Gearank

Gearank High Notes

• 2020.07: Equal Highest Rated Combo Tube Guitar Amp Up To 15 Watts
  Tied With:
  Vox AC15C1
  Vox AC15C1X
  Fender '57 Custom Champ
  

• 2019.07: Equal Highest Rated Combo Tube Guitar Amp Up To 15 Watts
  Tied With:
  Vox AC15C1X
  

• 2017.12: Equal Highest Rated Combo Tube Guitar Amp Up To 15 Watts
  Tied With:
  Vox AC15C1
  Vox AC15C1X
  Fender Blues Junior III Lacquered Tweed
  Fender '57 Custom Champ
  

Gearank Recommendation

The AC4HW1 appeared on our recommended list for Low Watt Combo Tube Amps when we first published it in December 2017 and it remained there until February 2022.

Overview

The Vox AC4HW1 is a low-wattage, hand-wired tube amp.

Amps that are hand-wired feature connections that are all wired in a chain with one another, as opposed to being wired to a circuit board.

Because early amps were hand-wired, tonal purists feel that hand-wired connections give a more organic sound.

This is in part due to the component legs and wire being made of solid cores that have less resistance and therefore preserve more harmonic content in the circuit.

The Vox AC4HW1 ships with a 12” Celestion GM12 Greenback speaker which is uncommon, but very welcome, for amplifiers in this power range.

The portability and tone make it a great amp for coffee shop gigs where the music doesn't have to be loud.

With boutique construction paired with a great sounding speaker, the AC4HW1 is a luxurious studio or bedroom amplifier that supplies you with great British tube amp tone at manageable levels.

As with amplifiers at this wattage, live use may be limited unless miked up properly and fed to a monitor mix but what it lacks in stage volume, it makes up with juicy saturated tones.

Specifications

• Power Rating: 4-Watts
• Preamp Tube(s): 2x 12AX7
• Poweramp Tube(s): 1 x EL84
• Speaker: 12” Celestion Gm12 Greenback
• Cabinet: Closed
• Controls: Volume, Treble, Bass, Hot/Cool Switch, Master Volume
• Input(s): High, Low
• Output(s): Speaker Out
• Weight: 29.74 lbs

Demo