Vox AC15 (China) vs AC15 (UK)

epictring · 2013-02-26T20:12:05+00:00

What are the differences between the more recent Chinese made Vox AC15's and the older British made Vox AC15's? Reason why I ask is someone is selling a UK...

Vox AC15 (China) vs AC15 (UK)

vic

If I may...rather get the new AC15 with the Celestion greenback.....Chinese or not, it's a good amp by most accounts and you can pick one up for around R5K....keep an eye on Gumtree. Actually saw one some time ago going for even less.

epictring

Hmm.. What about getting an ac15 chinese and swapping out for an alnico blue speaker?

vic

epictring wrote: Hmm.. What about getting an ac15 chinese and swapping out for an alnico blue speaker?

Good idea...but then you must get the AC15 cheap because the alnico blue is very expensive (R4-4.5k if you're going to import it). But if you're going to drive the amp a lot (and don't play mostly clean) then the greenback will be just fine. Those greenbacks are very good speakers.....The alnico blue really accentuates clean guitar tone.....think Hank Marvin.

vic

Here are some good references and info re. 60's AC15's

http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ac15.html

http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ac15-1960.html

http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ac15twin-1963.html

http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ac15twin-1965.html

epictring

Cool thanks for the information.. In the meantime I got a really good deal on a Vox AC15 Handwired, though its still twice the price of an ordinary ac15 so its very expensive. Are they really worth it?

epictring

Then again I'm looking to get a smaller amp (hence looking at the ac15) and the handwired looks really big!

vic

epictring wrote: Then again I'm looking to get a smaller amp (hence looking at the ac15) and the handwired looks really big!

Don't think there'll be much difference in the weight ? The HW is a classy amp (judged by reports) and it already has the alnico blue speaker. Plus I would think that it will retain its value much better than the alternative. Good luck.

Big-G

Another option for you to consider if you are looking at spending AC15 HW kind of money, is the Craig Brit 15? Should work out around the same if not less than the AC15HW? Drop Bottledtone a line here and see for your self?

I currently have the AC15 C1, which is the better of the 'normal' chinese built AC15's, fitted with a greenback, and I absolutely love it! The HW is said to be that much better again, but as mentioned, I think most of that is down to the speaker, and the following factors....

The HW can be relatively easily fixed, where as the PCB design may require an entire board to be replaced should failure occur.

The design of the HW should allow for the amp to last for many many years, whilst the PCB's in the Chinese ones are more susceptible to giving up when the amp is being moved around as is the case when gigging.

Some say that point to point wiring in itself gives better tonal response than printed circuit boards, due to electricity flow and resisitance etc, but I find this one a bit of a stretch.

All in all, The AC15 C1 is a great amp, and built as good, if not better than the mass market of other amps within its price range. The HW is built to last. Its built to be the amp you buy and keep. Forever! However, as with most investments, you pay through the nose for them initially!

Hope that helps?
Regards
G!

AlanRatcliffe

Depends on what you are after - flexibility or classic AC tones?

BTW, if it's a first series Handwired (with the EF86 normal channel), the head is better than the combo as the combo tends to shake the EF86 harder (which is notoriously prone to microphonics). Be prepared to fit the best NOS EF86 you can afford as the stock Electroharmonix is microphonic right out of the box. The newer Handwired has a 12AX7, so no issues with those.

vic

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Depends on what you are after - flexibility or classic AC tones?

BTW, if it's a first series Handwired (with the EF86 normal channel), the head is better than the combo as the combo tends to shake the EF86 harder (which is notoriously prone to microphonics). Be prepared to fit the best NOS EF86 you can afford as the stock Electroharmonix is microphonic right out of the box. The newer Handwired has a 12AX7, so no issues with those.

Very good point.

Mr-M

Disclaimer: I sell VOX. That said, I'll try give you some useful information and personal experience with as little bias as I can muster.

epictring wrote: Then again I'm looking to get a smaller amp (hence looking at the ac15) and the handwired looks really big!

