Vox AC30CC2 212 Combo

Price Paid: US $820 plus shipping

Features: 9
This is an AC30 CC with Wharfedales that came from North Coast Music. It had a previous owner, who decided it was too heavy for him. I got it for $820 plus shipping, which was a fantastic price. It has all sorts of switches and settings, which I really don't care about. It has a Vox sound, and I know because I used to have an AC15 TBX, which I foolishly sold. I put a blue Celestion in, and combined with the Wharfedale it sounds tremendously rich in the harmonics department. I have fiddled around with the switches and knows. It's a lot of fun to play with, but once I dial in a sound I tend not to deviate.

Sound Quality: 9
I play an American Standard Tele with Harmonic Design Vintage Plus pickups and a Tex Mex Tele with a Harmonic Design S-90 in the bridge and a Z-90 in the neck position. It suits my style perfectly. I play pop, rock, some blues, reggae -- anything that appeals to me. I'm basically a rhythm guitarist with limited abilty at lead guitar. I can space out on the sound of this amp for hours. It is a very pleasureable sound, but it can get very, very loud. I love the distortion with the master volume wide open and the volume at about 11. It is a classic sound. There is some hiss, but hey, it's a Vox. Tremelo circuit is nice. Reverb is adequate, but I've never been much of a 'verb guy anyway.

Reliability: N/A
I have read the horror stories. As far as I'm concerned, so far, so good. I took out all the screws and the amp itself to put the blue Celestion in. Based on what I had read, I did it very carefully. In other words, I didn't go after it with a Black and Decker power screwdriver like I would an old Fender. Lubed up the screws before I put it all back together. I dislike that you have to unsolder the speakers to disassemble the amp. But I plan to rectify that at some point. I have not gigged with this amp, but I've put in a couple of extended rehearsals. It sure gets hot.

Customer Support: N/A
Have had no cause to contact Vox. Hope I don't have to.

Overall Rating: 9
I've been playing a long time. If it was stolen or lost, I'd probably get a Savage Rohr 1x12. I hear they are good. But for the time being, I'm really enjoying this amp. There's nothing I'd change about it except its weight. It's a heavy bugger. I hope Vox works out the bugs on this, 'cause there are a lot of things about this amp that do them credit. I wish the speakers connected to the output transformer with 1/4-inch plugs. For the price, I'd say it's a fantastic value.

Submitted by Paul at 08/04/2005 21:52

Price Paid: US $950

Features: 7
Actually, there are too many features. I kind of wish they'd have simply sent the AC30TBX production to China to lower the price. I don't need master volume, reverb or tremolo. I will say, however, the link switch is nice, but you could get that with a jumper anyway.

Sound Quality: 10
I will say that these guys nailed the sound. Even with the Wharfedale speakers, it sounds great -- so long as you have the master up full and control the volume with the pre-amp. I have a Gibson SG with P90s, and it seems to have been made for this amp.

Reliability: 1
This is an early review. I've played it once and it's already in the shop for a strange metallic buzzing rattle coming from the speakers at low volumes. This is a bad sign.

Also, the screws and bolts used on this amp are absolutely godawful. They strip very easily, so beware. This is unconscionable in an amp that needs to be taken apart to replace tubes. Especially in a "class-A" amp that needs retubing often. Also, the speakers are soldered in place with very short leads. How difficult would it have been to put simple lug connectors on there? The power tubes seem decent enough (I think they're from Electro Harmonix), but the pre-amp tubes are bad no-name Chinese ones. Apparently, they've been the source of many reports of "motorboating" amps. I haven't experienced this, but then I swapped mine out immediately for some decent tubes.

Customer Support: 8
I e-mailed Mitch Colby at vox, and he was very nice and prompt in his apologetic response. I've heard he's a stand-up guy. Other than that, I just took it back to the shop that sold it to me, and they're going to handle it from there. We'll see. I really want this thing to work.

Overall Rating: 5
10 for tone, 1 for construction/reliability, so I'm giving it a 5 overall. I mean, if Fender can make reliable amps in Mexico, whey can't Vox do the same thing in China? My old Hot Rod Deluxe was extremely well put-together. I just didn't quite like the sound. I'm now kind of regretting selling it.

However, I'll reserve my final judgment on this thing until I've had it a while longer.

Submitted by bscepter at 07/28/2005 08:28

Price Paid: NA

Features: 9
New AC30 CC. Wharfendales. Master volume, reverb, tremelo with speed/intensity, top boost and normal/brilliant channels with link, wattage/smoothing switches, line out, external/extension speaker, ohmage output select.

