Vox AC30CC2X

This is a 2007 ac30cc2x. It started life as a cc2 - Wharfdale rather than Celestion Blues - but I purchased UK made Celestion Blues seperately and installed them myself. Amazingly, it's cheaper that way.

Although the amp has two channels - Top Boost and Normal (with additional brilliance switch), it's really a single channel amp. Both channels saturate at about the same time, and as such the volume difference between a clean and a distortion sound would be too great to use in this way. Most people with AC30s treat them as single channel amps, with different input "flavours".

The amp is quite versatile. The voicing of the amp, with its great "chime" and top end, means it always cuts through and is rarely not loud enough. Bands from the Beatles through Queen, U2 through to Thrice and Thursday, use AC30s, and boosted they can sound surprisingly heavy. They also have more low end than they're given credit for, though it's not tight sounding and it'll take months before the speakers break in to a point where the bass is flapping your trouser legs!

This version of the AC30 has an effects loop which is a very handy addition if you run the amp distorted. It also has a blend switch so you can use both channels at the same time, which gives extra options for adding body to your tone. A master volume also seperates this from the 60's AC30s, though the tone definitely suffers when you turn the master volume down. A huge part of the AC30 tone comes from saturating the EL84s and pushing the celestions to their limits, there's really no way round that so for many situations this amp can be too loud. I find the built in reverb basically unuseable - far too long and murky sounding. I don't use reverb so this is a non issue to me, but if it's important to you I'd bare it in mind.

I use this amp in all my gigs and recordings - it has character and I consider it a vital part of my sound. It is, of course, 30 watts, though being voiced so strongly in the mids and high end it will compete with much more powerful amps on stage with no problems at all.

One final point is that the valves are hard to get to -12 screws in all and the chassis is heavy! So a couple of points deducted for this and the bad reverb.

I mainly use a Gibson Explorer with SD Alnico II pickups. These are lower output than the Gibson stock pickups, and I don't think the AC30 sounds that great with high output agressive humbuckers. It's brash and bright anyway, and I think mellower pickups suit it much better and leave you with more headroom in a gigging situation. My band plays alternative rock and my tones are basically clean, overdriven, and fuzz.

The stock sound of each ac30 is different, so ideally you should try a few and get the one you like best, but a lot of it is down to how broken in the speakers are and the only way to get them broken in is to play them for months. I found the amp to be too bright initially, but like many people i cut out the bright cap on the TB channel and found the amp to be much better tonally after that - it takes pedals much better and still has plenty of treble.

There is little in the way of hiss even when the amp is turned up. I find that tube selection plays a huge part in how noisy an amp is, and you just don't know 'till you spend some time experimenting. The stock valves were pretty uninspiring tonally, and it took quite a while to settle on valves I'm happiest with. it'll be different for everyone, you've got to be prepared to invest time and effort in the search.

The AC30 has a definite character, yet still sounds like the guitar thats being plugged into it. It won't do metal, or ultra clean fender type stuff, but I consider the tone to be unrivalled. Notes have depth and clarity to them, the chime on single picked notes even when boosted is something you won't find anywhere else. This amp sounds exciting when you play solos, and always remains articulate. It definitely sounds better with the master volume up beyond halfway as the lower mids thicken out. I tend to use mine with the master volume at around 1pm, top boost preamp at half (just starting to break up thanks to the lower gain 12au7 I have in V2), and normal channel blended in at a quarter for extra body. This gives me an almost-clean but full sound with headroom left to boost it for solos.

Famously AC30s are unreliable because of the temperature they run at - valves are going to wear out more often than in most other amps because of this. Of course, the decline in the standard of valves has also contributed to this problem, but it's something to watch out for. With three practices and a gig a week on average, I find the EL84s last around 6 months. I use a Webber copper cap as a rectifier, which makes the amp slightly clearer at high volume and also more reliable.

I have never had any problems with them amp that weren't related to faulty valves in the 15 months I've owned the amp, so the circuitry seems to be well put together. build quality is good too - the wooden cabinate is solid, the PCB seems clean and well build too.

Never dealt with customer support.

I've been playing for about 8 years, and have been playing guitar in my band for the last 18 months. This amp is my only gig worthy amp, and I use a Gibson Explorer and Fender Strat. I have various pedals that I use to shape my sounds and that's one of the things I love about the AC30 - it's got character but can still be shaped to give you your own sound. It's that character that I love so much and lets me forgive the weight, difficulty in accessing the tubes and time it takes to dial in the "perfect" sound.

There are naysayers out there that don't rate these Chinese built amps, and certainly there were issues with the first few years of production. But now they know what they're doing they're making great amps that are well built, affordable, and are considered by most who also own vintage ac30s as being very close to the sound of the originals.

