List of updates / new info. on Vox solid state amps (1967-1972).

2025

10th April

The top two images, a Vox Compact 100, early 1972, complete at the time of the photographs though broken up later and sold in parts. Below, the carcass of one that appeared last year, speakers still in place (good), but the amplifier section sawn off and the cabinet's grille cloth removed.

The Compact 100 was essentially a 4x12" cabinet, with wheels built into the base (as the Multi-Link cabinets), and a Slave Master amplifier section on top. There was also a 50 watt version.

4th April

Thanks to Arjan, a detail of the version of the JMI solid state catalogue and pricelist circulated in the Netherlands from Spring 1967. The northern European market was an important one for Jennings.

3rd April

Further details from the "Vox Sound Limited" catalogue of August 1971 - the Slave Master and Slave 100. Versions were available built onto 4 x 12" cabinets. Cries of "prototype" regularly rang out whenever these appeared on ebay in the early 2000s. Not so.

Also to say that following the demise of VSL in 1973, unsold Slave amplifier boxes were occasionally reworked (by a small group of former employees) to house AC30 chassis - by no means the only Frankensteins to have been created from unsold VSL stock in the 1970s.

A mid 1970s put-together - an ingenious way of making the surplus boxes saleable.

2nd April

A detail from the "Vox Sound Limited" catalogue of August 1971 - "Vox" branded mains extension leads, perhaps older stock. JMI had offered such things, made by one of the principal British electrical manufacturers, from 1963.

1st April

The NAMM show, Chicago, June 1972, Thomas Organ still going with its Vox line. Clearly it didn't matter after the event that "Vox Sound Limited" had been there with its organs under an assumed name.

Music trade press, July 1972.

31st March

A page has now been started on the power section of late 1966.

General view of the underchassis

30th March (2)

An early version of the Vox Discotheque made for Radio London, pictured in the Trade Fair flyer. The pre-production model, photographed for JMI in August 1967, was a little more complex - .

vox trade show 1967

The Garrard SP25 decks fitted to the unit above were of a type that had been superceded by the early 1970s.

30th March

The reverse of the "Vox Parade" fold-out flyer:

vox trade show 1967

29th March

"Vox Parade" - the front of the fold-out flyer from the Trade Fair pack illustrated further below. It measures 15" x 20". Shots of the reverse and salient details from both sides will be added shortly.

vox trade show 1967

28th March (2)

The pages - eight currently - on the various models of Vox Gyrotone rotary speaker cabinet have now been gathered together . Further material to come shortly.

28th March

Flyer from the 1967 Trade Fair promotional pack - pictured in yesterday's entry - for the Vox Gyrotone III and Riviera Organ. The page on the Gyrotone III .

vox trade show 1967

27th March

Posted on the Vox AC100 website a little while ago, a wallet of JMI promotional material picked up at the , by Don Miller, owner of Frank's Jewelry and Music in Graham, North Carolina. Don came to England with around 70 other Thomas dealers on a month-long European jamboree organised and paid for by Thomas. The Trade Fair was the key point on their trip.

vox trade show 1967

vox trade show 1967

vox trade show 1967

Packs on top of the PA amplifier at the Fair.

26th March

Four new / updated entries have been added to the page on Vox Traveller amplifiers - serial numbers 1068, 1088, 1192, and 2000.

25th March

A serial number plate from a "Vox Sound Limited" Midas 50. If this was actually affixed in the early 1970s to one of these amps - extremely scarce these days - it was not on it for long. In July 1974, Dallas Arbiter used the plate for an AC30, the information panels covered over by a sticker giving details of the AC30 to which it was (and still is) reassigned.

vox midas 50

The sticker used by Dallas to cover the information panels is now on one of the AC30's speakers.

24th March

Entries for four more Virtuosos - serial numbers 1084, 1168, 1188 and 1193 - have been . The note on the types of speakers fitted to the model has been expanded to include Celestion 8124s and 8127s.

23rd March

An entry for JMI Conqueror serial number 1435 . Two late JMI Supremes - serial numbers 1345 and 1348 - have been , along with further shots of serial number 1281.

2024

20th December

Thanks to John, an entry added for (pictures to follow shortly). An entry has also been made for , inspected (designated ready for sale) on the 26th of August, 1970.

