May 5, 2011

What’s In The Cabinet?

VOX AC15 AC15, G&L ASAT III, Video, Vox 48

What’s in an amp cabinet? As it turns out, quite a lot. In this video I do an experiment with the same two AC15 amps as in my last video– the AC15C1 Custom, and the AC15HW1 hand-wired.

Both amps use the same Celestion Greenback G12M speaker, and these two here have each been played about the same amount, so they should be “broken in” evenly.

Now, by disconnecting the wires from the two speakers, and routing them through an AB box to the external speaker output of one the amps, I can isolate a single amplifier circuit, and hear it through both cabinets in turn. In this way, we can first listen to the AC15C1 amp circuit through its own cabinet, and then listen to that same AC15C1 amp circuit through the AC15HW1 cabinet. Switching back and forth really highlights the different sound character provided by the two cabinets.

Why so different? The AC15HW1 cabinet is obviously larger, which provides a bigger resonant cavity. It’s also built with birch plywood which is lighter weight and perhaps more resonant than the denser MDF used in the Custom. Another important difference is the high frequency diffuser used in the AC15HW1 which really softens the high-end. In the video, I also experiment taping a makeshift little diffuser over the AC15C1 cabinet to see what happens.

48 Comments

Daniel Warden
May 6, 2011 @ 10:22 am

superb!

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Karul Marul
May 6, 2011 @ 11:12 am

excellent. thanks for sharing…

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DrZhivagoBLUES
May 6, 2011 @ 4:52 pm

As I say before….you are a genius !!! ….gracias John !

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sprintertwo
May 30, 2011 @ 10:40 pm

As good as the amp comparison is, I’m really interested in the ASAT. Any
chance you could do a comparison of the Classic and your Special? There is
only one G&L dealer around here and he only has two (Tributes). It’s not
like comparing Fenders where there millions of them everywhere and you do
such a good job at this.

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rainy78
May 31, 2011 @ 4:46 pm

Hi there,
was just wondering if the AC15C1 will actually plug into my 4X12 marshall 1960A cabinet??? It has 4 greenback speakers as well. The specs says that there are 2 external speaker outputs and a cabinet at 16 ohm speakers will be heard along with the AC15C1 speaker on the 2nd input. Will it work or are u not sure?
Thanks for everything!!!

Rainy

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- John
  June 5, 2011 @ 9:25 pm
  
  @rainy78 – there’s a single external speaker output with selectable 8/16 ohm impedance switch. when you plug into this, the internal speaker is muted. There’s also an extension speaker output- this one runs in parallel with the internal speaker (so you hear both), and the external cab must be 16 ohm (to match the internal speaker). Your cab has 4 celestion G12-75w speakers, selectable to 16 ohms. So, it’ll work, but you’ll be driving them with 15 watts. Might be ok- but I haven’t tried it.
  
  Reply
John
June 5, 2011 @ 9:19 pm

@sprintertwo – would love to get my hands on a few more G&L’s for comparison, but it’s a bit cost prohibitive 🙂

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Eoon
June 19, 2011 @ 9:21 am

Hey, that’s a very interesting comparison! I didn’t hear much difference when the normal AC15 was played through HandWired’s cabinet, but the other way round the difference was audiable clearly. Also the added diffuser doesn’t seem to make any difference. What are your thoughts mate?

I also have a question I hope you can answer.
I currently have a Bugera V22, which is a master volume amp, just like AC15. (continued in next post)

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Eoon
June 19, 2011 @ 9:24 am

I like it, but as it’s dual channel I have the fact that the OD channel suck so bad and I am thinking about switching to the AC15. Please tell me, how well does it sound on lower volumes?
I use my Bugera only at home in Triode mode (15? watts out of 20) with channel volume at 2,5 and the master anywhere from 7 to 10. It sound pretty awesome then, but I cannot get no tube distortion. Would you say that the vox will handle lower volumes as good and allow me to drive the tubes too?

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- John
  June 23, 2011 @ 3:52 pm
  
  @Eoon- with the ac15, you’ll drive the preamp tubes any time you turn up the channel volumes, but you won’t really drive the power amp tubes until you crank up that master volume. i’m generally running with the master volume down around 2 or 3, unless i’m playing with the band, in which case i’m closer to 5 or 6. higher than that gets really really loud 🙂 all that being said, this amp does sound great at lower levels. also i definitely feel the high frequency diffuser rolls off some high end.
  
