when Vox brings the A game

[@tonedowne]

A really cool thing about the AC15 is that it is cheap enough to be able to have two and run them in stereo. I’ve gigged like that a few times and it’s like a religious experience.

[@ivurivurivur]

Love how every single mike video starts with 'storytime'. So cool.

[@oreally8605]

It is! 😂

[@victorbrown3570]

This is my problem with the blog. I took a long break from his videos and came back to this one only to think that nothing has changed, more of the same. Change isn't always necessary, but it can be very good. I would also like more on actual playing and a little less on equipment. All that said I see Mike has changed his hair style a bit since I was last here. Don't get me wrong and think he seems to be a great, interesting guy.

[@christopher-miles]

@@victorbrown3570 its so boring and narcissistic

[@lain9719]

Gear gear gear gear gear

[@smautomat]

I also have a Vox AC15c1, which I absolutely love. My tone cut knob lives in the 12 o’clock position.

[@steveliberty]

I love the Vox tube amp sound. I've owned the AC4, AC10, and AC15. And I found that none of those had adequate clean headroom for my taste. They all broke up in very nice ways, but too early. An AC30 would probably have served me well, but there is no way I was going to carry that beast from home to a jam and back. If the AC15 has enough cleans for your taste, its a great amp. (Its pretty heavy too BTW). For me, I moved into modeling so that when I found a clean sound I liked, I just had to make it louder form the power amp/cabinet, and that wouldn't cause the cleans to morph into dirt the way it would have been on the actual amp.

[@slimturnpike]

That makes a lot of sense. Which modeler did you settle on?

[@bradleydrawsweirdstuff]

Vox’s are great, great clean tone and full overdrive

[@jvasey]

Even better is the C1X with the alnico blue speaker. I have both the 15 and 30, but the 15 gets used for 90% of gigs, because it's better to run the 15 at 60% than the 30 at 25%

[@scotyount6226]

You should find a TopHat Club Royale to plug in to....great great amp.

[@joibjalla]

Love my Vox AC15c1 👌

[@Headbutter-Lettuce90]

Run a treble booster in front of it, you won't be disappointed with the sound

[@danduntz2539]

A handwired ac30 with 1962 Thomas organ speakers have been my go-to performance gig for the last ten years. It’s capable of almost any sound you want and the tones out of it are exactly what I want and need. I also have an early 80’s fender concert and a 90’s soldano hot rod 50, but the vox is still my work horse.

[@Randomly_Ruli]

Really digging my Vox ac30s1. Thinking about swapping the WGS AlNiCo Blackhawk to a Eminence Swamp Thang

[@weeks55]

I finally kept at it with guitar this year and it’s all thanks to the Vox + Telecaster combo. (Valvetronix + Squier🤘) An AC15C1 is exactly what I’m going for once I can convince myself it’s OK to play loud at home. 😂

[@EdHeinzelman]

other than selling my 1967 Telecaster, my next biggest regret is selling the 1960s AC30 that I sold with it. sigh.

[@E77IPSIS]

My dream amp is the limited ed lavender vox-ac30c2

[@mrredritehand]

IMEHO ... VOXAC30 was the first considered , and the best example of "Crunch" tone and the BENCHMARK for British sounding overdrive.. SWYW... A nice quality pair of EL84's are just pure Magic

[@hortamaroto]

Another Vox amp that really surprised me was the Pathfinder 15R, it's perfect for small gigs

[@johnwestover206]

The vox ac15c1 is awesome. I put a wearhouse black and blue speaker in mine.

[@SouthofTampaMusic]

I'm the kind of guy who listens to different guitar tones and can't tell them apart at all. I just take his word for it

[@rbull7777]

The top boost doesn't need as much "taming" in a full band mix. Cuts right through!

[@nickrouse8426]

Challenging my ears as a guitar player is why I'm so happy to have kept my Peavey Vypyr 6L6 Tube 60 all-analog combo modeler after all these years. I have a Fender Twin Reverb, Marshall Plexi, and a Voxx AC30 on tap at all times to spice things up. So beautiful. ❤

[@Adammorris23435]

That strumming sound on the strat was very popular in the 90s. Dig it.

[@Brianbo4]

I have the ac15 with alnico blue speaker. Love it. If you’re using it as a pedal platform, you should fine the master volume and barely have up the gain volume. Tons of headroom, bright cap, and can run fuzzes and all other pedals well

[@recklesstoboggan]

I liked my Vox AC15C1 (Greenback) so much that I also bought the Vox AC15HW (Alnico Blue).

