Vox AC4TV
- Thread starter faizal_rocks
- Start date
theunknown
New member
Precisely. I was just highlighting that the amp doesnt have any eq controls but then you were talking about eqs.
I owned this little amp before, but it just sounded too boxy, and i had to put the tone till full, sacrificing on the lower frequencies. still i had to eq with a pedal.
Thus i sold it and got myself a laney cub 12r.
I owned this little amp before, but it just sounded too boxy, and i had to put the tone till full, sacrificing on the lower frequencies. still i had to eq with a pedal.
Thus i sold it and got myself a laney cub 12r.
theunknown
New member
the combo. i know, with the 12", it would sound less boxy. considered it till i found the laney. full eq class A/B. 3 x 12ax7 n 2 x el34. more gain on tap, 15w and 0.75w inputs, built in reverb (though not to be proud of). 12" celestion (rocker 50 though). its just like the vox with much much more tonal possibilities.
ToneJedi
New member
Laney cub 12r seems like a really good amp. Better specs than my previous blues junior. Where did you buy it? I'll go give it a try. Just switch off the reverb, you don't really need it anyway.
What tubes are you using? What guitars/pedals you have and what music do you play?
Consider this..... change to some 15w celestion speaker, which model depends on your preference, not sure if blue dog can fit in, you can diy a piece of wood at the back to make it closed back, this mod is reversible, no issues.
I'll be changing speaker in my ac4 cab, I'll diy an open back panel.
What tubes are you using? What guitars/pedals you have and what music do you play?
Consider this..... change to some 15w celestion speaker, which model depends on your preference, not sure if blue dog can fit in, you can diy a piece of wood at the back to make it closed back, this mod is reversible, no issues.
I'll be changing speaker in my ac4 cab, I'll diy an open back panel.
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Ized
New member
The Blues Junior sounds better imo. I've tried the Cub 5 and Cub 12 before and to be honest, I prefer the AC4. But then again, I guess thats cos my clean preferences are more towards Fender and Vox land.
The only one that I thought sounded better than the Blues Junior at Swee Lee was the Laney VC15. Comes with 1 x 12 Jansen speaker (which is a quarter of what the Fender Bassman reissue uses) and it was nice and chimey with a reverb and bright switch should you wish for more Fendery sounds.
The only one that I thought sounded better than the Blues Junior at Swee Lee was the Laney VC15. Comes with 1 x 12 Jansen speaker (which is a quarter of what the Fender Bassman reissue uses) and it was nice and chimey with a reverb and bright switch should you wish for more Fendery sounds.
faizal_rocks
New member
I still have my AC4TV that I purchased since Nov 2009 
I just changed the pre-amp tube to a Sylvania 12AT7 and the clean sounds are more usable and still sounds good with pedals. 12AT7 has 60% of gain as compared to a 12AX7's 100% gain.
I just changed the pre-amp tube to a Sylvania 12AT7 and the clean sounds are more usable and still sounds good with pedals. 12AT7 has 60% of gain as compared to a 12AX7's 100% gain.
theunknown
New member
tonejedi: i have the combo. the stack is twice the price. got it from sweelee for $560. which i believe is much much cheaper that the blues jr. stock tubes. not much money left to experiment other tubes. haha. i have a les paul copy (gear gallery 2009 first post) and i play blues to hardrock to metal.
i guess im not really a whichever brand guy. i just love to tweak amps. and the vox really didnt impress me. shrill on the highs when tone to full, amount lower on the knob and its boxy. good tone, but boxy. maybe i just needed to crank it louder that im permitted to at home.
with the laney, much more versatile. i'd prefer it much more to the vox i had. still, i wonder if the stack vox would be much different. nevermind. no worries. happy enough with the laney.
i guess im not really a whichever brand guy. i just love to tweak amps. and the vox really didnt impress me. shrill on the highs when tone to full, amount lower on the knob and its boxy. good tone, but boxy. maybe i just needed to crank it louder that im permitted to at home.
with the laney, much more versatile. i'd prefer it much more to the vox i had. still, i wonder if the stack vox would be much different. nevermind. no worries. happy enough with the laney.
