jredden's Reviews
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471
Flexible & Straightforward first all-tube amp
The AC30S1 is essentially the controls of an AC10 but real 30w Quad-EL84 tube power. Featuring an FX loop it is (ironically) easier to get to a bedroom volume when utilizing popular FX Loop volume control tricks, as apposed to an AC15C1/C2 with no easy/cheap attenuation options. It's weight clocks in at 24.5kg (w/ the AC15c1 at 22kg & AC15c2 at 30kg) which definitely contributed to my purchase.
This is my first AC30 & first full-tube amp & it has truly met my expectations, while exceeding what volume I imagined a tube power section really putting out, using 50% gain (without my JHS little black amp box in the loop) I cannot get past 8 O'clock on the master volume (with 7 O'clock being zero).
Lastly I will say, without a master Tone Cut I do imagine it's not as versatile for realllly dialing in iconic AC tones, but I plan to slave it into an external power section w/ a presence knob if I so want to when recording. But regardless this thing sounds realllllly goddamn good & looks the part, I hope to have it as a workhorse for as long as it sticks around.
41034
I don't usually troll, but sometimes I have to.... everything you said misses the whole point of the good old ac30. You're not really hearing the amp if you start attenuating preamp signal or even if you use the ppimv... sure you're not liquefying small furry animals, but hey, that's rock n roll. Slaving the preamp out? there's nothing special about the ac30 preamp. Its a system. Start breaking it up and its something else. Tube amps are just loud. They're meant for gigging theaters.
471
cool
471
Beautiful, comfortable & tough
For my wants & needs it's ticked it all, main attraction was the coil split in the tone knob which is really cool. Neck pickup is underrated & the scale length makes it one of my comfiest guits, can get a bit cramped at the higher frets but it's not a problem, makes up for it with the chord shapes you can pull from the very first fret. Poly finish means you can move it around casually & without too much caution, unlike my Satin finished SG
Originally saw it in the seafoam green & thought "oh cool" but once I saw it in the Daphne I was set & sold
471
Amp Slave Secret Weapon
With my Vox AC30S1 amp it get's cranked power amp tone at sensible volume. Bedroom levels really, it does what it does amazingly.
But even more-so when you bring amp slaving into the equation, it get's my Orange Micro Dark preamp through my AC30's power amp both working at saturated levels, driving the AC30's 4 power valves enough to add more warmth to the Micro Dark's tone. Still-so the JHS can bring that down to sensible volume.