Orange Amps Forum

So I'm playing the field again, looking for a band to join up with these days and get back into music.

I'm starting to notice that most people don't jam in a loud practice space the old fashioned way anymore, instead, they usually record as they go in someone's house.

Hauling my heavy AD30TC combo around for these types of situations doesn't sound fun to my back or my broken toe, so I started looking into really small tube amps.

I considered the AD5, but I don't like the lack of control... I understand just a tone knob the volume, but I'd prefer a gain. What if I need to play a little louder but keep it clean? It's not really an option. (Don't mention the guitar volume control, it's not my style to touch that knob).

I saw Vox had an AC4, it's sexy looking and sounding from the clips I've heard, and I think the watt switching knob may solve the problem of not having a gain knob. I figure that you can crank the volume on a low watt setting for low volume dirt, and then raise the wattage for cleaner tones.

Anyone have experience with these? Good, Bad, Ugly?

I do know that they're cheap and I'm broke.

http://www.voxamps.com/us/modernclassic/ac4tv/

Actually I do own one. Bought it two weeks ago and I must tell you, it's amazing.

The watt switching works a charm. You're right 1/4 watts with the volume a bit more than half is great for a higher gain sounds. Clean headroom on 4 watts is not too bad either, but of course guitar dependend. Guess a strat works better than my LP.

That amp definately has that VOX sparkle and sound. I love it. Maybe I do a few soundclips this weekend and write a proper review.

Awesome... I may go to GC or SamAsh or something today and see if they have it to try out.

Thanks for the info.

As promised I'll now post you my review of the AC4TV.

General: It's a 4 watt, non mastervolume, combo VOX amp with one EL84 powertube, which is switchable down to 1 and 1/4 watts. Using a frequency correction it keeps sounding pretty the same at different wattages. It has a volume, a watt switch and a tone one. With tone being basicly a high cut.

Volume: On 4 watts is LOUD, and it evens keeps up with a (soft beating) drummer. Maybe works out in a blues band and one guitarist which plays overdriven. In any other scenario I guess it's not loud enough.

In 1 watt mode it's great for clean tones in a flat, because it has more clean headroom than 1/4 watts. Produces a more round tone with great sparkling highs (even with my Les Paul). Of course the 4 watt mode is great for cleans as well, as it pushes the speaker even a bit harder and makes the amp breath, but then again is too loud for a flat.

The 1/4 watt mode is great for crunch sounds which start at volume above 1/4 (with my Les Paul). Notice: Fully maxed out even this mode is damn loud in a flat. Until 2/3 it's perfect in volume and gain balance. Can't imagine using more than 2/3 in volume and gain for my playing style.

Tone: Difficult to describe, but if you know the VOX Ac15 I'd say it's in his tonal range but at lower volume. The amp is very responding to everything you put into it. Guitar, playing and technique. Tone know is just a high cut, which works great for a strat if you don't like too much highs and for lead tones. I keep using it on max with my Les Paul for nearly everything... Do not underestimate the flexibility you get using different guitars. I love that typical VOX clean and crunch you get out of it.

Reliability: One thing I don't like at this combo is the cheap platic handle. Maybe I replace it by a leather one. Other than that it has a gorgeous classic VOX design. Can't say if it's reliable after ony two weeks, but it looks flawlessly put together.

The most important part...Soundclips! Took me a bit too make them, but here they are. I used my AKG D3700 mic(yes I know, a vocal mic...) in my Alesis iO/2. No EQs and no effects added. Just pure sound. Excuse my sloppy playing.

Just click on download!

Clean Neck (Tone full, volume 1/4 at 4 watts) : http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... N.mp3.html

Crunch Neck (Tone full, volume 1/3 at 0.25 watts): http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... N.mp3.html

Crunch Bridge (Tone full, volume 1/3 at 0.25 watts): http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... B.mp3.html

Heavy Crunch Bridge (Tone full, volume 1/2 at 0.25 watts): http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... B.mp3.html

Maxed Out (Tone full, volume full at 0.25 watts): http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... B.mp3.html


Hope you found that review helpful. I love mine for what it is, an all valve great sounding practice amp with that VOX sparkle.

Actually I did expect at least one reply saying if that review was useful or not...

Soz,

Review good, haven't had a chance at the soundclips yet.

I do like the look of them quite a lot, but not in that market at present.

thanks for the review..this amp is really interesting..can you please post more clips of the clean sound of that amp?i'd like to buy it but i want to listen to clean sound cause it's really important for me..thank you!

Phate wrote:As promised I'll now post you my review of the AC4TV.

General: It's a 4 watt, non mastervolume, combo VOX amp with one EL84 powertube, which is switchable down to 1 and 1/4 watts. Using a frequency correction it keeps sounding pretty the same at different wattages. It has a volume, a watt switch and a tone one. With tone being basicly a high cut.

Volume: On 4 watts is LOUD, and it evens keeps up with a (soft beating) drummer. Maybe works out in a blues band and one guitarist which plays overdriven. In any other scenario I guess it's not loud enough.

In 1 watt mode it's great for clean tones in a flat, because it has more clean headroom than 1/4 watts. Produces a more round tone with great sparkling highs (even with my Les Paul). Of course the 4 watt mode is great for cleans as well, as it pushes the speaker even a bit harder and makes the amp breath, but then again is too loud for a flat.

The 1/4 watt mode is great for crunch sounds which start at volume above 1/4 (with my Les Paul). Notice: Fully maxed out even this mode is damn loud in a flat. Until 2/3 it's perfect in volume and gain balance. Can't imagine using more than 2/3 in volume and gain for my playing style.

Tone: Difficult to describe, but if you know the VOX Ac15 I'd say it's in his tonal range but at lower volume. The amp is very responding to everything you put into it. Guitar, playing and technique. Tone know is just a high cut, which works great for a strat if you don't like too much highs and for lead tones. I keep using it on max with my Les Paul for nearly everything... Do not underestimate the flexibility you get using different guitars. I love that typical VOX clean and crunch you get out of it.

Reliability: One thing I don't like at this combo is the cheap platic handle. Maybe I replace it by a leather one. Other than that it has a gorgeous classic VOX design. Can't say if it's reliable after ony two weeks, but it looks flawlessly put together.

The most important part...Soundclips! Took me a bit too make them, but here they are. I used my AKG D3700 mic(yes I know, a vocal mic...) in my Alesis iO/2. No EQs and no effects added. Just pure sound. Excuse my sloppy playing.

Just click on download!

Clean Neck (Tone full, volume 1/4 at 4 watts) : http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... N.mp3.html

Crunch Neck (Tone full, volume 1/3 at 0.25 watts): http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... N.mp3.html

Crunch Bridge (Tone full, volume 1/3 at 0.25 watts): http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... B.mp3.html

Heavy Crunch Bridge (Tone full, volume 1/2 at 0.25 watts): http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... B.mp3.html

Maxed Out (Tone full, volume full at 0.25 watts): http://www.file-upload.net/download-156 ... B.mp3.html


Hope you found that review helpful. I love mine for what it is, an all valve great sounding practice amp with that VOX sparkle.

cool! thanks for the review and clips. used the lp?

where did you find the amp- looks like it's not in stock at a lot of retailers. also interesting that it comes in a combo or head.

Hey guys!

Yea sure, I'll try to post some more (clean) clips and a few pics this weekend. Used my LP, if I remember correctly with coil cut in every clip.

I'm glad you like the review!

Managed to grab one of the last from the first bunch which arrived Germany. They are pretty hard to get here right now too.

D'oh!

Got me Gassing now!