Vox AC4TV

Paid: Rs. 12,000 (Indian)
Purchased it new from Furtados, Pune

What's good:
This amp features real tube amplification and a 10" Celestion speaker.
Other features are available on the VOX website.
Its a small amp but packs a lot of power. Enough if your playing the blues, classic rock or jazzy stuff. (Not metal)
Pricing is awesome for such a brilliant sound.

What isn't:
A line out option to connect directly to a mixer for live stuff.

I use a squier with vintage Japanese strat pickups.
Its practically noiseless (hum) compared to my older amps even on high gain. it has this awesome, amazing clean sound until 5 on the volume, you can eve add or subtract tone to give a shimmering brightness to your leads.
Going over 5 on the volume it begins to distort like any real tube and is usable till 8 i would say. However it is crunchy and could be used for blues to rock.
I would rather use a pedal for the overdrives and distortion.

I have recently bought it so cant really comment on that.

1 yr warranty

I have been playing since '97. I own a Samick H-S-S guitar and other overdrive and effect foot pedals. Considering the cost and sound quality I'd definitely purchase it again. If my budget was more i'd go in for a Vox AC 15 instead.

Features as far as lots of eq, or reverb- nothing to speak of. 1 tone and one volume. However the built in attentuator is SO good to have. Geez, why didnt someone think of this before?

Sound quality is VERY GOOD. Its not an ac30, but it sure gets you close. Clean is better at the 4 watt setting (obviously) but it gets nice and dirty at the 1 and .25 setting. It is classic vox all the way. My strat sounded very good through it, as did my les paul (both better in the bridge positions), but when I plugged my gretsch 6120 into it it was pure sonic loveliness. 250 bucks? are your serious?!

I don't gig. My amps just come home from the store and then spend the rest of their lives sitting all cozy in my studio

never dealth vox before.

Professional songriter, producer and musican- playing guitar for 20 years. I am not a shredmaster- but I play failry well. I love small tube amps (they work best for recording)...and I have to say that the ac4 sounds as good as anything I own. I have a crate palmino, and a few blackface fenders, including a champ which would be the best amp to compare the ac4 to. The champ is better clean, but the ac4 smokes the fender when dialing in some grit. No pedals needed. There is nothing i hate about this amp and i am very happy to have it.

Vox hit a home run with this baby-

New AC4TV one channel 4-watt combo, newer version with the 10" speaker. Very few features, just knobs for tone, volume and wattage attenuator switch. Factory Russian Sovtek tubes, better than what you would normally see in a $250 "practice" amp. It has a 16-ohm speaker output on the reverse (veeery handy). It's a no-frills, low-cost tube amp. 4-tube watts is plenty of power for my (home, practice/occasional jam) needs. The upgrades mentioned below made a big difference.

I use Fender single-coil along with PRS and Gibson humbucker guitars, and I use this amp for light break-up cleans and mid-gain tones. It can do the more distorted stuff, but those sounds can get a little fuzzy for my tastes when it comes to small low-power amps. Now that the Celestion Gold 10" version is available, I'm mainly writing this review to share my experiences pre and post upgrades. The other reviews are correct, this amp sounds great bone-stock for the price, especially when using the speaker output to run a quality cab/speakers. I wasn't thrilled with the factory Celestion VX-10 speaker and I could really hear the amp's capabilities when using other extension cabs. The factory speaker is adequate, but it felt lightweight and "cheap" like other "custom" Celestions I see in lower-cost cabinets these days. I wanted to be realistic considering the price and small enclosure, but then I plugged it into my Celestion Gold-equipped Marshall 4x12...wow. The amp drives it very well and surprising Vox tones oozed out of that little, inexpensive 4-watt combo! I decided to look online for 10" replacement speakers and learned that Celestion just released the 10" Gold...seemed like karma, but I wasn't sure it would fit depth-wise based on the specs. It would be close. I took the chance and ordered the speaker for $199, and I also dug out a NOS Telefinkin EL84 that I had sitting around. The Gold was a perfect fit with not a mm to spare! The power tube/speaker upgrades took about 15 minutes and it now sounds like a different amp when using as a combo. MUCH clearer, less harsh, more touch sensitive and articulate. The cabinet has hidden port slots under the grill cloth on the front, and the speaker breathes nicely. It's still a tad boxy-sounding due to the single 10" speaker and small enclosure, but I can't imagine how it could sound sweeter considering what I have in it. And it will only get better as the speaker breaks in. 8 before upgrades, 10 after.

Only owned for a few months, no problems yet, can't say how it will hold up. Like most Vox amps, not much ventilation for the tubes to breathe, but it's only a single EL84 and pre-amp tube in there.

Never dealt with Vox customer service.

