Vox AC30H2L 50th Anniversary Hand-Wired Heritage Collection 30-Watt 2x12" Guitar Combo 2007 - Mahogany

This amplifier is sonic heaven, for anyone who wants to plug straight in, or for players looking to use some pedals. This two channel amp features a selectable Bass response switch, allowing the user to get the original experience of a classic AC30 in position 1, and a more tight low end switching to its second position. Channel 1 allows some saturation flexibility by using the EF86 control, which can be changed from Pentode to Triode mode. The higher gain Pentode mode, harkens back to the original gain staging using the famed tube, albeit with less headroom that one might find on the Triode setting. The three position Brilliance knob can dramatically cut the low end, and enhance the treble (something the original amplifiers are well known for). Further fine tuning of the high end response, one can employ the Cut control at the end of the panel, which will further cut the treble frequencies to taste. Channel 2 is hand wired as the famous top boost circuit - which has a very interactive EQ that these amps are well known for. The final Output Power switch acts essentially as an attenuator - a selectable pentode / triode control that can drop the amplifiers volume down from 30 to 7.5 watts - giving it characteristics even similar to the AC15.

This amp features the Original English AlNiCo Blue speakers.

A description from Vox history site The Vox Showroom;

"To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of VOX guitar amplifiers in 2007, Vox first introduced the AC15H1TV, and later the same year, the AC30H2. As the ultimate collectible AC-30, Vox issued the AC30H2 in a mahogany enclosure. The amp used a EF86 preamp tube, the same valve used in Vox amps manufactured in the late 50s and early 60s. This tube had nearly become extinct until Electro Harmonix reissued it. This is one of the finest VOX amplifiers in the 50 year history of Vox.

EF86: The tube with the magical VOX tone

What is it that makes EF86 based VOX amplifiers sound so good? Maybe it’s the way the amp naturally overdrives. Or maybe it’s the raw power of the creamy distortion as you crank the amp all the way up. Whatever it is, there is an undeniable magic about this period of VOX amplification. The EF86 Pentode tube is at the heart of this elusive tone, and for many years, the EF86 tube was not available in production quantities. Fifty years later, the magic returns. 

The 30-watt AC30H2L mahogany hand wired amp features two channels of VOX tone through a pair of 12" Celestion Alnico “Blue” speakers. The tube complement is made up of 1 x EF86, 3 x ECC83/12AX7, 4 x EL84, and 1 x GZ34 (rectifier).

The site goes on;

"Channel 1 is the EF86 Preamp channel - It features two inputs wired in the traditional way that gives them a 6dB gain difference between them. A two-position BASS SHIFT switch is included, with position 1 voiced to the original vintage-correct bass response and position 2 voiced to tighten the bass response and reduce any muddiness during high volume use. The three-position BRILLIANCE SWITCH provides flat response when in the OFF position. Position 1 is a new position voiced like the early AC30 “Treble” amps, while position 2 is the original brilliance circuit, which acts as a dramatic bass cut. The EF86 Mode switch re-configures the EF86 valve from Pentode mode to Triode mode. Triode mode will give a lower gain tone with higher headroom. Pentode mode is the famed original mode and has a very sweet high gain tone with not very much headroom.

Channel 2 is the Top Boost Preamp channel - Like Channel 1, this channel includes two inputs wired with a 6 dB gain difference between them. The Treble and Bass controls are from the 1963 Top Boost circuit and are extremely interactive. Very minor adjustments of these controls can yield dramatic changes in tone color."