In this video, I review and compare these two excellent VOX AC15 amps, the AC15C1 Custom, and the AC15HW1 hand-wired.These amps are similar in many respects:
Wow. Yesterday, I had a chance to play a session through a new Vox AC15C1. Really dynamic and responsive to play. Great character and presence, and a really nice break up when you dig in.
My usual session amp, a late-eighties solid-state Fender Stage 185, is increasingly unsatisfying to play- seems I can never find the right level of brightness in a band setting. Cranking up the presence, or tweaking the treble tends to make it harsh before it becomes pleasant. The clean channel is pretty nice, but the drive/boost channel tends to feel a bit fizzy.
Vox has just released a new hand-wired series, including the AC15HW1, pictured left. After my experience with the AC15C1, I’m anxious to hear whether the use of top-shelf components, hand wiring, tube rectifier, birch cabinet, ruby tubes, can make the already great sounding AC15 even better.
I also really like the ability to kick in extra gain with the new hot/cool foot switch, and the the OP mode switch to drop to 7.5W for nighttime playing.
The only things missing from the hand-wired series are the tremolo and reverb. One tune in yesterday’s session, Glen Phillips’ excellent laid back version of I Want A New Drug, calls for a bit of tremolo- but every time I tried kicking in the AC15C1’s trem, I just found it distracting and reached back to flick down the knob- perhaps I was just overdoing it, but I think I can probably live without it :) And while the AC15C1’s reverb is very warm, smooth and pleasant- I rarely use reverb. And I must say, if you turn the verb knob up over about 10%, it just sounds huuuuge, like you’re playing inside a water tower.
Warning- explicit photos follow:
Full disclosure- I work for Korg R&D, which owns Vox. So perhaps I’m a little biased towards Vox, over other alternatives (employee discount, woo-hoo!)
UPDATE 3/22/2011: I did eventually buy that AC15HW1, and it is a thing of beauty. I borrowed Chuck’s AC15C1 again and made a video comparing the two.
At this year’s NAMM, Vox announced a series of new guitars. These things look beautiful. They’ll be available in April 2010, pricing TBA.
Update May 18, 2011: Also see my in-depth review of the SSC-33, and for more about the CoAxe pickup system, see my interview with Vox R&D’s Eric Kirkland.
I recorded a short NAMM demo of Freddy DeMarco playing the vintage cream SSC-55 single cutaway through a Vox AC-30 amp. The pickups sound really versatile, the build quality feels superb, and the styling is understated and excellent. Take a look:
I’ve seen and heard a number of demos of the beautiful lunchbox-style Vox Night Train amp head. But none of them played through the new matching V112NT cabinet. I finally got to hear it through the matching cab at the Vox booth at this year’s NAMM trade show. I recorded a demo of Freddy DeMarco playing the Night Train with its matched cabinet. Its an awesome combination. More
I’ve been asked about the thickness of the Epi Riviera P93 neck, in comparison with other Epi guitars. I’ve also measured the Epi Sharaton II, Dot Studio and Casino, and their necks are all very similar to the Riviera P93, within 1/32” for each measurement (thickness at 12th, width at nut, width at 12th). And they’re all the same 24 3/4” scale and 12” radius. The Epi Les Paul’s and SG’s have a slightly thinner neck (about 13/16” at the 12th fret), but the same width and scale.
Here’s some pictures and exact measurements (in inches) of the Epiphone Riviera P93 compared to my G&L ASAT III, Taylor 714CE acoustic, and a very thin necked old Ibanez 540SBC. Update 5/14/2011: added Vox SSC33.
All measurements in inches:
| Guitar | Thickness at 12th fret* | Width at nut | Width at 12th fret | Fretboard radius | Scale (nut to bridge) |
| Epi Riviera P93 | 31/32 (.97) | 1 11/16 (1.68) | 2 3/32 (2.09) | 12 | 24 3/4 |
| G&L ASAT III | 31/32 (.97) | 1 5/8 (1.62) | 2 1/32 (2.03) | 7 1/4 | 25 1/2 |
| Taylor 714CE | 39/32 (.90) * | 1 3/4 (1.75) | 2 5/32 (2.15) | 12 | 25 1/2 |
| Ibanez 540SBC | 13/16 (.82) | 1 11/16 (1.68) | 2 1/16 (2.05) | 16 | 25 1/2 |
| Vox SSC33 | 7/8 (.88) | 1 11/16 (1.69) | 2 1/16 (2.05) | 12 | 25 1/8 |
* Taylor 714CE thickness measured at 9th fret since neck joint to body begins at 12th
Here’s the Epiphone Riviera P93:
