Vox AC15C1 | Does It Work As A Low Volume Practice/Recording Amp?

[@juaresbarbosa3833]

It’s like you are reading my mind with these ac15c1 videos. I was so in doubt but I’m definitely getting one now

[@billyparham630]

I was thinking of getting AC10 for a bedrooom amp. The size, the tone, the weight, the wattage. After seeing many of your videos going through the pros and cons of AC10 and AC15, I'll probably go with AC15. The repairability is a huge factor for me and I absolutely love me some tremolo. Was worried it might be too much for home use but I guess it'll do just fine. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@DavidGodfren]

Did you get it then? How well does it do bedroom levels?

[@richierick96]

​@@DavidGodfren it does it very well 👌

[@DavidGodfren]

@@richierick96 Thanks a lot for updating!

[@DeltaJazzUK]

This video tallies exactly with my experience of a non-,master volume AC30 I had in the 70s - decent cleans even at low volume but you needed an overdrive pedal for good distortion unless you cranked it to ear-splitting levels.

[@colejacobson9273]

I’ve been going back and forth,considering what amplifier to get. I’ve watched some of your tear down/repair videos in the past and was guided to your videos about the ac15 and amps under 500. Thanks very much for the content! I’ve decided on the AC15C1X

[@unclelefteye3166]

Thank you again for these. Absolutely loving this amp for my apartment setup, having so much fun just plugging in my 335 and noodling around.

[@unclelefteye3166]

Just noticed - I gotta change my profile pic lol

[@fiddlix]

Absolutely this amp works for practice and recording.

[@MCMFF1]

4:20 haha that riff had me thinking you were going to burst into La Villa Strangiato

[@russellmayne7157]

I have an ac15 Warehouse speaker model; that's all I do, practice at low volume. I love this channel.

[@Cheguebuddha]

Vox C1 ... but with a speaker upgrade :) I immediately heard the difference to my VOX AC15C1 which has a stock Greenback. Yours sounds sweeter. I cant get a nice sweet tone without adding Wampler Euphoria (Open Voicing) to soften the grainy Greenback. I am thinking to buy an Alnico Blue for it.

[@amazontmint]

It works great, I've used one with an SG for a few years. $350 from a buddy. All I've done is switch to Svetlana 12ax7 and Mullard el84.

[@tonydcurrawong]

Love that sound. Dito for the tunes.

[@royalblue2229]

I haven’t watched the video but I’m curious to hear your opinion. In my experience the master volume works fantastic. Maybe it doesn’t sound 100% perfect at very low volume, but it sounds really close, which is definitely good enough for me, especially since this is an amp that’s affordable, repairable, and is loud enough to play with a drummer.

[@richard66754]

Wow, those are some pretty cleans. I wonder how alnico blues would sound with one of those 20 watt vintage Marshall amps?

[@PsionicAudio]

Clapton did OK with them for Beano.

[@viktor86bt]

@@PsionicAudio Are the Alnico Blues very close to the T.652 Silver Alnicos found in those ‘62 JTM 45s?

[@tamirkeren6750]

I have this amp and love it. It can do low volume practice but in order to make it sound Its best you have to crank the master volume other wise Its very thin and not good for recording unless you are looking for that sound.

[@PsionicAudio]

I had the MV no higher than 9:00. This recording doesn't sound very thin by itself. It sounds even better louder but this is quite good. Note that this is with the very efficient alnico blue. The greenback doesn't respond the same way at low volumes.

[@tamirkeren6750]

@@PsionicAudio True. I have the green.

[@kmichaelp4508]

@@PsionicAudio , I would have loved to have heard the WGS ET-65 on it. It just makes me wonder

[@jerrywalaszek2473]

If I would get one good amp and the cost was not a big issue( within $1k) we'll say you would feel comfortable recommending the Vox AC15? AC 30? I watch your channel and impressed with your quality and knowledge on your work.I would take your advice, I really changed my opinion on certain Fender Amps out of the store after all the failures that are prone to happen on the models I've looked at.I own 3 Classic Peavy's VTX Classic series and was wondering if it would be worth taking them in and put the money in them with whatever they may need or go new????

