That particular type was made between 1974 and 1979 by Vox Sound Limited, a company owned by Dallas Arbiter. Bit of history here.It wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that the serial number indicates that yours is a November 1975 example. Nov 29, 2016 Download Vox Ac 15 Serial Numbers free. 0 Comments Vintage Vox amplifier collection. Vintage Vox amplifier collection for sale. The amplifiers. And other equipment pictured on. Vox amplifiers. Vox, WEM and Meazzi echo and reverb.
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Any Vintage Vox amp experts out there? I've been been working on this amp for my good friend. We're trying to find the proper date of production for it. There are no markings (serial numbers, back plate etc.) to help. All I can tell is that it's an AC30/6 Normal circuit, no Top Boost. The circuit is hand wired on a tag board, had original Mullard output/preamp tubes. The speakers are Greenback Celestions along with a high frequency horn.
I'm assuming that's not original, though it's a clean install which could be factory installed. I tried researching it on the voxshowroom.com site. It doesn't match the criteria of any Rose Morris amp.
What gives?IMG/IMGIMG/IMGIMG/IMG. I work on original AC-30's all the time. I can not see your photos.
The originals should have Blue alnico Celestions up until April 1964 when the colour changed to 'poly gray'. There are date codes on some parts, mainly the Wima Tropyfol caps(gold coloured) and also on the 'mustard' caps, woden Tranny's & Hunts filter Caps. The AC-30 never had a high freq. Those were the AC50's that had a horn.
But JMI/Vox never made an AC-50 combo.Anyway, until I can see some photos I can't give you any clue as to when it was made, however since it's a non-Top Boost, it will have to have been made before late 1965. Vox/JMI made these models: Bass, Normal, Treble, Top Boost and all model w/o Top Boost could be retro-fitted with a Top Boost on the back panel. There should be a 'Ser.#' on the chassis under the power switch. This Is Not the actual Serial number, but an inventory control #. All JMI/Vox Amps had a Serial Number on the plate that was affixed to the back panel of the cabinet. That was the only Serial Number that was recognized by the factory. AC30 Serial numbers started with the number #4000 and JMI made around 20,000 AC-30's.
My first AC30 was serial # 4290 W. It had a 'W' as it had white knobs and was one of 'The Shadow's' amps and made in early 1960. My serial # for my Aug.
1964 AC30 is '#12911 N' So by mid `64 they had already made nearly 9,000 AC30's.(8911). I work on original AC-30's all the time. I can not see your photos. The originals should have Blue alnico Celestions up until April 1964 when the colour changed to 'poly gray'.
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There are date codes on some parts, mainly the Wima Tropyfol caps(gold coloured) and also on the 'mustard' caps, woden Tranny's & Hunts filter Caps. The AC-30 never had a high freq.
Those were the AC50's that had a horn. But JMI/Vox never made an AC-50 combo.Anyway, until I can see some photos I can't give you any clue as to when it was made, however since it's a non-Top Boost, it will have to have been made before late 1965. Vox/JMI made these models: Bass, Normal, Treble, Top Boost and all model w/o Top Boost could be retro-fitted with a Top Boost on the back panel.
There should be a 'Ser.#' on the chassis under the power switch. This Is Not the actual Serial number, but an inventory control #. All JMI/Vox Amps had a Serial Number on the plate that was affixed to the back panel of the cabinet. That was the only Serial Number that was recognized by the factory. AC30 Serial numbers started with the number #4000 and JMI made around 20,000 AC-30's. My first AC30 was serial # 4290 W.
It had a 'W' as it had white knobs and was one of 'The Shadow's' amps and made in early 1960. My serial # for my Aug. 1964 AC30 is '#12911 N' So by mid `64 they had already made nearly 9,000 AC30's.(8911).Thanks for the reply, TM1. I’m stumped re: photos. Used to be easy to upload. I guess I have to pony up with Photobucket in order to post.I can tell you that I did a main filter recap and there were Hunts caps in it. I will check for dates.
