Chinese Vox AC30s?

[ancientbones]

I'm thinking of ditching my setup and just getting a combo amp. I really like the sound of the AC30, but don't really want to spend $1500 for one. I see a lot of the chinese ones (C2 and CC2) up for decent prices. Usually around $600 to $700, but I don't know anyone who's had one. Figured I'd ask the bunch.

Are they reliable at all? I've heard the CC2 can blow rectifier tubes a lot. I'm guessing if that's the case I could just swap it out for a solid state replacement? I know the C2 already has a solid state rectifier, but the cab is made of MDF which isn't as stirdy as baltic birch.

Has anyone had experience with these?

[Disarm D'arcy]

Paging UglyCasanova / hubbs.

I've had newer AC15s, the C1 and HW1. Great amps, have proven to be reliable.

[frigid midget]

Had a CC2X. Bought it used, and it needed a lot of work considering it couldn't been older than 4 or 5 years. No idea how badly the original onwer abused it though.

Sold it and eventually ended up with an AC15C2 instead, but not before I asked my amp tech about reliability and overal QC of these chinese VOX's. The guy's a wizard with tube amps, he's worked on every type of amp you can imagine. He said he didn't know of any specific problems regarding the build quality or anything. Decent amps for the money he said

Just don't expect vintage AC30 tones from a $600 amp, and maybe consider upgrading the tubes and/or speakers. Also: My AC15C2 is rather picky with pedals, dirt in particular.

[xrleroyx]

I've had like 4 or 5 of these. I've never had any reliability issues and the sound has been nothing but awesome. I currently run an AC100cph.

Yeah, they might be made in China, but the tone and quality are there.

[UglyCasanova]

I've had mine for 3 years or so (C2), and I'm very much pleased with it. It's not as compressed as the tube rectified ones, as this has some sort of diode rectifier where the GZ43 tubes are placed in the "high end" older versions. I don't care much for the compressed ACs, so I'm really happy with the open/blooming crunch of mine. But, it definitely doesn't sound like they used to simply because they have different circuitry. If you're a purist, I'd look elsewhere. If you like early 90's AC30s, this is your chance to get one that sounds just like it for a lot less dough (as they also had diode rectifiers, if I'm not mistaken). Also, if the tubes blew out in the old ones, the amp was basically dead, or at least it would shut down.

The chinese greenbacks sound great too, IMO. But again, purists will not agree.

I think it takes fuzz and any type of delay/verb like a boss, but most people won't agree. I never use the FX loop either. People are different.

MDF? I didn't even know that. Guess that explains the extra weight. Soundwise, couldn't tell.

The only negative thing I'll say is that the amp can heat up quickly. I have mine at home, so it never stays on for more than 2 hours at a time, tops. But if I were to bring it with me for live sets I'd definitely not leave it on standby after soundcheck, but rather turn it on 5-10 minutes before going on.

[Tristan]

Dude, are you in the US?
If so you have to check out the Valvetech Hayseed, it's one of the best Vox type amps I've ever played, every bit as amazing as an old Matchless or Vox but much more bang for your buck, besides they're handmade and really reliable.

[foomanfat]

I, too, have been running a C2 for a few years (4?) and have always been super pleased with it. I'll concur on all of UglyCasanova's points, except that I've never had any trouble from running the amp for four or five hours at a time.
I had a friend who used a CC2 and had to get it checked constantly, because of the shitty rectifier.

[UglyCasanova]

I will say though, that my amp is situated in the very corner of the room, so it doesn't get too much room to breathe. Also, I have forgotten to turn it completely off AKA left it in standby mode overnight a few times without it dying. So it doesn't run THAT hot, but I'd like to keep the amp working for as long as possible and it's definitely very warm to the touch whenever I've forgotten to turn it off.

[frigid midget]

Dude, are you in the US?
If so you have to check out the Valvetech Hayseed, it's one of the best Vox type amps I've ever played, every bit as amazing as an old Matchless or Vox but much more bang for your buck, besides they're handmade and really reliable.

