Vox AC4TV

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?

This is just to add to my review of April 12 below. I've played through the AC4TV and a/b'd it with the Orange AD4, and I'm now even more convinced that, in spite of the cost difference, the Vox is the better sounding amp. The a/b was with Weber Silver Bell alnicos in both amps and NOS tubes (matched Bugle Boy EL84s...one in each amp, and 12AY7s in each). I think the closed cab Vox sounds much better; the Orange seems to have almost no bass response in the a/b, to my ears. I'm not one who likes a lot of bass; my Princeton Reverb and Victoria Regal II have the bass controls down close to or at 1 most of the time. But with this Vox the bass seems just right, and with the tone control I can find the right level of treble with no problem.

Like I said below, and as another reviewer has said, you don't want to open it up unless you have to or, like me, you cannot stop tweaking your sound. Or a tube goes, and as one below says the heat in there worries me too, but aside from opening up the back (which I'm not going to do) I'm not sure what can be done about that.

Overall, especially considering the price, this is a great amp. I agree it sounded great out of the box and no you don't have to make changes like I've made. The stock Celestion was very nice and the stock tubes were ok; I wanted an alnico speaker and had NOS tubes, so they all went in and for my sound/ears I like it even better now. But it's a fab amp stock! Buy one!

Manufactured: 2009. This amp has two tubes - 12AX7 pre-amp and EL84 power amp. It also sports a 10" Celestion speaker. The external finish is a cream Tolex and this cool diamond-pattern speaker fabric. It really looks cool.

I play blues, blues rock, classic rock, moderately heavy rock, pop, some country-ish music. This amp suits those sounds well.

This amp has one channel input, one volume control, one tone control, power attenuator (1/4 watt, 1 watt, and 4 watt), and external speaker jack.

I'd prefer separate gain and volume controls, but I knew exactly what I was buying, so I'm not disappointed. I use all the controls on the amp. I don't use the external speaker jack. However, I have heard it drive a 4 x 12 cabinet and it really can drive it!

I use the amp for small to moderate gigs. It works very well. It is easily mic'd to the PA if more volume is necessary. I stay mostly in the 1 watt setting. The 1/4 watt setting is very nice for the house when practicing alone.

Before I selected this amp, I took MY guitars to the music store and asked to sample amps with my instruments. The store was very pleased to let me do this. Before buying this, or any, amp insist on doing this. If the music store won't let you bring in your stuff to try, go to another store.

I give it a 9 for features. For small, low wattage, tube amps, this one has more than most.

I am using this amp with a 60th Anniversary Stratocaster with stock single-coils, a vintage 1975 Gibson SG with stock, original mini-humbuckers, and a 2007 Gibson Les Paul Custom. The Les Paul has the 490R and 498T humbucking pickup combination.

The amp does very well with these guitars. However, if you've never played through tube amps before, you'll need to relearn how to set up your rig. This amp requires you to manipulate the on-board guitar controls more...which is nice. It is responsive to your guitar and allows the real sound of the guitar come through.

The overdrive is good, but I don't like the amp volume past about 75%, especially with the Les Paul. Those pickups are pretty powerful and tend to break it up more than I like. My only real complaint is that the speaker breaks earlier than I like, though it's breakup is consistent with this type of amp.

I tend to keep the amp's volume about 60% and use a Tubescreamer, which works well with this amp. With this setup you can almost get into Marshall territory, if you set the Tubescreamer gain about 80-90% and adjust the tone controls on the amp, pedal and guitar. I'm not saying it sounds like a Marshall, but with the right combination of on-board overdrive, tone settings, and external pedal settings, you can approach some Zeppelin tones.

I've used some digital effects with it and even they sound pretty good, but I'm discovering that this amp doesn't really need much in the way of effects. The extra fullness provided by the tube fills the sound out quite a bit. The Tubescreamer sounds good. After I mod it to TS-808 spec's I'm anticipating even better tone! This is perhaps the nicest thing about this amp...I feel the need to minimize effects, not add more of them to try to concoct tone. The amp produces the tone.

Cleans are pretty good if you don't go much past 50% on the volume and watch your guitar's volume settings. It does tend to go into distortion a bit earlier than I like, but it's not too bad. You just need to get used to using your guitar's controls as part of the entire setup.

