Vox AC15 query

[noisepolluter]

Is there actually any difference between the c1 and hw1 circuits, disregarding reverb and tremolo?

Don't know about the amp circuit, but I will say that as good as the amp sounded, the tremolo was fairly generic - a bit like they'd transplanted the guts from a run-of-the-mill pedal in there. Reverb was also decent - won't give Fender any sleepless nights. Overall it was a very good sounding amp for £500, but possibly not brimming with Voxy character.

Pretty certain that the C1 doesn't have the valve rectifier either - which I understand would make a difference if you're after the archetypal voxy sound.

[Sir Axeman]

I have the AC30HW2X and use OD pedals into a DD6 then an RV-5 and love the sounds i'm getting. I think the TC Hall Of Fame is even more betterer...but the RV-5 came up when I was looking for a good price and being a tight wad I went with it. To me reverbs a nice effect but its not something I use massive amounts of and as long as my core tone is good reverb is no more than icing on the cake.

Occasionally when I run my rig in Brian May mode ie Guitar > treble booster > AC30 dimed. I have nothing else in the chain and its just a pure classic rawk tone. Lovely...but LOUD (so I use an attenuator) but i've no real idea what a reverb would do going into a dimed amp as that reverb is going to get distorted somewhat. I should try it sometime. Reverb is nice sometimes but when in full on rawk mode I don't care for it at all. In a band mix a dirty AC30 is a raw and pure beast that just doesn't need it. I think a dry amp sound in a band mix is often the best.

[mattf77]

I'd recommend spending on a good reverb pedal that works well in the front end of an amp. Spring Chicken works well in that format but there are lots of others.

I agree with Sir Axeman. I have a great handwired amp that is very similar to an ac15 and it takes reverb in the front end very well, up to a point, at that point in volume it sounds better without anyway.