Classics Reboot

Vox aims to take us back to the sound of its illustrious golden-era with this re-engineered family of Hand-Wired amplifiers. We listen in for that elusive and very classic AC30 tone

- Martin Smith

VOX AC30X, AC15X & AC4 HAND-WIRED £2,199, £1,599 & £929 CONTACT Vox Amps UK PHONE [phone] WEB www.voxamps.co.uk

As creator of some of the most recognisable sounds in guitar history - etched onto vinyl by legends as diverse as Hank Marvin and Brian May and many, many more - Vox has created a sonic fingerprint that can be heard across countless musical genres. In the 90s the brand was adopted by indie bands and the grunge movement alike for its signature chime and bloom, and has subsequently found a home in Nashville, providing that much sought-after 'edge of break-up' sound heard in modern country and Americana styles.

It would be fair to surmise that the specific overtones and frequencies these amps produce have proved to be uniquely appealing to the human ear ever since their inception in the late 50s.

In common with amp standard-bearers such as Marshall and Fender, consistently producing its recognisable tone throughout decades of shifting technology, fashions and economic environments has proved no mean feat. Just like the aforementioned brands, Vox has had moments of variability, shall we say, so it's great to see the company now producing this impressive fleet of hand-wired AC classics to get us back to the authentic jangle. According to Vox, meticulous research and development went into specifics such as the output transformer, rectification and cabinet construction to yield the distinctive sag and bloom of the early versions. Let's find out if these modern incarnations can summon up the magic of the originals.

AC30X Hand-Wired