Vox AC30

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 9
im planning on getting a ac30 myself i heard its the best tone in the world for all out rock....

Sound Quality: 9
i use my gibson custom with an emg-81 and just the stock for rhythm....i think it would fit anyone whos looking for that jimmy page rawness ;)

Reliability: 10
i can depend in it a lot...you can use it anywhere and i think it has an external output for a cab...i think..and its raw tone and the tubes that it has:5 ECC83s and one ECC82 in the pre-amp stage, 4 EL84s in the power stage, and a GZ34 rectifier tube its an all out war in this amp ;)

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 10
this amp gives you 110% and you will be satsified if you want that crunchy zeppelin tone :)and its good for any types of rock

Submitted by Anonymous at 02/22/2003 05:38

Price Paid: US $1000 used

Features: 9
I have owned this amp for about three years. It's a 1993 model(the first year Korg took over). I play Christian Rock and for this style there is no other. If your reading this article then you are already familiar with the amps features! Though not extensive, the features get the job done. Rather nicely I might add!

Sound Quality: 10
My main choice is an American Tele. I also use a Gibson LP Standard. The tele sounds more "VOX" than does the Gibson, but the LP still sounds amazing. The Vox AC-30 is one of the most sought after tones in the history of electric guitar. What more can I say? If you do not play larger venues, then I would recommend the AC-15. The AC-30 is too hot to get the tube saturation that is needed for that Vox patented sound! Still yet at lower volumes, the quality is better than most.

Reliability: 10
Like I said previously, I've owned the amp for three years. The only problem I've ever encountered has been the fuses. But any quick fluctuation in power current can cause a fuse to pop. Aside from the fuses (which I keep extra on stage) the only other purchases I've made concerning the Vox have been, of course tubes, and a flightcase.
Fuses are going to go out, tubes are going to go bad, all in all the Vox AC-30 is very dependable.

Customer Support: 5
I contacted the company to inquire about some n.o.s. mullard tubes. They never e-mailed me back. That was about six months ago. Hey, maybe they are busy. I'm neutral in this category.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been playing for about 15 years, and no other amp compares. At the time of purchase I was debating between the Vox and a Boogie. Yeah the Boogie has more features and sounds great, but the Vox still hails in comparison. This amp is not for metal. Instead, it caters to the British/Southern Rock sound!

Submitted by Jason at 01/28/2003 07:23

Price Paid: 150 (UK pounds)

Features: N/A
My AC30 is a 1965 non top boost model. I have owned it about 4 years. I got it with no front grille, so I had to buy a reissue grill for it As for features it's pretty well known, except mine has the footswitch missing and so the tremolo doesn't work. It has hardly any 'features' just three channels, each with a volume, and an overall cut which cuts out the high frequencies.
So no rating because you don't buy one of these for features, if they made a split channel super EQ version it probably would sound awful.

Sound Quality: 10
I use this amp with a strat with EMGs and a boost switch, and a tele with EMGs including a bridge humbucker. There is a bit of hiss when loud but less than a high gain type amplifier (I have owned loads of amps, and currently own 7)
The sound is ace, quite different from Fender or Marshall. For clean it makes a good pingy/chimey clean, that sounds 'rich' but not distorted. When turned up all the way it does a great overdrive sound. It is also good for 'touch responsive' playing, if turned up loud and you back off on how you hit the guitar, or turn down the guitar volume.
Has to be a 10 for me, but the sound is not very adjustable, you either like it or you don't. It works well with distortion pedals for gigs where you can't turn it up full. Also works ok but not brilliant with a power soak (mine is the THD which is ace with the Marshalls I've got)
It is very loud. If there is a weakness it is that even at quite large gigs up to a few hundred people it is still too loud!
In the studio situation, it is really good for that 'slightly distorted' sound, for picky parts or chords etc.

Reliability: 10
I have a spare, but I've done about 100 gigs with it over several years, not even new tubes. In fact after about 2 years of gigging about every week, I decided to take it to a repair shop and get it cleaned up. So maybe I'm lucky, but it's never broken down.
I have had crap in the pots making them crackle though, but that will happen to any amp.

