Vox AC30/6TBX

Price Paid: US $1600.00 used

Features: 10
Made in 2003. I am sure everyone knows the features by now. Personally I rate the versatility on one's own ablity.

Sound Quality: 10
Guitars I use are a Warmoth Tele, Fender Am Std Strat, Rick 360, and a Guild BHM. Being a big fan of U2 & Queen, I naturally gravitated to this amp and was not dissapointed. Not that I play (or sound) like the Edge or Brian May, I don't think there isn't anything I couldn't play (OK metal is out, go look at the Mesa or Marshall reviews) with it. Until recently, my main stay was a Tube Screamer & a DredgeTone but just got a Jeckle & Hyde, and with it, everything's covered (will still keep the Dredge hooked up though - come back to us John!!!). Of course, be prepared to play loud. It sounds OK in the 8-10 o'clock range, but get it up around 12:00, it sounds awesome!!! Haven't tried a load box yet, still thinking...

Reliability: N/A
I am the second owner & it came with a road case (where it stays) so I have yet to expirience any problems.

Customer Support: N/A
Heard the reissues are no longer being made (at least in England), just like the AC15 I have. If true, such a shame.

Overall Rating: 10
Always wanted one. Finally got one. Not dissapointed in any way. Waiting to see what the "Custom Classic" sounds like, but I wanted "old school" so there you go. Would definately replace it if anything happened to it. Was a close call with a Dr Z MAZ 38Sr but I would have had to wait for one of those, Matchless & Bad Cat are WAY to far out of reach.

Submitted by Michael at 01/06/2005 11:28

Price Paid: N/A

Features: N/A
its been said already

Sound Quality: N/A
I compared this to an original my friends dad has, and its not exactly the same. There is a certain vibe to the '63, of which is totaly, (and tonaly) impossible to duplicate. In the new re-issues of many manufacturers, they cannot source the same physical parts that were made in the U.S. If you think the parts inside any re-issue are made in the U.S...fogetaboutit. They are usually Korean, or Taiwanese, made components drawn up from the same electrical blue prints, but in NO WAY are the SAME!!!!!!! Conclusion: The sound cannot be the same! If your happy with the sound, great. But dont think for a moment, that ANY Re-issue is made with the same components made over 40 years ago. You have been led down the garden path,,,,,,,a garden of B.C Bud.!!!

Reliability: N/A
who knows!

Customer Support: N/A
Vox probably stinks now. Its run by Korg or something, but certainly not a Mesa type of Customer service which is ,,,the best.

Overall Rating: N/A
If your after the AC30 top boost , go and put out the money, and get one, or build one yourself, with sourced parts that are the same as (or closer than you'd find today in any re-issue). You will spend more, but if your after the real vibe, you gotta spend real money.

Submitted by Mike Hawkisitchy at 11/27/2004 08:43

Price Paid: US $2,000

Features: 8
This is the re-issue of the famous 1963 Vox AC-30 amplifier with built in Top Boost and Blue Celestion Re-issue loud speakers.This amp was made in 2004.I ordered it thru a major music store.It took 4 months to come in.I own a few re-issue and original vintage amps,namely from Fender.Now I own a Vox.
This amp features 6 inputs:2 for "Normal" Channel,2 for "Bright" channel,and 2 for "Vib-Trem" channel.(Vib-Trem channel also has knob to select either Vibrato or Tremolo,hence Vib-Trem).This amp is all tube in both the pre-amp section and power amp section,as well as 2 rectifier tubes just as the originals had.The amp has everything I need as far as features.

