Vox AC30/6TBX

I got this amp in March of 2001, so I assume it was made in 2000.This amp is exactly what I've been looking for in 30 years of playing. I am now playing classic rock (late 60's and early 70's)and it's perfect for this music.It has three channels, one brilliant, one normal and one trem/vibrato.It's a pretty straight forward amp, no frills, but the sound makes up for it.Since I am not into effects, I don't really miss an effects loop, but I do wish it had reverb. I use this amp mainly in small to medium sized clubs, and it has more than enough power. It can always be miked for the larger places.

I am currently using a stock 1965 Fender Strat. It is the ideal amp for my music style( classic rock, British Invasion stuff). It is a little noisy, but I attribute this to the Strat pickups. There is a slight 60-cycle hum at louder volumes, but turning up the unused channels about half-way helps diminish it. There's not much of a variety of sounds, but what it does put out is perfect for the music that I play. I haven't really had the opportunity to turn it wide open, so I get my distortion from a Boss Distortion pedal. I am anxious to hear the natural amp distortion, though.

I haven't really had the amp long enough to know if I can depend on it or not, so I always have a spare handy, just in case.I have heard that the class-A design makes them run hotter than most amps, but putting a couple of small fans behind it seems to keep it pretty cool.

I haven't dealt directly with Vox on anything.Service centers are easy enough to find via th internet. The amp has a one year warranty.The speakers(mine has the Vox Blue Alnicos) have a three year warranty. The tubes are only warrantied for three months, but I've heard you can expect about 300 hours from them.

I have been playing in bands for nearly 35 years. I also own a 1967 Martin D-18 that belonged to my dad, a Fender 400 8-string pedal steel, and an old Ensoniq Mirage. If my AC-30 was ever stolen, I'd be devastated, 'cause thy're not cheap, but I would try to get another one. The one thing I dislike about it is the vinyl covering-- it tears very easily and you really have to be careful not to bump it against anything-- I wish Vox had included a slip cover at least! One word of caution to anyone ordering from a mail-order catalog-- be sure you know what you're getting. I ordered mine from L&M Music, out of Chattanooga, TN, after receiving a "special sale" catalog from them advertising it for $1299, with no mention anywhere in the catalog of it being "scratch and dent" merchandise. When I received it,there were large pieces of vinyl missing and numerous dings and nicks. After calling them and telling them that I wanted a refund, they promised to replace it with a brand-new unit for $150 extra.Taking their word for it, I agreed. However, when I received the replacement, it too had some dings and tears that had been glued down. It clearly was not brand new. But I figured I was still getting a good deal and kept it.But I am still going to write KorgUSA and tell them about L&M's shady business practices.

This is a brand spanking new 2001 reissue of the 1960's Vox AC-30 with Top Boost and Blue Alnico speakers. Powered by 5 ECC83s and 1 ECC82 in the pre-amp, 4 EL84s in the power stage, and the all important GZ34 rectifier valve.

3 Footswitchable channels. No effects loops or headphone jack (This ain't no practice amp!)

This amp is meant to be used for its unique "only can be made through a Vox AC-30" tone..thus rendering it a non-versatile amp...but you know that. You buy this amp to get that one distinct sound...you don't buy it to squeeze out every guitar genre out there.

It's got 33W of Class A power, which means they run hotter than your average 30W amps, thus, when overdrived, can sound very very loud. Should be more than enough.

For those of you who aren't in know of Vox AC-30's. They have a very unique sound that many people either love or detest. Early Beatles, U2, Queen, are some good examples of the unique "british invasion" tone. No meaty Marshall thrash here, nor any surfy Fender Twin Reverb tone.

Yes, all channels distort at high volumes, but THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT! The amp is naturally a bit noisy. However, a little trick you can use is to balance out the hum by increasing the volume on the channels not being used.

The distortion is not harsh. Very delicate and tasteful while preserving the natural tones of your guitar. You can achieve that great tone that sits on the fine line between clean and distorted.

