Any VOX AC30 players here?

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Ventura

Ventura

Well-known member
Just wondering... I've had the chance to play one of these lately and I'm pretty impressed with their tone, their breakup, their response, etc. Just wondering who here digs or pigs on these :dunno:

Thanks,
Mo
 
I have the AC30 custom classic with Alnico Blues.
Love it, just doesn't work for my current band situation
 
Not an owner, but I've absolutely loved the ones I've played. On my list of amps to own someday.
 
Yes. Vox amps are my main tube amps, and the main sound I go for with my modelers. I have three: AC4TV, AC15H1TV and an AC30H2. I also use a Liverpool as the amp in my G-System direct board.

I have a small pedal board I use with my Vox tube amps:

Pitchblack --> JangleBox (compressor) --> Boss AB-2 (to switch between the EF86 and TB channels)

My only other tube amp is a Fender Deco Tone (FCS Blues Jr.)

:yes:
 
...and they sound best with Rickenbackers, and the occasional Epi Casino. IMO/YMMV.

:yes:

:D


(coincidently, these are the very guitars I use with my Vox amps. I dig my Steinberger, just not into a Vox)

;)
 
One of the best cover band tones I've heard was a Vox AC30, never played one myself.
 
You know, i used to rehearse with one. We played some classic rock ala deep purple. I only used a tubescreamer and my LP and sounded pretty cool for that kind of stuff.

I dont think it can go heavier than that btw, but its just my opinion.
 
for the money they are fantastic. i wish i had one. those things really wail if you set it up correctly.
 
My other guitarist uses an AC30CC w/blues. I've spent a bunch of time with it and think it works well for rock and lighter. Definitely not a metal amp. Loves single coils and takes pedals exceptionally well. Not my particular speed, but can't say I dislike what it does.
 
I love them...aside from great tone they have a unique feel that the other guys (Fender, Marshall) just can't duplicate. The only reason I don't own one now is that I prefer Matchless...similar design but built much more rugged.
 
VOX AC30 Heritage player here! Using Tube-Vibe - D/13 Dyna-Ranger - Fulltone TTE - into amp. Nothing sounds like an AC30. :thumbsup:
 
Awesome responses... Ya, I was pretty impressed when I jacked into the thing. I mean, I've had - oh - 10+ years working with the big dawgs and heavy heads in the 100W department; all the usual suspects, and don't get me wrong, I'd not give them up for anything. But the AC30 is a romantic sounding amp!! I mean, it's got a lot of sweet tone to it, and when I cranked it up - void of ANY effects and stomps - it was sounding bloody fine :yes:

Might snag one and keep 'er in the stable. For those of you that own these puppies, what are the differences within the lineage? I know they're loaded with Celestion Blue or Gold cones; they're Class A; what else?? I played my Goldtop through it, and sure, I can see why SCs might sound good, the goldtop sang through this thing brilliantly. It had hair on it - some bite - to me, what sounded like an incredibly PERFECT recordable tone (as we all know, when recording you can't do room level gain with a close mic, it needs substantial backing off... I wanted to hear what this thing sounded like with a SM57 jammed up against it :thumbsup: ).

Great feedback - keep it coming!!
Mo
 
My AC15H1TV and AC30H2 are Heritage / Anniversary amps; these have Blues but not the UK cone...some people hear a difference; these have the EF86 and Top Boost channels. I'd like to have the Normal channel instead of the TB, but I dig the EF86.

The new handwired series have blues with the correct UK cone or you can get greenbacks, normal channel and top boost...but they also have an MV which is new to the AC30 (and AC15) AFAIK. The MV has a bypass option too.

If you don't want vintage '60s, Korg made the TB and TBX versions in the UK (actually made by Marshall under contract to Korg) in the mid 90s - early 200s and they are well liked. see: http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/ac30tbx.html - great info on the models through the years on this site...

If I was in the market for an AC30 today, I'd get the separate AC30HWH (head) and V212HWX (cab).


Still hoping they do a new AC100 just like the AC100 Mk II from the late '60s...until then, I fight Vox GAS on a regular basis.
 
That's a misconception on the VOX AC30. The AC30 is actually a Class AB cathode-bias amplifier.

Seems like the blues sound best with these amps - although I'm running the gold UK cones. Maybe I can find some who wants to trade? The AC30 top-end is SO beautiful! Although it's such a huge part of the tone - you never get fatigued by it. There are some great AC30 clones out there, but none of them really nail that wonderful VOX midrange.
 
Didn't it start out as an amp from an organ? Taken out of the organ and turned into a guitar amp?
 
jlbaxe":k0yzolip said:
Didn't it start out as an amp from an organ? Taken out of the organ and turned into a guitar amp?
Click to expand...
I think that JMI use to make organs, but I'm not sure? btw - nice Bogner rig!
 
Aparently the new AC15HW1(x) and AC30HW2(x) are the best Vox amps (tonally) since the 60's era. They are also handwired on turret board and have no loop or verb/trem but have the normal and TB channels with a 'hot' option on the TB ch to give it more aggression and gain.

I'm going to add one of these to the stable (AC15HW1x) as Vox amps are killer IMHO. They aren't gain monsters but are sweet, dynamic amps which can fuel your Brian May moments whilst also sounding great clean and breaking up naturally.

Yes, they aren't actually Class A!
 
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