Vox AC30
In 1958, Vox introduced the AC30 to meet a growing demand for louder amplifiers. Hank Marvin of The Shadows asked Vox to build a big brother after the original 15-watt AC15 proved too weak to be heard over screaming fans at Cliff Richard's concerts. The first-generation AC30 arrived in 1959 with EL84 tubes and a single 12-inch Goodmans speaker housed in a TV-front cabinet. This early design featured a thin white Rexine covering with a small printed diamond pattern. By late 1959, the company released the AC30/4 model which doubled the power amp circuit using four EL84 tubes. The AC30/4 initially offered a 1x12 version before introducing the twin 12-inch configuration known as the AC30 Twin. These early Twins used two Goodmans Audiom speakers followed by Celestion G12 alnico speakers. In late 1960, Vox redesigned the preamp circuit to replace the microphonic EF86 tube with an ECC83. This new version became the AC30/6 with three channels each having two inputs. Around 1963, features from the optional Top Boost unit were incorporated directly into newer models. People began referring to these amplifiers as AC30TBs.
By 1960, Vox had forsaken the conservative TV-front look for a now-legendary cabinet design that has since remained largely unchanged. The new cabinets featured a covering known as fawn Rexine, a beige leathercloth with a subtle printed grain. A thin gold-toned strip divided the front baffle while the upper valence was covered in fawn Rexine. The lower grille received brown diamond cloth instead of the previous white pattern. Ventilation came through three small brass vents on the top of the cabinet rather than side grilles. The single suitcase-type handle disappeared and was replaced with three leather straps. Later iterations included the AC30 Super Twin which retailed for $520 at Sherman Clay stores in 1965. This model sported a trapezoid shaped head and a separate speaker mounted on a trolley. During the early 1970s Dallas Arbiter period, tube rectifiers were replaced by silicon rectifiers standard on later AC30TB models. In the late 1970s Vox introduced a solid-state version called the AC30SS used by Status Quo. A tube AC30TB with spring reverb feature returned in 1978 after years of inconsistent quality control.
In 2003, Vox created the AC30 Heritage Handwired Limited Edition amplifier known as the AC30HW. Guitar Player magazine reviewed this amp in its December 2002 Exotica feature noting it cost $4,000 for the combo unit. Only 350 units would be made along with 200 heads and cabinets according to the article. The circuitry used old-fashioned tag strips instead of printed circuit boards allowing easier repair. In 2004, Vox introduced the Custom Classic series claiming to combine original attributes with boutique features. These newer models are produced in China unlike their British predecessors from the 1960s. At the 2010 Winter NAMM expo, Vox unveiled updates featuring two channels with two inputs each similar to the 1958 layout. Limited edition colors included tycoon blue tolex, red finish, and British Racing Green. The company released the AC30BM in 2006 based on Brian May's tone limited to 500 examples worldwide. This model had no controls except a single volume knob and a switch to halve output valves. JMI began manufacturing period correct British-made copies in 2006 available in black and beige finishes.
Though widely believed to be class A, the AC30 is actually class AB using four cathode-biased EL-84 tubes in push-pull configuration. The high bias condition contributes to the amplifier's famous immediate response and jangly high-end sound. Lack of negative feedback plays at least as large a role alongside simple low loss tone stacks. Celestion Blue speakers integral to the unit provide cutting mid-range that distinguishes it from Marshall or Fender styles. Two 12-inch 15-watt speakers often overdrive while operating near their power handling capability. The original design used an EF86 pentode in its Normal channel before replacing it with ECC83 tubes in 1960. Later models featured GZ34 rectifiers while some versions utilized EZ81 rectifiers for lower wattage outputs. The AC30VR Valve Reactor circuit places a 12AX7 dual triode vacuum tube into the power stage acting as a small power amplifier. This output feeds a solid state power amp that boosts the signal further. Modern iterations include switchable filter values between vintage and modern settings plus true bypass effects loops.
The jangly high-end sound made the Vox AC30 widely used by British musicians including George Harrison and John Lennon of the Beatles. Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones and Brian May of Queen also relied on this amplifier throughout their careers. Dave Davies of the Kinks, Hank Marvin, and Tom Petty all adopted the Vox sound for their recordings. Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin and Pete Townshend embraced the amplifier during the height of the British Invasion. Chris Dreja from the Yardbirds and Paul Weller from the Jam continued the tradition into later decades. The Edge from U2 recorded every album using his almost-original Vox AC30/6 from 1964. Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Ed O'Brien from Radiohead utilized the unit to shape their distinctive tones. Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits and Joe Walsh from Eagles found the AC30 suitable for their styles. Peter Buck and Justin Hayward brought the amplifier into alternative rock and pop contexts respectively. The list extends to artists like Snowy White, Will Sergeant, and Noel Gallagher across multiple generations.
Clapton, Cream, Pink Floyd, and Queen stand as ambassadors to the success of early AC30s according to historical accounts. The Heritage series 50th anniversary model incorporates the classic EF86 pre-amp tube remarkable for its high gain and harmonic overtones. This circuit produces creamy distinctive VOX sounds found in early hand-made amplifiers produced by Jennings of Dartford. The company sold Vox to Korg in the early 1990s after Rose Morris owned the name through the 1980s. Newer reissues corrected inconsistencies ranging from correct style grille cloth to GZ34 rectifier tubes. These amplifiers were mostly offered in traditional black Tolex with brown diamond grille configurations. Limited numbers appeared in purple, red, or tan tolex finishes during the 1990s production run. A company called Primo imported and redistributed AC30s in the U.S. starting in the mid 1980s. Music Radar awarded later models their Guitarist Choice award following critical success at the 2010 Winter NAMM expo. The amplifier remains a studio standard used by artists ranging from Queen to Radiohead.
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Common questions
When was the Vox AC30 first introduced and what was its original power output?
Vox introduced the AC30 in 1958 to meet a growing demand for louder amplifiers. The first-generation model arrived in 1959 with EL84 tubes and a single 12-inch Goodmans speaker housed in a TV-front cabinet.
What specific design changes did the AC30 undergo by late 1960 regarding its preamp circuit?
In late 1960, Vox redesigned the preamp circuit to replace the microphonic EF86 tube with an ECC83. This new version became the AC30/6 with three channels each having two inputs.
Which famous musicians used the Vox AC30 during the British Invasion era of the 1960s?
George Harrison and John Lennon of the Beatles widely used the jangly high-end sound made by the Vox AC30. Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin and Pete Townshend embraced the amplifier during the height of the British Invasion.
How does the Vox AC30 differ technically from other amplifiers like Marshall or Fender models?
The AC30 is actually class AB using four cathode-biased EL-84 tubes in push-pull configuration rather than class A. Celestion Blue speakers integral to the unit provide cutting mid-range that distinguishes it from Marshall or Fender styles.
When was the limited edition AC30HW released and how many units were produced?
Vox created the AC30 Heritage Handwired Limited Edition amplifier known as the AC30HW in 2003. Only 350 units would be made along with 200 heads and cabinets according to a December 2002 Guitar Player magazine review.