Spotted an AC30 on Gumtree that was described as being 125W output. The guy says it is 30 years old which puts it around the mid 80s.
I've seen this claim before because a lot of the AC30s show power consumption as 125W. There is a photo with the ad which shows a 3/4 front view, but all AC30s look the same from this angle so nothing to show its the rare bird he says it is.
The ad says £250 but he then goes on to say that is the deposit he wants, but nothing about how he values it.
Anyway, I'm not interested in it, but think I will just drop the guy a line and say about the 125W bit as that might actually put people off. AC30 is 30 watt. AC125?
The guy is in Derby and it turns out his name is Steve. This was our correspondence:
Me: 125 watts will be power consumption not output.
There were several differences in the 70s due to Vox being taken over. Some are desirable, others not.
Would help to see pics of the back and particularly serial number plate to determine which one it is.
Hope this helps
<The AC30 went through a lot of changes in the 70s and 80s as Vox was bought and sold by various companies. Trying to identify which version an amp is or date one is not always easy and you need to look at the serial plate and controls for the clues.>
Steve: Sorry you are wrong !!! This is 125 watt RMS amplifier OUTPUT
Limited number made and collectable. In the USA these go for £ 1800-£ 2600 and I dont mean $$
Only
serious buyers welcome. Same size as an AC30 but can reproduce Classic
VOX Tones, as well as Fender Twin, and Marshall tones. Needless to say
it's all valve.
No more details given. In
excellent condition, one pea side tear on the Tolex on the back vertical
edge but that can be invisibly repaired, Virtually no scuffs as such,
and perfect for studi session musician, as well as gigging band who
wants to keep size to sensible proportions, and everyone who sees it and
hears it is gobsmacked by its power and sibling AC30 appearance.
Cheers
Steve
Me:
Hi Steve,
They did a 100w model but the controls were towards the front, not
like yours which seems to be the 80s AC30 from the big vents.
North Coast Music have a great site with the differences shown.
You really need to post a photo of the back otherwise it looks
like any other AC30 and everyone will assume what I already said.
If it is what you say and worth that, the US may be your best bet
so ebay is probably be the way to go but you must be ready to ship
overseas.
Good luck with it
Phil
<Yep, trying to help. Giving him a site he can check it out on and suggesting ebay to sell to a US buyer who is unlikely to find Gumtree. And wishing him luck with it!>
Steve: Errr..... I know my VOX gear, and have had more Vox amps than lost
have had hot dinners. I had never heard of this amp let alone seen on
until 15 tears or so ago when I acquired it. So its probably the King of
all the amps they made and that I have owned, as some were junk like
the trannie ones etc eg Supreme, Deiant etc
It will
go to the right person and am in no hurry to sell, but it has to go, but
wont give it away to some kid , as its a serious bit of kit
<Fair enough, so if its that rare photograph something about it that shows its different. Dont post a photo that makes it look the same as every other AC30.>
<I even took a look at the site to try and find a 125W AC30 looking combo and wrote:>
Me:
Heres the link to the AC120, so yours must be an
AC125!
http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ac120-2.html
<Dont think he liked that much for some reason:>
Steve: Sorry, but it is nothing to do with that link or that model and from
memory they never sold ( that model ) as am a 60's guitarist. It's not
rocket science to tell from my photos that they are different animal>
You are clutching at straws etc.
It's what it is a
big daddy AC30 but same size and better my photos clearly show that as
exactly as I have described. i have had to amend the AD due to your
confusion.
It's pointless having this
discussion as have not time to waste. If you have the money then thats
fine otherwise, thanks for looking, sorry to be blunt.
It seems to be turning pear-shaped. He says they never sold an amp that is photographed on a well-known website, he's had to amend the ad because of me (all my fault) and we have a bit of attitude coming in. I was only trying to help!
Me: Please dont get arsey with me, I was trying to help
you sell your amp. And I'm not a kid either, I'm 55
Every AC30 looks the same in a poor quality photo the size of a
postage stamp and your claim that it is 125watt output is a common
one because people look on the serial plate and a lot of them say
Mains Output 125 watt. So I was suggesting a photo of the back to
prove what you are saying (or otherwise)
An AC30 is 30 watt, AC50 50 watt, AC100 100 watt etc etc So your
description of ac30 tends to suggest 30 watt. If it is 125w, show
the photo.
It may be rarer than rocking horse shit and worth £3000, but if
that is the case you need to sell it properly and an attitude to
people that enquire or try to help will do you no favours
whatsoever.
I'm not interested in the amp, I was trying to help and get
through to you that the collectors that are likely to want to buy
this extremely rare piece will want to see every detail before
they hand over their £ or $. They will want to see tranformer date
codes, speaker codes, pot dates and cap markings because without
everything being dead right its value aint there. Even a reconed
speaker will drop the value.
Good luck with it, and try to lighten up a bit. If I had been
interested you would have lost a sale because of your attitude.
I still wished him luck with it!!!
And now ladies and gentlemen, the big bang: (in the next post because this is too long otherwise)
Comments
Well slap my thigh! I thought it was the young generation that is rude! There was only one way to reply to that:
Me: Nurse he's out of bed again!
So, if you want to put a £250 deposit on an extremely rare Vox that is worth almost £3k in the US, Steve in Derby is the guy to contact. He has what he says is an AC30 but I think it may well be a combo version of a V125. The right photo would have shown that of course.
Also asked if it has been serviced and recapped at all.
Lastly, I've asked what valve configuration it has.
Let's see how this rolls.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57632/
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Looks like a V125 to me. 4 x EL34 in a Vox....Not good!
Head version sold here for £360. Good clear pic of back too:
http://guitar-auctions.co.uk/portfolio-post/lot-178-vintage-vox-v125-lead-guitar-amplifier-head-unit/
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Vox AC30 Gumtree How not to SPELL an amp (that's actually called a V125)
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
I'd just leave him be but I do feel sorry for the guy who ends up buying this amp thinking it being something else. Mind you though if one doesn't do their research they deserve to get done
Sorry just my opinions
I swear he was trying to sell something that clearly wasn't what he said it was. (Gibson/Epiphone) Something like that - I'll try find his ad I'm on about.
Also, what a dick! There should be more people like you in the world @PhilTQ !
All the best,