Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
Ignoring the gigantic and overly complicated trem section – this is one of my favourite sounding AC amps, which is most likely the inspiration for the Matchless DC30 pentode channel. VINTAGE VOX AC-15 SCHEMATIC Version: NO V-1-5 / OA/031 Apparently this schematic is a v3, redrawn by Thomas Organ, with some different component numbering. … Read more
The Vox AC6 is a departure from the Vox AC2 & AC4, in that it has a 12AX7 preamp, negative feedback, no trem, and for some reason, the tone control is before the first triode – it’s a bit of an odd-ball in the Vox lineup from the time. The 12AX7 preamp arrangement would give … Read more
Another early Vox model is the AC2. It’s often described as being the same as an AC4, but there is one key difference — the tone control. Instead of sitting in the preamp like the AC4, the AC2’s tone control is wired in the power stage, between the EL84 plate and the B+ supply (effectively … Read more
Despite the name – and even the familiar look – the original Vox AC4 has very little in common with the modern “AC4” amps wearing the same badge. The cabinet and the single EL84 output stage are about all they share. The AC4 started life as the AC2 in 1958. Fair to say that the … Read more
This is the original Vox AC-4, not much like the current line-up at all, apart from the low wattage. Volume Tone, on/off Speed Foot switch for trem (vibrato) – no depth control 8″ 3ohm speaker made by Elac ~3.5 watts RMS EF86 preamp pentode EL84 power pentode EZ80 rectifier ECC81 for trem VINTAGE VOX AC-4 … Read more
Before I completely rip this Vox AC4 apart and rebuild the amp on tagboard, I thought I’d try swapping the output transformer (OT), just to see if it made any difference to the sound of the amp, as I’ve read conflicting views online. Cutting a very long post short – yes it did make a difference, … Read more
I picked up a Vox AC4C1with a 12″ speaker recently, as it was selling really cheap second-hand, and it looked like it was straight out of the box. I have a sneaking suspicion that the previous owner hated it – he seemed glad to be rid of it. Note: comments below relate to the stock … Read more
I just bought this rather beat-up Vox BM1 Escort practice amp from the seventies, or maybe early eighties today. I’m thinking seventies, as it doesn’t have an IEC power connector, and the grill cloth is the red/brown colour. The back panel looks different to the one on Vox showroom and other photos that I’ve seen, so … Read more
Like others, I had read the hype about the Vox Pathfinder 15R and thought, really? I’d never paid any attention to them until I saw an article in Premier Guitar recently. So when I saw a Vox Pathfinder 15R pop up on Facebook marketplace at a reasonable price, I thought it would be worth a shot. … Read more