This amp is really quiet. I get only very minor hissing. Nothing out of the ordinary. I don't even get 60Hz hum from my Strat, even when playing just one pickup.

I give it a 9 because it's very good for what it is, but I'd like the cleans to be a bit better.

So far, so good!

I haven't had to deal with Customer Support.

I've been playing for 20 years. I've used all solid-state amps up until now. I've played through Peavey Transtubes, Marshall Valvestates, and small Marshall solid-states. On occassion, I've played through Mesa Lonestar amps.

I'd definitely replace it if lost. I love it's simplicity. I really wanted a small, low-wattaged, no frills amp. I compared it to the Fender Champion 600. I like the Vox a lot better. I suspect that if the Champion were remade with a better, larger speaker it would sound better. But the Vox sounds better to my ear. Of course, the Vox has an EL84 power tube and the Fender has a 6V6, so it's not really an apples to apples comparison, but the Vox sounded bigger to me.

Single channel, 1xEL84 and 1x12AX7 tubes. Volume control, Tone control and Attenuator (4, 1, and 1/4 watt) control. Single 12" Celestion special design speaker in a closed cabinet. 16 ohm speaker out to run a cabinet.

White Tolex with marron diamond grill cloth. Looks very nice. Everyone I've showed it too thought it looked good enought to keep in the classiest of living rooms.

Made in Vietnam.

For the money this amp has nice features. The controls work well and on mine at least the fit and finish are very nice.

The attenuator is really the star of the show features wise and works very well. Its still too loud at 1/4 watt to crank at night and not annoy people in the same small house.

I didn't think I would like the closed back cabinet. Function wise I don't but sonically the cab sounds very nice. I wasn't able to get the cab to fart out.

Changing tubes or servicing in general is a royal pain as the entire amp has to be taken apart to access the tubes. For this reason I will give the amp an 8. Swapping tubes etc on a Vibro Champ is MUCH easier.

I mainly play a Tele with Texas Specials and an SG with Seymour Duncan Antiquities. I was looking for a small amp I could crank at home and get some nice grind. I love my silverface Fenders for clean but always lean towards EL84 amps for cranked power tube oversrive. I had been using an Epiphone Valve Jr. with NOS Mullard Tubes for this but that amp is WAY too loud through a 1x12 cabinet to get the cranked tone in an apartment. Using an attenuator with this amp doesn't work on 2 levels. First, any decent attenuator cost at least 2 times what the amp costs and Second, the tone gets so squashed all the treble goes bye bye.

The AC4TV definetly satisfies my needs for the cranked british tone at managable levels. Its still loud at 1/4 watt but after a week of banging at full tilt my townhouse neighbors haven't made a peep.

The amp definetly has the Vox "sound" or "Chime" as people refer to it. Its not an AC-30 but its also definetly not a Champ. With a clean boost or treble booster and the SG the amp distorts very ealry to a nice grind around 3:00 and Marshally saturation at full tilt.

With the tele there is much more headroom and the amp will stay cleaner longer. The amp also cleans up nicely with the guitars volume knob and is very dynamic as well. The harder you play the more distortion, a light tough yields clean shimmery jangles.

I can't see anyone other than a pure metal player needing another dirt box with this amp.

I didn't expect the non-broken in, cermaic Celestion to do the amp anu favors but I'm pleasently surprised. The speaker matches the amp well and sounds very full without getting farty at full blast.

I usually rip the tubes out of an amp like this and replace instantly with NOS Mullards or Telefunkens... I have not found the need to do that.....yet. It sounds great out of the box.

Oh boy. The chasis is not fun to access. Like I said you must unscrew a LOT of scres to get inside. Also, while the amp is cleanly laid out the tubes are circuit board mounted and everything is so tight in there.... well... its gonna get hot and I don't know how long this amp will last with all that heat. Also, some funky looking grounding in there...I think it might be a good thing you must disassemble the entire thing to get inside. You don't want to go poking around on such a small board with this thing juiced up.

So far so good and I've owned other Vox products and never had a problem.

Never dealt with them direclty and hopefully don't have to.

I've been playing 24 years. I love tube amps and have been owend Tweed Fenders, Silverface, black face, Voxes, Hiwatts, Real Plexi Marshalls, Traynors, boutiques and even a few Peaveys.

If someone put this amp in a non-descript cabinet, and I couldn't see the insides and told me it was the latest product from some expensive boutique builder I would not have doubted it in the least.