So far, it's had no problems. Got lots of tubes that run way hot though (make you sweat if you stand too close to the heat vent grilles) I'm sure the amp will require more than average care and attention. However, the updated electronics and larger vent grilles stand out as actual improvements to the vintage models in terms of reliability.

Haven't dealt with them (yet?).

Been playing for over 20 years. Have owned various Marshall stacks, Fender Twin Reverbs, vintage Vox AC-30s. Currently playing a 77 strat and 93 Les Paul standard.

A bit on the pricey side. However, if you're in the market for an AC-30, the re-issues should definitely be an option. I've been tracking the re-issue path and history. Honestly, I'd say the models made between the 70's and 90's were not very good, and I was skeptical when I heard that Korg was putting out a new revamped re-issue back in the early 90's. However, Korg has done a surprisingly superb job in meticulously going back and sticking to the original specs of the 60's era models. It's very obvious that lots of thought and guitarist feedback has gone into the reincarnation of these. I've played through vintage late sixties models in the past. The new re-issues come pretty damn close if not dead on in terms of tonal characteristics.

No other new amp on the market comes close to replicating the unique Vox-30 sound. Forget about the Line6 units...they don't hold a candle to the real deal.

As far as choosing between an over-priced beat up vintage or a new re-issue, I can only offer the following advice: Play and listen to both if you can! I know there are those vintage-only guys who refuse to accept anything "re-issued"...but if you want to really get your money's worth, give the reissues a try. Of course the magnetic life-span of the speakers and the natural "breaking in" factors into the equation. However, I honestly believe these new babies sound just the way the old 60's models probably sounded back when they were new. But here's the added bonus...getting a re-issue guarantees that you're getting a BRAND NEW amp with better features for reliability.

On a side note: I've heard the Edge of U2 was actually given the very first production model of the Korg re-issues (#0000001 or something) and has added it to his rig.

Bought this '63 reissue Special Edition Purple AC30 with Blue Alnicos used; told it is about 5 years old, but was in excellent condition overall. I knew I had to have it as soon as I saw/heard it, despite having purchased a beautiful '76 Wine ES335 a week earlier for about the same price (but I've learned that that's the risk one takes whenever one walks into a good guitar store. . . ) What a showcase amp; it even outshines the ES335, which is in gorgeous condition. I have only been playing for about 5 years, but this amp makes me sound much better than the advanced beginner that I am. I have always loved (and have been learning) The Beatles, Queen, REM and U2, although I don't know that the latter two are known for using Vox (wouldn't be at all surprised if The Edge used/endorsed this amp, though). I have been searching for the ultimate clean tube amp sound, and this is it, especially on the Brilliant channel (see discussion of features already posted). It's plenty powerful. The Normal channel seems to run the quietest, but the only tone control is via the "Cut" knob, which seems to muddy the sound too much at low end. I do wish it had a continuous/dial-up tremolo speed control (which I believe the AC15 has), though, and a master volume knob would be nice.

Again, as soon as I plugged this in, I was in Tone-Town. All it took was the opening chords of "She's a Woman" on a Rickenbacker, and a few open chords on a Gibson, to convince me. The above-mentioned ES335 has a wonderful warm sound with a perfect bottom end, and my Les Paul Classic (P-90's) also sounds amazing. My Telecaster plays crystal clean, like raindrops from the heavens, and my Rickenbacker 360 paired with this is a match made in heaven. The only thing that has bothered me was a buzzing sound at moderate to high volumes (heard only within several feet of the amp), which I traced to the spring-loaded basket device housing (and vibrating against) the GZ34 rectifier tube. I was able to dampen this about 90% with strategically wrapped 1/2" electrical tape, and now it sounds fine, but I think this was an error in design (wouldn't heat-resistant elastic bands of some sort work better?) Meanwhile, I'm waiting on a vintage-style Vox Distortion Booster pedal, which I'm sure will compensate for the lack of a gain control, but I plan to use this only rarely anyway.

