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Vox Ac30H2 (Heritage) vs Ac30HW2 (Handwired)


jimnic88

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Hi!

 

I need Help :)

I can choose between a VOX Ac30H2 Heritage 2007 and a Vox Ac30HW2 Handwired. The price is the same (1000$). I find positive aspects in both:

 

The Heritage (that I can choose) have a 2 Alnico Blue made in UK (only these are 400$) and a NOS Tube EF86; but the Heritage don't have the Master Volume and it's NOT Point To Point (Handwired but on PCB).

 

The HW2 have indeed the Master Volume and it's all Point To Point, but have worts Speakers (2 China Greenback).

 

What do you say? The Master Volume is probably not a big Problem, because both have a switch from 30 Watt to 15 Watt.

 

PS. There is also the new C2 (or C2x) with Send Return (it would be important for me) and tremolo, but I've read everywhere, that the Hw2 and the Heritage are better.

 

Thanks!!!

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Try one of these. You will not look back.

 

It's more $$$, but that much more for what you will get.

 

The Vox company ain't what it once was.

 

 

 

 

https://reverb.com/item/4780905-tophat-club-royale-20-2x12-combo-1998-blonde?gclid=Cj0KEQjwg47KBRDk7LSu4LTD8eEBEiQAO4O6r wk2ZQzA-Xf2DsQBNvFUEGgApYTAfs_bTjUiEC4UPtAaAr2H8P8HAQ&pla=1

 

or this

 

https://reverb.com/item/5640692-maz-18-jr-reverb-1x12-combo

 

The non reverb ones have more gain that the ones with reverb

 

[video=youtube;4GcHXLSyqMU]

[video=youtube;UZswe0Gxdt4]

 

Or this

https://reverb.com/item/5672217-valvetech-hayseed-15

 

[video=youtube;pkWD8FzpLsY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkWD8FzpLsY

[video=youtube;fdz5bpReE54]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdz5bpReE54

 

 

 

 

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Mikeo...he already specified he is looking to spend $1000...and so you show him stuff he can't afford? What is wrong with you?

 

Given the choices presented, I would go with the HW2, mainly for hte master volume and easier mantenance. Even wiht teh half power switch, it will not give you teh push from teh preamp that you get with the master volume. Speakers are easier to change...I would put creambacks in that HW2 if it were mine, and sell the Chinese greenies...

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Mikeo...he already specified he is looking to spend $1000...and so you show him stuff he can't afford? What is wrong with you?

 

Given the choices presented, I would go with the HW2, mainly for hte master volume and easier mantenance. Even wiht teh half power switch, it will not give you teh push from teh preamp that you get with the master volume. Speakers are easier to change...I would put creambacks in that HW2 if it were mine, and sell the Chinese greenies...

 

I can also to 1500, also 2000 if it is something special...

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Mikeo...he already specified he is looking to spend $1000...and so you show him stuff he can't afford? What is wrong with you?

 

Given the choices presented, I would go with the HW2, mainly for hte master volume and easier mantenance. Even wiht teh half power switch, it will not give you teh push from teh preamp that you get with the master volume. Speakers are easier to change...I would put creambacks in that HW2 if it were mine, and sell the Chinese greenies...

 

 

See what I read, there's two amps both costing 1000 dollars, which one would I choose.

My answer would be neither. He could do much much better for the cost of an effect pedal.

 

 

well' date=' in that case, you have many more options![/quote']

 

absolutely.

 

There's some pretty cherry condition used amps out that that will have a Vox platform, sound better and and will be that something special tone and build.

 

Years ago I spoke with Mike ( DR Z) Zaite on the phone, he was very helpful and I own a Maz 18 with reverb, with the EQ mod by pass. Just to let folks know the EQ mod by pass make the Maz 18 sound darker, kind of like a old Fender Tweed Deluxe. Non reverb Maz 18 has more gain. I push my reverb Maz 18 with a Fulltone II OD.

 

If I do another amp, I may do a Dr Z DB4. Might do a new Supro too.

