harpdog
Tele-Afflicted
BAM! That right there!
Selling last tube amp
- Thread starter DeepDangler
- Start date
BAM! That right there!
DeepDangler
Tele-Holic
Not for a few years. I played the AC15 in my old band. My Vox MVX150 is 150 watts solid state with a 4ohm 150 watt speaker. It’s actually louder by a huge margin but can run at a half watt for bedroom / recording.
I haven’t jammed with my drummer since the pandemic started but I’ll be curious to see how it cuts. I
They do retail for that much. It’s only a couple hundred short of what I paid for my AC15 hand wired model. Everyone keeps referring to it as a modeling amp but it doesn’t model anything. It uses nutubes to generate its sound and dynamics. It sounds like marketing nonsense but it really does work. The nutube also has a 30000 hour service life, isn’t vulnerable to rattling, generate low heat, and uses little power to operate. In terms of what this amp does I think it’s like if Vox made there own version of a Mesa Mark V.
I like my AC15 but it feels redundant since I get her 90% of the tone with a another amp. If it was gone, I’d likely replace it with something totally different like a Jazz Chorus. I’m just stuck on the fact I’ve had it so long.
Jimclarke100
Friend of Leo's
The reason I still have valve amps is simply because I can build them and enjoy doing so.
At home, I use my Champ clone on low volume (like below 9 o’clock) plus pedals and that sounds great - though even that low I get grumbles from the family.
If I was buying I’d definitely be looking at modelling - even though would likely only use one, maybe two amp models (I’m one of those that wishes the Tonemasters weren’t so gosh darn spendy).
And if I was buying and was in a “There can be only one” situation I’d be seriously considering a modeller as that one.
At home, I use my Champ clone on low volume (like below 9 o’clock) plus pedals and that sounds great - though even that low I get grumbles from the family.
If I was buying I’d definitely be looking at modelling - even though would likely only use one, maybe two amp models (I’m one of those that wishes the Tonemasters weren’t so gosh darn spendy).
And if I was buying and was in a “There can be only one” situation I’d be seriously considering a modeller as that one.
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Quite natural. But unproductive feelings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endowment_effect
Part of the systemic inefficiencies in our psychology.
The JC40 is my number 1 and desert island amp, FWIW.
FortyEight
Friend of Leo's
My thing is I don't know how anyone uses anything over 30 watts SS or 10 watts tube. I mean they get freaking loud. How did we make it through the 90's with our hearing intact? That being said my ears always ring.
My first "good" amp was a Peavey 100 watt solid state head with a 4x12 cabinet. And I played it loud. But it really was overkill. By the end of my rockin days I was playing a peavey classic 50 2x12 and really that was never dimed. I think 4-5 may have been what it mostly lived at volume wise. We were always playing in smaller spaces.
I do think there's something to be said for a 12" speaker for guitar. I like my Vox Cambridge 15 SS with an 8" celestion speaker but it does lack some warmth when comparing to other amps. Although I'm till sort of on the hunt for my "ultimate" amp. But mine is just for recording at this point.
For bass my Rumble 40 has not been past 1/4 on the volume dial at a gig yet. I did 2 so far with it in the last two weeks and they were both smallish pubs. So... And we got a sound system I just use the xlr out.
I think Amp manufactures need to focus on smaller amps, less wattage and instead of making smaller amps entry, give them more options like 3 band EQ and maybe a good reverb and tremolo / vibrato. And yeah the option to put the power at .5 amps to crank at low levels seems like a good idea.
The pros may always need bigger stuff for bigger venues though. But even then it seems like a 2x12 is all you would ever need with being mic'd even on a big stage. The one or two times I've played on bigger stages, everyone always just used their normal stuff. I played a show as a drummer at a university on a big stage and I'm pretty sure the guitarist was playing through a Peavey with 1x12. And it was plenty cuz it was mic'd.
My first "good" amp was a Peavey 100 watt solid state head with a 4x12 cabinet. And I played it loud. But it really was overkill. By the end of my rockin days I was playing a peavey classic 50 2x12 and really that was never dimed. I think 4-5 may have been what it mostly lived at volume wise. We were always playing in smaller spaces.
