Vox AC 30 CC2 vs AC 30 c2

[tizzit]

Thought's?
Comparative experiences?

Any opinions would be appreciated!

[211dave112]

Haven't done a AC30 comparison but I much prefer the newer AC15c1 to the old CC version. Reverb is better, and overall I think it sounds a touch sweeter. I think that my thoughts go along with the general consensus though as I say I've only experience of the AC15's.

[Cirrusband]

I've never played a C, so take what I say with a grain of salt. It might sound miles better, in which case all my points are moot.

The CC has a valve rectifier, the C has a solid state one. Doesn't make a huge difference until you're pushing the amp, then the valve rec is a little spongier, more compressed, and the pick attack is a bit slower. Some call it sweet, some call it mushy. Not a huge difference but not nothing either.

The CC has a birch ply cab, the C is particle board. That makes the CC cab a little more resonant and more likely to look good in 30 years.

The chassis is different. The CC has the traditional "L" shaped board, where the valves are all enclosed and sit on a shelf. The C has them hanging down behind the speakers. That said, some people assume that makes valve changes easier on the C. Not so. On my CC, The tubes were just two wood screws away. On the C you need to remove the back panel which is about 6 screws as far as I can tell.

The CC has a switch to bridge the two channels, the C has low/high inputs for each channel so you need to do it yourself with a patch lead.

The CC has a standby switch which is better off not used, as it can damage the rectifier tube. Early models had some reliability issues and wrong component values that made the effects loop suck bass. Early models also had speakers hard wired to the chassis, so if you get a CC get a later one.

The stock speakers on the C are better. Greenback (c) vs/ Wharfdale (cc), Chinese blue with brighter cone (cc) vs Chinese blue with correct cone (c).

Based on pictures, the CC is more ruggedly built inside in terms of PCB thickness, layout of components, and position of tubes - the tubes get hot, but the heat is kept away from the boards.

The CC is a bright amp that definitely sounds its best loud, quite a few people got rid of the bright cap to tame it a little. I modded mine quite a lot and ended up with something that sounded as good as my HW head, I only sold it because I needed the cash.

Based on what I know, the C is a better deal if you just want to buy an amp and play it. The CC has more potential to change speakers/ do little mods to improve it.

That's the AC30, the AC15 is no comparison - the C series is muuuuch better in terms of features.

Edit: Almost forgot. The CC had two different control panel colours. a crappy looking pinkish coppery one and a fucking sweet looking cherry red copper which is the best colour ever. The C is just pink and balls looking.

[Sir Axeman]

I think he ^^ just summed it up pretty well!! I've owned the C2, now just have the HW2X...and before that have had the AC30TBX(UK Marshall made in 2001) and they're all good in their own ways. Re the C2 vs the CC2, I can't really add anything to whats been said except that they both sound great - both sound very err...VOX!! They're often scoffed at by the old purests who decry master volume, reverb, FX loops etc..but in all honesty I think Vox knows they've done a good thing adding these and have made the amp more appealing to the modern generation of players. The normal channel on an AC30 is so under used....everyone raves about the chimy top boost channel and that is nice but fussy with pedals...were the normal channel is far far more accepting.

[Cirrusband]

The normal channel on an AC30 is so under used....everyone raves about the chimy top boost channel and that is nice but fussy with pedals...were the normal channel is far far more accepting.

Very true! The normal channel, bright switch off is pretty much my favourite distortion pedal platform. You can turn up the pedal's treble to get clarity but the amp stays thick and smooth. Shame the resulting clean is a bit too mellow for me but get an a/b box and bobs your uncle!

[tizzit]

Guys this is amazing! Thanks for all you're advice. After playing through both and taking into account all the pro's and cons I found what worked best for me and my rig was the CC2. I'm considering switching the speakers in the near future for either cream backs, green backs or the Vox/Celestion blues all of which I can get hold of in the near future. I've really fallen in love with the vox tone!

[ICBM]

The CC has a valve rectifier, the C has a solid state one. Doesn't make a huge difference until you're pushing the amp, then the valve rec is a little spongier, more compressed, and the pick attack is a bit slower. Some call it sweet, some call it mushy. Not a huge difference but not nothing either.

I think there's a fairly noticeable difference.

The CC has a birch ply cab, the C is particle board. That makes the CC cab a little more resonant and more likely to look good in 30 years.

And this.

