Best VOX Amp for Worship Teams (Our Top Pick)
The VOX AC15C1
For the best balance of tone quality, features, and price, I'd recommend going with the AC15C1, which gets you the classic VOX tone with two channels in and around the $800 mark, which gives you a lot of good clean tones as a base-layer for effects commonly used in church worship bands.
Image via VOX Amplification
VOX amplifiers give us a more of a vintage tone profile, almost like a Marshall, but with a little more brightness and a little less edge. They're not aggressive by any stretch, and typically aren't know for heavy gain or distortion, perfect for the ambient tones that Christian worship music typically likes to layer with electric guitar.
But, if you're looking for that brightness and vintage sound, you may have settled on a VOX amp as your best option.
This article is about helping you figure out which one of the bunch is going to be most ideal for you.
Because even when you settle on a brand, there tends to be a lot of additional options to consider.
In this article, we'll help you sort through the best VOX amps for your situation.
How we chose which VOX amps to recommend
Our recommendations are based on personal experience and actually playing testing/these amplifiers. We're also focusing on a handful of features that are important when buying guitar amps, namely the following:
- Tube circuit
- EQ flexibility
- Overall tone quality
- Additional features (i/o, effects loop, etc.)
3 Best VOX Amps Electric Guitarist on Worship Teams
Amp | Model | Rate | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
 | VOX AC15C1 | 82.3 | |
 | VOX AC10C1 | 81.3 | |
 | VOX VT40X | 73.2 |
1. VOX AC15C1 (intermediate players)
BEST FOR: Clean tones, set and forget
TONE
83
VERSATILITY
78
CONTROL
78
COST/VALUE
87
- Dual channels are nice
- Tone is a great for fans of brighter EQs
- Clean tones sound awesome
- Reverb and trem are both onboard
- Tube-powered at both power and preamp levels
- Not much control in the way of EQ for either preamp channel
The VOX AC15C1 is a 15 watt tube-powered combo amp with a bright and crisp tone profile, along with two channels for a decent amount of flexibility. The two channels are listed as Normal and Top Boost, though the normal channel only allows you to change volume. Here's what the control panel looks like with both the preamp and power amp:
Controls on the VOX AC15C1 top panel.
You can also tweak reverb and tremolo effects, along with a master volume and tone control.
However, it's still one of the more limited dual-channel amplifiers we've reviewed, where we'd like to see some additional control, and perhaps a mids knob. Though it's worth mentioning that the overall tone of the amp is quite good, especially if you often play through a clean signal.
It's brighter and brisk, which is part of the appeal of VOX amps, so if that's the sound you're looking for and you don't plan to do a lot of EQ tweaking, the AC15C1 is probably your best-value option of the entire VOX roster.
2. VOX AC10C1 (beginner to intermediate)
BEST FOR: Clean tones, set and forget
TONE
83
VERSATILITY
75
CONTROL
73
COST/VALUE
88
- Clean tone sounds great
- Simple control scheme and setup
- Reverb is a treat
- Hard to get a warm tone out of it
- Not very flexible
This amp drops you down to one channel with a two-band EQ, which is again a very limited control scheme. Here's a look at the top panel:
Controls for the VOX AC10C1 are fairly limited.
You have gain to control your preamp volume, which is nice. But then just the two-band EQ before you get to the power amp controls of master volume and reverb.
If you're a fan of simple amps with set-it-and-forget-it potential, the AC10C1 could be a great fit for you, particularly if you use pedals to implement more control over your sound.
But if you're after flexibility and versatility, the AC10C1 is probably too limiting.
Another note:
You'll need to mic this amp if you want to run the sound elsewhere, though the same is true of the AC15C1.
3. VOX VT40x (beginners just starting on worship teams)
BEST FOR: Effects, amp modeling, living room practice, and beginners.
TONE
79
VERSATILITY
82
CONTROL
85
COST/VALUE
87
- More versatility
- Brings back the midrange knob
- Ups it to four channels
- Plenty of versatility
- DSP models of tube VOX amps
- Tone isn't as good as the tube-powered VOX amps
- No direct or line out?
Valvetronix is the VOX answer to the modeling amp craze, and their version of the Fender Mustang and Marshall CODE series. Here's a quick look at the top control panel:
The top panel for the VOX Valvetronix modeling amp.
