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Valve Reactor Technology the power stage of your Valvetronix amp is automati-
cally switched to its “EL84s in a Class A circuit with no feedback” emulation when-
ever AC15, or any of the other three Vox models, is chosen.
Like most amps of its era, the AC15 is the very essence of simplicity. In fact,
the Channel we modeled, Channel 2 (remember!?), only has two controls - Vol-
ume and Top Cut. When you select AC15, the Valvetronix’s GAIN control mimics
the original’s Volume control, while the PRESENCE control acts as the Top Cut.*
FYI, the AC15’s Top Cut control affects the high frequencies in a very different way
than a “regular” Treble control. Deft use of it will help you dial in the exact amount
of that instantly recognizable, world-famous VOX “sparkle.”
As for what the “extra” TREBLE, MIDDLE and BASS controls on our AC15
model do: as already mentioned earlier, they’re exactly that - “extra!” Set them at
12 o’clock and they’re “neutral” (i.e. they mimic the exact tone of the original) or
tweak them for extra tonal flexibility.
*CONTROL NOTE: The original AC15’s Top Cut control works in the opposite
way you’d expect - it “cuts” when you turn it up! You’ll be glad to read that our
model of the Top Cut control (the PRESENCE knob) works in a much more
logical fashion - turn it up for more “sparkle”, turn it down for less.
Original’s valve compliment: 1 x EF86, 3 x ECC83s, 1 x ECC82 in preamp,
1 x EZ81 rectifier, 2 x EL84s in power amp.
2. AC15TB
While the AC15 was born in the late ’50S, the AC15TB is a modern-day child of
the ’90S which combines the sweet ‘n’ desirable tonal characteristics of the
AC15’s low Wattage power stage, with the increased tonal flexibility that the Top
Boost (TB) channel of an AC30 has to offer. Then, to sweeten the pot even further,
a 12” Celestion “Blue” speaker (what else?), Reverb and a Master Volume control
were thrown in too. The result is a highly flexible 15 Watt, all-valve, 1x12 combo
that successfully marries the pureness of great vintage VOX tone with modern
features.
The original has two tone controls - Treble and Bass. So, as is the norm, the
Valvetronix’s TREBLE and BASS controls mimic their namesakes while the MID-
DLE (“neutral” at 12 o’clock) and PRESENCE add further tonal flexibility...should
you want it. To ensure maximum “Voxiness,” we’ve made sure that the PRES-
ENCE control behaves exactly like the “Top Cut” on the original AC15 - except in
reverse (“off” = cut) to make it more logical, just like on our AC15 model.
In trademark VOX fashion, our AC15TBX model oozes clean tones that “jan-
gle” and “chime,” while its overdrives are smooth yet pulsating with desirable har-
monic overtones. Enjoy!
Original’s valve compliment: 5 x ECC83s in the preamp, 1 x 5Y3GT recti-
fier, 2 x EL84s in power amp.
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