Vox AC10c1: Review, Tone Tips & More 

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I've played guitar for about 30 years and have had MANY different amps over the years; stacks and combos, tube and solid state...and I've never loved an amp as much as I do the Vox AC10c1. It's simple, light, loud, and sounds amazing.

0:17, that tone is what I'm looking for. Ordering one right now.

Your "speil" is such a thoughtful and intelligent reflection of the Vox tone. Surprised to see such an insughtful analysis in an amp review video. I appreciate it. Thank you.

Lovely playing my friend. Clean tones in the first minute are fantastic

Ahhhh, I played there ! I have an AC10C1 for 5 years now for home use and lessons. Gotta love 603.

Your tone tips are great. I finally pulled the trigger on this amp and love it.

I'm a total Vox fanboy and have an AC30 and the AC10C1 and adore them both. I've actually got the British Green Racing AC10 and I would absolutely run back in my burning house to save that thing. I've got an American Strat, American Standard Tele, Jimmy Page Mirror Tele, and a Gibson 335 and with each one of them the amp is an absolute delight. You don't even need pedals to sound really overdriven. I feel like I can go from Paul Kosoff to Brad Paisley to Cream era Clapton with it. It has GOT to be the best "budget" tube amp surely! I HIGHLY recommend them.

Great video! I'm a vox and Marshall player. Mostly play rock kind of music. The trick with turning of the treble and bass on the vox to get that Rich midsound are just a beautiful thing. I do this all the time😎

This Is the best explanation of the Vox AC10C1 that I ever heard. Good job.

Great Video, Jack. Very well done once again!!! More please 🙏

Another great amp review. I subscribe to tons of channels but nothing beats your reviews Jack. Clear and to the point. I wonder if you ever tried other speakers with it. I'm getting my ac10 this week. Cheers and thank you.

Jack, thank you very much for this terrific video. I have an AC10 that I play with a Strat and a D'Angelico with humbuckers. I usually prefer to play clean, and I love the tone that you got in the first part of your video. This will be extremely helpful.

Nice mention of the Stone Church, love playing that venue!

Informative and thorough review. Well done, sir!

Terrific explanation and review. Thank you!

I had an AC10, great box for awesome tones.

Excellent review! I'm looking at picking one of these up myself.

Good job Jack, Like always!😇👍

Great review! Really helpful. Thanks!

I have a Vox AC 10c1 and I have an Alnico blue 16 ohm 10-in speaker in an external cab. Sounds great!

Great review and the amp seems quite nice

Got one today! Was looking at Fender Champion 100 and ended up with the Vox 😂 Thank you for the great review. I’ll test the 0 EQ and the tone nobs hack :)

I just got one, and it is great for home use. So versatile, thanks for the tips.

Great review - really useful. Many thanks.

I have had several Vox amps. One Amp that has always been in my arsenal of amps is the VOX AC30 Handwired 60 Anniversary. It's a big monster, but I am looking for a bedroom playing feel and that could come from a Vox AC10C1 now. After giving up a Fender Champ 600 5W Tube amp that I sold for dirt cheap last week, I am really focusing on this little 10 Watt now, The VOX AC10C1.

Got one a month ago, dropped in a G10 Vintage series (V30) , Sovtek tubes, an air vent where the tubes sit and changed the resistor at the power tube board and it's simply amazing... Blown away and hands down the best tone I've had. Happiness :)

you're so right about power, i have a custom made 30w Matamp, built like 15 years ago, at the time i was giging a lot, and i thought it would be enough for gigs... i never was able to turn the damn thing up! always with a power attenuator on, and it's heavy as well! Even 10w with tubes is loud! but it's loud enough and lighter than a half stack !

I am playing now for 40 years with lots of different amps. This little amp kicks ass!

This guy is a fantastic reviewer. Plus he seems like a genuinely smart guy and a great player. I’m not a huge strat fan but when he whipped out that Fender i just stank faced like I never had.

Super thorough. Thank you very much!

