Vox AC30 Solidstate

Price Paid: 300 (pounds) used

Features: 9
The amp was made in the early 70's. It works well with modern mutli-FX units making it quite versatile. Mine has greenbacks but apparently most have fane speakers. It has all the usual features of an ac30 but obviously non of the valves. It is 40 watts but can seem much louder. It would suit pub gigs and smaller venues, and it can take more than one instrument. Obviosly there is no channel switching or effects loops but there is an output for an extra speaker.

Sound Quality: 9
THis amp is very clean and very generic solid state, but with a multi-fx it is capable of a wide range of styles. It distorts nicely when pushed. It produces very little excess noise. These amps were used by Queen and Status Quo in the 70's, so if its good enough for them it's good enough for me. The vib/trem feature is pure vox, beautiful

Reliability: 10
This amp is a tank, it may not be a valve ac30 but it is 100% vox quality all the way through.

Customer Support: N/A
Never been any need

Overall Rating: 10
An excellent all rounder, it takes on any sound you want to give it. It may not be a valve ac30 but it is a beautiful, reliable amp. I dont think it's fair that some people are hard on these amps but if you compare it to a valve ac30 it's obviously going to come of worse, some people cant bare having an amp that looks like one thing but sounds like something else. Its a nice amp in its own right.

Submitted by wesley venables at 04/26/2003 08:44

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 7
Probably made in the '70s. Features are pretty identical to a tube AC30, but this particular sample also has reverb. Vox labelled

Sound Quality: 5
Nothing like a tube AC30, more "generic solid state", and actually quite muffled at that. Induces a hellish hum when linked to my '65 Twin Reverb reissue.

Reliability: N/A
It seems reliable, probably hasn't been in need of service. That's about the only advantage over the tube model.

Customer Support: N/A
The amp isn't mine.

Overall Rating: 5
Some solid state amps actually sound very good, but this one is utterly uninspiring, and couldn't touch the tube AC30 with a ten feet pole. If I owned it I would be really embarrassed by it being a Vox AC30, but not a good or attractive one. Really no reason not to buy a Vox Cambridge, a newer Marshall Valvestate, a Fender solid state amp or a JC-120 if you're after a good sounding solid state amp. The Vox AC30 solid state is a premature solid state design and rather lame.

Submitted by Ralf Lofstad at 02/11/2002 15:52

Price Paid: Pounds less than #200 used

Features: 8
This is the late 60 early 70s solid state AC30 Has all the usual, 3 Channels normal Bright & Tremalo Normal is the Nicest letting the Guitar or effect show through not getting muddied on the way. Tremolo is great for that true sixtys sound.

Sound Quality: 7
Great sound you would never Know it was only 40w but the 2 12" spreakers help. As I only play at home I have never used it in anger YET. I normaly use it with a telecaster but do put my acoustic through it sometimes and that sounds great aswell

Reliability: 10
IT hasnt gone wrong yet & its not much younger than me

Customer Support: N/A
I think the waranty ran out when we went metric?

Overall Rating: 10
Other than getting a Valve one it would be hard to replace

Submitted by Ian Plain at 07/22/1999 16:43