Vox AC4C1-12 1x12inch 4-watt Guitar Tube Combo Amp w/ 4 Controls and Celestion Speakers - Black

I needed an amp that had character to go along with my Hot Rod Deluxe which I consider a clean pedal platform and the AC15 did not disappoint. That Vox shimmer is all there and it's wonderful. I love the high end and I love this amp's distortion. It has a character to it that makes you play a certain way. It sounds like a Vox but doesn't force you to sound like anything. It has a character of its own without taking over your own sound. I use this amp as one of two that I use for practice and recording. Being able to switch the transformer output to 8ohms from 16 is great because you can hook this up to a load box or an 8ohm external cabinet without having to buy any extra gear. I already had an 8ohm load box and did not want to have to buy a 16ohm variant. The amp sounds the same regardless of whether you've set it to 8ohms or 16 when using the external speaker input. Playing live in the room sounds amazing as well. It has a great sound that gets plenty loud but you're still able to play at bedroom levels thanks to the master volume knob. Both the top boost and normal channels are nice, it just depends on the sound you're going for. Personally, I tend to only use the top boost channel but there are times when the normal channel is needed for maybe more mellow, jazzy tones. I'd say this is a pretty versatile amp but it's not a pedal platform. It takes pedals well but it's not a blank slate. I wouldn't recommend this as a first tube amp for someone who really wants to color their tone with pedals. I'd say this would be the second amp for that person. For the person who is into getting most of their tone from the amp and not pedals, this would make a perfect first tube amp (or second, third, or final one at that). The reverb is decent. Not amazing but not bad either. I like it but some people get snobby about it. The original AC15 didn't have reverb or tremolo so I think that somehow has been translated into "the reverb and tremolo aren't good because they're not historically accurate". Use your ears, don't convince yourself that something doesn't sound good because you put the thing on some weird pedestal. The tremolo is actually very nice. I like the tremolo a lot and wish I had more use for it. I don't use it often and I've never recorded it but when I do use it it's a lot of fun and sounds great. I have to make it a point to record the AC15's tremolo because it's nice. Overall it's definitely a different sound than the Fenders I'm used to and I like it a lot more than most Fender amps. That said, amps are an extension of your instrument. Each amp will turn your guitar into a unique instrument and just how people have different guitars for different sounds, so it is with this amp. It's my favorite but I could never choose just one. This is perfect for recording and for being an at-home or studio amp. You could even perform with it. It is loud enough. If your purpose is performing live more than using it at home or the studio then maybe an AC30 is better. Having played both I can say the difference between the two (besides the obvious specs and loudness) isn't that great. They both have basically the same tone and it really comes down to portability and loudness. Sound quality is perfectly equal between the two. And I just have to say there's something magical about Vox amps that keep me coming back to them. I'm not sure what it is but I'd recommend this one any day to anyone.

Great sound! The amp is very versatile. The clean sound is absolutely stunning. Additionally, the amp’s distortion sound is fantastic. It takes pedals really well… at least the couple I have. A Russian era Muff, an English Muffin, & a DS-1. It is essential to spend the extra money to get the Celestion alnico blue speaker. This amp is loud enough for rehearsals and is also great for home recording. I tried an AC-30 and it was REALLY LOUD! The AC-15 is still loud but allows you to crank it at practice and get amazing VOX saturation. This amp does not sound the same as an AC-30. If you want that classic top boost VOX sound as heard on so many recordings you’ll need to get the 30.

I have usually gone the route of Fender tube amps (most recently a Hot Rod Deluxe) and Orange Solid State amps. After putting a Red Lace Sensor Dully in the bridge position of my Jazzmaster, it was time to get back to the tube. And boy am I glad I went for Vox this time!!! From things as simple to the AC15's linear volume tapers that allow an astounding amount of volume control vs. the audio tapers in Fender amps that cause the volume to increase tenfold between 1 and 2 on the pot, to offering the Top Boost input in addition to the Normal input, to the incredibly dynamic response and unmistakeable tube tone and response--this amp is a sure winner all around! (Not too that signature Vox AC series onboard tremolo!) If you worried 15W won't produce enough presence to play gigs, think again. The playable volume range is probably the most impressive AC15 feature I have discovered thus far. BUY THIS AMP!!!