This amp appears to be built like a tank (or at least seems to weigh that much ...), but I don't plan to take this out of the house often, if at all. From what I've heard, the tubes run hot and need to be replaced relatively frequently, but are very affordable.

I did call Korg to discuss the vibrating part issue, and the guy was great. He clearly knew the amp inside out, and was kind enough to warn me that the motherboard stores enough energy to ("fatally") shock you, even for days after the amp is unplugged, so I stayed away from this area, but let that be a warning for all you other amp surgeons out there...

What a wonderful find; I don't plan on buying another amp for a long time, if at all. I would try to replace it immediately if something happened to it. Within a week, between the two purchases (as well as the standby Ric), I have been blessed with exactly the sound I have been longing for. I was pretty happy with my (underrated) Crate Vintage Club 30 tube amp for the last few years (an excellent value for $300 or so used, btw; couldn't bring myself trade it in), but I am so glad I held off on a mid-priced Fender or Marshall amp to wait for this. My friends in the band keep both a Deville and JCM 2000 combo at my house, and after side-by-side comparison, I prefer this much warmer and more balanced sounding amp to both, although the Marshall plays just as clean, possibly moreso at higher volumes. (I'm not a big fan of reverb, so I don't miss that feature at all.) Maybe it's the new-amp euphoria, but I still can't walk by this work of art without turning it on and hearing it one more time, even if for just a few strums; I don't think this feeling will be wearing off anytime soon, either. If the two things you prize most are simplicity and tone, then this pure and classic amp is the only one for you, and is well worth the money.

2000, Reissue of a 64 AC30. Loaded w/ Vox Blue speakers. Bassically same layout as the original, (which I had), except for a PC board rather than PTP, and a standby switch. Korg (VOX) also enlarged the vents on top, and you can disconnect the internal spkrs., unlike my old Vox where they were hard wired in. Real birch cab, same grill, and cosmetics. Same top boost channel layout as the original. Nice looking amp, weighs a ton!!

Well, lets see. I've owned 33 amps in the 28 yrs. I've been playing guitar. Gear head you say???? Naaaaa. Yes, I have always been on the prowl for the ultimate tone, not that I haven't had great tones along the way. Indeed I have. But, I have always been into trying out new stuff. Big, small, boutique, el-cheap-o, whatever sounded cool. I have had them all. Fenders, various VOX's, Marshalls, Top Hat, Budda, Peaveys, Soldano, Silvertone, on and on and on. Well, so who cares right? Well, I think what it has taught me is 1.) NO AMP DOES IT ALL! 2.) NO AMP IS PERFECT 3.) STOP GETTING RID OF COOL AMPS THAT YOU WILL LATER WISH YOU HAD KEPT. Like my old AC30. Anyway, this new reissue is a gem. I WILL NOT be getting rid of it.....ever. I run various Telecasters into it via a Fulltone II, and an old Boss SD-1.(& some other various effects) The amp is as close to tonal-Nirvana as I seem to be able to get. Now realize, that the AC30's tone is very unique. I do know people who dislike them. But, I absolutely LOVE the sounds that this reissue lets me create. Chimey, compressed, brown sounding mids, super tight bass response----this is where guitar's should live my freinds. The speakers are wonderful. They are possibly as good if not better than my old Silver ALNICO's. The amp is bassically a one pony show, but what a show!! Like all AC30's, the reissue is extremely pedal-friendly. Thus, you can get a great tone with any quality over-drives, or just run the amp close to flat out.(By the way, I had an AC15 reissue for a while and liked it, but I feel that this cicuit is superior in over-all tone to the AC15's master volume circuit.) But beware, this is definitely a loud amp. This amp simply sounds awesome. It is pricey, but it is worth every penny. The only thing that I don't like is that somewhere along the line, Marshall cheaped out on the tubes. They used to put RCA NOS's in these reissues. Now you get cheap Yugo tubes, which bassically suck! But, even with the crappy tubes the tone is wonderful. These are a 10+
Like a fine bottle of wine - sweet, full-bodied, full of overtones. Not for those who are happy with Ripple. Tone freaks tend to end up with this amp sonner or later. Take a gander at many pro guitarists line up, chances are you'll see an AC30 in there somewhere.