[@Truthasvictim]

I had a Vox AV15 and I was totally disappointed in it. In fact, I hated it so I traded it in at a big loss for the AC 15 and the two could not be farther apart. No matter what I did with the AC settings, the bass presence overwhelmed everything no matter what. But the AC15? Clear as a bell, so much presence, loud if needed. So glad I did that, and it's a nice counter to my equally amazing Highes and Kettner 18 watt combo, sadly, no longer made, which is a real crime in my opinion.

[@jimmyfrombrooklyn8550]

Been using an AC15c1 for small club gigs for years. Plenty of headroom and it’s a great amp for pedals. A bit heavier than a blues jr, but much lighter than an AC30, but still had the top boost. Great little amp!

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

Those are great amps! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@stevenbatke2475]

The “class A” game? ;)

[@leeasbury7273]

Ive had an AC15 twice, an AC10 twice...i currently stull have one...I love them. Mine had tremolo that was great.

[@israelr6636]

And very heavy but it pacts a punch. My house shakes a bit from how loud my AC30 is.

[@slimsantilli4476]

Rory Gallagher will change your life. He was a Vox man.

[@parlance.electricco]

Well, Vox and Fender Bassman mainly I suppose. Brian May would be a total AC30 head.

[@idhindsight]

I miss mine. I think they’ll be regarded as all time classics

[@bobmoire5676]

Mike, you've grown. You've certainly found your stride and become a superior presenter. Well done!

[@blackfishgaming7145]

I have an AC TB 30 from the late 90s. It’s heavy as heck but sounds amazing. I use an AC 4 12” for practice. There’s nothing quite like that vox sound.

[@Lalairu]

I have the AC4 too, I love it!

[@Guyinacity463]

I demoed a vox ac30 when I first started playing guitar, and wow that was...just...it. The sound I was looking for. At first I got a cheaper amp, but saved my money and eventually bought it! Never liked another amp since! Vox ac15 is great too, same tone but not as heavy to carry lol

[@nickm6001]

Tele/Strat>tone bender>Dallas rangemaster>ac15/30 is pure bliss Both channels jumpered too

[@monkeyrater]

glad to see you covering underrepresented and affordable tube amps, everyone else covers the boutique amps no one can afford

[@mantonius1877]

It's late November I did not need to be enticed by the allure of a Vox right now, thanks Mike

[@kurtj312]

Having played 60s Vox amps, you only need a AC15 if you're recording or having fun annoying the neighbors. The biggest problem with the AC15 is that it doesn't have an effects loop for your "ambient sounds." Modulation and time based effects need to be post drive to sound like most records who add these in post production. The Matchless Lightening with a custom ordered effects loop is the sound you're looking for if you want this sound live. If the Lightening is out of your price range, try a Source Audio EQ2 in an effects loop. Lots of good "peddle platform" amps out there. All of my amps are modded by an old CAT electrician who plays guitar. Solid "off the shelf" amps in the used market -- Soldano SLO-30, Suhr Bella, Friedman BE50 Deluxe, Fender Supersonic 60 (w/ a speaker swap and Genalex KT66s), Marshall 30th Anniversary 6100 or 6101 (EL34 version not the LM w/ 5881s). Even a Carvin Nomad or VT50 takes pedals ridiculously well and priced under $500. Amps are luxury items that most venues don't want to mess with unless you have name recognition. Your best bet is a Fractal Audio FM9 Turbo for playing out.

[@Atbo222]

Vox mini superbeatle

[@fredsaintfelix6828]

Perfect timing! I had one and got rid of it and now I’m looking to get one again

[@josecubanosantiago4724]

Btw it loves Hot Cakes Rats Blues Drivers

[@htsdady6004]

Mike Mike Mike... Loved it ! Keep it up ! (Fell into the tele myself recently... This baby wont leave my hand !)

[@walterkendzerski183]

John Scofield uses vox amps in his recording and his live performances

[@steveking9081]

I've bought 3 small tube amps that are at essentially the same price point (~$800) over the last year and a half: the Fender Blues Junior, the Marshall DSL20CR and the Vox AC15C1. For me, the Vox absolutely blows the other two away.