I do think there's something to be said for a 12" speaker for guitar. I like my Vox Cambridge 15 SS with an 8" celestion speaker but it does lack some warmth when comparing to other amps. Although I'm till sort of on the hunt for my "ultimate" amp. But mine is just for recording at this point.
For bass my Rumble 40 has not been past 1/4 on the volume dial at a gig yet. I did 2 so far with it in the last two weeks and they were both smallish pubs. So... And we got a sound system I just use the xlr out.
I think Amp manufactures need to focus on smaller amps, less wattage and instead of making smaller amps entry, give them more options like 3 band EQ and maybe a good reverb and tremolo / vibrato. And yeah the option to put the power at .5 amps to crank at low levels seems like a good idea.
The pros may always need bigger stuff for bigger venues though. But even then it seems like a 2x12 is all you would ever need with being mic'd even on a big stage. The one or two times I've played on bigger stages, everyone always just used their normal stuff. I played a show as a drummer at a university on a big stage and I'm pretty sure the guitarist was playing through a Peavey with 1x12. And it was plenty cuz it was mic'd.
bsman
Friend of Leo's
So much fail - where to start?
First off, the OPs amp (MVX15) costs $800 for the head and $1K for the combo, so your impression of the little MV50s is non sequitur. It's analogous to reviewing a Fender Deluxe Reverb based on having played a Princeton 65.
Second, I would submit that a many people who drive an escort as opposed to an Expedition do so for reasons other than purchase price: fuel economy, environmental stewardship, and the belief that vehicles > 5K lbs are ridiculous and irresponsible as daily transportation for one or a few people unless you happen to live on top of a mountain....
Musekatcher
Friend of Leo's
Last tube amp? Thanks for letting me know.
The Angle
Tele-Afflicted
Nutubes are cool tech but the amount of gain across a nutube is only a fraction of the gain from a typical preamp vacuum tube. Something on the order of five percent, I think. You'd need ten to twenty nutubes to do the work of one 12ax7 (that isn't really how it works, but it's close enough for this discussion). In practice, nutubes are used mainly for tonal coloration in the amp and all the heavy-lifting amplification is done by SS components. Their brightest future may be in pedals rather than amps. This is not a slam against nutubes, just a slight clarification of what they're capable of.
Thanks for jumping in. I was responding to the other person’s response that $1000 for a Champ is “ridiculous”. Ridiculous by who’s standard? It’s got a 60+ year reputation as being one of the most popular amps ever, it’s the best amp I’ve ever played, and IMO is the best money I’ve spent in 27 years of playing, either amp or guitar (because after all, the amp is 50% of the sound in electric playing).
now back to the original poster’s question...it’s abundantly clear that he WANTS a tube amp, he just can’t get what he wants out of the AC15 because of volume...in other words, he bought TOO MUCH tube amp. I pointed that out. Certainly an “expensive” Champ isn’t the only answer. There are many brands that sell Champ-style copies. I saw one last week shared on here (can’t remember the brand) that was something like $299. Hell, the Vox AC10 would’ve probably been a better option for him AND it would’ve been cheaper. So the question isn’t about price, or who’s poor or wealthy, it’s about is a real tube amp better than ss or these new pretend-tube amps. IMO, yes. So to answer HIS question, he seems to want a tube amp, so I suggest he should just get a lower watt tube amp and not settle for something that pretends to be a tube amp.
DeepDangler
Tele-Holic
You have misinterpreted my question. I love my Vox AC15 but my Vox MVX can get the same sound clean and has a high gain channel while being able to do this at .5 watts to 150 watts of power.
My dilemma is whether it holds sentimental value due to how long I’ve owned it. It overlaps my MVX in sonic profile and edges it out when the conditions are perfect but I’ve only ever used it at full power during rehearsals. The stages I took it on wouldn’t let me put it at 60% volume which is the sweet spot for me since since was too loud.
That interpretation seems to involve a dose of projection.
