The Beatles' "sound" and Vox Amps

[Angel]

Good morning.

A band in the studio yesterday used old Vox amps for their guitars, and I was amazed that they sounded just like our favorite old Beatles records. My simple question is: Why do these amps sound the way they do? Truly unlike any Fender amps I've ever heard. Is that why the Beatles used them?

These Vox pieces really hummed like crazy, and the amp tech told us that they blow up, and the tubes wear out very quickly. The reason that bands use them is to sound like the Beatles I guess, right? But why inspired the lads to use these? Price? Sound?

I wasn't sure where to put this thread, so I stuck it here in "Music Corner". It is the Beatles we are talking about...

Thanks one and all! :)

[Steve Hoffman]

LOL! They DO blow up indeed.

I think the Beatles used them because they could get them easily, and they could be fixed easily. Fender amps were hard to come by back then in England.

I'm sure George and John liked the Vox amps because of the illusion of loudness. Vox amps were designed in a pure class A circuit, with four EL84's in a push pull combination. This made for a thick midrangy tone with great presence. I mean, the tubes clip in a Vox AC-30 very quickly, so what remains is that compressed loud "British" sound that so many other amps have tried to copy over the years (Matchless, etc.)

By 1964, the boys were using the newest Vox AC-30's (30 watts) with "Top Boost", a circuit that did funky things to the tone. NOT a fuzz or distortion thing at all actually. Hmmmm. Good example of the "Top Boost" circuit switched on? Lemme walk around the room for a second......

Ah. "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party". Listen to George's guitar solo in the middle, THAT'S the sound of the "Top Boost" AC-30. Neat, eh? He didn't use it that much, but it sure sounds great. Doesn't hurt that he is playing a Gretsch Country Gent. on that song, with those "Filter-Tron" pickups. Sort of a humbucking sound, with a bit of top end "out of phase" boost. A unique guitar sound that George uses all over Beatles For Sale.

Oh yeah, "Words Of Love" has two "Top Boosted" guitars, plus the tone knob turned all the way up. Cool sounds. "Honey Don't" has it as well.

I know that George Martin LOVED those little Vox AC-30 amps, as did all the EMI engineers. Why? They compressed themselves. They just needed a mic and a bit of volume and the "sound" was there.

Remember, if you use a Vox AC-30 in the USA, be sure and change the rectifier tube in there, ok? The voltage is way different here. Could be part of the hum problem, and the blowing up problem.

Angel, I remember finding out a while back that George used a Fender Strat on "Day Tripper" through his Vox. I tried it out on mine and BINGO, the exact sound. Wow. Sometimes life's simple pleasures are the best!
:)

[JohnnyK]

Go to this web site. It contains everything that you ever wanted, or needed, to know about VOX equipment. Great historical information and great pictures.

http://www.voxshowroom.com/

[Jeff H.]

I understand that when Korg started making the reissue AC-30 amps that they redesigned some of the circuitry so they wouldn't blow up. The ventilation grill on the top is also larger because one other unpleasant side effect of the old Voxes not enough air would get the valves and the wiring would get really hot and catch fire!!! Bummer!!! Definitely a wonderful sounding amp. A guy who fixes my guitars offered to sell me his AC-30 w/Greenbacks for $1100. The amps' in great cosmetic shape and hasn't been played out very much. Think this is a good deal?

[Steve Hoffman]

BUY IT NOW!!!!!

Or give ME his number.

[Angel]

Thanks for the replies.

I now realize that the Vox sound really is the sound of the British Invasion.

Wow.

[Steve Hoffman]

Indeed it is. It's amazing when I watch players that I know plug in to a Vox AC-30 for the first time. Their eyes light up and their jaw drops. They usually go, "Oh My GOD, I'M IN THE BEATLES!"

What is amazing to me is that most of the Beatles' live shows in the first year just used those amps, and nothing else. Not even a PA microphine on the amp speakers. Just those dinky 30 watt amps. They really do sound louder than they look. And, of course, the way they were designed, in full Class A, the Vox SOUNDS BETTER the louder it is cranked.

Love it!

[vinylrec]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman

Angel, I remember finding out a while back that George used a Fender Strat on "Day Tripper" through his Vox. I tried it out on mine and BINGO, the exact sound.

Yeah, and don't forget the Pyramid Gold Flatwound Strings.....

[Steve Hoffman]

THAT'S RIGHT. ESSENTIAL FOR THOSE OF YOU AUDITIONING FOR YOUR LOCAL THEATRE GROUP PRODUCTION OF BEATLEMANIA.

I wish I had some of those strings....:(

[vinylrec]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
THAT'S RIGHT. ESSENTIAL FOR THOSE OF YOU AUDITIONING FOR YOUR LOCAL THEATRE GROUP PRODUCTION OF BEATLEMANIA.

I wish I had some of those strings....:(

They are the only strings I'll put on my '66 Rickenbacker 12 string....Super!!!

