Vox Ac15HTV... Bargain!!

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi Dave
Thank you. Not being an "Amp man" I didnt realise that the EF86 mod was part of the service Roger A offers when I asked you about getting my amp serviced.
Regards Geoff.

[dave robinson]

Hi Geoff, Roger's Vintage Unit is a little box with a matching Vox panel with some electric thingys and an EF86 valve inside, and on the outside is a socket, volume control and bright switch. The box is fastened by Velcro to the side of the amp and is easily removable without causing any damage should you wish to sell the amp. The connections are easily soldered in place too - there's a diagram and it's a bit like painting with numbers except you solder instead of paint. All the terminals on the circuit board inside the Vox are numbered (or lettered or numbered and lettered) can't remember which. The one thig you'll love is the sound - you've heard mine.

[peter roest]

Is there anyone who knows exactly the valve theorie? In case of the EF86 or a half ECC83 in the first step in a guitar amp there is almost no difference!
The settings of both are about (AC15) -1,5 V negative grid voltage. This means a grid "headroom" of 3Volt (between 0 and 3 volt). The output of an guitar pickup (single coil ,like strat) is mostly less than 0,1volt (alternative voltage) = < 0,3 V max + and max -. This means that in both situations (EF 86 and EC 83) the valve is 10% loaded. In such a case there hardly no measurable and of course hearable harmonic distorsion. The only difference between both is the amplification factor. The EF86 can go to 120 times (as pentode) amplification. A half ECC 83 to 60 times. A signal amplified in both situations stays the same. The use of an EF 86 is only a commercial act. The same is for the alnico blue. Other (expensive) brands don't use those speakers.
In my experience ( I have not heard the most other brands valve amps) is the sound of an Fender 65 Deluxe reverb (22Watt, 6V6, Jensen C12) the ultimate. For me to expensive.

The ECC83 and the EF 86 have both a max current of about 6mA.

Peter

Fairy tales are for little kids

[dave robinson]

At the risk of upsetting the techies around here I will repeat something that I have maintained for a few years now. I couldn't give a toss about the voltage and impediance of this or that component, or the fact that the EF86 was once used in hi-fi as it is meaningless drivel to me - I just use my ears as I play guitar and it's the sound that matters to me, not the schematics. All I know is the EF86 channel sounds perfect for the early Shads stuff (1960/61) wheras the ECC83 is acceptable without having the same mojo. That said it's the ECC83 preamp that delivers THAT SOUND on the Shads records after 1962 and along with the TOP BOOST does the business on the Burns stuff.

[emielvisser48]

Hi,
I purchased one in Holland for a bargain price also. Euro 849
Great sound!
It is no longer on the product list of VOX. Does anyone know how many were made as it was an anniversary model.

Regards,
Emiel

[RogerCook]

Whether you're a techie or not you can't get away from the fact that different valves produce differences in the sound, even valves of the same type from the same manufacturer. Some of this is down to their physical construction, sizes of internal components, manufacturing and operational tolerances etc. Peter's points are certainly valid but only address the electronic working conditions of EF86 vs ECC83.

I have an EF86 and an ECC83 channel in my amp and I'm sure I can hear the difference, but in the end there are aspects of both sounds that I prefer for different tunes. As Dave says it's what your ears tell you that matters

Roger

[asimmd]

Hi Guys

Just to say that I have a Vox AC15 Heritage for sale if anyone is interested.

It's 12 months old,hardly used and as new.

Alan

[Didier]

That's odd Didier, I hear 'That' sound every time I plug into all three of my amps - each has the EF86 channel. As for your experience maybe, just maybe it's down to 'pilot error'. All you need is a Strat and a decent echo machine into the EF86 channel and it is there instantly

I have listened to many comparative tests, done the right way, which means having both systems ready and switching from one to the other to make instant comparisons.
That's the only way to make valuable comparisons, because listening memory is not reliable and highly subjective. It's easy to be misled by self suggestion.
I was there when Gégé and Patrice Bastien tested this way an EF86 preamp, and there was no significant difference in sound with the standard ECC83 preamp.

I have lost count how many guys have discovered this. By the same token, I have also lost count of how many guys have 'messed it up' by using graphic EQs' and other unnecessary equipment in the line. For heavens sake it's a guitar/echo & amp, there never was a secret!

But the old drum Meazzi echo unit was everything but linear and neutral, and you can't easily get the same sound with modern echo units. Patrice Bastien now has a Meazzi drum clone made from a heavily modified Binson unit, and he doesn't need any EQ with this one !

I find it strange that you blame the sound engineer for the debacle at Versailles as my recollection of it was that the blind were leading the blind until we(Robben and myself) put an end to it.

The blame was certainly the sound engineer who obviously was not up to the task. At the next French meeting which took place in Boulogne-Billancourt in 2006 (the was no meeting in 2004 and 2005 because of the Shadows' Final Tour) the same mistake was not made : the sound engineer was a Shadows' fan, and everyone had a good sound. Bruce Welch was here and gave him thumb up for his good work.

I know we all have our own opinions on 'that sound' but I can't go along with you and agree when I can (as can others) hear vast differences in tone between two examples. I agree that GeGE is in the 'ball park' - but so are many more of us and it's a bloody big ball park. Peace.

I have put Gégé's latest demo on three different sites, all comments are highly positive, all but one...

[Didier]

Hiya folks
I have been fortunate enough to find an AC15HTV at Dawson's music Manchester which I bought today for £729.99

The AC15H1TV is not listed anymore on the Vox site, which means it's discontinued. That's the time to ask for a rebate when buying those left in the stores...

Didier

[Paul Creasey]

Hiya Peeps!
All this makes me glad (again!!) that I'm "only a drummer"!
A couple of years ago, I was tempted (mainly by ease of transport) to go for an electronic drum kit - so started to do a bit of research. After only a few moments, I started to get embroiled in all this "Techie" stuff - so quickly withdrew and vowed to stick with my old, trusted, and much loved acoustic kit.
Not being a "Techie" (at least where amplification is concerned), I'm inclined towards the view that "it's the perceived sound that counts", and I totally accept how subjective that is - but then again, so many things in life are subjective, and we don't seem to get hot-under-the-collar about THEM, do we?
Bottom line seems to be "the gear I've got is better than the gear you've got" and the last time I was involved in a debate at that level, I was in the school playground - aged about six!
I'm sorry to hear from Pete (C) that the AC15HTV has gone back to Manchester (perhaps never to return?). When we had our Band bash on Monday night, it certainly LOOKED nice. Despite much knob-twiddling by Pete, though, I can't say that it sounded £729.99 different to the AC30 - that I assume I'll be listening-to again next time we have a bash.
Regards
Paul