Sound Quality: 9
Let me preface my review by saying that when I heard Vox was introducing a custom AC30 with master volume and reverb I was very interested. When I heard the new price I couldn't wait to try one.
While I waited for one to arrive at my local music store (K+S, So. Williamsport, Pa) I read the reviews. Being a vintage and modern amp collector, I've spent a lot of time reading Harmony Central user reviews but I've never previously seen such polar extremes in impressions and experiences with any amp. The good reviews left me salivating but the bad reviews were so appaling that I figured you'd have to be nuts to buy this amp. I decided against it. But then my dealer called and told me they were in stock and I had to at least check it out. I played it at the store with a variety of guitars and could neither get the amp to malfunction nor get a bad sound out of it. After two hours I couldn't leave the store without it and I've been playing with it daily since then. There must be a mother of a quality control problem at the Chinese Vox factory to generate the variety of screw ups and terrible sounding, hissing amps that the other reviews describe but (knock on wood) mine sounds divine.
I've been waiting for this thing to self destruct, to get that crappy feeling when you realize that you screwed up, but so far, its a love affair.

In terms of sound, let me be frank; while I have a wide variety of classic amps, I've never owned an AC30. I've wanted one but I could never get one to sound the way I imagined it should (think solo in Nowhere Man). This custom classic with its master volume and channel linking can deliver really great tones. Some reviewers felt that humbuckers sound better but I disagree, single coils snap and snarl just as wonderfully. I've tried Strats, Teles, LesPauls, ES335, and PRS and all sound so great that you don't want to stop playing and when you do, you can't wait to plug in again. This amp generates tone that is as nuanced and enjoyable as some of my faves including vintage Deluxe Reverbs and Marshall Plexis.

Reviewers complain of terrible hiss. I hear none. One said there's no bass-I have plenty and have to cut bass when I play a Les Paul.

In terms of limitations, I doubt this amp can do metal and I've not been overly impressed with the distortion tones from stomp boxes, prefering the amp, the guitars volume control and my picking attack to do the talking. The tremelo, I think is nice but it could be faster and the reverb, which I appreciate, trails a bit too long requiring that it be used sparingly. Some reviewers wished for channel switching but I don't think that would really be helpful given the existing channel sounds and controls.

Reliability: N/A
I haven't taken the amp apart but plan to buy new screws and have an amp tech wire-in a speaker disconnect. Based on other accounts, there seem to be grave reliability problems with this amp and every time I turn it on I dread a meltdown. So far, no problems. I doubt I'll gig with this amp. It weighs a ton and even with speaker jacks and better screws, like the old (and unreliable) AC 30s, you can't easily access the tubes. Instead I'd gig with a lightweight Peavey Classic 30, a Fender Hot Rod, a Reverend Hell Hound or any beatup Fender Silverface. The AC30 I'd set up for a lip-sync video shoot because its the best looking amp ever made.

Customer Support: N/A
I don't know about Vox but K+S is devoted to customer satisfaction like NO other store I've known. I brought back three Fender Prosonics and they hung with me until Fender sent a good one. If you're anywhere near Williamsport or Paxsinus Pa, give them a call.

Overall Rating: 9
I'm fifty and have played since grade school. I own or have owned most of the greatest classic amps and guitars and this AC30 stacks up nicely. If stolen I would replace it and hope I got another good one.
I can't see buying Celestion Blues or it would certainly take a lot of A and B comparisons to convince me as the stock speakers sound sweet to my ears. My concerns about this amp relate solely to the reliabilty problems that other users have experienced.

Submitted by Glenn Bloiso at 07/21/2005 18:59

Price Paid: US $999.00

Features: 5
2004 ac30cc2. contol panel layed out well. wish it had channel switching via pedal.
use it for my studio. tube with junk circuit board

Sound Quality: 2
out of the box and crap! terrible gurgle. very loud hum. class a typically have some hum but geez!!!!!

Reliability: 2
sent it in for warranty repair. the authorized warranty center told me to get rid of it. said getting to the tubes is a hassle. took him 20 minutes. also said he works on alot of these current china crap models from vox.

Customer Support: 3
told me to contact warranty center via email

Overall Rating: 1
been playing for 25 years.collect alot of vintage tube amps, i mean alot . i've always loved vox. they missed it with this one. maybe they should think about design and layout before cutting cost to mass produce. shame on you!

Submitted by nor at 07/19/2005 12:29

Price Paid: US $999

Features: N/A
This is my second review. I read the others before taking mine apart.
I installed 2 1/2" wheels, better screws, a weber copper rectifier,
jj tesla tubes, and replaced the 4 short speaker wires with 2 long ones. It now sounds better, moves easier, and comes apart for tube replacement and experimentation without soldering. A transducer in the reverb was broken and I am waiting on a replacement. I will replace the warfedales with cleaner speakers and I will be happy (for
a while).