Sound Quality: 10
The GUITARS I use thru this amp are as follows:
1.)Gibson Les Paul Classic 1960 re-issue Gold Top equipped with Seymour Duncan Classic 59' humbucking pick-ups.
2.)Gibson Les Paul Special 1960 re-issue equipped with P-90 single coil pick-ups
3.)Fender Telecaster 1952 re-issue equipped with re-issue single coil Fender pick-ups
4.)Epiphone Sheraton 2 equipped with stock humbucking pickup

The AMPS I play are as follows:
1.)Vox AC-30/6 TBX Re-issue (33 watts rated) with re-issue blue Celestion loud speakers
2.)1965 Re-issue Fender Twin Reverb (85 watts rated) equipped with 2 Jensen C12-K loud speakers
3.)1968 Fender Bassman Head(50 watts rated) with 4x10 Fender cabinet equipped with 1966 CTS loud speakers
4.)1997 Sovtek Mig-50 head(50 watts rated) with Marshall 1960 ax re-issue 4x12 angled cabinet equipped with 25 watt Celestion Greenback re-issue loud speakers(cabinet rated at 100 watts maximum)
5.)1968 Sears Silvertone 40-XL 1x12 combo amp(25 watts rated?) equipped with a celestion Vintage-30 loud speaker

The effects I own are as follows:
1.)Tech 21 NYC Sans Amp GT 2 Overdrive
2.)Vox Tone-Bender re-issue Fuzz box
3.)Dunlop TS-1 Tremolo-stereo pan
4.)Dunlop Cry-Baby Wah-Wah
5.)Marshall Blues Breaker Overdrive
6.Line 6 POD 2.3 Effects Processor
This Vox AC-30 TBX just plain nails the Beatles tone.No effects,no tricks or studio secrets.This is the only tone I did without until now.If I use an overdrive to push the front end,I can also nail the QUEEN sound which Brian May made so famous with his AC-30'S with Blue Celestions.The harmonics and sustain are heavenly.
When cranking the amp into natural overdrive,the tone is edgy yet syrup-like(due to the dual rectifier tubes)yet keeps the vox tone and ringing clarity all the way up the numbers.The overdriven tones are so pleasing and useful.I would not describe the natural overdrive of this amp as distortion,because distortion is just that.Distorted.
This amp produces a crunchy,rich,deep,musical,and wonderful overdriven tube sound.Think"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen.That is the overdriven tone this amplifier produces when turned up full,or close to full.
This amp is very quiet as far as electrical noise and hissing are concerned.It is as quiet as any of my amps.No rattles or anything at all.Another perfect studio/home amplifier to add to my collection of fine instruments.I did indeed check this amplifier before purchasing it when it came in.I played it at volume in a sound proof room for 2 hours at the store and tried a slew of guitars thru it.It never gave me any problems or poor tone.Just the musical piano-like tone I had expected for my money.I always put the guitars and amps I purchase thru a grueling inspection.I check all fit and finish as well as a lengthy sound test,using every control on the particular instrument/amp.I test all amps for atleast an hour straight at volume,playing both low power chords or notes to test for rattles and speaker malfunctions.I won't get into my methods of testing the equipment I purchase,as it is way off topic.
In short,a perfect example of what a guitar amplifier should be.Playing thru this amp definately puts the guitar in the piano family.

Reliability: 10
I purchased the warranty because I have heard good and bad things about Korg and these amps.It seems most people do fine with this amp,while others do not.I guess they do not check the equipment before they purchase it.So far,I have owned this amp for 5 months and play thru it almost everyday.I have yet to have a complaint.For the price I paid,I expect nothing but the best.The price is rediculous.

Customer Support: N/A
I believe the warranty is good for 1 year.I hope this expensive amplifier out-lasts me.It's too expensive for me to accept any malfunctions other than normal tube wear.

Overall Rating: 10
I am confident in my purchase,and I know I am happy with this wonderful amplifier.It just looks so good in my living room too.The tone is Beatles and there is alot to love about that tone.I wanted this tone since I was 9 years of age.I finally got around to trying one of these amps and there it was.I could not leave this tone out of my collection.This amp just makes you want to keep playing and sounds so raw and piano-like.There is no other description I could think of besides the ones I have already mentioned thru out my review.
I believe in purchasing the best equipment I can afford.I know people who refused to save money to buy what they really wanted,but could not wait and bought cheaper generic equipment.They were sorry they did not save.They always expressed how they were just wanna-bees.I saved,I knew what I wanted,I inspected my purchases,and now I am reaping the rewards every time I walk past my fine collection of re-issues and originals and plug in.
Never be a wanna-bee.Always save and then go for it.I own all professional equipment,yet I am no pro musician.I don't play in a band,but I do sit down with some friends in my home and play guitar.They always bring their own gear over,but they seem to end up trying out my collection.They say it's like being in a music store stocked with most of the sought after instruments.I am very fortunate to own the equipment I do.
With that being said,you decide if this amp is right for you.Try one out after reading my review,then make your decision.Don't be a wanna-be.

