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DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 28 Aug 2014, 09:10
by sausage fingers
Thinking along the lines of building a Vox AC15 or Vox AC30 head or maybe a Matchless DC30 clone, i know the AC15 is quite straight forward where the AC 30 looks a bit of pita......anyone been down this route or is it easier to sit back and watch Coronation street and go the pub for a pint :evil:
Rob :mrgreen:
I guess heres the AC15 starting point :roll:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replacement-J ... 3ce6422a97

Re: DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 28 Aug 2014, 09:26
by JimN
The AC30 is almost as straightforward as the AC15 if you leave out the Vib/trem channel. It can also be more "normally" sized.

Re: DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 28 Aug 2014, 11:26
by RogerCook
Steve Smith does an AC30 chassis too and a rear top boost add on. For transformers look at http://livinginthepast-audioweb.co.uk/. for repro Vox items. Tag boards are available from RS. All other components are quite readily available.

Circuits and layouts can be found on the web and there is also the AC30 Guide by Stephen Grosvenor

. http://www.thevoxac30guide.com/

Re: DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 28 Aug 2014, 19:51
by Twang46
here's something else to consider

http://www.ampmaker.com/store/PP-36-18- ... ifier.html

Component choices & chassis are made for you & easy enough to build

There's also a thriving community for those who want to mod the amps

Dick.

Re: DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 31 Aug 2014, 11:53
by David Martin
Twang46 wrote:here's something else to consider

http://www.ampmaker.com/store/PP-36-18- ... ifier.html

Component choices & chassis are made for you & easy enough to build

There's also a thriving community for those who want to mod the amps

Dick.


I have one of the original Plexi kits driving two '70s Greenbacks. A glorious, loud, sound... Show it a Les Paul and the results are orgasmic!

Re: DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 31 Aug 2014, 23:23
by Twang46
David Martin wrote:
Twang46 wrote:here's something else to consider

http://www.ampmaker.com/store/PP-36-18- ... ifier.html

Component choices & chassis are made for you & easy enough to build

There's also a thriving community for those who want to mod the amps

Dick.


I have one of the original Plexi kits driving two '70s Greenbacks. A glorious, loud, sound... Show it a Les Paul and the results are orgasmic!


Orgasmic indeed David 8-) ........................ it's basically the old Watkins dominator amp brought up to date............no frills.......... just tone/dynamics/power. Now in it's MK II version.

Dick

Re: DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 01 Sep 2014, 06:04
by ecca
You blinkin lot are about to cost me some money here..........

Re: DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 01 Sep 2014, 08:38
by Didier

Re: DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 01 Sep 2014, 08:49
by Twang46
Didier wrote:Look here : http://members.ziggo.nl/jheijer/AC15.htm

Didier


Good work there 8-)

Dick.

Re: DIY Vox AC15 Or Vox AC30 Anyone?

PostPosted: 07 Sep 2014, 10:40
by Daven
Sorry to come back to this thread so late I have only just spotted it.

I did successfully build an AC15 using the information given in Didier's link.
The schematics and layout drawings are really excellent and easy to follow. The end result, to me, the sound was extremely good.
The only problem I had was that it had a hissing noise which did not detract from the sound at all as it could not be heard when played. I am sure it was my fault, in my inexperiance I rushed the construction and the wiring was not at all neat enough, I also used electrical single cables that I found, far too thick and not very good quality.

The down side (apart from the hiss) was that it weighed a ton. I also found the trem / Vibro channel to be a bit redundant and I did wonder if a lot of weight could have been lost by omitting that channel (and also by not using blockboard for the case!).

The amp has sadly been raided for parts for other projects (I know stupid thing to do) and I know that I shall never build another.
I have put a list of items in the for sale section if any one is interested.

Dave