VOX announces new additions to its iconic AC amplifier family: the AC15 Hand-Wired Greenback and the AC30 Hand-Wired Greenback. These new models are designed for players who want the unmistakable character, touch sensitivity, and harmonic depth associated with classic VOX amplifiers, while offering a warmer, mid-forward tonal profile and earlier speaker breakup thanks to their Celestion Greenback configurations. Built with vintage-accurate circuits, meticulously hand-wired construction, and refined modern functionality, the new AC15 and AC30 Greenback versions give guitarists a bold alternative voice within the revered AC lineup.
The AC15HWR1 Greenback model continues the legacy of the original AC15, delivering the distinctive chime, saturation, and feel that shaped generations of music, but doing so with a bolder and more grounded edge. Its EL84 power section and carefully voiced phase inverter distortion work together to produce the signature blend of clarity and harmonic richness that defines the AC15, while the Celestion Greenback speaker introduces faster breakup, warmer mids, and a tighter low end that players can push into expressive British overdrive more easily. The hand-wound output transformer, vintage-inspired power supply sag characteristics, and 12mm birch ply cabinet all contribute to its resonance, compression, and authentic response under the fingers. The familiar Normal and Top Boost channels remain, offering everything from warm thickness to refined chime, with a BOOST function unique to this model that adds midrange growl and more gain to drive the Greenback more assertively.
The AC15 Hand-Wired Greenback version is not intended as a simple reproduction; it is a tribute refined for modern demands. Updated functionality includes a master volume for better control, a transparent FET-buffered effects loop that can be fully bypassed when not needed, and a tube-driven spring reverb powered by its own dedicated circuit and output transformer for correct impedance and tonal integrity. The reverb’s Level and Tone controls allow players to blend depth and presence without masking the amp’s core sound, while the overall design preserves the musical compression and touch response associated with early 1960s VOX amplifiers, but without the instability or noise often found in vintage units. With 15 watts of EL84-powered output, the AC15HWR1 is suited for studio environments and small to mid-sized stages, and its earlier speaker saturation helps players reach the sweet spot at more manageable volumes, with the option to connect extension cabinets or attenuation devices when required.
Alongside it, the AC30HWR2 Hand-Wired Greenback version brings the same philosophy to one of the most influential amplifiers in history, offering the familiar feel of the AC30 while presenting it with a warmer tonal emphasis and a slightly darker midrange character. Like its 15-watt counterpart, its sonic identity is rooted in the EL84 power section and the subtle harmonic bloom generated as the phase inverter is driven harder. In this configuration, the twin 12" Celestion Greenback speakers reshape that response slightly, trading some of the traditional top-end brilliance for stronger midrange presence, smoother overdrive transition, and an authoritative yet focused projection that makes it particularly compelling on stage and in the studio.
The AC30HWR2 also features a custom-wound output transformer developed to recreate the harmonic behavior of original 1960s units and a 12mm birch ply cabinet that supports the amplifier’s natural openness and resonance. The Normal channel delivers thickness and warmth with the choice of added brightness, while the Top Boost channel keeps the trademark VOX chime but responds with increased control at lower volumes thanks to the Greenbacks’ earlier breakup. As with the AC15 model, its spring reverb is driven by a dedicated tube circuit with its own output transformer to keep clarity and proper impedance, while Level and Tone controls allow musicians to tailor its depth in the mix. A transparent, FET-buffered effects loop integrates modern pedal setups without compromising tonal integrity and can be bypassed entirely when a straight signal path is preferred.
With 30 watts of British tube power and dual Greenbacks, the AC30 Hand-Wired Greenback version has the headroom, authority, and dynamic response expected from an AC30, but reaches its saturated tones at more practical live volumes, offering a compelling alternative to traditional configurations. Both new models are designed for players who value the unmistakable feel of vintage VOX amplification but appreciate enhanced reliability, tonal control, and a different expressive character shaped by the Greenback speaker voice.
The AC15HWR1 and AC30HWR2 Hand-Wired Greenback versions mark an evolution of two legendary designs, preserving their heritage while offering guitarists a new way to experience classic VOX tone. For full specifications and other information, please visit NAMM Booth #6802 or online at www.voxamps.com.
Street price:
AC15HWR1 $1799.99 USD
AC20HWR2 $2499.99 USD
