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Vox AC30 Custom Classic Guitar Combo Amplifier (30 Watts, 2x12 in.)

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The new AC30 Custom Classic is the culmination of over 45 years of high quality, guitar amplifier design and fabrication. Vox has taken the best AC30 designs and added a number of useful, very cool features to create the most tonally flexible and affordable AC30 to date! Learn More...

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Vox AC30HW Hand Wired AC30 Combo Amplifier

Twin inputs. Tag board assembly.

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Description
On July 21, 2002 Vox announced a Limited Edition run of hand-wired AC30 amplifiers to be made available worldwide later this year.

Great care has been taken to preserve the pristine design that made the AC30 a classic, while adding several enhancements for the ultimate in top-of-the-line VOX amplification. Two new AC30 products are being offered: the AC30HW 30-watt 2 x 12 in. combo and the AC30HWH 30-watt head plus CV212LTD 2 x 12 in. speaker cabinet.

The amplifier chassis of both the combo and head feature completely hand-wired tag board assembly, all tube design, and custom hand-wound transformers. The transformers are exact replicas of the Albion transformers used in the original AC30s. The new hand wired AC30s feature a single VOX Top Boost channel, twin inputs (High and Low), and a Master Volume circuit derivative of the one found in VOX's AC15 combos. The new AC30s offer highly interactive Bass and Treble tone controls, as well as the VOX Tone Cut (which varies the presence in the power amp section) control for even greater tonal variations. Classic Tremolo with variable Speed and Depth adjustment is also included, marking the first time in the history of the AC30 that Tremolo has been available on a Top Boost channel. Another first for the AC30 is the incorporation of a tube driven Accutronics reverb unit with Level and Tone controls.

The AC30HW combo and CV212LTD speaker cabinet feature two 12 in. classic VOX/Celestion AlNiCo Blue speakers. These models, as well as the AC30HWH head, are housed in sturdy birch ply construction cabinets, and feature a commemorative "Hand Wired" plaque. Other features include On/Off and Standby switches with indicator lights, along with a dual footswitch for controlling Tremolo and Reverb.

The "Blue" Alnico Speaker
In 1959, Vox discovered that Celestion speakers gave superior result over other speakers they tested with their amplifiers. Further tests were made with the G12 in AC30s, but at the time there was a need for a speaker that would give a better response for bass instruments. So Celestion made a special model speaker for Vox with a cone that had a tougher outer edge that gave an excellent response in both the lead and bass frequencies. With a rounder shaped magnet cover, this speaker was painted with a blue cellulose and soon became know in the industry as the Vox "blue" speaker. For many, even today, it is regarded as the ultimate guitar speaker.

However, quality comes at a price, and the key ingredient for this superior sound comes from an expensive metal alloy called Alnico. Used to make the speaker's permanent magnet, alnico gets its name from the elements used to make it - ALuminum, NIckel and CObalt.

Although these speakers were phased out in the late 1960's in favor of the cheaper ceramic magnet designed speakers, they remained part of the Vox heritage and to many, a Vox amp is incomplete with any other speaker. So in the early 1990's Celestion's production line started to remake this classic speaker and now its tone can be enjoyed by a whole new generation of Vox owners.

The new AC30 combo, head, and speaker cabinet will be available 4th Quarter of 2002.

Technical Info

The AC30/6 TB circuit is a faithful copy of the circuit designed by Dick Denney, Vox design engineer from 1957 to 1965.

33 Watts RMS before distortion

6 inputs

Hi and low for each channel, Brilliant, Normal, and Vibtrem.

Each channel has its own volume control.

The Brilliant channel has Bass and Treble tone controls.

A cut control acts as an additional tone for all channels.

There is a Speed control and Vibtrem selector for Vibtrem channel.

An authentic Vox oval die-cast "egg" footswitch is included.

Dimensions (W x D x H): 705 x 265 x 550mm (27-3/4 x 10 x 21 in.)

Weight: 32 kg (70 lbs.)

Blue Speaker
Nominal Diameter: 12 in.

Power Rating: 15 watts

Sensitivity: 100dB

Chassis Type: Pressed steel

Voice Coil Diameter: 1 3/4 in.

Voice Coil Material: Round copper

Magnet Type: Alnico

Magnet Weight: 936g

Frequency Range: 75-5000Hx

Resonance Frequency, Fs: 75Hz

DC Resistance, Re: 6.4 Ohms

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Vox AC30HW Hand Wired AC30 Combo Amplifier Reviews

29 People rated this product :
           9 out of 10
           10 out of 10
Vox AC30HW Hand Wired AC30 Combo Amplifier Customer Review
Feature:
The Master Volume Control makes this amp the only amp you'll ever need. Could not play my TBX Reissue in small venues but the HW is great with a Master Volume control.

Quality:
I've played it a lot and a few times with volume all the way up and it does as expected... sounds unbelievable!

Value:
Comparable with other FANTASTIC 30W Class A hand wired boutique amps.

Sound:
I have owned an AC30TBX but this Hand Wired Limited Edition sounds much better. Both with Blue Alnico's.

Ease of Use:
Mine is Head w/2x12 Cab. Head is extremely heavy but built like a tank.

Support:
No choice for N/A... never needed support so I guess that's The Best.

Submitted: 04/07/2009
Style of Music: Rock, Blues, Blues Rock
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           10 out of 10
"Vox AC30HW ,Big money ,Tonal Satisfaction ,Celestion Blues , Perfect Match ."
Feature:
This amp is in it's own Vox World . Anything else would detract from what it is, "Vox Perfect" . I would not change anything . As a bonus though , Vox made the Cooltron boxs for those that want to push the preamp tubes into early or more distortion . I have some Cooltrons and they really Kick Butt !

Quality:
My AC30HW is made great , As for the Road , thats a place where people mis-pack their gear , that is if they pack it up at all , break it and whine about the manufacture.

Value:
It was very expensive . But I received the Amp set that is tonally correct for what I wanted. There was no tonal secound choice for that Vox Rock & Blues sound .

Desirability:
You have to play it to love it . If you find a better amp for Britsh Rock & Blues tones , Buy it .

Sound:
What else can I say but "Killer"!! I was very suprised To find that it has an awesome Blues Tone. I was looking for a warm ,rich , amp that has a great distortion sound. What I actually got is great tones in the clean side and wonderfull warm tones all the way up to the maximum of distortion.The Vox Celestion Blues are Bad to the Bone ! The match-up is total perfection .

Support:
Don't know yet. I hve not had any problems with it.

Overall:
This Amp is already out of production , so thats that ! I have not seen any for sale even on EBAY . I might try to find an AC30 / 6tb. I have 9 different tube Amps . They are all great in their own way . The Vox is just one of the many wonderfull tube amps out there . Each is different and unique .

Submitted: 08/20/2005
Style of Music: Sometimes great ! on other days , I get the Blues
1 of 2 people (50%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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