LOTS of features........all have came in handy at some point...

sounds amazing....cant say enough

IF u r getting one... change the tubes, and fuses..the stock ones aren't that great...i blew a rectifier tube.... easy fix..

no comment

PRO- amazing amp
CON-Really HEAVY

Not sure what year my Vox is. I gues ist's about two or three years old.
This amp gives me all I want, and more. I don't use all the features at the moment, but I might want to use them in the future. I think it's a pro that you can plug in and play two instuments at the same time on seperate channels.
There are two fantastic Blue alnico speakers in this combo. They really make the difference with for instance the much harsher and less pleasant sounding Vox cc2.
I use this amp mainly for rehearsals and gigs. I play rock and blues and whatever comes around. It can do it all.
It has lot's of power and headroom. The 15 watt switching makes it possible to make it sound very good on lowe volume.
This amp is HEAVY!!! You can break your back carrying it around alone. In the flightcase it's a damn heavy job for two persons to carry it up or down the stairs. I think the weight is nessesary for the sound it gives. But one point down for the weight.

I'm using this amp with my Fender American standard telecaster and my Gibson Les Paul custom.
I still play of other nice tube-amps at home(Fender champ, Marshall jcm 800).
The thing is, that when I think the other amps sound very good on a guitar, that it sounds so much better on the Vox. On the Vox you can really hear the difference between a good guitar and less good guitar. It keeps surprising me possively.
Another possitive thing is that I can let it cut through the mix without complaints of harshness. Lot's of amps kill your ears when the volume is up. This one isn't!
I use it clean with different voiced tubescreamers and distortion. The crunch on the Vox is great though.
I also use the reverb which is great for my kind of liking.

I gig without a backup. I got it one year now without a problem. It has got tubes which makes it more vulnerable.

Bought it second hand. No idea here.

I've been playing for 25 years now. This is the best amp I ever had.
Would buy a new one directly when it was stolen.
The only minus is the weight but I gues it needs the weight to make this enormous big and beautiful sound.
For this kind of money I couldn't buy a better amp.

Two Channels. The Two channels can be blended into one.

Lushish Reverb!

The Blues are so tight and crisp, each time I play it I am blown away. It has that classic rock sound I have always wanted. The cleans are exceptional. I decided to go all out and get the "perfect amp for me" I looked at all the big names and decided I would not worry about price.

After searching high and low it seemed many of the 5K boutique amps were trying to be a AC30 I figured why not get the real thing.

Had it 10 months no problems.

I love this amp! It was expensive but quality always is.

It's got 2 channels: Top Boost for overdrive/distortion and Clean. Most of the time I use the clean channel with effect pedals, the Top Boost only for recording. I wish it had channel switching, because both channels are really amazing. I play mainly progressive rock with influences from funk, psychedelic and jazz.

I play a Gibson Les Paul and I use a ProCo RAT distortion pedal. This is one of the best clean sounding amps I ever played. I always searched for an amp that has a clear en warm sound, and this amp got it. I also compared it with the AC30CC2 (w/ Wharfdale speakers) and I think this amp just sound much better. To me the CC2 sounded a little flat, with less depth, and it was also harsh and with chords not very clear sounding. The CC2X just sounded 3D, more depth, it brings your playing to another level. I have to say that the amp is a little noisy, but I really don't care because the sound is great. You can get amazing distorted tones if you crank up the volume on the normal channel. That's the way Brian May of Queen does it. You can compare the tone of this amp with the tone of The Edge (U2), Thom Yorke (Radiohead), John Frusciante (RHCP) and Brian May (Queen).

I really had no problems with it. I've read alot of bad reliability stories, but I can trust mine.

I've been playing 8 years, but tried alot of different amps including Orange, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Bad Cat, Koch and Fender. They were all good sounding amps, but they all had just little things that I didn't like. Some were warm but too harsh and some were too expensive. Vox just had all the things that I liked about the other amps, and it's afforable too.

All tube, blue speakers, 2 channels. I personally use pedals so i just want a good clean tone. I traded my 69 Deluxe Reverb for this amp. It has a lot of headroom to turn up without breaking up on the normal channel. There's a blend that i havent really played with any but i understand it to be the middle of the road sound between the two sounds. The top boost channel gives a light tube overdrive. Mine was bought new in February this year, 2008. It has an effects loop and true bypass on it if you don't use it. Reverb and tremolo, footswitch, which i really enjoy having. I use this amp for church to do worship and for heavy rock. When i plugged in my tele and overdrive pedals i was blown away by the sheer beauty of the tone. It's an open back amp, which is known for that style. Where i was really impressed was when i plugged in my Metal Zone. The guy I got it from was out back of his house and when i started playing, he came and looked at me funny and asked me what i have plugged in. I told him and he said he'd never gone for that sound, but it sounded like a wall of sound coming at him. It had a veeeery tight closed back sound, which is what really impressed me!