Submitted by Anonymous at 11/26/2004 18:22

Price Paid: US around $2000

Features: 7
Okay. I had to rate this amp a 7 on features. I mean it just doesn't really have many features. It has three channels, but I really only use one of them on a regular basis. The vibrato and tremolo aren't controllable enough, although you can get that "How Soon is Now" sound out of it. It also has a "Cut" knob in the tone section, but honestly I always leave it turned down. I can't really give it a 10 on features because it probably would be more useful if:

A) the tremolo were controllable
B) the tremolo was usable from the brilliant and normal channels
C) it had an effects loop

However, for my purposes the amp works just fine. You don't really need a ton of features when an amp sounds as good as this one. A lot of people said theirs have the Blue Bulldogs. Is mine weird or something? It has Greenbacks. I don't know much about what speakers they put in these things, but I know that both the Blue and Green Celestions are great speakers. So it doesn't matter that much to me.

Sound Quality: 10
The tone is what you want from this monster (and it IS a monster, plan on getting a road case with casters). I've run a ton of guitars through this baby (Squier Affinity Strat, Eric Clapton Strat, '74 Tele Deluxe, Rickenbacker 360v64, Les Paul Studio Lite, Danelectro U2) and all of these sound wonderful. My main guitars are a nondescript 70s Japanese Epiphone and a Rickenbacker 360/12B. With the Epiphone I get the most tremendous clean sound ever. It's not a very clean clean sound. I mean if you're specting solid-state sparkle, forget it. But you can get a really good crunchy jangly tone with plenty of sparkling high end. And that's what I look for. When cranked to halfway or above you can get a pretty good range of overdriven sounds, although its hard to stand next to this thing with the Brilliant channel cranked all the way up. The distortion is very much like the sounds Neil Young uses on his more rocking Crazy Horse tunes. I know he uses a Fender amp, but still - it has the same kind of warm menacing growl. Very much like a Marshall but with a warmer, less "metal" sound.

There is one problem I've experienced with the sound. The EL84s act up sometimes. Especially when I first plug it up and turn it on, the tubes seem to rattle a lot. If I let the amp sit for a little while it tends to go away, but it can be kind of annoying when you're playing at high volumes. Most nonmusicians aren't going to notice, because it's a very tambourine-like rattle. I thought this would be a problem when I was recording, but I cut an album this summer and used the Vox for every single electric guitar track (usually 3-5 per song) and the rattle isn't evident anywehere on the album. It's a quirk I'm willing to put up with for superior tone.

Reliability: 7
Okay. I can't really say a lot about this. The EL84s rattle a bit as I said above, but the amp has never been unusable. The tolex is pretty thin and cheaply applied for such a high dollar amp, so I recommend getting a road case. The tolex started peeling of mine after two days or carrying it around without a case, so I'd definitely look into protecting this amp. Never had real problems with the amp, but they kind of have a reputation - so I'm going to put 7.

Customer Support: N/A
Never needed customer support.

Overall Rating: 9
I've been playing for 9 or 10 years and I've played through many other amps in the past, including a Fender Super Reverb, Fender Deluxe Reverb, Fender Twin Reverb, Peavey Classic 30, and Peavey Classic 60. I've also plugged into Marshalls, Voxes, Line 6s, Traynors, and a ton of other amps. This amp has a really distinct tone, and I would never trade it for another amp. I'd like to bolster my collection with a 50-watt Kustom, but that would just be an alternate. This amplifier will be my main squeeze for life. The only annoying things about the amp are the occasional tube rattle and the sheer weight of the beast. But it's all worth it to me for that beautiful Vox tone. Don't be fooled by that new Vox digital-thingamajig. If you want a REAL Vox amp, buy an AC30.

