Coveted for its tight jangly alltube tone, it was literally the sound of the british invasion in the 60s. Deluxe reverb vs ac15 discussion in amp input normal or bright started by thekid, jan 20, 2018. Deluxe reverb vs ac15 fender stratocaster guitar forum. Modern vox ac30 amplifiers have two channels normal and top boost and two separate inputs high and low gain for each channel. Additionally, the added treble in the top boost circuit can make it very. Vox vox heritage ac15htvh 15w head musicians friend. It needs to be really, really loud to get the best tone out of it. The top boost channel receives a treble and bass control. The schematics below come from the service manual pictured above, issued by thomas organ in september 1967.
This 15 watt class a guitar amplifier design is based on the brilliant preamp channel of the classic 1960s ac30 top boost. So when you have cables plugged into both inputs that run back to the aby, there may only be guitar signal going into 1 input, but the input not being used is left ungrounded. Vox ac15 c2, egitarren combo, vollrohre, 15 watt,2x12celestion g12m. The ac15c1 now features both normal and top boost channels, and has many common features with the ac30c2xac30c2.
The master still works, and the tone controls work, just not the top boost volume pot. This has to do with the placement of the presence knob in the circuit which is. Plus, since its part of the custom series, it comes with spring reverb and is compatible with the vox vfs2 footswitch. If you absolutely need the reverb i recommend getting a new tank with a shorter decay time or a higher quality one. Although the normal is great for those classic beatles tones the top boost channel. Vox amp heaven schematics berkley cambridge pacemaker. So i searched for pics, took the schematic ac30 tb reverb 1978 and started. In the summer of 2012 bnwitt started a discussion at hoffmans amp forum. The unique vibrato circuit of this amp has intrigued me for a long time. Ac30 standard non top boost model 1960 download diagram ac30 top boost modification circuit for above 1961. It does overdrive the treble frequencies aggressively, so just be aware of that.
It was a great amp but it was too heavy and too loud. Jun 17, 2009 the ac15 was also too bassy for my tastes hence the changes i made on mine although the top boost channel is decent. Sound is all there, easy to haul, versatile, top boost, tone cut switch and has spring reverb and tremolo, the higher end, hand wired ac 15 hw is a lot more expensive and also doesnt have the reverb and tremolo. Boasting both a normal and top boost channel, the ac15 custom is an alltube, el84 driven workhorse that delivers 15 watts of authentic british tone into your choice of a genuine celestion greenback or alnico blue speaker. The downside of it is that you will lose the reverb. There is no other way to switch between the two channels on the amp because of the separate inputs. Among many products that claim some sort of iconic status, voxs ac30 guitar amplifier is the real deal, occupying a unique place in the history of pop music, and youll find one in. Sep 12, 2012 historically, the top boost was not in the ac15, so i guess taking an old schematic and removing the tremolo wouldnt work. While there have been a number of ac15 variants since its debut in 1957, the current ac15c1 uses an alltube, 15w 1x12 design to capture the tone of its predecessors. Need opinions on booster pedal for vox ac15c1 discussion in amps and cabs started by sirroderick, may 29.
Get a low price and free shipping on thousands of items. There is an ac15 handwired with an ef86 channel its the heritage handwired ac15 model ac15h1tv. Question about ef86 and 12ax7 tubes vox ac15 reissue. If you bypass both these opamps by copying the 70s ac30 dallas schematic provided by vox youll get rid of it. Ac30 top boost modification circuit for above 1961, download diagram. Flexible power the op switch adds even more flexibility to the. Not only are these boutique amps designed by one of the best amp engineers in the business, but theyre also loaded with all the controls and connectivity you need to completely personalize your tone. They made history when they released the original ac15 and ac30 around 1960 and whether youre an ac15 owner looking for some extra power, or a new convert to the world of vox amps, any of these vox ac30 amplifiers is a fantastic choice for achieving that vintageauthentic chime and warm tube tone.
