Vox AC4HWR1 Hand-Wired AC4 1x12” Combo Amp – Black

Information

Brand New with Warranty. We are an authorized Vox Dealer.

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.

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.

Specifications

Output Power: 4W RMS into 8/16Ω

Tube complement: ECC83/12AX7 x 2, EL84 x 1

Speaker: 12” 16Ω Celestion G12M Greenback

Inputs: INPUT ¼" jacks (HIGH and LOW), FOOT SWITCH ¼" jack, RETURN ¼" jack

Outputs: EXTERNAL SPEAKER ¼" jack, SEND ¼" jack

Controls: Volume, Treble, Bass, Reverb Level, Master Volume

Reverb: Spring Reverb

Effects Loop: Yes

Included items: Power cable, owner’s manual

Dimensions: 24.02 x 14.96 x 21.61 inches

Weight: 35.86 lbs