The AC15HW is about the same width as a AC15C1, but is the height of a classic AC30 - it's a bit taller than an AC15C1. The HW and C1 do weigh pretty much the same though.

Myself, I went for an AC15C1 because the extra height of the HW was an issue with my tiny vehicle's shoe box boot. The HW sounds glorious if you like VOX tones (IMO, YMMV and all that), but the C1 is not as far off as you might think (once again IMO and YMMV). It depends on whether that extra metaphorical tonal 10% and handwired construction is worth it to you or not considering the extra outlay.

The HW comes in Greenback (AC15HW1) and Alnico Blue (AC15WH1x) versions, whereas the AC15C1 only comes with a Greenback. As Vic says, Greenback for smoother overdriven tones and Alnico Blue for more jangly/ chimey cleans. That said, either speaker works well at both ends of the spectrum with the right EQ and Tone Cut settings, but give you slightly different interpretations of the AC tone. I personally prefer the Greenbacks as I like the extra smoothness on the top end. Figures considering I'm almost always using some form of overdrive.

It will be interesting to see what you think if/ when you've tried a few different models.

epictring

See the huge issue is (as previously mentioned in a different thread) that I've moved and the room my amp is sitting is up a spiral staircase - making it impossible to carry a big amp down it alone (which I need to do occasionally). So that throws the handwired straight out since its just a little too big. My car space is also limited in that regard.

So it seems I'm only left with the AC15 and similar sized amps

vic

epictring wrote: See the huge issue is (as previously mentioned in a different thread) that I've moved and the room my amp is sitting is up a spiral staircase - making it impossible to carry a big amp down it alone (which I need to do occasionally). So that throws the handwired straight out since its just a little too big. My car space is also limited in that regard.

So it seems I'm only left with the AC15 and similar sized amps

Epictring....the HW is NOT a big amp buddy ! As Mr T says it's a bit taller than the AC15C1. And are you going to remain in that room to ad infinitum ? LOL ! ?

Big-G

According to the Vox website, the AC15C1 weighs in at 22KG's, which I can imagine is going to be a bit of a mission on a twisted staircase, especially if its narrow?

Perhaps another option is the AC4 HW? That weighs in at about 14KG's, and is flippin loud despite being only rated at 4W! Still may be a little underpowered for gigging though? THat then leaves you with another option.... Go for something like the Vox Night train 15w, and then a seperate cab (not the nighttrain's matching cab though... Severe dissapointment) and if money allows, you can get a second cab and leave one stored somewhere downstairs. Then you only have to carry the head down the stairs.

I was somewhat impressed with the night train, and found it very versatile. Not sure how it compares to the AC's in terms of capturing the AC tone, but it was a very nice tone none the less.

And again, I mention the Craig amps... Definitely worth considering!

Hope that helps?
Regards
G!

vic

Big G wrote: According to the Vox website, the AC15C1 weighs in at 22KG's, which I can imagine is going to be a bit of a mission on a twisted staircase, especially if its narrow? Perhaps another option is the AC4 HW? That weighs in at about 14KG's, and is flippin loud despite being only rated at 4W! Still may be a little underpowered for gigging though? THat then leaves you with another option.... Go for something like the Vox Night train 15w, and then a seperate cab (not the nighttrain's matching cab though... Severe dissapointment) and if money allows, you can get a second cab and leave one stored somewhere downstairs. Then you only have to carry the head down the stairs.

I was somewhat impressed with the night train, and found it very versatile. Not sure how it compares to the AC's in terms of capturing the AC tone, but it was a very nice tone none the less.

And again, I mention the Craig amps... Definitely worth considering!

Hope that helps?
Regards
G!

Big G....the Egyptians stacked 200 ton stone blocks 150 meters high ? what's the problem here ?

Big-G

Vic wrote: Big G....the Egyptians stacked 200 ton stone blocks 150 meters high ? what's the problem here ?

