That Pedal Show – The Vox AC15: Different Drive Pedals, Guitars And A Bit Of Wet-Dry Too

I watched this yesterday and there happened to be a hot cake v2, on fb marketplace today. It came with a stone deaf pdf 2 and a MXR micro amp for $400 Au. I didn't want to stop playing the hot cake. Thank you TPS!

My main amp died right before a gig so I went to GC and narrowed down some choices to this and a Blues Junior. I took the BJ for the gig but after watching this video and the 15w amp shootout I went back a few days later to swap it out for the ac15. I’ve tried the vox with single coils, humbuckers, clean tones, drive pedals etc. and it takes them all in stride. (I found the BJ to be a little less versatile) Thank you so much for the informative videos!!!

If I add to much drive, my AC15 will totally flubb out. I don't know how yours sounds so good. I have fairly new tubes in it. Some days it plays nice others it's pissed off.

Gents! This was brilliant. I have just rebuilt a 1986 Ibanez Artist 200 and it needs an amp - I think (for the blues/rock mostly I play) I just found the amp for it!! Having said that - this video was mostly drive pedals (and they were divine!) ... how would you round out a full board for the AC15 for maximum versatility? Keen to keep learning more! And thanks for your efforts to teach so well (and fun!). Baza

Have owned my AC15C1 for a year and a half now. It’s been my main gigging and recording amp. Big fan of the Crowther Hot Cake in front of it. Also partial to Klon style drives like the EHX Soul Food in front of it, that clips really nicely. I like a good clean boost in front of the AC15 too.

Too much talking, very few playing, that’s how you don’t do a video

Great amp, been using one for a year or so. My favourite sound is into the normal channel on about 7 with master volume to taste. Interestingly, the top boost channel controls affect the tone when plugged into the normal channel, more noticeably as you wind up the master volume. 🤯

Nice Panerai

Some of the best guitar sounds on TPS! The Les Paul with the OCD, was epic!!

Hot Cake in that rig

Man, I'm so in love with the Hudson Broadcast.

For understanding, that people say, pedals don’t sound good on Vox amps: Before the Vox AC15 Korg era, Marshall made them. They never wanted them Vox amps to be as good, as their own Marshall amps. Korg, then however made the ultimate decision to make them as good as possible. Now they are so good with pedals, that I prefer it over a marshall amp. Also I prefer to buy them with the Greenback speaker.

The Hot Cake is so amazing. It is easily one of the most underrated OD pedals of all time. Massive hidden gem.

My favourite "drive" through my Vox Ac15c1x? MXR Micro Amp.

My AC15C1 is squealing a hum. Need tubes?

Thank you for the video!

What is the song that's played about 9 minutes in?

I'm using an AC30CC2 for the last 4 years exclusively in TOP BOOST Chanel and it's absolutely stunning with pedals. Just after I saw that video I used the Normal Chanel and a whole new world opened for me! Definitely better for pedals, I could say smoother but to be honest the top boost Chanel is pretty decent too! VOX rules!

DumbleKnorr ❤

Few more dents on Dan’s guitar! 😬

I run mine generally with the channel volume knob about the same position as the Master. Tone Cut has a significant effect on how drive/fuzz pedals sound. Use and OCD and Box of Rock and a SoulBender, all sound really great through this. Top Boost channel can be squirrely and get mushy if you aren't careful but dialed in, it's pretty mint.

Humbuckers + top boost gain dimed = surprisingly awesome metal sound.

Why does it all have to be about horrible distortion....it's just a NOISE....not what Dick Denny intended for his VOX's and NOT what Leo Fender intended for his Fenders. You do not have to be good guitar player to make this NOISE get an amp get a guitar add distortion and if you like making a NOISE you got it.

Such a great show. Can the AC15 operate using headphones?

You guys make a great video thanks! Subbed.

This does not sound as great as it feels I'm sure.

Not enough definition. Too wooly! Normal channel with master on ten and channel level low!

