Everyone from the beatles and rolling stones, to pearl jam and radiohead, uses or have used vox amplifiers to project their guitar sounds and deliver legendary tone to the masses. In fact i gigged with one for 2 years when they first came out. Its more famous product, ac30 was launched in 1959, and. The company is most famous for making the vox ac30 guitar amplifier, used by the beatles, the rolling stones, the kinks, the yardbirds, queen, dire straits, u2 and radiohead, the vox continental electric organ, the vox wahwah pedal used by jimi hendrix, and a series of innovative. 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. The vox tradition of innovation carries on today with products designed to achieve unprecedented tonal flexibility.
Vox ac30s have been a part of my life and work for 40 years now, and they always give me exactly what i need in terms of sound. Home forums amplifier discussion forums amp central station vox ac30 jmi 1966 discussion in amp central station started by jimnic88, jun 22, 2017. Vox aficionado jim elyea talks about his journey in producing the most complete reference for jmiera vox amps ever made. At 682 pages, the book presents a definitive guide to vox amplifiers that was designed to change the state of the art of instrument books. Korg purchased vox from rose morris in early 1992 and started the most prolific period of vox amplifier development since the jmi era. Its flexible layout allows it to be used several ways readers can simply look at the photos more than 1500. My ac30 is a jmi 64 and had a hard life before i had it but the fact that it still works and sounds amazing after 47 years should tell you something. A good source for all the vox ac 30 vintage amp schematics is vox themselves and you can have a look by clicking here.
North hollywood, ca december 3, 2008 while authors and publishing houses have celebrated the release of their projects for years, no other book has been more deserving of such an occasion than jim elyeas latest book vox amplifiers. Twelve years in the making, it is a very big book, and im not just talking about its physical sizealthough at 9. 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. Vox diagrams, schematics and service manuals download for free. Many of the same amplifiers that artists relied on back then are still going strong today. They also produced slightly revised versions of the solid state vox amps introduced by jmi in 1967. Oram began an apprenticeship at the jmi parent company royston industries in 1964. Denney was going deaf and invented the vox amp so that he could still hear himself play. Since vox is making primarily chinese junk these days, jmi has gone back to. Vox valvetronix vt20x 20w 1x8 guitar modeling combo amp. Cleverly demonstrating the dependence of one upon the others. Vox solid state amplifier mk iii pre amp stagetreble with reverb. To commemoratethe 50th anniversary of vox guitaramplifiers, we are pleased.
So far, no jmi supreme has come to light with amplifier alone rather than vox amplifier on the serial number plate. Developed in england, both were hybrid designs that used a modified version of the solidstate preamp found in the super beatle coupled with an output stage that delivered 120 watts via. As you would expect it is a valvetube amp and has three bottles in the front. This is a very thorough history of the evolution of the vox ac4 amplifier with jim elyea, owner of the vox museum and author of vox amplifiers. Quite extraordinary for an amp book, weaving together world history, electronic advancement and the chronology of rock n roll and those who played it along the way.
Jennings musical industries, or jmi, created the ac15 in 1958 and the rest is. The massive success achieved by vox in the 1960s laid the foundation for the legacy that continues to thrive nearly 60 years later. The evolution of the iconic amp brand, from the ac30 and beyond. I bought it, forgot about it, and just found it still in its packing box. Eventually the uk factory ceased guitar production, and the last few vox guitars available for several years, were the vox giant range guitars, made in japan. But the amps below, and perhaps 1239 above, will have been made, or at least finished, and sold in 1968.
Solid state, 50 watt output, distortion, midrange boost mrb, and tonex a sweep tone control for bass. The proprietor of the former jmi building at that time was a sound and lighting contractor. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. This is a big book and the authoritative reference on all things vox. As a special bonus for those who act early, vox amplifiers the jmi years is offered in a special deluxe limited edition version of copies, each signed and numbered by the author. Even so, certain characteristics can help narrow the date of. Open quick view dialog for vox adio air gt 50w 2x3 bluetooth modeling guitar combo amplifier. A complete and accurate history of the golden age of the vox amplifier. I do not have an early 60s ac30 headcombo to compare it to sonically, and i am running it through 2x12 heritage greenbacks, but that said, it really sounds quite good. Total ratings 2, vox msb25 mini superbeetle 25 head with 1x10 cabinet. They are the closer in tone to a jmi vox than anything else. Vox amplifiers, the jmi years by jim elyea goodreads. Vox solid state amplifier mk iii preamp stagetreble. The company was renamed jennings musical industries or jmi, and in 1958 the 15watt vox ac15 amplifier was launched, and was popularized by the shadows and other british rock n roll musicians.
