Vox AC30 Hand-wired Head

Few amplifiers have altered the musical universe like the VOX AC30. With the AC30 Hand-Wired Head, that legendary signal is relaunched—faithfully reconstructed from vintage orbit and enhanced with modern engineering to thrive on today’s stages and in today’s studios.

Whether you dock it with VOX’s matching V212HWRX cabinet or chart your own course with a favorite speaker setup, the AC30 Hand-Wired Head delivers authentic British tone in a flexible head format built for exploration.

This isn’t a reissue—it’s a full-scale resurrection. Hand-wired, precision-tuned, and engineered to revive the unmistakable sound of the early ’60s, this amp aligns classic VOX chime with modern necessities: a master volume that fully exits the signal path when wide open, a transparent effects loop, and a custom-voiced spring reverb that adds dimension without clouding your tone.

The iconic VOX voice is no longer light-years away. Built for vintage purists, tone astronauts, and modern players alike, the AC30 Hand-Wired Head delivers a sound that’s instantly recognizable—and eternally inspiring.

At the heart of the AC30’s unmistakable voice is its EL84 power section—but the real magic happens deeper in the circuit. When driven hard, classic VOX amplifiers allow the phase inverter stage itself to break up, generating complex harmonics that define the true AC experience. This isn’t pedal-friendly distortion—it’s organic, dimensional, and alive.

The AC30 Hand-Wired Head doesn’t just copy a schematic; it recreates the physics of tone. Engineers sourced and analyzed an original 1963 “copper panel” AC30, mapping its electrical behavior down to the smallest nuance. The result is a newly designed power circuit that reproduces the legendary voltage sag—subtle compression under heavy playing that enhances sustain and feel, responding directly to the player’s touch.

Unlike vintage units prone to noise and ghost notes, this amp delivers that same gravitational pull with modern reliability and quiet operation.

A vital component of this tonal constellation is the output transformer. Custom-wound through extensive prototyping, it captures the AC30’s signature bell-like highs, blooming harmonics, and rich midrange complexity. Every winding was refined to match the saturation and response of the original 1963 design—no shortcuts, no compromises.

The AC30 Hand-Wired Head features the two channels that defined decades of British tone:

Normal Channel
Warm, focused midrange with a Bright switch to add clarity and sparkle—perfect for both single-coils and humbuckers.

Top Boost Channel
The unmistakable VOX chime and drive, with independent Treble, Bass, and Volume controls. Push it hard and it erupts into the harmonic-rich British crunch that powered rock’s golden age.

True to its origins, this amplifier remains touch-sensitive, expressive, and dynamically alive—clean or cranked, subtle or soaring.

Format: Head
Channels: Two - Normal / Top Boost 
Switch Voicings: High/Low taper, V66/H73/M68 Voicing, 16W/Attenuator, on/off/standby
Controls: Normal Channel = Volume, Bright Switch / Top Boost Channel = Volume, Treble, Bass. Reverb = Tone, Level. Master Section = Tone Cute, Volume
Power Tube Type: 4 x EL84 (30 watts)
Power Amp Details: Class AB Handwired 
Preamp Tubes: 4x 12AX7, 1 x 12AT7 
Rectifier Type: GZ34
Fan Cooled: Convection Cooled 
Reverb:  All Tube
Speaker Outputs: 2 x 8 or 16 Ohm (Switchable)
Chassis Material: Aluminum
Cabinet Material: Birch Cabinet Ply
Dimensions: 27.76" W x 11.89" H x 10.35" D
Weight: 43 Lbs