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The stock speakers are some sort of relabelled 70/80, which goes along with what Voxman said earlier. Try one through V30s, and it’s rather different! I imagine a pair of Blues would be even more impressive... although they would cost more than the amp.
"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
I could never understand why they didn't make head versions.
1. The AD100VT 'Chrome' Valvetronix which was the first of the 'new' Valvetronix with only 2 memory slots and 11 amp models. Heavy bugger at 64lbs! But they did do a head version of this which was the AD100VTH:
http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ad100.html ;
http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ad100vth.html
or
2. Vox also did the XL series that was specifically designed for high gain players, with different high gain/metal amp models - the 2x12 version was the AD100-VT-XL - http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ad100xl.html
This was finished in a matt dark grey to differentiate it from the regular 'Chrome' Valvetronix. Apart from the colour and amp models, the design & controls were exactly the same. They didn't offer the XL as a head, so was it the XL you had?
or
3. In 2009 these 2-channel Valvetronix were replaced by the 'VT' series which largely looked the same but had double the amp models (22), more effects, & 8 memory slots. These could also be floor operated by a VFS5 controller rather than just the 2-button VFS2 for the first generation chromes. But I don't think it was one of these second chrome generation as this was after your 10-11 yr time-line and had more features.
Confusing model names, no consistency, restrictive model formats, odd target market choices.
"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
Yes, absolutely - or, they have a premium amp (like a nice custom one) surrounded by low end stuff rather than a full range.
I'm sure it's not always the shop's fault.
And Vox has been known to be, shall we charitably say, somewhat 'imaginative' from time to time with its marketing.
1. Amps advertised as 'hand-wired' and/or all valve that have pcb's etc
2. Changing the original Valvetronix 'valve-reactor' design to a cheaper version that doesn't do the same thing, yet were still called Valvetronix and when the chrome amps came out they were originally marketed with the same Valve-reactor diagram and 'inside story' text as the Blues - even though they worked differently and the vari-amp circuit didn't read and react to speaker impedance changes. Whereas the Blue Valvetronix ran at full valve voltages, the subsequent re-design meant only low-voltage was going through the valve which wasn't enough to noticeably make the valve glow - so Vox added an led bulb to make the now more visible valve look like it was glowing.
3. Advertising the 'Blue' speakers in the AC30 with pictures of the UK built Celestion Alnico Blues, yet the amps came with Chinese versions that used different cone material and so didn't sound the same (Vox took some stick for that one...following which the 'Vox forum' on its website was discontinued).
4. Saying that the TLST/TLEX could use 'x' number of effects together when (and let's be generous here again) their arithmetic had gone shall we say a little 'awry' even allowing for Vox' inclusion of a noise-gate as an 'effect'...hmm.
I've just been lent one of these, which is for sale. It's an AC15C1TV Limited Edition.
https://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/vox-ac15c1-tv-bc-limited-edition-two-tone-tv-front-1137058.jpg
It looks and sounds great, but it has two major design faults. First, the cabinet is made from 3/4" MDF, so it's *extremely* heavy for a relatively small and low-powered amp - 49lb, which even for me as an ex-Mesa Trem-o-verb owner is too much for something this size. And secondly, although it does have a pretty decent speaker - a Greenback - what does it really need? A Blue, obviously... but the cabinet is about 5mm too shallow to fit one without it hitting the valves.
Just stupid decisions for what should be a premium amp.
"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
It is not for everyone, but I am very fond of mine.
I have to admit to not liking the one I briefly had very much, but that was because I hoped it would sound like a small AC30.
"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
It's a brilliant amp and unlike previous Fender valve amps I've had, it drives sweetly at pretty modest levels with the assistance of the master volume.
May sound bonkers but I plan on A/B'ing the Vox and the Fender at a gig to make what will hopefully be a splendid racket.
Difficult for companies like Vox. Gretsch also spring to mind. They'e known for a certain style which people want. If they stick to it, they get accused of living in the past. If they try and tweak it, they get destroyed by critics...
Jokes aside... trashy? No. Flimsy? Not at all - far from it, I think you could knock a wall down with one. Unreliable? Hmmmm, modern valves don't work well in the old ones, I grant you. But a friend has his dad's 1965 TB model that his dad gigged around SE London from about 1972 to when he retired in about 2001. It still has its original valves, speakers, transformers etc - its had new filter caps and a new mains cable (as you'd expect) and I know the pilot light is blown! My old '64 had ancient Mullards (may have been original), plus original transformers etc and that had come from a back room of a dingy rehearsal room near Kings Cross...
Yes, you can blow them to pieces - I have too! My 65 turned into a firework on stage one night and took out the OP. Thankfully the 64 kept going, to finish the gig.
I don't think they are actually any worse than other British amps of the same period - and even the stuff that came later, such as the Marshalls weren't exactly bulletproof.
So no... not rose tinted. The original AC30 was brilliant - it wasn't like anything else, and to be honest *nothing* sounds like a real one, to this day.
I understand the OP's comments - I'll be honest, I can't understand why they don't stop fucking about and make a proper AC30, using the correct spec components/layouts etc but build them in the Far East to keep the costs sane. If folks are prepared to pay £3k for a worn original, I'm sure there would be a market for vintage correct ones for around half that.