VOX mini superbeetle 25 stack
first play
25
september 2018 Guitarist
Vox AC30S1 Combo & mini Superbeetle 25 StACk
The semi-closed back cabinet means the
valves aren’t so easy to get to, but this is the
case with many AC30 variants. The combo
features a single input, feeding controls for
gain, bass, treble, master volume and reverb.
There’s a simple series effects loop on
the rear panel together with an extension
speaker outlet, and that’s your lot with this
‘back to basics’ version.
As with the Mini Superbeetle, the AC30S1
has an energy-saving power supply that
switches the amp off if no audio is detected
for around 15 minutes. Thankfully, there’s
a small switch to turn this function off. The
power toggle switch has been replaced with
a momentary action type that operates a
relay, which feels a little odd at first, but we
quickly got used to it.
Overall, both amps are built to the
typically high standards we’ve come to
expect from Vox today: built to last as well
as looking great.
Sounds
We auditioned both amps with a variety of
guitars, including a Gibson Custom Shop
’63 ES-335, a PAF-loaded Les Paul and our
Duncan Alnico Pro-loaded Strat. Like all
cathode-biased amps, the AC30S1 takes
a little while for its voltages to stabilise.
After a few minutes though, initial hum
fades away and the amp is remarkably
quiet. The controls are deceptively simple,
with a wide range of gain and tone that
makes it easy to dial in any guitar. Low gain
settings produce slightly boxy mids and a
medium-fast attack, evoking many classic
pop instrumentals from the 60s, especially
when mixed with Vox’s digital spring
reverb. This effect is excellent and matches
many studio effect/plugins for quality, with
a range that goes from natural background
ambience to full-on cavern. Even with the
level control maxed out, the effect doesn’t
overpower the guitar and works well for
authentic 60s guitar sounds. If you pick
‘Marvin style’, using the bridge pickup of a
Strat and holding the trem with your little
finger so the pick is roughly over the neck
pickup, any decent delay in the AC30S1’s
effects loop will get you a satisfyingly
authentic Shadows sound.
Take the reverb off, add a little more
gain and you’ll find a perfect Beatles Top
Boost jangle, which sounds superb with
our ES-335. Pushing up the gain to about
halfway takes you into the Blues Invasion
era, with a singing sustain and a touch-
sensitive toothy attack that compliments
any guitar. It’s ideal for blues players
looking for a slightly more aggressive edge
to their tone, compared to the regular
‘benchmark’ tweed sound. Diming the gain
and tones comes very close to classic Queen,
with maybe a touch more gain needed for
lower output pickups. The single Celestion
VX12 speaker in this near closed-back
cabinet produces plenty of volume and
bottom end, with a slightly more focused
treble when you listen on-axis compared
to a 2x12 enclosure.
The Mini Superbeetle might be
quite different internally but it sounds
surprisingly similar, with slightly less
bottom-end, yet still delivering a satisfying
crunch, together with volume levels out of
all proportion to its size. The volume comes
from the Mini’s special Class D output stage,
while the clever Nutube 6P1 provides the
elusive feel and dynamics of a real valve,
because it is one. The Nutube is also used
for the Mini Superbeetle’s sweet-sounding
tremolo effect, which adds considerably to
the stack’s vintage vibe.
A single 10-inch loudspeaker taking 25
watts is more than enough for home use,
while connecting the Superbeetle to a
pair of 8 ohm cabinets will allow the amp
to deliver its full 50-watt output. The EQ
switch on the rear panel is handy when
using the head with other cabinets, taming
the boosted bass response for a tight and
very contemporary tone.
The Mini Superbeetle
has a built-in Nutube-
powered tremolo
circuit for authentic
vintage sounds
Video demo http://bit.ly/guitaristextra
GIT437.rev_vox.indd 25 08/08/2018 16:06