Thing with the treble booster ist this: The Channel gains have a treble bleed. Meaning if you dont pull the gain to 12 there will be high end added, that can be too much with the treble booster. so if you want that classic 70 biran may kind of sound, do normal to 12, master to taste and a treble boost in front.

I have one of these Vox AC15 C1, with a Greenie in it. Great amp, can't fault it. But to give it a bit more oomph, hook it up to a Marshall quad box. It's loud enough for ANY pub gig. I've had mine since just after they were released here, in Australia. I've sold all my other amps, except for a 15-4 watt, all valve Kustom combo, also with a 10 inch Celestion in it. Perfect take anywhere amp.

20 years ago, PCB amps were not good enough, they had to be hand wired. This amp proves that wrong.

Very nice video and the wet/dry feature--well validated something I simply stumbled upon while playing at home. I play a tele and strat mainly jazz/blues/R&B/rock style. Using an RC 300 looper, I run an input from guitar to my pedal board and into my looper. The RC has main and sub outputs. I have two amps the AC15 and either a Bass Amp or sometimes I use Acoustic amp. I run lows and mids out to the acoustic or bass amp and my rhythm tracks to my AC15. It accomplished exactly what you said in that it may the sound bigger and fuller/rounder by adding a second amp. I thought my setup was quite original but you showed me otherwise. Second great feature you showed was the interplay between master volume and normal volume. I'll have to explore the various combinations. Thanks!

I have the head version of the AC15.
I did once own a late 70’s combo version and I don’t think the newer Chinese models sound much different, however the addition of a master volume is a huge plus.
Back in the day it was hard to get an AC15/30 to overdrive without severely pissing people off.
At first I wasn’t too keen it at all but after some experimentation Ive come to the opinion that the top boost channel and a strat are a match made in heaven. A Tele sounds great using the normal channel also. Nice and fat sounding. I’m running it through a 2 x 12 with a creamback and a cannabis Rex which I think tames the top end quite a lot.

how anyone could possibly claim the broadcast is anything but a fuzz is beyond me. it's redlining, which is basically what gives a fuzz pedal it's characteristic sound

Luv that sound ...Gilmore, Eric Johnson sound!😎🎸

Im looking to buy a Vox AC15C1 as my 3rd amp for a wet/dry/wet rig. Ill be using a Fender Deluxe Reverb and Roland JC120 as well. Should make for a tasty treat? 🤔😜 Question, what amp would you use as your dry amp?

Mine kind of sounds like crap.. but I'm comparing it to a vintage deluxe reverb so.. different beasts. A lot harder to dial in a good tone. Too many knobs for me

Doesn't take pedals because it doesn't sound like a vox with pedals? Ok cool. this is one of my favorite amps.

And the pedal used in that blazing reverby feedback opening riffage, sans breathing, WAS ????

I’m so glad for this show. I just bought a new AC15C1 and this episode helped me dial in a great amp sound. And yes it’s great with pedals!!! Thanks guys

my lead guitarist just got one of these, thanks for the demo

I’ve got a Gretsch 6120, Fender Tele, and going into two AC15C1s in stereo and it is heavenly. There’s nothing “normal” about this normal channel 😉👍

I think the ac 15 can be picky on overdrive pedals. I use a Blue Note overdrive pedal that sounds great. It's not an over the top pedal but lets the sound of the guitar and pickups show thru without coloring the sound to much. I play a Ric 360 with toasters that sounds sweet with this pedal and into the Vox.

Don't forget that the Top Boost channel is slightly effect by the position of the normal channel knob. On the Top boost channel, if the Normal is all the way up it will make the TB sound a little fatter and vice versa thinner if the normal is turned down.

Nice. The Hotcake, once you learn it, is one of the most satisfying drives out there, and not just for Voxy amps.

Crazy Diamond

First two mins are Wisdom.

I’ve been gigging with an ac 15 for more than 10 years now… Normal channel 11 or 12 o’clock tone cut on 3 o’clock and the master dimmed . Couple of pedals … LP junior , Teles and strats. Glorious ... Mic it with an sm 57 . I get a lot of comments from players about my tone . Luv you guys and what you do .