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Building a Vox AC30

Georgio9

Posted: December 21, 2009 07:37 pm

IRC Nickname: Matt|Georgio9
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So I think I might be a little ambitious by doing this but I'm planning on building a Vox AC30.

Which generation should I build though? There's the:

original '59
'61 model with the top boost mod
AC30/6 which came out mid 60's and has the top boost in the standard schematic
AC30 Limited edition, this came out in '90 and is a modernized circuit
AC30 Custom Classic basically is a modernized version with a reverb mod, a cleaned up control panel with only 2 channels instead of the 3 channels that AC30/6 introduced.

I'm trying to keep things old school so I was thinking maybe hybridize a couple plans like the original '59, put on the top boost mod but put all the controls on the main panel in the style of the AC30/6.

Thoughts?

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Fullmetal792

Posted: December 21, 2009 08:38 pm

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Ooo, interesting. Might I ask what kind of sound you're looking for? Just some of the names off the top of my head that used one all play pretty differently, like comparing George Harrison and the Edge or Brian May to Peter Buck.

Personally, I'd say go with the '59 and add in a top boost mod, or the '64 since Vox's quality supposedly dropped off a little after '69. I wouldn't actually know though since I haven't played through one...

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Thanks Sam for an awesome job and an awesome wait!
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QUOTE	Back to Own)

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Quikdrawjoe

Posted: December 21, 2009 10:32 pm

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Define what a vox is

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July 5, 2007 - June 27, 2011

Georgio9

Posted: December 22, 2009 05:55 am

IRC Nickname: Matt|Georgio9
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I actually tend to play a little on the heavy side of things. I'm definitely looking for a classic rock sound but I mainly play led zep, metallica, aerosmith, iron maiden, floyd, kinda stuff.

Chose Vox because their schematics are really easy to find and their sound is pretty much legendary in the guitar world. Plus I don't have a Vox amp. I have a Line6 Spider III (75W) and a Marshall MG15DFX (15W). Both great amps but unfortunately both are solid state. I thought making a hollow state (Valve amp) would be cheaper and more fun than actually buying one.

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Fullmetal792

Posted: December 22, 2009 06:19 am

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Classic Rock sound, huh... Hmm... I'd try finding the schematics to Brian May's amp and trying to build that one, but thats just me. You could probably find Pete Townshend's online too and it might actually give you more of the sound you're looking for as opposed to Queen... Either way, you have to let me hear how it sounds! I agree that building your own would probably be more fun, but seriously, I want to hear how it sounds when you're done with it.

I'm more of a Marshall guy myself, so I'm surprised I haven't said something like "Build a Vox wah" or something else along those lines...

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Thanks Sam for an awesome job and an awesome wait!
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QUOTE	Back to Own)

I never send PMs over RSC
But you sir, are a legend

Bassism

Posted: December 22, 2009 08:08 am

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Saw the title and read AC130, I am disappoint.

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Georgio9

Posted: December 23, 2009 07:58 pm

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So I've tracked down pretty much everything at point.

TedWeber.com actually sells AC30 kits. Everything's included but I think the only thing I'm going to buy would be the amplifier's chassis. I still want to make the cabinet myself at this point.

I'm actually shocked though at how much transformers cost...I mean they're just coils of wire ffs. The supposed "vintage" copies are $250 EACH.

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Georgio9

Posted: December 31, 2009 07:03 am

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$1700 to replicate the look and sound of a vintage AC30/6 with the top boost mod.

The Celestion Alnico Blues are almost $300 each which is totally breaking my balls.

Chassis + electronics is about $500.

Cabinet with all the fittings is also about $500.

I think I might scrap this project and just buy a 100W Vox Valtronix. Only way I'd build it is if I could get a number of parts for free or at severe discount from university.

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Fullmetal792

Posted: December 31, 2009 08:09 am

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:/

That sucks, I wanted to hear what it would sound like if you went on and built it, but ahh well. If it breaks your bank, it breaks your bank.

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Thanks Sam for an awesome job and an awesome wait!
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QUOTE	Back to Own)

I never send PMs over RSC
But you sir, are a legend

Nick

Posted: December 31, 2009 08:29 am

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How much were you originally quoting this project to be?

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RobbieThe1st

Posted: December 31, 2009 01:09 pm

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Erm... why go through all this to get a certain sound? Why not use a solid-state amp and a graphic equalizer(or PC with special software) to replicate the sound? It might need some work, but I bet it could be done easily enough, for a -lot- cheaper.

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sgtswordfish

Posted: December 31, 2009 01:51 pm

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^fight technology. lol

seems like a nice hobby project for the new year

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Goals 2011
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Fullmetal792

Posted: December 31, 2009 08:41 pm

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QUOTE	RobbieThe2nd
	December 31, 2009 08:09 am

Its all analog vs digital honestly, if you want to go the cheap route, you'll do what you just said, but some music purists would rather build the amp themselves to have the physical object there. Its like my friend who has a pod for his effects while I've played through pods and dislike their sound, so I get actual pedals to get the certain sound I want.

Also tube > solid state. Thats a personal opinion however.

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Thanks Sam for an awesome job and an awesome wait!
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QUOTE	Back to Own)

I never send PMs over RSC
But you sir, are a legend

Georgio9

Posted: December 31, 2009 09:33 pm

IRC Nickname: Matt|Georgio9
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I originally thought I could do this for about $1000. I can do the electronics and the cabinet for $1000 but no speakers. Maybe if I get a summer job with equal or greater pay I'll resurrect the project or just deal with it as a work in progress.

Robbie, there is software out there that will emulate the sound of the ac30. There are bands out there that use MacBooks to control all their effects and sound when they play live which I guess works for them if they like that sort of thing.

I have 2 solid state amplifiers right now. A little 15W Marshall and a 75W Line 6 which has all sorts of emulation including Vox sounds. However, you can't get a "tube" sound out of a solid state device. There's just no way. Tubes are very linear devices and have a nice rounded cut off characteristics where as solid state devices are linear in a certain range and have very sharp cut off characteristics.

Manufacturers have been trying to do mimic the tube sound with solid state devices for decades and have failed miserably. The closest you can get is with a hybrid amplifier that has tubes in the preamp but uses solid state amplifiers in the power stage.

The tube sound comes from too many different places in the circuit to be able to effectively mimic it. Everything in the circuit from the preamp tubes to the output transformer contributes in some way to the sound.

This is why hollow state is way more amazing and "pure" compared to solid state devices. This isn't even a question of analog vs. digital but even there, analog wins.

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