 

[video=youtube;Rw66vXafx4g]

 

as usual I got a bit off topic.

 

Anyway here's a lot of killer amps with amazing components out there in that price range. Bad Cat Matchless too.

Lot of great reverb pedals, and tremelo pedals with tap tempo buttons. So if an amp doesn't have reverb or trem, there's some nice options.

 

The Vox AC 30 is about 65-70 lbs. Not as bad as the Mesa 2x12 Tremoverb I had that weighed in at 98 lbs, but still.

 

 

That 19 years old Top Hat sure looks nice. Looks heavy too.

 

 

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

 

 

 

 

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There's some pretty cherry condition used amps out that that will have a Vox platform, sound better and and will be that something special tone and build.

 

Exactly. As a guy who spent a lot of years loving Vox amps, I have dreamed of owning a Matchless. They ARE that special. Thats just my opinion though. But others are right. At 2K you have a LOT of options. Bad Cat, Matchless, Top Hat...they all have chime, touch sensitivity, and just ooze THAT sound. No mistake, I love Vox because I grew up in the 60's and they were my youth, but they are not serious competitors to the big boys any more. They still have a nice tone, but the quality is just not the same as the high end amps. Once you play one of the really good ones, I don't think Vox will be in your sights any more.

 

Spend time before you spend money. It pays off in the end.

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But there is the rub...you need to pony up some serious change [for some people way too much]; There are great amp gurus out there doing the right thing, the right way, but you have to pay the right price...worth it? On many levels, yes, on many levels no.

Let's be honest. We all hear a sound in our heads we think is the ideal. Perfect, be-all and end-all, nirvana!

Some find it at any cost, some never find it...but it is a dream, and ideal, something to be aspired to...not necessarily something to achieve and move on from...or is it?

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Daddymack is right. Only you can decide if you can afford one of those amps, and more importantly if putting that much available money into an amp is worth it to you. I will be honest here. I COULD buy the Matchless, or maybe several. I have enough money, but I have a family also. Being ABLE to do something does not mean it is wise. I don't make my living playing guitar. It is something I do mainly for fun, at a local level. I can't justify sound nirvana being more important than sending my son to BSA Jamboree, or letting my wife travel to visit her family. You look at your funds, your REAL needs, not wants, and decide if that special amp is worth it. Folks all over will hate me for this, but I truly think that it generally is not. MOST people aren't rich, don't play for a living, don't need a multi thousand dollar amp or guitar, and could get by very easily with GOOD although lesser gear. The flip side is that if you take your time, buy and sell a few pieces to move up, and will accept used gear, you can amass a nice system for reasonable cash over time. So I will say one more time. Spend time before you spend money. Everyone wants nirvana, but only so many can HONESTLY justify it. You decide what your true priorities are, and should be.

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Try one of these. You will not look back.

 

It's more $$$, but that much more for what you will get.

 

The Vox company ain't what it once was.

 

 

 

 

https://reverb.com/item/4780905-tophat-club-royale-20-2x12-combo-1998-blonde?gclid=Cj0KEQjwg47KBRDk7LSu4LTD8eEBEiQAO4O6r wk2ZQzA-Xf2DsQBNvFUEGgApYTAfs_bTjUiEC4UPtAaAr2H8P8HAQ&pla=1

 

or this

 

https://reverb.com/item/5640692-maz-18-jr-reverb-1x12-combo

 

The non reverb ones have more gain that the ones with reverb

 

[video=youtube;4GcHXLSyqMU]

[video=youtube;UZswe0Gxdt4]

 

Or this

https://reverb.com/item/5672217-valvetech-hayseed-15

 

[video=youtube;pkWD8FzpLsY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkWD8FzpLsY

[video=youtube;fdz5bpReE54]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdz5bpReE54

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Mikeo,

 

Now I have the Opportunity to buy a Dr Z Mag 18 Combo (with a Celestion G12M 65 Speaker), brand new... You don't tell anything on the Suhr Badger serie (18 Watt), do you know also the Badger Serie? You raccomended always the Maz 18?

Thanks!

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