DISCOVER the Most LEGENDARY Guitar Amplifiers and Their MODERN Models from VOX Amps (Guide): Tube and Transistor.
After World War II, the Jennings Organ Company, founded by Tom Jennings, manufactured the Univox electric organ. But in 1956, Jennings saw a prototype guitar amplifier built by an old wartime comrade, and Tom decided to develop a device with those same features.
First VOX Amp: AC 15
As a result, the company changed its name to Jennings Musical Instruments, and in 1958, the 15-watt Vox AC15 amplifier was released.
I don’t think Tom imagined at that moment that this combo would still be on the market today, ranking among the top sellers in this category of amplifiers—on par with other highly successful models like the Fender Blues Junior or the Marshall DSL5CR.
The current Vox AC15 C1 model features three 12AX7 preamp tubes and two EL84 power tubes, delivers 15 watts of power, and is equipped with a 12-inch Celestion G12M Greenback speaker. It also includes built-in reverb and tremolo effects, and retails for around $1.000.
Thank goodness it’s manufactured in China; otherwise, it would cost us even more. So we’re still lucky to have access to a legendary amplifier at a relatively affordable price—one that will very likely last us a lifetime.
It’s well-suited for studio recordings, small gigs, or even home use if you have a soundproof room. A piece of music history that Cliff Richard’s band, The Shadows, began using, and people started to recognize the characteristic crystal-clear tone or the powerful crackle of the Vox AC15.
Since then, countless guitarists have used it, including Alex Turner, Kevin Shields, and none other than Joe Perry of Aerosmith.
Vox AC10 C1
We also offer the 10-watt version, the Vox AC10 C1, priced at around 500 euros. This amplifier uses only two tubes in the preamp stage instead of the three 12AX7 tubes found in the AC15; it features a 10-inch speaker and does not have a tremolo effect.
The most legendary amplifier from VOX: AC 30
If the Vox AC15 is a legend as a rehearsal and studio amplifier, the Vox AC30C2 is another iconic amplifier—but this time for the stage, with a full band and live performances. The king of British rock sound.
This amplifier was also released by the British brand in 1958, and has been a part of the sound of great bands such as The Beatles, U2, Nirvana, Radiohead, Muse, Oasis, etc., as well as guitarists like Brian May, John Frusciante, and Johnny Marr.
The Vox AC30C2 is essentially like having two Vox AC15s combined. Since the AC30 delivers 30 watts of power, it features four EL84 power tubes and is equipped with two 12″ Celestion G12M Greenback speakers. It weighs over 32 kilos, costs around $1.800, and is manufactured in China.
VOX Amps’ Worst Moments
In 1964, Jennins sold a portion of the company to the Royston Group and also sold the rights to the Thomas Organ Company. Royston ran into trouble in 1969, and the company went through a series of name changes and owners, and production costs were cut. This affected the quality of the components in Vox amplifiers, which ultimately ruined the brand’s reputation.
KORG Acquires VOX Amps
But Vox Amps was eventually acquired by Korg in 1992. The Japanese company ensured the revival of the Vox brand by moving its manufacturing facilities to China and Vietnam in 2003, in order to restore the highest quality of its components by taking advantage of cheaper labor.
Vox VX15GT
The amplifiers shown above are all all-tube, and that comes with a cost we have to bear. But while Korg has recaptured the essence of the legendary Vox amplifiers, it has also developed modern amplification units and digital modeling amplifiers, such as the Vox VX15GT.
An elegant modeling amplifier with 15 watts of power, a 6.5-inch speaker, and a headphone jack, priced at around $230. It also features 8 built-in effects and 11 different amp simulations to suit any musical style.
Valvetronix Hybrid Series
Vox has also succeeded in developing methods that combine modern and traditional technology to reduce production costs. One example is its Valvetronix tube preamp, combined with transistor-based modeling software.
This type of technology can be found in the VT Hybrid series, such as the Vox VT20X, which is available at a very affordable price of about $300. The VT20X has an output of 20 watts and features an 8-inch speaker.
It also features amplifier simulations and a wide variety of effects, which can be expanded using Vox’s “Tone Room” software, accessible via its mini-USB port.
If you need more power, you can opt for the Vox VT40X, which offers 40 watts and a 10-inch speaker, for about $400.
Vox MSB25 Mini Superbeetle
Another hybrid-design product is the Vox MSB25 Mini Superbeetle amp head and cabinet, but the amp head features a KORG Nutube 6P1 thermionic tube. For this reason, this unit does not have ventilation grilles to cool traditional vacuum tubes.
This model has 50 watts of power, reverb and tremolo effects, and features a 10-inch Celestion Custom speaker. It costs around $450.
Vox Cambridge 50
In the combo version, we have the Vox Cambridge 50 for about $300, which also has 50 watts of power and Nutube technology, but features a 12-inch Celestion speaker. It also has 8 built-in effects, amp simulators, a USB port, a headphone jack, and includes the JamVOX III software.
Vox Amps: MV Head Series
Also featuring Nutube thermionic tube, we have the MV head series, which includes several models ranging from crystal-clear tones to high-gain sounds. This line of tiny heads delivers no less than 50 watts of power.
It also features a three-position attenuator to adjust the amp’s output power, as well as a headphone output.
VOX MV50 AC
These are general descriptions of the series, but each model obviously has its own character.
The VOX MV50 AC delivers the signature tone of the classic Vox AC30.
Vox MV 50 CL Clean ranges from clean, natural tones to a highly dynamic overdrive, responding to the nuances of your guitar and playing style.
The Vox MV 50 CR Rock, as its name suggests, offers a classic rock-style distorted sound, though it also delivers a very organic clean tone.
Another model is the MV50 High Gain, which, as its name suggests, is optimized for high-gain sounds.
Meanwhile, the MV50 Boutique offers the sound of the legendary boutique amplifiers so coveted by professional guitarists, and produces a sense of compression that is very typical of a traditional tube amplifier.
These models are priced around $250.
Vox Amps: BC 108 Cabinet
Obviously, for these heads to produce sound, they need a cabinet like the Vox BC 108 Cabinet with an 8-inch speaker, which costs about $190 euros.
Vox offers high-quality classic amplifiers at reasonable prices, as well as cutting-edge technology at affordable prices. This places the Vox brand among today’s top amplifier manufacturers.