I'm a bedroom player with a Vox AC4C1-12. I swapped the stock speaker for a Celestion Blue, but it's otherwise stock. What tonal difference, if any, would result from cutting the back panel in half? Leave the top portion in place to support the chassis, but cut the bottom half off?
Porting an AC4C1-12?
- Thread starter thx712517
- Start date
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Mark the Moose
Tele-Afflicted
Maybe trace that back panel onto some 1/4” plywood so you don’t devalue your amp by cutting it up. Then cut out a few that have different sized ports. Try them out, mic the room and report back!
Porting is something that impacts a properly dimensioned usually bass cabinet to suit a particular speaker and only really at freqs below any guitar amp output.
Vox probably kept it sealed because that's how the originals are and it gives a tighter focussed sound. You may like it, or not, but doesn't hurt to try.
Vox probably kept it sealed because that's how the originals are and it gives a tighter focussed sound. You may like it, or not, but doesn't hurt to try.
The originals certainly were not ported and only had 8" speakers.....
http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ac4.html
The AC4C1 series has nothing to do with the originals AC4's other than their name. They're AC30 Top Boost channels paired with a single-ended power stage.
Great idea!
How do you like the AC4C1-12 by the way?
I have the AC4C1-BL with 10" speaker and it's only weakness, I found was the C20 bright cap on the volume control. Removing this keeps the amp from being shrill at low volumes. I'd bet pumping a tele into a stock AC4C1 and then into a celestion blue can get pretty ice-picky!
I have the AC4C1-BL with 10" speaker and it's only weakness, I found was the C20 bright cap on the volume control. Removing this keeps the amp from being shrill at low volumes. I'd bet pumping a tele into a stock AC4C1 and then into a celestion blue can get pretty ice-picky!
I ran the one I bought with the back off, I think the chassis mounts to top and back?
Try it and see if you like it.
I agree it’s maybe better to make a new panel rather than cut up the original but it’s your amp.
I tried mine through several cabs and ended up returning it.
Open back didn’t do as much as I hoped.
Try it and see if you like it.
I agree it’s maybe better to make a new panel rather than cut up the original but it’s your amp.
I tried mine through several cabs and ended up returning it.
Open back didn’t do as much as I hoped.
It's a good amp. I had an AC4TV before this and the AC4C1's larger speaker, as well as the gain and volume controls, give it more flexibility.
Having read more about ported versus sealed cabinets I've decided to stick with sealed, at least until I have a better idea of what I think is "missing." I'll definitely experiment with just removing the back panel and making a new one out of plywood rather than chopping up the original panel.