Customer Support: N/A
Never needed repair, but easy to fix, except for finding original components, transformers etc you'd have to replace with new ones.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been playing about 15 years, i own 2 vintage marshalls, JTM45 and superlead, a Marshall JCM2000, a fender Princeton (transistor one), and a vox Climax (looks like an AC30 -125 watt valve 2x12 combo)
None of the other amps do what the AC30 can do (and vice versa)
I am very glad I bought it. If lost or stolen i would definitely buy another

Submitted by Mat Grant at 01/14/2003 10:48

Price Paid: US $750 used

Features: 9
Mine is a 1992 RI ac30...bought it second-hand in 1994 for $750. The fellow selling it to me had a second identical ac30 and I kick myself for not having bought it, too. It came with 2 Celestion "Greenbacks", but I hear the Bulldog speakers kick every other speaker's ass...don't know personally, never played through them. It has the typical 3-channels, but I only ever use the Brilliant channel, the others are too limited for my needs.

Sound Quality: 10
I used to play a Rickenbacker 360 through it...couldn't have asked for a more pure, magical sound. Of course to achieve that beautiful Vox distortion you gotta crank it up pretty loud, which doesn't go over very well in a small club setting...I used to turn the amp around (facing the back wall) to curb some of the sonic assault. Also, it has such a sparkling high end, borderline shrill at times...cutting back on the guitar's tone control usually curbed some of that...in the end I found the lack of overdrive to volume ratio to be too limited for me, so I had a master volume custom installed on it. I also had a switch put on which allows me the option of toggling between the drive of a standard ac30 and that of an ac15, a subtle tonal difference, but nice to have the option. This amp is pretty near perfect, though being "class A" it demands consistent tune-ups. I now play a Les Paul and an SG...best sounding amp ever. I custom-made a little door to put on the back of the amp which allows me to close the amp for tighter low end...I find it nice to have that option when I need it.

Reliability: 9
Had a lot of tune-ups over the years and a few small minor repairs (tube replacements aside). I blew a capacitor onstage once, but it was easily repaired and I haven't had any breakdowns since. Had a master volume installed which didn't affect the tone one bit. I looked into having a "point to point" done to it, but more than one repair person told me it wasn't worth the price, being that the circuit boards used on the RI's would have to be totally ripped apart, etc. I'm not giving up, though. I think every ac30 is different, and I've heard many others complain of the unreliability of the later RI's under rigorous use, but my ac30 has been going strong for 10 years. Just like any temperamental piece of equipment (musical or otherwise) it's good to bring it into the shop for tune-ups on a regular basis. If you have the means and are particularly cautious by nature, buy a second ac30 for backup. Nothing's better than an ac30, except perhaps 2 ac30's!

Customer Support: N/A
Never dealt directly with the company as far as repairs were concerned, though a few years ago I called for a schematic and had no problem at all in getting one. I've been lucky in having dealt with some fantastic tube amplifier repair people, so before purchasing one of these amps, make sure you have someone reliable and reputable at hand.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been on the quest for the best sounding amp forever now, and I keep thinking that this or that amp might be better than the ac30, but I always come back to the source. I choose to run a stereo rig onstage; I've paired the ac30 with an Ampeg v-4, with a Marshall 50-watt and most recently with an Orange Retro50. I like the combination of a fat closed-back amp with the ac30 tone, but either way, I'd never part from the ac30.

Submitted by Anonymous at 11/16/2002 13:39

Price Paid: US $1500.00

Features: 10
It is a Korg re-issue bought in 2001.It was the greatest sounding amp
ever. I used delay and distortion for leads in a 60's dance band.
Never used the Tremolo channel it didn't really do the kind of trem
I like,plus enormous lack of sound in Trem.It was plenty loud.I used it 5 nites a week in my lounge band, never pushed it.