Nice set-up! Can I come over and jam?!
The Angle
Tele-Afflicted
As to the original question, I'm as sentimental about certain possessions as anyone, but that doesn't seem to extend to bulky, expensive music gear.
I had a Vox AD30VT until I replaced it with a VT40X (which I still have). Vox's modeling amps really scratch the itch for me. I find it easier to get "that tube tone and feel" from the VT40X than from either of my tube amps, mainly because the VT40X isn't reliant on pedals or restricted to a sweet spot; I can dial it in at any volume above a whisper.
Speaking of sentiment - I played a '74 Les Paul Deluxe through most of the 1970s. When I pulled it out of storage a few years ago, I expected to feel a strong sentimental attachment to this object that was so intimately entwined with my teenage years. And I did, right up to the point where someone offered me $3,000 for it. I assuaged my loss with a used Epiphone Les Paul that I picked up for under $300. The punchline is, in most regards the Epiphone is a better instrument than that '74 Gibson ever was.
I had a Vox AD30VT until I replaced it with a VT40X (which I still have). Vox's modeling amps really scratch the itch for me. I find it easier to get "that tube tone and feel" from the VT40X than from either of my tube amps, mainly because the VT40X isn't reliant on pedals or restricted to a sweet spot; I can dial it in at any volume above a whisper.
Speaking of sentiment - I played a '74 Les Paul Deluxe through most of the 1970s. When I pulled it out of storage a few years ago, I expected to feel a strong sentimental attachment to this object that was so intimately entwined with my teenage years. And I did, right up to the point where someone offered me $3,000 for it.
I assuaged my loss with a used Epiphone Les Paul that I picked up for under $300. The punchline is, in most regards the Epiphone is a better instrument than that '74 Gibson ever was.
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dalezjc
Tele-Meister
Keep the AC15. You'll regret it later if you sell it. Modeling amps are like smartphones, disposable.
SamIV
Tele-Holic
I use pedals for my AC15 and am quite happy. My work apartment away from home neighbors never complain.
Ronzo
Tele-Afflicted
It’s been a long time since they put out something, but I liked Nu Shooz. Valerie Day had a great pop voice:
Oh... you said Nu-tube... that’s very different.
Never mind.
LGOberean
Doctor of Teleocity
I'd sell it, but then I would never have bought it in the first place. That's not meant to diss you or the AC15HW1; I've just never owned a tube amp, and at this point have no plans to ever break that pattern. I've played through various tube amps of others, even recorded a bit once with an AC15. But I've never owned tube amps.
Reasons? I came to electric guitar late in life (2008, a tele). Peavey and Roland made robust, quality SS amps that sounded really good. Then 9 years ago I discovered the VOX Pathfinder 15R, and that became my go-to amp for everything. I'm not in a band, not competing with a drummer, my tastes are clean to light break up, and my gigs are small. For larger/outdoor venues, I've mic'ed or lined out to a PA with good results.
Therefore tube amps offer nothing to entice me. The tone and feel of a tube amp is not light years better than today's SS, and the expense, weight and maintenance of a tube amp is a deterrent.
Reasons? I came to electric guitar late in life (2008, a tele). Peavey and Roland made robust, quality SS amps that sounded really good. Then 9 years ago I discovered the VOX Pathfinder 15R, and that became my go-to amp for everything. I'm not in a band, not competing with a drummer, my tastes are clean to light break up, and my gigs are small. For larger/outdoor venues, I've mic'ed or lined out to a PA with good results.
Therefore tube amps offer nothing to entice me. The tone and feel of a tube amp is not light years better than today's SS, and the expense, weight and maintenance of a tube amp is a deterrent.
Got Twang
TDPRI Member
I generally prefer tube amps, but solid state amps are getting better. I blew a preamp tube in my Super Champ X2 at a gig, and it sounded like the Iron Butterfly in a car crash. Fortunately, the bass player brought a spare solid state bass head, so I borrowed that and his bottom cabinet for the rest of the gig. I actually got compliments from the band on how good his amp sounded with my guitar.
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