United Kingdom · Est. 1957
Vox
The sound of the British Invasion. The Vox AC30 is the Beatles' amplifier, Brian May's amplifier, and the foundation of all the jangle rock that followed.
About the brand
Vox was founded in 1957 by Tom Jennings and Dick Denney in Dartford, Kent. The AC15 appeared that same year, followed in 1958 by the AC30, which became the Beatles' amplifier throughout their entire career. The AC30's sound — bright, chiming, with the characteristic Top Boost — is inseparable from the sound of British popular music of the 1960s.
The AC30 was created because Hank Marvin of The Shadows needed more volume than the AC15 to compete with the drums. Dick Denney designed it with six EL84 valves and the result was an amplifier with a unique high-frequency response that no other manufacturer has been able to exactly replicate. Brian May of Queen has used it throughout his career.
Vox also manufactured the first commercial effects pedals (the Tone Bender, the Wah-Wah) and continues producing the AC30 and AC15 in both tube and solid-state versions. The brand has been owned by Korg since 1992.
Key facts
- Founded in 1957 in Dartford, Kent
- AC30: the Beatles' amplifier throughout their entire career
- Originally created for Hank Marvin of The Shadows
- Used by Brian May of Queen throughout his entire discography
Iconic models
AC15
Vox's first valve amplifier, whose crystalline chime and natural breakup defined the sound of the British Invasion led by the Beatles.
AC30
An expansion of the AC15 to 30 watts with two 12-inch speakers, it was the preferred amplifier of the Beatles, Brian May and The Edge, shaping decades of tone.
AC10
A compact and affordable version of the Vox sound, revived in 2015 to deliver the characteristic British chime in a portable low-wattage format.
Pathfinder 10
An entry-level solid-state amplifier that captures the visual essence and part of the tonal character of Vox at an accessible price for beginners.