JCM800 Price?

[willo]

Stay away from the Custom Classic AC30s, poor build quality and reliability on those things.

The reissue AC30 is a great amp - you can have chimey clean/crunch out of the top boost channel or alternatively slam a treble-booster pedal into the normal channel for some Brian May esque tones (yum).

One thing though, you really need to get the model with the blues for the best AC30 tone (imo).  The other alternative is to stick some G12H-30s in there but don't use Greenbacks in an open cab (flubby bass) - I don't care for the reissue GB's in general.

As for an original, you should easily pick one up for under a grand.  What you need to ensure is that it's not been ragged all over the place - the heat in an AC30 chassis means that some old ones have the wax dripping out of the transformers (not good).

Another route is to buy an oldie in need of repair and buy some repro transformers - I did this and used OEI iron, that was an AWESOME AC30 and just loved fuzz pedals (esp Big Muffs, yum!)

 :twisted:  :twisted:

I thought the reissue ac30 was the custom classic? Or am I - and I don't discount this possibility    - confused?

Where do they sell these magical amplifiers? How can I try one?

As for old ones, HTH - or anyone - know where I can find one? HTH - anything around Newcastle?

[HTH AMPS]

I've just had a look on the Vox website and they no longer make a straight up reissue of the Top-Boost AC30  :x

To get an idea of what an AC30 can do you could try one of the Custom Classic models - Sounds Live in town definately have one but I'd imagine both Sound Control and Guitar Guitar will have 'em too.

If you like the tone I would advise hunting out a Korg-era reissue (Marshall made 'em in the Milton Keynes factory).  They are well made and sound equal to a vintage AC30 with some decent valves in there.

here's a tasty one... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Original-JMI-Vox-AC30-6-early-60s-amp-and-chassis_W0QQitemZ110030557597QQihZ001QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (it's been serviced by a local Newcastle tech called Bernard maughan, he knows his onions that guy)

 :twisted:i

[HTH AMPS]

For more clean headroom and more of a Marshall flavour due to the use of EL34s, the AC50 is worth considering... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320025086796&indexURL=0#ebayphotohosting

Vintage AC50s are also very reasonably priced compared to AC30s  :D

 :twisted:

[willo]

Thanks for the info!

That first one looks pretty tasty but I'm concerned about the idea of 'parts have been replaced over the years'; it's a lot of money for something that may not have much in common with it's original state IMO.

The second one - the AC50 - actually looks like it could be a really good buy but time is running out on that auction and I don't want to be rushed into it! Also, concerned about delivery prices from Paris.

I'll check out the Custom Classic probably in town - where is 'Sounds Live'? Is there some guitar shop I have missed?  :o I'm also fancying trying out a Zinky and a Rivera too, and maybe a Cornell amongst others.

I heard about Maughan amps a while back - I read the review of his amp in Guitarist and they had one for sale in that little guitar shop in town, just off High Bridge with RPM Records and that. Looks like the man knows his stuff!

[HTH AMPS]

Willo, that first AC30 with the replaced parts - you can call that 'maintenance'.  The board lools like it's had some caps and resistors replaced and that's a good thing - someone (Maughan) has obviously took the time to check it out and replace anything that's f*cked.

Also checkout Selmer T&B heads - they're 50w non master volume heads that are tonally somewhere between a Marshall and a Vox (very nice amps).  You should easily get one for £250, maybe £150 on a good day.

 :twisted:

[Kilby]

Also checkout Selmer T&B heads - they're 50w non master volume heads that are tonally somewhere between a Marshall and a Vox (very nice amps).  You should easily get one for £250, maybe £150 on a good day.

The Selmer was used by Syd Barrett on Saucer full of secrets and the singles.

Rob...

[HTH AMPS]

Also checkout Selmer T&B heads - they're 50w non master volume heads that are tonally somewhere between a Marshall and a Vox (very nice amps).  You should easily get one for £250, maybe £150 on a good day.

The Selmer was used by Syd Barrett on Saucer full of secrets and the singles.

Rob...

yep, probably their most famous use on record appart from The Animals' useage on House Of The Rising Sun - Barrett's tone/touch is far superior though.

I used to gig with two Selmer T&B mkII heads, awesome amps - just pin them on ten and away you go.

 :twisted:

[Kilby]

yep, probably their most famous use on record appart from The Animals' useage on House Of The Rising Sun - Barrett's tone/touch is far superior though.

I should have said Piper not Saucerfull but I was distracted by my dead laptop.

I'l love the selmer tone at a lower volume, I did consider putting together a emulator but once again time and engergy where missing.

I'm still thinking that some ac30 style amp would be suitable from willo's description (or perhaps hiwatt with a booster infront of it) Things are bad if I'm trying to stay on topic :)

Rob...

[fps_dean]

if it's the 2203 single channel version.. it's worth a fortune.

Don't forget to add vertical inputs... but even then one should expect to pay starting at $800usd for one... I've seen them sell for up to $1100usd and I've seen people ask up to $1300usd but I don't think they ever get it... it's considered overpriced.