  Reply
Eoon
June 19, 2011 @ 9:25 am

Sorry for the lenghty comment, but you seem like you know your sh*t so I hope you can help me. Also, great videos – I remeber seeing the capacitor comparison while ago and being blown away by the fact that you actually gone through all that trouble to do that 🙂

Tom

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fouroutoffour
June 21, 2011 @ 1:47 pm

great video. i much preferred the handwired cab tone. i agree with your suspicion that it’s the size of the cabinet that makes the difference moreso than the material. but, now i’m really curious about the HF diffusor. maybe that’s part of the difference…

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- MattKimDemos
  August 1, 2011 @ 11:15 pm
  
  @fouroutoffour yeah weber sells them for $15 bucks online I put it in my ac15c1 and it really helped tame the beamy high end. It was a good buy.
  
  Reply
J1613R
July 1, 2011 @ 11:58 am

Talk about splitting hairs; I felt (keep in mind I watched this on my iPhone). I thought the CC1 sounded a little better to my ears… but I love that chime…!!! Great video!!!

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ianasdfg
July 5, 2011 @ 12:02 pm

Thanks for posting. The bigger box has a deeper cavity resonance, whether that’s better is a matter of taste I guess.
Loving my AC15C1.

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TheSWAFF
August 7, 2011 @ 11:44 am

I actually think both of these amps sound better through the opposite amps cabinet.

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vokes113
August 12, 2011 @ 9:35 am

so wats ur final saying on the comparison…is it worth the 500 extra dollars?

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- John
  August 14, 2011 @ 10:57 pm
  
  @vokes113 – very subjective- personal choice. i got the handwired. my bandmate got the custom.
  
  Reply
superflea72
September 3, 2011 @ 11:08 pm

these two amps are on my shopping list right now (I’d love an AC30C2, but I think it’s probably a bit too much amp for what I need), and I’ve played the C1 and LOVED it. but in every video I’ve seen of these amps, the C1 is awesome – but the HW just has…..more.

I’ve been kind of avoiding the HW because of that god-awful fawn tolex, but you can’t deny that sound! you’ve helped me make up my mind, the HW1 is the pick of these two, and the one I’ll be getting.

great video, thanks for that

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- John
  September 8, 2011 @ 10:12 am
  
  @superflea72 -the AC30 was too much amp for me too. The AC15 is perfect, even for live/gig use. Trust me, you get used to the fawn tolex. Just wait til you see the truly god awful mud-brown dust cover with bright yellow VOX lettering! I never took it out of the bag, it was so ugly! 🙂
  Enjoy that amp!
  
  Reply
  - superflea72
    October 22, 2011 @ 6:35 am
    
    @johnplanetz hi John, I wanted to let you know that I picked my AC15HW1 up finally, and the sound is absolutely magnificent! I’m so glad I stepped-up to the hand-wired, as it is easily the superior amp sonically. and you’re right, the fawn has grown on me now (I think the sound has seduced me so much that it’s made me blind, lol). I use my cover though (at home at least), but I got an AC30 cover in my box….DO’H!
    
    anyway, thanks again for your helpful vids, I’ll get some with my amp up soon
    
    Reply
    - John
      October 23, 2011 @ 8:41 pm
      
      @superflea72 – great to hear! enjoy that amp!
      
      Reply
25DSC
September 28, 2011 @ 11:50 am

Ok can someone tell me the difference between an AC15 and a fender Blues Junior? Same tubes, different sound. Why?

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- John
  October 4, 2011 @ 9:04 am
  
  @25DSC – same tubes, but totally different circuitry, eq, rectifier, speaker, cabinet, verb, etc..
  
  Reply
MrGuitarsrock1
October 13, 2011 @ 4:44 pm

This is helpful. Cheers

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BlueOnionGroup
November 12, 2011 @ 9:25 am

is there like a smaller version of the AC15C1???

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- John
  November 13, 2011 @ 8:12 pm
  
  @BlueOnionGroup – i think the next size down in the AC line is the AC4 which is a very different (much smaller) 4W amp.
  
  Reply
angusgrandison
January 11, 2012 @ 3:49 am

I think you need the exact same amp and exact same speaker placed in the same sized cabinet of Birch plywood and then MDF to get a true comparison, hate to get anal but I think this video could have been excellent if the only physical difference was the material of the combo cabs.

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- John
  January 11, 2012 @ 8:58 am
  
  @angusgrandison – that would be a great test for isolating the sound characteristics of MDF vs birch ply. My test was more “this cabinet” versus “that cabinet” (with all their differences).
  
  Reply
  - Michael Carr
    February 4, 2013 @ 11:32 am
    
    the cabinet is the least important variable in your experiment. nice gear nice playing nice try.
    
    Reply
SoundWavesSurfer
April 25, 2012 @ 8:46 pm

FANTASTIC VIDEO!

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JosueRazura
May 3, 2012 @ 11:53 am

Se nota la claridad del HW1 mas que el ac15c1, y los precios en los que varían también se notan haha.. muy buen vídeo.

