new Vox AC30s 1 speaker or 2??

[CasinoBoogie]

im thinking about upgrading from my Valvetronix to an AC30 at somepoint
but I cant decide if i should get the 1 or 2 speaker version

they are both the same wattage obv, and with only 20 quid between them price wont be the decider, the only thing putting me off the 2x12 is how enormous and heavy they are

sadly ive never found a shop that stocks the single speaker version, has anyone played one or even better own one??

 

[Big Smokey]

The single speaker versions are cool, but i think that the 2x12's sound a bit better. Better hurry if you want the 1x12, they are discontinued and going fast.

 

[Tenbender]

Funny, I've been thinking of buying an AC30. My first thought was vintage, but how are the new CC models, also which years did they make good reissues? thanks.

 

[CasinoBoogie]

this may sound silly but, will the 2 speaker version be twice as loud?, or is the sound simply divided into 2??

i just need to find out if the 2x12 is alot better, enough to put my back out carrying it about

 

[Twangmeister]

IMHO, nothing, I mean nothing sounds like an AC30 with two Alnico Blue speakers turned up just slightly past the point of breakup. People have spent thousands of dollars for boutique amps with "Vox-like chime." Treat yourself, you won't regret it. If you can locate one of the recent Korg British RI's (pre-2005), more the better. I haven't played the CCs, but Wayne Alexander, our resident Vox maven, has spoken well of them as long as you get it re-tubed.

 

[CasinoBoogie]

ive only ever heard the newer ones and they sound awesome to me
but how will the single speaker differ soundwise

 

[Twangmeister]

Seems to me you'd get less transparent low end and a "boxier" sound, but not having A/B'd them, I'd defer to someone who has. I just know the difference when I'm gigging/recording with a 2x12 v. 1x12- smaller, more compressed and boxy are the words that come to mind.

This is all predicated, of course, on the type of sound you want. Smaller and more compressed is not a bad thing in certain instances, so no judgment was implied. I tend to favor 2x12 is all for the bottom end and transparency.

Anyone (Wayne? Bueller?) care to weigh in on this one?

 

[Kurt]

I cannot speak to AC30 because I do not own one but I've always preferred 2X12 but that is primarily because I like a bit more sound dispersion for gigs. Depending on how you plan to use the AC30 and whether you mike it when playing live, you could go with the 1X12. IMHO, if you plan to gig, go with 2 speakers.

 

[GUITARmole]

FWIW, when I bought my AC15CC 1x12 I tried it side by side with the AC30CC 2x12 and actually took home the AC15!

The AC15's are actually built better since the tubes aren't mounted to the PCB as with the AC30. They don't have as many features and aren't as loud though so your opinions might differ.

 

[Wayne Alexander]

The best deal is to buy the one speaker CC1, and dump the existing Neodog speaker and swap in a single Celestion Gold (brand new, just out. sounds just like the Blue but twice the power handling). That sounds pretty much the same as the 2x12 version with the Celestion Blues. If you don't mind the extra weight/size, the 2x12 version with the Celestion Blues may cover a bit wider area played live, but only a little. If you're comparing the stock speakers, the 2x12 with blues kills the 1x12 with a neodog tone-wise. The neodog sounds "ok" but cold, "simple" and harsh compared to the Celestion Blues.

 

[CasinoBoogie]

im going for that scratchy lennon kinda sound, revolver
which i do pretty well with my Valvetronix on the AC30 preset
so im told, Lennon actually used an AC15 too

could i not use an AC15 with one of those Extension cabinets, they dont cost too much either, the vox ones, about 140

 

[Big Smokey]

FWIW, when I bought my AC15CC 1x12 I tried it side by side with the AC30CC 2x12 and actually took home the AC15!

The AC15's are actually built better since the tubes aren't mounted to the PCB as with the AC30. They don't have as many features and aren't as loud though so your opinions might differ.

Hey Guitar Mole, I opened my chassis on my AC30cc2 and found no tubes or recto tube directly attached to PC board. In fact they are essentially on the other side of the chassis... Are we talking about the same amp?

The 90's british built ones did, is that what amp you are referring to?

I owned the Ac15cc and sold it to buy a 30 as I needed the headroom, but both are great sounding...

 

[Chris Truman]

I've had a CC1 and matching extension cab for about a year now. I find the Neodog speaker in the amp a bit too bright and brittle sounding for my tastes so prefer to run through the cab, it seems to cover a larger room better as well. I couldn't see myself lugging a CC2 around.

I play Tele, Tele custom RI, Gibson ES333 and Epiphone 3 p/up Les Paul with a slide. All sound great, and with the odd pedal can cover all sorts of bases from 60s British pop, Keef type r&b, to dirty blues slide.

BUT be aware, there appears to be some serious reliability problems. My first one packed up inside 2 months and was recalled by Korg (the carriers dropped it and smashed it so we never found out what was actually wrong with it). In the 8 months that I've had the replacement it's been re-tubed (2 v.cheap Chinese valves were found in it!) and it's currently back in the shop having its third rectifier change. I know that I'm not the only one to have had problems, but mine is the worst case I know about by a long way.
On the other hand, I know a guy who has one, he's had no problems at all and he absolutely swears by it. And I know from reviews and forums that most owners have not had bad expierences and on the whole rate them very highly.

 

[clydethecat]

im going for that scratchy lennon kinda sound, revolver
which i do pretty well with my Valvetronix on the AC30 preset
so im told, Lennon actually used an AC15 too

Lennon had an AC15 for live use for a while in 1962, but I think they had their AC30s by the time they recorded the "Please Please Me" album.

AC30s were only used on the first two albums, then they got AC50s, then AC100s, then the solid state/tube hybrid 7120s, then the solid state Conquerers or Defiants. By the time of "Revolver" the amps would have been the hybrid 7120s (and/or maybe some smaller 7030s too). There were also some Fender amps in their possession by that time, a blonde Bassman-Amp and a pair of blackface Showman-Amps.

 

[CasinoBoogie]

yeh i think you're right they did switch to fender
if you watch let it be, or see any photos from the white album sessions and what not, theres always fenders about, no vox

 

[clydethecat]

yeh i think you're right they did switch to fender
if you watch let it be, or see any photos from the white album sessions and what not, theres always fenders about, no vox

In 1968 Fender gave them a boatload of gear, including a number of drip-rail silverface Twins, a Bassman, a Rhodes piano, the Rosewood Telecaster, and a few basses.

 

[singlecoil]

I got to play one with the 2 blue alnicos and it was impressive. I think I want one but I don't want to haul it around, it's a beast!

 

[Langers]

Two speakers - no question. Have just gone from 1 x 12 AD50VT that does a very good AC30 impression to my real '68 AC30 - no comparison - rounder, less barky - you gotta move air!