now-unobtainable 25ohm speakers.
Point - a 16ohm load is more efficient than 8ohm load - correctly matched.

thanks alot for clearing that up, so you think it would be better to just buy the ac30cch than try and make a head cab for an ac30c2? i guess then ill start looking at prices, anyone know what a good price is on them? thanks

 

[jefrs]

thanks alot for clearing that up, so you think it would be better to just buy the ac30cch than try and make a head cab for an ac30c2? i guess then ill start looking at prices, anyone know what a good price is on them? thanks

Your AC30C2 will sell, for quite a lot, but not if you saw it in half.

I did A/B the AC30CC2 against its "better" hand wired version (CC2X?) in ye shoppe a few years ago.
I could not tell the difference other than the price tag.

I have used an olde AC30TB head. Dim memory tells me it sounded quite different to the combo, so choose speakers and cab wisely.