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Vox – and the Beatles – were all too aware that the AC30 sadly wasn't cutting it anymore, as it couldn't be heard over the screams of admiration from their teenage fans. The Liverpool quartet would use Vox amps throughout their career – with McCartney still using them to this day. We can't mention Vox without discussing The Fab Four, with The Beatles helping catapult the brand's popularity into the stratosphere. However, the Top Boost channel is where you go if you want things to get a little hairy, as you can easily push this channel into overdrive, as well as gain access to bass and treble controls. With a solitary volume dial and no control over the EQ, it doesn't come much simpler than this. The Normal circuit is perfect for those who like it simple. With the option to plug into two channels – as well as a high and low impedance option for both – the Normal and Top Boost channels cover a lot of sonic ground. Utilizing a trio of 12AX7 preamp valves, as well as a quartet of EL84s, this combo's sound is dynamic, complex and harmonically rich. Now, while a certain other gilded British amp gets most of the credit, the humble AC30 has been working away tirelessly in the background to bring the power behind acts such as Brian May, The Edge, Mike Campbell, Tom DeLonge, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Dustin Kensrue, Tame Impala, and many more.įamed for its recognizable bright tone, piercing mid-range and lush tube-driven reverb and tremolo, the AC30 produces a sound like no other. This sophisticated – yet simple – combo has been the secret weapon of many guitar-wielding legends. Really, there was only ever going to be one amplifier that topped this list – the AC30C2. If you are looking for the quintessential Vox tone, then the AC30 is for you. The AC30 is crisp and articulate, with a shimmering top end that makes our hearts sing. This moderately sized combo may weigh so much that even Thor would struggle to lift it, but what it lacks in the weight department, it more than makes up for in tone.
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If there's one unit that stands as a symbol for Vox's longevity, it has to be the glorious AC30C2 - and that's why it tops our list. So, if you're on the hunt for an amplifier that sparkles both in sound and looks, that's earned a boatload of kudos from the biggest names in music and can turn its hand at almost any genre, then Vox is most certainly the brand for you. In this guide, we've made sure to include a wide selection of the amplifiers Vox offers today, covering various price points, applications and styles. Perhaps best known for their vintage diamond-clad AC combos, the British amp legends actually do a lot more than that, with an expansive catalog that includes modern digital modelers, pint-sized practice companions, as well as their celebrated tube amps.
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