Vox AC30 Hand-wired Head

the unmistakable voice of Vox!The AC30 Hand-Wired Head is a 30-watt valve amplifier that faithfully reconstructs the sound and response of a vintage 1963 Vox AC30 in a flexible head format. Featuring hand-wired circuitry, custom transformers, and a newly designed power circuit that recreates classic voltage sag, it captures the harmonic complexity and touch sensitivity of original copper panel models. Modern refinements including a master volume, tube-driven spring reverb, and transparent eJects loop make it suitable for both stage and studio use while preserving authentic British tone.

Few amplifiers have shaped music history like the Vox AC30. With the AC30 Hand-Wired Head, that legacy lives on – reborn with painstaking attention to vintage accuracy and updated with modern refinements that make it stage- and studio-ready. If you're pairing it with Vox's matching V212HWRX cabinet or your own favourite speaker setup, the AC30 Hand-Wired Head is the ultimate choice for players who demand authentic British tones in a flexible head format.

This is more than a reissue. It's a complete reconstruction of a vintage legend – hand-wired and finetuned to bring the '60s sound back to life. Featuring hand-wired circuitry and custom transformers, this amplifier aligns classic British tone with modern necessities including a master volume that is removed from the circuit when fully engaged, a transparent eJects loop, and custom-voiced spring reverb. Now, the unmistakable sound of a vintage Vox is finally within reach. Built for vintage enthusiasts, aficionados, and modern players alike.

At a glance • Four EL84 power tubes
• Hand-wired circuit constructio
• Two-channel design: Normal and Top Boost
• Bright switch on Normal channel
• Treble, Bass, and Volume controls on Top Boost channel
• Custom-designed power circuit with vintage-style voltage sag
• Custom-wound output transformer
• Master volume removed from circuit when fully engaged
• Tube-driven spring reverb
• Reverb Level and Tone controls
• Foot-switchable reverb bypass
• FET-buffered eJects loop with bypass
• Multiple rear-panel speaker outputs

A Warmer Take On A Timeless VoiceAt the core of the AC30's unique voice lies in its EL84 power section, but the magic doesn't stop there. In classic Vox amps, when pushed hard, the phase inverter stage itself begins to distort – a subtle but crucial source of the complex harmonics that define the true AC tone. This distortion is diJerent from preamp overdrive, imparting a texture and openness that simply can't be replicated with pedals alone. The AC30 Hand-Wired Head goes beyond schematic replication to recreate essential details like this, ensuring the amp responds with the same musicality and depth as its '60s predecessors.

This recreation started with sourcing and analysing an original 1963 "copper panel" AC30, measuring its precise electrical behaviour, and mapping out the subtleties in its performance. As a result, the AC30 Hand-Wired Head features a newly-designed power circuit that recreates the classic voltage "sag". This subtle drop under heavy playing can change the overall feel of the amp in the player's fingertips, creating natural compression and sustain. But while vintage amps are prone to ghost notes and noise, the AC30 Hand-Wired Head delivers the right feel while remaining quiet and reliable.

A critical piece of the vintage puzzle is the output transformer. The AC30 Hand-Wired Head uses a custom-wound transformer developed through rigorous prototyping, capturing the bell-like highs and complex harmonic layering that makes every note bloom. The subtle winding variations aJect the midrange character and saturation behaviour, so no eJort was spared to match the magic of the 1963 original.