The Amp That Started British Rock

[tommymac]

I had a friend that had an AC30. He was in a band many years before. Lived in a small house. There was only one practical place to keep it- in a store room right behind the door. He got tired of the door always hitting it. He put it out with the trash at the curb. I almost screamed when he told me he did that.

[mariodriessen]

The sound of the AC30 is my sound. It’s as simple as that. One of my very first amps (my first serious full tube amp) was a 1972 AC30TB with Silver Bell speakers (I think that’s what you call those T1088 speakers). That was the best amp I’ve ever heard and played. There just wasn’t a bad sound in it. Later I bought a second one. That was around 2000. It wasn’t as good as the old one, but together they worked amazing. Unfortunately they got stolen from me. I had been playing my ‘72 Vox for 30 years by then. I never needed anything else. I tried, but I always came back to playing AC30’s. Until they were stolen.

I didn’t have money, I was going through a rough phase of my life. But a good friend bought me a brand new AC15. I had to get used to it for a while, but I started to love that amp more and more.
When things got a little better I bought an AC30 with Alnico Blues. It sounded amazing, but the years had taken its toll on my health and I lost a leg. Literally. I couldn’t carry the amp I loved so dearly. So I had to sell it.

I play through a Morgan AC20 nowadays. Oddly enough, I need an Xotic RC Booster to give me a bit more of that Vox bite. It helps. I’m happy with the Morgan, but I’ll never forget the perfect sound of my ‘72 AC30. ❤

[GrumpleSenior]

There’s an iconic U.K. band called Status Quo. They’ve shifted about 180 million recorded and they’re the quintessential 70’s demin clad rockers standing in front of walls of marshals. Iconic marshal band. Their real sound is a bunch of AC30’s in iso boxes behind the stage. Iconic.

[MichaelWinter-sslx]

A Class-A power amp section, and the pre-amps contain the bare minimum of parts, but are all well designed to suit eachother perfectly. A _Dumble_ amp in serial manufacturing. The VOX AC30.

If you ever need replace speakers, pair your AC30 with AlNiCo magnet speakers, like the Fane A-series. The original Goodman's can't be found.

And if you can, replace all tubes with respective military grade tubes. The 4 output tubes still must be a measured selected quartett. Thats especially important in the Class-A amp.
🚀🏴‍☠️🎸

[PhullyNo]

Especially beautiful with a vintage firebird you got for free.

[Workerbee-zynx]

My bro got a pawnshop twin speaker tube amp Uni Vox amplifier, a buddy played it at a ranch and it was heard from miles away..😳😳👍👍

[kurtweiand]

They are also reasonably priced and reliable!👍

[grahamramsay]

The shadows made the Vox AC 30 famous. It was at Hank Marvins request they made it!

[mark]

Certainly in Britain in the late 50s early 60s it was Hank Marvin and The Shadows that bought Vox to the forefront of guitar music... With a bit of help from Cliff Richard of course.

[GuitarGrove]

I’ve got an original 63 AC30, the best amp I will ever own. The tone is out of this world!

[rickmiller]

The Vox is my favorite amp on my Spark Amp. I never knew I needed to get a Vox.

[kongootto]

Please read about Dick Dale and his work with Leo Fender. He was the guy who invented the first power amps in 57‘ peaking 100 and 180 watts

[Apo]

Funny that I Want You She's So Heavy plays at the beginning, considering that the song was recorded with Fender amps

[urusladommen]

I've got one of these and I, too, love the "natural" overdrive sound (when u push it to the limit) ❤

[daviddalziel]

There’s a great video of Steve Lukather recording his album Ever Changing Times and there’s a section where he is trying out a ton of vintage amps ( probably for a solo ) and when he finally plugs into an AC 30 all the people in the studio raise eyebrows, laugh and Luke.smiles -that’s the one !!

[erikavery]

I own an AC30. It has been my go to amp for THAT Sound.

[philipbeasley]

I have the vox ac10c1 and its loud! I push friedman pedal through it and it sounds great for heavy rock

[benskurbe]

Top boost AC30s are just so perfect. Dial it to edge of break up, throw a nice germanium boost in front, some chorus or flange and a tape echo and right there with no more than 3 effects you have perfection

[randyallen]

Just bought my first Vox, an AC15 head and wish I hadn't wated for decades. Thanks Rhett now I'm jonesing for an AC30!

[jasonsapp]

Rhett that Firebird always makes me smh in appreciation, such a nice guitar