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Old 03-20-2020, 05:41 PM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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Default Vox, Fender & Bose Tweaks

Just before the Covid19 virus consumed our day to day lives I had ordered tube sets(Genalex Gold Lion's) for a Vox AC10 and Fender Super Champ X2 I had recently purchased.
In addition to the tubes, I had also ordered a Celestion Creamback for the Vox and a Celestion Gold for the Super Champ. All parts shipped direct to my repair shop with me dropping off the two amps the day before delivery of the new goodies. The tech tells me it’s a three week turnaround time. OK, It’s all good. That’s pretty normal for this shop. But here’s the rub...

It’s a very good possibility that this shop will soon be closed by state mandate, following suit with many states closing non essential businesses indefinitely due to the pandemic. I don’t want to go into the shop and say “hey, can I have all my gear back, I’ll see you when this mess is all over.” They are the best shop within a very large area and I don’t want to burn my bridges with them. I think it best I ride it out.

On a happy note, I finally took the time to update the firmware to version 7.1.7 on the pair of Bose S1’s I use for acoustic and electric jams when I travel extra light.
The first unit took the download without a hitch from the Bose Connect app via Bluetooth from the iPad. The second unit, not so lucky. After three try’s at 45 minutes each, I broke down and hunted for the right connector cable to run from an old laptop to the back of the S1. I downloaded the update app from Bose and had the new firmware installed in less than two minutes. Moral of this story, just do the hard wire from a laptop or desktop. No muss, no fuss.

I am hoping this little distraction finds you CoolCats safe and sound, along with all of your loved ones.
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Last edited by Chickee; 03-20-2020 at 06:15 PM. Reason: Spelling
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Old 03-28-2020, 10:30 AM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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Well, I can take some solace knowing I was heading in the right direction with hotrodding my AC10. Apparently Vox and I are on the same page!😂 This ad showed up yesterday.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Vox/Lim...nd-JJ-Tubes.gc
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Old 03-28-2020, 12:29 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Before you finalize things try the Gold in the AC10 - been thinking about buying one myself and doing the same mod, should give you a nice British Invasion tone with those Gold Lions...
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Old 03-28-2020, 03:31 PM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa View Post
Before you finalize things try the Gold in the AC10 - been thinking about buying one myself and doing the same mod, should give you a nice British Invasion tone with those Gold Lions...
It doesn’t fit Steve. There is Only 4 and one eighth inch of space to work with inside the Ac10. All the electrics are on the back panel. The 45 watt creamback will tame some of the top boost ice picky highs and smooth them over while adding more bottom clarity than the 30 watt greenback can! I’m pretty sure this will have a solid effect when done.

The super Champ will be an all around killer with the Celestion gold and Genalex tubes. Anyone that has done this mod can’t say enough about the end result.

Thanks for the comment Steve. Good to hear from you.
frank d.
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Old 03-28-2020, 05:24 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Thanks for the heads-up, Frank - you just saved me a few bucks and a whole bunch of grief...
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Old 03-28-2020, 06:21 PM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa View Post
Thanks for the heads-up, Frank - you just saved me a few bucks and a whole bunch of grief...
Steve, the next time you make a run to Raritan Bay Repair give me a heads up. I’ll put up a pot for macaroni and throw a quick sauce together while you take the Vox for a spin. Then you can tell me what you think of the Creamback speaker and Genalex tubes while we break bread!
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Old 03-28-2020, 06:49 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Sounds like a pastability...
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Old 03-29-2020, 09:03 AM
JStotes JStotes is offline
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Default Vox AC10

Hey Frank,

Just adding my two cents about the Vox Ac10. I bought one when they first came out. It was the GC limited Edition in a cream color. It sounded pretty good as it was but, me being me, I had to do some tweaking.

I upgraded the tubes to the Preferred series and IMO it made a really good amp even better. In messing with the speaker, I've had mixed results and actually am using the original that it shipped with. I also have a cabinet loaded with a Celestion Gold 12" that I sometimes use. When you plug in another cab the original speaker is muted so the amp simply works as a head.