Sound Quality: N/A
This is the best clean sound I've had.

Reliability: N/A
Not enough hours on it to judge reliability.

Customer Support: N/A
The repair store was good about honoring the warranty when I brought
in the broken reverb, my receipt, and the metal plate with the serial # on it. I did'nt have to put it all together and pretend that it had'nt been opened. Had I not taken it apart and heard the rattle in the reverb tank, I would not have known it was broken. I heard reverb.
Now I get more reverb (in theory).

Overall Rating: N/A
The speakers I'm looking at are 27 lbs each. That should put this over 100 lbs total. Cool. Try to steal it.

Submitted by stap12 at 06/29/2005 01:00

Price Paid: US $1,600

Features: 8
Bought it brand new. Very versatile in terms of the tonal combinations. I really wanted it because I wanted the AC30 sound with a master volume control.

Heavy as a boat anchor! It must be made of fiberboard or something, because with the Blue Bulldog speakers it is 75 lbs.!

Sound Quality: 10
Sounded great for the one hour that I was able to play it!

Reliability: 1
Cheap, cheap, cheap construction. I tested it one evening; the next evening I started to notice some bleed over of tremolo into the circuit even when off. But the real problem started when I put it on standby and switched it on again - the dreaded "motor boating" sound that is usually due to a printed circuit board problem started, and got worse every time I tried switching it on. I sent it back! Subsequently, I've seen lots of reviews/comments on people having problems with theirs - weird noises, cutting out on them, etc. I believe there are some quality problems with this amp!

The pots "feel" really cheap. I didn't try taking it apart, but all the reviews suggest the screws are soft and strip immediately. It is impossible to service this amp easily - speaker output cable too short and soldered to speakers, almost impossible to get to the tubes without completely taking the amp apart, etc.

Customer Support: N/A
Never even tried - I just sent it back.

Overall Rating: 1
I hope they get their act together on quality - I'd like to own one, but won't based on this initial experience and on all the subsequent horror stories I've read about with quality.

Submitted by Mike Slubowski at 06/24/2005 10:50

Price Paid: US $999

Features: 10
Got mine almost immediately after them came out (SN# 000111). Been loving it since then. Two channels, blendable, effects loop, reverb, trem, top boost, tons of other features. Reverb really is unusable though. The decay is much much too long.

Sound Quality: 10
I use an Gibson LP Standard. Amazing tone. I feel like this amp was made for humbuckers. Also play an American Strat, but can only use normal (unblended) channel for that. Tone just isnt as nice with single coils. Ive had a 60's AC30TB and I think this amp can hold its own with the originals. I prefer this one because it makes much less noise during idle periods, and the versatility is much better. Much more touch sensitive than my other amp, distortion at your fingertips. The stock speakers sound good out of the box and only get better as they are broken in. Blues do definitely sound better, but not 600 dollars better. Master volume is the best Ive ever heard. Completely transparent at reasonable (bedroom) volumes.

Reliability: 9
When I first got it, it came with a bad reverb tank. After that, Ive gigged it regularly aobut 2 times a week for over 3 months now. At first had my backup 60's AC30 just in case, but more than confident with this thing now. After retubing, Ive found the current PCB and chassis to be much better than my 60s.

Customer Support: 9
Extremely helpful. Sent me a replacement reverb tank and I got it three days later. Let me keep the old reverb tank for fun and even gave me an amp cover for free. Usually Steve or Mitch (the current design managers) will respond to the emails personally.

Overall Rating: 10
Been playing for ab out 8 years now. I own a Gibson LP Standard and an American Strat as well as a 60s AC30TB and a Fender Hot Rod. This amp is easily my favorite for my main guitar (Gibson LP), but prefer the Hot Rod for the Strat. Would undoubtedly buy another one if lost or stolen. $1000 bucks is a steal. Love the tone. Amazing Vox tone and with the right settings you can even get different eras. Ive used it as a head to play through my 60s AC30TB to see how it sounded with Blues and I plan on buying blues for it as well. Hate the fact that you have to unsolder and resolder the speaker cables every time you want to peak into the chassis. They should have made a quick disconnect.

Submitted by Les Paul Standard Limited at 06/24/2005 03:18

Price Paid: US $999

Features: 10
Made in 2005. I enjoy the clean sound from it and am happy with
the features offered. I don't hear a difference when changing the biasing switch or the vintage/modern switch.

Sound Quality: 8
My guitar is a ric 360/12 with single coils. Originally bought for the beatle sound, I mostly use the front pickup for a smooth jazzy sound. My last amp was a roland jc120 that was clean but sterile. This amp has character and feels like the oher half of a kit.