Been playing about 15 years, some stage but mostly weekend bands. I've owned many quality and boutique amps, including an AC15 and first-run AC30HW combos recently. Both required too much volume to sound good for my needs and because of that I didn't see the value in keeping them. I've owned some beautiful tube amps and sold most for that same reason. I'm probably not alone there. You can easily dial in a sweet spot on this amp at reasonable home, recording or small(er) gig volumes. If you want a surprisingly authentic Vox sound and tube feel at truly reasonable volumes and for low bucks, your ship has arrived. Obviously not everyone will be interested in spending $250 for upgrades on an amp that costs about that, but it sounds and performs like a boutique tube amp for about $450 when the upgrades are performed. The speaker can always be removed (and sold) later if needed. With or without the upgrades, it's hard to beat this one.

Made in 2009 in Asia.

The AC4TV is versatile in the Brit Pop/Rock genre. It's funny to read some reviews of folks that compare it to amps that are 10X the price. Come on, seriously? The AC4TV is great, it has that classic rock tone, and the tube saturation is perfect considering its a 10" speaker.

I can easily use the amp for anything from pop plugging in pedals to classic bare bones rock and roll. Think The Smiths, U2, and any other British rock/pop bank.

One channel is all you need. Three knobs: Volume, Tone, Attenuator.

I don't think that for the purposes of this amp you need more. If you want more you have to pay more or get a modeling amp. Just learn how to control your guitar and play with the tone to mold the sound. I get an incredible range of tone.

I only use this amp for practice at home but it could hold a small band including the drummer. However you won't get the clean tones at higher volumes unfortunately. The amp is ideal for home.

The sole fact that it has a real tube, and it is VOX with the classic tone make it perfect.

Mainly play with a Fender Stat MIM single coils and a Gibson Les Paul Plus. The Fender Strat gets the most versatile tone; the Les Paul has a sweet tone in this AC4TV.

I love the tone since I play mostly British rock and pop songs.

The amp is clean all around, even when you get to the 9 or 10 mark, you have a controlled distortion from the tube saturation. The 8" saturates too early and at 10 it is useless! Do not get the 8"... save up for the 10".

The tubes start saturating at a little before 5/10, 5-7 it has the perfect tone, 8-10 you're rocking! Tone control is perfect. Much better than my old Crate V58 (new model is Crate V5).

Distortion like I said before is controlled and perfect. Not too much, not too little, just perfect. Play with your controls and you will get your tone.

Only had the amp for a couple of weeks. It looks sturdy, strong construction. I would not be afraid if it was dropped.

Never had to deal with Customer Support other than registering it which was a breeze.

Warranty is only 90 days... not enough but it would be asking too much to get something extended. You can buy warranties at large instrument stores for 10% of the price.. totally worth it.

I've been playing music for 17 years and professionally for 12 years.

I would definitely buy this amp again if it was lost or stolen.

I love the attenuator capabilities, going from .25 to 1 to 4W is great. I live in an apartment and I have not heard any complaints. I play in the 1W until 10pm.

Compared this to the Crate V5, Fender Champ, and some solid states. This one blew all of them out of the water based on the real tubes.

Very simple amp. Volume, tone, attenuator.

I first purchased the 8" speaker version of this from GC, which I returned to get the 10" speaker version. The smaller speaker didn't allow much clean headroom, and had almost no bass. The 10" version is exactly what I'm looking for. I set the volume on about 8 and roll back my gtr volume, just like the old days. I'm finding myself using less of my pedals and more of my gtr/amp. Comments on the amp were "very organic" and "warmer than your other amp" (AC15/Cel Blue).
Plus, it weighs under 20# and is plenty loud enough for my uses. I'm selling my AC15 and getting another AC4TV for home.

I haven't cracked the case to look inside yet, but others report good build quality. With only 2 tubes and low power, I would hope for good reliability.

I hope it doesn't break.

Awesome amp at a great price point. Perfect for church, recording, small venues. If it only had reverb...

The Vox AC4-TV was first produced in 2009. It's an all tube amp - with 10 inch Celestion speaker - with variable watt settings - and only lists for 250 Bucks! I got mine on ebay, brand new, for only $230!!!!!

Having said that - there isn't another tube amp out there, for this price, that sounds as nice, and also has the variable watt settings at the flip of a switch. This really makes it versatile. Solo practice amp at 1/4 watt, garage amp for jamming at 1 watt, and a gigging amp for small to mid sized clubs at 4 watts. Plenty of power for me playing in a three piece blues band with a bass player, and drummer with a cocktail set.

So my advise - If you need something with more volume, or you want more knobs on your amp - get a different amp. It does not pay to worry about swapping out tubes or speakers in an amp at this price range. It's always going to be a $200 amp no matter how much money you sink into it. But for the money - and for what it is - it's perfect!

