Product: Vox AC15-TBR
Price Paid: US $750
Submitted
09/16/1997
at
07:51am
by
Bob Arbogast
Features
:
9
The AC-15 is a single channel amp with retro styling and features. It's available with one Eminence 12 (that's what I have), two Eminence 10's, or one VOX Blue 12 (for $250 more: I tried the two side by side; I don't hear $250 worth of difference!). The circuit is all-tube (including the rectifier and the reverb and tremolo circuits), with a 15 W Class A EL84 power section. The AC-15 has a master volume, but it's not of the kind that allows you to have a massively overdriven preamp with a low overall output level. The reverb sounds lush and full, and the tremolo has a pleasing warble to it--great for Southern Culture on the Skids. The AC-15 is not overly flexible, but that's a strength. It's designed to do one thing extremely well, and it does.
Sound Quality
:
9
The AC-15 runs quiet, even at full volume. It's bright with a full bottom and has a smooth and rich distortion. Beatles/Petty/U2 sounds are a snap.
Reliability
:
8
Cabinetry is solid, circuit construction is modern and rugged.
Overall Rating
:
8
One problem with some of these amps is that the reverb tank will howl in sympathy with certain notes. You may have to do some modifications to fix this if it annoys you. It annoyed me, so I swapped in a mid-70's reverb tank of the same type. Sounds great.
