The reason is because Vox guitar amps have played a significant role in defining the style of those legendary '60s bands, and since that time, their unmistakable look and tone has found its way into countless recording studios and concert halls. The unique tone of VOX amplifiers has helped define the sound of modern guitar for over 60 years. VOX exploded onto the music scene in the late 1950s with the introduction of their first AC15 combo, then dominated the 'British Invasion' of the 1960s.
Contents.History The Vox AC30 was originally introduced in 1959 at 's request as the 'big brother' of the fifteen (15 W) AC15 model, Vox's original flagship amplifier, because the AC15 was not loud enough with the screaming fans at 's concerts. The AC15 was powered by a pair of, an -driven 'Normal' channel, an -driven 'Vib-Trem' channel, and rectified by an EZ81. The original first-generation AC30 used a GZ34 tube rectifier, three ECC83s (12AX7) for the Normal channel and the tremolo/vibrato oscillator/modulator circuits, one ECC81 (12AT7) phase inverter, and EL34 tubes in the power amplifier circuit.This first generation of AC30s were housed in 'TV-front' cabinets, much like the early to mid-50s tweed amps, and had a single 12-inch Goodmans 60-watt speaker, as opposed to the later, conventional twin 12-inch speaker configuration.
These early amps sported a thin white covering ('Rexine') with a small printed diamond pattern and larger diamond pattern grill cloth. However, the EL34-powered AC30 was short lived, and a new AC30 version appeared in late 1959.
This second generation AC30/4 had two channels with two inputs, hence the '4' in the model name, and a single tone control, and was powered by a quartet of EL84 (6BQ5) power tubes, making it truly a doubling of the AC15 power amp circuit. The AC30/4 also carried over the AC15's preamplifier circuit, which included the EF86 pentode in its 'Normal' channel. Vox initially offered a 1×12' version but subsequently introduced the 2×12' AC30 Twin, which solved the volume problem at larger venues. The first AC30 Twins used two Goodmans Audiom 60 15-Watt Speakers, followed by G12 speakers.By 1960, Vox had forsaken the more conservative TV-front look for the now legendary cabinet design that has remained largely unchanged since 1960.
The new cabinets featured a different covering known as fawn Rexine, which was a sort of beige leathercloth with a subtle printed grain. The front baffle was now divided by a thin gold-toned strip with the upper valence covered in fawn Rexine, and the lower grille covered in brown diamond cloth. Ventilation was provided by three small brass vents on the top of the cabinet, and the TV-front's single suitcase type handle was replaced with three leather straps.
's almost-original Vox AC30/6 from 1964, housed in a '70s cabinet on stage. It is known that it is the 'brilliant' model (or top boost) and it was Edge's earliest amp used to record every albumSince the higher output AC30/4 shared its preamplifier design with the lower powered AC15, Vox discovered the high-gain EF86 tube was susceptible to microphonics, or even failure, when exposed to the increased vibration present in this uprated amp. Vox soon tired of the problem so to cure AC30/4 reliability issues caused by the troublesome EF86 preamp tube, in late 1960 Vox redesigned the preamp circuit, replaced the EF86 with an ECC83 (12AX7), and released this new design as the AC30/6. The AC30/6 was now an amp with three channels, each channel having two inputs.About this time, the 'Top Boost' (or 'Brilliance') feature became available as Vox's optional addition of a rear panel-mounted that introduced an extra gain stage and tone controls for bass and treble (as opposed to the single 'tone' control of earlier AC30s). The unit became so popular that its features were soon incorporated in newer AC30/6 models, and the controls moved from the rear panel to the control panel.
Vox AC30/6 amplifiers from around 1963 had already implemented the top boost, and therefore had three tone controls. People began to refer to these amplifiers as AC30TBs. Later on, Vox also offered additional versions of the AC30 unit. In addition to the 'Normal' version without the Top Boost, and the Top Boost version (which was a Normal version with the 'Brilliance' unit added), Vox, with slight circuit modifications, created two more versions that were 'voiced' in Brilliant (Treble), and Bass styles.
Over the years many different AC30 models appeared but many consider the AC30 'Super Twin' to be the ultimate AC30, with a 'trapezoid' shaped head and a separate speaker mounted on a trolley (see The Vox Story, Petersen & Denney 1993, p.39; see also the Vox showroom web site).In the late '60s Jennings drifted into financial problems and the company experienced various owner changes. Quality control was also inconsistent. During the Vox brand's early '70s ' period, the tube rectifiers of AC30s were replaced by rectifiers, which became standard on later AC30TB models. In the late 1970s Vox also introduced a AC30 (AC30SS), which is the AC30 model that was used. A tube AC30TB with spring reverb feature was reintroduced in 1978.
In spite of at least one AC30 production run titled 'Limited Edition' of 100 units with starting serial number 0100 (1991) (no reverb), production of the AC30 has practically never ceased: Newer AC30s are reissues of the various top boost AC30/6 (AC30TB) models. AC30s made between 1989 and 1993 also had spring reverb as a standard feature. The Rose Morris company, who owned the Vox name through the 1980s, sold Vox to in the early 1990s, who then manufactured a reissue of the early '60s AC30 Top Boost, correcting previous inconsistencies ranging from the correct style grille cloth to the GZ34 rectifier tube.
