Converting a VT** into a head??

[lspan2k]

OK, I have been playing my VT30 through a 4 x 8" cabinet and love the sound. I have considered buying a second VT30 (used) and removing the chassis from the cabinetry and perhaps install it into a shallow road case, with a couple of open rack spaces above the VT30 for rack-stuff.

I thought of turning the chassis over, so the control panel is now front-facing, and using a rack vent panels to take care of the cosmetic issues.

Would look like this (forgive the low-tech image..)

|-----------------------------------------|
|......(19" 2U rack space)............|
|......( 2U vent panel )...............|
| O OOO OOOOO oooo oooo | (LOL, those are the jacks, knobs, etc...)
| ooo.....oooo..(VT30)...............|
|........( 1U vent panel)..............|

Make a nice little head/FX rack combo and still have my original VT30 for small gigs.

Anyone ever done anything like this??

[raston]

Sounds like a great idea After playing my VT30 through a vintage Marshall 4x12 cab (& loving it), I toyed with idea of turning my VT into a head... but never went ahead with it. I like your idea of the extra slots for effects racks.

[lcs]

I've considered this as well with my VT 20+

I did something similar with a Fender solid state amp a few years ago, it was quite simple. The knobs were on the front of this amp, and there was a cabinet out plug. I got a piece of metal that would fit a 2U rack, cut a hole and had a friend weld the amp "guts" into the hole. It looked really good from the front.

The problem I see for my vt 20+ would be getting speaker output, since the amp doesn't include one. I considered the Loop Mod kit posted on this forum, but I only need the output so the kit is a little overkill.

I guess if you could get just a speaker output, you could mod the current amp cabinet/housing. Take the speaker out, remove the front grill area, detach the bottom, chop down the sides to the desired height, put the bottom back on, and trim the front grill to fit. I think you could get it down to the height of a "night train" no problem. Keep us posted!

[retrobob]

There is a guy over at the vox forum that has done this, I'm sure he'll help;
http://www.voxamps.com/forum/topic.php?id=3422

[Dannyboy 65]

OK, I have been playing my VT30 through a 4 x 8" cabinet and love the sound.

Can you tell me where you found a 4x8 cab? I've just ordered a VT15 and would like to add the effects loop kit upgrade and a 4x8" cab if possible. Seems like a lot of money to spend for the little VT15, but I just record at home so a set up like this would be great.

Thanks,

Danny

[lspan2k]

Danny, I found the cabinet at a pawn shop. Bought it and the GT60 head for $200.
Hartke 4 x 8 guitar cab, part of their GT60 Piggyback mini-half-stack. I don't think they made them very long.

[Buddy]

I plan to do exactly this with my VT100. Gonna get the jack sockets sorted first and see if it turns out reliable enough to make the effort.
I'm not particularly fussed about having forward facing controls though, so it should be a pretty straightforward case of cutting the top off, fitting vents and a bottom to it and re-covering it.
Also then I'll have a nice 2x12 cab.

I want to do this because I also do a lot of gigs on bass, so I can simply use this one head and take the guitar cab if I'm on guitar or the bass cab if I'm on bass.
The VT also makes a surprisingly lovely sounding bass amp if set up right & plugged into a bass cab! Part of the reason I bought it..

[Buddy]

If you're wondering what it might look like..

[Dannyboy 65]

That looks pretty cool Buddy!

Danny

[Buddy]

Hehe, its not real. I just did that with photoshop to see what it would look like.
Sending it off for some to have neutrik jack sockets fitted on Monday, then I'll start chopping it up next week. Will post a pic of the real thing when its done.