Demo's of Hightop AC30 Vox in a Box RE MIXED

[rogerbayliss]

Couple of demo's of the Hightop AC30 Vox in a Box by J Rocket Audio. No longer produced but can get them if you shop around. Aims to model the Vox AC30 Top Boost and includes EF86 emulation and Blue Speaker sim.

I HAVE REDONE THE EQUALISATION ON GUITAR TRACKS TO IMPROVE SOUND

Here is Apache recorded into Zoom R24 studio, using eq and light compression , the EF86 and blue speaker sim. Tone controls set anti clockwise, for flat normal chl sound.

soundcloud.com/roger-bayliss/peacepipeht2wav

Here is Peace Pipe recorded same, but without EF86 and treble at 12 noon and tad of bass.

soundcloud.com/roger-bayliss/apacheht2wav


No amps or mics required !

[Deleted]

Hi Roger, It’s a good sound but compared to the Shads’ original recordings the lead guitar tone lacks ‘ clarity & chime ‘.....it’s not far off but to my ears there is something missing tone wise.....maybe it’s to do with the recording techniques these days as opposed to the analogue early 60’s........my Carl Martin AC Tone doesn’t have any EF86 emulation but on the bridge pickup it gives a closer sound IMO......

I think the Hightop was designed or contributed to by Mark Sampson, of Matchless Amps?.......perhaps it’s more leaning towards the Matchless sound rather then the Vox........both great amps, I’ve had a Supertwin and a DC-30 in my physically fitter years and they were excellent if somewhat special in their own ways.

Paul.

[rogerbayliss]

Hi Paul thanks for your comnents.

Unfortunately I did not use the original recordings to match too using my memory. I did notice however, I needed more high pass filter than usual and think there are reasons for this.

Where Apache is concerned, the AC15 on the original recording likely had the low end cut. The Hightone mimics the normal chl by setting bass and treble fully anti clockwise. But there is not a bass cut option. Secondly, after recently hearihg a real Meazzi, the pre amp sound on that is what gives it the mid range bark, cutting high end and low end. The echo I used has a pre amp tone that sounds fuller than the Meazzi so I think these 2 things together affected the soundfiles low end despite my using more high pass filter than normally would be required, which would typically be about 400hz.

The top end on Apache is not bad to my ears, but fuller in lower end clarity. Peace Pipe is not bad overall but still a bit fuller in lower frequencies giving a slightly fatter tone.

Heres what J Archer say about the Hightop - it seems to be an AC30 to me.

The Mark Sampson designed Hightop is everything “Mark Sampson” in a box. Mark is known for his recreations of the classic AC30/Top Boost tones when he worked for the “other” companies. This pedal is about the best you can get if those “chimey” Beatles type tones float your boat. Play the Hightop for 10 minutes and then turn it off and you will wonder who put the blanket over your amp! This is an actual “Top Boost” circuit reduced to transistors so, flat for the EQ is with both bass and treble all the way left. The cut control contours your highs and the interactive combination of all 3 EQ controls allows you to dial in your mids. Ceramic/Alnico gives you the best option for your choice of a speaker type. Alnico speakers have a certain breakup characteristic so if you want to emulate that, select Alnico. The same goes for the Ceramic speaker setting. Bring in the EF86 and dial it to your liking as well.