[@DrkMike]

Oh yeah

[@JamesVandevanter]

Oh yeah,the common denominator in many of the sounds I've always heard and loved are AC15's or 30's. Now that have an AC 15c1 and a VT 40, I can play without outboard effects. For me,just ft.switches for the amps,an a b y sw.Probably add a small 2 spkr cab soon. Great post,thank you.🙂🎸

[@MarkGardner66Bonnie]

Thanks Mike...

[@odyssey6684]

Great tones Mike - there's a whole new palette at your disposal. Some time ago I was toying around with my Randall RG-80-112SC that I had originally bought for the dirt channel. This particular amp is a bit of a freak - the dirt channel is really good and has a magical low end to it that is very cool. Imagine my surprise when I tried the clean channel. Lo and behold, something very Fender-ish. Hey!!!!! Can you say pedal platform? Yep!!!! And it does take pedals well. So glad you were able to rediscover a great amp and all it has to offer.

[@Acroanidd]

The Fray's guitarist you shown was using a Martin 000-17 Black Smoke... the same model guitar I bought while at the Martin factory on a tour, bought it before it was even available to the public. I also am a Vox AC15C1 enjoyer and have one sitting beside me at my computer desk.

[@Evan-Loftus]

I managed to get a massive deal on a ac15c1, got it for a really good used price because it was only just sent back by the first buyer so the store couldn't sell it new again for some reason. went from a orange cr60 to it and omg it was the best upgrade I have ever done. It sounds amazing and just got better the more and more I use it

[@reenchanted]

Cool stuff! Some of the really bright saturated bits reminded me of Coldplay’s Lovers in Japan where they did their best My Bloody Valentine shoegaze impression. But I think I like the cleans the best, and you know how to find such a great tone.

[@oreally8605]

U2's Edge still uses Vox. Puts a mic to it and gets the best tones. 😊

[@Johnny_Doe]

Hard to say. At the Sphere he used UA Ruby.

[@parlance.electricco]

He kinda switched to mostly Fender a while back - probably nothing to do with becoming part of Fender's Board of Directors - but for me his tone of the early years through the AC30 will never be beaten... my go-to example would be the live version of 'surrender' on the Red Rocks concert... here kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioPUoJiVn8ifkNksi=ceIV9Mx4FNYrFyiw

[@oreally8605]

​@parlance.electricco Absolutely. The "Sphere" appearances were an exercise in futility. U2 has absolutely nothing to prove to anyone. We see the Vox amp all throughout the band's history. 😊

[@Matthew_Scan]

I’ve got 2 AC30s the first Chinese one with all the bells and whistles and tube rectifier and the current one. Great for Beatles Queen Tom Petty U2

[@kendouble9705]

I have the AC15HW with the blue Alnico speaker. They’re weird when you first plug them in and they have weird controls. There’s no such thing as everything on 12 o’clock and off you go. You have to experiment and you need different settings for different guitars. With a Tele the bright switch will kill small animals but my dark old Guild M75 loves it. Wonderful amps if you put the time in. Beautiful cranked.

[@josecubanosantiago4724]

My favorite amp use it with an ab switch Both channels at the same time is how you unlock it’s full potential

[@thebenefactor6744]

Ac15hw60, ac15vr, ac30hw2x all sound great. Still have to put that 15vr through a 2 or 4x12 to hear it shine. But that ac30 with an extension cab (i.e. 4x12) scares the cat.

[@greendaykerplunk]

Recently started using an AC15, well a modelled one from my helix and loving it!

[@glennlilley8608]

Not even close , but well done for trying something else

[@KinktendoShamecube]

I wouldn’t say that. The helix models are 98% there. They’re extremely responsive to playing dynamics. 99% of people won’t be able to tell the difference.

[@Kev3542]

I don't know what it is, but your delivery always makes me watch to the end!

[@joemeyer6876]

Missed You!

[@christophervincent8420]

I'm actually saving up and waiting for the new Hand wired Vox 4w with the Spring reverb. I'm just chopping at the bit here.

[@marcpigeon7796]

Thanks for pointing me to the Fray 🏍️🇨🇦

[@kylebaker8619]

I'm finding myself going the opposite way recently. I'm a vox guy. But lately I've been playing genders more

[@BenHackett-x7m]

Do yourself a favour & try a Vox AC4C1BL, it's a 4 watt top boost amp with a VX10 (Celestion 10"), it also has a speaker out, so you can plug it into the cab of your choice. Mine is great, but even this amp can be loud if you crank it in a small home.