I play the Blues using single coil Strats & Teles & this amp sounds great, from clean to dirty and greasy. Best little amp you will find for the money. Oh, and by the way - the tone control on my amp works just fine, bass to treble, it has a nice useable range.

I've had mine for a few months and have played it for long hours at a stretch, with no problems. Sure, some folks worry about the heat & the enclosed cabinet & burning tubes up - well I say BS. There are vents in the top of the cab, And there really isn't much heat emerging, I can hold my hand very comfortably just above the vents. There appears to be plenty of natural ventilation through the holes in the speaker panel & up through the vents. If the tubes ever burn out, I'll replace them. On that note, you only need to remove 9 screws to get the back off, and guys, it ain't that F'n hard. This amp should last a long time.

Who knows - I've never had a problem with a Vox unit.

I've been playing 40 years, I would buy another one of these amps any time. They are GREAT for what they are. back to the tweak geeks - You can sink a lot of money into this - or any other amp- to try to make it sound a smidgeon better, but why? Buy an amp that meets your needs that sounds the way you like it. There are plenty of choices out there.

I bought an AC4TV about 3 weeks ago, and I'm really starting to dig it.

Out of the box it sounded a bit harsh to me. I replaced the Sovteks with some NOS US tubes and that smoothed things out a bit, but the overdrive still was on the brittle side. I was even considering a speaker swap.

After having used it for a while now, it seems that the stock Celestion VX10 is starting to break in now, because the tone has improved significantly and the rough tonal edges are starting to wear down.

I'm on the fence about the 1958-style aesthetics. I would have preferred that they used 1960s cosmetics instead - but then the cabinet would've needed to be taller to allow room for the horizontal front panel. The off-white tolex does look very attractive though.


The two attenuator settings are genuinely useful, particularly when you don't want to disturb your family or roommates. You can get some serious power chord crunch at the 1/4 watt setting, but at bedroom volume. With each attenuation level, the tone thickens and deepens. If it gets too dark in the 1 watt or 1/4 watt modes, you can bring back the chime by turning the tone knob up. Or keep it sounding thick and play some blues!

I'm impressed that Vox has managed to capture the tonal characteristic of an AC30 and put it in a 4-watt $250 amp. The AC4TV really sounds like a Vox. It even has that Vox 'smell' when the tubes get hot - must be an EL84 thing. (My '02 AC30TBX and the '85 Silver Jubilee AC30 I used to own also have that smell.) It does sound box-y, but then again, so does an AC30. Being a pipsqueak of an amp, you can 'shape' its tone by placing it on different surfaces and at different heights. I like to stand at least 3-4' in front of it, to allow the sound to 'bloom.'

For a 4-watt amp, it has a decent amount of headroom, and its cleans sound really sweet and, yes, chimey. You can successfully dial in a bit of dirt - just enough to dig in - without the amp farting out. At full blast, the overdrive is tight enough to pick on open chords without everything getting messy. The highs do tend to get a bit harsh at full blast, but like I said before, it seems to be smoothing out with time and use.

As to whether or not the AC4TV would be a good recording amp, I haven't had a chance to experiment with it that way. My concern is it might sound "small," but I may be wrong about that. With an SM57 in front of it, it just might sound like a 'real' amp on a recording.

I wouldn't consider using it for any kind of use with a band - it's just not loud enough to compete with drums, although it might be OK for a low level coffeehouse gig - with a mic in front of it.

Too soon to tell how reliable it will be.

The build quality of the AC4TV seems very good. I'm not qualified to comment on the quality of the electronics, but the cabinet (particle board - oh well!) is solidly constructed, the tolex is applied cleanly and securely, and the control panel does not feel or look cheap.

I have a few Korg/Vox products and none have ever failed me, so I can't comment on the company's support. That said, the division's VP, Mitch Colby, makes himself very available on various message boards to discuss his companies products and answer questions.

I???ve been a Vox user since the late ???80s, when I acquired a Silver Jubilee AC30 (from the infamous Rose-Morris era). Currently my main amp is a 2002 AC30TBX (made in England at the Marshall factory). In the past I have also owned a ???65 AC50 and regularly use a friend???s JMI-era ???63 AC30. So, I think I have a good idea about what a Vox is supposed to sound like!

As far as my guitar choices go, mine are the traditional mates for Vox amps: ???84 Rickenbacker 330, ???66 Rick 330/12, ???62 Gretsch Tennessean, Fender Highway One Telecaster, etc. I play in a variety of styles and tones, usually with no pedals aside from the occasional use of a compressor.

The AC4TV definitely excels as a practice amp. Prior to buying this I was using a Vox Pathfinder 10. The P10 sounds pretty good for what it is, but it lacked the sparkle and touch-sensitivity of a tube amp. It felt kind of lifeless and flat to me. The AC4TV by comparison is nice'n'lively, like a tube amp should be.