Submitted by Rev. Cody C. Gaisser at 12/15/2003 17:40

Price Paid: £1000

Features: 10
3 channels with hi/low voicings, vibrato, tremolo, standby switch (the oldies don't have these), 8 knobs, alnico speakers. No LCDs, no huge amounts of switches and knobs, the basics and that's enough.

Sound Quality: 10
Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, whatever you want. I favour LPs and SGs myself, and each guitar sounds radically different, each pickup combination does too. One great unparalleled clean sound, you add the pedals to taste.

Reliability: 6
Not the most robust amps, aesthetically or otherwise. These new ones are pretty good but there are always going to be niggles with a tube amp. The good news is the amp is quite simple so most things can easily be remedied.

Customer Support: 8
No complaints here. All dealings with the company have been more than satifactory.

Overall Rating: 10
It's amazing that an amp based on a 40 year old design can sit alongside Rectifiers, Marshalls, boutique amps and still be worthy of attention. This suggests here is an amp with a great legacy - well deserved I might add - which proves the old cliche, if it ain't broke don't fix it. And there's certainly no need to with this one.

A real classic. One of the few pieces of gear I've bought and not been disappointed with.

Submitted by Jethro at 12/08/2003 13:22

Price Paid: N/A

Features: N/A
I thought i should post a some information for anyone experiencing low level hum coming out of their Vox Ac30 reissue's. There is a fix for this at the excellent webpage link below. This fixed the hum in my ac30. As the site say's, do be careful as you are working around high voltages.

http://www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast/vox/new_amps/30service.html

Sound Quality: N/A

Reliability: N/A

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: N/A

Submitted by Anonymous at 12/02/2003 06:55

Price Paid: £900

Features: 7
All valve reissue of the classic AC30. A little different internally (they're using some PCB in this the JMI originals were all PTP wired) but very similar tonally.

FRONT PANEL
===========
2 x Vib-Trem Inputs
2 x Normal Inputs
2 x Brilliant Inputs
--
3-way Vibrato Speed selecter
2-way Vibrato/Trem selecter
--
Vib-Trem Channel Volume
Normal Channel Volume
Brilliant Channel Volume
--
Treble
Bass
Cut
--
Standby Switch
ON/OFF

PREAMP VALVES
=============
5 x 12AX7
1 x 12AU7

POWER AMP VALVES
================
4 x EL84

RECTIFIER
=========
1 x GZ34

SPEAKERS
========
2 x 12" Celestion Blue Alnico

In order to get this catagory to 10 several mods need to be performed - Vib Trem channel: changing the rotary 3way Speed switch for a proper sweep pot, modifying the Vib/Trem switch to be able to control the depth of the effect via another sweep and push/pull pot to select modes. Also I dislike the voicing of the channel - I'd rather have the effect on the Normal channel like the AC30HW.

Sound Quality: 10
Great tone. Awesome cleans, this amp seems to simply sing even at low volume, and at gig levels it's a thing of beauty. The vibrato and tremolo are also first rate with a valve-driven warmth no trasistor stompbox can possibly rival.

Using this with a Gibson SG Standard made in 2001. Any pickup combination yields great tone. The beauty is the simplicity - infinite variations can be found and the way this reacts to changes in guitars and pickups still surprises. Plenty of variety here, incremental adjustments in tone can make all the difference.

I play any style that is required when it comes to the business side of guitar playing. My own choice is pop-rock with nods to AC/DC, Catherine Wheel and the Smashing Pumpkins.

Gibson SG Standard -> Boss TU-2 -> Danelectro Daddy-O -> MXR Distortion+ -> MXR Distortion+ -> Danelectro 7-Band EQ -> Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi -> A/B Splitter = A-> Normal channel B-> Vib Trem channel

With this combination of equipment I can get all the drive sounds I need and more besides. The key features of this classic British Class A amp are the Bluebacks and the valve rectifier.

