In light of the new The Edge section in Gear Guides, I think it is appropriate to write an article about sounding like Edge on a budget. We'll set the budget at $1000, and I'll show you that it is pretty easy to get his core sound with a relatively small budget. Granted, we won't be able to cover everything, because the amount of required pedals alone would surpass $1000, but the following rig is one that I have personally used and have had great success with.
In light of the new The Edge section in Gear Guides, I think it is appropriate to write an article about sounding like Edge on a budget. We'll set the budget at $1000, and I'll show you that it is pretty easy to get his core sound with a relatively small budget. Granted, we won't be able to cover everything, because the amount of required pedals alone would surpass $1000, but the following rig is one that I have personally used and have had great success with.
The Vox AC4TV was an all around hit for budget musicians, bedroom players, and those who want to record cranked tubes at lower volumes. Following in the trails of success comes the AC4C1, offered in two cool colors and a couple new updates, all for $50 extra.
Features & Build
The AC4C1 has a very limited control panel - Gain, Treble, Bass, and Volume. This is exciting, considering the AC4TV only has Tone, Volume, and OP Level. There is one input, and also a 16 ohm jack for connecting an external cabinet. However, these additional tone sculpting options come at a cost - unlike it's cheaper sibling, there is no attenuator built in. All of this tone is being pushed through a custom 10" Celestion speaker. Mine came in limited edition cream. The tolex looks very pretty, and the amp looks slick with the gold logo and silver grill cloth. It is very lightweight, making it super easy to transport.
Sound
Plugging in my Fender Stratocaster (Vintage Noiseless pickups), the amp has that compression and chime that Vox is famous for. Keeping the gain below noon, you can keep a single coil equipped guitar clean at pretty much any volume. Turning up the gain to about 1 o' clock gives you just enough grit to summon up "The Joshua Tree" tones. That is why I purchased this amp, and for that purpose, it greatly succeeds. For a humbucker equipped guitar like my ESP LTD EC-1000 (Seymour Duncan JB/'59), it is much more difficult to get a clean sound. A light crunch sounds very good, but as you turn up the gain knob (past 1 o' clock), the sound gets very fuzzy despite where the volume is. This is a characteristic that many small tube amps have, so I'm not too surprised about that. Regardless, that fuzziness inspired me to embrace the tone and learn some classic 60's rock n' roll. It was a blast.
I have to admit, the built in speaker isn't that great. Unfortunately, the combo sounds small and boxy. You can't get the complete package for $300, but I believe the external speaker jack helps make up for this. Plugging into my Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12C's, the amp really came to life. The tones sounded much fuller, less fizzy, and overall bigger. The AC4C1 also takes effects surprisingly well. Throwing a delay up front, the sound never gets muddied up or busy. I was able to plug in a myriad of effects without a problem, and they all sounded fine to my ears.
The Verdict
The AC4C1 is a lot of amp in a cheap package. Although it'll struggle to keep up with a drummer, it can still sound huge in a recording situation. And believe me, these 4 all-tube watts are still very loud. The external speaker option is my favorite inclusion, just because it turns the amp from small and boxy, to full and rich. This is Vox "Top Boost" tone in a 4 watt amp. If you're looking for a tiny Vox to jam on, this should be on the top of your list.
tonechaser score - 8/10
The Vox AC4TV was an all around hit for budget musicians, bedroom players, and those who want to record cranked tubes at lower volumes. Following in the trails of success comes the AC4C1, offered in two cool colors and a couple new updates, all for $50 extra.
Features & Build
The AC4C1 has a very limited control panel - Gain, Treble, Bass, and Volume. This is exciting, considering the AC4TV only has Tone, Volume, and OP Level. There is one input, and also a 16 ohm jack for connecting an external cabinet. However, these additional tone sculpting options come at a cost - unlike it's cheaper sibling, there is no attenuator built in. All of this tone is being pushed through a custom 10" Celestion speaker. Mine came in limited edition cream. The tolex looks very pretty, and the amp looks slick with the gold logo and silver grill cloth. It is very lightweight, making it super easy to transport.
Sound
Plugging in my Fender Stratocaster (Vintage Noiseless pickups), the amp has that compression and chime that Vox is famous for. Keeping the gain below noon, you can keep a single coil equipped guitar clean at pretty much any volume. Turning up the gain to about 1 o' clock gives you just enough grit to summon up "The Joshua Tree" tones. That is why I purchased this amp, and for that purpose, it greatly succeeds. For a humbucker equipped guitar like my ESP LTD EC-1000 (Seymour Duncan JB/'59), it is much more difficult to get a clean sound. A light crunch sounds very good, but as you turn up the gain knob (past 1 o' clock), the sound gets very fuzzy despite where the volume is. This is a characteristic that many small tube amps have, so I'm not too surprised about that. Regardless, that fuzziness inspired me to embrace the tone and learn some classic 60's rock n' roll. It was a blast.