It's not fair to expect the AC4TV to deliver the tonal complexity of an AC30, but you definitely get a good taste of the Vox sound in a small, highly affordable package.

New amp. 4 watt, 1 channel, 1 x el84, 1 x 12ax7, 10" Celestion ceramic magnet speaker. I will be using it for home practice and some jamming. I play blues, funk, classic rock type stuff. For an amp of this size, and price, I must say that I am happy with the simple features: Volume, tone, attenuator, speaker out jack. I would love an alnico speaker, but don't expect it at this price point. This amp has more than enough power - it is LOUD for a 4 watt amp, real loud. I swapped the Sovtek tubes for a JJ EL84 power tube and a Jan Philips 5751 pre-amp tube. I haven't been able to really hear the difference yet, since I have only played at low volume, but even at low volume the tone is a tad richer and sweeter than the Sovteks. I have used JJ EL84's and the Jan Philips 5751's before, and they are good for nice clean (but rich) tones.

I am using a G & L, ASAT Classic Bluesboy, semi hollow, which has a single coil in the bridge and a Seth Lover humbucker in the neck position. So far I think it suits my style perfectly, but I have only played it for about an hour at low volume. Even at the 1/4 watt setting, I could only turn it up one quarter of the way in my apartment, but the tone was impressive. Very rich sounding, even at low volume - I can't wait to crank it up.

Don't know about reliability yet, but when I swapped the tubes, I must say, it looked pretty well made under the hood.

Not sure yet.

I have been playing for 20 years. I have owned a few Mesa Boogie amps,(a studio 22, a Maverick (awesome amp), and another small 20 watt Boogie, but sold them when I stopped playing in bands several years back. I haven't got to play this amp much yet, but will do another review after I do. As of now, I am VERY impressed with it. I like the simplicity, compactness and impressive tone - all especially considering the price. So far I don't hate anything, but I'll see how noisy it is at higher volumes. I compared this amp to the Fender Champ, and the Princeton, but chose the Vox due to the price and good reviews it has received.

Features have been listed in the reviews below. This amp, though, isn't really about features (except the attenuator, of course). This is an amp designed to appeal to those who like it simple, who want to spend more time playing and less time turning knobs and adjusting parameters.

That appeals to me, as well.

However, if a manufacturer is going to add a tone knob to an amp's circuitry, it would be nice if the tone knob actually did something. I mean it: the tone knob does NOTHING. At ALL. Some of the reviewers dismiss that, saying that it doesn't matter that the turning the tone knob doesn't do anything, because they like the tone(s?) they get. Vox is lucky that people are buying in to that nonsense. That's like saying that one doesn't care if a car's steering wheel does anything or not because they like the direction the car takes them in.

Tube amps are all the rage, but many tube amps are more brittle than the Second Millenium's solid state amps. One might convince oneself that there is saturated sweetness because one knows that there is a tube in the mix or because there is something--a TUBE--aglow inside the box, but if you're looking for tube sweetness, I don't believe you're going to find it here unless you want to delude yourself. This amp is brittle.

I got rid of this amp as quickly as I could. It might be last forever. I don't know. And I do not care.

There are many players far better than me who might make this amp sound great. But if you're hoping, based on advertisements, that this amp is the Holy Grail, go in with very realistic expectations. Otherwise, I believe that you will be disappointed.

Little Practice sized amp with Attenuator, which is not at all common. Also has 10" speaker, tone control and external speaker (16 ohm) output jack...all features I use and enjoy.

Well, I sold my Fender Silverface Champ after I bought this little fellow. The Champ just sounded too "clean" after playing the Vox. I play Blues Slide Guitar, and find it a perfect mix with my Epiphone SG 400. It comes across right on spot with Muddy water, Robert Nighthawk, Elmore James, Duane Allman...those very different tones all come through . I do use a bad monkey pedal for low volume practice, but its not needed once the volume goes up above 1/3.
I ran this though my 16 ohm 4 x 12" Celestion cabinet, and on 4 watts it COOKS!!! I believe I could play a small club with drums!..but my aging back led to to just order the matching Vox extension 1 x 12 cabinet ($169.00), which is only 24 pounds!
I don't want clean and clear, so I won't penalize it for not possessing those qualities.

Has been 100% ded realiable for me ...for the week I've owner it...(HA HA!!)

I'll give them a 10, because I feel Sweetwater would stand with me if I ever needed support. I haven't had any problems with any of the many small amps I have owned yet!

Its the amp I've been searching for for the past 20 years or so. I've had most of the popular priced ones, and I love this little fellow. I'd buy it again if were stolen...Plus...its cheap enough that I won't die if it was!
I wish the little LED was a jeweled light...picky, eh?