AC30 woes...

metropolis4 · 08-27-2009, 08:35 AM

My Vox AC30 is driving me crazy...
I was setting up in the pit for a musical I was playing for last weekend. It was about an hour before curtain and it was a sold out show. I flipped the power switch on my amp; the power came on, and nothing. No sound period. I went through everything I could think of, cables, power supply, speaker cables, everything. It has a brand new set of tubes that worked just fine the previous weeks shows and throughout the week for rehearsals. All of a sudden about 5 minutes before curtain it just started working again for no reason.

I almost had a heart attack! When I'm being paid to play for something as large as this show I can't have my gear fail on me.

Now I don't know what to do. I love the Vox, but this is strike two and I just don't think I can wait for strike three. I can't keep going to shows always wondering if my amp is going to work that night (or morning). I'm on the fence, but I think I'm going to have to replace it. The problem is I want something as close to this amp as possible, just more reliable. It's a Custom Classic head.

First, has anyone else had these type of problems with their AC30CC?

Second, what are my alternatives?

I really like having two channels with separate inputs, and I like the master volume. Those are the must have features for me. Reverb and an effects loop are nice, but I can live without them. I really don't want to spend over $1000, but I may be able to go over that a little if I have to. I was looking at the Vox Heritage Handwired series and wondering if the quality is any better, anyone tried one of those?

RipVanWinkle · 08-27-2009, 10:33 AM

I have no amp advice, but that is a terrible situation. I know that amps fail at times (epically at others), but they shouldn't fail twice in a relatively short period of time.

What did you do? Did you call somebody who had an extra head? Did you have a backup close? Did you have to play through a Marshall MG15?

metropolis4 · 08-27-2009, 12:54 PM

Luckily it started working again just before curtain. But I was really nervous the whole show wondering if it was gonna go out again in the middle. For a while though I was considering how long it would take me to drive to the Guitar Center down the road and buy something to get me through the night

I can understand basic problems like tube failure, fuses, overheating and things like that. But I dont' have a lot of patience with equipment failing on me and I've never had an amp give me this much trouble.

Major Tom · 08-27-2009, 04:19 PM

I'm really sorry to hear that, I remember your other thread from a while back. I have been involved in working on electronic systems for most of my career, and I can tell you that intermittent problems like that are difficult and frustrating to diagnose - you try this or that, but you have to wait to see if it happens again...then when it does, you try something else. I have had a few over the years that have brought me close to tears from the frustration. You might try a Vox forum and see if there may be some others who have fixed the same issue - at least it would be one thing to try.

The only other advice I would have is that any amp can fail; if you are playing pro gigs, you should really have a spare amp of some sort anyway.

metropolis4 · 08-27-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Major Tom

I'm really sorry to hear that, I remember your other thread from a while back. I have been involved in working on electronic systems for most of my career, and I can tell you that intermittent problems like that are difficult and frustrating to diagnose - you try this or that, but you have to wait to see if it happens again...then when it does, you try something else. I have had a few over the years that have brought me close to tears from the frustration. You might try a Vox forum and see if there may be some others who have fixed the same issue - at least it would be one thing to try.

The only other advice I would have is that any amp can fail; if you are playing pro gigs, you should really have a spare amp of some sort anyway.

You're right, and I should know better. I usually always have a backup, but I recently sold my only other amp and I didn't have anything to take with me. I think if nothing else I'm going to invest in something to use as a backup.

It is frustrating, and I can't take it to a shop either since they won't be able to do anything unless they can reproduce the problem. I'm gonna look for a Vox forum. I've decided I would really like to keep this amp if I can figure this problem out. I love the Vox and it just grows on me more and more. We'll see though. I've seriously been looking at some other amps like the Dr Z's and thinking maybe it would be better to buy something I know is going to be reliable rather than messing with this

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 08-27-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metropolis4

You're right, and I should know better. I usually always have a backup, but I recently sold my only other amp and I didn't have anything to take with me. I think if nothing else I'm going to invest in something to use as a backup.

