Vox AC15HW1X 15 Watt 1x12" Handwired Tube Combo Reviews

5.0/5.0 based on 5 customer reviews

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Customer Reviews

from New England
July 28, 2012Music Background:
Professional Musician

Best Amp I've Ever Owned!!

This is by far the BEST amplifier I have ever owned! In the past 2 1/2 years I have played over 250 gigs using primarily a VOX AC30C2. It was a great amp for the price and served me quite well.... THEN one day I decided I needed an upgrade... posted my AC30 on craigslist and ordered the AC15HW1X. To my surprise(and delight), the AC30 sold before the HW even came! When the new VOX came I think it may have been one of the best days of my life.... This thing is a TONE MONSTER!! I'll tell you what.. these bad boys aren't cheap, but they are worth EVERY penny!! The hot/cool switch is just awesome... and with 'Hot' engaged it gives you(dare I say) a Marshall esque kinda of tone, which just screams with sustain and harmonic overtones!! The normal channel has beautiful cleans and a bright switch for cleaning up those muddy lows humbuckers can sometimes have.
In conclusion....BUY THIS AMP!! When tone is this good... it is truly inspiring, and makes playing and practice a whole new level of fun!!

Guitars:
Gibson ES335 (LH)
Gibson Special 60s Tribute SG (LH)
Fender American Deluxe Strat w/ N3 PUPS (LH)
Fender MIM Strat w/ Vintage Noiseless PUPS (LH)

J3
from Florida
December 21, 2011Music Background:
Life Long Musician

Lovin this one from the gitgo!

I'm not disappointed! In fact, it's everything I was hoping for. So far I've played my Floyd Rose Strat (signed by Eric Johnson) and my G&L ASAT Bluesboy semi hollow through it. Best guitar amp I've owned or played through. Quieter than my Vibrolux and more tonal range! Looking forward to trying out my new Gretsch 5120 through it. I'm not a shredder! I'm a Hellcasters, Los Lobos fan and appreciate great tone! Always wanted a Vox and now I've got the best available! Handwired, Class A, valve rectifier, Alnico blue, what's not to love?

Jack Wright
from San Antonio, TX
December 4, 2011Music Background:
Pro Musician

This is the one!

I have played 6 gigs with this amp so far, but I tried it last night without any pedals (had them in the club just in case). Had the Rickenbacker 12 string in the normal channel and Gretsch 6120RRH in the Top Boost channel. The Ric sounded jangly and bright. The Gretsch had the vintage sound I was looking for. If I wanted more of a tube distortion sound I flicked the wattage switch from 15 watts to 7.5 watts and turned the guitar up a little. I do this before the song is played. Nobody can believe how loud it is at 7.5 watts. I did not even mic the amp and it can easily be heard over the drummer.

troy
from san diego
June 8, 2011Music Background:
recording/guitar hobbyist

great amp sound: clean and dirty

definitely Blown away w/ the great clean sound on my Hamer and my strat.
definitely the sound comes out w/ more "feeling/emotion" then my older amps and the newer digital combo amps I have.

Jeff
from Detroit, MI
December 22, 2010Music Background:
Hobbyist 30+ years

Tonal Heaven

I ordered this from Sweetwater and found it on my porch the NEXT DAY! I have an AC15C1 that I got in April, and I thought that amp was by far the most articulate thing I'd ever played through. I have a collection of Marshalls and Fenders, but as of late, I've been more interested in the crunch sound, and have been dropping the gain in my tone considerably. This is a function of playing a Vox. If your a metal guy, then this is not your kind of amp. If you like a sound that is sonically widespread, meaning full of deep bass, throaty midrange, and effervescent highs, then you probably know all about Vox already.

Anyway, this amp (with the alnico Blue) can produce a rich sound unlike any other. the 2 channels are very different, with the normal being much cleaner. The top boost can cover any rock tone through AC/DC. I don't really need the tonal bypass, as it injects too much gain for my taste. The 1/2 power switch allows more output tube distortion, and can make the volume manageable. The Master bypass is great, but this amp can still get loud enough to summon the local boys in blue to your door.

If it was lost or stolen, I'd buy another the next day. If my house was on fire, I'd grab this amp and let the whole lot of my others burn. I don't say that lightly, but if you like the Vox sound, you will certainly be elated to have this amp. There are no let-downs here, so whether you like the Beatles tone, or AC/DC, you can get it all.

Unfortunately, this amp so outclasses my old AC15C1, I will probably just put that one in storage. In terms of sound, that amp sounds so much thinner. I wouldn't have ever suspected that until I got this amp.

Again, if you like anything whatsoever about Vox tone, then this amp will be your new best friend.