Vox AC30 2x12'' 30 watt Guitar Amp Combo

VOX AC30 2 x 12 Guitar Combo.
With a legendary VOX sound this old fashioned Class A amp design, may have been top in the early 60's but by todays standard they really offer little to younger players. They are very heavy, and ludicrously inefficient in producing high volume. Even in a dance band situation you will have difficulty being heard over drums and bass. Count the number of AC30's Brian May from Queen had to use to play at rock volumes. The Edge (U2) is miked through PA, and you will have to do the same with your band, if you use a VOX AC30.
Yes they do look cool, yes they do have a distinctive sound, but they get hot, make all sorts of hums and crackles, and as such are just unuseable for most recording work. Oh and make sure you know a good amp service center, because you will need one.

These original amps were built in the days when a Ford Anglia was a modern car!!. The Anglia's with vaccum windscreen wipers, that broke down every day, would not start, and were basically one of the worst cars ever made. The VOX amps were little better, as the manufacturing standards, and quality control in UK back in early 60's was just so very poor.

If it's the sound you want, then just go buy the VOX amPlug AC30 it does just what you need for that older VOX sound, and costs peanuts. A better amp generally is the rarer VOX AC10 twin from 60's era. These sound much better as a recording amp, and can be driven at studio volumes to get a great rock sound. But they are rare like hen's teeth.

Even the big name users like Shadows and the Beatles wanted to use Fender amps but were not allowed due to their handcuffed deals made with VOX.

My conclusion is; these ICONIC Vox AC30's are over rated, really surpassed by most modern amps in every way. If you want big volume and flexibility, go buy something else, maybe a Fender, Boogie, or Marshall. My score for VOX AC30 gets: Looks 100%, Useability 30%. New hand wired vintage style VOX models are simply just not worth the money. Against the equivalent priced Fender amp a VOX sounds really weak, and dead in the water.

Ask how many studio session people use a VOX AC30 , they are very few!! Ask how many use a Fender Deluxe or similar, I rest my case.

And at the end of the day this is my best advice, listen and try a lot of different amps, don't be swayed by fashionable marketing, or the valve vs transistors debate. Your ears are the best judge and jury on this subject.

VOX AC30 is an old fashioned amp with a limited use in modern day music, and almost hopeless for recording use.

I hope my 50 years of playing in the music business may be of some help to you on this subject.

This is a great amp. I have literally 10 different amps (Fenders i.e., Pro series, Blue JR, Blues Deluxe, Silver Face, Hot Rods, Mesa Boogies, and Voxs) I love the sound of them all (especailly after doing the standard BillM mods and Tone Dr mods) but the VOX has a clean and chimey sound that you can drive into the creamy sound that bands of the 1970s and 1980s made all the time by dimeing these amps.
Trash Metal and Speed metal playes stick with your Crates, Ampegs and Marshalls --- you will get the noise your looking for. Clean or Creamy it is VOX all the way --- and yes I have the 5 watt TV, AC15 and now the AC30 in Red. There is no such thing as one amp that fits or does it all. Remember a $3500.00 Les Paul will sound like a 200.00 guitar when you you use a $300.00 amp. The electric guitar has two parts --- the amp and the guitar. Spend at as much as you can afford on the amp -- a amp #1400.00 will make any $300.00 guitar sound great!! Rock on!!

Awesome amp, really one of the best in the market since the 60s! Lots of sparkle, lively tones and one of the most dinamic amps ever produced.