This is the sound in my head! What can get me there?

[glpg80]

Early Van Halen is a cranked balls to the wall 68 plexi. Why are people recommending a vox?

Grab a ceriatone plexi kit and a resistive load to keep costs down - crank it up and go.

 

[ledvedder]

Here's the schematic for the amp in my original post.

 

[panhead]

Does this schematic /mod have a master volume?

 

[Racerxrated]

Classic rock and early VH vibe would be the VOX AC15 Heritage edition, no question about it. Get yourself a Crowther Double Hot Cake, 68 Pedals KOT clone, Boss EQ pedal, Phase 90, ADA small box flanger, and a T Rex Replicator Jr for tape echo. Doesn't get anymore classic/VH than that in a small rig. Remember, Ed didn't play a MV amp in those days. He did on VHII, but hated the result, so he pulled the MV mod out of it. If not the AC15 Heritage, the Marshall SV20 will get you there as well.

What's the difference between the regular AC15 and the Heritage?

I don't think the SV20 will get him there. It's not focused or tight in the least. Even with a boost, I dunno.. I found it a loose, sloppy mess.

And way too loud for what I'm looking for.

Just gonna mention; when it comes to tight and Plexi circuits you just have to throw whatever you can in front and just see if it works. I have an 80s SD1, OD1X, VFE Dragon, Joyo Ultimate Drive(OCD clone) and a few Danelectro EQ pedals. My 72 SuperTremolo is a killer amp but VERY picky about pedals in front. Hates the Dragon, loves the SD1 + OD1X, hates either by themselves...I can get classic up to 80s with the SD1 and OD1X. But I wanted to see if I could get more saturation. Looking at some different boost pedals online...but decided to pull the Ultimate Drive out of the 'unused gear box' lol. Well, holy shit that was the answer..stacked with the OD1X it's got way more saturation now and easily in the metal category.

OP I'd still look at the SV20 or Marshall C5 and just try a few different pedals in front. Or maybe the Origin..those clips sound like what you are looking for.

 

[panhead]

Classic rock and early VH vibe would be the VOX AC15 Heritage edition, no question about it. Get yourself a Crowther Double Hot Cake, 68 Pedals KOT clone, Boss EQ pedal, Phase 90, ADA small box flanger, and a T Rex Replicator Jr for tape echo. Doesn't get anymore classic/VH than that in a small rig. Remember, Ed didn't play a MV amp in those days. He did on VHII, but hated the result, so he pulled the MV mod out of it. If not the AC15 Heritage, the Marshall SV20 will get you there as well.

What's the difference between the regular AC15 and the Heritage?

I don't think the SV20 will get him there. It's not focused or tight in the least. Even with a boost, I dunno.. I found it a loose, sloppy mess.

And way too loud for what I'm looking for.

If you want that sound youre not gonna get it from quiet. 20 watts cranked is not quiet. Buy a modeler

 

[ledvedder]

Is anyone familiar with the Bluguitar Amp1 Mercury?

https://youtu.be/J3VYR2Tlx7s

 

[braintheory]

Is anyone familiar with the Bluguitar Amp1 Mercury?

https://youtu.be/J3VYR2Tlx7s

Yes, I liked the non-mercury version a little better, but very similar overall. They seemed impressive at first since you get all those sounds and features in such a small, light package, but ultimately not as good sounding as the real deal stuff. I think it can get in the ballpark of the tones you’re looking for, but won’t cut if you’re picky

 

[ledvedder]

Is anyone familiar with the Bluguitar Amp1 Mercury?

https://youtu.be/J3VYR2Tlx7s

Yes, I liked the non-mercury version a little better, but very similar overall. They seemed impressive at first since you get all those sounds and features in such a small, light package, but ultimately not as good sounding as the real deal stuff. I think it can get in the ballpark of the tones you’re looking for, but won’t cut if you’re picky

I'm not cork sniffer picky lol. All of the demos I've watched so far sound great.

 

[stanz]

Classic rock and early VH vibe would be the VOX AC15 Heritage edition, no question about it. Get yourself a Crowther Double Hot Cake, 68 Pedals KOT clone, Boss EQ pedal, Phase 90, ADA small box flanger, and a T Rex Replicator Jr for tape echo. Doesn't get anymore classic/VH than that in a small rig. Remember, Ed didn't play a MV amp in those days. He did on VHII, but hated the result, so he pulled the MV mod out of it. If not the AC15 Heritage, the Marshall SV20 will get you there as well.

What's the difference between the regular AC15 and the Heritage?

The Heritage is based on two of the early VOX AC circuits. EF86 and Top Boost. They are handwired w/ground plane underneath the turret board, so it's sort-of a hybrid board. No mods needed. You can clip the redundant (TP) 120pf cap from the volume circuit, but that's all I'd do to it. As someone who has gigged through vintage and modern VOX boxes, the Heritage is my very favorite of the modern line.