I play a Fender Telecaster and use a tubescreamer, a mxr classic distortion (if you dont have one, you need to go to guitar center now and get one for $30.), a metal zone and a keeley modded blues driver (robertkeeley.com) i have a tremonti power wah, and a few other pedals. My other guitars are LTD KH-202, 1985 Kramer Pacer Carerra (a good american made guitar), and a cheap strat. All of them sound awesome. No matter what i want to do the Vox sounds friggin awesome. I plugged in my tubescreamer and was playing blues the other night and it sounded great. The MXR has a really pretty open chord drive. The Metal Zone even has a really tight sound. I keep it in the normal channel and on low power (22 watts). Not much noise. The clean (normal) channel has more than enough room to turn up without breaking up. I play mostly worship at church...it sounds so good i wont ever buy another amp!

Havent had any trouble out of it. I gig without a backup all the time. Never had any trouble (knocks on wood), but i have an ata case. The case really keeps it safe. Bought new in february and it still looks brand new.

Haven't had to deal with customer service and hope that I never have to.

I've been playing seriously for 8 years. I used to have a 1969 Fender Deluxe Reverb, I currently also own a Peavey Ultra Plus head and Windsor cab. I have 5 guitars and quite an arsenal of pedals. If i lost the vox, i would cry and get another. I love the friggin amazing tone i get from it every time i plug it in. I have no complaints whatsoever, it gives me the perfect clean tone and then the perfect sound when i plug any pedal in to play anything from country to blues to metal. I had always wanted a vox and just happened onto this one and played it and fell in love. If i could get a fender telecaster that played like a prs mccarty i would never play another guitar...If you're not sure about buying this amp, i merely suggest that you go play it and you will know why everyone loves this amp. I can tell you about it all day, but if you play it you will want it. The blue speakers are great!

I'm a professional Guitarist in Austria and Switzerland and I always searched for "my" Amp, I tryed out Boogie, Orange, Crate, Marshall etc. but no Amp has "the eggs" against my new VOX AC-30CC2X ...
The Features from a VOX AC-30 are well known, but the Chinese Model (Korg) has a lot of new and very helpful Features and is built under ISO Quality Norm... (see under http://www.voxamps.co.uk)(the old VOX-AC30 seems to have a lot of problems...) I'm not a friend of Chinese products by the way and so I was very curious about the workmanship of this amp. I quickly change the tubes against TAD Tubes and this was the first positive Update.... During this changement I saw the inside of this amp and I really can't say anything negative about it ! Proper and solid Chassis and the Mainboard is made very nice and service-friendly... For sure I also prefer the Handwired VOX AC-30, because this amp has more Headroom and a little bit a better sound then the Factory-Version for sure, but the Price is also very proud..... One day - I'll get one for sure ...

Never in my long musician's life (I'm 52) I had an amp with so a quality and so a bell-like sound on stage.... I was a complete Idiot to wait so a long time to purchase this amp finally... don't know why - perhaps, because I heard so many reports about damages of the old AC-30's ...
Two Years ago I heard the new CD from Snowy White and I was fascinated from his Guitar-Sound on this album and I get the Information from an Interview that he is playing the NEW VOX AC-30 on the hole CD.... That was the Kick for me and I tryed out this amp in Luzern (Switzerland) and the Sound was simply blowing me away.... When you play one time whit a the Celestion Blue-Bulldog, I think you'll never change it. The Sound is simply clear and no harsch! I use my VOX AC-30 with a TONEBONE Classic for Chrunch and the TONEBONE Hot British for a singing Leadsound - in Front of them the Seymour Duncan Pickup-Booster - Guys - this combination is a Killer, try it out...! I have also a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with a Tone Tubby H1E Alnico, but no chance aganist the VOX !

I made over 100 Gigs now whit this amp and I had NO PROBLEMS 'til yet!
For sure - I always have an ORANGE Tiny Terror (15W) in my baggage, in the whorst case - I can finish the Gig with this little fantastic Amp, I simply plug the Blue Bulldog-Speakers of the AC-30 in my OTT and that's it.... But 'til yet this case never happend !

No case to use the Customer Support 'til yet - thanks god...

What should I say more...? The best sounding Amp I've ever had on stage and I'll get a handwired version for sure, this or next year !
This amp is simply a legend and I'm proud to have one on stage !
The only minus is the FX-Loop, because he's not tube powered, that's for me a big problem, because my BOSS DD-20 Delay is sound very metallic through this FX-Loop and so I take it directly in front of the amp after the Tonebones, so I'm very happy and the Sound is unbelievable!
So - one very positive report more here in HC from the VOX-AC-30CC2X !
Try it out and get it ...! Cordial Mandy (www.intermezzo.li)

VOX amplifier made in 2007 -- Replaces same model amp that I had sold a year ago. This rig is the current Chinese-manufactured AC30 with Celestion Blue speakers. 33 or 22 watts, depending on the Bias Switch setting on the rear, true bypass effect loop, speaker outs, and footswitch included for Reverb and Tremolo. Two channels, Normal & Top Boost with channel-blending switch, tone controls and Master Volume control. Other cool stuff -- Go to http://www.voxamps.co.uk/acseries/ac30cc.asp and read up.