It is frustrating, and I can't take it to a shop either since they won't be able to do anything unless they can reproduce the problem. I'm gonna look for a Vox forum. I've decided I would really like to keep this amp if I can figure this problem out. I love the Vox and it just grows on me more and more. We'll see though. I've seriously been looking at some other amps like the Dr Z's and thinking maybe it would be better to buy something I know is going to be reliable rather than messing with this

What about some of the handbuilt clones? I mean there are several boutique ac-30 clones. Would those be what you want?

metropolis4 · 08-27-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

What about some of the handbuilt clones? I mean there are several boutique ac-30 clones. Would those be what you want?

That's kinda what I'm thinking. I just don't want to spend a lot of money. I'm kinda over the whole boutique gear thing. But I do want something that is going to be high enough quality that I don't have to worry about it making it through every gig I play.

metropolis4 · 08-28-2009, 02:59 PM

So the AC30 died again today...
I decided regardless of what I have I need to have a backup to keep around. So I went out and bought a Vox Night Train. This amp is amazing. I can't remember the last time I had an amp that was so much fun to play and so addicting! There are somethings about it I even like better than my AC30!

The good news is that the AC30 seems to be completely dead now, so I think I can take it to a shop and have it diagnosed. I'm almost positive its a problem with the input. I pulled out the input PCB but I couldn't see anything that immediately stood out. Im going to take it in tomorrow and have it looked over.

For now I couldn't be happier with the Night Train. It is Vox tone Nirvana in a toaster

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 08-28-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metropolis4

So the AC30 died again today...
I decided regardless of what I have I need to have a backup to keep around. So I went out and bought a Vox Night Train. This amp is amazing. I can't remember the last time I had an amp that was so much fun to play and so addicting! There are somethings about it I even like better than my AC30!

The good news is that the AC30 seems to be completely dead now, so I think I can take it to a shop and have it diagnosed. I'm almost positive its a problem with the input. I pulled out the input PCB but I couldn't see anything that immediately stood out. Im going to take it in tomorrow and have it looked over.

For now I couldn't be happier with the Night Train. It is Vox tone Nirvana in a toaster

I can agree with that? Are you going to sell the ac 30 when fixed and buy a second night train? Backup?

LWatford · 08-28-2009, 08:06 PM

The Night Train looks like it has better ventilation than an easy bake oven...

metropolis4 · 08-28-2009, 08:48 PM

I don't know what to do with the AC30... It started working again! I don't know if I should try to take it in or if they're just gonna tell me they can't find whats wrong. I may just end up selling it as is. Maybe I will buy another Night Train. It would be cool to run one clean and one dirty with an A/B. I still really love the AC30 though. Part of me wants to keep it anyway

Yes, ventilation is not an issue with the Night Train

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 08-28-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metropolis4

I don't know what to do with the AC30... It started working again! I don't know if I should try to take it in or if they're just gonna tell me they can't find whats wrong. I may just end up selling it as is. Maybe I will buy another Night Train. It would be cool to run one clean and one dirty with an A/B. I still really love the AC30 though. Part of me wants to keep it anyway

Yes, ventilation is not an issue with the Night Train

Ll I know is if I was going to start carrying two amps one as backup, my back would like the night train better. (nm my ears think it is one of the most awesome sounding amps ever)

Casey · 09-02-2009, 03:45 PM

Hey metro! I'll buy your ac30 as is if you wanna sell it! I'm not on here much so email me at casey.king@gmail.com if interested =]

LC7rock · 09-07-2009, 09:45 AM

Dude, the lesson here is always keep spare gear around... I keep two guitars with me any time I have to play some place.

Just be prepared.

metropolis4 · 09-08-2009, 11:43 PM

Yeah, I always have spare gear with me, along with spare cables, strings, tubes and fuses. But I recently had sold my only other amp and didn't have any other choice.

Well, I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I'm pretty sure I solved my problem with the AC30!

When I got the Night Train I was anxious to try it out so I just unplugged the AC30 and plugged in the night train. I turned it on. It didn't work. Nothing. Same s the AC30. I knew this was not the amp, so I pulled out the cheap speaker cable they give you with the amp, plugged it in and it worked fine! Turns out the problem with the AC30 was the speaker cable after all! The reason I didn't figure this out before is because, not only was the speaker cable bad, but my backup speaker cable was also bad! I threw out both bad cables, pulled a good one out of the drawer and now the AC30 has worked just fine for over a week.

I'm still a little hesitant to say this, but I think the problem is solved