The Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head is a Vox amplifier. Close alternatives include the Vox AC30HWRH Hand-Wired 2-Channel 30W Head and the Vox Valvenergy Mystic Edge. It pairs well with the Greer Royal Velvet and the Catalinbread Galileo.
Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head
Vox · amplifier
The Vox AC30CH Custom is the head version of the AC30, the 30-watt EL84 circuit that produced the British Invasion guitar sound and remains the reference for chime and jangle. As a head it drives an external cabinet, which on an AC30 is a larger change than on most amps given how much of the voice comes from speaker compression. At 30 watts it stays cleaner longer than an AC15 before breaking into the compressed, harmonically dense top end the design is known for. It suits jangle, indie, British invasion and classic rock players.
- british
- chime
- jangle
- sparkle
- compressed
- jangly
- boost
- singing
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
Genres the Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head is commonly used in
- Rock
- Classic Rock
- Indie
- Psychedelic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head
Greer Royal Velvet
Greer
24% matchRun Greer Royal Velvet after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
22% matchCatalinbread Galileo leans toward bright, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Sola Sound Tone Bender MK1
pedal
22% matchSola Sound Tone Bender MK1's own fuzzy character is the real reason this is worth trying
Audiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone
Audiocade
21% matchPut Audiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone after Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head in the signal chain, clear of Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head's own gain stage
Pigtronix Philosopher's Rock
Pigtronix
9% matchPigtronix Philosopher's Rock leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
JAM Pedals Delay-Llama
Jam Pedals
8% matchKeep Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head's glassy voice out front: JAM Pedals Delay-Llama goes in Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head's effects loop so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Suhr Discovery
Suhr
8% matchSuhr Discovery's transparent voice goes in Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head's own glassy character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Origin Effects RevivalDRIVE Dual Overdrive
Origin Effects
tonal matchVoiced for Vox-style amps
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Vox AC30HWRH Hand-Wired 2-Channel 30W Head
Vox
76% similarityShared character: ac30, benchmark, gold_sparkle
Vox Valvenergy Mystic Edge
Vox
72% similarityVox Valvenergy Mystic Edge recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Audiocade Royal British Velvet AC30 Overdrive/Preamp Clone
Audiocade
72% similarityAudiocade Royal British Velvet AC30 Overdrive/Preamp Clone recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Strymon Iridium
Strymon
72% similarityStrymon Iridium recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Mooer Micro Preamp 004 Day Tripper
Mooer
72% similarityMooer Micro Preamp 004 Day Tripper recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head
Vox
70% similarity“At 30 watts it stays cleaner longer than an AC15 before breaking into the compressed, harmonically dense top end the design is known for”
Vox AC15C2 Custom 2-Channel 15W 2x12 Combo
Vox
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Vox AC15 Custom CC TTBC Limited Edition
Vox
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Ceriatone Dizzy 30
Ceriatone
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Ceriatone Lightning 15
Ceriatone
96% similaritysimilar tone character
1964 Vox AC30
Vox
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Matchless DC-30
Matchless
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head?+
The closest matches in character are the Vox AC30HWRH Hand-Wired 2-Channel 30W Head, the Vox Valvenergy Mystic Edge, the Audiocade Royal British Velvet AC30 Overdrive/Preamp Clone.
What pairs well with the Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Royal Velvet, Catalinbread Galileo, Sola Sound Tone Bender MK1 — Run Greer Royal Velvet after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth.
Compare
- vs Vox AC15C2 Custom 2-Channel 15W 2x12 Combo
- vs Vox AC15 Custom CC TTBC Limited Edition
- vs Ceriatone Dizzy 30