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The AC30TB and AC-30TBR "Vintage" Series were the last models produced by the Rose Morris ownership of Vox. These amps were available in either black or fawn vinyl. Both combos and separate head/cabinets configurations were produced.
A "Collector" Edition of the AC-30TB even featured an oiled solid mahogany cabinet.
Rose Morris was a music store/manufacturing conglomerate based in London. Rose Morris purchased Vox from the previous owner, Dallas Arbiter, in about 1979. Vox was sold to Korg by RM in 1993.
The AC30TBR models were based on the circuitry and design used in the 1990 Rose Morris Vox "Limited Edition" models. Only 500 of these limited edition amps were produced, each receiving a numbered "Limited Edition" placard. The surprising success of the "Limited Edition" amps soon led to a more "unlimited" production of basically the same amp, less the limited editon placard.
Like the original AC-30 amps produced by Vox in the 1960s, this amp has three channels, Normal, Top Boost, and Vib/Trem. A reverb circuit utilizing an Accutronics two spring reverb pan was offered as an option in this amp series. The amp pictured at left features this reverb circuit.
The cabinets were particle board. The standard speaker was the Celestion Greenback, but "Blue" Alnico speakers, this time manufactured by Fane, were available at an extra cost option.
All of the circuits on this amp were placed on a single PC board. While economical in production, this design caused some problems with dependability. The most common problem involves the EL-84 output tubes.
EL-84 power tubes get very hot in operation. It is wise to mount the tube sockets for such tubes in a metal chassis for heat dissapation and then use wire leads to connect the tube sockets to a printed circuit board. This model mounted the tube sockets directly to the printed circuit board, and this has caused a number of heat related failures.
This amp does not have a tube rectifier.
When covered in the optional "fawn" amp amp covering, the AC30TBR also featured brown leather handles with brass fittings, gold painted stamped steel vents and the infamous wide diamond brown Vox grill with bright red and green accent threads.
If you have seen Paul McCartney perform live anytime since 1991, his stack of Vox 4x12 speaker cabinets is powered by the same circuitry and chassis production that is in this amplifier.
North Coast Music offers many repair parts amd accessories for the Rose Morris Vox AC30TB and AC30TBR. Some are shown below.
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