Sound Quality: 10
Sound was the greatest in the world

Reliability: 1
It stopped working exactly one year after I bought it.I have been
devestated, The stand by light stayed on after it was unplugged and no sound, believe me I loved this thing,and I really babied it.It has
been in the shop since February 2002.In retrospect I have learned that these R.I. Vox A.C. 30'S are printed circuit boards and the chasis design is so bad that no one can really work on them.I regret this but if I can alert one person I feel that it could be helpfull. It is heart breaking.In retrospect I would buy a J.M.I. Vox from Plexipalace for $2850.00 because in the long run that's what it will cost to get my Vox back.

Customer Support: 1
Forget it they are in England and I live in Florida,plus I bought it thru Musician's friend,so no one locally would help.The warrenty is one year.

Overall Rating: 4
I still want one,but it is a very expensive venture.

Submitted by Mark Hendricks at 09/20/2002 18:16

Price Paid: 1235.99 (Canadian)

Features: 10
Brand new amp purchased in May 2002! Three channels, THREE!!!! After coming from a two channel Red Knob Fender Twin, I'm very happy. No reverb though...Tremelo is nice, better than the Boss Tremelo pedal (Actually sold the stomp a few weeks after purchasing the amp.) For a replacement of my old Twin, I don't think thier anything out there I would rather have to play Ska and Surf through!

Sound Quality: 10
Guitar(s):Danelectro U2 Guitar, Vantage Avenger, BC Rich, Epiphone "The Dot"
Pedal(s): Danelectro Cool Cat, Danelectro Black Coffee, Fender Chromatic Tuner, Boss Blues Driver, Crybaby Wah, Boos Acoustic Simulator

My main guitar is the Danelectro U2, and I'm very very happy with the sound. I actually went out and tried Messa Boogies, Marshals, Randals, Fenders, and Yorkvilles trying to find a sound that suited my Ska, Surf, and Punk playing style, and my guitars. I brought both my U2 and my Epiphone when I test drove the amps, and looked for the differense in the sound and ease of creating the sounds I wanted with the least amount of tinkering with the knobs. The result was the VOX AC30! I still can't get over the sound of this amp!

Reliability: N/A
I just bought the amp, so I can't really judge. But I know I wouldn't bring a backup with me to a gig!

Customer Support: N/A
havn't delt with them at this time

Overall Rating: 10
After my Fender Red knob Twin blew up in my face, I searched long and hard for a replacement, and it came down to the Vox. Ska is beautiful through this guitar, as is Surf, Punk, Emo, Metal, and Rock. I can change between playing styles and still be happy with the amp! One minute I will pump though some Matthew Good band inspired riffs, then change it up for some 2-Tone Ska, without ever changing channels! While using my Fender, I often had to change channels. I'm very surprised at the quality of this amp!

Submitted by Luke at 05/29/2002 02:08

Price Paid: trade

Features: 10
First off, feature wise it is excellent, the vib/trem are excellent. 3 Let me start by adressing the speaker issue, mine has the green speakers and the sound awsome. when trying to get some info on the green speakers I could not find any , so let me tell you that the green speakers sound just fine. It is cheaper and if you want you can always add the freakin BLUE speakers. three different channels, 3 different tones, pretty cool. no reverb, but not really needed. I am giving it a high rating in the features dept, because....... it is a f....ing amplifier, not swiss army knife. and face it all the features if the swiss army knife are kind of weak. who uses the toothpick?

Sound Quality: 10
I play a prs with dragon 2 pickups. I use a budda wah + , mesa v-twin, digitech whammy 1, boss dd5, and a boss sampler(backwards soloing). My guitar staight into this thing is sweet. this amp responds differently to every pickup setting, in a way that for the first time I have been acctualy enjoying the different sounds.Havent had that with preevious amps. This amp sounds and responds to everything you do amzingly cool. I use this amp in a modern rock outfit, lots of delay . I have had many different kinds of amps, mesa tremoverb, blue angel, peavey classic 50, jc120, art dst 25, fender super reverb, crate club 50... none have sounded as good as this. I have played three gigs with it so far, have enjoyed the sound of it eveynight. the more I play this amp the more I love it, the only thing cooler than this amp would be two of this amp. check the players, the edge, radiohead, brain may, frank black, the beatles, if that is not versatility, then I don't know. this amp really loud.

