You can't beat the sound of a Vox amplifier. This thing has huge tone. It's best at producing deep low end as well as chimey high freqs. I use this amp mostly for alternative rock, but it could suit just about any style except for metal. This is my go to amp live and in the studio. It sounds great using my Tele and Gibson Les Paul. Some people say the stock speakers are a little harsh. I'd say that's being picky, but swapping some better speakers in might make this thing sound even better.

One of the things that makes the newer AC30s so practical is the amount of features it has without it being too gimmicky. You can run this thing warm at 22 watts or hot at 30 watts. It comes with tremolo and reverb which are both controllable by the included footswitch. This amp has some of the best reverb I've ever heard. My favorite feature is the ability to blend the clean and top boost channels. It sounds so amazing.

Plug it in and you have vintage Vox tone right out of the box. Some of the other features take a little getting used too if you're not familiar with tube amps.

I've heard sketchy things about these newer Chinese AC30s. I've had mine for a year and so far, so good. I gig about twice a month.

This amp is worth more than 1200 in my opinion. It's not one of the handwired ones from Vox, but it gets the job done at such a great price. If you think it's too steep, the AC15 is great too.

Haven't had to deal with them.

Are you kidding me?! Do you know how many people would die to have an AC30? One look at this thing = I WANT IT...as long as you have the cash. Whenever I gig people are pointing it out asking me about it.

Active Musician, Recording Engineer

Alternative Melodic Rock

Sounds completely authentic. Strangely enough, it I personally feel it sounds BETTER without the reverb on! It somehow has an extra level of magic with no reverb. Maybe it's extra harmonics that sneak through and are more audible this way? I don't know. Don't take my word for it though .. go try one out and turn the reverb right off! Sounds smokin'!

I can't help but give it a ten here as well because (as even Vox puts it) they've put every feature into this Custom Classic to give it all the sounds from different Vox amps throughout the years. I've personally only played one other one from the 80's which was pretty beat up .. so I can't vouch for "all the tones" .. but with the included two channels (normal, top-boost, and linked) and the tone cut control .. I feel it has a wide range of sounds and it all sounds fantastic.

To preserve heritage, the controls are "upside down" when looked at from the front. It's something to get use to. Also, due to this, the controls sweep the opposite way as well. Well, if you're standing BEHIND the amp, then this is all fine. It's up to you. Also, the older versions had soldered speaker leads. The newer ones have this fixed though with a jack now. That WAS annoying.

Rock hard, heavy, and solid. Nothing seems cheap on it as far as I can tell. About the only thing I can comment on is I really wish they could have included LEATHER handles instead of plastic. That's my only concern/issue.

A fantastic buy if you're after THE classic AC30 sound. It gives you many of the sounds in one box and build with modern technology/standards. It's more reliable than the old ones! Great buy overall!

No clue.

No doubt one of the most sought after amps. This "I want it" category deserves a 10 for this amp more so than any other amp.

Recording Engineer

Rock

In the 30 years I have been playing guitar, I have never been completely satisfied with my sound. Every couple of years, I have sell everything in hopes that I will find the Holy Grail of guitar tone. Unfortunately, I have never been able to realize those hopes - until now. I have played almost every imaginable amp - except for the ridiculously overpriced boutique amps. Marshall, Mesa, Peavey, Fender, THD, MosValve, Dean Markley, Legend, Laney, etc, etc... NONE OF THOSE COMPARE TO THESE! I almost hate to reveal the secret because as soon as the word gets out, ANYONE can have the quintessential tone and not have to take out a 2nd mortgage to get it. I don't know what else I can tell you. From crystal clear cleans, to creamy smooth distortion, this amp does it all. The thing that suprised me the most is the DEPTH of its sound. I didn't think: a) an open back b) a 2x12 could have so much fat, full bottom. The Blue Alnicos are everything that people have said they are - and more. It is as if they were a living, breathing entity. They have SOUL. I love the Wharfedales and use them in half of my set-up, but the Blue Alnicos are 3 dimensional compared to any speaker I have heard. I just wish they weren't so freaking expensive. I am running 2 AC30CC2's in Stereo with 2 of the external cabs and it is PURE HEAVEN!

no channel switching is a bit of a drag, but the channel blending feature is cool

Easy, intuitive and great to use with other effects (nice effects loop)

They have improved the design by adding a speaker disconnect and improving the stock tubes. The screws are still pretty cheap and care is needed when removing them, but the buid quality is excellent and it is ONE SOLID AMP.

n/a

Professional Musician, Music Teacher, Studio Engineer

Rock/Pop

After I got it I was surprised how loud it can play. It really screams. But keeps THE Vox tone. After few days of testing it I switched to good old Mullard valves (I mean really old valves from 60s). It became much cleaner with a plenty of headroom and a little less drive. And changed speakers to some 4O year old Fanes. This was a huge step forward because the bottom end became a lot more detailed and the bass frequences really sound as bass tone, not as muffled "something".