Within great britain, jennings musical instruments made vox the great name that it became after the late 1950s, until 1968 when the tom jenningsled company folded. Told in a clear, concise style, it covers all aspects of vox. Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Vox amplifiers, the jmi years is a complete and accurate history of the golden age of the vox amplifier. Total ratings 3, vox amphonelead active guitar headphones. Vox for the guitar side dont realise the company was running years. The tom jenningsled jmi company folded in 1968 and the brand lay dormant for almost 30 years. Because the vox name has been used by such a variety of companies in different locations, no lists of serial numbers are available. Vox ac4 history with jim elyea of the vox museum youtube. Jmi outsourced some production to two italian factories, eko in recanati, and crucianelli, primarily for the american market, and at its peak had a huge number of models available. While the conversion of the vox amplifier line to solidstate was taking place in america, jmi rolled out its new 7120 guitar amplifiers and 4120 bass amps. To view this site, you must enable javascript or upgrade to a. Uncanny attention to 60s vox production details and techniques. Covers all aspects from before their inception in 1957 through the end of the jmi era in the late 1960s.
History for hire press, 2008 electric guitar 682 pages. Vox amps the vox tradition of innovation carries on. But, the majority of the 1960s was the glory years of vox amps. The vox ac30 was designed and made original by jmi jennings musical industries. Vox adio air gt 50w 2x3 bluetooth modeling guitar combo amplifier. I have just received my new vox amplifiers the jmi years book it is 682 pages of first class reading and so full of information.
Amplifiers like the ac4, ac15, and ac30 are still the most popular vox products amongst guitarists seeking that classic chime. The jmi years 9781424317691 by jim elyea and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Compact headphone guitar amplifier with delay, chorus, and reverb effects, 17hour battery life, and auxiliary in jack for music players. He allowed me to search through the paperwork in his attic left behind by jmi. The history for hire press has just published vox amplifiers.
The vox t60 bass combo amplifier 2001 the vox showroom. The company was renamed jennings musical industries, or jmi, and in 1958 the 15watt vox ac15 amplifier was launched. Many vox products have been modified or canablized over the years so accurate dating can be. The deluxe limited edition, in addition to the special signed version of the book, also includes a. Rick huxley, former bassist for the dave clark five, became sales manager. This amp is essentially a 10 watt, two channel combo loaded with twin celestion vintage 10 speakers. Pepper amp and describes it in exacting detail in his definitive 2012 tome vox amplifiers. Best known for its amplifiers and electric organs, vox made some groundbreaking strides when it came to making electric guitars. The legendary history of vox amplification our story. Vox amp schematics to assist you with your amplifier repairs and modifications. The company is most famous for making the vox ac30 guitar amplifier, used. Jennings musical instruments is a manufacturer of musical instruments, and the original owner of the vox brand. Total ratings 38, vox av 60w analog modeling 1x12 combo amp black av60g. Jmi made the amplifiers for the vox musical instrument company way back in the day.
By that point, jmi had been selling its own range of guitars. The online resource for old vintage vox circuit diagrams. Vox amplifiers, the jmi years represents volume 1 of a new, continuing series of vox guidebooks. Some years later, my good friend jim elyea, author of vox amplifiers, the jmi years, also visited this same attic at vox and picked up items i left behind in 1994. Politics, public policy, world affairs, pop culture, science, business, food, sports, and. Compare now site51445029163512863972 1444787810312. Download an owners manual for the t60 in pdf format by clicking here. If there is a big three in the amplifier world, vox claims one of those spots.
The cabinet build isnt bad but the only other expensive amp i own an afd is in a different league, ive no doubt cabinet manufacturer has improved vastly in the last 50 years. I would recommend this book to anyone plus i see there is a website that you can click on to where they are adding updates all the. Vintage vox electric guitars, basses and amplifiers. For sale is a minty fresh copy of vox amplifiers the jmi years by jim elyea. They still go for a pretty penny demanding close to what they were new. The vox foundation bass amplifier, produced initially by jennings musical industries and assembled at the burndept factory in erith. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.
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