Post by Kevin on Oct 27, 2008 20:57:15 GMT
From: MSN Nicknameshindig-dk (Original Message) Sent: 17/09/2008 17:20
Have not all guitar players tried this? The keyboard player and drummer sitting at the back complaining that your guitar (the old Vox AC30 TB) is way too loud. But the guitar player standing in front can only hear some distant "plinks" that have nothing to do with a full guitar sound. Also at greater venues, when everything is miced, the PA tech tells you that the back gear is way to loud, so it is difficult to balance the PA. And there the guitar sounds awful through the standard monitors.
I came up with an idea that my tech immediately went for. Some newer amps have the possibility of switching between 2 and 4 output valves and thereby getting a better sound at lower volumes. I decided to make it possible to play the AC30 as an AC15 and then even have a VERY good monitor for the guitarsound when needed:
1) We make an output for an 8 OHM extension speaker jack.
2) The Vox has 2 loudspeakers - each 8 Ohm - in series. A total of 16 Ohm.
3) When the extension speaker (the personel guitar monitor) is connected, then one of the original speakers is disabled and you then again have 2 loudspeakers in series. This gives you the right sound ( a Vox AC15 that is more agreeable to your fellow musicians AND a personal monitor with the speaker and cabinet of your choice).
4) If you need only the AC15, then we have put an 8 Ohm dummy into the cabinet ( you must consider the heat!), so if you connect this with a jack to the extension speaker output, only one speaker will work, but you still have 16 Ohm, but the right sound and with less volume.
In a week I shall try this out. Friday at a small private party, Saturday at a big 60'es party (700 people?), So I am rather excited. Any ideas out there for further improvements?
It is nice to think of that I now have secured my place in history
Best regards
Shindig
www.shindig.dk
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Recommend Delete Message 2 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknameaceguitarist0 Sent: 17/09/2008 18:56
Shindig
Funny isn't it, LOL I now use a Marshal 110 w valve amp and switch it to 25watts, for most of my venues this is perfectly adequate, and as you say, a better sound cos you can drive the thing,
cheers
Brian
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Recommend Delete Message 3 of 7 in Discussion
From: Charlie Hall Sent: 17/09/2008 19:30
Hi Shindig,
It sounds like a good idea and won't damage the amp. The only things I can think of are that the extension speaker should ideally be another Vox Blue (or the same as whatever the speakers in the amp are), and that using a dummy load instead of one speaker could change the sound a little. But it may not matter if a difference is not noticed.
Regards,
Charlie
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Recommend Delete Message 4 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknamebazmusicman16 Sent: 18/09/2008 08:55
Hi Shindig,
Why don't you do what I did and fit a T.H.D. Hotplate between the speaker out jack and the speakers? That way you can dial in the amount of volume you require and still drive the amp to get the tone.
If you do get a T.H.D. Hotplate make shure it is the 16Ohm version to match the output of your Amp.
Best regards,
Baz.
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Recommend Delete Message 5 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknameshindig-dk Sent: 18/09/2008 09:38
There are several reasons behind my solution. I also needed monitor from a GUITAR loudspeaker box without further aplification (monitored guitar sound is often terrible), and with "my" modification I can add an extension speaker for this purpose. I have never tried the Hot Plate, but has it got speaker emulation? If it has it might be a good solution for directly to PA also. Line outs I find less usable. I'm so used to micing up that I don't really consider other solutions there, which very well may be a fault. And I have nothing against that "my" solution is inexpensive.
Best regards
Shindig
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 6 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknamebazmusicman16 Sent: 18/09/2008 12:26
Hi Shindigs,
The T.H.D. Hotplate has a line out jack socket with its own volume control which can be fed to a P.A. and two speaker out jack sockets - one feeds your existing speakers and the other one can feed an external speaker(s).
I agree though that your solution is inexspensive.
Best regards,
Baz.
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 7 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknameshindig-dk Sent: 29/09/2008 19:36
Now the modification has been tested. And with great results I dare say!
It turned out to be just as good as I expected. Everything was thorroughly tested Thursday at a rehearsal.
The amp sounded great (I had just bought new valves from Watford, and listening to their advice I got the valves that suited med! Lots of clean headroom and a very good and warm valve tone). You just tell these guys what you want sound wise - and then you get it. Prices even are resonable!
The dummy load reduced the output without having to turn the volume all the way down, which only can destroy the sound of the Vox.
And what a guitar sound you get when putting an extension GUITAR cabinet in front of you as a personal monitor. Here it would be a good idea to add a volume control (fixed impedance) to the extension cabinet, as it can easily get too loud!
Friday we played a minor private function. Started out with one speaker and a good sound, and later on things grew a bit wilder, so both speakers were adequate. No need for monitor that night.
Unfortunately it wasn't possible to use the Vox Saturday. 6 bands were playing, so we all had to use the same back gear! A rather high gain amp (fine for those who played Hendrix and Clapton) for FBI, Wonderful Land and Flingel Bunt and the cr**** guitar sound from the PA monitor. My ears are still suffering.