[Joe Koz]

The Beatles used Vox amps because Vox gave it to them to use for FREE publicity. There is a new book out called "Beatles Gear". Great book. Great story.....

[Steve Hoffman]

Originally posted by vinylrec


They are the only strings I'll put on my '66 Rickenbacker 12 string....Super!!!

Are you saying they still make those? :eek:

[vinylrec]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman


Are you saying they still make those? :eek:

Here's the link.....

http://www.pyramidstrings.com/

[Dugan]

Just wanted to give you the link to the VoxTalks forum

http://www.voxtalks.com/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/UltraBoard.pl?Session=

alot of good info there.

[Jeff H.]

Steve, they certainly still do make flatwound Pyramid Strings. I have a set of 11's on my Epi Casino and a set of 13's on my reissue Gibson J-160-E. They have wonderful tone and last forever!!! I haven't changed them in close to a year! I'm not sure where you can buy them online, I usually get mine at Gary Brawer's in SF. Check smaller guitar shops since the big places like Guitar Center don't carry 'em.

[Steve Hoffman]

So Jeff, you're a Beatle type player also, eh? Didn't know there were so many of us.

How is that Gibson J-160? Bet it sounds just like "I'll Be Back" and "This Boy", eh? Neato. Always liked the sound of a smaller Gibson.

We should all get together and jam, you, vinylrec and the rest of us. We might be the next Oasis.

[Cousin It]

Don't forget the Shadows !!
Howsa about Brian May of Queen,probably the only major rock guitarist of the 70's to use them,had 9 of 'em on stage as I recall,only liked those early 60's ones.

[JohnnyK]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
So Jeff, you're a Beatle type player also, eh? Didn't know there were so many of us.

How is that Gibson J-160? Bet it sounds just like "I'll Be Back" and "This Boy", eh? Neato. Always liked the sound of a smaller Gibson.

We should all get together and jam, you, vinylrec and the rest of us. We might be the next Oasis.

Steve,

I have a set of black oyster Ludwig drums that I got back in 1966. They look just like Ringo’s, except that they have additional tom-toms and cymbals. Can I come jam with you guys?

JohnnyK

Ludwig drums---The beat goes on

[Jeff H.]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
So Jeff, you're a Beatle type player also, eh? Didn't know there were so many of us.

How is that Gibson J-160? Bet it sounds just like "I'll Be Back" and "This Boy", eh? Neato. Always liked the sound of a smaller Gibson.

We should all get together and jam, you, vinylrec and the rest of us. We might be the next Oasis.


Steve, my J-160E is one of my prized possessions!! It's one of the Montana made ones with a solid top so it sounds way better than the originals unplugged. Plugged in you get that sound on "I Feel Fine" and "Do You Want To Know A Secret". One other reason I love this guitar is that I'm the only left handed kid on my block with one! Sits very proudly next to my lefty Casino and '62 reissue Hofner Beatle Bass. If I'm ever in the neighborhood, I'd love to get together and jam.:D

[Steve Hoffman]

Wow, JohnnyK on drums too!

We really DO have a Beatles' band!

[PsychFan]

In addition to my Hofner Beatle bass and my 6- and 12-string Rickenbackers, I bought an Epiphone EJ-200 jumbo acoustic guitar recently.

Harrison played a Gibson J-200 all over the White Album, Let it Be and Abbey Road (think "Long Long Long," "For You Blue" and "Here Comes the Sun," for starters). I couldn't afford the J-200, but Epiphone's much more affordable "knockoff" is actually quite nice. When I play "Here Comes the Sun" it gets close enough for my taste!

Sounds GREAT playing along with Tommy too ... And it records quite well (with some strategic mic placement and EQ). I recently recorded a cover of Buddy Holly's "Well All Right," and it really excelled on that.

Unfortunately, I have yet to play through a Vox AC30. I own a Vox Pathfinder practice amp -- very good for the money and its purpose, but I don't consider it a real piece of Vox equipment ...

My main amp is still a vintage '70s Fender Twin.

[Steve Hoffman]

OK Jeff. You can play with us!:)

[JohnnyK]

Originally posted by Jeff Partyka

My main amp is still a vintage '70s Fender Twin.

Jeff,

Nothing beats the sound of vintage Fender equipment. When I was in a Rock band in the late '60's, the rhythm guitar player had a 12 string Fender and the lead guitar player had a Startocaster. Both of them had 1967 Dual Showman amps. God those amps were LOUD. You could crank them up to 11, and they would not distort. As I recall, even though the volume control went from 1 to 10, it was possible to turn it past 10. Amazing clean sound.

John

[PsychFan]

You're right, John. I actually wouldn't trade my Twin for anything. I've played it in all kinds of live situations and in studios, and it just rocks, whatever it is you're doing. And it does indeed respond VERY well to cranking up!

[vinylrec]

Originally posted by Jeff Partyka

Unfortunately, I have yet to play through a Vox AC30

Jeff, I'll bring my AC-30 to the jam...