[@jazzsounds8159]

Dr. Z and Matchless amps should be on your list to play.

[@CameraLaw]

I’m not sure how close it’s taken me but my favorite model on the Boss ME-90 is the emulation (is that the right word?) of the AC30. I use it for a jazzy crunch. I mix it in with my Hot Rod Deluxe preamp by the 4 cable method. I mentioned this is another comment somewhere and a guy called me an idiot.

[@AndrewMasters]

with the top boost

[@CorbinSmith-yf3wd]

cranked vox ac30 plus fuzz

[@skyman98]

You should try a Mesa Boogie Lonestar... I feel like you would really dig it since you do not have to worry about being quiet anymore.

[@ericheder777]

ABY pedal to run both TB and Norm. It really opens the ac15 up.

[@Music.Notes145]

I love that younger folks are into blues and tube amps just shows you the power of real music

[@jardez1266]

Do a vid of iem of you in church playing

[@mikkabrightheart2268]

If you really want to change your life, get your hands on a 5e3. That amp will force you to play the volume and tone knobs on your guitar if you don't already

[@bostonterrierfanatic9652]

The fray is your favorite band? Hmmm (Slams door behind myself angrily)

[@Monedgar123]

Love my AC30c2, but I’m gonna my for a sound more akin to Uzeda than normal rock stuff. I love the feedback I get from it. It’s fantastic, though my back is less enthused.

[@jimilee459]

I’m really digging your videos more and more. But dude, there are so many more better sounding pedals than the DS-1.

[@wraith_1171]

You're killing me 🙂, I just talked myself out of 1 these

[@ymjerimloaiciga552]

Get one, you will not regret it.

[@wraith_1171]

@@ymjerimloaiciga552 , I know....I just don't feel like I'm worthy 🤣

[@jimicunningable]

A Joyo AC-tone got me into the Vox thing, so I had to get a nicer Vox ampinabox. After hearing how they handle my Tele, I want a real Vox. Gear lust.

[@jobiazgarza9571]

ac15 and ac30 is a beautiful sounding and looking amp. Just too heavy. If they can do a tone master idea, it would be a hit

[@davidqueen5098]

Dug the samba jam. 🇺🇸✝️🎸

[@dekion261]

Love VOX, hate VOX, or just don't care either way... one thing can be said for VOX (even under KORG); they at least haven't forgotten they make amplifiers. Marshall seems to care more about selling me a bluetooth speaker or headphones.

[@hunterofthemystic]

Mike give Blackstar a try, I really enjoy the sound of them.

[@acee5044]

Hey mike, I love your "When a strat players discover ....." series and I was wondering if you have tried the Yamaha Pacificas. My personal favorite is the 611 but you might enjoy the other more standard models more as a strat player.

[@trebleboost7]

I have a Night Train G2 Combo that isn’t going anywhere but I only use the clean channel. Which Night Train Combo did you have?

[@Johnny_Doe]

Did Mike “discover” another thing that was already discovered?

[@stefanlekovic3606]

you should do a video on the sunn beta lead amp head

[@simonepaverani6615]

What’s the distortion/fuzz pedal you used at 7:30?

[@UnknownProyectX]

Hi Mike! I’m thinking of getting the valeton gp 200 what do you think about it

[@HarryByrd-bc5ml]

Can you please do a video on spark 2 amps 🙏 love ur vids to and your epiphone es335 vos cherry red what a guitar

[@lloyddodgen]

What gear are you using to film this video? Love the shots you use.

[@andyhightides]

Normal channel 100%

[@guitarwalljams]

Loved this video and love my AC15. I also have a video about this amp and my experience with it. Why YOU Should Play a Vox AC15 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnTPo2WrnJhqb68

[@justangel7]

The what

[@geoffreycarter3981]

Does this guy have music out? I always see his videos and he never plays… does he play guitar?

[@juanjordaan4415]

30 watt is fucking nothing

[@Headbutter-Lettuce90]

30 watts of tube amp is plenty to make the gig rock out or your neighbours mad

[@zacharykim295]

Ac30 is fcking loud dude

[@jiggabaybeejones]

Show the damn gear plz.

[@Evexio]

4th!!

[@extramile734]

5 minutes of blah I am out. :: 0

[@australianson2811]

First viewer 🎉😂😊