The vox ac15c1 and ac30c2 limited edition custom series amps offer two channels. Vox, schematics, amps, amplifiers, tubes, valves, top boost, venue, berkley. Vox ac15 handwired versus vox ac30 handwired gearslutz. The vox ac15c2 features a pair of 12 speakers and a tremolo circuit, while the vox custom ac15 models have a spring reverb to complement your tremolo and top boost tones. A dude on youtube compared a brand new greenback in a hardwired vox ac15 with a speaker that had around 100 hours of play time not loud gigging volume and the new speaker was more gritty and fizzy and the speaker with some use was bigger and rounder in the bottom with a less grating midrange and less fizzy with some top boost overdrive.
My cc1 has a switch to blend both the top boost and normal channels, i use that amp that way, using the normal channel to dial in some additional low mids, but i never use the normal channel alone. Real producers and engineers know how to use amp eq page. My biggest requirement is that i want the amp to have a topboost. I put the unit back together and if fires up but now the top boost volume does nothing. Ac15 control software for usb printermactendaall for. I did that because i didnt use the reverb at all and the hiss is way lower now. Component layout ac15 power supply and output stages. The sound clips on the page i linked are the original schematic which is posted and some of it sounds bassy and raw imo. For those looking for that vintage vox magic with some more modern sensibilities, check out the ac15vr valve reactor, a tubesolidstate hybrid with normal and overdrive channels. Vox custom ac15c1 15w 1x12 tube guitar combo amp vintage.
John lennons first vox was a fawncoloured twinspeaker ac15, while george harrisons was a fawn ac30 with a top boost unit installed in the rear panel. I ran across a schematic for a vox ac15 not sure of the model in the schematic, but mines a 1996ish reissue and the first preamp slot shows an ef86 6267 tube, second and third ecc83 12ax7, and the fourth and fifth vibratotremolo ecc82 12au7. This is not unusual as old transformer windings are insulated with paper and wax sometimes you can see it leaking out of your vintage amp. Ac15 1960 download diagram ac15 1996 onward preamp section. The vox ac15 customs substitution of a 12 celestion 25watt greenback speaker parts from. Over 60 years since its introduction, the ac15 combo is still a firm fixture in voxs current catalogue. However if i want to push the gain up a little higher i know a lot of vox ac15 owners put a booster of some sort on the front end. Ac100 amp schematic joe piazza check out the vox showroom for more historic information on the vox amps. Its handwired in viet nam, and comes with an alnico blue and as a result must weigh close to 50 lbs. It was easily the loudest 15 watt amp ive ever used. Jul 15, 2011 the top boost when cranked gets snarly, jagged, and cooked sounding. And voxs ac circuit is famous for how well it takes any variety of your favorite effects pedals. Depending on what version ac15 you have, one schematic i found does have both the normal and top boost channels grounded when no cable is plugged in.
For example a lot of people complain about how overly bright a ac15 is but they are probably talking about the older one from the 2000s with just top boost the new one comes with top boost and a normal channel in case you feel the top boost is too much top end. Besides the ac100, the other britishmade amps encompassed are. Normal jack plugging your guitar into this input will route your signal through the normal channel. Assuming you are looking at the back of the amp, going from left to right, the first preamp tube the one with the shield is v1, and is thefirst gain stage for both the normal and the top boost channels. The best boost i used with that amp, was a super hard on. This was not an error in the drawing this did go into. One half of the tube was used for gain, the second half was a. To view this site, you must enable javascript or upgrade to a javascriptcapable browser. A service engineers guide to the vox ac30 valve amplifier. Someone has the reverb board layout of this version of the vox ac30. Historically, the top boost was not in the ac15, so i guess taking an old schematic and removing the tremolo wouldnt work.
