VOX Expands Heritage Collection of Handwired Amplifiers With AC30 Combo, Head, and Limited Edition Combo

Jan 22, 2008

Click image for closeup

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of VOX Amplification (1957-2007), the company launched the Heritage Collection of handwired amplifiers. VOX has now expanded the series with handwired editions of one of the most revered VOX amplifiers ever - the AC30. New models include the AC30H2 combo and AC30HH head (with matching V212H cabinet). For a limited time, VOX is also offering the AC30H2L Limited Edition combo featuring a superbly crafted oiled mahogany cabinet and the same handwired electronics as the AC30H2 combo.

At the heart of these amps is an EF86 Pentode valve circuit (circa 1960) in the preamp channel combined with the 1963 Top Boost channel, which are then coupled with VOX's modern tone shaping control enhancements. The result is an amplifier that provides natural overdrive, creamy distortion and a palette of tonal colors that are among the finest ever offered by VOX. Aesthetically, the amplifier features the VOX pre-1960 logo placement and Baltic Birch cabinet with a special vintage inspired cream anniversary vinyl covering (oiled mahogany cabinet for limited edition model).

These 30 Watt amps feature two channels (Ch 1-EF86, Ch 2-Top Boost), each with two traditionally-wired inputs that have a 6 dB difference in gain between them, and two Celestion AlNiCo "Blue" 12-inch speakers in the combos. The tube complement is made up of 1 x EF86, 3 x ECC83/12AX7, 2 x EL84 and 1 x EZ81 (rectifier).

New, flexible tone-shaping enhancements have been added for the modern guitarist. The EF86 Channel's original Brilliance switch has been modified to now have three positions instead of two; a Bass Shift switch has been added (to help preserve tightness while playing loud); and a switch that toggles between Pentode mode and Triode mode has been included, so that both variations of original EF86 tone are available. Further, an O/P switch (Triode/Pentode) has been integrated to the power output amplifier stage, which enables the power to be cut in half (15/30 Watts output). Other controls include Treble & Bass controls for the TOP BOOST channel and the global VOX Top Cut control.

The VOX Heritage Collection AC30 handwired amplifiers are now available with MSRPs as follows:

• AC20H2 - $2599
• AC30HH - $1599
• AC30H2L - $3599
• V212H cabinet - $1499

For more information, visit their web site at www.voxamps.co.uk.