I have to admit, the built in speaker isn't that great. Unfortunately, the combo sounds small and boxy. You can't get the complete package for $300, but I believe the external speaker jack helps make up for this. Plugging into my Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12C's, the amp really came to life. The tones sounded much fuller, less fizzy, and overall bigger. The AC4C1 also takes effects surprisingly well. Throwing a delay up front, the sound never gets muddied up or busy. I was able to plug in a myriad of effects without a problem, and they all sounded fine to my ears.
The Verdict
The AC4C1 is a lot of amp in a cheap package. Although it'll struggle to keep up with a drummer, it can still sound huge in a recording situation. And believe me, these 4 all-tube watts are still very loud. The external speaker option is my favorite inclusion, just because it turns the amp from small and boxy, to full and rich. This is Vox "Top Boost" tone in a 4 watt amp. If you're looking for a tiny Vox to jam on, this should be on the top of your list.
tonechaser score - 8/10
Just the other day, I came across an awesome trade offer - my Vox AC4C1, a Dunlop Crybaby 535Q, and $40 for a Splawn cabinet! I've been hunting one of these down forever, but the prices have been a bit too much for me, so I couldn't turn this offer down. There are a few scuffs here and there, the 'Marshall' logo is a bit sideways (it came with the Splawn logo too, I just haven't put it on yet), but it's got some serious mojo.
First of all, this cab is built like a tank. It weighs considerably more than my Marshall cabinet, and is about 2" wider on the sides. This makes it extremely difficult and awkward for one person to transport, especially if you're moving up and down stairs. Bring a friend! There is also a locking 1/4" jack on the 16 ohm input, which is a neat feature I have never seen before. The handles on the side are metal, which feels a lot sturdier than the typical plastic that most cabs come equipped with. It's a pretty looking cabinet, but Splawn obviously built this for the road.
My cab came installed with Celestion Vintage 30's and G12T-75's in an x-pattern. The combo sounds great together, giving off quite a modern vibe compared to my G12C loaded Marshall cab. There are less mids, more bass, and an overall darker sound. I'm a self-professed Greenback fanatic, but the V30/G12T-75 combo is not too shabby. To truly test the speakers, I went straight to Drop-D and played some of my favorite Dream Theater riffs. All I can say is, wow! There was some extra "oomph" in bass that surely upset the neighbors, and the cab projected wonderfully no matter how I was oriented toward the speakers.
Splawn has never ceased to impress me, and their cabinets are no exception. These are road warriors (that is, if you can get past the trouble it takes to transport), but would sit just as comfortably in a home studio. Pretty much any head will look great with them, because there are a ton of customization options on the website. And last but not least, they sound awesome. Big, beefy tone that will make your bandmates jealous. For the price, features, and sound, these Splawn cabinets deserve far more attention than they are getting.
tonechaser score - 9.5/10
Just the other day, I came across an awesome trade offer - my Vox AC4C1, a Dunlop Crybaby 535Q, and $40 for a Splawn cabinet! I've been hunting one of these down forever, but the prices have been a bit too much for me, so I couldn't turn this offer down. There are a few scuffs here and there, the 'Marshall' logo is a bit sideways (it came with the Splawn logo too, I just haven't put it on yet), but it's got some serious mojo.
First of all, this cab is built like a tank. It weighs considerably more than my Marshall cabinet, and is about 2" wider on the sides. This makes it extremely difficult and awkward for one person to transport, especially if you're moving up and down stairs. Bring a friend! There is also a locking 1/4" jack on the 16 ohm input, which is a neat feature I have never seen before. The handles on the side are metal, which feels a lot sturdier than the typical plastic that most cabs come equipped with. It's a pretty looking cabinet, but Splawn obviously built this for the road.
My cab came installed with Celestion Vintage 30's and G12T-75's in an x-pattern. The combo sounds great together, giving off quite a modern vibe compared to my G12C loaded Marshall cab. There are less mids, more bass, and an overall darker sound. I'm a self-professed Greenback fanatic, but the V30/G12T-75 combo is not too shabby. To truly test the speakers, I went straight to Drop-D and played some of my favorite Dream Theater riffs. All I can say is, wow! There was some extra "oomph" in bass that surely upset the neighbors, and the cab projected wonderfully no matter how I was oriented toward the speakers.
Splawn has never ceased to impress me, and their cabinets are no exception. These are road warriors (that is, if you can get past the trouble it takes to transport), but would sit just as comfortably in a home studio. Pretty much any head will look great with them, because there are a ton of customization options on the website. And last but not least, they sound awesome. Big, beefy tone that will make your bandmates jealous. For the price, features, and sound, these Splawn cabinets deserve far more attention than they are getting.
tonechaser score - 9.5/10
In light of the new The Edge section in Gear Guides, I think it is appropriate to write an article about sounding like Edge on a budget. We'll set the budget at $1000, and I'll show you that it is pretty easy to get his core sound with a relatively small budget. Granted, we won't be able to cover everything, because the amount of required pedals alone would surpass $1000, but the following rig is one that I have personally used and have had great success with.
