VOX Amplifier opinions wanted...

Carter York · Post by **Carter York** » 10 Dec 2002 8:40 am

Howdy folks,

I have been offered a VOX Cambridge 15 with the Celestion 8" speaker, bought about a year ago, used about half-dozen times, with original paperwork and packaging. They are asking $100.

Does anyone like these? I'm thinking more in terms of non-steel apps. Does that sound like a good price?

Thank you,
Carter

Matt Steindl · Post by **Matt Steindl** » 10 Dec 2002 8:59 am

Carter,

I have no first hand experience, but the rap on the small Vox reissue amps are that they dont have much of a vintage tone, which is what the Vox name would imply. In other words, dont expect a mini AC30 for $100.

But if you can play it before you buy it, give it a shot. Its like those Danelectro effects and amps, they sure look cool, but do they sound good?

Let us know how it turns out.

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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

Carter York · Post by **Carter York** » 10 Dec 2002 9:07 am

Thanks Matt,

It turns out, my friend responded first, and is gonna get to test drive it starting tomorrow evening, so I'll check it out then. It *does* have that 'manufactured for Mars Music' kinda feel to it, but we'll see how it sounds. (It looks good!)

Carter

Carter York · Post by **Carter York** » 16 Dec 2002 5:29 pm

Well, we messed around with it for a couple of evenings, and my friend decided to offer a bit less, and the guy took it. We got some great sounds playing a six string acoustic thru a few effects, got good 'overdrive' sounds when he played his jaguar thru, the steel sounded good, too, but not quite "at home"...all the recent talk on 'no peddlers' about the quest for tone are relevant, this amp sounded "modern", which, to me in very, very general terms means 'sharp/crisp' and not 'warm/mellow'......mmmmmmm warm and mellow...

Bottom line is it will be good to have around for recording.......

CY

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 17 Dec 2002 2:48 am

If you ever have the chance to open up one of those old AC30's you'll see immediatley why they sound so great, and you'll also think to yourself.."How did they get this thing to even work at all ! " I guess all them wires and solder joints and twisted pairs all over the place make for great tone . The new mass produced amps, with the familiar grill cloth and name tag are just that, grill cloth and name tag. I had this old Super Beatle at one time and when it worked it was just absolutley the best..but the working part was rare. It had an intermittent wiring problem( and there were a lot of wires in the baby ) and although I attempted to find the fault, I never did.

In their wisdom back there at VOX, they used color coded wires but only about 3 or 4 different colors ! The VOX wiring diagram looked like the NYC subway system on a
3 X 5 index card, and I'm sure there were no mistakes on it............."NOT"

But the amp looked good !

tp

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 17 Dec 2002 4:48 am

An OLD AC-30 top boost ...... that's the only Vox amp that likes steel.IMHO

Or just maybe the one in this picture !!
http://www.waikiki-islanders.com/html/basil_bio.html

Baz
www.waikiki-islanders.com

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<SMALL>Steel players do it without fretting</SMALL>

http://www.waikiki-islanders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Gino Iorfida · Post by **Gino Iorfida** » 17 Dec 2002 8:03 am

I've always been partial to the non-top boost Vox AC30's myself -- a little more clean headroom. Then you always have the options with those of the 'lead' or 'bass' model, which I have a feeling the bass model would sound great for steel, but that's just my opinion.

Tele · Post by **Tele** » 19 Dec 2002 3:30 pm

I have 2 Non-Top Boost models, one is a Treble model, killer amps, would prefer them over the Top Boosted AC30s.
Basil, you don't have that AC30/4 anymore don't you

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Dec 2002 1:41 pm

It's a decent little practice amp, and easily worth $100.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 21 Dec 2002 10:58 am

I tried one of the little Vox reissues in a music store. It had virtually no headroom. The sound felt very small. I was surprised - I sort of expected the "open top" feeling that I get from most small tube amps. I decided against buying one.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
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