Pricing and availability
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Reviews
Price
Average Price: $917
High-end/Boutique
$300
$701+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 6 merchants for "Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Experience the legendary Vox AC30 tone in a streamlined and straightforward design with the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp. This stripped-down, single-channel guitar combo amplifier delivers the full-fledged AC30 experience, inspired by the iconic Top Boost channel that fueled some of the most famous riffs in rock history.
From chimey cleans to rich overdrive, its unique, touch-sensitive circuit offers a wide range of tones. The AC30S1 is equipped with two 12AX7 preamp tubes and four EL84 power amp tubes, delivering the sublime all-tube tone you'd expect from a classic Vox. The addition of a studio-quality digital reverb enhances your playing without washing it out, while the built-in effects loop allows seamless integration with your favorite pedals and external effects.
The AC30S1 also boasts a custom-voiced 12” Celestion speaker, specially designed for this model, ensuring impeccable sound quality. An external speaker output is provided, offering the flexibility to pair with other speaker cabinets. With the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, you have the power to harness legendary Vox tones in a simple, modern approach to amplifier design.
Key Features:
- Single-channel design inspired by the AC30's legendary Top Boost circuit
- All tube design featuring two 12AX7 pre-amp tubes and four EL84 power-amp tubes
- Equipped with a custom-voiced 12" Celestion speaker
- Studio-quality digital reverb
- Built-in effects loop for easy integration of pedals and external effects
- External speaker output for pairing with other speaker cabinets
Product specs
| Amp Type | tube |
| Total Power | 30w |
| Speaker Size | 1 x 12" celestion vx12 |
| Onboard Reverb | yes |
| Weight | 54.01 lbs. |
Videos
Reverb
Fender vs Vox vs Marshall: What's the Difference? | Reverb Tone Report
Fender vs Vox vs Marshall: What's the Difference? | Reverb Tone Report
Reverb
Vox AC30C2 Custom Tube Guitar Combo Amplifier - Vox AC30
American Musical Supply
The Vox AC30: A Short History, featuring John Cordy
five watt world
The VOX AC30S1! - Andertons Music Co.
Andertons Music Co
Vox AC30C2 Combo Amplifier
N Stuff Music
Vox AC30c2 | Review | Guitar Interactive
Guitar Interactive Magazine
VOX AC30 C2 DEMO
DaveDevlinMusic
review of vox ac30 guitar amp british 2x12 combo amp
Sammy Bones
How loud is a VOX AC30?
Jessey Parente
Vox AC30S1 30-watt 1x12" Tube Combo Demo
Sweetwater
VOX AC30C2 Amplifier Overview
intheblues
VOX AC30C2 Guitar Amp Demo - All Playing, No Talking
Musician's Friend
1975 Vox AC30 Top Boost Crancked
Dries Solodallas
Reviews
PROS
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Exceptional clear and versatile sound, perfect for various music styles
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Superior clean tones and the ability to produce a classic Vox overdrive
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Great with pedals, enhancing effects without noise
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Simplified control with minimal knobs for easy use
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Features an effects loop for added versatility
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Lightweight compared to other models, easier to transport
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Excellent build quality, durable and reliable for long-term use
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The Celestion speaker delivers powerful and quality sound
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Can achieve high volumes without losing clarity
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Attractive and classic design that appeals visually
CONS
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Some users find the stock speaker and tubes lacking, requiring upgrades
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Despite being lighter, still heavy and cumbersome for some to carry
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Single channel limits tonal variety compared to multi-channel amps
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Lacks the vibrato feature found in other Vox models
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The digital reverb may not satisfy all users, especially purists
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp.
Features and functionality
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The AC30 has a distinctive Vox chime, excels at clean tones, and takes pedals well, particularly RAT pedals which can achieve heavy metal sounds.
Source -
The AC30C2 includes an FX loop, which allows for more flexible pedal integration, and owners recommend using a boost in the loop for enhanced phase inverter distortion.
Source -
The AC30S1 offers a single top boost channel with an FX loop, providing a lighter and more practical version of the AC30 for some users.
Source
Comparisons
User experience
Value and pricing
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Prices for the AC30C2 with greenbacks have varied from $400 to $675, reflecting market fluctuations and condition.
Source
Use cases and applications
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The AC30 is noted for its versatility, capable of handling Sabbath-style riffs, Hendrix clean tones, and even Plexi-like sounds when channels are jumpered.
Source -
The AC30 is considered by some as an underrated bedroom amp due to its master volume control, allowing for great tone at low volumes.
Source
Build quality
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Some find the AC30 heavy but appreciate the side handles for easier transport.
Source
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 23 Reviews and 286 Ratings
212
41029
I am like Mr ac30, and while its got great clean tones on all channels in every era, its not big on headroom and I always think of mine as dirty amps anywhere but the studio
Artist usage
Add artist
A Vox AC30 was used on Nirvana's "Nevermind" album, according to Butch Vig:
"Kurt had a Mesa/Boogie, but we also used a Fender Bassman a lot and a Vox AC30 on Nevermind," Vig recalls. "I prefer getting the amp to sound distorted instead of using special effects or pedals, which lose body and the fullness of the bottom end."