I do think that many of you would find this modification attractive.
Case closed.
Best regards
Shindig
Have not all guitar players tried this? The keyboard player and drummer sitting at the back complaining that your guitar (the old Vox AC30 TB) is way too loud. But the guitar player standing in front can only hear some distant "plinks" that have nothing to do with a full guitar sound. Also at greater venues, when everything is miced, the PA tech tells you that the back gear is way to loud, so it is difficult to balance the PA. And there the guitar sounds awful through the standard monitors.
I came up with an idea that my tech immediately went for. Some newer amps have the possibility of switching between 2 and 4 output valves and thereby getting a better sound at lower volumes. I decided to make it possible to play the AC30 as an AC15 and then even have a VERY good monitor for the guitarsound when needed:
1) We make an output for an 8 OHM extension speaker jack.
2) The Vox has 2 loudspeakers - each 8 Ohm - in series. A total of 16 Ohm.
3) When the extension speaker (the personel guitar monitor) is connected, then one of the original speakers is disabled and you then again have 2 loudspeakers in series. This gives you the right sound ( a Vox AC15 that is more agreeable to your fellow musicians AND a personal monitor with the speaker and cabinet of your choice).
4) If you need only the AC15, then we have put an 8 Ohm dummy into the cabinet ( you must consider the heat!), so if you connect this with a jack to the extension speaker output, only one speaker will work, but you still have 16 Ohm, but the right sound and with less volume.
In a week I shall try this out. Friday at a small private party, Saturday at a big 60'es party (700 people?), So I am rather excited. Any ideas out there for further improvements?
It is nice to think of that I now have secured my place in history
Best regards
Shindig
www.shindig.dk
First Previous 2-7 of 7 Next Last Delete Replies
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 2 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknameaceguitarist0 Sent: 17/09/2008 18:56
Shindig
Funny isn't it, LOL I now use a Marshal 110 w valve amp and switch it to 25watts, for most of my venues this is perfectly adequate, and as you say, a better sound cos you can drive the thing,
cheers
Brian
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 3 of 7 in Discussion
From: Charlie Hall Sent: 17/09/2008 19:30
Hi Shindig,
It sounds like a good idea and won't damage the amp. The only things I can think of are that the extension speaker should ideally be another Vox Blue (or the same as whatever the speakers in the amp are), and that using a dummy load instead of one speaker could change the sound a little. But it may not matter if a difference is not noticed.
Regards,
Charlie
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 4 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknamebazmusicman16 Sent: 18/09/2008 08:55
Hi Shindig,
Why don't you do what I did and fit a T.H.D. Hotplate between the speaker out jack and the speakers? That way you can dial in the amount of volume you require and still drive the amp to get the tone.
If you do get a T.H.D. Hotplate make shure it is the 16Ohm version to match the output of your Amp.
Best regards,
Baz.
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 5 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknameshindig-dk Sent: 18/09/2008 09:38
There are several reasons behind my solution. I also needed monitor from a GUITAR loudspeaker box without further aplification (monitored guitar sound is often terrible), and with "my" modification I can add an extension speaker for this purpose. I have never tried the Hot Plate, but has it got speaker emulation? If it has it might be a good solution for directly to PA also. Line outs I find less usable. I'm so used to micing up that I don't really consider other solutions there, which very well may be a fault. And I have nothing against that "my" solution is inexpensive.
Best regards
Shindig
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 6 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknamebazmusicman16 Sent: 18/09/2008 12:26
Hi Shindigs,
The T.H.D. Hotplate has a line out jack socket with its own volume control which can be fed to a P.A. and two speaker out jack sockets - one feeds your existing speakers and the other one can feed an external speaker(s).
I agree though that your solution is inexspensive.
Best regards,
Baz.
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 7 of 7 in Discussion
From: MSN Nicknameshindig-dk Sent: 29/09/2008 19:36
Now the modification has been tested. And with great results I dare say!
It turned out to be just as good as I expected. Everything was thorroughly tested Thursday at a rehearsal.
The amp sounded great (I had just bought new valves from Watford, and listening to their advice I got the valves that suited med! Lots of clean headroom and a very good and warm valve tone). You just tell these guys what you want sound wise - and then you get it. Prices even are resonable!
The dummy load reduced the output without having to turn the volume all the way down, which only can destroy the sound of the Vox.
And what a guitar sound you get when putting an extension GUITAR cabinet in front of you as a personal monitor. Here it would be a good idea to add a volume control (fixed impedance) to the extension cabinet, as it can easily get too loud!
Friday we played a minor private function. Started out with one speaker and a good sound, and later on things grew a bit wilder, so both speakers were adequate. No need for monitor that night.
Unfortunately it wasn't possible to use the Vox Saturday. 6 bands were playing, so we all had to use the same back gear! A rather high gain amp (fine for those who played Hendrix and Clapton) for FBI, Wonderful Land and Flingel Bunt and the cr**** guitar sound from the PA monitor. My ears are still suffering.
I do think that many of you would find this modification attractive.
Case closed.
Best regards
Shindig