To further improve on this the amp will be retubed with JJ Electronics valves (www.eurotubes.com) - the best on the market IMO, not rebranded either.

Noisy? No more than your average amp and certainly quieter than some others. Even with the Normal Channel cranked to 2 o'clock there's very little hiss and hum, less than I imagined. All in all, this amp is fantastic.

Reliability: 3
Hmmm... well actually reliability is a problem. They don't seem to have great QC in Middlesex where these are made. My one broke the day I got it - one of the valves was microphonic and there was a bad cap in the tone circuit. It was brand new and under warranty so I sent it back.

So it was fine for a few weeks. I took care of it and didn't push it too hard. But it happened again, but by chance only on the Brilliant channel which I never use. I swear one or two other valves have gone microphonic and there's problems with the Volume pot on the Brilliant channel.

I was even less pleased when my guitar shop told me I should send it back with a list of whats wrong with it! I'm no tube amp expert, this being my first so anything I say is guesswork and besides, this should have stayed in tiptop shape until it's twice yearly service which is still 5 months away!

Fortunatly the people at Vox should do a decent job this time, if it does the same thing again then I want a whole new amp. I've heard stories of people buying a new amp/car etc and it breaking down several times until they demand a new one and I only hope this won't happen to me. Better play it safe and get them to revalve the whole amp.

Don't let this put you off though. AFAIK this sort of thing rarely ever happens.

Customer Support: 9
I have to be fair - the support I recieved was first rate all the way. Took it back to place of purchase and they contacted the company directly - picked the amp up the next day. Within a fortnight it was returned to me, carefully packed and in full working order sounding better than before, until it started playing up again.

Considering I moved from Portsmouth to London (nearly 100 miles) and they sent it back to my place of residence and did it quickly too, I was impressed. I'll be more impressed if when I send it back again they pay for postage and make a decent job of the repairs.

Overall Rating: 9
I sold quite a few other things and made some sacrifices to get this amp and I don't regret it one bit. I get lots of hours of use and it's put some spark back in my playing.

It's one of the few amps that's aesthetically pleasing to the eye too. I'm also pleased because I knocked £300 off the price because it had been sitting untouched in a corner while several Marshall stacks had flown out of the shop. These included a JCM900, a JCM2000 DSL and some others that can't do half the things this does, nor do them as well.

Despite the flaws I mentioned concerning the shortcomings of the Vib/Trem and the reliability issue of this particular unit I still think these are unlikely to affect/happen to most people.

Absolutely superb amplifier. If you want something with killer tone that is versatile as heck here it is. This isn't a one-trick pony, this is a classic. You know you want one.

Submitted by Gary at 10/27/2003 18:45

Price Paid: US $1200 + Marshall trade-in

Features: 10
My amp is probably a 1999 model . . . black tolex, alnico blues (gotta have them!), one usable channel (the brilliant channel) that makes the other 2 sound dull & boring . . . and it's full of super-hot tubes.

Sound Quality: 10
I use either a Tele, a Strat, a 335 or a Les Paul. The AC-30 really brings out some astounding tone on each, but you gotta be careful with the bridge pickup on a Tele. The treble response can be punishing. This is without a doubt the LOUDEST (and heaviest) 33-watt amp ever made---don't let the power rating fool you. It has that classic "boxy" British amp tone, and LOTS of it.

Reliability: 3
Reliability is problematic. These amps are delicate and tempermental, sort of the opposite of a Fender. Mine was shipped with a defective transformer (fixed for free) and last week, one of the vaunted Vox Alnico Bulldog speakers cooked. The speaker alone is $280, and it took the power tubes with it. Ouch! Oh yeah, and the tolex is peeling off.

Customer Support: N/A
Why bother? It's always more trouble than it's worth. Get a good amp tech instead.