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25th October

Entries for a couple of later JMI Conquerors - serial numbers 1466 and 1490.

JMI Conqueror serial number 1466.

JMI Conqueror serial number 1480.

4th October

Thanks to Richard, pictures of Queen's Award wah pedal, serial number 7685, now . The main page on these pedals .

11th September

A further instance of a mis-printed control panel, a small batch produced early in production - at the Top Boost switch the legend reads "OFF" - "MRB" instead of "OFF" - "ON". The panel belongs to the preamp of a Defiant or Supreme (power section missing).

Early Vox Defiant or Supreme control panel, detail.

10th September

Thanks to Ulrik, pictures of Italian-made "Clyde Script Wah" serial number 5612, produced for use in Italy, its board potted to prevent copying of the circuit. A number of such pedals were also made for use in England, a "Queen's Award" base-plate being fitted instead of the type pictured below - .

Italian-made "Clyde Script Wah" serial number 5612.

Also to record that entries for three more English-made "Grey Wahs" have been created - serial numbers , , and .

14th August

A couple of details from a large circuit diagram for the , drawn up with a "Vox Sound Equipment Limited" information panel. Issue 1, however, is dated 8th October, 1971, well into the "Vox Sound Limited" era. Further details to follow.

DT001 to DT014 are likely to have been mechanical drawings for specific assemblies.

The main information panel.

Changes, top left of the sheet.

30th June

Thanks to Anthony, pictures of "Vox Sound Limited" Supreme serial number 2532, still in excellent condition, have now been .

VSL Supreme serial number 2532.

19th May

Thanks to Pavel, pictures of a "Vox Sound Equipment Limited" Defiant with the back board from JMI Dynamic Bass serial number 1093.

VSEL Defiant, serial number unknown.

16th May

Thanks to Hubi, some updated pictures of , nicely restored.

VSEL Conqueror serial number 2082.

5th April

Thanks to Michael, pictures of "Vox Sound Equipment Limited" Defiant, serial number 2172, probably ready for sale in late spring / early summer 1969. One of the main power transistors has the date code "6918" = 18th week of 1969. Further pics can be found here.

"Vox Sound Equipment Limited" Defiant, serial number 2172.

28th February

Some notes on the pre-production Supreme power section from the second half of 1966. The orange 2250uf Plessey capacitors are dated "JUN 1965", the grey Radiospares 5000uf cap. "PXB" = February 1966. The Radiospares cement caps have "XC" and "XE" = March and May 1966.

Three of the main power transistors (2N3055s) are branded "ITT". The fourth, pictured below, is unbranded, the print giving only "2N3055" and "6 R". Whether "6" stands for 1966 is unknown. The wiring loom is extremely tight and all solder joints are apparently original, which is to say that the transistors have a good chance of being original too.

The unbranded 2N3055 with "6 R". The other three power transistors are branded "ITT".

The four heatsinks on which the transistors are mounted are fixed to the upright of the chassis with four 4BA machine screws (and nuts) each. It is impossible to remove the middle pair of heatsinks without first removing the mains transformer - not an ideal arrangement where repairs/replacements are concerned.

27th February

Entries for six Conquerors added: JMI serial numbers , , and ; and "Vox Sound Equipment Limited" numbers , , , and .

26th February

Entries for seven Defiants have been added: JMI serial number: ; "Vox Sound Equipment Limited" and ; and "Vox Sound Limited" , , , and .

25th February

Entries for seven Supremes have been added: JMI serial numbers and ; "Vox Sound Equipment Limited" ; and "Vox Sound Limited" , , , and .

24th February

The plate of "Vox Sound Equipment Limited" Traveller, serial number 2000, the first of a batch (inherited from JMI, which had ceased trading by March '68) made ready for sale by the new company in late 1968 / early 1969. VSEL began its number sequences at 2000 across the range - we have Dynamic Bass number 2000, and Super Foundation Bass number 2000 too. Traveller serial number 2001 can be seen .

VSEL Traveller serial number 2000.

7th January

Thanks to Josh, pictures of JMI wah serial number 6382 have been . The pedal had wrongly been given as number 6192.

From around serial number 6300 the number was stamped directly on the base and the trafolyte panel done away with.

JMI wah serial number 6382.

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