Vox AC-30 CC2X Review
The new Vox AC-30 Custom Classic Combo amp is a new offering from Vox. This amp offers many of the most requested AC-30 features while leaving out the least favorite features from AC-30’s past, and offers some new twists that make this amp a real winner IMHO. The first upgrade is a mini toggle switch that lets you combine the Top Boost and Normal channels. A mini toggle in the reverb section labeled dwell that gives you a surf sound at the flick of a switch (would I have liked it on the footswitch too…………ahhhhh……….yeah!!!). A bias switch on the back of the amp that lets you go from 22 watts to 33 watts by running the output tubes hotter or cooler (great f-ing idea) There is also a back panel switch that lets you the run the filter caps at a different voltage, they call it “vintage”/ “modern” I call it cleaner and dirtier. Any they made the reverb and the tremolo run on both channels also a very nice upgrade. And of course the master volume which sits right next to the original design Vox eq cut which cuts the treble as you increase it. These upgrades were being done by amp techs around the world for years, I guess Vox listened and made this a great, versatile amp.
Some of the features that are not upgrades are the quartet of cathode biased EL84 output tubes, the aforementioned cut control knob, and the Celestion Blue AlNiCo speakers which sound great. These speakers are very efficient and would easily have reproduced and “suckiness” that this amp would have produced………but it does not! A vintage looking footswitch that controls the reverb and tremolo. And the original color scheme and control panel color.
The reverb sounds great and the mix, and tone controls combined with the dwell switch will rival any spring reverb Ampeg, Fender, or Maestro ever had. The tremolo sounds excellent very usable and a sound all its own more reminiscent of the Marshall tremolo then a Fender trem.
This amp is loud and I say that coming from a Twin Reverb background. Clean up to a point but not saturated like many vintage AC-30’s I have owned and played. You can get that sound with this amp with no problem by switching the tube bias via the switch or the filtering also via a back panel switch. I have used this amp on every show I have played since acquiring this amp and bought a second one immediately. I have combined the AC-30 CC2X with a Marshall 1974x and found it to be a great compliment to each other.
Yes, the amp is made in China and yes I am a Marshall/ Vox endorsee and proud of it, but I also own over 60 vintage amps from the 30’s to the 60’s and I would never play an amp I don’t love and I love this amp!
Joey Leone fall 2005