The New Vox AC15hw1 and AC30hw2

[baytamusic]

These amps have really sparked my interest. I'm really thinking about picking up one of the new Vox AC15hw1 amps. They are hand wired although built in Vietnam or something. For $1200 with the greenback speaker they seem really nice. Doing some math it's cheaper to buy the version with a greenback and buy the Celestion Blue separately at a later time. It's much more affordable that any botique copies like a Matchless or JMI. They have a few cool features too such as 1/2 power switches and a master volume bypass switch. I also love the Fawn tolex on them. I'd love to give one a try sometime. What do you guys think?





There's a gut shot here too but it's huge:

http://www.voxamps.com/images/handwired ... Inside.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[chinese fork tie]

i like those. honestly couldn't go for the sound of the custom classic series, but these look nice.

our local vintage shop has a '64 AC30 that i'm jonesing for hardest. that thing sounds so amazing.

[baytamusic]

i like those. honestly couldn't go for the sound of the custom classic series, but these look nice.

our local vintage shop has a '64 AC30 that i'm jonesing for hardest. that thing sounds so amazing.

I'd love to have a vintage AC30 or 15 but unfortunately I don't have $10k laying around.

Some guy possibly wants to trade me an AC30CC2 for my 78 Pro Reverb. I'm thinking about doing it although I think I want him to give me $100 or so with the trade. I'm kind of sick of my Fender and it's just too high wattage for any practical purposes. I might try out the AC30 for a while and if I'm digging it I might start saving for the AC15hw1. It would be nice to have a combo amp to use for certain shows and when recording.

[Wired]

I tried these out today. I wasn't big on last years Handwired version which I bought...

I'm actually leaning toward the C2 version as the new Handwired I found darker for some reason, and Vox to me is bright and chimey!

I'll be making a decision between the two before the months out...

[Y0UNGBL00D]

i wanna try em out too. they look fantastic.

you know what would be cool? AC30 done up in Zwreck coorscheme (dark grey tolex, black stained wood front panel, salt and pepper cloth).

[Dopp238]

I love the look of these quite a bit more than last years versions. I've wanted an AC30 for a real long time to bi-amp with my AD30. Unfortunately I don't have the $$ right now to even look at one of these.

Just a question for anyone that owns a vox head like this, how on earth could you have it in a live-road case? With it having top controls, are you pretty much screwed into having a lift off case?

[TESLA_EL34]

I've had some interest too, but i've read a lot about reliability problems on the VOX forums...

[Neiloler]

I dig the tolex as well, it's got that 60s briefcase look to it thats lovely enough to be cool, but still a little ugly.

[Wired]

Vox's never work well with a full case. A lift case is the only really way to work with the combo or the head. I have a slip case for my combo and thats kept it protected decently enough for the local shows we've done.

As for the issues with reliability I've only had those issues with my vintage one... and thats because its 40 years old now. I had the CC2 (first run) back when they came out in 2006/2007ish area...and aside from a retube a year it was really solid. (amp was logging close to 15 hours a week of use those years...with quite a few 10 hour days), then the Heritage Head, and its been quite reliable for me as well.

[Jaws Theme Swimming]

I unfortunately bring no knowledge but more questions. I'm very interested in finding an amp with an ef86 preamp tube that covers similar overdrive tones to an ad30 and has channel switching. It seems the Bad Cat Black Cat is the only candidate but when I saw the handwired ac30's I had hope for a cheaper alternative. I haven't found any local shops that will stock the vox. Any experienced opinions that can compare and contrast?

[jason41224]

has anyone tried both the CC and C series? i played a CC series AC30 and thought it was meh. but i've heard the newer C's are much improved. thoughts?

bayta, i've played the AC30hw2 combo (not sure if it was with blues or greens). absolutely GORGEOUS sound. i would not mind at all picking one of those up.

[tadaitstyler]

has anyone tried both the CC and C series? i played a CC series AC30 and thought it was meh. but i've heard the newer C's are much improved. thoughts?

bayta, i've played the AC30hw2 combo (not sure if it was with blues or greens). absolutely GORGEOUS sound. i would not mind at all picking one of those up.

Ya, I tried the CC series and it was alright, but I own the C series and it sound awesome. Got back that.... whatever that the CC was missing in the vox tone.

I love the 4 input setup as well.

[baytamusic]

Funny you say that, because after a little research the CC series is closer to a vintage Vox than the C series. It has a rectfier tube, the chasis layout is the same, and the cabinet is made from birch rather than MDF. Seems Vox cheaped out on the newer C series AC30s and AC15s.

[tadaitstyler]

The Custom series is definitely brighter and has a clearer overdrive than the Custom Classic series though

[OrangePaul]

I've played the JMI AC15 (non master volume) and when you crank these a little (or more ) you get the most glorious overdrive sound which i doubt is possible from any master volume amp.