The Vox AC30C2 and Fender Deluxe Reverb are two classic guitar amplifiers that have been used by musicians for decades. Both offer a range of tonal options and have a strong reputation in the music industry.
In this article, we will compare the two amps and help you decide which one is the best choice for you based on your needs and preferences. So, let’s dive in and see which of these two iconic amps comes out on top.
Specification
| Attribute | Fender Deluxe Reverb | VOX AC30C2 |
| Price | Check the Current Price of the Fender Deluxe Reverb | Check the Current Price of the VOX AC30C2 |
| Type | Tube | Tube |
| Number of Channels | 2 (normal, vibrato) | 2 |
| Total Power | 22 W | 30 W |
| Speaker Size | 1 x 12” | 2 x 12” |
| Preamp Tubes | 2 x 12AT7s, 4 x 12AX7 | 3 x 12AX7 |
| Power-Amp Tubes | 2 x 6V6 | 4 x EL84 |
| Effects | Yes (Reverb) | Yes (Reverb, Tremolo) |
| EQ | 2-band | 2-band |
| Inputs | 2 x instrument (normal), 2 x instrument (vibrato) | 4 x ¼” (high/low normal, high/low top boost) |
| Outputs | 2 x speaker | 2 x ¼” (8/16 ohms) |
| Effects Loop | No | Yes |
| Footswitch I/O | 1 x ¼” (reverb, vibrato) | 1 x ¼” (channel, reverb) |
| Footswitch Included | Yes, 2-button footswitch | No (sold separately) |
| Dimension (H x W x D)” | (17.5 x 24.5 x 9.5)” | (21.89 x 27.64 x 10.43)” |
| Weight | 42 lbs | 70.99lbs |
Similarities Between the Fender Deluxe Reverb and the VOX AC30C2
When you compare the Fender Deluxe Reverb (Amazon) and the VOX AC30C2 (also on Amazon), you will realize that they share a few similarities.
Firstly, these two guitar amps have the same number of channels. They are designed to have two channels inside them. The two channels offered by the Fender Deluxe Reverb are a Normal channel and a Vibrato channel.
The VOX AC30C2 is also a two-channel amp with a normal and top boost channel.
Another similarity that exists between these two guitar amplifiers is that they have the same preamp inside them. Both guitar amps have the popular 12AX7 preamp tubes built into them.
However, there is a variation in the total number of 12AX7 preamp tubes found in both guitar amps. I will speak more about this later in this article.
Finally, both devices come equipped with 12-inch speakers built into their cabinets that deliver a wide range of sounds across both bass and low-mid frequencies.
Differences Between the Fender Deluxe Reverb and VOX AC30C2
These are the key differences that exist between the Fender Deluxe Reverb and the VOX AC30C2 guitar amplifiers.
Number and Type of Speakers
One of the main differences between these VOX AC30C2 and the Fender Deluxe Reverb is the number and type of speakers found inside them.
The Fender Deluxe Reverb comes with a single speaker inside it. This speaker is a 12-inch 8-ohm Jensen C-12K speaker and is known for articulating a very clean guitar sound. This traditional Jensen speaker produces a cool vintage-style breakup when pushed. This speaker is driven by a power rating of 22W.
Unlike the Fender Deluxe Reverb, which has only one speaker inside it, the VOX AC30C2 is built to have two speakers. This VOX AC30C2 comes with a pair of 8-ohm Celestion G12M Greenbacks speakers that are 12″ in size as well.
These Celestion Greenbacks speakers are known to produce clean sound even when they are overdriven.
In addition to this, the sound produced by these speakers produces glimpses and vibes associated with rock sounds of the 60s. However, unlike the Fender Deluxe Reverb’s speakers, which are driven by a power rating of 22W, the VOX AC30C2’s speakers are driven by a power rating of 40W.
Preamp and Power Amp Tubes
As I mentioned earlier in this article, these two guitar amps are designed to have 12AX7 preamp tubes in them. Though the same type of preamp tube can be found in these two amps, the total number found in both amps is not the same.
The Fender Deluxe Reverb has four 12AX7 tubes for pre-amplification and tremolo oscillation. In addition to all these four 12AX7, the Fender Deluxe Reverb is designed to have two 12AT7 preamp tubes that drive reverb and phase inverter circuits.
On the other hand, the VOX AC30C2 comes with three 12AX7 tubes. Apart from this 12AX7 preamp tube, it comes with no additional preamp. This means the total number of 12AX7 preamp tubes found in the Fender Deluxe Reverb is more than what is found in the VOX AC30C2.