[@Elvisml2]

@@jerrywalaszek2473 I have an AC15 and a Peavey classic VTX. between the 2 I get most sounds. And yes the Peavey will need new caps once in is life then will be good until you are dead.

[@nordland2235]

Plug any small amp into the pa......and you can use it in a stadium.

[@oldguy5381]

Nice Visual effect with low light.

[@Dzika_Astronomia]

I spent lovely 18 months in Memphis...working and studying The best time in my life, but leaving great memories aside (as to Memphis I could go on on and on...) Right know I am looking for some witty solution to apply in my studio. After watching your videos I've figured out that buying UAFX Dream 65 should, in some nice way contribute to my overall ability to implement varietty of different classic sounds. In my home studio I already have Matchless Spitfire (clone) and hand made Marshall (Ramble Fx layout). And as for the time being I can't afford real Fender Black Panel valve amp, but suprisingly Vox AC15C1, sounding as good as you made it sound in this video could be both Vox and to an extent Fender Princetone (at low settings). At least it has ability to resemble sounds I am after, i.e. The Beatles from Get Back/Let it be/Abbey Road era. First solution, namely UAFX Dream 65 is tempting (very flexible and small in size) especially included in the context of the set-up I already use), but the real thing has more mojo... Tough choice, but both options are very interesting. I don't expect you'll help to decide which to chose. I have to trust my ears first. I was really happy to find your channel. I am electronics technician as well so I like the way you explain amps and all the related nuances :-) Excellent job! Regards! :-)

[@natediggidy6070]

I wonder what your thoughts are on the AC10C1? I got a limited edition with greenback and jj tubes.

[@picajoool]

I think he just uploaded an video on this amp 👍

[@honkytonkinson9787]

@@picajoool yes he did. Not particularly favorable though. If yours sounds good be grateful and baby the thing. Seems like it’s a delicate design made to be easy to manufacture but not necessarily easy to repair. It’s kinda a disposable tube amp and I guess that’s why it’s relatively cheap. The one he was working on had rattly tubes. I thought it sounded good until it was cranked and then it started getting fizzy. A better speaker and tubes seemed to be a partial solution with a notable improvement but for another $200 to $300 you could get a better amp. I’ve crossed this one off my consideration list. But I wouldn’t be mad if you’d already bought one, as long as you’re happy with the sound

[@ahhoiboy]

My Vox ac-4 12in speaker and vht 6watt head into 12in cab are my recording and home practice amps.

[@7171jay]

Amps less than 10 watts along with a 12" speaker (or a pair or even a 4X12) rather than the single small speaker that you traditionally find in low wattage tube amps are really cool. Totally changes the sound and feel and makes it more of a "real amp". Definitely my choice but the Vox here with the master at 9:00 certainly sounds really nice on the cleans and I have certainly heard worse sounds even on the higher gain side than what is in this video. I would expect the Vox would have been quite nice along with some great pedals too, really should have been included in the demo.

[@codedognz]

With your comment re: higher gains and lower master volume sounding meh, I'm very keen to hear your thoughts about running it with an attenuator.

[@PsionicAudio]

Depends on the attenuator. Lots of crap out there and the good stuff tends to be expensive. How many guys with a $500 amp will be using it with a Fryette, Suhr, or UA? Even the THD Hotplate, the minimum quality I'd recommend, approaches the cost of the amp. Cheap attenuators kill amps.

[@weschilton]

I run mine through the UA OX and its fantastic. Cost isn't an issue, being able to record whatever amp I want without having to set up mics, and to be able to play day or night at whatever volume I want, while keeping the amp in the sweet spot is what matters.

[@codedognz]

Thanks. Cost is indeed a consideration for me. Interesting that you mentioned THD Hotplate. That's a great tip, thank you. I was also considering the Swart Night Light. Have you encountered this, or the Jr, before?

