Opinions on Vox tone vs. EF86

[ViperDoc]

Is the EF86 preamp critical to the AC30 tone? I’m more into the single input combo design when channel mixing is off the menu. I’ve seen several top boost circuits that spec the 12AX7. Curious to know your thoughts. Thanks.

[joeboo88]

Hi Vipe. I built an AC30 with the normal and top boost. The normal channel for me sucked, so I put in a ef86 channel.
it’s better than the the normal channel and has good grunt, but I tend to use the top boost the most. For me the top boost channel is what I want to hear and sounds like an AC30 should?
Oh I also put in a ppmiv master and this amps seems to work well with this

Here is the schematic I used... I also used the 30H choke (Hammond)


https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20627

[ViperDoc]

Thanks, Joe! I've been looking at your build as one of the references. A true AC30/4 with trem and 8-10 tubes just seems like more trouble than I'm worth. I looked at the Hoffman AC30 which is a normal and top boost 12AX7-only build.

https://el34world.com/Hoffman/files/Hoffman_AC30.pdf

I like the consolidated design. Yours looks great too. I wonder how many EF86/AC15 builds there are out there? I'm still poking in the weeds.

[pompeiisneaks]

Thanks, Joe! I've been looking at your build as one of the references. A true AC30/4 with trem and 8-10 tubes just seems like more trouble than I'm worth. I looked at the Hoffman AC30 which is a normal and top boost 12AX7-only build.

https://el34world.com/Hoffman/files/Hoffman_AC30.pdf

I like the consolidated design. Yours looks great too. I wonder how many EF86/AC15 builds there are out there? I'm still poking in the weeds.

I built an EF86 driven Vox AC30/4 and love the normal channel with EF86. The more commonly known/loved tone, though I think is the top boost version, not the older EF86 version. SOOO... up to you. I also really love the tremolo on the AC30/4.

~Phil

[ViperDoc]

I seem to recall the Vox trem is a harmonic version. That would be cool.