Vox AC30/6TBX

No frills, though the vib/trem is good cross patched with top boost input for a hint of swamp.

Well everyone's right here. This is the last good AC30 made in the UK (Marshall factory I believe)- possibly one of the best made (so what if it has PCB's?). I have 2, one purple.Very loud, toneful (but heavy at 36kg) amps. Effect friendly.
The current Chinese CC AC30 is cheap and there is a reason, even though it has reverb etc. Watch those transformers.

No problems here. Change tubes, dont bother biasing. I gig 4 nights a week and have had no problems in 8 years.

Never bothered - I suspect it's average.

I have to admit that I've gone the full circle and rely on my AC30. Weight is the only downside but if you want a good sound in any room then this does it for me. I've tried to cheat and use other makes to save lugging this around but always come back. I'm a seasoned (read old!) player.
An 8 is as high as I go for anything, even my missus.

Early '90s to 2003. 3 channels. Six inputs; Normal, Brilliant & Vibrato/Tremolo. Volume for each. Bass, treble, and cut. Very versatile amplifier. Puts out enough sound pressure for any situation. If it weren't 100 lbs, I'd rate it a 10 for features. Can't these be built any lighter? I often jumper the brilliant or normal channels with a little of the vib/trem channel to get some great warbling Hendrix clean sounds (think "1983..(A merman I should turn to be).

I use mostly humbucker equipped guitars with rosewood boards. If your not into metal, or that Hi-Fi TOOL sound, any valve amplifier worth it's salt should suffice for just about any genre of music you can think of. Use the volume and tone controls on your guitar with a good amplifier and you'll know what I'm talking about. About 98% of guitarists really lack this dynamic in their playing these days. Amp is quite loud and clean at the get go but starts to break up at a reasonable volume. There is nothing "brutal" about this "distortion" , only musical overdrive & harmonics that sound great with what you're playing. There's more crunch than a great Fender amp in there, but it's not as "honky" sounding as most all Marshalls made after the JMP series (from many years ago). The nicest, fullest sounding bottom end I've heard in an amplifier. Tons of juicy top-end sparkle. Very 3-dimensional. (I have the blue Vox speakers in mine).

A good tube amp is only as reliable as it's owner. I've had this since about '99/00 without a hitch. The "Vox basket weave" vinyl covering is VERY prone to damage & coming apart in little threads (exposing the glue on the cabinets to dirt & grime). For an amp that sold for $1900 - $2200 new, this is unacceptable. Although, this has no effect on tone or performance. I guess it's akin to buying a Jaguar who's paint melts off with the first rain - you're still left with a beautifully tuned performance machine that does what you'd expect, but why the crap paint?

Useless now, I would imagine, as they're no longer made. The new AC30s are Chinese & loaded with effects and buttons.

I couldn't be more pleased with an amplifier. I don't go for the "boutique" b.s. as there's always a boutique price tag as part of the deal, although most, if not all, reissues these days put out by Fender and the likes are harsh sounding pieces of poop. If paying more money for a guitar amp than you should makes you feel like a better guitar player, then please don't play outside of your bedroom, or at least do a little more research with your own ears. This amp is a perfect example of a "name brand price tag" (which I would never have payed, save for the deal I got buying it used & badly beat up). If you feel that the type of wire used in an amplifier makes a marginal difference in how it sounds, you should be in the wire business instead of the music making field. In hind sight, I feel the quality of sound this puts out and it's usability make it almost worth every exorbitant penny. Every time I play it puts a smile on my face. I must deduct points for the crappy *** covering.

All tube reissue with tube rectifier & Celestion blue speakers. Plenty of power for keeping up with my VERY loud drummer. Tone is the feature of this amplifier. I might wish it lacked a vibe/trem channel, but that's part of the whole reissue thing. More than enough power for pretty big gigs (50-100 people). Normal, Treble & Vibe/Trem channels can be bridged and mixed with a patch chord which is really versatile.

