On July 21, 2002 Vox announced a Limited Edition run of hand-wired AC30 amplifiers to be made available worldwide later this year.

Great care has been taken to preserve the pristine design that made the AC30 a classic, while adding several enhancements for the ultimate in top-of-the-line VOX amplification. Two new AC30 products are being offered: the AC30HW 30-watt 2 x 12 in. combo and the AC30HWH 30-watt head plus CV212LTD 2 x 12 in. speaker cabinet.

The amplifier chassis of both the combo and head feature completely hand-wired tag board assembly, all tube design, and custom hand-wound transformers. The transformers are exact replicas of the Albion transformers used in the original AC30s. The new hand wired AC30s feature a single VOX Top Boost channel, twin inputs (High and Low), and a Master Volume circuit derivative of the one found in VOX's AC15 combos. The new AC30s offer highly interactive Bass and Treble tone controls, as well as the VOX Tone Cut (which varies the presence in the power amp section) control for even greater tonal variations. Classic Tremolo with variable Speed and Depth adjustment is also included, marking the first time in the history of the AC30 that Tremolo has been available on a Top Boost channel. Another first for the AC30 is the incorporation of a tube driven Accutronics reverb unit with Level and Tone controls.

The AC30HW combo and CV212LTD speaker cabinet feature two 12 in. classic VOX/Celestion AlNiCo Blue speakers. These models, as well… read more as the AC30HWH head, are housed in sturdy birch ply construction cabinets, and feature a commemorative "Hand Wired" plaque. Other features include On/Off and Standby switches with indicator lights, along with a dual footswitch for controlling Tremolo and Reverb.

The "Blue" Alnico Speaker
In 1959, Vox discovered that Celestion speakers gave superior result over other speakers they tested with their amplifiers. Further tests were made with the G12 in AC30s, but at the time there was a need for a speaker that would give a better response for bass instruments. So Celestion made a special model speaker for Vox with a cone that had a tougher outer edge that gave an excellent response in both the lead and bass frequencies. With a rounder shaped magnet cover, this speaker was painted with a blue cellulose and soon became know in the industry as the Vox "blue" speaker. For many, even today, it is regarded as the ultimate guitar speaker.

However, quality comes at a price, and the key ingredient for this superior sound comes from an expensive metal alloy called Alnico. Used to make the speaker's permanent magnet, alnico gets its name from the elements used to make it - ALuminum, NIckel and CObalt.

Although these speakers were phased out in the late 1960's in favor of the cheaper ceramic magnet designed speakers, they remained part of the Vox heritage and to many, a Vox amp is incomplete with any other speaker. So in the early 1990's Celestion's production line started to remake this classic speaker and now its tone can be enjoyed by a whole new generation of Vox owners.

The new AC30 combo, head, and speaker cabinet will be available 4th Quarter of 2002. read less