I'll be interested in your take on the Creamback. And with all the online discounts, I just might pick up one of those GC Custom models. Thanks for the heads up! They'd probably sound great played together.

Jay
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Old 03-29-2020, 10:16 AM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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Originally Posted by JStotes View Post
Hey Frank,

Just adding my two cents about the Vox Ac10. I bought one when they first came out. It was the GC limited Edition in a cream color. It sounded pretty good as it was but, me being me, I had to do some tweaking.

I upgraded the tubes to the Preferred series and IMO it made a really good amp even better. In messing with the speaker, I've had mixed results and actually am using the original that it shipped with. I also have a cabinet loaded with a Celestion Gold 12" that I sometimes use. When you plug in another cab the original speaker is muted so the amp simply works as a head.

I'll be interested in your take on the Creamback. And with all the online discounts, I just might pick up one of those GC Custom models. Thanks for the heads up! They'd probably sound great played together.

Jay
Hey Jay,
This black livery special edition I’m hotrodding came with a Celestion Vspec speaker, and I didn’t think it was the right match for the top boost sound.
I really like the sound of 10” Greenbacks in low watt tube amps(in fact my red Super Champ is a greenback with stock tubes) but I am looking for a little more bottom while retaining the smooth highs of the Greenbacks. The reviewers are saying that the bonus of the 45watt Creamback is the additional touch of solid low end to the mix that the 30watt greenback is lacking. Apparently, seeing this new release of the AC10, Vox agrees with me😂Who would have thought?

The Sonic blue Super Champ should be a winner with the Gold speaker and tube swap. The Vox will be the sleeper no one saw coming! Big, beautiful top boost British Invasion sound. I can’t wait for the call from the shop that these amps are finished so I can begin breaking in the speakers.

BTW-what speaker was in you special edition AC10 originally?
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Old 03-29-2020, 10:22 AM
JStotes JStotes is offline
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It came with the standard Celestion that was in the regular model. The only thing custom was the color.

I play mostly edge of breakup with a Tele and Casino clone I installed Lollar PU's in. The little amp sounds amazing. I really like the 30 watt version of this that came out a while back. To big and heavy for home use, but if I were still gigging regularly, I would definitely have one of those.
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Old 03-29-2020, 10:25 AM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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Attachment 35227

Attachment 35228

Just for clarification.
The black on black Vox is getting a Celestion Creamback 10” 16ohm with Genalex Gold Lion tubes.

The Sonic blue Super Champ is getting a Celestion Gold 10” 8ohm with Gold Lion tubes also.

The red Super Champ is a Fender FSR edition that came with the upgraded Greenback and sounds killer. No changes for it right now.
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Last edited by Chickee; 07-08-2022 at 06:18 PM.
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Old 03-29-2020, 10:29 AM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JStotes View Post
It came with the standard Celestion that was in the regular model. The only thing custom was the color.

I play mostly edge of breakup with a Tele and Casino clone I installed Lollar PU's in. The little amp sounds amazing. I really like the 30 watt version of this that came out a while back. To big and heavy for home use, but if I were still gigging regularly, I would definitely have one of those.
Thank you, Jay. I too was thinking of the bigger brothers to the AC 10, but I’m in the 60/30 club now! I’m over 60 and don’t carry amps over 30lbs. Bahahaha!
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Old 03-30-2020, 04:56 PM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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An update on the Bose S1’s-12 days and still showing fully charged.
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Last edited by Chickee; 04-02-2020 at 07:32 PM. Reason: Spelling
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Old 03-31-2020, 12:46 PM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JStotes View Post
I also have a cabinet loaded with a Celestion Gold 12" that I sometimes use. When you plug in another cab the original speaker is muted so the amp simply works as a head.

Jay
Jay,
I wanted to ask what your thoughts were about the separate cab you have with the Celestion Gold speaker loaded. Do you remember how long it took to loosen up? Is it an open or closed back cab? How do you like the sound when running the Vox thru it? What other heads do you use to power it?
Thanks,
frank
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