Been thinking of getting one of these so watched a bunch of reviews. Yours was the best. Good job. Did you end up trying any different speakers with it?

You said the AC15C1 and AC30C2 don't have gain controls. The volume knobs on each channel controls the input stage of the preamp. That's gain. It's the same function as the labeled "gain" knob on the AC10C1. You said the AC30S1 and AC10C1 don't have master volumes. That knob labeled "volume" is a master volume. It comes right before the power amp and affects all channels on the amp, which is just one in this case, so it is essentially a master volume. I'm only commenting because I don't want beginners watching this to be misinformed as to what the knobs on their amps actually do.

Great Video! I‘m just curious what do u think is the better option and value as a home amp? The AC15c1 or the AC10? I like the two channels on the AC15 and think it sounds a little more ”open“. I know Vox amps get really loud, but which one do u think is best for getting good tones at home?

I’ve been on the fence between this and a blues junior iv for a while. I’m leaning AC10 because it sounds amazing dimed BUT when I praise home I’ll mostly be achieving dirt with a TS. Lots of people seem to indicate that blues junior is a better pedal platform (but the jr can sound boxy and the bass is weak). I’m not a huge pedal guy, but I would want to use a TS, and an occasional tremolo and delay. Your TS sounded great to me.

I have two AC10C1's. Split at the pedal to true stereo, I can ping pong back and forth, which is cool but not exactly useful. I am thinking about putting green backs in them. I looked into new valves, but when listening to someone who did both green backs and new valves, he played it with original speakers and valves, greenback and original valves, and new greenbacks and new valves. I really preferred the greeenbacks with original valves. Thanks for the advice on settings, I will be trying rolling bass and treble off completely. I am having some treble issues. This may be my fix. I mostly play a Brian May Signature Jubilee Gold top.

I bought an AC10C1 and thought it sounding boxey and shrill at first. A lot of highs to tame. The amp also has a ton of distortion. I ended up changing tubes to JJ’s with 12AT7’s in both preamp spots. This definitely warmed up the amp and gave me a little more headroom with still enough distortion when cranked. I tried several speakers, VT Jr, Greenback, Jensen C10Q but finally was satisfied with the Jensen Falcon 40. This speaker (to my ears) tamed a lot of the shrill, controlled the bass at loud volumes and still gave it a hifi sparkle. I really like the power and simplicity of the amp and think your review is awesome. Keep them coming!

I know this is 5 months old, but for a speaker upgrade I'd recommend trying the Celestion G10 Creamback 16R. Ceramic approximation of the alnico 12" Creamback and it sounds GREAT in there! No known alnico will fit. Some people have experimented with the Eminence Red Fang RF10C but apparently the magnet diameter makes it a squeeze.

Sounds great with the Stratocaster

I'm really inspired by your playing! I just started not too long ago. How would you suggest I start learning? The intro was so nice!!

Amazing clean tones with the Strat. Not sure I could live without the cut control tho. That distortion is nasty.

You make great content and deserve to have a bigger channel. Peace

Hey Jack, how would you compare a Vox AC 10 vs Fender Blues Jr NOS for bluesy, jazzy and overall clean tones... at home use to be played with a Epiphone Casino ? Much thanks Jack

Auuuuu very good Amps and Stratocastera

Very good information!

This is the first time I have listened to an amp demonstration where the tones sounded like actual iconic recordings from the 60s. I don’t know how Vox does it, they cheapened every aspect of construction for this amp and it comes out sounding like one of the best amps they have ever made, from particle board construction to transistors/tubes hybrid preamp, to that cheap speaker!

Really great video. My ONLY suggestion is to look into the camera.

great great vid ... thanks from Portugal ... just one question .. in your opinion what would it be the best Ac10 setting "clean" to use with pedals ?? thanks so much ... rock on ... i really like to listen all your tips .... thanks for sharing so much knowledge ...

