Description

The AC15HWR1X Hand Wired is Vox's hand-wired tube combo amplifier, with 15W of power and inspired by the legendary AC of the 1960s. After years of research and study on original AC prototypes from that era, this new hand-wired version features a new and revamped power supply circuit that restores the typical compression feel of those amps. The new transformer delivers pleasant harmonics to the tone, and the reduced chassis thickness, like that of the vintage AC, makes this amp resonate exactly as it did back then. The AC15HWR1X Hand Wired features a 12” 16Ω Celestion Alnico Blue speaker and offers 2 channels, normal and top boost, each with high and low inputs, a bright mode switch, spring reverb, tone cut, and master volume.

Overview of the Vox AC15HWR1X Hand Wired

In pursuit of the essence of the classic vintage AC30 amplifier sound, Vox conducted detailed analysis and study of AC15s and AC30s in excellent condition from the 1960s to truly discover and understand the inner workings of these legendary amplifiers. The culmination of these efforts led to the birth of the new VOX AC Hand-Wired amplifier range: the greatest VOX amplifiers Vox has ever produced.
The rarity of vintage amplifiers contributes significantly to their high value, but equally important is the distinctive sound inherent in vintage amplifiers. Although the AC30 has been produced with almost identical circuits since the 1960s, the character of vintage units is often described as almost indescribable, possessing a rich, musical quality that is equally unmistakable and mysterious. Vox sought to unravel the secrets of this sound, bringing the magic of vintage to today's musicians.
The AC-HWR series reproduces the vintage VOX tone through meticulous research. A diverse lineup meets the individual preferences and needs of the most demanding guitarists. The series includes 30W and 15W combos, available as AC30HWR2X and AC15HWR1X, both equipped with Celestion Alnico Blue speakers, as well as AC30HWR2 and AC15HWR1 with Celestion G12M Greenback speakers. In addition, there is the AC30HWRH head, which can be paired with your own cabinet or the new V212HWRX cabinet with Celestion Alnico Blue speakers. The series is completed by the compact combo amplifiers AC10HWR1 and AC4HWR1, designed for low-power use.

Power Supply Circuit Revision

Contemporary power supplies aim for stability by minimizing voltage fluctuations, to achieve a reliable power source. In contrast, the power supplies of vintage amplifiers exhibit fluctuations that respond to large speaker movements, giving the characteristic "compression" and "sag" sensations associated with vintage amplifiers. During research, Vox measured the power supply circuit of many vintage AC30s and used them to design a completely new power supply capable of replicating these vintage tonal and performance characteristics.
However, simply imitating vintage characteristics can lead to the generation of unwanted tones, particularly "ghost notes," which are extraneous sounds unrelated to the notes actually played, especially at high volumes. Faced with the dilemma of whether to prioritize sound quality or address the issue of ghost notes, the previous AC30CC2 model incorporated a switch to activate the power supply attenuation circuit. Thanks to the new power supply circuit, the new VOX Hand-wired amplifiers address the issue of ghost notes without compromising sound quality and responsiveness, managing to strike the delicate balance between the two considerations in a truly musical way.

Output Transformer

The output transformer contributes significantly to the classic vintage VOX sound. Even if the specifications are the same, saturation distortion in the transformer section can add to the pleasant harmonic components of vintage amplifiers. However, since this distortion cannot be precisely measured by transformer specifications, Vox undertook an extensive prototyping program to develop custom transformers with the essential characteristics of the required vintage sound.

Cabinet

Vox carefully examined the thickness of the materials used: the vintage AC30 used slightly thinner materials, which contributed to a rich and extended midrange. The new cabinet design employs the same material thickness as the vintage amplifier, helping to provide a faithful reproduction of the sound.

Practical Features

    
• Although it was important to get as close as possible to the specifications and sound of the 1960s models, the approach was to maintain simplicity while incorporating practical features for contemporary guitarists.
    
• Spring Reverb
    
• When considering what could improve the immersive quality of a guitar amplifier, a very high-quality spring reverb was deemed a "must" to achieve that magical vintage sound.
    
• FX Loop
    
• Modern guitarists love to combine various effects to create their individual sound. However, problems can arise when combining distorted amplifiers with spatial, modulation, and pitch-shift effects. The distortion of these effects can muddy the sound. To solve this problem, an FX loop was integrated, allowing a clean output of effects.

Specifications of the Vox AC15HWR1X Hand Wired

Tube Configuration: ECC83/12AX7 x 4, ECC81/12AT7 x 1, EL84 x 2, GZ34 x 1
Speaker: 12” 16Ω Celestion Alnico Blue x 1
Dimensions (Wx D x H): 610 x 260 x 550 mm
Weight: 22.8 kg