AC30 Comparisons - HW Features and Some Mod Options

[@treshull]

I totally agree the stock hot mode is very limited in its application, I regret not letting you change that when you were repairing mine. Will definitely get that fixed next time! I can’t say enough how much having the option to put the top boost and normal channels out of phase has opened up the variety of tones you can get when you jump the channels. I highly suggest that mod to anyone with this amp.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Oh man, I wished you kept playing Hendrix at the end - that sounded spot on! Even Vai doesn’t sound anywhere close to that when he tries to play that song.

[@PsionicAudio]

Thanks! I do need to say that Vai is an infinitely better guitarist than I am, but he has different tastes. A JEM doesn't sound like a Strat, and his amps and clean FX are a whole other bag. I suspect if he wanted to sound just like the record he would get a Strat off his wall and plug into the appropriate amp and pretty much nail it. But I don't think he wants to sound like Hendrix - he wants to sound like Vai. And he's awesome at that. When demoing amps I try to reference tonal touchstones from the collective record collection in our heads. Some stuff I play better than others, but I want to get across a good sense of what the amp does for various playing styles and genres. And if I don't play something perfectly but the sound is right, just think how much better it would be if YOU had that amp and could show that Psionic guy how it's supposed to be done. ;) So I try to turn off my ego on these things, but notes like yours make me feel good. They remind me I used to be a proper guitarist. ;) If the channel was just stuff I'm particularly good at it would be mostly George Harrison, Andy Summers, and pre-1990 U2. With some Husker Du at random intervals. ;) But it's not about me.

[@PsionicAudio]

Sorry for the really long reply, but morning coffee made me a little philosophical.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

@@PsionicAudio LoL, trust I have heard Vai at one of those experience Hendrix tours, where he was paid to help facilitate that experience. And he still didn’t pull it off. And he had an Ibanez built to fender Stratocaster specs. And I have Carvin amps, ‘81 X100, Belair, MTS3200. They can all do Hendrix just awesome! So I know Vai has the right amps for the job.

[@desimar3287]

Another nice video! Will one of these hand wired chassies slide into a '60s AC30 cab with little modification, or would that be a big deal?

[@PsionicAudio]

Thanks! No, the dimensions are completely different. North Coast used to offer better cabs for current production amps but I don't think they do anymore.

[@christianwilson9677]

Could you do these same MODs to the Vox Ac15Hw1? Or the C2 mods to the Ac15c1 or ac15ch?

[@PsionicAudio]

Absolutely, for all the AC15 models (I don't do as extensive mods on the AC15CC but I do improve those as well).

[@andrewhorne7443]

Hi Lyle, you say "variable voltage is your preferred master volume method" at 10 mins in this video. Is that the same as plugging the amp into a Variac like Van Halen did? And is this method safe for the long term health of the amp? or do you mean something different? are you only varying the voltage on certain parts of the circuit?

[@sinfirma23]

Hi. Could you write the modifications in the circuit diagram of the AC30HW. I have an AC15HW and would like to do the preamp modifications to mine. I'm from Europe and I have no chance to send you the amp. Thanks

[@PsionicAudio]

I cannot give out everything I do. But if you change the filtering to all 22uf caps, replace the cheap ceramics with 1KV Vishays or Muratas, increase the screen grids to 1Ks, and use 3K grid stoppers right at pin 2 of each EL84 you'll have a better sounding amp.

[@5756strat]

Hello again. What speakers were you running in this amp - Blues or Greenbacks?

[@PsionicAudio]

This was with my shop 2x12. WGS ET65 and WGS Veteran 30.

[@5756strat]

@@PsionicAudio I'm none the wiser. I don't know these speakers. Would it not be a better comparison if running through 'Blues' or 'Greens' as all Vox amps use one or the other. I have an early 90s UK made AC30 TB with UK made Blues . Sure, it farts, hums and whistles but still sounds pretty damn good. Certainly a whole load better than my AC15HW1 (as per my recent comment)

[@PsionicAudio]

When I have a cab here with Blues I use it. But Voxes sound great through my cab and I know how the sound will translate with Blues. Blues aren't a good choice for a shop cab. Mine can handle a 100W Marshall and just did three days of stage volume SVT testing (in parallel with an 8 ohm dummy load taking half the power).