Vox AC30/6TBX

Being a re-issue of an amp designed in the late 50s, the Vox's controls are bound to seem strange to anyone accustomed to more modern amps. There are three channels (Normal, Brilliant, and Vib-Trem), but only the Brilliant channel has tone controls. All you get on the other two is volume and a treble cut, which works on all three channels in the power stage. The Vib-Trem channel offers both vibrato (pitch modulation) and tremolo (volume modulation). There's a selector switch and three speeds available for each. The one thing I miss is a master volume control. Sure, it's a vintage reproduction, but the AC30 sounds beautiful as it begins to overdrive, and I dial in that sound in my living room.

There's no way to describe that sound unless you've heard it, and no way to forget it either. It's fatter than most other amps I've tried, and the attack is more crisp. When you get the amp into overdrive it has the sweetest tone I've ever heard. This thing wont do metal grunge, but overdriven it still has a great sound. I wouldnt call it the most versatile amp in the world, but on the other hand, people from a whole lot of different styles use them (everybody from The Beatles to Brian May of Queen to Tom Petty to Rory Gallagher to Jay Farrar of Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt).

I've only had mine three months, so who knows. Because the tubes operate in Class A (i.e., they run superhot) the originals have a reputation for blowing up. I think the newer ones are supposed to be more reliable.

No contact yet.

When I bought this amp, I tested it side-by-side against several others: a Matchtless C30 and Clubman, a Mesa Blue Angel, a Fender Super and Pro-Sonic. The only one of those which comes close is the Matchless C30 (which is really an improved clone) which has the master volume but also costs a lot more. The Vox and the Matchless are the two best-sounding amps I've ever heard. They wont do everything but they do what I need. (And with a good pedal you can get the rest.) If I had it to do over again and I had an extra thousand dollars to burn, I'd buy the Matchless with that master volume control. Barring that, I'd definitely buy this amp.

One of the "true" vintage re-issues available. After several false-starts with good intentions is seems Korg has been very diligent with keeping the AC-30 top boost a straight forward class A amplifier. It has the touch dynamics that you expect from this design. Any deviation from the original design seems to have been done solely for the reliability aspect.

How do you describe the VOX AC-30 sound? It has been used in so many musical styles that it can be hard to classify. You can get the "jangly" top end that doesn't seem as tinny as most amps would with the high-end coming through. The mid-range is smooth in character and the low-end seems to stay amazingly tight for a 33 watt amplifier. This is one amp that you can manipulate well with your guitars controls alone!

What can I say? So far, so good. One of the improvements in the AC-30 reissue is a larger vent panel on the top of the amplifier. Class A designs run hot by nature and not having proper ventilation is asking for trouble! As far as constuction goes it is solidly built. As a matter of fact, As a matter of fact, they are acually built in the Marshall factory!

Korg is the USA distributor. They are a large musical equipment company that has been distributing Marshall for many years. I expect that this speaks well for support and parts availability. As a matter of fact there are a slew of places that supply parts for vintage VOX gear.

After going through over a dozen amps over the years it's ironic that I go all the way back to a design from 1964 for my mainstay amplifier. Great tone, well built, and solid resale value (not that I plan on selling it). It's a keeper!