Yall know anything about the Vox AC30?

[LazerBeakShiek]

Is there a bad model or type of VOX AC30? or is there something I need to know? For 40 years I have stayed ADA or CAE and in the rack. My old SS Fender M-80 combo is still downstairs somewhere. I wanted a refined nice combo to get the Tom Petty and Beatles tones, rock n roll. Something that looks like furniture. My buddy Dave found one near me. Vox AC30CC2 I think was the model type. Pick up only $750. So yeah is there anything I need to know about these? Like now's the time to say ' No don't get that one'.

 

[Papanate]

WEll there are a whole bunch of eras of AC30s

1. 1960s Vox AC30 w/TopBoost- expensive to get - lot of maintenance - glorious sound of both TP and the Heartbreakers and Beartles first three album tones.
2, 1970 - 1977 Vox Sound Ltd. VoxAC30s - absolute crap - but can be rebuilt into 1960s versions.
3.1976 - 1990 Rose Morris - through 1980 they were pretty good - went with a solid state Rectifier - 1980 on ward they are hti or miss - crap quality control.
4.1992 Korg - returned to the GZ34 rectifier tube and started using the then-newly-reissued Celestion Alnico Blue speaker. Fantastic Amps - Way more dependable than
their 60s counterparts - have the same sound too. In 2004 the AC30CC (Custom Classic) was introduced - it was made in China - definitely a budget version of the amp - kind of gets in the ballpark of the good ones - they still introduced more - the Brian May signature AC30BM (2006); the Custom series (2010), an update to the Custom Classics; and the AC30 Hand-Wired (2025) - the Handwired is the Collectors editions - rock solid amp and great tones.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

WEll there are a whole bunch of eras of AC30s

1. 1960s Vox AC30 w/TopBoost- expensive to get - lot of maintenance - glorious sound of both TP and the Heartbreakers and Beartles first three album tones.
2, 1970 - 1977 Vox Sound Ltd. VoxAC30s - absolute crap - but can be rebuilt into 1960s versions.
3.1976 - 1990 Rose Morris - through 1980 they were pretty good - went with a solid state Rectifier - 1980 on ward they are hti or miss - crap quality control.
4.1992 Korg - returned to the GZ34 rectifier tube and started using the then-newly-reissued Celestion Alnico Blue speaker. Fantastic Amps - Way more dependable than
their 60s counterparts - have the same sound too. In 2004 the AC30CC (Custom Classic) was introduced - it was made in China - definitely a budget version of the amp - kind of gets in the ballpark of the good ones - they still introduced more - the Brian May signature AC30BM (2006); the Custom series (2010), an update to the Custom Classics; and the AC30 Hand-Wired (2025) - the Handwired is the Collectors editions - rock solid amp and great tones.

So I guess that's a yes?

 

[LazerBeakShiek]

Far as rectifiers are concerned I know SS rectification is or has less desireable traits. The popular tube amp southern drawl, or drop..'Sag' (but I hate that term) happens with a tube rectifier on a push pull plate amplifier.

Was not impressed with a Fender DRRI, or the Blues Junior.
Was impressed with the Vox Ac30(unknown model)
was looking for a nice Fender Cybertwin with motorized knobs, but they sound horrible. Think I'm done with modeling.

 

[LazerBeakShiek]

Are all AC30's able to bridge the channels?

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

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[ecc83]

The AC30 range often ran the EL84s way above their book dissipation of 12W, if you see even the mildest sign of "red plating" get it fixed. The original '84s were tough lil buggers and could cope with the over D, modern types may not and you don't want to be shelling out for NOS! (and I wouldn't trust it to BE NOS anyway!)
Don't sweat the solid state rectifier. Being cathode biased the anode current draw change from no signal to full shred is not that great unlike a 50W say fixed biased amp (and even then I doubt it makes THAT much sonic difference!)

If you are looking for Brian May tones don't forget he ran a treble boost into his AC30s most of the time I understand.

Dave.

 

[Papanate]

Are all AC30's able to bridge the channels?

Yes you can jump the channels - the TopBoost Model sounds best IMO.