[@honkytonkinson9787]

@@PsionicAudio thanks for the advice. Been considering an attenuator but some are expensive. Curious how a volume pedal in the effects loop, to work as an additional master volume, affects the health of a tube amp vs an attenuator

[@createlovehappy]

Would the AC30 work just as well at low volumes with that mod you offer to attenuate? I really like the AC30 but am worried it will always be too loud for me.

[@KhanhNguyen-nv6eb]

Could you share your setting with overdrive sound?

[@jvanb231]

My ac15c1 came with a creamback.. I'm unsure if I am missing anything for not having the alnico blue as I really like how it sounds.

[@PsionicAudio]

I love the Creamback 65. 75 is quite good too.

[@goran2608]

I had both. it is a different flavour, the alnico certainly gives you that vox sound, maybe a bit better cleans, sparklier, but I think the greenback/creamback loaded ones are more versatile amps.It was actually cheaper to buy the greenback ones and buy the alnico blue later then buying the alnico loaded ones..I dunno how prices are now... The alnico blue is also a louder speaker than a greenback, which will probably result in more perceived clean headroom.

[@afarrar3]

great video. AC15's have very useable low volume sounds, then sound even better when cranked! I've used my AC15 for years to practice when we were in a 2-bedroom apartment, very doable.

[@PageandPlant4Life]

Great tones

[@grayaj23]

I picked up a used AC4TV 10" and it sounds great at low volume. But this might be the excuse I need to pick up an AC15.

[@shaft9000]

I've got one, too. Its a fair cut above most practice amps - maybe the ultimate 'bathroom screamer' amp - if still boxy through the 10". It sounds much bigger through an external cabinet, so I want the AC4C1-12" to record stereo through dual vox amps, using my mesa 1x12 (currently with a mkV:25 perched on it) for the AC4TV on one side :)

[@sam_uelson]

I've got a mk4 hot rod deluxe, would you consider it an upgrade trading it for an ac15c1?

[@violinmiata]

I’d say that’s a lateral trade. I’ve got a Blues Deluxe and an AC15 and they both are good at different things. The Fender gets much louder, like too loud to turn up that loud kinda loud.

[@JimmyWatfordGuitar]

I liked the video cause you told me to. Just saying, I've never done that for anyone else before, even though they beg for it. It must be cause you know what your talking about in your videos, it's a tube vox, clean, at a volume we all have been restricted to. So how loud does it get is the next logical question.

[@o0SLAVIK0o1]

What mods were done to this amp? Will there be a video on that?

[@PsionicAudio]

Yes. Later today.

[@fredfrederici7562]

What would it sound like with a celestion red back

[@CC-fi3pp]

Best value tube amp you can get, don't listen to ignorant people it can do blues amd jazz to (not just pop ams rock tones).

[@brioncommon5701]

What are your thoughts on the AC10 at half the $$ of the AC15?

[@PsionicAudio]

You get what you pay for. The AC10 uses a solid state gain stage before the tubes, isn't as well built overall, and isn't as versatile.

[@edwardleaver7838]

@@PsionicAudio If&when you get one in, I'm interested in your evaluation of that first gain stage and its overall tone. It certainly won't distort the same as a tube if you hit it with a boost pedal, which may or may not be a Good Thing depending on one's taste. So interested in your hands-on evaluation.

[@violinmiata]

The ac10 doesn’t sound as good as the ac15. I’d rather have an ac4 and buy another one when it catches on fire, at least for low volume stuff.

[@PsionicAudio]

"Blue Alnio" "Realy" Sheesh.

[@vanguard9067]

It’s late, alnio, alnico. All good

[@jasonstone1046]

Alnico is so last season.. Alnio is what all the cool kids use these days.

[@jvanb231]

No biggie, great video :)

[@tomcarmody5471]

Has anyone tried the AC15 head which has a built in attenuator?

[@shaunratcliffeguitar]

What was you mic choice and mic position for this recording?

[@PsionicAudio]

SM57 an inch from the grill cloth, straight on, aimed just off the dustcap/cone seam (towards the cone).

