Please recommend: Modern, high-gain version of a Vox AC30

[paulyc]

Brian May uses the normal input with the treble booster, like Tipton and Downing did with NMV Marshalls back in the day, but May’s tone is that damn guitar and it’s weird pickups/wiring scheme IMHO.

 

[stanz]

...May’s tone is that damn guitar and it’s weird pickups/wiring scheme IMHO.

That's a huge part of it, I think. I've heard that Brian had his touring AC30's modified to solid-state power. Is this true?

 

[paulyc]

No, solid state rectifiers and the other channels of the amp are disabled. He runs a medical grade power supply for the voltage and the 50Hz frequency of the AC power.

 

[stanz]

No, solid state rectifiers and the other channels of the amp are disabled. He runs a medical grade power supply for the voltage and the 50Hz frequency of the AC power.

 

[GtrPLyr83]

This is an old post, but there has been something out that fits the exact bill of what he is looking for. It's a bit pricey, but they even started selling the stuff at Sweetwater now, and I am actually thinking about getting this exact amp and cab setup for myself. That is, if I don't end up just buying a Vox 1st.

Anyway, it's an amp made by a company out of Britan called Victory Amps. Anyone who is even the least bit familiar with Rebea Massaad on YouTube should know exactly who Victory Amps is.

The amp the OP is looking for, to a TEE, is called......... The Copper by Victory Amps. It is basically a Vox.... Sorry, it's not "basically" it IS a VOX AC15 or 30 on steroids. The bigger of the two is a 35 watt head and they sell cabinets to go with them. They have a 1x12 for the smaller one, and the 35 watt bigger amp they have a 212 they match up with it. It's badass though. BOTH of them. The lil guy and the Big one are both killer amps.

 

[j.anderson]

I am a big vox fan (I have a ‘62 AC30 non-top boost and ‘63 AC30 Top boost). I’ve tried them all when it comes to modern and boutique vox style amps and honestly none of them hold a candle to a real deal ‘60’s copper panel vox. I agree the Vox definitely have that chime they’re known for, but I consider their overdrive to be smoother/less gritty than Marshall’s, but maybe more glassy in a way. That being said, my favorite recent made vox inspired amp I’ve tried was probably the Tex EF86 I used to own. Imagine something kinda like a vox (maybe a hint of Marshall there too) but a bit more gain, thoatier, more growl, and darker. My second favorite recent Vox type amp was maybe the Savage Schatten (didn’t like the Savage Glas as much). The Bad Cat’s would definitely be more modern and heavy if that’s what you’re looking for, but imo not as high quality tone. The Tex’s and Savage’s are still very vintage voiced

The Xits are also quite sought after, but haven’t tried one. Actually, also the Komet’s are worth considering. Those sounded awesome. They’re inspired more by Trainwreck, but I have a feeling they’ll still be great for what you’re describing

EDIT: Actually, what may be even better is to just get a real vintage vox like mine and install the new Hot Mod in it. They’re made for Marshall’s but can also work in Vox’s. I just got mine. Will give it a try later

For reference, I’ve tried Divided By 13’s, Top Hat’s, Matchless’s, Bruno’s, Sommatone’s, Reissue Vox’s, Bad Cat’s, Morgan’s, Star’s, and Todd Sharp. They almost all sucked compared to a real vintage vox Copperpanel. For my own selfish interest I wish those others didn’t exist so that I wouldn’t have wasted so much time and money trying and also owning some of them just to realize later how much better the old Vox’s really are. I’ve had the same experience with respect to Marshall’s and Fenders

Would you say the Tex EF86 is as bright/cutting as the Top Boost or more similar to the non-top boost?