Ized
New member
theunknown: I suspect its the tubes on yours. Cos the amp is so cheap, I guess Vox tried to cheap out on everything else, like the speakers and no-brand Sovtek tubes which is either a hit or miss depending on what batch you get.
Mine was from one of the early batches when the amp first came out - but I remembered the amp's tone only really opened up with a tube change. I first changed the shitty preamp tube to a Tung Sol and my first reaction was wow - since when the amp became so gawd damn loud. It was like somebody bumped it up with a few watts more or sth. The treble and mid response also became much tighter and more musical too. The loose and lack of low end was suddenly replaced with a much livelier and thumpy low end that even earned the respect of a fellow softie who preferred my little Vox to Goose's Mesa's Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb!
Mine was from one of the early batches when the amp first came out - but I remembered the amp's tone only really opened up with a tube change. I first changed the shitty preamp tube to a Tung Sol and my first reaction was wow - since when the amp became so gawd damn loud. It was like somebody bumped it up with a few watts more or sth. The treble and mid response also became much tighter and more musical too. The loose and lack of low end was suddenly replaced with a much livelier and thumpy low end that even earned the respect of a fellow softie who preferred my little Vox to Goose's Mesa's Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb!
theunknown
New member
ized: perhaps im just the kind of guy who goes "if i need to mod/change this thing cos at stock, it sucks, i'll rather get something else". haha.
not saying the vox sucks though. it's good for the price. but after a while, i just need the versatility. i want some preamp dirt in a min, super clean without breakup the next and just at breakup point after that. though i'd prefer one with diff channels though. i can't get that in the vox. the eq controls also.
oh well it's just me, not the amp. and looking at the vox, obviously buyers of it look into low wattage amp which can be cranked at low volumes. so ur point on the preamp change to be louder opposed my purpose.
to conclude, im not dissing the amp. i'd say it's a good low end tube amp for those looking at simplicity. in short, a unbiased view:
- not an amp if ure looking at SUPER CLEAN.
- in other words near inexistent super clean.
- breakup tone is great.
- sounds boxy due to/although it has a 10" speaker
- loud at even 4w
- if u can crank it, great overdrive
- at 1/4w can get overdrive at low volume but sounds very small
- short, great tone if u can forgo super clean.
end every point with "in my opinion". and this is MY view. doesn't speak for anyone else. and the amp i used is STOCK.
not saying the vox sucks though. it's good for the price. but after a while, i just need the versatility. i want some preamp dirt in a min, super clean without breakup the next and just at breakup point after that. though i'd prefer one with diff channels though. i can't get that in the vox. the eq controls also.
oh well it's just me, not the amp. and looking at the vox, obviously buyers of it look into low wattage amp which can be cranked at low volumes. so ur point on the preamp change to be louder opposed my purpose.
to conclude, im not dissing the amp. i'd say it's a good low end tube amp for those looking at simplicity. in short, a unbiased view:
- not an amp if ure looking at SUPER CLEAN.
- in other words near inexistent super clean.
- breakup tone is great.
- sounds boxy due to/although it has a 10" speaker
- loud at even 4w
- if u can crank it, great overdrive
- at 1/4w can get overdrive at low volume but sounds very small
- short, great tone if u can forgo super clean.
end every point with "in my opinion". and this is MY view. doesn't speak for anyone else. and the amp i used is STOCK.
faizal_rocks
New member
Not sure if ur referring to me but I'm using the combo version
Changing to a 12AT7 really gave me much more cleaner headroom. When I crank the volume to 12 O Clock, it stays clean as compared to a 12AX7 that breaks up early. Although it won't get Fender clean (which I love), I'm still satisfied
The stock Sovtek EL84 sounds good IMO and I left it there..
Ized
New member
=theunknown
I don't think you can really get SUPER CLEAN with any tube amps...SS is what you should go for if you want that kind of thing aye. Jazz chorus anyone? The laney cub cleans are colored also...not really super clean and it didnt take the seventheaven as well as the vox. For me the vox works better with my setup cos I need an amp that has an uncolored clean tone.
I don't think you can really get SUPER CLEAN with any tube amps...SS is what you should go for if you want that kind of thing aye. Jazz chorus anyone? The laney cub cleans are colored also...not really super clean and it didnt take the seventheaven as well as the vox. For me the vox works better with my setup cos I need an amp that has an uncolored clean tone.