I feel the amp is very well made, and will hold up to the riggors of gigging. I also have had other VOX products including an AC15 re-issue which I did a tour with. No Problems at all.

I would buy it again. I think this will be "home" for me for a long time to come. Hell, I've tried/owned practically everything else........nothing sounds better. Just wish it wasn't so darned heavy, not as young as I used to be.

VOX '63 re-issue...could sonic life get any more blissfull? Well the answer is it probably could! Now, all this of course depends on what genre of music the user is aiming for. Take me for instance. I've got a kind've gritty rock thing going on - sometimes its smooth and funk-rocky (Hendrix), other days its Out and Out rock (the sorta rock that harkens back to the days of The Who). Y'see, what brings the vox down is the modern need for foot-switchin'. Simple as that. You'll find yourself hunting around for an appropriate stomp-box in order to equip yourself with a bit o'distortion - cranking the old amp into overdrive unfortunately won't do. Sure enough the Norm/Bright/Vib-Trem settings are outta this world (litterally cosmic! you will not find better tone than the chiming, warm sounds of the vox). And used with a great guitar like a Fender Tele or Rickenbacker you can stand proud through any gig, at any stage in your life.....Just don't keep it switched on for tooooooo long - those replacement tubes don't come cheap.

I think i've mentioned the necessaries already....

33watts - and those are 33 loud watts! No need for back up amps guys - the Beatles used to plug all their guitars into one of these babys all those years ago in the mid-sixties. Just watch those tubes...

1 yr warranty. But that was through a really reputable guitar/amp vendor in the UK, and i hear they're impossible to track down.

Top notch amp! All you gotta do is get a stomp-box, and you're sorted!

My new re-issue AC-30 has ONE FEATURE: TONE. Bright, brilliant, warm and wooly classic class-A tube amp TONE. I always use the "Brilliant" channel because it's has the most treble, I never use the "Normal" input, and I use the "Tremolo" input for authentic sounding 60's psychedelic covers ala Love's "7 and 7 is". I was afraid it wouldn't be loud enough for my band (style: Who, Kinks, Music Machine, MC5, Yardbirds) but it IS. Stage volume is always perfect and with a decent PA this thing sounds better than GOD.

I use a '64 Epiphone with mini humbuckers and a '57 Les Paul Jr.. I prefer the sound of more trebly guitars like these or a Tele with this amp as opposed to a Les Paul Standard which can get muddy. The AC-30 handles mid range and treble the best. Bass response is nice and smooth, but bottom end Marshall CHUNKA-CHUNKA isn't what it's about. It stays pretty clean to the half way point, then it breaks up sweetly. I use a Fulltone Soulbender Fuzz with the amp cranked and I haven't heard a more perfect noise yet.

My AC-30 has been dropped and kicked off the stage (but never drop-kicked) 3 times (accidentaly of course) and it has never broken. After about 200 shows I had the amp re-tubed for the hell of it. The tech said the original tubes were very low quality. I thought they sounded fine when I first got the amp, but after the re-tube the tone has actually improved - I didn't think it could sound any better, but it does!

Never had to deal with them, the amp is a tank. They're on Long Island I think.

I have been playing for about 5 years. I collect mostly vintage gear, but I wanted the reliability and "low" price (compared to a vintage one) of a new amp for touring. It has been everything I hoped for and more. It's not a cheap amp, but if you want the music your playing to sound the best it can, use the best sounding equiptment - DUH. If it ever breaks, I probably won't buy another one because it'll be my great-grandson's amp by then - he'll buy a new "vintage 1999" re-issue.