To me the amp sounds much better than the Epi Valve Jr. and makes an AMAZING stero rig with my beloved Vibro Champ.

I haven't bought a factory new amp in 20 years. Vintage only. This amp piqued my interest enough to take a chance, and at $249.00 its a no brainer.

AC4TV 2009 Model, latest updated version of the "All Valve" AC4 originally released in 1961. Very simple control layout comprising an On/Off switch, Single Input, Volume, Tone and Power output which is switchable between 1/4, 1 and 4 Watt settings driving a 10" Custom Celestian speaker. The Cab is covered in "Blonde Tolex" and has "Vintage Brown" speaker cloth sporting a smart Gold Vox Logo. There is also a 16 ohmn output socket to power an optional 12" speaker Ext Cab.
The amps 4 Watts provide enough power for practice/recording duties which is what I use it for.

I play my Rickenbackers through this amp a 350v63 and a 660/12 both fitted with "Vintage re-issue Toaster" pickups so I'm mostly using clean tones, the sound is typical Vox, clear warm and bright. It suits my style of "Jangly" Beatle/Byrds/Powerpop stuff. When you pass the 12 O'clock setting on the volume control that's when the overdrive starts to kick in and "push the tubes" all very controlable providing many levels of "Crank". You do get a small level of hum but nothing more than you'd expect from a tube amp. When I tried this amp at the store I took my 660/12 and JangleBox compressor and I must say that the sound coming from this little cream box turned a few heads, it has loads of character!
I do think the amp provides it's best tone when on the 4 Watt setting.

To soon to tell.

Not needed yet?
Warranty 12 months.

I've been playing for over 25 years.
I also have a Vox AD30VT which is very versitile and I can dial in pretty much any tone I want, an ideal recording tool.
If I lost the AC4TV I'd get another, I love the retro looks and the sound puts a smile on your face.
When you want Vox tone there's no point looking elsewhere.
I wish it had a reverb unit but I guess it would have pushed up the price and I suspect the original did'nt have one!

The new 2009 AC4; the main feature seems to be that it does have the attenuator, 4 watts, 1 watt, 1/2 watt, which is handy for late night play. The 4 watt setting is plenty loud for practice, 1 watt is great for tube overdrive at low volume. That, the tone and volume knobs, and an on/off switch. One EL84 and one 12AX7 (came with Soveteks), a 10 inch Celestion ceramic 16 ohm custom speaker. Again, for practice, it's great; recording too although it can get noisy at high volume.

I've only had it for a couple of days but have played through it with several guitars....mostly Beatle....Custom Shop Strat, Ric 325 Hamburg, Gretsch Tennessean. It sounded good right out of the box but I HAVE to mess with my gear, so, with a broken in Weber 10 inch Silver Bell, a NOS Philips EL84, and a NOS GE12AY7 to raise the headroom, it sounds very good. I had been playing through a new Orange AD4 with the Weber in it for practice, but being a Beatle nut I had to try the Vox.......I have to admit I think the Orange sounded more early Beatle Vox with the Weber. The AC4 is close, and of course is almost half the price and with the attenuator is arguably a better buy, and the AD4 is VERY trebly, and the AC4 has a better bass response with the closed back. Both are great amps....and I think I'm close to very happy with the AC4 now. With a Strat and the right OD/distortion pedal (I'm using a Vox 840), on 1 Watt, it can get a great Revolver/Sgt. Pepper era distortion sound.

Too early to tell, although it is NOT something you can easily change tubes with. That is a CHORE...NOT user friendly from that pov. Lose a tube and you'd better have something else on hand.

No idea.

I've been playing since high school (now 54), and own or have owned all sorts of great and not so great gear. Amps and I take time getting to know each other, but even with my tube and speaker changes I'm already liking this one fine. Like I said above, the Orange AD4 I've had for a few months is also a very good amp, maybe a little better sound-wise but fewer features...well, one fewer, since it doesn't have the attenuator. I bought it because of the price and because it's a Vox and I'm a crazy Beatle fan. I'm not sorry I bought it and even without the tube change and the Weber speaker it would have been fine. If it were stolen I might try to be happy with the AD4.....but for the price I might buy another one. The only thing I REALLY don't like is the closed back and the chassis design; makes changing tubes a real pain in the @$$.