AC30 Comparisons - C2/C2X Features and Some Mod Options

[@jaycee30865]

My understanding is that the mistake they made on the bass potentiometer was a trap that Gibson had set. Or an accidental trap. Maybe the other way around. But anyway somebody caught somebody copying somebody else’s circuit from that bass potentiometer not having a leg grounded. Ring a bell? Your videos are like the best thing that has happened on youtube in a month easily.

[@Affectronix]

13:48 what is the mod for the “attitude” switch. I love that sound. Anywhere I could read more on how to do that?

[@RileySullivan]

Have you considered selling mod kits? I bought a mod kit from Fromel Electronics for my Fender Blues Jr, and I’m extremely satisfied with how my little amp sounds now. Fromel doesn’t appear to have mod kits for my AC30CH.

[@EzUsRaC]

Thank you very much for your information. I currently have the AC30 CC head, and would like to know if the combo mods work for my amp.

[@hlyangel1]

Am I hearing Soliloquy and Jacobs Ladder? How cool

[@voxpathfinder15r]

What do you think of this amp versus the previous classic custom range? Seems like on paper the CC’s should be clearly superior sounding, birch box, hand wired tube sockets, ability to change cathode resistor for different biases, tone circuit from the anniversary series in ‘03, etc. yet it gets panned. Any thoughts?

[@iknowyouarh]

I think the AC30CC is much better than the C2. I put in a Weber Copper Cap instead of a rectifier tube and it's perfect.

[@stevenferreira1289]

From what I’ve heard Lyle explain the circuit boards and various components are much better in the newer C2 plus it’s easier to service than the CC2 with its JMI style chassis even though that’s original correct for the oddball Vox.

[@codymcgrew94]

What kind of humbucker is in that Strat?? Sounded much better than the Les Paul! Also, could you explain what the problem is with the Bass pot? Does it have too much Bass in stock form??

[@colinmortimore218]

Great video. Im in the UK. Where can I find details of the mods you have carried out?

[@PsionicAudio]

I don’t know that any other techs have sussed out the opamp gain staging but it’s a problem any truly good tech could sort out once their attention is drawn to it. Roland Lumby in Manchester is a great Vox tech. I’d share my secret sauce with him as needed.

[@dustyzeroman4007]

My AC30C2 tremolo lost its depth, does anybody know why? It's same at both channels.

[@richclayton5785]

What speakers and how many are in the cab your plugged into?

[@harringtonbenton334]

I try to follow and ask intelligent questions. Is the bright cut switch you installed allowing the Top Boost channel to take overdrive pedals without the fizz. Is it the same for the bright cap (R23 on the AC15CC1)mod?

[@PsionicAudio]

R23 on the AC15 is a resistor in the Cut circuit. Very different. Please take this as nicely as I mean it - unless you already know exactly what I mean by the words I choose in these videos, do not attempt to make changes yourself. Techs exist for very good reasons.

[@harringtonbenton334]

@@PsionicAudio Thank You...I would NEVER attempt ANY job on an amplifiers. Im just trying to get informed. I ALWAYS GO TO THE PROS ZERO DIY

[@Subropontes]

Intersting point about the stand by switch for this amp. I never use the stand by on mine but I’m planning on getting an AC30c2x very soon. What can happen if you don’t use it on those? And how to do you recommend using it? Turning the amp on with the stand by on and turning the stand by off when the amp is warm and ready to play? And should I turn the stand by on before turning the amp off? Thank you for the excellent content!

[@PsionicAudio]

Thanks! In the Custom powering on without standby can stress some filter caps and damage the V2b triode. Power it up in standby and wait about 40 seconds before taking it out of standby. Standby has no role in powering the amp off. The only reason to do it at power off is so the amp will be in standby when you go to turn it on again.

[@dregerj1]

Are there any circuit differences between the c2 and the c1 aside from the speakers?

[@PsionicAudio]

No, same amp. I forgot about that option, but the amp itself is the same.

