Vox AC-30

[jcreasy]

Not sure if this is the correct place for the post, but here it goes...

I have a line on a Vox, AC-30 "top boost" reissue. Supposedly one of the hand-wired, point to points. Played my 480 through it last night. Sounded sweet, but I need some heads up.

Broad Questions... What am I looking for or should I look for if I buy this one? Pricing? What can I expect on performance and reliability?

I will probably not gig with it, but put in my collection. I may gig with it some but not much. Points of reference, I have a Mesa Heartbreaker, which is my working amp, a Reverb Rocket, which is in the collection, and am working on a JCM 8 Jubilee for the collection. Prefer quality (but not boutique) tube twins.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

JKC

PS This one is blonde tolex, nicked up a bit but not too bad... If that makes any difference.

[paologregorio]

I've been gigging with AC30s for about 17 years; I'd recommend them. They're a reliable tube amp. I'd suggest a cover, and a flight case or at least a hard case, and gigging with it!

If you're paying a hand wired price, make sure you're actually getting a hand wired amp. Is the amp one of the 50th anniversary series made in `07? If so, it should have a badge on the bottom front that states this. It sounds like that's what you have, since you mentioned that the amp is hand wired and has creeam tolex. Does it have a "pentode/triode mode" switch, and an "EF 86" channel? If so, then it's one of the Anniversary models.

If you like the amp, and it's in your budget, go for it, especially if it has the cream tolex.

[jcreasy]

Thanks. Not sure about the badge. Didn't know to look for that. Kenny Howes and I went on the website and it looks like the HB2 or HS2 or whatever... (Sorry just ignorant about these amps). The handles did not look like leather, looked like vinyl. Did not actually look at them that close and feel them. Brown/Tan Grille.

Here is the worry... Went to a local music store and he said... Don't deal with amps made in China. Am I getting one of these red headed step children?

Again, thanks for the feedback.

JKC

PS Asking price is 1000.00.

[paologregorio]

Sounds like its a HW model; yep, the handles are vinyl, which sucks (I'd rather have the real thing, or else the plastic Vox handles). Was it someone at the music store who said not to buy amps made in China? I have two that were made in China (CC2X, and the HW) and they're both fine. Kenny's played out of both amps at last two jam sessions. He seemed to like the tone, and he's a bigger AC 30 nut than I am!

The only issue I've had with either of the amps was, as I mentioned previously, the lousy Chinese preamp tubes in my CC2X-a friend of mine still chuckles at the memory of me kicking the side of the amp when it started making an awful oscillating noise due to a bad preamp tube-kicking it made it stop for the duration of the gig, and I went home an promply replaced the tubes. Everything else was a-okay with the amp. I haven't had any issues with the HW amp; it sounds awesome. I think that's a good price for a HW amp; I paid $900 for my "scratch and dent" HW model, plus sales tax and shipping.

[btomlinson]

I have a 71 Fender Twin reverb and a few Rickenbackers. I recently bought a Vox AC30CCH. It is the best thing I have bought in a long time. It sounds so good. I play it through a 2x12 Vintage 30 cab.

[lovecity]

If you want an AC30 that is perfect and exactly to the standard of a 60's amp.. JMI (the company that made VOXs) is back in business (kinda).

They're pricey... but awesome. MADE IN THE UK

http://www.jmiamplification.com/

http://www.jmiamplificationusa.com/