Reliability: N/A
Other reviewers discussed the good cabinet, poor hardware, newer pcb boards, etc. I agree: decent cabinet, cheap screws, pcb looks far better than pictures of old ac30 wire rat nest. The stock tubes are the cheapest available. I've ordered a solid state weber wz34 to replace the 5ar4, and jj teslas to replace the others as a cheap start. The speakers are ok but just ok looking at jbl e120s.

Customer Support: 1
No schematic available. I don't like that, this is not new technology.

Overall Rating: N/A
Have played guitar for 40 years. This is the best amp i've owned.
But like a race car, it does'nt go from the showroom directly to the track. It probably needs hotrodded or tweaked to make it sing. I wish it had simple tube access without deconstruction.

Submitted by stap12 at 06/18/2005 00:36

Price Paid: N/A

Features: N/A

Sound Quality: 9
so anyways guys this is a followup review from old, i have since received another ac30cc this time it wasnt beat to all hell. I changed out the preamp tubes to some mullard 12ax7s. I also put in some old tesla roznovs 7189, this amp sounds so much better the gain is alot lower, those chinese preamp tubes sound best in a mesa rectifier but not in an ac30, however the white noise and hiss is still there upon closer examination to the circuit board one can spot the 5 jrc mosfet chips used in the tremolo section. HELLO VOX this is not oringinal of the design at all Mosfet technology although extremely dynamic, almost like a tube, is very noisey my guess is that the circuit runs through the tremolo constantly. I mean seriously how many people actually use the trem channel, I believe if they would have eliminated the tremolo, the reverb (sorry but if you wanna buy an amp for reverb go buy a fender!!! NOT A VOX) that this would have been quite a good ac30. However i guess vox needs to capture new markets but i would love to see them just build the reissue like this amp, that would have been the most fantastic amp!! Oh yeh and about the guy below who says this amp is not as good as his other ac30s, i know him and he no longer has these amps so how could he possibly compare them to the cc without putting them side by side oh well!

Reliability: 1

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: N/A

Submitted by Jimbob at 06/16/2005 21:28

Price Paid: US $950

Features: 9
Mine is a new 2005 AC30CC2. I will not spend much time here. See specs at the VOX website. It has all the features you will ever need in an amp. You have to use the supplied instructions to really learn how to dial in all of sounds. It's extremely versatile.

Sound Quality: 10
I use a Gibson Les Paul Standard, a Gibson ES-335, a Gretsch 6118, Gibson SG Standard, Fender Strat Deluxe, Fender Telecaster, a few others. The humbuckers sound outstanding thru this amp. I just bought the amp new. I also own a Boogie F-50, Boogie F-30, Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb, Crate Palomino, Peavey Classic 30, Peavey XXL, and a Gibson GA-5. I have never owned a VOX amp. I was looking for the true Beatles sound with my Gretsch and this amp does it. It has a very unique sound that no other has. I cannot compare it to the originals, but it may be my favorite amp. I was concerned about the fact that it's made in China, but the build quality seems to be oustanding. Probably not as rugged as the Boogies, but appears to be execellent. I have already had to change a pre amp tube. The main problem I have noticed is that you cannot change tubes quickly. You have to remove the chasis to do so and the speaker leads are soldered to the speakers in a way that makes it impossible to remove the chasis without resoldering the leads. The internal electronic components looked to be of high quality. It's quite and loud when you need it to be. The sound is incredible. The overdrive is not like that of a Boogie or Peavey. It's sounds more like a vintage amp cranked up until it clips. It's extremley warm and the clean is a good as it gets. I cannot believe how good it sounds with all of my guitars. I do not recommend it for metal without the use of distortion pedals. The cabinet work is outstanding. Better than most any amp I have owned. I also use a VOX Tone Lab. This amp combined with the Tone Lab will do most anything you need. The fact that you can change the bias setting from 33 watts to 22 watts is also useful for playing a bedroom volumes without busting an ear drum. I cannot imagine why one of the previous reviewers trashed the sound quality. I have been plaing for 30 years and have not heard many combo amps that compare to this. If you were to gig with it you will need a back up due to issue with changing tubes on the fly. Hard to beat the Boogies for live work.

Reliability: N/A
Don't know yet. Hopefully the fact that they are made in China will not be a factor.

Customer Support: N/A
Don't Know yet

Overall Rating: 10
Been playing for 30 years on and off. Mainly play at home. I am not a professional. It's a hobby. Love the sound. It's worth the price. You get alot of functionality for the money. Always remember, there is no one amp that does it all.

Submitted by Kevin at 06/16/2005 19:48