The OT was replaced. You should see the char on the chassis from it burning up. The PT is original. I’m not sure who made it.
It’s not Woden. I believe it had a sticker on it that ran lengthwise. Also, the faceplate is black with gold print. The vent panels are smaller black plastic. The handles say Vox.Another thing is the Tone on this thing is in the Normal channel.
Very rich and bold. The Brilliant channel lacks output as well as the Vib channel. They sound good, but nowhere near as loud. I have all new tubes in it. I don’t believe in gutting components unless it’s absolutely necessary. Is this normal behavior for this model? I work on original AC-30's all the time.
I can not see your photos. The originals should have Blue alnico Celestions up until April 1964 when the colour changed to 'poly gray'. There are date codes on some parts, mainly the Wima Tropyfol caps(gold coloured) and also on the 'mustard' caps, woden Tranny's & Hunts filter Caps. The AC-30 never had a high freq. Those were the AC50's that had a horn. But JMI/Vox never made an AC-50 combo.Anyway, until I can see some photos I can't give you any clue as to when it was made, however since it's a non-Top Boost, it will have to have been made before late 1965. Vox/JMI made these models: Bass, Normal, Treble, Top Boost and all model w/o Top Boost could be retro-fitted with a Top Boost on the back panel.
There should be a 'Ser.#' on the chassis under the power switch. This Is Not the actual Serial number, but an inventory control #. All JMI/Vox Amps had a Serial Number on the plate that was affixed to the back panel of the cabinet. That was the only Serial Number that was recognized by the factory. AC30 Serial numbers started with the number #4000 and JMI made around 20,000 AC-30's. My first AC30 was serial # 4290 W. It had a 'W' as it had white knobs and was one of 'The Shadow's' amps and made in early 1960.
My serial # for my Aug. 1964 AC30 is '#12911 N' So by mid `64 they had already made nearly 9,000 AC30's.(8911).Hey TM1, I found this link. The post has your login name as well as the amp mentioned above. Aside from the white knobs it matches my amp! Black faceplate, gold stencil AC30/6.
I wonder if mine is a 1960 as well? Maybe I should just plunk down the cash for Jim Elyea's book to get to the bottom of this. Your amp is an early black panel (1960 to '61) chassis in a later cab. The Haddon transformers fit that time frame, too. By '62 Vox had switched to Albion transformers.The first black panel AC30s had 4 inputs and an EF-86 pentode channel. Then came black 6 hole panels like yours, and by '62, the familiar candy panels.here's my 1960 AC30.
Same 6 hole black panel and Haddon transformers as yours.Beautiful picture.Agreed about the early chassis in a later cab. The two pin corners dating it from 1966 onwards. I can't help but wonder if the amp was repaired around about the same time as the cab was swapped?
Pure guesswork on my part of course. But I do love putting 2 + 2 together and getting an odd number. Yeah, black panels: 59-early 62. Both Four Inputs and Six Inputs were made side by side in late `60-61 for about a year when the Four Input was discontinued.Would help to see some inside chassis shots.But your amp is an early one and the cab is later. Not uncommon to see an early chassis inside a later box. I helped Jim Elyea with his book for around 10 years until it came out in 2008.
It's really an incredible book and puts to rest alot of mis-information and myths about Vox.Haddon's would be the correct tranny's. If your OT blew, get it rewound by Mercury Magnetics as it will be exactly like it was when it was made when they're done. Not cheap to do but a worthwhile investment in that amp.
I had to have the Mains rewound in my black panel, which is fairly common in early Vox, but the OT is unusual to go. The Haddon's have a pretty nice sound to them. Warmer & thicker but still chimes.
The Albion's were the brightest and the Woden's are a mix of the albion & Haddon's. Woden's are my fave. I'm going to guess that the signal & coupling caps are the silver Wima Durlites or the gold Tropyfol.I would find a pair of alnico Celestions to go in there as JMI never used a ceramic magnet speaker in the AC30's.Thanks!
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