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TheClBlues
May 14, 2012 @ 2:35 pm

Finally, I really think, after having conscientiously watched these two A/B videos, that the cabinet isn’t the main difference, yes, I know, you can now bash me for that, there’s a thin one, but, to me, the MAIN difference is the quality of the amp that makes the sound so particular between each of these two excellent amps… Am I right for some of you ?

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- 1Guug
  June 2, 2012 @ 4:15 pm
  
  not for me, there is quit a big diffrence between the 2 cabs.
  The white one sounds warmer and richer. Cabs can make a huge diffrence in tone. But your right that the main diffrence in in the amp itself.
  
  Reply
spentonmediocrity
June 17, 2012 @ 9:33 am

..hate mdf,did you hear me vox?HATE it.

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- joshjamesguitar
  July 29, 2012 @ 10:45 am
  
  At least it’s not plastic.
  
  Reply
corganb
June 18, 2012 @ 11:17 pm

Cc cab sounded more brash. He cab more warm and fuzzy

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elcommandante99
June 22, 2012 @ 10:26 am

I think the HW sounds much better, like to know how much of that is cab size though.

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Maafa1619
July 31, 2012 @ 11:28 am

The hand-wired cabinet/speaker sounds a bit warmer, which would work out better for me as I am an incorrigible single-coil guy.

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ensignexpendable
September 3, 2012 @ 10:46 pm

Oh no! I preferred each amp with the other amps cabinet! That could get expensive if I keep going in that direction…

I really dig the HW after playing it in the shop but I still think the C1 is the sound that I’m after for my playing. Thanks for sharing this video with us.

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- mbvglider
  November 23, 2012 @ 1:50 pm
  
  I also dig the HW amp more with the C1 cab and the C1 amp more with the HW cab. I think the HW just has a smoother sound with more clarity where C1 has a rawer sound. I have a feeling the diffuser might be the most important factor here. Maybe adding one to the C1, or removing the one on the HW, might get you closer to what you want.
  
  Reply
back2thefutre
September 18, 2012 @ 12:15 am

Black one sounds like poo

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- dunelm0
  October 25, 2012 @ 5:12 am
  
  so so false
  
  Reply
TGunn1986
September 24, 2012 @ 8:08 am

I would really like to see a comparison between the AC15 and the AC15VR. I could only find one on youtube and its in German 🙁

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back2thefutre
November 18, 2012 @ 5:44 pm

Well compared to the white one, black one is poo. I am dating Taylor Swift.

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John McCain
November 28, 2012 @ 4:59 pm

Just listening, it’s hard to tell the difference in cabs using the c1 amp aside from the extra treble in the c1 cab. Using the hw1 as the amp made it much more obvious IMO.
The cabs are hard to distinguish, but hw1 is slightly better. As a whole amp, the hw1 totally blows the c1 out of the water (though I still like the c1 sound).

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Cole Strombeck
February 13, 2013 @ 5:01 pm

if i owned a c1 i would be smacking my head against the wall wondering why i didn’t save up and buy the HW wow! big difference in warmth and headroom from the HW circuit over the c1. Both sound good though, i will acknowledge the price difference…

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estebanquito356
March 16, 2013 @ 12:21 pm

4:40 was that champagne supernova?

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- John
  March 20, 2013 @ 3:01 pm
  
  yes, with apologies for my sloppy playing! 🙂
  
  Reply
voyagerization
March 20, 2013 @ 10:20 am

the best sound IMO was the HW through the C1’s cab. The C1’s cab seems to have a tighter bass, a bit brighter and more midrange. A much fuller and punchier sounding cabinet.

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Ben
March 30, 2013 @ 1:27 am

Hey John,
Very interesting shootout. Those amps are on my list and I want to find out as much as possible, so your site is a BIG help.
What do you think about those birch baffles, that are sold as an upgrade for the C1 – http://www.ebay.de/itm/261177301531?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619
I had a friends C1 here and really like it through my birch extension cab, but not so much through it’s own cab – maybe that baffle will get it in the right direction – what do you think?
Cheers
Ben

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- John
  April 7, 2013 @ 9:30 pm
  
  I don’t have experience with a replacement baffle like that. I don’t know how much of the cabinet sound is just from the front baffle, versus the overall cabinet construction. The C1 cab is very dense MDF- very different compared to your all-birch extension cab (and the HW1).
  
  It would be an interesting experiment (though a bit pricey) to try the birch baffle. I suppose you could also add the vertical diffuser like the HW1 if you want a more mellow high-frequency response.
  
  Good luck!
  -John
  
  Reply
Daniel Pink
May 9, 2013 @ 1:47 pm

Tits on a stick

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MartinArgg
July 31, 2013 @ 11:37 am

Hello ! I own a Orange Dual terror, and I was about to buy the 2×12 Orange Cabinet for it, and it actually costs the same amount of money that the Vox ac15 does. I was thinking of buying the ac15 and use it as a cabinet for the Orange, and switch to the vox original circuit when needed. Is that possible ?

