Timeless Tone for Today
Don't be fooled by its size – the VOX AC4 has been a powerful studio tool across music history. With the AC4 Hand-Wired, that legacy lives on – reborn with painstaking attention to vintage accuracy and updated with modern refinements that make it perfect for the studio, home practice, and small gigs.
This is more than a reissue. It's a complete reconstruction of a vintage legend – hand-wired and fine-tuned to bring the '60s sound back to life. Featuring hand-wired circuitry, custom transformers, and vintage-accurate cabinet construction, this amplifier aligns classic British tone with modern necessities including bypass-able master volume, a transparent effects loop, and custom-voiced spring reverb.
Now, the unmistakable sound of a vintage VOX is finally within reach. Built for vintage enthusiasts, aficionados, and modern players alike. The AC4 Hand-Wired delivers the unmistakable voice of VOX!
Vintage Tone, Meticulously Recreated
Unlike typical single-ended 4-watt amps that produce a fuzzy distortion when pushed, the AC4 Hand-Wired takes a completely different approach. To capture the signature VOX sound, our engineers intentionally added a phase inverter stage, not typically found in a single-ended design. This allows the amp to generate the same push-pull-style harmonics as larger VOX models, preserving the essential character that defines the AC series. The phase inverter distortion is different from preamp overdrive, imparting a texture and openness that simply can't be replicated with pedals alone.
The AC4 Hand-Wired goes beyond schematic replication to recreate essential details like this, ensuring the amp responds with the same musicality and depth as its '60s predecessors. This recreation started with sourcing and analyzing an original 1962 AC4, measuring its precise electrical behavior, and mapping out the subtleties in its performance. As a result, the AC4 Hand-Wired features a newly-designed power circuit that recreates the classic voltage "sag". This subtle drop under heavy playing can change the overall feel of the amp in the player's fingertips, creating natural compression and sustain. But while vintage amps are prone to ghost notes and noise, the AC4 Hand-Wired delivers the right feel while remaining quiet and reliable.
A critical piece of the vintage puzzle is the output transformer. The AC4 Hand-Wired uses a custom-wound transformer developed through rigorous prototyping, capturing the bell-like highs and complex harmonic layering that makes every note bloom. The subtle winding variations affect the midrange character and saturation behavior, so no effort was spared to match the magic of the 1963 original.
Another innovation lies in the use of slight negative feedback, inspired by the 1959 AC6. While classic VOX amps are known for lacking negative feedback, VOX engineers cleverly applied just a touch in the AC4 Hand-Wired, maintaining the amp's clarity and balance even at low volumes, without sacrificing the lively VOX character.
Vintage Cabinet Resonance
Looks can be deceiving. While many assume vintage AC4s were built with heavy wood panels, our research revealed otherwise. The AC4 Hand-Wired features a 9mm birch ply cabinet to match the specs of '60s models, enhancing resonance and creating an open, three-dimensional feel.
Paired with a single 12" Celestion G12M Greenback speaker, the cabinet sings with the warmth and sparkle that defined countless rock recordings.
The Iconic VOX Voice
The AC4 Hand-Wired features the classic Top Boost channel, delivering the chime and drive that have shaped the sound of VOX over the decades. The separate Treble, Bass, and Volume controls offer precise tonal shaping, letting you dial in anything from crystalline jangle to full-bodied crunch.
True to its heritage, this amp remains touch-sensitive, expressive, and harmonically complex, whether you're clean or cranked.
FET-Driven Spring Reverb, Refined
Unlike amps with limited reverb circuits, the AC4 Hand-Wired features a genuine spring reverb driven through a FET stage, chosen for its minimal coloration and tube-like performance. The dedicated output transformer is designed specifically for matching the impedance of these signals, delivering lush, present reverb tones. Dial in your sound with the reverb's Level control, and use the included footswitch for instant reverb bypass.
Transparent, Pedalboard-Ready FX Loop
Modern players demand flexibility, and the AC4 Hand-Wired delivers with a FET-buffered effects loop designed for maximum clarity. Unlike effect loops that color your tone, the FET circuitry provides transparency – keeping your modulation and time-based effects pristine, even when the amp is pushed into overdrive. And for purists, it’s fully bypass-able.
Compact Yet Powerful
Despite its modest 4-watt output via a single EL84 power tube, the AC4 Hand-Wired offers clean headroom, while still delivering glorious breakup when driven. Combined with the innovative circuitry and upgraded transformer, it delivers a sonic footprint beyond that of its size.
It's the perfect choice for players who crave authentic VOX tones at volumes suitable for home studios, rehearsals, or intimate live performances.
Timeless Craftsmanship and Style
From the copper control panel to the brass vent grills and classic VOX badge, the AC4 Hand-Wired is a celebration of VOX’s unmatched heritage. It's not just an amp - it's a piece of rock history reborn for today's guitarist.
Plug in, turn up and experience the legendary tone of VOX.