Reliability: N/A
no trouble, yet.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 10
definately a 10, i have been looking for this amp for a long time, i spent a lot of money and tiime on differnt amps, none as cool as this one. I finally realized one night that all my favorite bands and artists used these amps, so why not try it myself. best amp choice I ever made. I have been able to make ever amp i have ever had sound pretty good, but have always quickly noticed what it could not do. I was starting to think I would need to have an array of amps to get various sound, now I can see that with different guitars i can have all those variations wihtout, all the weight, and power cords and mikes, this amp kicks ass. Dear thiefs, if you ever steal my vox, I will kill you, not before I beat you. and, no wait better yet, I will kill everyone you love and let you live, and then I will chop off your feet and shove them up your ass.then everyone will know who tried to steal my vox, so please don't steal my vox, and that goes for any of my gear.

Submitted by Anonymous at 05/23/2002 01:42

Price Paid: 500 (GBP) used

Features: N/A
1960? I think. You know what features it has... Non top boost model.

Sound Quality: 9
The speakers were replaced when it was still quite new with Goodmans ones which are alnico like the original Vox speakers and after AB'ing this one with an all original one, I thought this one sounded better and it was cheaper!
I use it with a '74 Tele Custom and a '63 SG Junior.
The SG jr was made for this amp! I play Rock / Power Pop / Punk as part of a 3 piece + vocalist, so being the only guitarist, I need a big sound, so I run a Mesa V-twin infront of it.
This set up sounds so damn good, but the amp is unbeleivably directional. If you're not facing the amp square-on, you can't hear it during a gig.

This amp must be mic'ed up or the audience will not hear you. I am looking for another one, maybe a TB to run alongside this one, I think that AC30's were made to work as part of an army on stage 'cos when you hear two or more together they produce what I consider to be the best and ballsiest Rock tone ever...Just listen to anything by Queen (whether you like Queen or not).

I chain all 3 channels together with patch leads and usually run all 3 volume pots about 1/2 way (about the right level for on stage), then punish the input with the V-twin and the sound is tight as hell. You can almost hear the amp getting hotter and hotter (it gets too hot to touch the off switch after a few hours use!!!)

Basically this amp barks and snarls and when I play a venue big enough I will have a whole row of them blasting away!!

Reliability: 7
I've used it without a backup before and I will again. This thing is 40 years old and gets as hot as a nuclear reactor, but it has never even complained in the slightest...I know it is only a matter of time, but I like to fly by the seat of my pants anyway. Once I get another, I will have one still snarling if one packs up mid set.

Customer Support: N/A
Not applicable.

I wond if I should call Vox to see if the warranty is still running on this amp!!!

Overall Rating: 9
I've been playing 12 years and had this amp for 2. I had always put off an AC30 because of the size and weight, but I've realised that you can't play gigs with small amps...Oh well, I'd better get a back brace...
If it were stolen I'd get another, you can find an AC30 easy in London, and they vary in price from really low to stupid high, but in short I'll always be able to replace it, because even though they all sound a bit different to each other, they all sound great when cranked.

Submitted by Anonymous at 09/10/2001 08:21

Price Paid: US $1350.00

Features: 6
Brilliant, Normal and Trem channels with a volume for each. It is non-channel switching and has a bass and treble for the brilliant with a high cut knob that effects the output of all channels. No FX loop, reverb or any of that stuff just pure tone out of the "packed full of tubes" amp. I wish that the ac30 had a channel with a gain on it like it's little brother the ac15 although if you use hot pickups you'll get gain even if you don't want it.

Sound Quality: 7
I'm using Gibson Les Paul Standards and play rock, pop and some metal. I purchased the amp to use for clean tone and A/B between the AC30 and my Hughes & Kettner Tube 50 head/Marshall 1960tv cab. It's an amazing 30 or 33 watts rms... pretty loud. BUT with the les pauls this amp is hard to keep it clean. Works great for another dirty amp if I try to turn the volume from 10 o'clock upwards. I must admit, it was the tone that I was looking for at low volumes.

