Filter
Top Products
AMP TYPECABINET
TYPE
PEDAL
MODULATION
DELAYREVERB Amp/Effect
25
3. AC30
As already stated, the VOX AC15 was a huge hit with the British guitar bands of
the late ’50s. However, as the popularity of the AC15 using bands grew, so did
their need for a more powerful amp. Sure, the AC15 was loud for a 15 Watt amp -
darned loud in fact - but it was no match for 1,000 + screaming fans! Remember
folks, back in the late ’50s/early ’60s, guitar amps weren’t being fed through the PA
- that was reserved purely for vocals, the band’s back-line had to do the rest.
Clearly VOX needed to come up with a louder amp and the company was only too
happy to rise to the challenge...
The fruit of VOX’s labour was unveiled to the world in 1959 - the 30 Watt,
2x12, AC30. Several top British bands graduated up to the AC30 instantly and,
within months, one of them had scored a number one single with a stirring guitar
instrumental. Not surprisingly, pretty much every other UK act worth its salt imme-
diately followed suit and the AC30 became the amp behind the so-called “Beat
Boom” of the time. More importantly, it also became the driving force behind the
now legendary “British Invasion” - the name given to the huge wave of success
that several English bands enjoyed in America during the ’60s. This charge was
led by a quartet hailing from Liverpool who quickly became VOX’s most famous
ambassadors ever.
We’ve modelled the sterling sounds of the AC30’s Normal channel as they
definitely encapsulate those classic tones that defined the aforementioned British
invasion. Just like its smaller brother, the AC15, the AC30’s Normal channel
boasts the bare minimum of knobs - Volume and Top Cut (modelled by GAIN and
PRESENCE* respectively).
*CONTROL NOTE: Once again, our PRESENCE control models the “Top Cut” on
the original AC30 exactly - except in reverse (“off” = cut) to make it more logical,
just like on our AC15 model.
Original’s valve compliment: 4 x ECC83s, 1 x ECC82 in the preamp, 1 x
GZ34 rectifier, 4 x EL84s in the power amp.
4. AC30TB
Even though the AC30 was a runaway success, several artists expressed a desire
for the amp to have more tonal flexibility and a pinch of extra gain too. VOX reacted
quickly and came up with some clever extra tone circuitry that featured an addi-
tional ECC83 valve and was called “Top Boost.”* When “Top Boost” was added to
an AC30 it increased the gain of the combo’s Brilliant channel, and added two
extra EQ controls, giving the amp three tone controls -Treble, Bass and Cut. To say
it was an instant hit with the guitar playing public would be a gross understate-
ment! In fact, its gutsy tone became an instantly recognisable signature sound of
many major groups in the mid ’60s.
NERDY HISTORICAL NOTE: VOX initially called this their “Brilliance Unit” but it
quickly became known as “Top Boost.” When Top Boost was first introduced it was
only available as a retrofit assembly. Even though this modification was not particu-
larly difficult to add, it was beyond most folk (hey, I don’t know about you, but mess-
ing around with electricity is hardly my idea of fun!). Consequently, in 1964, Top
Boost was fitted to the AC30 as standard.