This is my second attempt at the AC15C1. My first arrived in a box that looked like it was thrown off a vehicle in a Mad Max film. Suspicious, I plugged it in, and initially it sounded great. Over the next few days I noticed a feint chiming that would resonate after a strummed chord. It almost sounded as if the filaments within the tubes were distinctly vibrating. Turning the amp up made the sound more pronounced and in certain situations it was picked up during recording. And that is no es bueno for someone trying to get a noise free, clean sound. So I ordered number 2 from Amazon and the box again looked like it had been shipped from a war zone. Again, at first it sounded great but slowly it revealed the same issues. Because it's 15W it lacks head room, and it was difficult to get a warm richness from the amp. To be fair, there is some of that Vox trademark chime. I felt like there was a very shallow EQ spectrum with a fairly brittle mid-range that was difficult to overcome. That strange vibrating tone also returned. If your looking for the sound of an AC30 this just isn't it.

Had this amp for a little over three weeks now, and I'm really happy with the purchase. The amp gets WAY louder than I thought it would, and easily goes over a drummer in a rehearsal setting. The tone of the amp is pretty good through crappy guitars- I'm currently saving money for an American Fender strat or tele. The only issue I've had with the amp is the sound of distortion pedals through it. I bought this amp for the Vox tone though, so it's not that big of a deal. The amp's dirty sound is great, but sometimes you want a little different sound(fuzz or regular distortion), and the distortion pedals I've run through the amp are overdriving the tubes and muddying the tone of the pedals(even in the clean channel). I've also only had it for a short time, and probably just need a little time to mess with everything to find the sweet spot. I may switch the tubes for a little more headroom on the clean channel. I also need to try out an overdrive pedal to see if that will get the effect I want. I had owned a Fender Blues Jr and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and I like the tone from this amp much more.

Not the vox quality of years ago. Made in chyna, and after 6 months of light use…. Mine burnt out the transformer. Cost prohibitive to send it back for warranty so I have to eat the 240.00 bill to get it fixed. I’ll stick with Febder Amps going forward.

After 3 years of using a Fender Super Champ X2, I needed an upgrade for recording purposes. I passed on a Blues Jr for the AC15. One week later and I can't quit playing it. It's great. So I had one issue, and I'll run through that real quick, maybe it will help someone who reads this. The amp developed an annoying high end rattle while playing. This started occurring a few days after I got it, or maybe I just then noticed. So, I decided it could be the tubes, and I had a few 12AX7's laying around. Before dealing with a return, I pulled the back off (some 20 screws!) and replaced the two 12AX7s closest to the speaker. The rattle went away. I guess this was my first encounter with a microphonic tube? The sad thing is: I liked the tone, sans the rattle, from the cheap Chinese ones they had in there slightly better. But that rattle had to go. Now, I guess I should be more ticked. I had to fork out an additional $20 and some time on a $600 purchase less than a week after it's arrival but... well I've heard of this with Fenders before too and it appears to be the norm in the < $1k tube amps (aka. Chinese tube amps). The reality is, you now own a tube amp and you're officially in the business of replacing tubes, so they don't care if they break you in early. Having said that, this amp is superb. If you're wanting to be another Kenny Wayne Sheppard or Joe Bonamanamasa, I would stick with the Blues Jr. If you're doing rock, alternative, art rock etc., I would go with this amp. The Beatles and Deep Purple are the most notable users but I associate the sound with bands like Radiohead, REM, The Cure etc.

What can I say… it’s a Vox. Sweet tone and so much area to tweak the volume and distortion. I love it. Smooth or gritty it gets the tone I wanted. As soon as I got it we had an outdoor gig. Plenty of power.