It's built for tone, yes, but it has some very nice enhancements to the original AC30. I think it is quite flexible, but I have to criticize the goofy & archaic rear-facing top control panel. The Valvetronix amps have corrected this and I feel the CC's could have incorporated this as well, for ease of use. Footswitchable channel switching/combining can be achieved with the use of an "ABY" box.

BTW, the look of the amp is just gorgeous. Fit & finish is excellent, although I have seen others with sloppy fretcloth alignment.

This is obviously where the thing shines, and I'm FUSSY about my tone. I compared the "X" with the standard AC (w/Wharfedales) to see if I could live without the Blue's. I have to say, the W's sounded very good - in the clean realm. But once I gained it up, there was no contest; it had to be the Blue's. There seems to be more of a snappy mid presence with the B's, and they have a much smoother breakup. Worth $600 more? Probably not. But they are the real deal, and if you want the real deal, you gotta take the plunge. The VOX's strong suit is best described as warm-yet-brilliant clean to mid-gain tone. It's an experience which is hard to truly duplicate anywhere else, IMO. Oh, and the amp doesn't absolutely love distortion pedals, but you can work one in if you like.

The amp is the quietest (most noiseless) rig I have ever encountered, and it is also one of the loudest. Great for 60's pop and Indie Rock, but Blues can be nicely coaxed out, too. I missed my VOX so much I just had to get one back again, even though I'd since gotten a couple other real "tone machines". Love it!

This amp is a year old and seems to be working well, although it may need some new tubes soon. I never had any problems with my original AC30CC2X, but one I had ordered from AMS a few weeks ago was DOA. I've heard that the old British ones were sometimes touchy and the American ones were worse, so all-in-all I can't fault the current manufacturing.

N/A

Been playing 25 years. Also own a Mesa Stiletto Ace and a Fender Super Reverb Reissue, which I love, but they don't really do what the VOX does. Would I get the VOX again? Ha-ha. Yeah, I just did! Of course, I still need to get the chrome stand for it like I once had.

The price jumped $200 on these this year, and I just couldn't swing $1800 for a new one; but the used market is good on these. The speakers are rear-mount, so a guy could also purchase the more-common AC30CC2 and throw in a pair of Blue's (www.avatarspeakers.com) for $450 and you're set.

Happy playing!

It's built for tone not features.

Tremolo - no idea because I use a Empress Tap Tremolo
Reverb - Good but I also use a Boss RV-3

Best tone ever with no tweeking. Brought it into the studio, cut it on, set everything to 5, plugged in my PRS CE-24 Sunburst and perfect tone. Works great with my Ibanez TS-9 and Keeley modded DS-1.

So far, so good.

Don't know them :)

I've been playing 26 years and shared the stage with Dave Matthews, G Love and Colonel Bruce Hampton. Best purchase in last 12 years.

This is not a very feature heavy amp although it is pretty versatile. No channel switching which is unfortunate because both channels sound great. I pretty much only use the top boost channel. The built-in reverb and tremolo are footswitchable but I don't use them too much. This is just a very simple, great sounding amp. You don't buy an AC30 for a bunch of features. You buy it for the tone.

This is where this amp really shines. The tone you can get out of this thing is amazing. The Celestion Alnico Blue speakers are incredible. I compared this with the standard AC30CC2 that uses the Vox Wharfdale speakers. The CC2 w/ the Wharfdales is definitely a nice sounding amp but if you're looking for that classic Vox tone you have to get the CC2X w/ the Blues. I play indie rock and this amp is absolutely the perfect tone that I've been looking for. Plug into the top boost channel and turn the volume about 2/3 of the way up. It breaks up really nice but still has clarity. Even when you're really pushing this amp is has a very nice sparkly, chimey quality to it.

I've owned this amp for about six months now and haven't had a single problem. A friend of mine is sponsored by Vox and has been using one of these on tour non-stop for about the last two years and it's still going strong.

Haven't had to deal with them.

I love this amp. No complaints. I would definitely buy it again if it were stolen. I had been looking at the AC30 for a while and was really impressed with the CC2X's sound but it was a bit out of my price range($1599). I was planning on getting the standard CC2 because it was more in my price range($999). I got lucky and a local music store had a CC2X on sale for $1299 so I sold some old gear and went ahead and spent the extra $300 to get the one I really wanted. I'm so glad I did!