NAD-Sorta........

[terrapin]

I have actually had this for about 5 week now, but had some modifications and improvements made to the circuit and just recently got it back. I have been searching for MY dream Vox-like amp to compliment my Morgan Deluxe Reverb and after going through several I feel I have found it! This is a one-off custom Fargen '59 Vox AC15 that was built for a recording studio in Nashville. It has the gorgeous Vox chime, but thicker and more rich than most due to having an EF86 preamp rather than a 12AX7. SO simple! No tone stack, just Volume, Cut and a Bright switch. It has a Eminence Red Coat/Red Fang 12" speaker that is perfect! I had the Bright circuit modified to makke it more "musical." I get chills of excitement when I play this amp!

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[Dru Edwards]

Russ - congrats. Is the EF86 stock or a modification?

[terrapin]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Russ - congrats. Is the EF86 stock or a modification?

The EF86 preamp is stock. I love the sound of EF86's in combo with EL84's. IMO that is how a Vox amp should sound. Chimey, but thick and bold! And, EF86 pramps seem to really love single coil pickups which is all I play.

[Thrillhouse]

Very cool. It is great looking and I bet it sounds amazing. Ben does some nice work.

[terrapin]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

Very cool. It is great looking and I bet it sounds amazing. Ben does some nice work.

Yes, Ben is up there with the best! ALL his amps just kill!

[TjthePhD]

Looks pretty sweet! Do you have any sound clips?

Congratulations!

[muscmp]

what did you have changed in the bright circuit? how did that change make it more, "musical"?

i have a couple old gibson amps with el84s and i think they are great tubes!!

[terrapin]

Originally Posted by muscmp

what did you have changed in the bright circuit? how did that change make it more, "musical"?

i have a couple old gibson amps with el84s and i think they are great tubes!!

The Bright switch was configured to cut Bass rather than actually add high-mids and highs. Jeff Snider (Snider Amplification) reconfigured it as a vintage Vox Bright circuit. Really made the amp 3-D sounding. The contrast between switch on and switch off really creates two very different sounding amps. switch off the amp takes on some Marshall thickness, switch on is classic AC15. I mostly keep the switch on and use the Cut control to dial down just a tad of top end for my single coil guitars, and it is so nice.

I will try to gets some clips up.

[muscmp]

just out of curiosity, did you try the newer versions of the vox ac15? wonder how they would compare? i believe some are point to point and some not.

play music!

[terrapin]

Originally Posted by muscmp

just out of curiosity, did you try the newer versions of the vox ac15? wonder how they would compare? i believe some are point to point and some not.

play music!

I have played one of the new hardwired AC15's and they are wonderful amps. I would be very happy to own one, but the opportunity fell into my lap to get the Fargen and the sound clips I was sent just blew me away. I really like simple gear and this amp is so simple. There are no bad tones in it! Plus, I knew I wanted an EF86 preamp.

[Taylorplayer]

Looks like you've got a killer amp there -- congrats! Really cool looking - would love to hear a sound clip.

PS - I do have a Vox HH AC-15 -- so yeah, I like that tone a lot myself!

[seanmark]

I'd like to hear clips as well! I love Vox style amps, too!