I came across those as well, when I was shopping for an amp and eventually ended up with the vox.

I could be wrong, but it looks like the 30watt 2x12 combo version with greenbacks would be...$1725 :s
Won't argue the bang for the buck part though, never tried a hayseed

[ancientbones]

I'm in the US but aren't Hayseeds expensive? Yeaaah. Pretty expensive. I'm not really looking for vintage correct or anything. I'm not much of a purist. I like the way the new ones sound. I just don't want to try and get one and end up with an unreliable amp. What i'm using right now is a tank. I mean nothings going to kill an old Peavey made by the man himself. It just doesn't have that raunchy mid range tone I want though. Plus I could use a little more room.

Also how well would MDF hold up against baltic birch? I'm leaning towards the CC2. I'm thinking I could replace the rectifier tube if it blew up with one of these: https://www.tubedepot.com/products/soli ... -rectifier

[frigid midget]

I'm in the US but aren't Hayseeds expensive? Yeaaah. Pretty expensive. I'm not really looking for vintage correct or anything. I'm not much of a purist. I like the way the new ones sound. I just don't want to try and get one and end up with an unreliable amp. What i'm using right now is a tank. I mean nothings going to kill an old Peavey made by the man himself. It just doesn't have that raunchy mid range tone I want though. Plus I could use a little more room.

Also how well would MDF hold up against baltic birch? I'm leaning towards the CC2. I'm thinking I could replace the rectifier tube if it blew up with one of these: https://www.tubedepot.com/products/soli ... -rectifier

This is just me, and I'm my no means an authority on the subject...

If like you say you're not much of a purist, and you like the sound of the new voxes, you shouldn't worry about the MDF cab imo. Given the choice, I'd go with birch too, but in case of those voxes, the older CC2s have a couple things going agains them too. Aside from the rectifier tube I mean. Like the wharfedale speakers, which are supposedly just 'okay'

[Willem]

I had an AC30CC2X for 3 years with out any problems. I now have an AC15C1X, pretty perfect for my ears.

[PanicProne]

Had my AC30 C2 for about 6-7 years now. Played and gigged it quite a bit. Toured with it. Banged it in doorways, had it tipped over, had people throw food at it etc. Have recorded with it twice. Love it! Never done any maintenance but have had no problems whatsoever. I use and have used a lot of different pedals with it through the years and they work really well. Delays especially, but would say most of them cooperate nicely. It sound great and cuts through the mix perfectly. It's bloody heavy though. The ONLY thing I miss with it compared to other amps is it doesn't quite have that thump in speaker, or at least as much (compared to my Marshal JCM800+4x12, which really isn't a big surprise come to think of it..). Still works great for heavy stuff though. Clean sound is amazing and distortions and fuzz pedals sound great through it. Never used the fx-loop.

[ancientbones]

I suppose I'll keep an eye out for a C2 then. Seems like there's easier access to the tubes and stuff too.

[casecandy]

Valvetech Hayseeds cost a little more than $1500, new, if you want it to be a proper AC30 clone.

There was one for sale in Montreal last year for exactly $1500 CAD. It was beautiful, too, with the whole head and cab enclosed in a Bob Burt Cabs setup, natural pine. I went to try it out and... I know this is so not doom, but... it nearly killed me, how loud it was. 30 Watts Class A, and it was switchable to 15 Watts, too, either way it was like, a stadium-worthy amp. The guy selling it (the bassist from The High Dials, oddly enough) admitted that he'd played arenas with it on half volume and that master was essentially useless.

It sure was awesome though! Maybe just overkill without an attenuator. It definitely came ready to bust out some Brian May riffs.

The Chinese VOX amps are actually very reliable. Laura Jane Grace from Against Me! uses two AC30CC2s on the road and saves the Matchless stuff for the studio/home. I think Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy has endorsed the AC15 models and uses them in-studio. If you go with AC15 you can find the Vietnamese AC15HW for about $1000 used. Here's one on Reverb now.