Vox AC4 Series at the Namm Show 2009

[Nevigo]

"Sunny afternoon".

[StephenHounam]

would it be possible to also play an acoustic guitar through this amp and have it sound good?

[MrSoulSamCooke]

Glad u played that song

But The Crunch Sounded Messy

If anyone will play hard rock on this

They have to get it as Clear as possible

Or else the Chords will over-Ride Eachother

[guitarsxrxausome]

my band uses this amp for practice because my drummer has an electronic drum set. it sounds amazing

[stuman04]

get a tuner in that booth!

[betojaime]

hi, i am wondering if this mini stack (AC4TV and V112TV extension cab) it's loud enough for rehearsals?? anyone knows??

[byusnowboarder]

probably not loud enough for most people with a drummer. But then again, every band is different so it might work for some people. My sound guys would love me to play an amp this quiet.

[cichlidkeeper89]

its true.

my grandfather plays in a country band, this amp would be perfect for them.

but i have a friend who plays in a classic rock band. i think it would be just a little too quiet.

so ya, it really depends on the type of music you play. as to if it will cover a drummer.

[michaelgroenewald7]

@betojaime ive heard people say it is

[solerso68]

I'll have to look into this thing a bit more...i think VOX might have improved on the Valve junior a little...and the Valve Junior is a great sounding amp...i belive this is only about 50.00 more too.

[DeadWhiteButterflies]

Wow, I'm actually surprized by how much power this little fella has. Nice one!

[liontone]

An AC30 is NOT a class-A amp. It's actually a hot-biased class-AB. The AC4 and AC15 are class-A.

[Semach4444]

Great amp for the money.

Out of tune guitars bug me.

[solerso68]

LOL what do you expect from a um..wth is that a schecter? ibanez? junk

[MrMrshl]

Its a Vox Virage guitar with triple coil pick ups. Realy great guitar but yeah he made it sound like junk !

[byusnowboarder]

that's a sweet vox guitar. haven't tried one, but I love the tones he gets out of it. Check out his videos featuring that guitar. Supposedly they're cool, but overpriced, and the qc isn't that great.

[spentonmediocrity]

Class conducts current 360 at all times so the current demand does not change,IE there is no sag.

You still get a "chimey" tone with an AC4 but the sound is more strident,with less depth(since there is no compression happening in class A)The tone is harmonically rich but a little edgier/sharper.

An Alnico speaker will give you some modest compression on the attack.

Tube rectifiers,class AB,cathode biasing,alnico speaker,all = compression/smoother attack/more depth.

[spentonmediocrity]

When you hear "we will rock you" solo you can hear the class AB compression.

Class AB amps "sag" when cranked because they try to draw more current than the AB power supply can supply,the result is "singing".

You can hear this on U2's Edge's tone too,the notes sag a little and add depth to the already bright tone.

The result is a smooth chimey tone with allot of depth,slightly compressed on the attack(which creates the illusion of depth,thanks to class AB sag and the alnico speaker.

[FingerLickinGravy67]

well a 5 watt ( er4wattsameshit) is bout as loud as a trumpet i heard so if its gona be that loud might as well go louder, or not if u like to play bedroom that loud

[spentonmediocrity]

Missing too is an alnico magnet speaker.Alnico adds slight compression and more depth to the sound.

One of Eminence's,Weber's or Warehouse's alnico offerings would make the amp sound nicer.

The amp sounds pretty good but could sound nice with perhaps a red fang 10.

[benc1891]

mic it and itll sound great

[FingerLickinGravy67]

its loud but not loud enuff to jam , wats the point

[BazzTheBoss]

it's loud enough for a little bedroom jam i think

[SpiffyPunx]

i've played it, it pumps pretty good for 4 watts. it was just as loud as an orange tiny terror 1x12 easily

[thanksmanitsreptar01]

the point is for recording, mic'ing for shows so the soundman won't want to rip your head off all the time, and for those times when you just can't crank your ac30.

[TheFunkify]

The point is that people want great valve tone without massive volumes and the companies are catering for this. It makes perfect sense. I'd love an AC30, but where could I play it at its proper volume...is a common conundrum.

[cartoonlike]

Good try with the cosmetics, but the amp doesn't sound "musical." It's missing a tube rectifier; that's the key.

[spentonmediocrity]

For all the hype out there about class A,true class A amps lack the tonal dynamics of a good A/B amp with a tube rectifier such as an AC 15cc(which simulates it,offers sagging voltage),5e3,AC 30,18 watter,etc...

Class A sounds good for some occasions but will always sound more stiff than a sagging class A/B amp.

[MobyTurbo]

A Vox AC15 is a class A amp. Fender, for example, are class AB, while Vox valve amps in general are class A.

[spentonmediocrity]

The AC4 is class A ,all single ended(1 power tube) amps conduct current 360.

Don't be misled by the sales jargon.

The AC15/AC30 are not class A amps.

"Class A" is often(and inaccurately) used to denote the sound of *cathode biased* amps,which the AC4,AC15 and AC30 are.

There are significant differences in the circuit designs/different speakers between Fender and Vox that account for the differences.

Brian Mays solos are class AB,only class AB amps "sing"(from sagging power).