[@RIDDLE0MASTER]

Taming a tube amp into low volume, indeed, sucks out all the goodness of the tube gain. I remember wanting to buy a Carr Mercury for bedroom playing. It sounded wonderful at high volume, but when used the built in attenuator, it sounded 1:1 like a Boss Katana. . .

[@jutukka]

True. I just two days ago tested one AC15 clone which has both 4 ohm and 8 ohm outputs. I connected first 8 ohm speaker to 8 ohm output and tested the sound which was great. Then I paralleled the 8 ohm speaker with a 8 ohm power resistor (giving a 4 ohm load) and connected it to 4 ohm output. The sound even at low volumes was very clearly tamed and lost it livelyness because the parallel resistor reduces the impedance change of the speaker according to frequency and prevents the speaker element to fully "kick back" towards the OT. I have noticed the same thing with those OT primary "snubbers" if they are adjusted by component values to act too aggressively. They of course prevent voltage spikes on OT primary and make the amp more realiable and sometimes may cut some excessive harshness of the distorted sounds but I have noticed that I prefer especially a clean sound without any passive power brakes or snubbers.

[@ditchgator1]

Sounds really good on the floor. Perhaps better than on a stand...? These videos are tuning up my ears😎👍 Thanks😎👍❤🖖

[@ABCDEF-ks5op]

Amps/Cabinets in my opinion always sound better directly on the floor, on my setup (2 Tube amps with 2x12 cabs) you feel every note through the floor^^ I had them on stands before but it sounded weak an harsh

[@ditchgator1]

@@ABCDEF-ks5op Thank you for your information. 😎👍 You are speaking of hardwood flooring right? Carpeting would probably alter the tones depending upon thickness. Glad shag carpeting is no longer popular 😁😎👍

[@ABCDEF-ks5op]

@@ditchgator1 Yes thats true^^ I have real Parkett (Hardwood) floor, never tried it on carpet but it would propably alter the sound. A big difference made throwing away those rollers most 4x12 or 2x12 have they sound like shit IMO, always flat on the ground for me. I also noticed quite a difference if I put my 2x12´s Horizontally or vertically on the floor, (Horizontal=more Bass; Vertical= More midrange bite).

[@PsionicAudio]

It was actually on top of a Peavey Butcher head cab for this so I could get the amp in frame with the guitar.

[@ditchgator1]

@@PsionicAudio Well...there goes that theory...🤣😎👍 😎👍❤🖖

[@1222chrism]

I saw you mentioned earlier that your mv didn’t go above 9. Where was your tone cut? Did you do anything with the reverb. The time at the beginning is what I am looking for at low, baby and wife, volumes.

[@PsionicAudio]

Didn't go above 9:00, opposed to 9 meaning one less than full (10). I'd have to rewatch to see if I could see the Cut setting or Reverb level, but I usually set the Cut on these to about 10:00-1:00 depending on the pickups. And reverb to taste. It was really quiet in the room - the mic here makes it sound much louder than it was (kind of the job of a microphone though usually mics on amps do the opposite).

[@yvestremblay9655]

It would been nice to hear your comment with you ambiant voice or just something to compare the amp sound . This is kind of a useless clip to know if It Work well and sound nice As A Low Volume Practice/Recording Amp .

[@brooks1700]

is anyone out there making a better 'alnico blue' than celestion these days? i figure they must have competition in 2022

[@mfam1306]

Scumbacks are the better Celestions

[@danielsaturnino5715]

Hmmm does it have headphone out? :)

[@weschilton]

No, tube amps don't have headphone outputs.

[@danielsaturnino5715]

@@weschilton I also want a bluetooth connection.

[@DerpRulesAll]

They used it for practice and recording back in the '60s, so why not? Is it a modern practice/recording amp though? No, it's not.

[@watchfan6180]

Shame you can’t use headphones on valve amps.

[@SuchaDoofus]

Blackstar Hr5 mk iii . Yeah. I know. I know....