Love the channel and you are my go to guy. What would you recommend for a first home tube amp?. Prob end up getting a couple eventually. Thank you

I am finding with Vox amps, that any complaints about their tone like being farty or whatever can easily be corrected with a pedal. They are for me easily the most versatile amp in tandem with pedals

Thanks for all your advice on amp choice. Love the Vox sound. What about that walnut Gibson, I just love that look, the cherry satin is growing on me, but that walnut is my dream guitar. What model is that?, I only see tribute guitars in walnut anymore. My next guitar is an SG for sure, but I'm working on my Vox head now.

Hi, I really like your playing! I have a vox AC10. Bought it for that classic vox sound. Audio engineer who plays guitar. Rock blues! Squire strat and Tele with EMG 85 pickups. How can I get the vox edge sound losing the darkness without becoming too bright? I think you might have mentioned the strawberry red pedal : I have one on the way. Professional guitarist I know told me to get a Nobles OD1 pedal - which is on the way as well. Will be trying to learn your riffs on guitar! Reaper has a way to slow things down so I can learn. I think you made a great demo. What about attenuators? I just bought a Weber mini mass 50. Pathway: Amp speaker out - mutes the amp speaker - going to the attenuator. Then, Attenuator back to attaching to the speaker either directly or creating a hole with a 3-in circular saw drill bit attachment to attach a backplate with a female switchcraft jack hardwired to the speaker. This professional guitarist is using IR amps, but to me there's nothing like plugging a guitar into my vox AC10 and playing blues riffs! It really reaches into your soul.

I run this live into a celestion 15” fullback and it kills unmiked with a band

Heya, Great video!!! Super helpful Do you think a Catalinbread Dirty Little secret (DLS MKiii) or the Catalinbread RAH will sound good over the VoxAC10 ?? Thanks!

Bought the AC10c and it stopped working after less than 10 hours use. They wont replace it so now I have to hulk the thing across town to get is fixed - Uber fairs + paperwork + pain in the ass. I recommend you consider a different make (wish I had) jeeezzz!

I just want to use the vox in clean with a bossgt100 and give it distortion and delay, would it sound good or better go for an amp with an effects loop?

Too loud while playing at home. Will a volume pedal work as a solution?

Hi Jack. Have you ever tried the AC10 with a Muff or similar Fuzz/Distortion? I'm shopping around for a Vox. Torn between AC-4HW, the stock 10 & and 15. They're all good in their own way, and I loved my old AC15, long sold. Wasn't a pedal guy back when I owned that amp!. Looking to pair a Vox with my Champ clone (6V6, tube rectified) as they occupy complimentary frequency spectrums.

Have you ever tried the stage right 15? I always wondered if an expert guitarist would think of that.

What's your recording equipment for this vid?

Nice review. It's important to know how it works with humbuckers and single-coils. Do you think AC10c1 is suitable for usage in small apartments or I'll need to buy an attenuator to avoid problems with my neighbors?

LOL, I have a buddy who would drag his AC30 to small pub gigs and “dime it”. Best way to clear out a crowded pub!😆

Guys, any here compare the ac10c1 and the ac10c1vsltd?

This vox is good for playing jim hendrix gilmour srv?

Love the strat stuff

Excellent. Thx

I do love my AC 10 but just one question .. every time I play OD fuzz or disto pedals I notice that the amp sounds " BOXY " so how can I solve that?? I'll appreciate someone reply me .. t-you =)

Can you play clean with a drumer and bass player without a mic?

What are your thoughts on 10" speakers. Deal breaker or no big deal? I always hear people say 12" speaker is a must for guitar combos.... But I don't have the room or strength for a AC15

Ac 10 (10 watts, 10 inches speaker) VS ac4 c1-12 (4 watts, 12 inches speaker): for home studio. (Practice, duo jams, recording in a 9X16 ft room) Anybody here has an advice for me? Thanks!!!

Is this a good pedal-plateform amp?

