Vox AC 30, trade. Is this a worth it?

Dana · March 21st, 2003, 10:21 AM

Selling my PRS Custom 24 on ebay for $1700. I get an email from a lady in St. Louis asking if I want to trade it for a Vox AC 30 that she bought new but never used. Says it's got about 5 hrs total playing time on it. Don't these things go for around $3000? Am I missing something here? I'm leery of deals that seem too good to be true.
She sent me pics.

James · March 21st, 2003, 10:34 AM

Go to the Plexi Palace Vox message board and ask what era Vox this is. There are some reissues that are not as desirable. There are some guys over there that know there stuff.

Bill Beck · March 21st, 2003, 06:35 PM

www.voxshowroom.com That's where all the Vox- heads hang out. If Wayne Alexander is around here he could help you to. He's is extremely knowledgable about AC-30's. I've had a couple but they have been newer ones.

Wayne Alexander · March 21st, 2003, 07:07 PM

If the amp she wants to trade is a Korg-era (post 1993) Vox AC-30 TBX with the blue Celestion speakers, it's worth $1200-1300 used. These are great amps (though if you want gainy tones at less than large-venue volumes, an attenuator like a Weber Mass or THD Hotplate is a must), but a used one isn't worth what your PRS is worth. New ones sell for $1800 to $2000. If it's an older Vox, the only ones you'd want (if you're after classic AC-30 tone) are pre-1968 JMI ones, with a tube rectifier and the blue (or silver) Vox-Celestion speakers. All of those JMI's are worth $1800-$3000 or more depending on condition. The Rose Morris ones (1968-1992) sound pretty good, though not like classic AC-30's, because they have solid state rectifiers and the wrong speakers, and the circuit boards tend to be weak.

tom grossheider · March 24th, 2003, 10:41 AM

Wayne is right on the money on this one.

March 21st, 2003, 10:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dana Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ashland, Ma Posts: 1,693 11 Photos	Vox AC 30, trade. Is this a worth it? Selling my PRS Custom 24 on ebay for $1700. I get an email from a lady in St. Louis asking if I want to trade it for a Vox AC 30 that she bought new but never used. Says it's got about 5 hrs total playing time on it. Don't these things go for around $3000? Am I missing something here? I'm leery of deals that seem too good to be true. She sent me pics.

March 21st, 2003, 06:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bill Beck Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, Il. Posts: 366	I personally would avoid Plexi Palace and go to- www.voxshowroom.com That's where all the Vox- heads hang out. If Wayne Alexander is around here he could help you to. He's is extremely knowledgable about AC-30's. I've had a couple but they have been newer ones.

March 21st, 2003, 10:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
James TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 43	Go to the Plexi Palace Vox message board and ask what era Vox this is. There are some reissues that are not as desirable. There are some guys over there that know there stuff.

March 21st, 2003, 07:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 953	If the amp she wants to trade is a Korg-era (post 1993) Vox AC-30 TBX with the blue Celestion speakers, it's worth $1200-1300 used. These are great amps (though if you want gainy tones at less than large-venue volumes, an attenuator like a Weber Mass or THD Hotplate is a must), but a used one isn't worth what your PRS is worth. New ones sell for $1800 to $2000. If it's an older Vox, the only ones you'd want (if you're after classic AC-30 tone) are pre-1968 JMI ones, with a tube rectifier and the blue (or silver) Vox-Celestion speakers. All of those JMI's are worth $1800-$3000 or more depending on condition. The Rose Morris ones (1968-1992) sound pretty good, though not like classic AC-30's, because they have solid state rectifiers and the wrong speakers, and the circuit boards tend to be weak.

March 24th, 2003, 10:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
tom grossheider Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mokena, IL Posts: 706	Wayne is right on the money on this one.