Reliability: 9
Haven't gig'd with it more than 3 times... my H&K seems to do the job by it's self. In the studio and for rehersal it does a good job.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 7
I've played guitar for around 20 years and this amp definately is a tone machine. I've owned Marshalls, vintage Fenders galore, Hughes & Kettner, Mesa, Peavey, and was tricked into buying a line 6 ax 2x12 once. I love the tone and the compression that the tube rectifier gives... what I dis-like is that the amp breaks up to early while using a les paul. I'd hate to change guitars since they sound like a dream through the Hughes & Kettner. If it broke down or something I'd just have to let it go and stick with the H&K gear since it seems to do the job better for me. Sorry to all the vox lovers for that comment (I'm one also). For a more versitile tone look for another tube amp because these AC30's are not all that cheap but for the same investment you can get something that has better features to suite your needs... try out a Triamp or Duo-tone by Hughes & Kettner.

Submitted by Anonymous at 07/23/2001 00:42

Price Paid: US alot. it was chromed. read on. used

Features: N/A
1964. Plexi Palace (Victor Mason and his tech Craig refurbished this amp from the ground up. They even chromed the chassis and trannies, stunning! Not a cheap option, but unreal. This amp has the Top Boost channel. That gives it 3 channels. Vibro trem, Standard and Top boost. High and low gain in each. Basic old circuit. No standby. Power tubes are 4 el84 power tubes. 30w 2x12 combo . 15w vox blue celestions, best in the world. My pre-amp tubes were changed from 12ax7 to the old style ef86, my request. Oh my god what a sound! More woody, more gain, no ice picky tones.

Sound Quality: 10
This is the best blues amp in the history of man kind. I like fender to but there's no comparison. Touch sensitive, sweet sustainy top end and unbeleivably tight bottom, not flabby like a fender. You know the sound you hear on the records with firm botttom ala S.R.V. but can't get live, well this does it. Ive been playing for 35 yrs. and have lived with the cool old amps, fender, marshall,ampeg(way under appreciated)and boogie. Growing up in the U.S. we didnt have any real Vox in my neoghborhood. So I never owned one until now. Damn, alot of wasted time. I can get pretty heavy rock tones which are great but the blues thing is so happening.The top boost channel is what i use almost exclusivley.The treble and bass controls are so effective, extreme tone variation. The sparkling highs can be completely tamed and the bottom can get very full, just amazing. I can't get a bad sound. There's enough range in the controls if your tone deaf I guess you could screw it up, but anyone with an I.Q. above there shoe size should be alright. I dont use effects on this at this time. The pure sound is too cool. I use a hot plate and will run out of the line out on the hot plate to an effect into a power amp to a speaker keeping the straight sound untouched. I could go on but better stop. I use all the main guitars,strat,tele,les paul,335. Just can't get a bad sound with any of them. Each retains it's distinct character and signature sounds.

Reliability: N/A
I haven't had it too long but I play it hard. I'm sure it'll be fine because its just been gone through.I guess time will tell.

Customer Support: 10
The Plexi Palace is the premier vintage Vox and Marshall outlet in the world. Victor Mason has consentrated on bringing these amps back to there original glory. He knows the way these should sound and knows how to restore them. They've done work for Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton and Van Halen. If your going to get an amp like this, dont be stupid, just call them. There on the net. He'll even demo them over the phone, very cool.

Overall Rating: 10
I own lots of equipment. All very cool. JTM 45, (Plexi Palace again) 61 Fender Pro, Ampegs and Boogies,etc. The Vox is the one amp I'll never be without again. Original ac15's are very cool too. Do yourself a favor and just by one. Come to think of it, better ask them about the ef86 tube change, maybe that's one reason this amp is so amazing.

Submitted by Anonymous at 05/12/2001 21:56