I really wanna try out a Vox AC15C2 (need advice)

[unclejessesmullet]

I'm in the market for a new amp and I have my sights set on a Vox AC15C2. Currently I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe but I don't gig with it (only record) and I have roommates so it's a little too loud for me (I need earplugs by the time it breaks up). Other than that, I love the sound of it though.

 

I heard the sound and particularly the reverb of the AC15C2 is a bit better than the regular AC15 so I wanna go for that. The problem is, no music places near me sell the AC15C2 in the store, since it's kind of an odd custom thing I guess. In fact, most of the people I spoke with didn't even know that there's a 15-watt model that has two speakers. This is an issue because I can't really ask them to order one without putting a deposit down and basically telling them I'll buy it. How can I hear this thing properly if no one has one?

 

My follow-up question is how loud is the AC15C2 compared to the Hot Rod Deluxe? Again, I need something significantly more quiet than the HRD. Should I maybe be looking for another Fender amp similar to the HRD but a lot quieter? Thanks in advance!

[Phil O'Keefe]

Compared to a 40W Hot Rod Deluxe, the wattage of an AC15 is lower - 15W. The difference in volume between those two amps will also depend on the relative efficiency of the speakers. A more efficient speaker setup will get more sound and volume out of the available power than a less efficient speaker, and can make a significant difference in perceived volume levels. I'm not sure what they're running in the current AC15's. I have an earlier one (AC15cc1) but I replaced the ceramic Wharfdale it came with with a Weber Blue Dog AlNiCo. To me, an AlNiCo is a big part of the classic sound of those amps - the "Vox Sound" - the chime, etc.

 

The AC15 is not a great bedroom amp IMO. You can play it at reasonably soft levels for practice and recording and it sounds fine, but if you want to crank it to where it's breaking up a bit, it's going to be pretty loud. It can hang with a rock drummer, but IMHO, just barely. But don't expect it to be much lower in perceived volume than the HRD. It will probably be noticeably quieter, but it's still going to be loud.

 

Here's a link to an article I wrote on the relationship between wattage, speaker efficiency, and "loudness."

[unclejessesmullet]

Thanks for the reply. Very informative! What amps, then, would you recommend for bedroom recording? Again I'd like to be able to crank it to breakup without needing earplugs. Thanks again!

[t_e_l_e]

bedroom recording? you mean "a baby can sleep next door" volume?

 

if you go tube, everything above 1W you cannot crank, yep like phil said, the speaker is importan, with a efficient speaker even 1w amp can be too loud.

i always wanted to try zvex nano head but the price tag....

 

maybe a vox ac4... the one you can switch between 0.5 /1 and 4 w,

the ac4 blue would be the more ac30 topboost sound amp, but it is not power switchable and these 4w can be pretty loud

 

i think the ac15c2 you talking about will not be any quieter than your hotrod, i think it may seem also to be a bit louder cause it has 2x12 speaker instead of one, which move more air and can seem subjectively louder...

in your case its not what the db-meter says what counts, its what your roommate thinks is loud, which is very subjective

[WRGKMC]

A low watt amp or maybe build yourself an iso cab you can stick over the amp and mic

is about your only options. If an amp has a drive channel you can dirty it up or use a drive pedal and

keep the master volume down. That still isn't the same as an amp cranked getting some speaker flap.

 

Other options are to either use an amp with a speaker emulated line output jack, or a guitar preamp that

has the same speaker emulation. A regular like out is often too harsh to record direct, but amps like my

Marshall Valvestate sounds as good if not better using the Speaker Emulated line out to record as it does with

its 1960 cab miced. (I often use both to record and 9 times out of 10 the line out sounds better because there's no bleed over)

 

 

Guitar preamps/effect units recording direct can sound as good as any amp as well. You do have to make tonal adjustments

to mimic a cab and add reverb because you wont be capturing any room resonance, but in a bedroom you wouldn't be cranking an

amp loud enough to capture those refection's anyway so what's the difference.

 

Some of the preamps like Marshall, Boss, Rocktron, Art, Digitec, or even a Sans Amp can get you some wonderful Guitar tracks.

The bonus is you can use headphones or Studio Monitors set low and track all day without bothering anyone.

 

Amp emulation software like Guitar Rig and Revalver are other options. You do need a powerful computer with super low latency to track

with those programs. I find them difficult to work with and only use them as normal plugins adding drive to a guitar already tracked myself.

I do use Miced amps live and rack units solo and they mix very well. It can actually be more difficult to get a miced amp to sound as good

as the direct method.

 

Since you already have a decent amp for playing live I'd scrounge up a couple of Preamps for recording direct.

All that matters is how good the tracks sound mixed. Playing through studio monitors sounds great too.

 

Here's some suggestions.

 

High end > http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rocktron-Prophesy-II-Guitar-Preamp-Effects-Processor-/171296699903

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mesa-Boogie-USA-Triaxis-Tri-Axis-V2-Fat-Mod-Electric-Guitar-Tube-Rack-Preamp-/231202594501

 

Digitec - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digitech-GSP21-Pro-Guitar-Signal-Processor-Preamp-FX-Vintage-Rack-/201079392436

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digitech-GSP7-Guitar-Processor-Preamp-Vintage-Rack-/170672737167

 

I have one of these - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digitech-GSP5-Guitar-Processor-Preamp-FX-Vintage-Rack-/170702133256

 

Rolland - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Roland-GP-100-GP100-Guitar-Preamp-Processor-Rack-Effect-Preamplifier-Unit-GP-100-/251505789442

 

Marshall - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marshall-jmp1-jmp-1-valve-preamp-pre-amp-rack-/161284524101

 

ART - (I have the guitar version of this and its killer. You can dial up to 11 different effects at one and its got basic amp emulation) http://www.ebay.com/itm/ART-SGX-NIGHTBASS-TUBE-PREAMP-MULTI-EFFECTS-Bass-GUITAR-PREAMPLIFIER-RACK-/221423879159

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ART-DST825-Rack-Unit-Tube-Preamp-Electro-Harmonix-12AX7EH-Gold-/221374434121

 

Rocktron - Good metal preamp http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rocktron-Gainiac-Tube-Preamp-for-Guitar-High-Gain-Rack-Pre-amp-ARMENS-/310910183026

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rocktron-Pro-G-A-P-Guitar-Preamp-Hush-Vintage-Rack-/170670340730

 

Mesa - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mesa-V-twin-pre-amp-Rack-mount-version-with-original-Foot-switch-/301156231015

 

Sans Amp - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tech-21-Sansamp-PSA-1-Guitar-Rack-Preamp-PSA1-/151233573302

 

Yamaha - (I have one that's similar with effects) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-PG-1-Guitar-Preamp-Equalizer-Spring-Reverb-Vintage-Rack-/170635256800

 

Lexicon - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lexicon-MPX-G2-Guitar-Preamp-Rack-Unit-Effects-Processor-MPXG2-Not-working-/221282734757

 

That was only one page and I didn't sort them by price. I bought most of mine for around $50 used so a little hunting and you can get some decent units for tracking