The chassis is different. The CC has the traditional "L" shaped board, where the valves are all enclosed and sit on a shelf. The C has them hanging down behind the speakers. That said, some people assume that makes valve changes easier on the C. Not so. On my CC, The tubes were just two wood screws away. On the C you need to remove the back panel which is about 6 screws as far as I can tell.

No... 17. No I am not kidding. Totally stupid. However, if you remove the metal grille in the middle (from the inside, the first time you take the main panel off), you might even be able to do it without undoing anything...!

On the CC, you need to take out the four screws under the shelf though, unless someone has already done it and not put them back! This is quite a pain as they're hard to see and easy to chew up the heads of.

The CC has a switch to bridge the two channels, the C has low/high inputs for each channel so you need to do it yourself with a patch lead.

The CC also has two very useful options that are missing from the C - the 'Hot/Warm' bias switch and the '22/44uF' filter cap switch. These affect the tone and feel quite a lot as well.

The CC has a standby switch which is better off not used, as it can damage the rectifier tube. Early models had some reliability issues and wrong component values that made the effects loop suck bass. Early models also had speakers hard wired to the chassis, so if you get a CC get a later one.

Agreed.

The stock speakers on the C are better. Greenback (c) vs/ Wharfdale (cc), Chinese blue with brighter cone (cc) vs Chinese blue with correct cone (c).

True.

Based on pictures, the CC is more ruggedly built inside in terms of PCB thickness, layout of components, and position of tubes - the tubes get hot, but the heat is kept away from the boards.

Also true.


I have to say I really don't think the C sounds that good, despite its better speakers - I thought it was rather flat-sounding, much more 'generic' and less 'Voxy' than the CC. Maybe it's the lack of valve rectifier, maybe it's the particle-board cabinet, maybe it's something else... but I just find it boring and uninspiring.

The CC is not my favourite version of the AC30 either, but it still sounds much better, to me.

I didn't like the AC15CC at all - I thought it was weak and small-sounding, not at all like half its big brother - but haven't played an AC15C so I can't comment on those.

I'm considering switching the speakers in the near future for either cream backs, green backs or the Vox/Celestion blues all of which I can get hold of in the near future.

I have a pair of recent reissue Vox Blue speakers for sale, if you're interested.

[Cirrusband]

On the CC, you need to take out the four screws under the shelf though, unless someone has already done it and not put them back! This is quite a pain as they're hard to see and easy to chew up the heads of.

The CC also has two very useful options that are missing from the C - the 'Hot/Warm' bias switch and the '22/44uF' filter cap switch. These affect the tone and feel quite a lot as well.

I did indeed sack off the four under shelf screws- I kept my amp in a flight case so I figured any time it was horizontal it'd be held together by the case around it. And I'm pretty lazy too.

Totally forgot about the switches on the back panel. They make a difference - hot and modern for high headroom and smoother overdrive, vintage really loosened the amp up and gave it more compression and grind. I didn't use the warm setting that much but it does bring the edge of breakup sound a little bit closer to your typical lower volume situation. Not a huge difference in overall volume though. It's still loud as all hell.

[tizzit]

OOO...How much?
Also, what's you favourite version of the AC30?
I just played through AC30 C2-BL and it didn't sound that great in my opinion!

[ICBM]

OOO...How much?

£200 the pair plus postage, which might work out a bit expensive - unless you fancy a drive to near Edinburgh?

They're shockingly expensive new! I can't find a separate price for them but they add £363 to the price of an AC30C2 - and that's the *difference* between the standard speakers and the Blues .

Also, what's you favourite version of the AC30?

There's nothing to touch a genuine 1960s AC30TB/6, in my opinion - but it has to be fully-overhauled, they vary widely (or wildly!) in quality otherwise, and a little bit even then.

The best of the modern ones is the 'Korg' AC30TBX reissue from around ten years ago - it's the same circuit (or very close), and although it's built totally differently it does sound very similar. OK, it doesn't have reverb, master volume, FX loop or any of the other extra mod cons of the CC, but it does have the original Vib/Trem channel (totally different from the tremolo on any of the modern models and much better, in my opinion) and it just plain sounds great.

Of the recent ones with the master volume, I think the best is the AC30HW - no Vib/Trem, but otherwise quite similar-sounding to how they should.

I just played through AC30 C2-BL and it didn't sound that great in my opinion!

I was quite disappointed too.