Historically, the tremolo channel is a second channel, would removing it change the tone of the amp one friend has a 1 channel deluxe reverb which saturates waaaay too early, the builder says its because he omitted the normal channel, and the existing channel. Hoffman amplifiers tube amp forum, vox ac15 layouts. My ac30 is a jmi 64 and had a hard life before i had it but the fact that it still works and sounds amazing after 47. With the amp at full blast on the normal channel the hiss is almost inaudible and the top boost channel has a manageable amount of it. The current nonhandwired c1 model has benefitted from some useful upgrades to make it more relevant for modern musicmaking, yet the cosmetic and sonic dna of the original is still evident to anyone with more than a passing interest in the legendary amp brand that powered beatlemania. Very minor adjustments of these controls can yield dramatic changes in tone color. The younger brother of the worldfamous vox ac30, offering all the classic tones in an easier and quieter size. How to get classic vox ac30 tones using guitar modelling. Ive owned an ac15c1 in the past and this amp does sound like the top boost channel of that amp. There may never have been an amp boasting such a lofty and pure sound in the entire history of vox. I need a foot switch to change channels on my vox ac15. Jmi vox ac30 with top boost in panel the vox showroom. Vox ac15 right of the bat you can tell theres a connection between this amp, the greenback and a strat. Get the guaranteed best price on tube combo guitar amplifiers like the vox custom ac15c1 15w 1x12 tube guitar combo amp at musicians friend.
Because of their similarities, the vox ac15 and fender deluxe reverb share a history of friendly rivalry. Inside that pretty head is a handwired masterpiece of tone that can transport you through the golden age of vox tone. The vox ac15 custom will never go out of style because of all of the players still depending on this design today. And true to vox form is the top cut control, which cuts high from either channel end as its turned up. We created several and we have redrawn some schematics that were already available on the internet for readability or ease of use these needed an easiertoread format, corrections or part identifiers. The top boost when cranked gets snarly, jagged, and cooked sounding. Ac30cc2 schematic heaven, tube books, schematics galore.
I just purchased a vox ac15c1 and really love the way it sounds with my strat an american standard with a humbucker in the bridge. The combination of the vox ac15 customs class a, el84driven power amp and its top boost preamp gives the amp its iconic sound. Vox amp schematics to assist you with your amplifier repairs and modifications. Here you will find our collection of vox schematics. Need opinions on booster pedal for vox ac15c1 the gear page.
Boasting both a normal and top boost channel, this el84 driven workhorse delivers authentic british tone. Vox ac30 top boost 1967 repair and restoration this ac30 came to me with a strong smell of burnt mains transformer. The online resource for old vintage vox circuit diagrams. Download my full size board layout, drill guide, jumper guide, ground scheme, schematic, and more in a single pdf. Ac15 s are really quite mid heavy anyway, and the ts circuit boosts your kids quite a bit, so just be mindful if you are using a pedal based on that.
Got the other one sitting in my work apartment about 300 miles. Vox ac30 top boost 1967 repair and restoration amploft. The master still works, and the tone controls work, just not the top boost. Top boost jack plugging your guitar into this input will route your signal through the top boost channel. Even though its older brother is so famous, the ac15 was actually the first of the two amplifiers to be made by vox. Youll need an ab switch and have one output from the switch going to the normal input and the other going into the top boost input. The ac15 was also too bassy for my tastes hence the changes i made on mine although the top boost channel is decent.
When you plug into the top boost channel of a vox, youll have. He proposed to build a 1960 vox ac15 for his studio. Given the option, id use a dimed vox ac30 or ac15 top boost for 90. Youll also find a full set of ac15 hallmarks, including independent volume control for each channel, as well as the vox classic tremolo. Here is a list of the schematics that are exclusive to this site.
Ac15 top boost was never offered in the line until now. I think i might find having the ef86 and top boost channels and no trem as the most useful combination. Perhaps this is simply to say that they are both extremely versatile and popular amplifiers. Vox, fender, marshall vox amplifiers ac15, ac30 the. The gibson ga70 tone circuit included one 12ax7 tube. The design of the vox top boost circuit appears to have been lifted, part for part, from the 1950s era gibson ga70 amplifier see photo at right. Otherwise it wouldnt be sitting in my living room with my esquire plugged into it. Historically, the tremolo channel is a second channel, would removing it change the tone of the amp one friend has a 1 channel deluxe reverb which saturates waaaay too early, the builder says its because he omitted the normal channel, and the existing channel has.
