Vox AC30VR

$367.90 to $557.74 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (59)

18 Reviews

Find out who is using Vox AC30VR

4 community setups

36 wishlisted

134 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated July 4, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

$557.74

View Deal

5.0 (3)

$367.90 2 available Used

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Average Price: $463

Standard/Professional

$300

$701+

Price Tier

In the Combo Guitar Amplifiers category, Vox AC30VR is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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Description

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Step into the world of legendary sound with the Vox AC30VR, where classic British tones meet modern versatility. Crafted for guitarists who crave both vintage warmth and contemporary edge, this combo amp is a powerhouse of sonic possibilities. The Valve Reactor (VR) technology is the secret sauce, delivering the dynamic range and responsive feel of a tube amp without the heft or expense. It's the perfect blend of innovation and tradition, drawing from Vox's rich heritage to give you a soundscape that's both familiar and fresh.

With its 2-channel design, the AC30VR accommodates a wide array of styles, from the jangly cleans that defined an era to the rich overdriven tones of modern rock. The normal channel offers straightforward tone shaping with bass and treble controls, while the overdrive channel ups the ante with additional gain and mid controls for crafting your ideal sound. The master section features a unique tone cut circuit, allowing you to tailor the high-end frequencies to taste, ensuring your sound is always polished and performance-ready.

Whether you're on stage or in the studio, the AC30VR's reverb and master volume controls let you dial in the perfect ambiance. Plus, with an external speaker jack, you can connect an 8-ohm extension cabinet for even greater projection, muting the internal speakers for a seamless transition. The Vox AC30VR is not just an amplifier; it's your ticket to iconic tones at an unbeatable value.

Key Features:

30-watt, 2x12" combo amplifier with Valve Reactor technology
2-channel design: normal and overdrive
Tone controls: bass, treble on normal; gain, middle, bass, treble on overdrive
Master section with tone cut circuit and reverb
External 8-ohm speaker jack for use with an extension cabinet
Includes 2x12" VX12 Celestion custom speakers

Product specs

Brand	Vox
Model	AC30VR Valve Reactor 2-Channel 2x12" Hybrid Guitar Combo
Finish	Black
Year	2010s
Categories	Guitar Combo Amps
Built-In Effects	Built-In Effects
Color Family	Black
Direct Output	No Direct Output
Effects Loop	No Effects Loop
Electronics	Hybrid
Number of Channels	2 Channels
Number of Inputs	1 Input
Output Power (Watts)	30
Reverb	Digital Reverb
Speaker Configuration	2x12"

FAQs

What type of amplifier is the Vox AC30VR?: The Vox AC30VR is a hybrid guitar combo amplifier, combining a tube-driven preamp with a solid-state power amp for a blend of classic and modern tones.
How many channels does the Vox AC30VR have?: The Vox AC30VR features two channels, allowing you to switch between clean and overdriven tones for versatile sound options.
What speakers are used in the Vox AC30VR?: The Vox AC30VR is equipped with two 12" Celestion VX12 custom speakers, which deliver the amp's signature chime and robust sound.
Does the Vox AC30VR have built-in effects?: Yes, the Vox AC30VR includes built-in digital reverb, adding depth and ambiance to your sound without needing external effects.
Is the Vox AC30VR suitable for live performances?: With its 30-watt output and dual 12" speakers, the Vox AC30VR is powerful enough for small to medium-sized venues, making it a good choice for live performances.

Videos

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Sweetwater

Vox AC30VR Demo

Sweetwater

VOX AC15VR & AC30VR Amplifier Demo - PMTVUK

PMTVUK

Vox AC30VR Valve Reactor Guitar Combo Amp Demo | Full Compass

Full Compass

Vox AC30VR Demo

DawsonsAltrincham

VOX AC30VR

Nazzareno Zacconi

VOX AC30VR video sound samples

Nazzareno Zacconi

FINALLY Revisiting The Vox AC30 VR - Its only been 5 years

Dave Simpson

Vox AC 30-VR - hybrid amp review by Gavin Lazarus

Gavin Lazarus

the power of vox ac30vr

Marco Gorla

Vox AC30vr Demo

Karl Sheridan

Reviews

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PROS

More tone controls than AC15, offering better sound customization
Lighter than the original AC30, easier to transport
Hybrid tube amp with solid state for versatile sound
Offers both classic and modern rock sounds, used by famous artists
Built-in distortion and reverb enhance tone without extra pedals
Celestion Greenback speakers provide incredible tones
Top Boost Channel offers full VOX tone in a lighter package
Durable, with users reporting great performance over many years

CONS

Tubes may wear out quickly, raising maintenance costs
Lack of tremolo feature for those seeking that specific effect

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Vox AC30VR.

Comparisons

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The AC15C1, though pricier than the AC30VR, offers superior sound quality and pedal compatibility, widely favored by users over the hybrid AC30VR.
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The Peavey Classic 30, an all-tube combo with EL84 power tubes, is recommended as a close tonal match to the AC30 but with better pedal integration.
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The AC30VR's hybrid design with a single 12AX7 in the preamp contrasts sharply with full tube amps, affecting user satisfaction.
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Features and functionality

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The AC30VR's solid state preamp limits volume/headroom, with minimal volume increase past noon on gain pedals, making it less suitable for band practice.
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The AC30VR incorporates a solid state power amp with a single 12AX7 tube in the preamp, leading to misconceptions about its tube authenticity.
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The AC30VR's channel switching may cut the signal momentarily, affecting seamless transitions during performance.
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User experience

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Owners report that the AC30VR struggles with dirt pedals, affecting the tonal clarity and dynamics, especially when used in conjunction with a drummer.
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Owners frequently express disappointment in the AC30VR's sound quality, especially when compared to full tube amps like the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.
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Some users report that the AC30VR's distortion channel provides "Radiohead vibes" when fully cranked, appealing to fans of that sound.
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The amp is noted for being "mad loud" with an ice-picky quality at full volume, which some equate to impressive loudness.
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Mods and upgrades

