Modeled Amps: WHICH AMPS ARE MODELED?
3•4
6. Brit Class A – Emulations of Vox classics....
6.1 – Modeled after a 1960 Vox AC 15. Vox amps owe much of their unique tone
quality to a Class A power amp and were standard issue for English bands in the 60’s.
They were actually one of the first amplifiers designed specifically for electric guitar;
the other companies essentially got their designs straight from the RCA Radio book.
This particular sound is based on Channel 1 of the best AC 15 we could find. Once
again, the original amp had only a single tone control – a treble cut. We faithfully
modeled that and then slipped in some post-Tubetone Bass and Mid contouring. Set
the Bass and Mid in neutral (12 o’clock, or halfway up) and play with the Treble
control to get yourself some of those classic British invasion sounds. By the way, when
using relatively clean AX2 sounds like these ones, you may want to keep your Drive
fairly high – this will keep up the volume, without really adding too much “dirt” to
your tone.
6.2 – This one is based on the Normal Channel of a Non Top Boost Vox AC-30. Once
again, the early Vox amps were especially for electric guitar (Hey, some early amps
from other manufacturers have Accordion inputs! Polka, anyone?), and used Class A
power amp designs, rather than the much more common Class AB type. Much of the
unique character of the Vox sound can be attributed to the fact that Class A amps
overdrive in a very different way than Class AB. Brian May of Queen, Mike Campbell
of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, and The Edge of U2 have also used classic AC 30s to
make their music. We were lucky enough to find what we are told was one of Bryan
Adams’ favorite AC 30s for recording. Lenny Kravits happened to be using it the week
before we began testing. It was one of the gems in a great collection of vintage
amplifiers offered for rental in Los Angeles, where Line 6 is located. We later bought
this amp, and continued to hone our emulation of it to bring you the Amp Model it
inspired in the AX2. This is definitely a good place to start to get yourself some of
those classic British invasion sounds. Like the AC-15, the AC-30 NTB has only a
single treble control so the Bass and Mid controls here are set up for boost after the
Tubetone modeling to add a little extra flexibility without compromising the accuracy
of the model. The 12 o’clock setting on these controls is flat response.
6.3 – Music was changing in the early 60’s and guitarists were asking for more
brilliance & twang. So the Jennings Company, makers of Vox amps, decided to add
Treble and Bass controls (and an extra 12AX7 gain stage, incidentally); this additional
circuit became known as Top Boost. The AC 30 with Top Boost was the amp made
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