Vox AC30 Alternatives or Killers (Please Weigh In)

firstpenguin

I have been finding that I really like Vox amps at the moment and I'm about ready to pickup a AC30 head or combo. However it bothers me that there is no footswitchable options for overdrive or boost ect. I'm somewhat new to the tube amp realm. I've been using a mesa formula and 20/20 for a little bit.

I would like this forums opinion of what the best Vox alternatives are. I know they have the new line with two channels but I don't need 50 or 100 watts. I find I like the smaller power sections like on my boogie 20/20.

Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks for reading.

Mark67 · Newbie Alert Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 3

You can get around the Vox channel switching with an A/B switch.

This is way late, but in the price range there are no alternatives to the Vox. The closest I can think for functionality is maybe some Mesa/Boogie combo. I don't know of any Marshall combos in that range that have a good reputation, but Marshall would be closest to the sound...

The "killer" would probably be a Matchless amp, but those are near $3000. You could get a hand-wired Vox for less.

There are decent Fender amps in that price range for sure but a much different sound, and none with the same quality gain boost.

ryan walters · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject: Vox alternatives?

I got a framus ruby riot for $800 on craigslist. It only had 2 hours of use on it. But this amp destroys most things vox has made for a very long time. You may be able to find a good price on a used one. Brand new they are not affordable. The clean channel shimmers and shines. It sounds like you always have new strings on. Even when you don't. The distortion channel sounds matchless/marshall.