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The AC30VR lacks the tonal depth of a vintage AC30, but users suggest adding a 2x12 cabinet to improve bass response and overall sound presence.
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Owners suggest swapping the stock speakers for Celestion Blue Alnico to enhance tonal quality.
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Use cases and applications

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While the AC30VR can serve as an adequate practice amp, it's not favored for live performances or settings requiring high headroom and volume.
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Despite being labeled as quieter, the AC30VR has been successfully used at unmic'd gigs, indicating it can handle small to medium venues.
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The AC30VR is considered versatile, having been used effectively in a range of genres from folk to doom metal.
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Value and pricing

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The AC30VR is often valued between $300-$400 in the used market, reflecting its hybrid design compared to all-tube models.
Source

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 18 Reviews and 59 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

gara_bito

almost 2 years ago

Pretty damn good

At first I was dissapointed of the sound at low volume. But with time I've learned to tweak the knobs and got myself a really nice tone. It is true that it is a little bassier compared to its brother the ac30cc2 but it is still a great amp for a great price. The overdrive channel is unnecesary, if I want to play metal i wouldn't go with a vox amp, but still sounds good. Whereas the saturation on the clean channel is pristine and the best thing is that is easy to control it and get a great tube saturation sound. It also goes well with most of my pedals, except for my big muff which for some reason turns out to sound too middy. I recommend this amp to everyone out there looking for the vox sound on a budget and even some marshall fans as it can be pushed to these lands. Of course there are better amps than this one, but it is a great amp, specially if you are looking to go "pro" on the first levels.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

-Master: 12 - 1 o'clock -Reverb: 7 o'clock -Tone cut: 8 o clock -Treble: 2 o clock -Bass: 3 o clock -PA volume: 8-9 o clock

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Keyboardist

Genres:

Electronic Rock Jazz

hyakutake

118

over 5 years ago

A LIGHT AC30 WHAT AN INVENTION!!!

Hey AC30 lovers! Sick of breaking your back when you attempt to lift your AC30? LOOK NO FURTHER. Here, we have an AC30 that instead of being HEAVY HEAVY, is just HEAVY! And it sounds pretty slick too! And (was) cheaper when it came out! (I don't even know if they make them anymore!) If you can handle a teeny bit of solid state in your mess of a setup and you crave classic rock and roll vibes, this one's for you!

thomas_redmond

251

over 8 years ago

Classic sound- good for everything!

I started out with a Vox VT15 modeling amp in the 6th grade and eventually upgraded to one of these babies. It's an amp ready to hit the stage and can get very loud very fast. It's a Tube Amp infused with a pre-amp mp so it's a definite hybrid. The controls are divided into 3 sections: Master, Overdrive, and Normal. The Master section has three knobs that control the overall volume, amount of reverb, and tone cut. The Overdrive section has a full treble, middle, and bass EQ along with Gain and Volume. When activated, the Overdrive function offers a gritty and almost metal distortion sound. You can adjust as you please and get many sounds out of the pre-amp overdrive. Finally, there is a "normal" section that controls treble, bass, and volume. This amp has classic/boutique features and is known to be associated with the Beatles. However, this can deliver some high quality modern rock sounds. In fact, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) uses this exact amp! These now sell for $550 online but I'm sure you can find some used once for cheap. Hope this helps!

daniel_kreger

154

about 5 years ago

Ehhhh

Honestly wouldn’t recommend it, better save up a bit and buy yourself a valve amp. In case you did decide to get yourself one of these- you could crank the valve power amp to the max, and use the preamp to control volume.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Music Producer

Genres:

Rock Pop Indie pop

angeltown

122

over 8 years ago

KICK ASS!!

Built in distortion kicks the need to buy a DS-1 pedal. Pretty tone in itself. It's a good inbetween amp. In fact, a great first gigging amp. It can get pretty fucking loud and it doesnt clip (unless you hit it at 10 with two fuzz pedals and a delay pedal, like my dumbass does). The installed reverb and tone cut on it are big helpers in shaping my tone. 350 bucks for this aint a bad investment.

jeffsimmons1960

183

over 5 years ago

Great Amp

I've been using this a lot lately. It sounds great, and it's much lighter than my Hot Rod DeVille on my 60 year old bad back.

Roles:

Guitarist

vladyslave

258

almost 5 years ago

nice amplifire

just a wonderful amplifier, I have always used it for about 8 years now and it still pleases my ear

Roles:

Singer Bassist Composer

Genres:

Electronic Rock Pop

matthewrpollard

143

almost 8 years ago

Great sound especially clean

Doesn't really need the high-gain channel imo, the clean sound is great, and the overdrive option is fine for a mid-rangey blues type sound. The reverb is adequate and the controls allow tweaking to some degree. Great gigging amp.

samuel_zechariah_goh

324

over 10 years ago

The Affordable AC 30

Top Boost Channel is the only channel, no tremolo, lighter cabinet casing, full VOX tone, I say this is good enough to tide one over before upgrading to the real thing.

jimmarchi1

41029

10 years ago over 10 years ago

I tried one of these for shits and giggles (I am a long time vintage ac30 owner) and was surprised at how passable its ac30 impersonation is when you are careful with the settings considering how cheap it is. The gainy mode is a fucking joke though.

aaron_fellenbaum

almost 11 years ago

Want One of These

I think they come with Celestion Greenback speakers now; just incredible tones outa this thing. I live in that range between clean and distorted, keeping my neck pickup volume low, so it sounds clean, and then the bridge all the way up so it's nice and crunchy.