I have several blackface Fenders and this amp is definitely on par with those amps ('65 Bandmaster & '66 Super Reverb). I use a Fender Jazzmaster & Telecaster as well as a Gretsch with it. I'll play stuff by Wilco, Bob Dylan & Tom Waits' later stuff, if that's a point of reference for you. The Tremolo is kind of toyish but that's why I bought a good pedal (Voodoo Lab, Fulltone ex.) Very pedal friendly! Best clean & jangle sound out there with the alnico blue Celestions. There are a lot of great sounds to be had with the turn of the volume dial. The break-up is astounding! There's a reason you'll see these on stage with everyone from Bob Dylan to Tom Petty to Wilco & U2 and so on....

No problems. I've gigged without backup. I've also gigged with a backup.

Haven't needed them.

I've played for 16 years now. I've pretty much stuck with classic examples of classic gear and they've never let me down. I would definitely buy another if stolen. The price kinda hurts though.... I love the tone - hate nothing about this amp.

Just to update my last review - Took this amp apart and it was loaded with up Drake transformers! Very nice. I did a little tube swapping and ended up with new Tung-sols and a sovtek in one position. I also replaced the worn groove tubes el84's with new JJ's and WOW! Much more 3D and less noise!

For some reason the price wasn't listed in my last review, but i paid $2100 + $200 shipping USD for this fine amplifier.

Still kicking!

no problems yet!

still haven't contacted korg/Vox!

1997 "Korg" topboost AC30 with Alnico Blues; a relatively faithful reissue of the original '60s era AC30 built in the UK. Three channels, 6 inputs, no footswitching, pre-gain, master volume, fx loop or any of the 'modern' features found on the new Chinese built Custom Classics. Best features? Tone & response to hand/picking dynamics. This amp was purchased as a replacement for one that was stolen from a club right after a gig while on tour last year. Not an easy amp to hunt down...

Too many guitars too list out; mainstays include a few different Les Pauls & Telecasters; '82 335; '71, '92 & '97 Strats and a few 'specialty' guitars like a USA Jackson dinky & Chandler baritone.

These mid-90s Korg reissues come MUCH closer to nailing the tone of the JMI AC30s then the new CC versions. CC = Complete Crap. Ok maybe not, but they're a different animal. The Korgs have body & depth to the sound while every CC I've tried (several) are just too bright and lack any real low end. No thunk. Sure, you get reverb & can get distortion without running flat out, but the tone & ultra responsive nature isn't there. Its not the most versatile amp ever, actually it only does a few things well but does them REALLY well! Excels at the slightly clean, slightly dirty thing with complex chords... It's not a modern SwissArmy amp but I don't expcet or want it to be one!

I've had this 'replacement' for several weeks and haven't had a problem. My previous AC30 ran for over a dozen years with only one or two minor repairs. The UK Korgs are MUCH more reliable then the new CC's. I went through three of them in less then two months. One lasted only 20 minutes before smoke shot out of the vents! Got a full refund and started my search for an exact replacement after that! That said, it IS an AC30. Tom Petty takes one guy on the road whose sole job is to keep the Vox's running night after night...

I've only had a handful of dealings with Korg over the years, never had a problem.

Been playing full-time for over 25 years. Even with a few other "classic" amps around ('74 Marshall & the like) I love playing the AC30 with Blues. Nothing matches it. Its like the amplifier is directly connected to my hands & brain in a way that nothing else matches. Thankfully insurance covered the stolen AC30 and the other gear but it took a LONG while to track down another identical model as a replacement, a few months of calling dealers & collectors before actually getting one! Currently trying to find Korg reissue another as a backup, just in case.

This is a 1994 AC30/6TBX reissue. I bought it new. The store (Guitar Shop in Port Credit, Ontario) was kind enough to let me A/B a couple of these extensively prior to purchase.

Mine came with Celestion Greenbacks (so I guess it was originally an AC30/6TB), which sounded fine. I've changed just one speaker to the generally preferred Celestion Blue, which also sounds very good. I would have switched both speakers, but the amp sounds really good this way. Try it.