These AC30 amps were mostly offered in the traditional black Tolex/brown diamond grille configuration, but were also available in limited numbers with purple, red, or tan tolex. These amplifiers, like all AC30s to this point, were manufactured in. These were available with a choice of 'Blue' or 'Greenback' speakers. In the mid 1980s, a company in Marlborough, MA, called Primo, imported and began re-distributing the AC30s in the U.S.
AC30HW Limited (2003) In 2003, Vox created the 'AC30 Heritage Handwired Limited Edition' amplifier (AC30HW). This amplifier differed from the standard offering in notable ways.
First, the circuitry was constructed using old-fashioned tag strips. According to Vox this was far more labor-intensive, but it allowed for easier repair versus circuit boards because there were no copper tracks to burn. According to the Vox showroom site:'1960s era Vox amps were hand wired on tag strips.
The connecting lead (or wire) from each electronic part was manually wrapped around a terminal, or 'tag,' and then soldered. This mode of amp construction is very labour-intensive and the workmanship and accuracy of the employee building the amp will affect the performance of the product. It was for this reason that most electronics manufacturers transitioned to phenolic printed circuit boards by 1970.' The second notable difference was the features and control layout. Guitar Player magazine reviewed the amp in its 'Exotica' feature, December 2002. The article specifies details of the amp, including price, and its control layout:'The AC30 HW ($4,000; head $3,250; 2×12 cab $1,350), which was developed with input from boutique amp designer Tony Bruno, features the famous Top Boost preamp, but has a control that is quite different from the standard model. For starters, there are only two inputs, which are marked Hi and Lo (AC30s traditionally have six inputs).
To the right are the volume, treble, bass and tone-cut controls, a tremolo section with speed and depth knobs, a reverb section with reverb and tone controls, and a master volume.' And further into the article: Top of the Marque.
The AC30HW is by far the best AC variant to date. Few amps come close to matching its radiant complexity and those that do typically don't offer reverb and tremolo. The only downer about the HW is that only 350 of them will be made (along with 200 heads and cabinets).' AC30 Custom Classic Series In 2004, Vox introduced a new series of amplifier called the AC30 Custom Classic.
It claims to combine attributes of the original AC30 with what Vox sales literature refers to as a 'boutique' of features. Specifications of the AC30CC series are two Inputs (Top Boost and Normal), an Input Link Switch for blending channels, a Normal Volume knob, a Brilliance Switch, a Top Boost Volume knob, a Treble knob, an EQ Standard/Custom Switch, Bass and Reverb Controls (Tone, Mix, and a Dwell Switch), Tremolo Speed & Depth knobs, a Tone Cut knob, a Master Volume knob, a Standby and a Power Switch, switchable cathode bias (Output Bias switch: '50 Hot': 33W at full power, '82 Warm': 22W at low power), switchable filter values (vintage/modern), and a true bypass effects loop.
Newer AC30CC (or 'Custom Classic') reissues (CC1, CC2X CCH head) are produced in.AC30 Custom Series At the 2010 Winter NAMM expo Vox introduced the Custom series; these models were updates to the 2004 Custom Classic series amplifiers and featured two channels (Normal and Top Boost) with two inputs for each channel (High and Low), more akin to the original AC30/4 layout released in 1958. It was available with either Greenback speakers (C2) or Alnico Blue Speakers (C2x), and was also available as the AC15. Later limited edition models include the AC30BL, a tygoon blue tolex with grey speaker cloth, an AC30C2RD with a red finish, an AC30C2-BRG a British Racing Green tolex finish with a grey speaker cloth and the AC30C2 Black Comet; featuring a patterned finish all are identical to the C2. The amp featured an option known as 'Jumping' where the High-Normal channel could be linked to the Low-Top Boost channel with a patch lead, whilst the guitar is plugged into the High-Top Boost channel, allowing both channels to sound and create a fuller, thicker overdrive sound. The amp also featured a solid-state rectifier to increase reliability. Controls include a Normal volume, Top Boost Volume, Treble and Bass controls, Reverb Tone and Level controls, Tremolo Speed and Depth controls, a Tone Cut control (to add further control over the higher-frequencies), a Master Volume, and a Standby and Power Switch.
A true bypass effects loop, extension cab output and external cab output were also included; as well as an input for the external foot switch (to control Reverb and Tremolo). The amps are produced in China. The amps were released to critical success, garnering awards such as Music Radar's 'Guitarist Choice' award. Pittman, Aspen (2003).
Pp. 95–98. John Teagle (May 1998). Vintage Guitar. The Vox Showroom. The Vox Showroom. Glen Lambert.
Archived from on 2009-10-26. Hahlbeck, Gary. North Coast Music. Retrieved 21 December 2012. Thompson, Art (December 2002). Guitar Player. 36 (396): 141–142.
Randall Aiken. Aiken Amps technical pages. Randy Jamz. Tales from the Tone Lounge.
Mark Breecher & Shane Dolman. Steve Rowse. Steve's Amps blog pages.External links.