Vox AC30 HW2. Any users here?

[BrianFantana]

What are your thoughts on this amp?
Own one? Played one?

How is the build quality?

Features look way cool...30/15 watt mode, bypassable master volume, "hot" mode.

I've seen some YT demos too. Sounds nice.

Your thoughts?

[jockeapa]

Amazing amp! only had it for a month but its a keeper for me, that i can say!

I use it mostly in 30w with the master volume engaged and its capable of most rocksounds outside modern metal zone.
15W is useful too less headroom but surprisingly loud.

With master volume bypassed its a VERY loud 30watter!!! (even 15w is loud!) with a big, full sound competing with 100w amps with 4x12cabs.

Some have described the "hot" mode in the topboost channel as a soloboost but imo it raises the volume too much to be really useful as that.
I prefer to use it as a Top Boost channeloption if i want a higher gain sound with more mids, so i dont use the footswitch that much.

It takes all my pedals very well, at last im using my old RAT again, now as a fuzz!... Thinking of getting a reverb/tremolo pedal too it as well.

Buildquality is very good, at least what ive seen of it so far, close to my "built like a tank" Rocker30 combo.

I guess im still in honeymoon, not much bad i can say about this amp... i really recommend you to try it out if your looking for a good versatile AC30.

Regards from jangly chimey heaven!

[OU818]

I know that TeslaEL34 owned one. Not sure if he still uses it.

[TESLA_EL34]

Its still my main amp. Love it.
Normal channel is a beast with pedals.
Top boost works with some but i dont use it too much.

[BrianFantana]

Are there any indications about the amp that make it better (or worse) than the C2? (aside from the obvious "hand wired" bit?)
How do you see it holding up / performing in 20 years?

Do you dig the 30/15 watt switching?

[TESLA_EL34]

well the c2 has reverb and tremolo which make the tone less pure.
its still in the signal path and its not a secret that amps sound better without reverb / tremolo in the circuit.
i prefer my sounds from pedals, at least for reverb and tremolo.

the 15/30 switch is fine. but i think most ppl prefer the 30 watt mode because it sounds bigger
and has better bass response. but it can be useful for rehersals and quiet playing without losing too much tone.
its also useful if you want to push the amp into overdrive sooner.

it responds beautifully to different preamp and power amp tubes. also to different speakers.
it also works very well with modulation fx.

the cab of the HW2 is made of real wood while the C2 is just cheap MDF.
i think the HW2 is the better amp. its just good and the build quality is very nice.
you can also mod and repair it quite easy. many vox owners agree that vox got it right with the HW2 series.
especially the normal channel is very nice in the HW2s.

hope this helps.

[jason41224]

i borrowed my buddy's HW head and liked it. not loved, but liked a lot. i was using it with my 212 cab with V30s, so i imagine a 212 cab with greenbacks or blues (or G12Hs) would sound better. but i'd chalk it up to me just not liking the vox sound all that much...a little too much highs, not enough bass. but it did sound great for what it is.

[TESLA_EL34]

it sounds much better with greenbacks! i hooked up the hw2 to my 2x12 and 4x12 with V30s and i much prefered the G12Ms.
MUCH. the v30s did sound good for medium grain rock tone though but it made the sound more boring.

the vox may sound "not too good" on its own. but try to hook up some pedals in the normal channel, especially modulation fx, but some fuzzes sound killer too. the vox sounds best in a bandmix, not played alone.