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allbutromeo
Well-known member
Re: 1981 VOX AC30 mystery sticker on loudspeakers
According to this when Rose Morris bought Vox in the late 70s they switched from Celestion Greenbacks to Fane "Ferrite Blue"(?) Speakers http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/rmac30tbr_1979.html
According to this when Rose Morris bought Vox in the late 70s they switched from Celestion Greenbacks to Fane "Ferrite Blue"(?) Speakers http://www.voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/rmac30tbr_1979.html
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Funkfingers
Guest
Re: 1981 VOX AC30 mystery sticker on loudspeakers
This example has a black JMI control panel, no reverb, no top boost.
This example has a black JMI control panel, no reverb, no top boost.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: 1981 VOX AC30 mystery sticker on loudspeakers
Could be a prototype/production sample speaker that was supplied for consideration of production use in that amp model prior to Vox making a decision.
Look up the name of the guy mentioned in the "Per Your Mr." line, and see what affiliation he had with VOX in 1981, if any.
Then again, speakers are held in with screws, and things held with screws can be swapped easily. There's no guarantee that speaker is original to that amp.
Could be a prototype/production sample speaker that was supplied for consideration of production use in that amp model prior to Vox making a decision.
Look up the name of the guy mentioned in the "Per Your Mr." line, and see what affiliation he had with VOX in 1981, if any.
Then again, speakers are held in with screws, and things held with screws can be swapped easily. There's no guarantee that speaker is original to that amp.
Re: 1981 VOX AC30 mystery sticker on loudspeakers
I would be willing to bet good money that the name is Brian Hucker of Dallas/Arbiter. Arbiter of course bought Vox in '73, so you may actually have a prototype speaker for the AC30. Pretty cool stuff, I'm going to keep digging and see what else I can find. I love a good mystery.
I would be willing to bet good money that the name is Brian Hucker of Dallas/Arbiter. Arbiter of course bought Vox in '73, so you may actually have a prototype speaker for the AC30. Pretty cool stuff, I'm going to keep digging and see what else I can find. I love a good mystery.
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Nostalgic Distortion
New member
Re: 1981 VOX AC30 mystery sticker on loudspeakers
I'm definitely a VOX aficionado & I have never seen one of them? That's strange my friend, typically you find Greenbacks or Blues in AC-30's? What's even stranger is the fact that there is no top boost or reverb??? It looks like you have the T.B. jacks, anyway you can get a better closeup of the control panel? I'm about 80% sure you have some kind of prototype, that would be very cool but it could also be a replacement or modification of some sort? Both speakers look exactly the same?
Come to think of it, that speaker could have been an effort to jolt the AC into hair metal territory, given the date? When that amp was made AC's weren't the most appealing amplifiers for hair bands, early punk, & a lot of the other music that was "popular" around 81? Most 80's bands that were using AC's were relics from the 70's, I.E. Brian May, or they were just used for their clean and light breakup sounds? I'm quite interested in that box of yours!!!
I'm definitely a VOX aficionado & I have never seen one of them? That's strange my friend, typically you find Greenbacks or Blues in AC-30's? What's even stranger is the fact that there is no top boost or reverb??? It looks like you have the T.B. jacks, anyway you can get a better closeup of the control panel? I'm about 80% sure you have some kind of prototype, that would be very cool but it could also be a replacement or modification of some sort? Both speakers look exactly the same?
Come to think of it, that speaker could have been an effort to jolt the AC into hair metal territory, given the date? When that amp was made AC's weren't the most appealing amplifiers for hair bands, early punk, & a lot of the other music that was "popular" around 81? Most 80's bands that were using AC's were relics from the 70's, I.E. Brian May, or they were just used for their clean and light breakup sounds? I'm quite interested in that box of yours!!!
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allbutromeo
Well-known member
Re: 1981 VOX AC30 mystery sticker on loudspeakers
Dallas Arbiter sold Vox in 1979 though to Rose Morris. Rose Morris bought them because their distribution deal with Marshall was ending and they knew Marshall wouldn't re-sign so rather than go after another distribution deal they outright bought Vox hoping that it would make up the loss of revenue once the Marshall deal ended.
Dallas Arbiter sold Vox in 1979 though to Rose Morris. Rose Morris bought them because their distribution deal with Marshall was ending and they knew Marshall wouldn't re-sign so rather than go after another distribution deal they outright bought Vox hoping that it would make up the loss of revenue once the Marshall deal ended.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: 1981 VOX AC30 mystery sticker on loudspeakers
There was no Hair Metal in 1981. The NOWBHM was just getting under way with Iron Maiden and the like, but the (Big/Poofy) Hair stuff was still a couple of years away. It was still largely "everyday wear" except for Priest, who were already doing the leather-n-studs. Even they didn't do Hair until Turbo.
There was no Hair Metal in 1981. The NOWBHM was just getting under way with Iron Maiden and the like, but the (Big/Poofy) Hair stuff was still a couple of years away. It was still largely "everyday wear" except for Priest, who were already doing the leather-n-studs. Even they didn't do Hair until Turbo.
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Funkfingers
Guest
Re: 1981 VOX AC30 mystery sticker on loudspeakers
This was pretty much my first thought upon discovering the stickers. (One on each loudspeaker basket.) The combination of JMI panel, Shoeburyness electronics PCB and Fane drivers seems to straddle production and ownership periods.
Under Rose-Morris, Fane was the supplier until regular model production ceased for the first time. Replica vintage Alnico loudspeakers re-appeared on the TBR re-issues.
No reverb, no TB, no "afterthought" controls on the rear of the amp.
Jack sockets are two different levels of attenuation each for Normal, Brilliant and Vib-Trem. Three volume controls, Vib-Trem on/off, Vib-Trem Speed, Tone, power on/off switch, two-pin International voltage selector.
Quartet of EL84s, numerous ECCs and a dust-covered rectifier valve.
I cannot furnish any more photographs. I allowed myself to be persuaded to exchange the amp and my Seymourised MIM Telecaster for some other guitars.
Affirmative.
I get your thinking. What VOX did have out in 1981 was the V125 head and Climax combo. (Note how the cabinet of the mystery amp has two large air vents like the V125/Climax and two handles at the ends of the cabinet rather than one in the middle.)
This was pretty much my first thought upon discovering the stickers. (One on each loudspeaker basket.) The combination of JMI panel, Shoeburyness electronics PCB and Fane drivers seems to straddle production and ownership periods.
Under Rose-Morris, Fane was the supplier until regular model production ceased for the first time. Replica vintage Alnico loudspeakers re-appeared on the TBR re-issues.
No reverb, no TB, no "afterthought" controls on the rear of the amp.
Jack sockets are two different levels of attenuation each for Normal, Brilliant and Vib-Trem. Three volume controls, Vib-Trem on/off, Vib-Trem Speed, Tone, power on/off switch, two-pin International voltage selector.
Quartet of EL84s, numerous ECCs and a dust-covered rectifier valve.
I cannot furnish any more photographs. I allowed myself to be persuaded to exchange the amp and my Seymourised MIM Telecaster for some other guitars.
Affirmative.
I get your thinking. What VOX did have out in 1981 was the V125 head and Climax combo. (Note how the cabinet of the mystery amp has two large air vents like the V125/Climax and two handles at the ends of the cabinet rather than one in the middle.)
