Vox amplifiers the jmi years book

The company was renamed jennings musical industries, or jmi, and in 1958 the 15watt vox ac15 amplifier was launched. For ease of production, it had an output stage adapted from jmi s organ amplifiers, with chassis layout and design elements. The jmi years california, 2009 is again a wonderful repository of info on these amps and other ac30s. Vox amplifiers, the jmi years frequently asked questions pg. It is an expensive book but it is huge and is the best book anyone has ever done about an amp company. 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. On to the next page supremes issued and sold by vox sound equipment ltd. A service engineers guide to the vox ac30 valve amplifier by stephen grosvenor 2006, gives excellent schemas of the circuit boards and electronic layout. In 1997, richard and justin harrison, then owners of hiwatt amplification uk and music ground ltd, purchased the jmi trademark. Lots of great photos and info on it and all of the jmi vox products in jim elyeas vox amplifiers, the jmi years.

Jmis own guitar amplifier was still several years out, but the venture got. Over the years many different ac30 models appeared but many consider the ac30 super twin to. 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. For sale i have the pictured pair of authentic vintage vox jmi single pin amp corners in excellent condition overall for their age. Uniquely tied to the sound of the british invasion, vox amplifiers helped to usher in the sounds that would shape the world of popular music for decades to come. 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. 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. There is no wonder the vox ac30 is amp royalty it is among the most played and most loved amps. This book is the benchmark volume on vox amps, by which all others will be judged. The main amplifier engineers were dick denney and derek underdown. High quality and more content than you or i probably care to read. This list has been put together from a number of sources, including photographs, filmsvideos, books and in particular the vox story by david petersen and dick denney, and the vox book. To fully appreciate the scene onto which the newfangled vox amps would.

Regarding bill wymans ac30, his was a regular ac30 twin guitar amp covered in fawn rexine covering material. Told in a clear, concise style, it covers all aspects of vox amplifiers from before their inception in 1957 through the end of the jmi era in the late 1960s. Jmi vox ac30 with top boost in panel the vox showroom. The massive success achieved by vox in the 1960s laid the foundation for the legacy that continues to thrive nearly 60 years later. This actual amp is in the latest book by jim elyeavox amplifiers the jmi years. 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. The signal caps used in many of the originals, and in the picture you linked gold with a red stripe are wima tropylfols. New proprietors were operating a disco sound and light retail operation at the address of the old jmi and pyne location. And i refer specifically to jmi made vox amplifiers. The cab beneath is likely to be a generic pa bin covered later in vox cloth and given a logo to match.

This price list, dated november 1956, was printed less than a year before tom jennings became aware of dick denneys marvelous 15 watt guitar amplifier. The complete history of the jmi years, including early tv front amps, and. Certain to become the definitive book on the subject, vox amplifiers also sets a new standard by which other books on the history of our most. This is a big book and the authoritative reference on all things vox. Told in a clear, concise style, it covers all aspects. Vox ac15 twin combo amp rare blue tolex champ electronics. Note the highly twisted leads of the transformers and the initialled chassis. I think its a necessity if you are in the market for a vintage jmi 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. Jennings organ company 1956 price list the vox showroom. The fourth image, far right, is of a triumphmade ac50 recently on ebay. There are some minor scratches and scuffs from years of use and rust patina from the hardware but no cracks and the plastic is not brittle at all. The vox showroom jennings organ company 1956 product. Vox amps the vox tradition of innovation carries on.

For good potted histories of rola and celestion, see the graces guides pages rola and celestion. Vox amplifiers, the jmi years is a complete and accurate history of the golden age of the vox amplifier. Vox amplifiers jmi years hardcover book new unopened box. According to fab gear book, mccartney had an ac100 head even before there were any cabs. The look and sound of a vox is absolutely unmistakable. Covers all aspects from before their inception in 1957 through the end of the jmiera in the late 1960s. The vox ac15 first came out in january 1958 associated with jmi company with the brand becoming popular when bands like the beatles the british invasion and the shadows started to use them. Jul, 2009 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. Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer founded in 1957 by thomas walter jennings in dartford, kent, england.

For sale is a minty fresh copy of vox amplifiers the jmi years by jim elyea. A the deluxe limited edition is actually two books vox amplifiers, the jmi years, and a hardbound schematic portfolio book. If you are interested in further reading, try vox amps the jmi years by jim elyea for pages and pages on the different mods and outfits of the ac30. The story of the custom color amplifiers, including all the covering. A complete history of the legend and vox amplifiers, the jmi years are hardly available in stores or online auctions.

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. The vintage models helped define a generation, and they continue to inspire musicians today. Nad vox ac15hw60 handwired 60th anniversary ac15 page 3. The company is most famous for making the vox ac30 guitar amplifier, used. 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. Vox consort electric guitar vintage guitar and bass.