I'm more comfortable recommending the VOX Valvetronix series as a beginner amplifier, just because modeling isn't the first thing you think of when you hear the VOX brand name. But the VT40x is a solid amplifier that can deliver some of the VOX vibe with models of popular VOX amps, and the flexibility that some people might miss from those nicer models.
If you aren't dying on the tube power hill, the VT40x is a good, low-cost compromise that'll save you money and get you a more versatile control scheme. Think beginner and/or someone just looking for an amp for bedroom jamming or living room practice.
Closeup of some of the amp models on the VT40x. Flickr Commons image via PAH
VOX Amp Tone Characteristics
As we've seen with some of these examples, VOX amplifiers are generally characterized by the following tone qualities:
- Vintage
- Bright
- Clean
That's the type of tone you're looking for as a worship team guitar player, so VOX is going to be a great fit for you and you'll be pretty happy with the resulting sound. This will - of course - also depend on the type of guitar and perhaps the effects pedals you have set up.
Loud enough for church?
One common question about VOX amps is this: Are they loud enough for larger church sanctuaries or even just gigging in general? Since they usually don't come with a line out, I'll assume they'll be mic'd or simply on a smaller stage, in which case they're usually going to be plenty loud for a church sanctuary. But here's some additional context for three of the amps we've covered.
VOX AC15
The VOX AC15 is a 15 watt tube amplifier that's loud enough for small sanctuaries, or perhaps medium-sized venues if you have a robust mic'ing setup and a PA system. Granted, a good mic setup will be enough for large churches too. That goes for pretty much any amp.
VOX AC10
With the AC10, you have 10 watts of power which is fine for small to mid-sized churches and sanctuaries.
VOX VT40
The VT40 is a solid state amp that - unfortunately - does not have a direct or line out. However, it is a 40 watt amplifier, giving you some added power and volume. We don't like the VT40 for medium-sized or large churches, but using it in small spaces is workable.
What Features to Look For
The features we pay the most attention to in amplifiers (in general) is the number of channels, the control scheme, and the source of power at both the preamp and power amp level.
- How many channels are there?
- How much control does it offer?
- What powers the preamp? (tube or solid state)
- What powers the power amp? (tube or solid state)
These same features apply to VOX amps as well, whether you're playing on a worship team or elsewhere.
Which styles do they work with?
What other styles are VOX amps best suited for? Generally speaking, we like VOX for the following styles/genres/scenarios:
- Contemporary church music
- Blues
- Jazz
- Pop
- Light rock
We don't like VOX amps for heavier styles or music that uses a lot of distortion. In our experience using VOX amps, that's just not where they're most comfortable. But anytime you're going to be playing a lot of clean tones, the VOX amp can potentially be a good fit.
Cost and Value
Perhaps because of their longstanding reputation and iconic appeal, VOX amps can tend to be somewhat over-priced. We don't mind that in some situations, but it just depends on what you value as a guitar player and consumer and whether or not that's worth it to you. Do you care about the vintage appeal of the VOX brand?
Are you set on bright and clean tones that are driven by raw tube power? If that's the case, you might be well served by VOX amplifiers, even with the unyielding price tags.
However, fans of modern distortion who don't care for vintage-style amps aren't going to be as happy, even if they get a deal on something like the AC15. It just isn't going to fit their style.
So if you're trying to determine value, think about how well the VOX amps fit into your list of must-haves and your musical preferences.
If it's a good fit, the extra expense might be worth it.
Questions about VOX amps?
Do you have questions about our roundup of VOX amps, or electric guitar gear for worship guitarist in general? Maybe you disagree with our picks? If so, it's fair game in the comments section. Drop us a line there and we'll chat about it. See you then.
More Guitar Amp Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Amps & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Amps & Roundups
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I have an Ac10C1. Granted I did a tube and speaker swap but with a clean boost pedal I am getting great hard rock distortion when need be. Mesa Boogie preamp tubes and a Celestion Creamback. Amp sounds awesome!
Whoa. I never would have thought but that sounds awesome! 😆🤘🏻
I have a Vox Dupebeetle ( brit flag edition) i play metal and rock, blues with it its an awesome amp I’ve gigged with it and it gets really good dirty gritty sound . but yeah the others i agree on though I’ve gigged with an AC 30 as well
Hey Jayme – that’s cool that you can get a metal tone of that thing. Strikes me as very bluesy and vintage-leaning. Thanks for sharing.
I have an AC 15 C1 and I get lovely overdriven tones with pedals like a Tube Screamer. Also crank up the Top Boost volume and control the master volume. Very nice tube distortion.