I wanted an AC30 because it has a voice unlike any other amp. I wasn't looking for a do-it-all combo. That said, the amp is extremely flexible, tone-wise, with just its few features. Link the channels via daisy-chaining, or with a splitter box, and there's a surprizing amount of variety available.

An AC30/6TBX has 3 channels, each with 2 inputs (high and low sensitivity); they are: Brilliant (Top Boost), Normal, and Vib-Trem. That's it. Totally old school.

One more thing; never has 30 watts sounded so loud. I had no idea what a little monster the AC30 was until I opened up the throttle. Wow. The guys who talk about using load boxes like the THD Hot Plate aren't kidding. Even in a large rehearsal space, a cranked AC30 will have band-mates asking you to turn down the volume.

A quick post-script: like a good woman, she smells wonderful when she heats up. Press your nose to the heat vents and inhale.

I currently play a Fender Telecaster with a humbucker in the neck position, a Franken-Strat (modified Strat) with a humbucker at the bridge, a Les Paul Special quasi-reissue with P-100 pickups, and an oddball item called a Gould (like a hollow body Les Paul, if that makes sense) with a single EMG 89 at the bridge. Nothing precious, just stuff that sounds good.

I find that the AC30 prefers a pickup that's not too bass-heavy, although a Les Paul Standard with stock pickups is still okay. The amp will yield such rich distortion at higher volumes that a too-thick sounding pickup will lose definition. The EMG has lots of top end as well as very high output, so it sounds gigantic and yet toothy.

The AC30's potentiometers (pots) seem to be unusually prone to getting dusty (crackly sounding). This can really be annoying to anyone who isn't expecting it, because the static crackles can be very loud when you adjust the volume. I've had the pots cleaned a couple of times, and it keeps coming back. Oh well.

The charm is in the chime, you might say. That's the amp's signature sound, the "blizzard of nails" that people talk about. It's not a pristine, Fender Twin sort of clean. You can get a relatively tamer sound out of the "Normal" channel, but it's less open sounding. If you want the broadest clean sound an AC30 can do, plug into the low-sensitivity input of the Brilliant channel and run a short cable out of that channel's high sensitivity input to the Normal channel (or the Vib-Trem, for that matter). Bring the volumes up slowly, remembering that at 30 watts there's not a supreme amount of clean headroom.

I didn't buy the AC30 to get super-clean sounds. I like a bit of edge even when I play clean. For me, this amp has the absolute best "clean" sound I've ever heard. I owned a '73 non-master Super Reverb, an early Fender '59 Bassman reissue, a '65 Deluxe reissue, and a '62 blonde Bassman (married to a Matchless 2x12). They all sounded wonderful, but the ones I've kept are the '62 Bassman and the Vox.

The range of distortion sounds that an AC30 produces will surprize you. Chime fades gradually into a thicker, more midrangey "barking" sort of crunch, progressing to a truly majestic sounding roar at about 2/3 to 3/4 volume (with a hot pickup into the Brilliant channel).

The thing I love about the distortion that the AC30 produces is that it is so rich with harmonic overtones. At volume, hold a note and move around in front of the amp. You'll get a very musical feedback; the feedback "notes" are always harmonically related to the note you're playing - it isn't squeal.

That said, the amp has definite limitations. It's only 30 watts or so; not your first choice for metal. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, however, used his AC30 for nearly all the guitar sounds on the album "There Is Nothing Left To Lose", and those are some very hard, distorted tones.

Try this: Google "AC30" and see who's using one. The range of sounds will astound you.

But as with anything that has a signature sound; it may not be for you. The AC30, like the 100 watt Marshall Super Lead, the tweed Fender Bassman, etc., is an iconic sound. It is what it is.

I've had no trouble with mine in the nearly 12 years I've owned it. On the other hand, I look after my stuff. Your mileage may vary.

N/A

In addition to the above-mentioned gear, I have a couple of older Marshalls (1982 JCM 800 2203 half-stack, 1968 Super Lead "plexi" full-stack), numerous pedals, bass and acoustic guitars.

