VOX | Discussion Forums » VOX Amplifiers » AC30 AC15, Custom Series & Custom Classic
Hey guys, the AC15c1 will be my second tube amp. So take it easy on my newb question. My other amp is a Crate v18...ugh...
Anyhow, just to clarify...
if i turn up the top boost volume, but keep the master volume down, do i have ANY power tube saturation going on? or am i just pushing the preamp tubes? on my crate, if i turn up the gain, the distortion gets really buzzy, which i thought was an effect of pushing the ecc83's. not a good sound. i can alleviate this by lowering the gain, and upping the master a little. will this be the solution on the AC15c1 as well?
Thanks
Hi, I got one about a month ago. If you have a guitar with humbuckers you can get a realy powerful overdrive with the top boost volume high. I beleive it is only pushing the preamp valves but it's a beautiful sound.
To push the power amp valves harder you would have to swap the 12AX7 for lower gain valves ( 12AY7 ) but this also tends to modify the tone a lot.
I think you just can't compare VOX with Crate !! ,VOX rules !!!
Hope this helps
Changing the pre-amp tubes has nothing to do with power-amp tube saturation. The only way to get power-tube saturation is to raise up the amp volume to push the power-tubes.
The problem with all-valve amps like the AC15, AC30 etc is that to get them to sound at their best, you have to play them loud enough to push the power-tubes - but the volume level needed is near gigging volume which is way too high for home use.... unless you use an attenuator (aka hotplate). That's why amps like the AC4 & lil NT are proving popular for home players that want full power-tube saturation at much more sensible home volumes.
Hi, I may be wrong but i'm sure I read somewhere thet putting in lower gain preamp valves meant driving the power amp valves harder ... Not for saturation, just for a beefier tone ?
