Which Vox's in Hank's Studio?

[sixchannel]

Now and again there is a peek into Hank's studio (like in the trailer for his last album) and he 'appears' to be using Vox amps, judging by their constant appearance in the background.
Does anyone know what they are? Original 1960's Vox or JMI repros etc or what, and are they straight AC30's or TB's?
Reason is that I've just got my early model VT60 out of retirement and need to set it up again.
Any info greatly appreciated.
Ian

[Steve Reynolds]

Hi Ian

It was a 70s model as I understand it.

[fenderplucker]

Correct, with ceramic Celestions.

Paul.

[sixchannel]

Thanks Steve and Paul. Would that be a standard AC30 or a TB version please?
As I recall, the Settings on my VT60 are quite different for the two. I USED to have them written down but over time they have - er - "disappeared". lol
Currently using AC30 amp model and guitar with FV-HMS pickups, the sound seems quite "muddy" unless I really crank up the Treble. And on the TB setting, its way too Treble, so I drop that down and adding Mids (for Hanks modern Kinman sound) makes it muddy again. Sob!
Cheers
ian

[fenderplucker]

Hi Ian,

It is a top boost and that is the channel that Hank always uses.

Paul.

[sixchannel]

Thanks Paul.
I've set the VT60 up as AC30TB with the Top Boost = Presence set quite high but the Mids and Bass at Neutral.
Cheers
Ian

[wrangler]

Hi All,
Greetings from New Zealand,
Whenever I checkout videos of the Shadows,Hank will often be using different amps, Vox, Mesa Boogie etc.
Now the Shadows have been to NZ a few times and each time they have used different amps again. At one concert in Auckland, they were using Fender Twin amps and the point I am trying to make is that in all cases of different amps, the SOUND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME.
At the Auckland concert I was able to check out the amp settings as my wife and I were there when the roadies were setting up all the gear, however, I did not get a proper look at the tone controls, so is this where the secret to the sound lies? The Twin Amps were Silver Fsced with a Master Volume control and pull out distortion.
Although I use Fender Amps, they do not seem to have the sustain of say a VOX. Still, it may be the Echo Units that are used.

Cheers, -- Wrangler

[andyj47]

hi wrangler,the reason they always sound the same lies in hanks fingers !! this is my opinion after many years of trying to emulate the shadows sound,some guys think you can buy the sound, but it doesn't work like that.at a shads club I go to there is kindly provided for everyone to play through an ac30 of early 60s vintage and a hall and Collins echo and an abbey road in a box gadget.now my point is that a varying range of sounds are made by the bunch of hanks playing,ranging from sublime to pretty rough.this is not a critiscism of anybodys playing, its just a fact.so having a vox,good echo unit and strat will not make you good.just my opinion.

[wrangler]

Hi there Andy,
Thanks for that information, yes you are dead right, it is all in the fingers. Years ago I read Brian May saying that Hank gleans the last ounce of sound out of each note, in other words it's the time the finger is left on the note after plucking and before the finger shifts to the next note.
That must be a great club that you go to having that sort of gear on tap. Unfortunately, I am not aware of anything like that here in NZ. There are however, many fans here still. I have never owned a Vox amp, always Fender usually Twins or Bassman as they are good for other forms of music. As to echo units I have a Quadreverb Q2 with EFTP and a Yamaha Magicstomp with the same, as well as a selection of Watkins Copicats, the Copicats were all that ever came into NZ back in the 60's, certainly no Meazzi's.

Cheers -- wrangler

[sixchannel]

Its all in the fingers - ?
A few years ago a young lad (14-15) turned up at our Shads Club and asked if he could play.
Well, he only had a cheap Squier, no use at all for Shadows tunes, but we let him play.
It was on 10s, another no-no, but we let him play.
He was left-handed, a hopeless case, but we let him play.
He played through a Blues Junior via a Zoom2000EFTP - what was he thinking? But we let him play.
But he was only a kid - what does he know?
After he had done his turn, we were all crying at his 'performance' - he WAS Hank!! Despite everything, the sound, the phrasing, the 'feel', the nuances that we all seek so hard to emulate were all there, He had clearly taken the time to 'listen' to the records, probably watched those old videos over and over to see what Hank's hands were actually doing - and copied that.
Suffice to say that he went on to be a Big Name in Shadows circles, playing Shadowmania more than once and finally fronting one of the most prestigious Shadows cover bands in the World.
It's not what you've got, folks - it's how you use it. Lol
Ian