Fender Deville 410 or Vox AC30?

deltarei · 09-28-2009, 01:19 AM

Here's the story. I currently have the Deville 410 but it's really not doing so well for me right now. The input is kind of loose and broke and the external speaker output barely makes a crackle.

I'm just wondering if it's worth the value to sell my Deville and move to an AC 30 (the $1100 one). I know Hillsong uses the AC 30...actually Nigel does, and I've been looking to hit that tone for quite a while. But i also love my blues...I'm a big Mayer fan haha.

And another questions *not related to amps. Which wah sounds better and has better sweep. The cry baby or the vox? The lowest price models that is.

**thesteve** · 09-28-2009, 01:35 AM

If you're not happy with the Deville, then I would say it's time to sell and move on to something you think you'll like more.

Almost Enough · 09-28-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltarei

And another questions *not related to amps. Which wah sounds better and has better sweep. The cry baby or the vox? The lowest price models that is.

The crybaby has a more harsh, metally type of sweep. I always liked the sweep on the vox wah. It's a little shorter, but more mellow. IMHO, when I think metal, I think crybaby, when I think funk, I think vox or similar.

**Rainer.** · 09-28-2009, 12:33 PM

I'd definitely consider the AC30. I'm a huge fan of them.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 09-28-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltarei

Here's the story. I currently have the Deville 410 but it's really not doing so well for me right now. The input is kind of loose and broke and the external speaker output barely makes a crackle.

I'm just wondering if it's worth the value to sell my Deville and move to an AC 30 (the $1100 one). I know Hillsong uses the AC 30...actually Nigel does, and I've been looking to hit that tone for quite a while. But i also love my blues...I'm a big Mayer fan haha.

And another questions *not related to amps. Which wah sounds better and has better sweep. The cry baby or the vox? The lowest price models that is.

A word of advice.
1) If you dislike your amp, sell it and move on.
2) If you are going to sell, fix the external jack and the input. Probably really easy and will get you way more cash, especially the input jack.

crazymoose · 09-28-2009, 04:55 PM

From what I've seen input jacks are usually really easy fixes. My girlfriend thought her bass was completely broken when all that was needed was for the contact point on the input jack to get bent back in. Over time they get bent out of the way so then the 1/4 inch doesn't contact it all the time. You just bend it back in and you're good to go.

**jamforchrist123** · 09-28-2009, 06:06 PM

I think the AC30 wins in a landslide!..., of 5 people

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 09-28-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazymoose

From what I've seen input jacks are usually really easy fixes. My girlfriend thought her bass was completely broken when all that was needed was for the contact point on the input jack to get bent back in. Over time they get bent out of the way so then the 1/4 inch doesn't contact it all the time. You just bend it back in and you're good to go.

or a spot of solder is also a common fix.

Major Tom · 09-28-2009, 07:41 PM

I like both of those amps, I have the 4x10 DeVille (although with some mods), and an AC30 Jr. ( AC-15CC) they are different though - Its really like having a poll: "which fruit is better; apples or oranges ?" The Fender 4x10 is a loud beast, and has tons of clean headroom (on the clean channel); I like it with Teles and Strats, not so much with LP's or other humbucker axes. I recommend changing the V2 tube to a lower gain 12AT7 or similar as a "fix" for the Drive channel; less mushy/compressed at lower gain settings, adds more range to the Master volume (so its not almost maxed on 4). Anyway, the DeVille has a Fendery character. The Vox is more compressed, less clean headroom, and has that extended high end - I like it with any guitar. Its tone has that Vox thing, that you either like/love or don't. The DeVille will get you into the ballpark of Mayer or SRV type tones (with a strat), the Vox will be in the ballpark of the Edge and the countless players in CCM bands using them (and Vox derivative "boutique" amps) these days. Some of my favorite Vox tones are old British Invasion era recordings such as the Beatles, Hollies, etc.

Get yer DeVille fixed, those should be very minor repairs which need to be made to sell it anyway. In the future, if you strain relieve your cable (by wrapping it around the handle), and are careful about plugging in and out, you can pretty much avoid having those problems. The plugged in cable getting tugged with a sideways force is what trashes them - either the jack gets kinda bent up/boken, or it gets pulled out of the PC board, or both. The input jacks on PC board amps, like the DeVille are not the same as the ones found in guitars and basses, and not easy to fix when they get mangled.

Ak_Man4Jesus · 09-28-2009, 07:57 PM

I would not have the fender.......I dont even really like there guitars.
Daniel

traviswill · 10-19-2009, 07:58 PM

FYI, Nigel uses an original British made AC30 Top Boost, NOT a custom classic. There really is a big difference. I have a friend who has a AC30 Top Boost that we compared to another friend's custom classic, and man, it wasn't even close. If you want that Hillsong tone, you've gotta find a Top Boost, which go for about $1600 for a 90's model with great speakers. The Custom Classic model you're talking about has some not so great speakers stock. If you originally liked the sound of the Deville 410, which I also have, there are some great mods out there you could get, that would save money. Check out the Omega Amps mods for the 410.