48 years dream fulfilled: My new VOX amp

[Nick Allan]

Thanks Amanda (and Roger).

So the answer would appear to be:-

1. Leave the standby switch on permanently.

2. Don't switch the main switch on again soon after the amp has been switched off (whilst still warm, I suppose).

What a business !!!

All the best,

Nick.

[abel]

Hi all,

Amanda,
How can I test if the Rectifier is not blown?. (I have no idea of what it does).
Since I will be picking up the amp this weekend, are there specifics things I should check?

I can't wait to play it.

Thank you much all,
Abel

[Amanda]

Hi Abel,

If you are picking it up get them to show it working, if it's a new amp then there should be no
problem, just switch it on, if it works the rectifier is o.k.

Nick, this is not a new problem if you take an old vox and turn it on and off quickly
the same thing will happen!

It may not happen immediately, but one day your luck will run out!
Amanda

[Nick Allan]

That's it then Amanda - always carry spares !!

I must have been lucky with my Laney valve amp - 23 years and no problems !!

Thanks for all your advice, and also to Abel for generating this thread. Abel, you won't regret your purchase - have a lot of fun with it.

All the best,

Nick.

[Tab]

Hi Abel,

I bought a new AC30 CC2 a few months ago but didn't really put it through its paces until the first meeting of our new Sussex Shadows Club in a much larger room than playing at home. I was delighted with the sound as were the players who used it on the day.

We used the top boost channel - channel volume control at about 11:00 o'clock and master adjusted to suit. At home the channel vol is turned down more. We had the Cut dial on full and the bass and treble controls were adjusted from a starting point of 12 o'clock for each - the guitar pickups deciding on the adjustment. Some Strats used on the day needed the bass increased and treble reduced more than others. Your echo unit will also have a say in the amp settings.

I'm sure you will be as pleased as I am with the Vox.

Thanks for your thread - the standby switch stuff is all new to me as well.

Kind regards,
Terry

[Geronimo2008]

Hi Abel and all users of the VOX AC30CC1X/2X.
I bought my 2X about four years ago, not too sure but I know I used it when Jet Harris played in our club here in Dublin and that was in January '09 I also used an extension speaker (as a stand too) which I'd bought the year before, so I'd say pretty close to four years.
Anyway, within the first month setting up at a gig, I switched on my amp, it blew both fuses and the rectifier, not only costing me the repair with the correct GZ34 but 150 on the gig which I had to drop out of! I was warned by the guy that did my repair !never! Use the stand-by as it causes a massive surge on the rectifier!!!! I've not had a problem since.
As for the closest I've got to the early Shadows sound, and I can only give the settings according to my 82 Strat and the small chain I use between which are, a Boss FV500H, Boss CS3 and Zoom RFX2000. These may effect the EQ differently on yours, but my amp settings are:
(view from standing behind the amp) plug into top boost, link switch down(giving you control on both channels), normal volume at 9oc, brilliant switch up, TB volume 11oc, TB treble 12oc, EQ switch Down (custom), TB bass 7oc, reverb and term don't matter, cut tone 3oc my master from the last gig is at 12oc
Another thing that gave me a warm 'crunchy' sound at higher volume was setting the output bias at 82 and the smoothing at 44. I hope this helps and as I say, this all depends on what you're plugging into your amp and very important, every venue a has different acoustics!
I've given you a link with myself playing Sleepwalk with this setup, it's live so may not reflect the sound at the venue,
Cheers CC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeM7RYCi ... ata_player

[ernie1958]

Hi Abel,

If you are picking it up get them to show it working, if it's a new amp then there should be no
problem, just switch it on, if it works the rectifier is o.k.

Nick, this is not a new problem if you take an old vox and turn it on and off quickly
the same thing will happen!

It may not happen immediately, but one day your luck will run out!
Amanda

You know something Amanda...I have been using 60's Vox AC50's for years and NEVER had anything like that happening to me!
Probably because I let the amp cool off first before turning it back on if it concerns changing leads or whatever.
Also the best thing to do before you carry the amp after a gig.
Stand-by switches have never been applied on vintage amps as far as Vox is concerned (to my knowledge that is...)
They could be usefull on solid state amps but I never use them...if I want to change leads or such then all I do is turn down the volume on the amp.

Cheers,
Ernie

[ecca]

There's no point to a standby switch on a solid state amp.

[ernie1958]

There's no point to a standby switch on a solid state amp.

Should be some reason for that Ecca...why else would manufacturers put them on there...?

[abel]

Hi all,

Thank you for your nice input.

I followed the advice given and put a tape on the Standby switch to live ON permanently.
I never had a problem since.

Charles,
Regarding Sleepwalk (Youtube) with Jet Harris.

That's a superb and a historical performance with the late great Jet Harris.
You all look very ccomfortable ands he is obviously very happy having you around him.
Congratulations to you all.
You had a very good sound and you made him proud.
I wish I could have played with him my version of FBI that he liked so much at the Friday social in 2006.
It's got to be in an other life now.

Blessings,
Abel