Full of features. Blendable channels was a great idea. The tremolo is awesome quality but the reverb is a bit behind with quality. Nothing can touch the Fender reverb! But still a great feature. The rest is as usual.

Really easy to use and controls are very efficient. I personally like to play the amp really loud and enjoy the fantastic bottom end with the drive of top-boost circuit.

Absolutely my best decision to buy this amp. I was thinking about some Fender amp but Vox was a great deal.

Except for the reverb and stock valves no complains.

Vox is Vox. Design is vintage and I would never change it. This is Vox!

musician

alternative

I'd have to say hands down that the NEW Vox AC30 Head and 2X12 Cabinet is one of the very best puchases I have made. The tone is outstanding. Good thing is you don't have to be a guinness to figure out how to dial this amp in. The tone circut is very straight forward and makes it a breeze getting a wide range of tones. One more attractive feature is the volume..I find it easy to use this amp in large and small vinues , I don't have to give up my tone because of turning down for a smalled room.

I have to give a BIG tumbs up for the reverb and tremolo. The tremolo works and sounds top notch and the reverb is more than adiquit for most uses.

Again.. what can I say..it's Sooo simple to operate this Vox AC30. Once you have found settings that work for you, it's just a matter of getting power to the amp and then miner volume and tone adjustments depending on the room .

These amps are built to last, NO DOUT. My AC30 Head has a bit of weight to it, but that all good because you can tell that it was built with quality in mind! Same goes for the 2X12 Cabinet.

This Vox AC30 amp has to be considered a tremendous value. Having played a number of Boutique Amps that were twice the cost as my Vox AC30. I feel as though MY money was very well spent!

I haven't had any support issues as of yet. There seems to be a great number of Vox dealers which should be of help if any support problems should arrise.

The aesthetics of the Vox AC30 are are another quality that help lend that MOJO vibe to this beautiful amp!

40 years or professional playing

Blues, Classic Rock , Pop Jazz

The tone is sweeter and cleaner than anything I have played on including my brothers Hiwatt. Gets louder than my Fender Twin and sounds better also.

Came with a switch, adjustable tremolo, and an incredible reverb. Very very sturdy amp.

So easy to use. Just absolutely incredible.

PERFECT!

Its so worth it. The only upgrade I plan on getting is a couple more of the amps eventually :) .

Lifetime warranty works for me! My dog came and gnawed on one of the tubes but I still got it repaired for free.

Active Muscian

Ambient Rock, Electronica, Shoegaze, Grunge

This is my favorite sounding amp. However, there are a few musicians in my circle that prefer amps like a vintage marshall, or an ampeg to the vox. Most of my buddies like the vox, though. I say this because it's all about what kind of sound your after. I used to have a marshall 30th anniversary, but I found it to metal sounding. For my indie-rock band, the ac30 with blue speakers sounds perfect. The notes come through articulately when I drive it with a fulltone fulldrive 2 and the clean is round and buttery. You can even use an a-b switch to take advantage both imputs (set one to clean and the other to drive). This makes your one channel amp a two channel (kind of). The distortion destroys marshall's distrotion and the clean is the best--nobody argues that. ps, I use a gibson les paul through a boss compression/sustain pedal and I can get any sound I want. It's a great set-up.

