Vox AC15 vs. Fender Blues Jr

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zaphod B
  • Start date Start date
Zaphod B

Zaphod B

Raccoons-Be-Gone, Inc.
...or any other 15W tube amps.....

I'm tire-kicking the smallish tube amp category. Does anyone have experience with a direct comparison of the Vox AC15 and the Fender Blues Jr? Or any other all-tube low-wattage amps?
 
Well, damn. Nobody?

Guess I'm going to have to go into the devil's lair and demo a few. :D

I'll let y'all know my impressions when I've done so.
 
Depends on what sound you're after. I have tried both and thought the overdrive on the vox licked balls. I liked the Blues Jr. better, but the small chassis made the sound a little boxy for my liking. The Vox has tremolo if you're into that.
 
The Blues Jr. is one of the best small, readily available tube amps out there. It it great for recording! I don't think the AC15 isn't worth it's price tag...it pales in comparison to the originals it is modeled after.
 
I did side by side with a Blues Jr Reissue (Jensen C12N speaker) and a Vox AC15. No contest, the Vox was waaaaaaay more useful and smoother. The Fender BJ does only one thing, but it does it really well.

I'd save an extra couple three hundred bucks and get the AC30.
 
There you go...side by side comparisons with opposite opinions. You're gonna have to go try em out yourself dude.
 
Thanks, guys. A few questions:

pdadda, could you elaborate on the overdrive on the Vox "licking balls?" ;)

thehymns, I agree that the price is certainly right on the blues junior.

soundchaser59, when you say the the Blues Junior does one thing really well, what is that thing? And I agree that if I were leaning toward the AC15 that I may as well just get an AC30. I'd have to ask if the AC30 has some kind of master volume that will allow it to get some decent overdrive at low volumes. Any idea?
 
Zaphod B said:
Thanks, guys. A few questions:

pdadda, could you elaborate on the overdrive on the Vox "licking balls?" ;)

thehymns, I agree that the price is certainly right on the blues junior.

soundchaser59, when you say the the Blues Junior does one thing really well, what is that thing? And I agree that if I were leaning toward the AC15 that I may as well just get an AC30. I'd have to ask if the AC30 has some kind of master volume that will allow it to get some decent overdrive at low volumes. Any idea?
Click to expand...

I have a Blues Jr, and what it does very well is a thick overdriven, kind of dark distortion sound. I got a really good recording of it by lying it flat on its back on carpet and turning it BTTW.

What it doesn't do very well is clean and bright.
 
ggunn said:
I have a Blues Jr, and what it does very well is a thick overdriven, kind of dark distortion sound. I got a really good recording of it by lying it flat on its back on carpet and turning it BTTW.

What it doesn't do very well is clean and bright.
Click to expand...
Thank you, sir. :)
 
as far as the Vox goes

If that's the sound you're looking for (AC30), I've been told by someone who has one that the Vox Tonelab modeler is pretty good in general, but does the Vox emulations particularly well, and I've heard others say essentially the same thing. Just a thought.
 
If like the AC15, then don't just assume the AC30 will be all that and a bag of chips. You are gonna have to crank that for the overdrive because they are non-master volume amps. The 30 will be that much harder to drive hard...and your bandmates might not be so thrilled about it.
 
but if it's just a small tube amp for recording only

look at the Epi Vavle Jr. head and external cab solution.

Another possibility, though only 5W, so it may be underpowered if you want to use it to practice with a full band.

See the Valve Jr. threads for more info if you're interested.
 
notCardio said:
If that's the sound you're looking for (AC30), I've been told by someone who has one that the Vox Tonelab modeler is pretty good in general, but does the Vox emulations particularly well, and I've heard others say essentially the same thing. Just a thought.
Click to expand...
Thanks, notCardio.

My situation is that my only amp is a vintage 100W Matamp tube amp. It has great sound but only when you crank the shit out of it, and that will not fly in my current situation. (Someone did wire a master volume into it at some point before I acquired it, but it just doesn't sound right at low volumes.)

So I'm looking at something a bit more home-recording-studio and practice-in-the-bedroom compatable. I'll likely end up with an Epi valve junior as well (how can I pass one up when they're less than $100?) but I don't think the Epi has the tonal range I'd like.
 
Zaphod B said:
So I'm looking at something a bit more home-recording-studio and practice-in-the-bedroom compatable. I'll likely end up with an Epi valve junior as well (how can I pass one up when they're less than $100?) but I don't think the Epi has the tonal range I'd like.
Click to expand...

Have you played one? You don't think you'll like its the tonal range? How do you know if you haven't played it? I haven't played it, but the one thing I learned is that you have to play everything before you judge anything.
 
Outlaws said:
Have you played one? You don't think you'll like its the tonal range? How do you know if you haven't played it? I haven't played it, but the one thing I learned is that you have to play everything before you judge anything.
Click to expand...
You're right, I am pre-judging it. :o I won't be buying anything without a demo. :)
 
Another couple of options to consider:

- Traynor YCV20
- a power attenuator for your 100W head for improved low-volume tone
 
Zaphod B said:
pdadda, could you elaborate on the overdrive on the Vox "licking balls?" ;)

QUOTE]

Ha, I believe my explanation was pretty thorough. It's hard to explain. It sounds more like the distortion on my solid state princeton chorus. Very tinny, not much warmth or low end, even after messing with the EQ.
Click to expand...
 
Outlaws said:
If like the AC15, then don't just assume the AC30 will be all that and a bag of chips. You are gonna have to crank that for the overdrive because they are non-master volume amps. The 30 will be that much harder to drive hard...and your bandmates might not be so thrilled about it.
Click to expand...

The AC30CC is all that and a bag of chips, and it ABSOLUTELY does have a master volume. I'm not sure where you got that info but it isn't accurate. I've recorded my AC30 at very low volumes with great success, I love this amp more than my Mesa. Oh and I almost forgot, it isn't hard AT ALL to drive an AC30, it does hard rock very very well. whowever it was that said the AC30's distortion is thin and tinny must have not spent much time with it, it's a very fat sounding amp.

If you want to hear an AC30CC in a mix go to www.myspace.com/runnerupmusic and listen to the song with "Popcorn" in the title. It's not the greatest mix but I think I got the guitars sounding pretty nice.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top