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- John
  August 8, 2013 @ 4:08 pm
  
  That orange cab has two 12″ speakers, while the AC15 only has one, so the price comparison isn’t exactly relevant. In any case, if you want to do it, you would need to modify the AC15 to add a switch and a jack to use its speaker with your head. Modifying any amplifier can be dangerous and you could kill yourself, destroy the amp, or both – so please make sure you know what you’re doing. 🙂
  
  Reply
onetime504
July 31, 2013 @ 10:26 pm

Handwired! A winner on both counts. Just warmer – the tube rectifier makes a world of difference.

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Francis Rodriguez
August 19, 2013 @ 10:45 am

wow …To be honest I’m suppose to say that handwired is better and i guess it does sound a bit “warmer”..but when your playing in a bar/pub?, and people are talking, fighting, etc..its all th same ..haha!..Can you imagine trying to keep a bar crowd quiet so you can hear your mid tones!..haha..

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rrrrdavid1
August 25, 2013 @ 11:50 am

If you are going to own a Vox better have Celestion blue alnico speaker….The greenback does not do the amp justice….

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Nail Murry
September 15, 2013 @ 11:42 am

why do people always say blues are better in voxs they might sound different but not better.i have an ac30hw an ac15hw .people read others comments an jump on the bandwagon .i like the greenback in my 15 an one blue one green in my 30 for the money thx

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Ton van Wessel
September 18, 2013 @ 4:32 am

The handwired is better!

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GAS Man
September 26, 2013 @ 7:36 pm

Very clever demo and one of the best demos I’ve seen on YT. I’ve been getting into the Vox tone lately, and I’m contemplating the HW. Your vid definitely (to my ears) clearly shows the tonal benefits of the HW’s cabinet. More vibe, resonance and depth. Although there were some times the the chime stood out a bit with more presence with the AC15, and the difference was more minimal on some of the lead lines, the HW’s cab showed clear superiority for deep jangly vibey chord tones.

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Erick Fabian
October 30, 2013 @ 11:39 am

awesome idea! so glad this is out there

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Slammintone S
November 4, 2013 @ 6:05 pm

Hands down, the AC15C1 wins. Because I have one! It’s the clear winner here!! Actually, I had an AC15CC1X with the Vox/Celestion Blue that sounded quite a bit better than both of these amps soundwise. Cant wait to upgrade my current AC15 with that speaker.

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Jay Villa
November 24, 2013 @ 1:54 pm

C1 every day! I have two that I run in stereo and they sound so much
better than the HW in person!! That bright, biting, yet warm sound is just
killer! I think it’s the silicon rectifier and cab density that make the
biggest difference.

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Peter Kerr
January 19, 2014 @ 6:05 pm

In this comparison I think I prefer the C1.
The diffuser is an interesting concept. I might try experimenting with one
on my C1. Any advice on what it is made of, dimensions, etc?
Once again a good review of the equipment rather than the guitarist showing
off.

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blackcorvo
March 13, 2014 @ 4:40 am

I personally like the AC15C1’s cab sound more. The compression it adds
sounds to me much closer to the classic Vox tone IMO.
I think both sound great, and even having very similar tones, the small
differences are still noticeable.

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flipidy94
July 21, 2014 @ 3:29 pm

lmao the HW thru the C1 speaker sounded best to me

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GH
July 23, 2014 @ 2:29 pm

HW cabinet sounds better to me coming out of both amps. To me it has a
fuller sound, with more lows and kids coming through. The C1 cab sounded a
bit more tinny, to me. I didn’t really spot a noticeable difference with
the makeshift diffuser.

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winstor adams
July 30, 2014 @ 6:59 pm

Great video! i honestly think the handwired cab gives more midrange tone
and has more clarity. i think this has spoiled the c1 for me haha.

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intheblues
August 17, 2014 @ 9:52 pm

Interesting test, I like it a lot. Thanks for posting. 🙂 The Handwired
one has less top end, or should I say smoother but I wonder if could be
related to mic placement possibly?

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Petuh Ivanich
August 26, 2014 @ 1:05 am

i like the C1 more

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strumfun
September 3, 2014 @ 7:20 am

For the price I would want the handwired to be ‘better’.I am more than
happy with my twin AC15C2.I didn’t expect it to play so wonderfully.The ABY
jumping channels is great.Thanks for taking the time to show how great Vox
are.

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Gary Schipper
September 16, 2014 @ 10:15 am

I abhor the sound of VOX. It might be my ears somehow.

Reply
Analogikos Autom
November 18, 2014 @ 2:16 pm

hw darker, c1 brighter

Reply

What’s In The Cabinet?

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