Dating Vox amplifier
Dating VOX products can be very difficult. VOX did not observe or utilize
standard dating procedures nor does the serial numbers, or cosmetic features on
VOX products represent any concrete dating information which we are aware of.
Many VOX products have been modified or canablized over the years so accurate
dating can be impossible. The VOX Story by Dick
Denny and David Petersen has a good dating list by features in the appendices
and the book "vox amplifiers The JMJ years".
Because the Vox name has been used by such a variety of companies in
different locations, no lists of serial numbers are available. Even so,
certain characteristics can help narrow the date of manufacture to within a
year or so. These characteristics can be applied to most amplifier models
prior to 1985
This list comes from The Vox Story book.
1958-1959
* Blonde covering, or occasional two-tone grey-cream.
* Black control panel with screened gold legend.
* Seperate letters in Vox emblem.
* Small "Jennings" embossed badge on top margin of frame.
* Round control knobs.
* Audiom 60 Speaker (AC15) or 80 (proto-AC30).
* Small "TEN" or "FIFTEEN" type badge lower left.
* Hinged plastic carrying handles on AC4 & AC10, large leather strap on
AC15.
* Brown latticed or occasional plain speaker cloth.
* Brass ventilators.
1959-1960
* Blonde covering standard.
* Black control panel, gold legend.
* One-piece emblem.
* Pointer control knobs.
* Brass ventilators.
* Brown latticed speaker cloth.
* Audiom 60 or Rola-Celestion G12 speakers, 4-input models only.
* "A J.M.I. Product" legend between input jacks.
1960-1961
* Blonde covering.
* Copper control panel, photo-anodized legend.
* Pointer control knobs.
* Brass ventilators.
* Blue "Vox" speakers.
* Leather strap handles.
* Brown latticed speaker cloth.
* Six-input models, three channels.
* "J.M.I. Product" legend lower right.
1961-1962
* Blonde covering with occasional black, red or blue samples.
* Hardware same as 1960-1961.
* Occasional "Top Boost" units fitted in rear-panel with Treble and Bass
controls operable.
1962-1963
* Blonde or dark (smooth-textured) covering in equal use.
* Hardware same as 1960-1962.
1963-1964
* Dark cover standard, texture varies between smooth dark grey or black
to basketweave texture.
* Injection-molded vents.
* Strap handles with "Vox" logo appear in mid-1964.
* Speaker cloth still brown lattice.
* Top Boost controls integral with control panel early 1964.
* "Bass" type badge lower left on normal (non-Treble or Top Boost)
models.
1964-1965
* Change of control panel color to dark grey with metallic legend.
* All hardware injection-molded.
* Corner protectors fitted.
* Changed to black latticed speaker-cloth in 1965.
1965-1966
* Chassis and case unchanged.
* Speaker color-change to silver for Lead units, remains blue for Bass
units.
* Mains selector changed to five-way rotary switch type.
* Mains switch plastic.
1966-1967
* Metallic black ventilators used late 1966.
1967-1968
* No change due to emphasis on solid-state.
1968-1969
* Control panel indent. changed to "A Vox Product."
* Manufacture location "Erith, Kent."
* U.S. style rectangular emblem used.
* Changed to silicon rectifier system, GZ34 valve deleted.
1969-1972
* Reverb model with cylindrical aluminum control knobs, pull-enable
switches on Volumes.
* Large PCB for control section.
* Double row of ventilators (Stolec model)
1972-1974
* Reversion to pointer knobs.
* Standard circuit, no reverb.
* "Blue"-type speakers with "V.S.L." label on cover.
* Old style emblem.
* Metal mains switch.
* Tagstrip construction.
1974-1978
* Same chassis and case but Celestion G12M speakers fitted.
1978-1979
* Control panel process changed to spray-paint/screen print.
* Two rows of PCB's for control section.
* G12M speakers.
1979-1985
* Same chassis and case but (pale-blue) Fane 125283 speakers.
Vox AC30: dalle origini al 1961: http://chitarre.accordo.it/articles/2012/02/62404/vox-ac30-dalle-origini-al-1961.html
Vox - Binson - The Shadows and more info: http://www.penumbra.co.nz/allthatgear.html#drums FORUM ALL VINTAGE AMP : http://vintageamps.com/VOX AC30 AMP
CLIPS VIDEO and Guitars Sound
and more
http://www.voxamps.com/support/circuits/