If you get the combo, you will likely want to replace the China made blue speaker with a UK made blue. If you want a tighter, more focused sound, go with a ceramic speaker. Greenback is good. I like the original VOX/Alnico sound, but then I run mine next to a ceramic loaded Ampeg GVT15. The AC15 Heritage head and cab is the ultimate, but can be difficult to find. EVH loved his VOX AC15 heads! They were part of his recording rigs until the day he passed.

 

[stanz]

Early Van Halen is a cranked balls to the wall 68 plexi. Why are people recommending a vox?

Grab a ceriatone plexi kit and a resistive load to keep costs down - crank it up and go.

I cant think of anything closer to the early Marshall vibe than a VOX AC30. Pre hair band Marshall players were notorious for recording with VOX AC15 and AC30 amplifers. One of Ed's tricks was to use his AC15 head as a preamp -> power soak -> Marshall plexi. I was told that he would hit the front of the VOX (or whatever amp he chose for that session) with a EQ and a EP3 tape echo. The flanger was placed between the power soak and Marshall. The '68 Marshall was semi-stock, used as P.A. to reamp the input signal. Ed was a mad scientist when came to rig configurations. I was told that used Music Man amps in the same manner, but I've never seen any pics that would indicate that.

Note:
Ritchie Blackmore's vintage Marshall plexi amps were loaded with VOX AC30 circuitry. He loved the AC30 sound, but not the looks. The reverse was true with the Marshall. Solution? Load the Marshall with AC30 guts. Marhsall agreed to build one head for him, the rest were done elsewhere.

 

[Sitedrifter]

Marshall SC20.

 

[stanz]

Is anyone familiar with the Bluguitar Amp1 Mercury?

https://youtu.be/J3VYR2Tlx7s

Yes, I liked the non-mercury version a little better, but very similar overall. They seemed impressive at first since you get all those sounds and features in such a small, light package, but ultimately not as good sounding as the real deal stuff. I think it can get in the ballpark of the tones you’re looking for, but won’t cut if you’re picky

I'm not cork sniffer picky lol. All of the demos I've watched so far sound great.

If you're going for the VH II sound, there are many MV amps that will work. I don't generally play MV amps, so my ear isn't "tuned" to what the best ones are. I do have a Marshall SJ 2554, but it's not voiced the same as a traditional MV amp. Instead of preamp tube clipping, it employs a series diodes to generate preamp distortion. Very cool design! I love the amp, though not as much as my VOX/Ampeg rig w/pedals.

 

[stanz]

Classic rock and early VH vibe would be the VOX AC15 Heritage edition, no question about it. Get yourself a Crowther Double Hot Cake, 68 Pedals KOT clone, Boss EQ pedal, Phase 90, ADA small box flanger, and a T Rex Replicator Jr for tape echo. Doesn't get anymore classic/VH than that in a small rig. Remember, Ed didn't play a MV amp in those days. He did on VHII, but hated the result, so he pulled the MV mod out of it. If not the AC15 Heritage, the Marshall SV20 will get you there as well.

What's the difference between the regular AC15 and the Heritage?

I don't think the SV20 will get him there. It's not focused or tight in the least. Even with a boost, I dunno.. I found it a loose, sloppy mess.

I did not know this. I've never played the SV20. I assumed it was a faithful recreation of the 100 watt plexi, though I had my doubts. The clips sound good, but you know how that goes... I grew-up on the Marshall Super Lead, as did most of you. As I said, the VOX AC15 + pedals gives all I need in vintage rock tone. I love the AC30 as well, but it's nearly as loud as a Super Lead. EL84's (done right) are like mini EL34's, and you don't have to blow your brains out getting them to distort.

The best tone in the world... Peg a Super Lead 100 (or AC30) while playing in an adjacent room. Nothing beats that, IMO.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

What everyone is saying... no matter what the wattage, you need a plexi/1987x/superlead NMV circuit that you can crank. ..for the sound you want. (with a resistive or reactive load/attenuator) greenbacks will do the rest. Doesn't matter how many posts you have, the answer will be the same. MV won't do it, overly gained out preamps won't do it. Only the original on 10.

 

[ledvedder]

Based on a lot of recommendations, I'm going to try the Bluguitar Amp1 Mercury edition. It should arrive tomorrow.

 

[napalmdeath]

Based on a lot of recommendations, I'm going to try the Bluguitar Amp1 Mercury edition. It should arrive tomorrow.

Never heard of it.
Personally, I think the Ceriatone 2202 checks all the boxes.

Best Plexi/VH build I've ever heard was the Brays.

Have you ever considered a Helix? Maybe try a POD Go on the cheap.

 

[ledvedder]

https://youtu.be/J3VYR2Tlx7s

 

[Mailman1971]

That Yamaha thrx should nail it
Made this clip couple years back. Nails it for me lower volume.