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theunknown
New member
i dun mean super clean as uncoloured or transparent in any case. i mean without audible drive added. i can compare my vox and my laney and at same volume (very low), the laney is cleaner.
i play jazz chorus everytime i jam. it's different. i still can get cleans on the laney and good tone. the jazz chorus is very good but its just too big. the small ones are hard to find.
i play jazz chorus everytime i jam. it's different. i still can get cleans on the laney and good tone. the jazz chorus is very good but its just too big. the small ones are hard to find.
ToneJedi
New member
Seems like on this thread, most people who did not like ac4 are using the combo instead of the head/cab with 12" speaker. 12" speakers vs 10" speakers makes quite a difference.
People who are not into classic tube tone and would prefer more options such as eq would surely not like ac4. Many times it is not the equipment is good or bad, just personal preference.
People who are not into classic tube tone and would prefer more options such as eq would surely not like ac4. Many times it is not the equipment is good or bad, just personal preference.
Ized
New member
Thats precisely what I'm talking about...tube amps are slightly driven no matter how clean they are or how you perceive them to be. Thats why the louder you crank them, the better they seem to sound. Compared to SS amps which remain the same at whatever volume and some perceive to be sterile.
I don't think the laney is cleaner. I've tried it when i worked at SL many times (ok I guess my secret is out) with the 7th and I daresay, the vox still takes the pedal better. The 7th can be quite picky with small combo amps so I would say its a good gauge on the amp's ability to take pedals well, albeit a more neutral sound.
The Laney is a bit brighter on lower volumes though compared to the Vox, which tends to have a bit more lower mids even with the tone up full. Hence the perception that the Laney is cleaner sounding....Reminds me of some Marshalls with bright switches you cant turn off anyone? Heh.
Ized
New member
=ToneJedi
I wouldnt say I'm really into the classic tube tone if you get my drift. I don't think that label applies to me cos I'm just looking for a nice small combo that takes pedals well, especially a rather modern sounding one like the 7th heaven. If the Vox AC4 offered the classic tube tone (like that horrible AC15CC1 which I tried that breaks up at even the lowest volumes) I wouldn't have bought it. I still think the AC15 offers more of a "classic tube tone" than the AC4tv, if thats how you want to put it.
I wouldnt say I'm really into the classic tube tone if you get my drift. I don't think that label applies to me cos I'm just looking for a nice small combo that takes pedals well, especially a rather modern sounding one like the 7th heaven. If the Vox AC4 offered the classic tube tone (like that horrible AC15CC1 which I tried that breaks up at even the lowest volumes) I wouldn't have bought it. I still think the AC15 offers more of a "classic tube tone" than the AC4tv, if thats how you want to put it.
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theunknown
New member
Tonejedi: hey bro. of course! never said the vox was bad. it IS good. but it does not really appeal to me, who seeks clean headroom and versatility. sometimes i want clean, breakup, all the way driven. u known what i mean. i thought of the stack version, but well, i thought again, i just wanted a change.
YES, i think thats the word! CLEAN HEADROOM! haha.
Ized: I think i put it the wrong way earlier, bro. it's not CLEAN. its the HEADROOM. maybe cause i can adjust the pre- and poweramp gain. haha. yeah with the amount of lower mids and the speaker size, all the more it sounds more boxy. the laney on the other hand, sound more "open" to me. about pedal friendly wise, maybe cause my pedal is also mid heavy, doesnt sound as good with the box.
sorry guys, i have not much experience. and my vocab in describing tone is none to be proud of. haha. but i do know what i want when i hear it. so whatever i say is "imo".
YES, i think thats the word! CLEAN HEADROOM! haha.
Ized: I think i put it the wrong way earlier, bro. it's not CLEAN. its the HEADROOM. maybe cause i can adjust the pre- and poweramp gain. haha. yeah with the amount of lower mids and the speaker size, all the more it sounds more boxy. the laney on the other hand, sound more "open" to me. about pedal friendly wise, maybe cause my pedal is also mid heavy, doesnt sound as good with the box.
sorry guys, i have not much experience. and my vocab in describing tone is none to be proud of. haha. but i do know what i want when i hear it. so whatever i say is "imo".
