Created through meticulous examination of the celebrated Copper-Panel '60s-era VOX AC30 amps, the AC30 Hand-Wired is a 30W tube combo amp with four 12AX7 preamp tubes, four EL84 power tubes, and two 12" Celestion Alnico Blue speakers. With the iconic top-boost circuit onboard with dedicated high and low inputs, this compact amp offers classic vintage tones.
Along with the top-boost input section, this amp offers a normal input section with high and low inputs, a preamp volume knob, and a bright switch, which only affect the input section. Further tone-shaping controls on the AC30 Hand-Wired include 2-band EQ control (bass and treble) and preamp volume for the top-boost input section, a reverb control knob for the integrated spring reverb tank, a reverb tone control, master tone cut, and master volume control for dialing in the perfect amount of drive at any volume. The output transformer and power supply have been redesigned for vintage-correct compression and sag. The cabinet features a thinner material to match the expansive midrange of the inspiration. Extra connections include a footswitch input, an external speaker output, and a series FX loop. The AC30 Hand-Wired includes a VFS1 footswitch and a power cable.
This recreation started with sourcing and analyzing an original 1963 copper panel AC30, measuring its precise electrical behavior, and mapping out the subtleties in its performance. As a result, the AC30 Hand-Wired features a newly designed power circuit that recreates the classic voltage sag. This subtle drop under heavy playing can change the overall feel of the amp in the player’s fingertips, creating natural compression and sustain. But while vintage amps are prone to ghost notes and noise, the AC30 Hand-Wired delivers the right feel while remaining quiet and reliable.
- Normal Channel: midrange warmth with a Bright switch for added top-end clarity, ideal for shaping your sound with single coils or humbuckers
- Top Boost Channel: the iconic VOX chime and drive, with separate treble, bass, and volume controls for precise tonal shaping. Pushed hard, it sings with the legendary British crunch that defined rock's golden age
True to its heritage, this amp remains touch-sensitive, expressive, and harmonically complex, whether you're clean or cranked.