The TC Electronic DC30 is a preamp pedal that models a Vox AC30, one of the AmpWorx Vintage series of preamp pedals the company built around classic '60s tube amps12. It sits alongside the Combo Deluxe '65, which models a black panel Fender Deluxe, and the JIMS 45, which models a Marshall JTM4512. Guitar World reported that each pedal in the series "has been carefully designed to emulate a vintage '60s tube amp"2. It is a preamp pedal in the speaker simulation territory too, since it carries a built-in speaker impulse response for direct recording.
What it does
The DC30 puts an AC30-style preamp on the board: two channels, Normal and Brilliant, each with its own gain control, in the same arrangement as the UAFX Ruby '634. A Cut control acts as a low pass filter altering the treble cut for the emulated power amp section, which is how the original amp tamed its top end6. Pedal of the Day counts seven parameters in total for dialing in a sound3.
The second footswitch activates a boost, a feature MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley noted the DC30 shares with the Marshall-esque JIMS 454.
For recording without a guitar cab, the D.I. options integrate the official Celestion Digital impulse response of a 2x12 Celestion Alnico Blue combo37. Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen put it plainly: "the DC30 gets the correct 2x12 Celestion Alnico Blue combo speaker simulation"7.
Design and controls
The AmpWorx Vintage pedals wear period-style hardware: Guitar World noted the DC30 gets chickenhead control knobs, gold for the JIMS45 and witch's hat for the Combo Deluxe '652.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Normal gain | Gain control for the Normal channel4 |
| Brilliant gain | Gain control for the Brilliant channel4 |
| Cut | Low pass filter altering the treble cut for the emulated power amp section6 |
| Second footswitch | Activates a boost4 |
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's Rob Laing compared the DC30 directly with the UAFX Ruby '63 and found that "in direct comparison with the deep dive AC30 experience of the UAFX Ruby '63 the DC30 sounds thinner in stock form," though significantly less so when paired with a Powercab's Essex speaker model and an uploaded impulse response from a 1964 AC306. Pedal of the Day treated it as part of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals, highlighting the seven parameters and the Celestion D.I. options3.
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Questions
What amp does the TC Electronic DC30 model?
The DC30 is a preamp pedal designed to emulate a vintage '60s tube amp, specifically a Vox AC30. It is part of TC Electronic's AmpWorx Vintage series of preamp pedals, alongside the Combo Deluxe '65, which models a black panel Fender Deluxe, and the JIMS 45, which models a Marshall JTM45.
Does the DC30 work as a direct recording preamp?
Yes. The pedal's D.I. options integrate the official Celestion Digital impulse response of a 2x12 Celestion Alnico Blue combo, and Guitar World's reviewer noted that the DC30 gets the correct 2x12 Celestion Alnico Blue combo speaker simulation. That lets you run it straight into an interface or PA without a guitar speaker.
What does the second footswitch do on the DC30?
On the DC30, the second footswitch activates a boost. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley noted that on the Marshall-esque JIMS 45 and the Vox-y DC30, those second footswitches activate a boost.
Sources (7)
- TC Electronic Ampworx Combo Deluxe 65, DC 30 And Jims 45, Delicious Audio, 2023-08-07
- TC Electronic's first guitar amp modeler pedals package classic Fender, Marshall and Vox tones with Celestion IRs, Guitar World, 2023-06-29
- TC Electronic Ampworx DC30 Preamp, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2023-11-04
- TC Electronic is packing the value and guitar amp sounds of the '60s in its Ampworx Vintage Series preamp pedals, MusicRadar, 2023-06-28
- TC Electronic Ampworx Vintage Series: Classic '60s amps in a pedal, gearnews.com, 2023-06-28
- TC Electronic Ampworx Vintage Series Combo Deluxe 65', DC30, and JIMS 45 preamp pedals review, MusicRadar, 2023-09-19
- TC Electronic AmpWorx Series, Guitar World, 2024-11-18