 

[panhead]

Bogner Metropolis

 

[Devin]

Bogner Metropolis

Super underrated amp in my opinion

 

[panhead]

I had one with midrange no reverb, ran into a palmer and a Strategy 400 it was crazy good

 

[ErikT]

This is the amp I built at Lutheir school in 2010. Took an extra Amp Class. The front end is very similar to a JCM 800 and the back end is more AC30-ish. Fixed bias so you just need a matched quad of EL84's. Here's a clip of it boosted with a Fortin Grind (I also play the same riff back to back disengaging the pedal and then reengaging). There's also one more clip of it on my youtube channel. Would be willing to sell it. Hand wired turret board construction. Can get you more info if you're interested.

 

[That1Guy]

If you can find one, a Matchless Excalibur 30 sounds about right. El 84's, chime for days with serious low end response (if you want it) and more gain than an AC30 can imagine. The Victory Copper is compelling though and much more ubiquitous. Good luck!

 

[tonedover]

ifs funny - so many great albums from the 60s to the present featuring Vox amps - yet everytime i plug into one they sound like shit,

obviously its me, but i just dont have a handle on how to set them at all - and yes. i know its not rocket science,,,,, some amps just work for me, others, not so much

 

[Braciola]

Hi everyone, long-time lurker, first-time poster.

I'm soliciting recommendations for an amp that sounds like a cranked AC30, but perhaps a touch more modern and with more gain available. I already have several hot-rodded Marshall-type amps, but to my ears, the Vox-style distortion offers something unique and different... chimier, grittier and with lots of treble. If I may make a crazy analogy, if I am to compare them to chainsaws, it sounds like the Vox has smaller teeth spaced closer together and the Marshall has larger teeth spaced further apart. So far, I am looking at the Victory VC35 copper, and the Bad Cat Hot Cat and Lynx. Anything else I should consider?

First time I plugged into a Cornford Hellcat, I thought........ sounds like a killer modern high gain Vox!

 

[Dino 939]

I’d find which Vox AC30 has a loop,
probably use the Diezel Herbert preamp pedal
in that loop, no mid cut and dial it in.
No matter which modern high gainer Vox thingy’,
there’s always some weird artifact or lack of viscious crunch, like Mike Tyson with sparkly eyes..
Nope, I want the ANIMAL Mike Tyson who wants to eat my children in a heavy metal Vox.
So it will require having flexibility in the preamp which is where the screwy’ shit begins in conjunction with EL84’s in cook mode.
Or, combine a modern day Vox with the amp that has the aggressive characteristics your longing for in your high gain Vox.
It takes a certain type of player to make sense
with a Vox…

 

[braintheory]

Would you say the Tex EF86 is as bright/cutting as the Top Boost or more similar to the non-top boost?

Definitely not. Not even close. The Tex EF86 was a darker, chewier sound. Not many amps can get as bright as my ‘63 Top Boost (at least how I have it dialed in). IMO different also than the non-top boost AC30’s. It had some Vox-ish characteristics because of its tubes, but was kind of its own thing. The Tex EF86 was a very good amp, still imo one of the better EL84 amps I’ve had, but I sold it (liked other stuff more) and have had lots of stuff come and go since I made that post

 

[Rdodson]

If you're looking for the Vox vibe in an amp, it needs to have:
Cathode biased EL84's
No negative feedback
low filtering
really low value coupling cap between the first and second gain stage
those funky Vox treble cap / slope resister values.

The problem with your request is that it's not possible to retain the Vox vibe while changing the basic Vox circuit to produce more gain. A lot of that vibe comes from crushing the input to the phase inverter. Kinda like the Plexi vibe, but a different sound.

My suggestion would be to purchase a Heritage or HW Vox amp, and experiment with various boost pedals to get the gain you desire.
One of my favorite setups is an Exotic EP booster into my Vox AC30HW.
JCM800 levels of gain, but still retains the core tone.
I like the EP style boost for the added bottom end in this scenario, but a Klon type boost would work well too.

Hope that helps!

I love these super well-informed posts that nail the issues at hand perfectly. ??

Also, I second the Bogner Metropolis recommendation. These sound amazing.