I'd find it hard not having my AC30 reissue; the AC and the JCM are my main recording amps. If it were lost or stolen I'd feel very sorry for myself, drink heavily, then go buy another one if possible.

I am of the opinion that if you don't put unreasonable expectations on a piece of gear in the first place, then as long as it's decently built, there's nothing to hate. A Hiwatt won't sound like a Marshall, which won't sound like a Twin, etc. And a software amp modeler won't really sound like any of them, if you listen carefully (well okay, maybe Amp Farm). You have to know what you're getting into, or you'll be disappointed.

I like the AC, with all its quirks; it's unique.

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

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...

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

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

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.

its been said already

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.!!!

who knows!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Never needed customer support.

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.

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.

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.

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.

No complaints here. All dealings with the company have been more than satifactory.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Why bother? It's always more trouble than it's worth. Get a good amp tech instead.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 :)

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.

it is verry versatile for me I love it

teles and epi casineo I love it. it oh so much ass Iam 16 years old and Iam in a band that plays 60s and 70s rock and roll but I play 50s rockabilly and chuck berry style music I love the tone of this thing. as far as clean sounds it is verry smooth and compresed but when I turn it all the way up color me happy it is the most holly sound ever I got a hell of a deal on it it was damiged in shiping so it got a little cut on the side but nothing to cry about. the only problm is that I can never turn it all the way up. Ive have bought more over drive pedals than I wish to say. the sound Iam going for is mike kambles tone I have seen him on meny tv shows whith a danelectro daddyO overdrive so that is next on my list

i have taken it to hell in back(angolaI.N.)and menny other good venus for the past year and it can still ROCK.

it is hever on earth

My AC30 was made in "93. The features havae been well covered by others here so I won't repreat that. An excellent amp wtihout a lot of bells and whistles so becuase of that I'll give it an 8.

I use this AC30 with a variety of guitars, strats, teles, LP with P90's, ES335,hamer artist w/P90's. and I'm using it to plays blues and new country.

I bought it used and it sounded pretty good but I ended up replacing the Sovtek tubes in it with JJTesla EL84's and the tone was gretly improved. If I hadn't heard it for myself I wouldn't have believed it! The classic Vox chime is stunning and it allows the tone of every guitar plugged into it to come through. When it is cranked the overdrive is smooth, creammy and still has the ghime. Now i know why these amps are loved by Brian May, Tom Petty, Brad Paisley etc. (Paisley may use Dr. Z amps now but his tone was honed on Vox AC30's)

I use this amp with a THD Hotplate when I playing blues. These amps can be quite loud and the Hotplate allows me to get the tone I want at lower sound levels.


I love the tone of this amp!! It may be the best sounding amp I've ever ownie and I been through a lot of amps (Fender, Peavey, Marshall, Boogie, DR. Z, Budda, Traynor, Valvetech, Gibson....)

These amps are known for running hot and eating tubes. They also have a reputation for not being too reliable. I have not had any trouble with the amp and have gigged every weekend with it for almost a year. I allow the tubes to warm up with the amp on standby for a while before I play through it; and I also let it idle on stadby when I'm done for a bit before shutting it down. I always bring a backup and have been doing that just out of habit. Besides its cheap insurance tht the show will go on if something does happen. For backup I'll bring either my deluxe reverb or my Line 6 POD depending on the venue.

Never had to deal with them

I've been playing guitar professinally for 30 years and in tht time have gone through a bunch of amps. this one, along with my '66 Fender Pro Reverb is a keeper. I love the tone of this amp. If were stolen I'd get another ASAP.