I wish it had two real channels, but then again most of the really nice amps don't. I've figured out ways around it, but in this price range for an amp made in china, I shouldn't have to. I played the cheaper version with the regular speakers next to the one with the blue speakers and I have to say that there is no comparison. They shouldn't even offer the cheaper one, it's just for people who want a vox because it looks cool and don't care about sound. The lesser speakers void the whole purpose of getting a vox because you can't make out the nuances that sound so unique. get the blues on a payment plan if you have to and you'll never have to buy another amp.

get a case for it because a) it's heavy and you need wheels, b) the black casing nicks very easily. If you keep it in the case you won't have a problem. You might get a lemon, but just make sure you buy it from a repuatable company that will let you exchange it.

it's expenisve, but I use it everyday and it helps me get "my sound." To me, it's worth it. I play in a trio indie-rock band and the guitar tone is crucial to fill up the sound. I'm not going to say that another amp wouldn't be able to, but this one is portable, looks good, sounds great, and suits me very well.

don't know yet.

compair it to all the other amps at your local guitar store and see for yourself why this amp is the most commonly recorded amp in rock music of all time. hands down, it is the best. Ampegs are cool too, though--if you want to save a grand and get a pretty frekin good sound with a cool vibe. If I had $1000, I'd get the ampeg 2x12 for $800 over the ac30 with standard speakers. If you can't put a price on your music, go for the blues on an ac30.

active musician

indie-rock

i have never owned a vox amp but i use them all the time. i use them for dirty.but clean is good to. and when its all the way up it rocks.

it was so easy to use even without the manual.

if i owned one i wouldn't trade it for anything else.

the best

vox rocks there the best.

Active Musician

Christian and pop

i actually just bought it today so i dont own it yet but i have played vox before and i would recommend it again and again and thats why i am buying one.

i actually didnt have a hard time playing it in the store i have my elections etched in my mind. i have about 2 o'clock on the brilliant channel and then i link the top boost and the normal channel together.

Active Musician

Pop and christian

Clean and mellow.The Vox AC30 cc makes everything sound musical. It's clean and the loudest 30 tube watts you have heard. I run my K2661 synth keyboard to mine on the Electric Pianos, and vintage samples of stuff like a melitrons, guitars.

Has everything you need, a british crunch or power stack sound.

Just like you think, except the cut off.

I know this was made in China, but it is better than the korg made Ac-30. I have two of these amps and have never had a problem.

I like this amp on stage. I can hear it, and I get great overtones and warm harmonics few amps cam deliver. An AC-30 always looks great on stage.

Just hoping here, since no problems ....

studio musician

classic rock, rock

whoa man, this is the best sounding amp ever! I've been a Fencer purist for years, originally owning a Vibrolux reverb, then loving the Twin Reverbs, bought a Fender Tweed Blues reissue, bought traded it back in for the AC30. It really has the warmth and just the right punch. I found myself just living in the tone of each note and playing for hours the first time a plugged it in... just a littel bit of my RAT peddle and kickin' in an octaver for darker sounds - fabulous!! thanks - Tim Kyne

I would switch on the tremolo in the middle of a passage and it was instant Lucy in the Sky time... very sweet...

I don't read manuals... just don't have the patience... jumped right in and dialed in the sounds I wanted pretty quickly...

former live FOH engineer, now just play for fun/jamming

rock & jazz, 60's style bay-area feel or Band of Gypsys...

had many ac30s, played through a ton of them, this one is the best so far, blue speakers are a must in any amp of mine

for an amp made in China I am amazed at the sound. I have had lots of nice amps from Marshall, Boogie, Matchless, Budda, and Fender, Peavey. The only amps I have now are the Budda, Fender Twin and a Music Man,. I stopped by the music store for strings and ended up getting a Vox. awesome tone and reverb. I am amazed

try one, you will see reverb is top notch. the tremelo is excellent as well but the crunch and clean sounds are fantastic and dynamic played both a strat and les paul and they both sounded great through this amp

finish and fit are nice, lots of plastic but looks durable and is very clean. will purchase a road case next

I got a screaming deal at my local music store for $949 I didn't get teh blue alnicos and spending $600 bucks for two speakers is not happening. I think it sounds great the way it is. I can always change out speakers later but highly doubt it

just got it. ask me again in a year

it's all Mojo, its got that groovy look but flat out kicks ass in tone and clarity

I could not play it when it arrived I turned it on and I didn't know if this amp was going to blow up or what, it crak,hum,a sound that I can not even tell you about. So I never even got to play it didn't no if it was going to blow the speakers or what it was going to do.

Nice

Think the China needs to get out of making Vox amp or Vox will be going out soon just like in the late 70's.

Not sure yet I need to send this amp back and see how long it takes for them to refund my money.

40 yrs

Rock Blues