[MobyTurbo]

Oh yes, it is true that a lot of the difference in tone between Fender and an AC30 for example, are because of circuits and especially the 6V6 or 6L6 tubes in a Fender as opposed to the EL34 I think in a Vox or Marshall. Marshalls are another example of an AB amp. I have read though that Voxes are called "class A", but I accept your version of things now. ;-)

[solerso68]

Vox a known for making use of EL84 ( not EL34) ..class "A" or A/B describes the way the tubes function..you can can of think of class A as direct current..all tubes on all the time (one way) and A/B as AC current "push pull" operation alternating between tubes or pairs of tubes. all "single ended" amps (one Output tube) are by definition, class "A"

[slimfinger]

It's great hearing you tune your guitar for the first third of the video, man. Next time maybe tune first ... just saying ...

[YaniT991]

That only makes about 40sec of tuning. Some of the bands around here spend the first hour tuning up!! The really sad part is that is when they play some of their best stuff of the night!! 8-p

[Alexsy82]

i love both this & the nitetrain. terrific sounding amps that you can crank the hell out of.

[davidofrizz]

What is he playing at 0:47 ? and 1:13 ?

Il joue quoi à 2:47 ? et 1:13 ?

[retroguy90]

- Queen "We Will Rock You"

- The Kinks "Sunny Afternoon"

This guitarist has the good sense to play stuff by famous Vox users.

[SonicStrings]

There's something pretty harsh in the tone - hope it comes from the camera mic cause otherwise this amp is pretty interesting...

[CrazyDiamond1968]

The Nightrain destroys this tone...listen to the demo, hear for yourself.

[t3r080]

It's also over three times more powerful than AC4TV(H). Why even compare two completely different amps. 15W Nitetrain aint AC4 and vice versa.

And if you base your judging on youtube videoclips of 1½ minutes, with a poor sound quality, you are outta your mind man.

[alohastewie]

can the head cab version be heard over a drummer?

[Seventhsword]

Got the combo today. Awesome little amp!

[pastorkev777]

The head and cab sounded sweet and the combo was a little thin for my tastes!

[weare7R]

The combo 10 speaker sounds shrill compared to the 1x12 cab...could be mic location though.

I would buy the head but to use with my own cab.

I am assuming that since Vox laced the product description with all kinds or corny jargon of being "Retro, chic, and stylish" and failed to mention wood type that it is mdf pressboard...lame.

MDF for a small head is no biggie but for a speaker cab i REALLY hate it, "chic" aesthetically or not.

[Seventhsword]

I'd like to see a demo with it in the 1/4 watt mode to hear how it sounds for late night playing without pissing off the neighbors..

[snapcult]

I got one about a week ago and on the 1/4 watt setting with the volume at around 3 I can barely get my pickups on my Gibson V to about 2 or 3 before it's to loud for the room.

This amp is a lot louder then you'd think.

For playing at night I'd get an older Zoom 9002/3 I forget now, or something like that, that you can use headphones with.

[TUBEMAN192]

I played one yesterday and I nearly fell of the chair! It's BAD AS*!

[snapcult]

Can't wait to pick one up... I'd really like an Emerysound Microbaby but this will have to do for now, the price is right ;)

[nicennice]

I've just bought this amp. Utterly amazing. If you are a Vox tone addict forget Valvetronix and all DSP jiggery, pokery. This thing is 100% vox tube tone. Screaming tube distortion and sustain or jangling, shimmering, chimey vox cleans.

Takes pedals well. A canvas for all kinds vox tube tone. £189! Wonderful I love it.

[nicennice]

A 10 in case you were wondering.

[magicsAG]

how is the song called from 1.14 to 1.40?

i just know the melody but not the name of the song x-x

[Voxman5]

The song from 1.14 to 1.40 is 'Sunny Afternoon' by The Kinks.

Rich

[leobluesy]

I wonder how the sound differs from the old 60s ac4

[MajorDatuk]

seemed the combo is cheaper than the head alone. That's odd.

[purenectar]

i dont like the way the guitarist plays. I hope the amp sounds better in real life cos it sounds pretty gash with that camera mic

[craggy1969]

i think that guy plays very well, i'd be very happy if i was at his level personally.

[jgmedina]

which is the best amp to play arctic monkeys songs in a house?

[citymusicsg]

Hi MartellCognac,

The VOX AC4TV is expected to be shipping in early March 2009. Cheers!

[citymusicsg]

Hi KCHammer, that is a Virage! The price of the head and cab is unknown at present.

[MartellCognac]

Its sounds pretty fuzzy like a fizzy drink, has it arrive over at citymusic ? would like to try it out for myself

[KCHammer]

Arggh these look/sound so good! I was gonna build a 5E3, but now I'm not sure what to do!

How much will the head+cap version cost?

Also, is that a Virage he's playing?

[Sonofendlessnight]

The combo version will be my next purchase :) That little beauty will make a perfect recording amp! £189.99 for an all tube Vox!!!

[citymusicsg]

MSRP in the US is estimated to be US$250, though it maybe subjected to change.

[purenectar]

£189.99 in the UK

[MisterKuss]

The price tag is really ok...

Is that the full 4watt sound or is the power attenuator switched on?

If it´s not, it would be very great to hear that, cause I would use that amp in my living room...

[citymusicsg]

You can hear all 3 settings, the 1/4W, 1W & 4W sounds in the video.

[gnasher1993]

That is one nice sounding combo. It doesn't look half bad either. I somehow doubt that the price tag will be very friendly

[citymusicsg]

You will be surprised at how friendly the price tag will be. *wink*