AC-30, a wise decision?

pyro128 · #1 07.22.05, 11:38 PM

After playing though one of these suckers, I think I've finally decided that I like the little bastard. I've been juggling options and can't decide between buying a 2x12 combo ($999) or paying $300 bucks more and getting a 4x12 Vox Cab and the AC30 Head. Think $1300 is worth getting the half stack over the combo? I'm thinking I can talk the guy at the music store down a little lower then $1300, so I might be able to get it a little cheaper then that...

But who knows, opinions please

pinkerton · #2 07.23.05, 12:56 AM

I hate 4x12's. so combo all the way.

dusty1111 · #3 07.23.05, 1:53 AM

I'd choose the combo. That's just me though.

joe public · #4 07.23.05, 3:21 AM

definatley the combo.

momo · #5 07.23.05, 3:34 AM

I just posted a HUGE rand about stacks. I think they have their place, but most people will NEVER crank a stack to the sweet point. Get the combo.

I am sure I will repeat this, but I view stack like a LCD projection TV. It will look awesome if you have the room to use it, but 99% of us don't, so we would be better off with a good old 32 TV. You would be wasting the potential of that amp if you can't crank it.

pyro128 · #6 07.23.05, 10:42 AM

So, even though the new AC-30's have a separate Master volume control, which is definitely easier to find the sweet spot with at a lower volume, you guys would go with the combo?

Juggling the advantages and disadvantages of the halfstack in comparison with the combo, I'd love to hear the advantages and disadvantages of both. Thanks to everyone for their quick comments

stratocast79 · #7 07.23.05, 10:50 AM

Well, if they are both 30 watt then volume isn't really an issue now is it? The only difference would be that 4 speakers would push the volume around the stage a little more. The "you'll never crank that thing loud enough" argument is pretty much irrelevant when you're talking about a combo and a head/cab of the same wattage.

Either way, I would rather have a Gibson Goldtone.

pyro128 · #8 07.23.05, 10:53 AM

I forgot they're both 30 watt units.

So, would I be able to crank that 4x12 just as easily as the 2x12 at an at home level (obviously, I should be alright when gigging)?

Thanks everyone for their opinions, this is helping me out more then you know

stratocast79 · #9 07.23.05, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pyro128
I forgot they're both 30 watt units.

So, would I be able to crank that 4x12 just as easily as the 2x12 at an at home level (obviously, I should be alright when gigging)?
\

Probably, I use 50 watt and 45 watt tube amps and whenever they're at home I can usually get them up to 4 or 5, which is where one of them breaks up anyway. I played the 2x12 Goldtone at it broke up pretty early, I think it's 30 watts too.

proggy04 · #10 07.23.05, 12:59 PM

I'd buy the head, then get a 2x12 cab with Celestion Blues

joeinthebox1980 · #11 07.23.05, 1:29 PM

go with the combo.

and all this might be myth... but i've always heard that Vox AC-30 combos can be quite troublesome on the road.

AmericanId3ot · #12 07.23.05, 2:34 PM

If it's the same amp..... Then it really won't matter which you get. If you like the look of having the cab and head behind you, and you like the extra sound generated by the two extra speakers, then go for it! I love my stack, and it's just about the same wattage (10 more watts, not a real big difference) and I get mine to break up at 5, so you'll be fine inside and deffinatly fine on the road. If you like the compactness of the combo, due to easy mobility and so on.

proggy04 · #13 07.23.05, 3:01 PM

See, before I would have said Combo, just for ease of mobility. But after lugging my Bassman around quite a bit (plus knowing an AC-30 weighs even more

), I'd personally rather take two smaller trips instead of one back-breaking trip

pyro128 · #14 07.23.05, 3:12 PM

Yeah, portability is a major factor for me. Another great unlooked feature of the AC-30 as a halfstack would be that the 4x12 cab has a magical little thing called 'wheels'.

After lugging around my old 2x12 Line 6 Flextone III, I decided that carrying 60 pounds around with me isn't much fun, especially for gigging... Of course, a 4x12 is going to be heavier, but wheels are great. Also, no need to mic a 4x12 cab in smaller venues.

Another benefit I found was that in most of the local shows we hit, the headlining band brought their Cab and everyone else just plugged their head into the headlining band's cab. Depends on how picky you are about your tone though, and if you're touring multiple states, but I thought that was a decent benefit

.

No one happens to know what tubes the AC-30's run standardly do they? Thanks for everyone's comments already, they've been a big help. Keep 'em coming!