My hw from 2003 has only the top boost channel, it sounds amazing. The vox ac15 custom tube guitar amplifier vox amps. His idea was to develop a layout for a single chassis, marshall style amp. Free vox diagrams, schematics, service manuals schematics. If you absolutely need the reverb i recommend getting a new tank with.
Top jack for high input, and bottom jack for low input. I pushed it through with the tip of the soldering iron. Vox ac15c1 custom 2channel 15watt 1x12 guitar combo reverb. The treble and bass controls are from the 1963 top boost circuit and are extremely interactive.
To view this site, you must enable javascript or upgrade to a. Ac3036 top boost mod schematic, os010 jennings, 1961. They were later provided with twin blackcovered ac30s with the rear panel top boost units. It combines the prized ef86 preamp channel of 1958 with the legendary 1963 top boost channel in one masterfully designed amplifier. Tone cut control this circuit is placed in the power amp as opposed to the preamp section like the treble and bass controls. Vox ac30 schematic drawing upon nearly 60 years of heritage, vox handwired amplifiers have on the legendary top boost tone circuit made famous by the iconic vox ac30. The third the one closest to the power tubes is the phase inverter. Guitar submitted 4 years ago by minegoesto11 fendertophat so ive had my amp for about a year and half now, its been working great, no issues. Circuit simulation modeling vacuum tube guitar amplifiers using spice. Ordinarily, if i bring my 18 watt to a gig which is actually quieter than the ac15 i. Quick test of a vintage jmi ac30 non top boost with additional top boost unit in the back panel. I went into my vox ac15 and heated up the bottom of the pots board and undid c26.
With a vox ac15, the word custom applies in more ways than one. Vox ac30 silver jubilee circuit analysis amp books. You have to make very small adjustments until you find the tone you are looking for. It remains fairly tight though, and playing with your volume pots you have a whole array of sounds to choose from. By turning the treble way down on the amp, then plugging in a vox or other brand treble booster, guitarists quickly found out that boost would add a nice overdrive effect. Tips on optimizing vox ac15 page 2 gretschtalk forum. The top boost section adds sonic control and highend detail to your guitar sound. Also you cant switch between the top boost and normal channels without hooking up an ab switch. For those who want the classic jangle and top boost of the vox ac30 but dont need quite so much power, the ac15c1 is a great option. Ac15 control software for usb printermac download this program supports mac os version 10.
Vibroverb 6g16 tremolo fender parallel 12at7 reverb driver bassman, class ab, and ac ripple. Hence the ac15 offers both the bright chimelike clean sound and gutsy, smooth full volume overdriven tone that has made the ac30 such a legend. The circuit and overall design behind each of these clubsized. Five overdrives for your top boost vox reverb news. Ac15 reissue pre amp schematic, ac156002 iss 1 vox, 1996. A postphase inverter master volume is fitted as well.
Ac15 clone with ef86 and top boost channel youtube. Celebrate 60 years of el84 chime by dialling in some classic ac30 sounds. The footswitch on the ac15c1 only controls the tremolo and reverb. Each channel is equipped with its own volume control, and the top boost channel offers highly interactive treble and bass tone controls. Good distortion pedal to go along with vox ac15 gearslutz. The only pedals i have problems with are tubescreamers and derivatives thereof. However, vox would not develop their top boost tone circuitry from sample circuits found in the back pages of a tube manual nor was the top boost circuit a unique jmi design. Unlike its predecessor, the ac4tv, this does amp does not get mushy when you run dime it. The fender deluxe reverb and the vox ac15 are roughly the same size, often used by roughly similar musicians to play broadly similar music. Gear vox ac15c1 top boost channel not working self. A click on the schematics or the layout opens a pdf file of the respective plan. Notice the treble and bass controls of the vox top boost circuit were added in. Vox diagrams, schematics and service manuals download for free.
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