Overall Rating: 10
I've been hacking away on the guitar for 37 years. I've always liked the VOX tone, but I've been leery because of reliability concerns. They have a truly unique tone, however, and nothing else really comes close. They are grossly overpriced, but whattaya gonna do? I use either the VOX or a Fender Tweed Bassman, so I got the Liverpool and the Fullerton thing when I need them. The best of both worlds!

Submitted by Anonymous at 04/24/2003 11:42

Price Paid: £650 (pound sterling) used

Features: 10
This AC30 was made in 1995.it is the fawn coloured one and it has the blue speakers.Obviously if your reading this you know all the features by now.Although its not packed with features,the ones it has are excellent.I use the normal channel usually but i like all of them.its Class "A". i use this at home and at gigs although at home i often cant hear myself or anyone else afterwards!

Sound Quality: 10
I am using a Brian May Red special with this amp with the burns trisonics and i can say without a doubt that the pair go together like a newly married couple."match made in heaven"
i also use a dallas rangmaster with this and it sounds lovely.Just one small alteration to the guitars volume control and you can get a whole different sound.From a rather "bell" like sound to a really rich and creamy distortion.If you want to sound like brian may then this is a must have for you! it can do any style you want it to though, hooked up with my zoom gfx pedal the sounds are good aswel but im not really into all this digital stuff.

Reliability: 10
Being a valve amp you can never totally rely on it because valves are like strings- they need replacing often and can also break without any notice,but having said that it hasnt failed on me yet.I find that if you turn it onto standby about 40 mins before you use it the valves give a much better tone and it also reduces noises.I have noticed several weird noises that have occured because of using it as soon as its turned on- Buzzing,humming,whistling and also a noise which resembles an aeroplane doing some sort of high speed dive into the ground! just let it warm up and it will get rid of any of these.

Customer Support: 10
I got this second hand,but it hadnt been used hardly and it had just had a re-valve.I have no warranty but if i did need to get parts vox have said they will be hapy to order them for me(at a cost obviously)the guy i spoke to was very polite and was always prompt on returning my emails and calls.

Overall Rating: 10
owned a guitar for seven years but i have only started playing seriously in the past 4 years.I only own Vox ac30's but i did have a marshall master lead combo and all i can say is that it was crap.None of my mates amps sound anything like it and neither do any of the clone amps.Althought the laney Vc30 sounds ok, if you want vox you have to have a vox.You think this amps BULLSHIT????? Its a VOX mate!!!!! no way

Submitted by Jimmy Rocket at 03/10/2003 03:44

Price Paid: 780 (haggled from 900) (Pounds Stirling)

Features: 10
This amp can cater for many styles. I've used it playing with a big-band (ideal tone), more modern stuff (radiohead, chili peppers etc) for which it does the job, and i even stood in for another guitarist in a nu-metal band (a grim job but the amp even pulled this off - though i suppose the pedals used contribute a lot). NOt lots of "features" but that's what I wanted, easy to use so it gets a 10.

Sound Quality: 9
The reasons it didn't get a 10:

1. When using the 'brilliant' channel the hi-end was just too much even with the tone control. You know when u kinda wince everytime you strike a chord etc.

2. After getting good valves put in, this mutha gets a 10! (thats when i use the 'normal' channel with the 'cut' on zero).

I can't really understand why people dislike the vox-tone. hmmm weird. the best example of warmth i can think of at the moment is in radiohead's "you and whose army". lush.

Reliability: 9
well.. again, a 9. a valve went after a couple of months. but that's the bad valves, not the actual amp. i would consider getting a hard travel case for the amp. i have a little fan as well which i place behind the amp to help air-flow - those tubes get damn hot. mmmmm :)

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 10
Despite the valves that come with it, this amp deserves an overall 10. i would definitely get another if this was stolen/lost (if i had the cash). i read that brian may only uses the normal channel (best option too in my opinion), but he removes the valves that the "brilliant" and "vib-trem" channels use, as it keeps the heating down to a minimum. good idea methinks. take care of these babies if you get one - you will want it to last forever.

Submitted by Ben at 01/19/2003 17:21