The "new" '63 Reissue AC30 with Blue Alnico speakers is a basic 1963-vintage amplifier remade. It is a 33-watt Vox tube amp with 3 channels- Vibrato/Tremolo, Normal, and Brilliant (Top Boost).
No Reverb, no Channel Switching, no Effects Loops and no Headphone Jack. To improve upon the original, larger valve vents and a Standby switch have been added to extend tube life. Players prioritize different features. My last amp was Fender's 100-watt, triple channel "Evil Twin"- it had everything but the Sound. Since then I have discovered that my needs are simple- I want Tone. The AC30 isn't the most versatile amplifier on the planet, it's just the best one.

Why buy the AC30? It's heavy, expensive and 33 watts. Because it's also TONE HEAVEN. Like the Fender Telecaster I play, it's marvelously simple and alluring. My AC30 is clean, chimey and warm. The speakers are 12 watt Alnico Blues and surprisingly loud! The AC30's distortion is the unlike anything else I've experienced- at full-tilt each string retains its individual tone- what a beautiful breakup. I play in a wedding band and the guys shout at me if the volume approaches the halfway mark. 33 watts?! The music we play spans the 40s to the present and this amp is equal to all of it. I never have played an amplifier that has the wonderful ability to bring out the mid-range and bass in my instrument- sounds I had never before heard from my Tele. Very Voxy. Some noise comes from the amp when it sits under florescent lighting, but it's not something I notice much.

This amp is built the way they used to build them. I don't worry about my Vox AC30. I have nevr had the luxury of gigging with a backup and so I have played amps that have a reputation for being reliable. It's a Vox.

I found that buying an AC30 can be a very difficult experience. The Vox website shows lots of European dealers and Korg USA. But Korg is simply a distributor. I live in St. Augustine, Florida and it took me some time to find North Coast Music in Wisconsin, a very reliable place to buy a Vox. There's nowhere to try out these amps. I bought mine without hearing it. You have to be willing to take a good risk. The warranty period is one year. I believe the AC30 is built to last.

I have been playing guitar for 30+ years. I've owned Gibsons, Fenders, Martins, Taylors, Ampegs, Music Mans, etc. The AC30 is the best amplifier I've ever owned, period. Despite the long wait I endured for my amp- almost three months- I would buy my AC30 again and again. It's really a boutique amp- it's so expensive that you have to make a special commitment to own it. It's too bad that quality costs so much, but if you have to have THE TONE, you'll buy the AC30. Get the Blue Alnicos- they're worth the extra couple hundred dollars. The Greens simply aren't the real thing- I've played them both.

This 1997 made Vox ac30 is a 33 watts combo with three channels (brilliant,normal and vibtrem) but they`re not footswitchable.There is 6 inputs, hi and low for each channel. You can choose between two speaker combinations, celestion greenbacks or celestion vox blue. The Vox blue speakers are more expensive (that alnico magnet sure is`nt cheap) but they have that real Vox ac30 sound. I have the blue speakers and I am happy with it. You can run two or all three channels at the same time but I think it has the greatest sound just with the brilliant channel alone. There is no middle control but you dont need it because there is a lot of middle on all the time, so if you dont like a guitar sound with loads of middle, then this amp is nothing for you. It has`nt all the features and I don't think that you can get that many different sounds from it but it works for me.

I got a Gibson lespaul standard, a Gretsch silver jet, a Fender 52 vintage reuisse telecaster and a strat.I get a great sound with all of these.It`s clean sound is great with a lot of mid, and when I stomp in my Ibanez ts-9 and my Ibanez sonic distortion I get THAT sound i have been looking for. With the other amps I own I have never really used the clean channel but this amp made me allowed to do that.When I turn the volume up it has the sweetest overdrive i have ever heard, and it`s 33 watts are VERY LOUD watts. I`d just love the sound of it, it`s great.

Being a class A amp, it sure runs very hot, but with a fan behind, it won't cause any trouble. I think it is a well build amp and it looks and feels reliable.