Actually, it was the Hebrews who stacked them, under the 'supervision' of their Egyptian slavemasters, but anyways....

The issue is more the spiral stairs... Those things are injuries in the making! One misplacement of a foot, and cabooom.... Injured guitarist and buggered amp! On these stairs, 22KG's is not the easiest of weights to manage, especially if its a narrow staircase or if said guitarist already has a stuffed up back?! Manageable on normal stairs perhaps, but twisted stairs is a whole new minefield!

Regards
G! `

StefStoep

If weight is a problem and you are looking for 15w valve there is other options available outside the Vox brand to maybe have a look at. That is if you aren't set on having a Vox.

I had the same problem with weight and size, in the end i bought a Fender Blues Junior, totally a different amp from the Vox but decent in it's own right. It is really quite small for a valve amp, it is also 15w. It only weighs 13kg and is less than 500mm x 500mm x 300mm. I am happy with mine and i know there are quite a few guys on the forum that have them, maybe you can "test drive" some one's that lives in your area. You can also check out the Laney Cub, it is very similar to the Fender and i have seen them going for under R3k secondhand. Of course if you want a Vox, nothing else will do!

+1 on the Craig Amps.

vic

Big G wrote:
Vic wrote: Big G....the Egyptians stacked 200 ton stone blocks 150 meters high ? what's the problem here ?
Actually, it was the Hebrews who stacked them, under the 'supervision' of their Egyptian slavemasters, but anyways.... The issue is more the spiral stairs... Those things are injuries in the making! One misplacement of a foot, and cabooom.... Injured guitarist and buggered amp! On these stairs, 22KG's is not the easiest of weights to manage, especially if its a narrow staircase or if said guitarist already has a stuffed up back?! Manageable on normal stairs perhaps, but twisted stairs is a whole new minefield!

Regards
G! `

Side note: According to many egyptologists there is no record anywhere that this is indeed the case. ? Some people say that ET's actually did the stacking using antigravity technology ? ?

Big-G

Vic wrote: Side note: According to many egyptologists there is no record anywhere that this is indeed the case. ? Some people say that ET's actually did the stacking using antigravity technology ? ?

Hahaha... So you're saying that what my statement should have been is... 'Actually, it was the ET's who stacked them, under the 'supervision' of their Egyptian Slave Masters'?! Hehe!

Anyways, we are drifting way off topic here... ?

G!

Stoner-Riff

Vic wrote:
Big G wrote: According to the Vox website, the AC15C1 weighs in at 22KG's, which I can imagine is going to be a bit of a mission on a twisted staircase, especially if its narrow? Perhaps another option is the AC4 HW? That weighs in at about 14KG's, and is flippin loud despite being only rated at 4W! Still may be a little underpowered for gigging though? THat then leaves you with another option.... Go for something like the Vox Night train 15w, and then a seperate cab (not the nighttrain's matching cab though... Severe dissapointment) and if money allows, you can get a second cab and leave one stored somewhere downstairs. Then you only have to carry the head down the stairs.

I was somewhat impressed with the night train, and found it very versatile. Not sure how it compares to the AC's in terms of capturing the AC tone, but it was a very nice tone none the less.

And again, I mention the Craig amps... Definitely worth considering!

Hope that helps?
Regards
G!
Big G....the Egyptians stacked 200 ton stone blocks 150 meters high ? what's the problem here ?

Or just get a DV Mark Combo ?

It only weighs in at 12kilo's !

http://www.dvmark.it/product_detail.php?id=21

..................... o0o ........................

Or, better yet, a DV Mark Triple 6 head and 2X12 cab.

The Triple 6 is 10kilos iirc.

http://www.dvmark.it/product_detail.php?id=42 - head = 10kilos

http://www.dvmark.it/product_detail.php?id=6 - 1X12 = 7kg

http://www.dvmark.it/product_detail.php?id=15 - 2X12 cab = 10kg