When it comes to power amps, the Fender Deluxe Reverb is powered by a pair of 6V6 Groove Tubes power output tubes. In plain terms, it comes with two 6V6 power tubes. On the other hand, the VOX AC30C2 has been designed to have four EL84 power amp tubes.
Tonal Output Differences
Another difference that exists between these two amps is the tone they produce. This difference in their output tones can be attributed to variations in their preamp tubes and power amp tubes.
As is to be expected, the Fender Deluxe Reverb produces classic fender clean tones. Thus, it has the same tonal richness and dynamics that you would expect from the tubes of Fender amps.
The tones it produces are full, snappy, and crystalline. This makes the Fender Deluxe Reverb ideal for blues, rock, and country players.
On the other hand, like all VOX guitar amps, the VOX AC30C2 produces the characteristic powerful, jangly, and punchy bright sound that VOX amps are known for. It produces sweet, warm overdrives and edgy overtones with rich distortions that are typical of British invasion tones.
Power Rating
Guitar amps run on electricity. Their power rating is the amount of power they use per hour of work. This power is directly proportional to how loud the amps can be driven. The Fender Deluxe Reverb has a power rating of 22 W. This means that it is driven by 22 watts of power.
The power rating of the VOX AC30C2 is greater than that of the Fender Deluxe Reverb. It is driven by a power rating of 30 watts.
The fact that the Deluxe Reverb is driven by only 22 watts of power means it is not as loud as the VOX AC30C2, which is driven by 30 watts of power. This makes the Fender Deluxe Reverb a moderately powered amp that can be cranked very high without distortion.
Which One Should You Buy? My Opinion
The Fender Deluxe Reverb and the VOX AC30C2 are both nice guitar amplifiers to own and use. They have unique and amazing qualities. Which one you should buy will be primarily influenced by what you intend to use it for.
If you love the classic VOX tone used by many legends, then, by all means, you should go for the VOX AC30. This is an amp that is loved by many guitar players and has been used on so many records by the Beatles, and Jimmy Page, among others.
Another thing worth mentioning about the AC30C2 is that it works really well with pedals. With the Effects Loop port, you can bypass the amp’s preamp staging and run your pedals directly into the power amp section of the VOX AC30C2. That might be another reason to consider the AC30.
However, personally, I am drawn to guitar amplifiers that are extremely versatile and can be used both at home and for gigging. Due to this, I would choose the Fender Deluxe Reverb (Amazon).
The Fender Deluxe Reverb’s tone cuts through the mix and is very user-friendly. And this is one of the reasons why it’s so popular. This is also an amp that works extremely well with pedals, and you can literally get any tone out of this amp with the help of pedals.
I like how Jack Fossett displayed the versatility of the Fender Deluxe Reverb in his video. Check it out below.
As I mentioned earlier in this article, the Fender Deluxe Reverb has a relatively low power rating of 22 watts. The fact that the Fender Deluxe Reverb is moderately powered makes it ideal for home practice.
That notwithstanding, it can also be used for small and medium gigs because, in a smaller venue, you will definitely hear yourself through the Deluxe Reverb clearly.
Unfortunately, due to its low wattage headroom, it struggles when used in large venues when you don’t mike them. This is because it struggles when you crank it high above its sweet spot of volume level 7.
Therefore, if you intend to use it at large venues, then you should definitely capture its sound with a mic. As long as you mike the Fender Deluxe at large venues, you should have no issues with going in for the Fender Deluxe.
Another point is the lightweight of the Fender Deluxe Reverb makes it easy to carry and move around. On the other hand, the VOX AC30C2 is quite huge and heavy, thus is difficult to carry if you have no one to lend a helping hand.
In addition to its heavy weight, the VOX AC30C2 is also tremendously loud, making it unsuitable for home practice. This means it is best used in both medium and large-sized venues.
To end it all, if you are in the market for a guitar amplifier that can give you a pure Fender tone without demanding lots of wattage, the Fender Deluxe Reverb is the right choice for you. This guitar amp has a great tonal response that gives you nice full clean tones whenever needed.
However, the VOX AC30C2 offers an amazing tone and is extremely versatile as well. With this amp, you can easily produce any tone imaginable, right from jangling, reverb, distortion, and heavy overdrive as well. It is a powerful amplifier that provides a wide range of tones.
Conclusion
The Fender Deluxe is one of the most used guitar amplifiers. It was used by many rock and roll, funk, and country players, including The Beatles, during the late 60s. If you prefer British-voiced tones and expect classic old-school British crunch from
Hello, I’m Elijah. A writer on Geek Musician, based in Ghana-West Africa. I am a writer with a passion for research and reading. I usually spend my free time playing chess or watching movies. For more info, check out my about me page. Or read more of my articles here.