IM A VOX AC30/6TBX RE-ISSUE OWNER,THIS ONE WAS MADE IN 2002.
THIS AMP DOES CUT THRU MY STYLE OF MUSIC. ROCK ALTERNATIVE,POP,BLUES AND JAZZ. BUT MOSTLY I USE THIS FOR ALTERNATIVE AND POP MUZIK.FROM BEATLES TO U2,CRANBERRIES TO REM,AND FROM SODA STEREO TO CERATI.
MY VOX HAS 6 CHANNELS, 2 FOR VIB/TREM,2 FOR NORM,AND 2 FOR BRIGHT.
THATS ALL I NEED EVENTHOUGHT I WICH IT HAD REVERB FOR A DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE FEEL.I USE EVERY FEATURE AND MIX THEM AND ALL IS FANTASTIC.I USE THIS MONSTER FOR GIGS,RECORDING,AND PRACTICE.IT HAS ENOUGHT POWER BUT IF YOU NEED MORE PUT A MIC IN FRONT OF THE SPEAKERS.

IM USING AN EPIPHONE CASINO RE-ISSUE WITH P90,LES PAUL STANDARD,TELE.
THEY ALL SUIT TO MY STYLE WHICH IS THE MODERN ALTERNATIVE AND SLOW SONGS.THE AMP IS ABIT NOISY WHEN HIGHER VOL.BUT IT PASS THE TEST.WHEN CRANCKING THE VOL.IT GIVES YOU A CLEAN POWERFULL OVERDRIVE BOOST.

I BOUGHT THIS DOG ON 4-02 AND HAVE NOT A PROBLEM YET,WILL SEE LATER.

NOT YET DEALTH

ITS GOT A SOUND OF ITS OWN AND I HAVE A FEELING IT WILL LAST A LONG TIME IF I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY. AND THIS IS IT THE REAL THING...
SOUNDS BEATLEISH AND U2ICH,.///0-0\\\

New 2001 Model AC30/6TBX. The amp has 3 channels- Top Boost, Normal and Vib/Trem- each differently voiced. All three channels share a common Cut control which reduces high end in the power section of the amp as opposed to the preamp. The Vib/Trem channel also has a pair of knobs- one to select either Vibrato or Tremelo, and another to select between three preset speeds. A variable speed knob would have been a nice improvement but no biggie.. The Top Boost Channel also has Treble and Bass controls. T

I use a Gibson ES295 w/ P-90 pickups, through a Boss Noise Gate(P90's are very noisy), Ibanez Turbo Tube Screamer, Boss RV3 and a EH Memory Man reissue. Not terribly noisy by itself. As other have posted, increasing the channel you not using volume control helps a bit due to phase cancellation. The Top Boost Channel is stunning, great clarity and bite, with loads of bass and treble to spare. The tone controls are highly interactive, moreso than any other amp. Maximum midrange scoop is acheived w/ the Bass control maxed. Easing back on both Bass and Treble to about 1:00 gives the classis VOX mids and highs. The amp can also be made to sound very fat indeed- so don't think it's just treble jangle. The amp is absurdly loud, especially w/ the VOX/Celestion Blue speakers. You'll impair your hearing by trying to get the amp to give up the overdrive. Once there however, it really sings. Think U2, REM and your there. The amp has a British voice, so it really excels at alternative power pop etc....

Ummmm... Here's where it gets tricky. This is my second AC30 in a month's time. The first, although I asked for a factory sealed unit was just merely reboxed and came from another of the chain's locations. The standby switch made a loud pop each time it was used. The Vib/Trem switch also suffered this affliction. The amp would distort or block up on certain notes. I returned it, they sent it out to be repaired. It returned w/ many of the same problems, except this time the Tolex was ripped in about 6 different places. I made a big stink, and am currently enjoying a true factory sealed unit which has no problems thus far. I actually build tube amps for a hobby, so I'm a little concerned w/ the PC board. Not that there's something inherently wrong w/them, it's just that repairs or replacement of components can sometimes turn into a nightmare. The preamp tubes are mounted direcly to the board (bad), but at least the power tubes and retifier are all chassis mounted. Overall however the amp has quality contruction.

They are quite freindly and at ease- mainly because once you buy it, you're on your own.

Incredible sounds, great looks, quality constuction.

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!