[thegreatma3]

Vox AC30 vs. Peavey Valveking vs. Line 6 Spider II


Which of these is the best and which one should I get since there has been so much praise about these amps? Or are there other tubes that compare and even top these? My price limit is anything up to $1000.

I play Relient K, All American Rejects, Chris Tomlin, and P&W.

[Ryan Freeland]

Originally Posted by thegreatma3

Vox AC30 vs. Peavey Valveking vs. Line 6 Spider II


Which of these is the best and which one should I get since there has been so much praise about these amps? Or are there other tubes that compare and even top these? My price limit is anything up to $1000.

I play Relient K, All American Rejects, Chris Tomlin, and P&W.

The Line 6 Spider II is not a tube amp. It's completely solid state. The VK and AC30 are both made overseas.. I think the AC30 would suit you well for that style of music.

[tht00]

Originally Posted by thegreatma3

Vox AC30 vs. Peavey Valveking vs. Line 6 Spider II

Umm... the Line 6 isn't a tube amp. As far as I know, nothing Line 6 makes is even a hybrid -- it's a modeling amp (which that can be a good or bad thing, depending on what you're looking for).

In my experience so far, tube amps tend to have several 'awesome' sounds, where modeling amps (the decent ones) tend to have more flexability, with perhaps lesser 'quality' sounds. It's all in the ear of the beholder.

Though, if I had a large sum of money just to spend on an amp, I'd probably grab an AC30. I love that Vox sound too much.

[Ax]

problem with the AC30 will be finding one and a cab for under 1K unless you get a used combo... i'm not a vox fan so i wont tell you my thoughts on it.. just that IMO you're not gonna get a good pop-punk sound out of it... and as far as peavey goes they have a lot of great ams in your range.. like the classic 30, or the valveking... my advice go to a store and play around, find what YOU like, we're all gonna tell you what we like but what matters is what YOU like... and it's been said but the Spider isn't tube, and i think there is a Line 6 tube amp, but from what i've read they aren't that great... a lot of people love the line-6 stuff though...

[ieatdirt]

Both the Valveking and the AC30 are pretty good amps. You should try them both out and see which you like better.

[RipVanWinkle]

Perhaps comparing some amps within the same price range would be better

The AC30 is about twice the price of a valveking. The valveking is about twice the price of the Spyder.

[mattbatt]

First of all, bring your gear and play on them and find out which you like!

Yes, Line6 is great for digital and modeling, but it cannot compare to a real tube amp. How else could they afford to put 30+ digital amps based on a variety of expensive real ones in a $300 box? You'll have a lot of variety, but digital clips, doesn't saturate at high volumes realistically, stays pretty harsh and static and is overall, a thinner sound.

I bought the POD xtl and run it into a tube amp (the Fender HRD) to thicken the tone. Even then, I would never buy a line6 amp because I want my amps to be fairly simple and control everything through pedals. Since I already had pedals, why buy an amp with built in effects?

Out of your suggestions, the vox is totally the most refined and unique amp in my opinion. (The vox model in the line6 is one of my fav.) Personally, Orange and Vox are way up there in terms of unique tone and vintage amp status. An orange is going to cost you though . . .

I was talking to Rebecca St. Jame's guitarist a while ago, and he runs 2 Vox AC30's (vintage) with a nice set-up of pedals. Even though they are combo amps, the volume is amazing! It was greater and, obviously, clearer, than the prev. band's Marshall JMC800 half stack. I was right by the stage, so . . . don't underestimate a combo.

And 2 are always better than 1!

[Griffon]

I could only find one useful setting on the Line6 Spider II. I mean, my little brother has one, and I jam on it and have spent some time with it. The only sound I found that I could really use was tons of distortion with full on reverb and delay. It is not a tube amp by any stretch of meaning either....

The AC-30, I've not spent enough quality time playing it, but I have spent a lot of quality time listening to it. Probably not gonna be great for punk-pop...but that's because it has great tone.....however, I think it would inspire you to play all sorts of other music. Sounds great with a fuzz (ask the Beatles) sounds great with a booster (ask Brian May), and it sounds great clean (ask the Foo Fighters).

Valve King, I've not had a chance to play one of these, but I've heard they're great amps. The two channels will give you a clean sound and a distorted sound, and I'd probably throw a booster in front for more distortion. I would guess it'd work alright for what you want to play...

[thegreatma3]

Ok sorry for the mistake about the Line 6....So which amp can produce pop-punk styles and P&W like Daniel Carson's...

AXguitar says VOX AC-30 can't produce pop-punk sounding distortion but some of you say that it has great sound...i'm confused as to which one to get...the VOX AC-30 or Valveking

I'm personally going to GC tommorow the get very familiar with the VOX but dont know any places to try the Valveking ...do you guys know where I can try the Valveking?

[Ax]

Originally Posted by Griffon

The AC-30, I've not spent enough quality time playing it, but I have spent a lot of quality time listening to it. Probably not gonna be great for punk-pop...but that's because it has great tone.....however, I think it would inspire you to play all sorts of other music. Sounds great with a fuzz (ask the Beatles) sounds great with a booster (ask Brian May), and it sounds great clean (ask the Foo Fighters).

Yeah but those are vintage... IMO the vintage Vox's were awesome, but the new ones have dropped the ball... and also any band that's gonna play a live concert like Rebecca St. James, is gonna have mic'd amps... and anyways, who buys the JCM800 for it's clean channel?

Also the valveking that i played at the local shop here the other day had some very nice distortion, booster? i think not! you don't need a booster to get OD one of those? you can O/D on the Valveking's OD...

Also have you tried a fender? or a Traynor?....

[mattbatt]

Ofcourse the amps were mic'd. What's more, the JMC800 is a very awesome amp, for sure. It just sounded completed muddy and mid driven compared to the voxes. I listened from the stage volume and also through the 50k watt system. I personally thought the voxes cut through more . . .

[thomaspg70]

Definately the AC. The AC is way more than the VK and prolly a lot better. From what i've heard the AC is amazing.You can't really compare those amps to each other. The VK is a lot better than the spider of course.

[thegreatma3]

I thought a vox ac-30 can switch from clean to distortion channles!?!?!

[Rainer.]

I'm thinking that the Vox wouldn't have the right tone for pop-punk. The Valveking would, but you'd probably be better served with a different amp if you have up to $1K to spend.

Here's a "watch for" list you can use... hi-gain tube combos.

Peavey:
Triple XXX
5150/6505
Ultra
Triumph
ValveKing (a little lower quality than the others)

Carvin:
MTS
Legacy

Fender:
ProSonic
SuperSonic (I don't know much about this one, it's a new model, might be hard to find used)

Yamaha:
T50C
T100C

Marshall:
TSL 601/602
DSL 401

Mesa/Boogie:
Mark IV
Studio .22
.50 Caliber
F-50/F-100
Many more...

Trace Elliot:
Speed Twin

Rivera:
R100
R50
Fandango (possible to find at $1K, but probably more around the $1.3K range... also my dream amp )

Probably lots more.

[thegreatma3]

If Vox AC-30 doesnt have the pop-punk tone then how all american rejects get a pop tone when using this amp?

I aslo wanted an amp that had distortion like Daniel Carson from Chris Tomlin's band...he also uses a VOX AC-30