Vox AC15 Heritage Settings?

[asimmd]

Hi All

OK,I have a Vox Heritage 15Watt Combo and I would like some help with the settings please.
First of all can I say I am D.I ing this via an Attenuator,through a Boss Blues Driver Pedal,set to bypass, to match the impedance.

I was using a Zoom RFX 2200 with a Tonelab,but recently got a Quad 2 with Charlies new patches,and the amp seems to match better with the Quad2 than the Zoom.

Going through the amp it sounds totally different to the Tonelab,I have looked at the instruction book for the Amp,such as it is,but I would like to hear from you guys who actually use this amp.

Lot's more questions but I would be here all day,hope someone can help.

Thanks

Alan

[betowelch]

Hi Alan:

My usual settings on Vox AC 15 Heritage are as follows:

a) EF86 Channel
b) Brilliance:1
c) Bass Shift: 2
d) Cut Control: Depends of tune...Usualy some point between 9:00 and 12:00 o'clock

These is my setting's for all early shadows tunes.

Hope that this could help you...

Cheers from Brazil
Roberto

[asimmd]

Hi Roberto

Thanks for the reply,I presume the EF86 channel is Triode Mode?

Can you tell me what your settings would be for a modern sound?

Does it matter which Input Jack I use?

Thanks

Alan

[betowelch]

Hi Alan:

I always use in the Pentode position...It's has more gain.... I don't use very much the Channell II (more indicated for Hank modern sound) so I can't give you some settings.... And I always use the high gain input jack (i. e. the last one from front view).

Cheers from Brazil!
Roberto

[asimmd]

Hi Roberto

Well I finally read the manual,if that's what you call it.

I am using the EF86 channel but in the lower input,as for the tone,I forgot I had the scratchplate in that has the 59 custom pickups in it,when I tried my Classic Player 50's Strat with the 57/62 pups,all was well.

Thanks again

Alan

[piotrek]

Hello Alan,

Please try using the brilliance switch set to 2. I'm getting better results with that set to 2 on my amp.

regards,
Piotrek

[Andy Cook]

Hi Guys

I have to agree with Piotrek I also use the brilliance switch in position 2
as it rolls the base off which is ideal for getting the early Shadows sound

Best regards
Andy

[piotrek]

Hello Alan and Andy,

Also try replacing the stock EF86 valve with an NOS one. I replaced mine with a cheap Tesla EF86 NOS valve and immediately the sound became more authentic.

regards,
Piotrek

[betowelch]

Hi Alan Piotrek and Andy:

Well....about the preference in Brilliance setting, in my case (i. e. with all others devices in my effect chain) it works better setting it in 1 than 2. Maybe this could depends of others variables in effect chain gear... and also concerning what could be the setting on Cut Control knob......
I remember that Charlie wrote in message #6 (in my Find me a Golden Street setting thread ) that Brilliance at 2 works fine just for this tune (FMGS) ....but in the others it will be set at 1....

I'm copying bellow what Charlie's wrote:
___________________________

Hi Roberto,
Use brilliance setting 2 (don't set it any other way for Shadows sounds)..............
____________________________

Maybe Charlie could explain this better...

Cheers from Brazil!
Roberto

[asimmd]

Hi All

Many thanks for the answers,all interesting.

I was surprised to hear that changing the original EF86 for a cheapo improved the sound.

Is that fact,or does it just sound different?

Alan

[piotrek]

Hello Roberto and Alan,

I think what Charlie means is that for Shadows sound, the brilliance switch shouldn't be set to any other value than 2.

Yes, replacing the stock EF86 valve with a Tesla EF86 NOS has changed the sound. It's really hard to explain the difference in writing, but I think the sound now is warmer, fuller and somehow more twangy as well. The difference is paricularly audible on tunes such as Blue Star or Sleepwalk (using the middle pickup). And I'm pretty confident I won't be coming back to the stock valve.
Soon I'm going to test a set of Philips JAN 5751 ECC83 valves to replace the stock Sovteks used in the top boost channel. Again I don't find the Sovteks particularly astonishing. But that's just my opinion.

regards,
Piotrek

[homichaelho]

Hi Roberto and Alan
Me too had a AC30 Heritage c/w vox blue speaker,It do not really sound good at the Ef86 channel it less brilliance sound. I replace the Sovtek GZ34 with mesa boogie 5U4GB and a NOS EF86 Haltron made by Hall Electric England. Than sound became more brilliance N more twangy . My setting on amp was channel 1 input Brilliance 1 for fatter sound and 2 brilliance for more twangy set tone cut for bridge P/up at 5 o'clock N middle p/up at 9 o'clock this set up has good sound like Shadows