I have search for a long time for the perfect sound and tone.Now I`m there. I have own several marshalls (6100,artist) a Laney vc50 and some peaveys but now I know why a lot of people choose Vox. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

Features are told many times here, so I only tell, what is my opinion... Some people say, that Vox AC30 is not very versatile amp, but I just can't imagine a thing lacking. I always play with sound undistorted, so I don't mind that there is no "gain"-knob. Vox AC30 is available with 3 different speaker configurations, and I prefer the Vox Blue speakers. 33watts of Vox is very loud 33watts.

I play Finnish-type surf-like music, which is often in minor. Sad songs. I use 60's reissue Stratocaster and Amtech tape-echo simulator. This is a combination you can't beat! The beautiful rich tone with a peak in a certain midrange frequency (caused by the Blue speakers) completely surrounds you! With medium gauge stringset you'll get beautiful harmonic distortion. Vox is very fast. It has great attack, and compression. For some purposes Vox is superb with Fane Classic 50 speakers.

Vox is reliable enough, if you regularly change tubes. I recommend changing tubes after 300 hours of use. There are still 60's Vox amps in use, so It can't be so difficult to maintain.

When I made my choice of music style, I knew I'd buy a Vox someday. I have achieved my goal. I would buy another, without hesitation if I'd somehow lose this. Only what I hate about it is the weight. Your friends suddenly finds something else to do, when they think that you are planning of carrying Vox off the stage. Hovever, a small guy can carry it alone...

The Vox AC30 is versatile enough for what my band plays. Our style is rock and punk and the Vox fits right in. I use a variety of guitars: a Gibson SG, an old '86 Japenese made Fender strat, a Fender Tele and a 330 Rickenbacker (for the jangle) and each guitar sounds excellent through this amp. The AC30 has three separate chanels with two inputs each: the Brilliant channel, the Normal channel and the Vib-Trem channel. All three channels can be hooked together to increase the volume, but i think it sounds better and loud enough to use one channel. There is no channel switching but a good overdrive or distorion pedal will do wonders. There's no effects loop or headphone jack, but i don't miss either one. The only features i wish this amp had were standard treble, bass and middle controls. Instead there is a cut switch (it seems to act as a prescence control and works for each of the three channels), and for the brilliant channel there is the addition of bass and treble control. These two function together in subtle ways and can be very versatile or a huge headache. I use this amp for rehearsing, live shows and recording and it has enough power (it's rated at 33 watts and it's a pretty loud 33 watts).

The Vox sounds like God himself has blessed your amp, your guitar and you. It's the sweetest sound I've ever heard. It can be noisy, it seems to have a hum to it that is worse with flourescent lights. The sound breaks up into the sweetest overdrive as you crank up the volume. this amp responds well to your touch and depending on how you stike the strings, hard or soft, it responds.

I've only owned the amp for a short time, so. . .it does seem to run very hot and I compensate by placing a small fan behind the back of the amp to help cool off the tubes.

I bought this amp from Renegade Music Company out of Florida. The UPS man, who argued with me about which was the front door and which was the back door of my apartment, had turned the package upside down. The footswitch broke the rectifier tube so I couldn't play the amp after I got it. I called the company and spoke with Frank and he is sending me new tubes free of charge. of course, I couldn't wait and went and bought a new rectifier tube. So, the company I bought the amp from has been very helpful. I'm not sure how long the warranty is, I filled out the card and mailed it in but I can't remember any of that information.

Yes, I would buy it again. I love the sweet tones and overall sound. The only thing I hate is the cost. It's a shame that such a beautiful sounding amp has to cost so much money. Also, this amp is HEAVY. It's a hernia inducing beast for sure. I played my first vox amp about three years ago in a music store next to a Marshall 30watt 1X12, a Mesa Boogie dual rectifier, a Laney stack and a Fender tube combo (I think it was a blues deluxe). I prefered the sound of the vox over all of these. This amp comes with three handles which makes carrying the heavy beast a little more manageable.