[@dregerj1]

Thank you

[@blinkendecharizard7080]

I thought the new s1 only had the top boost circuit, similar to the ac10

[@PsionicAudio]

The S1 is only Top Boost and reverb. But for a while they made the AC30C1 which was a 1x12 version of the AC30C2.

[@chrisquinn9104]

The CC1 is plywood, I think they switched later, but not sure when

[@madelineredesky6533]

Hi, I have a 73 twin 100w mv/pb. Do you recommend use of the standby switch? thank you, Kevin r.

[@PsionicAudio]

Yes with a SS rectified amp

[@madelineredesky6533]

Thank you. That clears up a lot of confusion. If you would like to work on a nice twin I would have to try and get it down to your shop. but I am up in pa. The Amp in great shape. it might not been opened since 1973. Thanks again Lyle 🎸

[@chrisrobinson6754]

Very nice! What preamps do you prefer using?

[@PsionicAudio]

Preamp tubes? Tube Store Preferred Series 7025s, Mullard CV4004s, JJ ECC83s. In descending order of preference.

[@TilkoLegend]

What do you think about the Voc AC30s1 compared to theese amps?

[@PsionicAudio]

Haven’t had one in. I fear it’s more like the AC10C1 inside. But I hope not.

[@lund87]

Awesome video!! Very insightfull. I have a stock ac30c2. Only thing i´ve changed was the tubes for some really old ass soviet NOS tubes. :-) A friend of mine recommended them. But what would you say is the sweetspot in regards to normal/top boost channel vs master settings for letting the amp souns as full and great as possible? Do you always aim for having the master as high as allowed? Also, which channel, normal or top boost do you think takes pedals best? Again, huge thanks for this informative video. Cheers from Sweden

[@PsionicAudio]

Keep the master as high as you can. In stock form, either channel can fizz with overdrive pedals. The Normal has too much low end, can be flubby with drive pedals.

[@lund87]

@@PsionicAudio I´ve noticed the low end and as of now im taming it with a wampler tumnus deluxe as an always on pedal where im cutting the bass a tiny bit and also push the tubes a tinytiny bit. I will try the master higher! Thanks for the tip! Really interested in the bright cap mod also. Does that one only affect the top boost channel?

[@PsionicAudio]

You're essentially using that pedal as a treble booster, which is what May and Gallagher did with the Normal channel. In stock form, the bright cap fizz can happen on either channel, though the TB is more apparent.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

@@PsionicAudio even with a tubescreamer, which cuts bass?

[@PsionicAudio]

Yes, though it depends on the model of AC30. The originals and TBX have flubbier Normal channels than the Custom, with the HW being between them.

[@jasoncorganbrown]

Is this the sane amp as the AC30CH?

[@PsionicAudio]

Yes. That's just the head version.

[@chrisquinn9104]

How would you rate this a fast the CC?

[@PsionicAudio]

Do you mean rate the C2 vs the CC2? In stock form the C2 is the better amp.

[@iknowyouarh]

I'd love to see a video with your thoughts on the C2 vs CC2

[@iknowyouarh]

@@PsionicAudio Is that because of the CC rectifier tube issue?

[@TeleCaster66]

Tight switch is great! Have you fooled around inside a new ac10? I like mine just fine but I'd bet you could make it better. I'd send it to you.

[@PsionicAudio]

Thanks. I haven't had a new AC10 on the bench, mostly because of price considerations. Hard to justify upgrades.

[@desimar3287]

Great info on The Beatles sound and how you can mod people's AC30s to sound like them...how can you not like The Beatles! It's interesting how when most people think of a Vox AC30 they generally think of one of three depending on your taste, obviously the Beatles, Brian May of Queen, or The Edge of U2. Brian May swore by early '70s AC30's from what I've read, and The Edge by his signature Frankenstein '64 AC30 with some Marshall/Fender capacitors, resistors, etc, in a late '60s cab. Interesting how Edge could never find another AC30 that matched the great sound of his #1 to the point were he had to resort to going to Korg and having them take all kinds of detailed photos of every little thing on his amp so they could duplicate it to where it sounded enough like his #1 to satisfy him. What I would give the have those plans!

[@breakfastbuddy5]

more high gain mods