Hi! when you're sayin rolling the treble back ... what do you mean ? Roll the knob to Max or to Min ???!! sorry for asking but my english is not that good and i cant figure wich side you are mentioning when saying "back" is rolling it to max or min ? Thanks so much for your vds ... i'm keen to try those tips on my Ac10 .... Greetings from Portugal

Do you think this has enough volume for playing like clean/light overdrive at small venues. Like on a scale of 1-10 level of overdrive like 4

Hi, they said the ts9 is not good in ac10c1. Is it true?

Agree with chimey analysis

Would this amp sound good with a boss me-70?

which do you like better the Supro 12 or this Vox...I am leaning toward the Supro...10 vs 12?

How will a wampler plexi deluxe sound through a vox ac 10? Any good?

Love the tone from both guitars. This or the vt100x. Ugggggh. Leaning towards ac10.

No Treble Pickup on the SG? No Paperback writer or Day Tripper, Kinks etc licks?

Amp goes great with a 10 inch celestion greenback

I have a theory about players that want really high headroom amps. In this day in age of do it everything pedals, they want absolutely no breakup coming from the amp when they are driving it with pedals. But guys that use tubescreamers understand it’s the marriage of the pedal clipping and some amp breakup that is glorious

Which would you rather have the vox ac10 or the fender superchamp x2?

I think the correct term would be "Jangle"... is what we are looking for in the naming.

Nice video. Tubescreamer over treble booster for this amp?

Would you say it sounds more salty or tangy?

Why does my ibanez TS9 and catalinbread sabbra caddabra sound so crap on my vox ac15 with a Gibson sg

how do u look tiny compared to an sg theyre so Little

Nice! Is it good for gigging?

Mate I’m about to buy this amp and guess what! I have the exact same strat as you too haha. Fender in candy red 😂 funny coincidence 🤣

Does anyone know if you can get some good metal rythm guitar tones out of this? Perhaps with a pedal like the proco rat 2?

The tone knob is your friend! Listen to this guy, far easier to manipulate your volume and tone instead of you always on 10 guys - then your like nuts swapping speakers, etc trying to achieve your tone.

Best value tube amp. Switch out the cheap stock made in China tubes for JJs to give this amp noticably more bass and better volume. My Fender 65 PRRI with Eminence Copperhead speaker isn't loud enough to hang with a drummer but my AC10c1 can. This amps gain dial can be used to blend with drive pedals. The Vox made AC10c1 amp cover is only $30- theres this unique flap on top of the cover that slides underneath the amp handle where other amps get that exposed rectangle of dust on top. We can tell a lot of development went into the Vox AC10c1. It weighs a mere 27 pounds. I watched some RU-vid videos that reccomended changing out its factory speaker for a Celestion Greenback. I tried that; the amps tone lost its all its high end which made it sound more like a hemp cone speaker. The factory speaker is the right match. If you're buying your first tube amp, get this one. Its got the power and portability you're looking for plus gain. The digital reverb effect it has isn't that great. Try the EQD Dispatch Master Reverb and delay with it and you'll be satisfied. People talk about an overdrive pedal made in New Zealand called the Hotcake, they say it was designed for Vox Amps. I really like the JHS Moonshine v1 and the Paul Cochrane Timmy and EQD Westwood pedal with this amp

Wish woody Allen did amp reviews

I have an AC4 and an AC10 , if you want a Vox driven sound for the home , go for The AC4. Even then you’re better off getting the TV version with built in attenuators. But that amp mimics the normal channel, not the top boost channels of the AC4 and AC10 custom line of amps. These amps are loud!!!

Very articulate

Can you crank this loud enough at relatively clean volumes to jam with a drummer?

Hey jack would you say this is ideal for a small church set up?

"Jangly" so tired of hearing jangly. I have had this amp for 3 years and I absolutely love it. And I WAS a Vox HATER, so I went in to it plugging in just to fairly eliminate it. I kept coming back to it. I took it home. And I've never looked back.

Every Vox sounds like a Vox, that is why they make the "Cut" control is what is essential to cut the high end.