The deluxe limited edition, in addition to the special signed version of the book, also includes a second schematics portfolio book. I drag it out every few weeks, even for simple things like referring to tube task charts. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Over 40 years later, weve grown into one of the worlds most respected sellers of new, used, and vintage fretted instruments. He suspects that the bass potentiometer was intentionally grounded as a part of the ga70 circuit design. Twelve years in the making, it is a very big book, and im not just talking about its physical sizealthough at 9. According to research by both jim elyea in vox amplifiers. A complete and accurate history of the golden age of the vox amplifier. The jmi years by jim elyea and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. If youre into vox amps and their history and the bandsartists that used them, youll love all 682 pages of this book. The shadows were a very well known british band, and guitarist hank marvin invented the tremolo you can see his signature on the phantom and consort shown here.

The jmi years 9781424317691 by jim elyea and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Elyea has nurtured this book like a dedicated parent, by committing the past 12 years to this encyclopedialike book. Vox amplifiers, the jmi years represents volume 1 of a new, continuing series of vox guidebooks. Years and models according to the vox history no longer available in english, only german on their webpage and online research. Vox amplifiers amp the jmi years 682 pages jim elyea. Looks like a deeper blue vox label, which would make it 1965. 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. I was allowed into the attic to remove the documents that pyne had left behind. Still sought after today, owning a vox is like owning your own special piece of history. At the moment i can use it as a tube pre amp which is how jimmy page used his tape echo i think or was it another model. At the time the vox brand was owned by korg, and unlike the korg vox amplifiers being manufactured then, the harrisons wanted to make exact reproductions of the original jenningsdenney designs. Because the vox name has been used by such a variety of companies in.

Welcome to the hoffman amplifiers forum el34 world. The finest example of the history of vox amplifiers bar none. Probably late jmi rather than early vsel, but difficult to tell for sure from a single photo. Vox ac4 history with jim elyea of the vox museum youtube. Jim elyea is the author of vox amplifiers, the jmi years 5. Before the decade ended, the jennings organ line would be joined by a series of guitar amps manufactured under the vox brand name. Make offer vox amplifiers jmi years hardcover book new unopened box. Fast forward a few years, chuck in some indirect advertising by people like the edge and snowy white using vox ac30s and you have a brand. Dec 16, 2008 the history for hire press has just published vox amplifiers. It was really designed as a keyboard amp rather than a bass amp. What i didnt take in 1994 was removed six years later by jim elyea while researching his excellent book, vox amplifiers, the jmi years. There are charts which show coverings, tables that show ampcab speaker combinations, wire colors for mains cables, eriedubilieriskra resistors, handle and cloth variations and more. Its more famous product, ac30 was launched in 1959, and.

Vox consort vox guitars this advertisement comes from a book. Pictures of surviving amps, and material on its history and use by bands of the period. But, the majority of the 1960s was the glory years of vox amps. Cleverly demonstrating the dependence of one upon the others. There are charts which show coverings, tables that show amp cab speaker combinations, wire colors for mains cables, eriedubilieriskra resistors, handle and cloth. Interestingly, vox had used el34s in very rare early renditions of the ac30, as jim elyea examines in great detail in his book, vox amplifiers. Amplifiers like the ac4, ac15, and ac30 are still the most popular vox products amongst guitarists seeking that classic chime.

Rare 1869 witchcraft delusion, coming quakers, new england tragedies in prose ct. British invasion celebrating 50 years of vox before the swinging sounds of the british invasion captured the worlds imagination, vox was a fairly lowkey operationjust one of many trying to survive the economic hardships of postwar britain. The jmi years and david petersen in the vox story, the original rendition of the ac15, initially dubbed the ac115, was created out of a preamp designed by denney. They have all the jmi era vox amps in there too, not just ac30s. Covers all aspects from before their inception in 1957 through the end of the jmi era in the late 1960s.

The vox ac30 is a guitar amplifier manufactured by vox. Many of the same amplifiers that artists relied on back then are still going strong today. In his extensively researched book entitled vox amplifiers the jmi years, author jim elyea offered an opposing opinion. Vox ac30 the ac304 and ac306 with black panels, split. The jmi years by jim elyea as told to elyea by former vox executive reg clark, the previous year, jmi founder tom jennings sold his controlling interest in the company in order to meet the need for breakneck expansion, and when thomas organ asked for the rights to use the vox name in north american, jennings. The history for hire press has just published vox amplifiers. The vox tradition of innovation carries on today with products designed to achieve unprecedented tonal flexibility. 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. Many vox products have been modified or canablized over the years so accurate dating can be impossible.

Vox ac30 amplifier, produced by jennings musical industries jmi. 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. The first three images from jim elyeas book, vox amplifiers. And i refer specifically to jmimade vox amplifiers. Uncanny attention to 60s vox production details and techniques. Pepper amp and describes it in exacting detail in his definitive 2012 tome vox amplifiers.