There is little doubt that the AC-15 and AC-30 established Vox as a world player in guitar amplification. The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Animals, Searchers, Shadows and many other bands played AC-15s and AC-30s. These bands carried their amps from their homes in Liverpool and Manchester to London, onward to Europe, and eventually to America and the world.
In recent years, the Vox AC-30 has had a resurgence of popularity in both rock and roll and country music. Most guitarists have either played or owned an AC-30 or an AC-15.
Few amps have the tone and style of the AC15 and AC-30. Unfortunately, the price of these amps has kept many from owning one. Recognizing a opportunity, Vox designed the AC15VR and AC30VR. These would be AC-15 and AC-30s amps that all could afford.
The ingenious design concepts of the AC15VR and AC30VR are described below.
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The preamp, or control section of the AC15VR and AC30VR was derived from Korg's REMS (Resonant structure and Electronic circuit Modeling System) guitar effects processors such as the Korg AX3000G and PX4D.
REMS amp modeling circuitry has been used on a number of Vox amp models since 2001. While first used on the AD60VT and AD120VT, this amp modeling circuitry was improved over the years and was later adapted for use in the AD and VT "Chrome" series of amps.
REMS amp modeling was used in the AD and VT series amps to simulate the tonal characteristcs of the original AC-15 and AC-30. It also offered amp models of popular "black face," "plexi" and "boutique" amps, all selectable from a rotary control.
When Vox decided to produce a more economical version of the AC-15 and AC-30, they wouldn't have to go far. The accurate REMS AC-15 and AC-30 amp modeling circuit would be ideal in the new amps. The new amps would offer only the REMS AC-15 and AC-30 models.
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The power amp of an AC-15 uses two EL-84 power tubes, the AC-30 uses four. Vox hoped to maintain the tone and presence of the tube power amps used in the original AC-15 and AC-30 amps. Ideally, a tube output section should be used, but the cost of the transformers and related circuitry for a full tube output section would make the new VR models too expensive. The solution was to use the patented Vox Valve Reactor power amp circuit in the AC15VR and AC30VR.
The concept of the Vox Valve Reactor circuit is to use a 12AX7 preamp tube in an unusual way - as the heart of a one watt power amp. This one watt power amp even includes a small output transformer to simulate the electronic interactions that happen in high powered tube output circuit. The one watt output from this 12AX7 then supplies a solid state power amp to achieve the final 15 watt output for the AC15VR, or 30 watt output for the AC30VR.
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The design and materials that were used in the original Vox AC-15 and AC-30 cabinets make a significant contribution to the higher price of these amps.
The original design of the AC-15 and AC-30 cabinetry used 13 ply baltic birch plywood. To reduce the price of the new amps, this material could be replaced with medium density fiber board. The use of MDF board would reduce the production cost of the amp while still maintaining the same basic density of the original baltic plywood case.
Another expensive cabinet design detail in the original amps was the use of gold "tadpole" string in the sides of the cabinet shell. To help keep costs down, the gold string was eliminated in the VR Series.
However, all the other Vox cosmetic details are incorporated, including a front panel with brown Vox grill, gold "T" bar molding and white piping. The cabinet is covered in original "basket weave" Vox vinyl with three Vox handles and three air vents.
A small "VR" logo is in the lower right hand corner of the amp grill
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