When asked what was the fundamental guitar-sound recipe for the album, There's Nothing Left to Lose, musician Dave Grohl answered: "We focused on not using too many distortion pedals, and went for a cleaner, fatter, more natural overdrive. We used a Vox AC30 for pretty much everything on the record, tweaking the sound so that it broke up nicely when played loud.... We wanted to move back to that huge, warm, sludgy sound and get something a little more garagey -- not something so well-produced and pristine. So rather than play through a distortion pedal and an amp with its volume at 5, we wouldn't use a pedal at all." After being asked if there is any trick to recording natural guitar sounds Dave Grohl explained, "The best way to get a natural guitar sound is to eliminate all pedals and find an amp that has a lot of range. With an AC30, for example, you can go clean, dirty, bright, or fat. It's just the amplifier and the guitar -- the most basic combination." Dave Grohl uses the Vox AC30 amp head in a 2x12 combo.
John is clearly seen here using a Vox AC30 during a gig with Ataxia in 2004.
Slash is seen with Vox AC30's on live performences.
Jimmy Page used two Vox AC30s in his system designed by Pete Cornish during the 90s. In the photo you can see one to the left.
https://guitarplayer.wordpress.com/category/pete-cornish-pedalboard/
In this photo, Kevin is seen playing through a normal Vox AC30, not his normal Hand-Wired one. He has been seen using this amp many other times, possibly as a back-up amp.
Alex Turner has used a Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp at various times throughout his career, including during the Arctic Monkeys' early tours and the Suck It and See tour. A user-uploaded photo on the Arctic Monkeys gear forum shows this amp in use.
“I didn’t want to go for a modern Marshall amp sound,” Armstrong says. “I wanted to do something that sounded more like a classic rock tone. I used a Gretsch guitar, and we figured if we couldn’t find the exact vintage amp we were looking for we would just build it. But I did use a Vox AC 30 and a 1974 Marshall JTM45. We miked the room and captured that.”
Clapton used a Vox AC30 and a Telecaster when he played with the Yardbirds
Jonny’s first AC30 was a 90’s re-issue AC306TB, which he acquired circa 1997. He has also used a few other AC30’s throughout his career, includng a Dave Petersen Special AC30. He uses Celestion Alnico Blue speakers for all of his Vox’s. With Radiohead, Jonny’s AC30s were mic’d with a Shure SM57 for quite some time. Circa 2008, he switched to an Audio-Technica AT3060. He has used other mic’s for his solo performances. Jonny keeps a direct box on top of his AC30. This is likely used simply to send the signal from his amp mics to the PA. thekingofgear.com
In this picture, Thom can be seen playing through a Vox AC30.
Album Usage
The Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp has been featured on the following albums:
Whomp Whack Thunder
Whiskey Myers (2025)
Parallel Love
Brad Tursi (2024)
Duck
The Aristocrats (2024)
Blues
Geordie Greep (2024)
The New Sound
Geordie Greep (2024)
Chessboard
Official髭男dism (2023)
Nichijo
Official髭男dism (2023)
Ants From Up There
Black Country, new road (2022)
Every Five Seconds
The Fixx (2022)
Devoured
Kanadia (2021)
The Symbol Remains
Blue Öyster Cult (2020)
You Deserve Love
White Reaper & White Reaper (2019)
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
Arctic Monkeys (2018)
Aztlán
Zoé (2018)
Can You Keep up With the Act?
The Outcharms (2018)
Chasing Cars
Gary Lightbody & Paul Wilson (2018)
Little Fictions (Fickle Flame Version)
Elbow (2017)
The Weather
Pond (2017)
Light We Made
Balance and Composure (2016)
Ash & Ice
The Kills (2016)
MY WOMAN
Angel Olsen (2016)
Cake By The Ocean (Live)
DNCE (2016)
New Song
Warpaint (2016)
Tres Caballeros
The Aristocrats (2015)
Monumentos
sputnik (2014)
48:13
Kasabian (2014)
eez-eh
Kasabian (2014)
m b v
My Bloody Valentine (2013)
Time of the Season / She's Not There
The Zombies (2013)
King Animal (Deluxe Version)
Soundgarden (2012)
Howl
Beware of Darkness (2012)
¡UNO!
Green Day (2012)
¡DOS!
Green Day (2012)
¡TRÉ!
Green Day (2012)
Suck It and See
Arctic Monkeys (2011)
Parrot Flies
Algernon Cadwallader (2011)
Good & Evil
Tally Hall (2011)
Fun
Algernon Cadwallader (2009)
The Resistance
Muse (2009)
Time of the Season
The Zombies (2007)
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys (2006)
And The Glass Handed Kites
Mew (2005)
Disclaimer
Seether (2002)
And We Washed Our Weapons In The Sea
Frodus (2001)
Weezer
Weezer (2001)
There Is Nothing Left To Lose
Foo Fighters (1999)
Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind (1997)
Wild Mood Swings
The Cure (1996)
Presents Author Unknown
Jason Falkner (1996)
There's Nothing Wrong With Love
Built to Spill (1994)
August And Everything After
Counting Crows (1993)
Nevermind
Nirvana (1991)
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1
Midnight Oil (1982)
Adventure
Television (1978)
Marquee Moon
Television (1977)
Technical Ecstasy (2013 Remaster)
Black Sabbath (1976)
Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition)
The Stooges (1973)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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Community setups
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