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

January to June 2026

24th June

The page on Supreme serial number 2268's speaker cabinet , linked to the other pages on the amp.

23rd June

Shots of the preamp of Supreme number 2268 . Details of the speaker cabinet still to come (on a page of their own).

22nd June

For VSEL Supreme number 2268, there is and a , details of the preamp and speaker cabinet to come.

21st June

Some pages coming shortly on VSEL Supreme serial number 2268 from later 1969, still in superb condition: complete with its tilt-back stand, footswitch, and covers. Thanks to Mark for the pictures.

20th June (2)

Burndept divided the power section of the Supreme into various numbered sub-assemblies, not only for procurement purposes, but for the assembling and wiring up on the work benches:

67645: components on the main chassis, top and underside, and back panel.

67649: heatsink assemblies.

67650: a mains lead and plug (NOT the socket on the back panel, which was encompassed in 67645).

67661: the wiring looms.

67663: the small 4-way diode board.

67664: the driver / output board underchassis.

67665: the bias boards.

There is nothing to indicate at present whether the gaps in the numerical sequences have any significance. The assembly as a whole was 67571.

The parts roster for the Treble preamp - common to the Virtuoso, Conqueror, Defiant, and Supreme - must have run to a couple of dozen sheets at the very least.

20th June

Details of a couple of information panels on the Burndept parts sheets for the Supreme/SFB. The process evidently began in November 1966, though at this stage the amplifiers were still in pre-production form, as they were also in December and January 1967 - see the surviving examples .

The entries for March, April, and August (issue numbers 4, 5, and 6) will be for runs of standard production amps, probably batches of 100 chassis in each case.

A further sheet contains the remnants of a date under issue number 7, apparently November 1967, so the lists as we have them are from that time rather than August.

Detail of the sheet with the remains of a date under "Issue 7" - November 1967.

19th June

August 1967, a Burndept parts roster for the power section of JMI's Supreme and Super Foundation Bass amplifiers. 100 assemblies were envisaged and provisioned for in this batch. Reference is made periodically to JMI's mechanical drawings - for the control panel, the drilling of the heatsinks, and so on.

The notes on the final sheet indicate that such rosters were drawn up for previous batches too. AC30s, AC50s, AC100s, organs, and accessories, were presumably documented in much the same way. Burndept must at one time have had cabinets bursting with paperwork relating to JMI contracts.

That the procedure of making such rosters went back at least to 1966 is clear enough, having perhaps begun in mid 1964, when JMI moved into Burndept's West Street Works. Whether it went back further - to 1962, say - is unknown.

A class of documentation currently lacking is the Burndept build sheets, i.e. the sheets created for the assemblers on the work benches. Stories used to pop up occasionally along the lines of: "I know a man who knows who has them" sometimes followed by mention of Eric Snowball. But alas, no. Fun all the same.

At any rate, if anything is certain it is that the circuit diagrams sent out by JMI to repairmen and hobbyists - the OS and other series - have (and had) precious little relevance to the actual assembly of chassis.

Further notes on the Supreme/SFB components lists to come.

One of the sheets for the "J.M.I 100W Amp. (P.A. Chassis)", "P.A." being power amplifier.

25th May

Thanks to Josh, some pictures coming of JMI wah pedal - "grey wah" - serial number 5487, circuit still glooped with black resin.

16th May

There is now a . A page on the power section to follow shortly.

10th May

Some pages coming soon on the preamp and power section of Vox Supreme serial number 1133. Shots of the cabinet . Thanks to Mark for the pictures.

7th May

Two picture pages have been added on Vox Defiant serial number 1451, still in fabulous condition - , and . Thanks for Mark for the pictures and info.

Vox Defiant serial number 1451.

3rd May

An entry for Vox Traveller serial number 1126, a really fine example, . Thanks to Mark for the pictures and info.

Vox Traveller serial number 1126.

19th April

Some updates on their way, including shots of Foundation Bass serial number 1548, the latest FB made ready for sale by JMI, "AMPLIFIER" alone at the head of its serial number plate.

24th February

April 1971, the new V100 on the front page of "Music Industry" magazine, introduced as one of the blurbs said "in response to demand following the success of the Vox AC100". The main page on the V100 .

23rd February

Thanks to Ian, shots of Vox V100 serial number 1048 (paired with a VSL Foundation Bass speaker cabinet) .

16th February

"Exchange and Mart" magazine, January 1968, a second-hand Vox Wah-Wah pedal for £9, either grey or Queen's Award, no more than 9 months old.

14th February

Below, a detail of an early PA50SS, its logo visibly different from those of later units. In company with early PA100SS, early PA50s had metal grilles rather than plastic vents; and 7-series knobs.

PA50SS serial number 1289.

12th February

Some shots coming of "Vox Sound Equipment Limited" PA100 serial number 1126, autumn 1969, still the first main version of the model with metal vents and 7-series control knobs,

4th February

Thanks to Gerard, some pictures coming shortly of a superb Supreme, very little changed, serial number probably originally in the lower 1100s.

  • Vox Supreme amplifier section, later 1967
  • Vox Supreme amplifier section, later 1967

30th January

Entries for two Vox Virtuosos without reverb have now been : serial number 1124, sold in Germany; the serial number of the other, sold in the UK, unknown. The former still bears its original shop plaque: Roman Mollenhauer Musikhaus, Fulda.

27th January

Entries for three more Supremes have been : serial numbers 2216, 2263, and 2478.

26th January (2)

Thanks to Christian, pictures of "Vox Sound Limited" Supreme serial number 2325 .

Supreme serial number 2325.

26th January

Pictures have now been added to the entries for three early : serial numbers 5074, 5222, and 5324.

23rd January

Vox Travellers first: , serial numbers 1040, 1098, 1132, and a further example (serial number unknown) sold by "Vox Sound Equipment Limited". Thanks to Richard for pictures of 1132.

22nd January

Some updates coming soon across the range: amplifiers, speakers, pedals, etc.

UPDATES 2012-2024

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