Not The End!
1979
Pink Floyd release 'The Wall'
Rose Morris had been the distributor of Marshall amplifiers throughout the 1970s but it became apparent that Marshall wished to do the job themselves and so Rose Morris started looking for another amplification line to run. Rose Morris soon became the new owner of Vox Sound Ltd, which became simply Vox Ltd. The first great achievement that Rose Morris made was to buy back the rights to Vox from the Thomas Organ Company. Rose Morris had no manufacturing facilities so it acquired the exclusive use of the Arbiter plant at Shoeburyness.
1980
Much work was needed to be done to revive the Vox name and there were many manufacturing difficulties to overcome, but at the 1980 British Music Fair the Vox V125 was launched. This was basically a modified AC120 in the form of a head driving open back two by twelve-inch speaker cabinets. Soon other models appeared, a V125 Bass model, A V15 valve combo and transistor Escort 50 Lead and Escort 50 Bass. Utilising a modified V125 chassis a combo known as the Climax was made.
1982
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" sells 20 million albums to become largest selling record ever.
Vox recommence production of guitars. Made in the Far East the “Custom” and “Standard” guitar ranges provide some of the best quality guitars to bear the Vox name. Later in 1985 the Korean built White Shadow guitar made and appearance and replaced the Standard and Custom range.
1984
Apple introduces 'Macintosh' personal computers.
With the help of outside contracted design and manufacture, the Vox Venue series started production. The Venue series soon comprised of 50 and 100 Watt combo amps for guitar and bass and keyboards. Also a GT100 model with a high frequency horn for the acoustic guitar was made. A short-lived P.A. venue based design was introduce giving two models, the Venue PA 120 and PA 200. The Venue range was well received and used by groups of the 1980s including the Style Council and the Smiths.
1985
LIVE AID concerts in London and Philadelphia broadcast worldwide.
The AC30 underwent a re-design in order to reduce it production costs. With out this there was a strong feeling that it should be dropped from the catalogue. The design was made using one PCB and a reduced gain design was employed to overcome problems with lack of good quality valves and the hum problems associated with a single PCB design. The contractors Audio Factor who also made the Venue range carried out manufacture.
1986
The venue range had the Dual 100 added which employed a twin switched channel to compete with the successful sessionette amps that were a strong competitor at the time. A new valve model was introduced the Concert 501 and the Concert 100 head and 4 x12 inch speaker cabs which sold well in the export market and retained some of the Vox looks.
1988
CD's outsell vinyl records for the first time.
Rose Morris decided that the way forward was to acquire its own manufacturing facility and started looking at a company called Precision Electronics who soon designed and built a new transistor range for Vox called the Q-Series and take over the manufacturing of the AC30.
1989
Rose Morris buy a large section of the P.E plant and hire a small team to make Vox amplifiers.
1990
Jimi Hendrix's Fender Stratocaster that he used to perform his famous version of the "Star Spangled Banner" at Woodstock, is auctioned off in London for $295,000.
The AC30 underwent some change but this time for the better. An attempt was made to get it back to sound like an original early 60s AC30 and a limited production run of 1000 were made and branded the AC30 Limited Edition. Each had a brass plate on the back with the unit’s number. The Limited Edition was even endorsed by Dick Denney who for the first time in 23 years had some association with Vox.
1991
Because of the success of the AC30 Ltd Edition a new model AC30 based on the same design was introduced but with Reverb and also available as an AC30 Head. This model was known as the AC30 Vintage. Both the Limited Edition and the Vintage were fitted as standard with G12M Celestion speakers but as an option, a Vox Blue speaker model was available. But Celestion did not make this Blue speaker and although it was a good attempt at recreating the oriental Vox speaker there were noticeable differences when compared to the Original Celestion built Blue speakers.
1992
Time for change again and the recession of the late 1980’s and slow economic recovery in the early 1990 had left Rose Morris’s directors looking for a buyer for Rose Morris. The name Rose Morris soon disappears and Vox was under new management again.
1993
Frank Zappa dies of prostate cancer.
For financial reasons the small Vox manufacturing facility at Wellingborough was shut as there was now an opportunity for a local company to manufacture the AC30. Realising that it was the original AC30 that guitarists wanted, the AC30 was put back to as near as an original design as could be achieved within today’s manufacturing costs. Two major factors to obtaining the sound of the 1960’s AC30 were put back into the design. The GZ34 valve rectifier, not used since the late 1960’s was reintroduced and although a primitive component by today’s standard it plays a major part in obtaining the real AC30 sound. Second, the original Blue Alnico speakers were reintroduce and built for Vox once more by Celestion. It was not only the sound of the original AC30 that was achieved, but cosmetically this new AC30 looked much like the original model with the reintroduction of the basketweave vinyl and vintage fawn colour diamond fret cloth. The result is the AC30 that you can buy today, with little change from the original, this amplifier proves that Tom Jennings and Dick Denney were right first time.
1993 also saw the reintroduction of the classic Vox Wah-Wah pedal made to the original specification. This was shortly followed by a limited production run of the Vox Tone Bender germanium transistor fuzz box.
1996
The new AC15 arrives. A new version of the AC15 is made available, based on the original AC15 but with more practical features for the modern user like reverb, master volume and tone controls.
1997
Scientists successfully clone 'Dolly' the sheep.
The AC1 desktop battery amplifier is made. A 1-watt, twin 2-inch speaker, mini amplifier in the style of an AC30.
1998
Two new pedal arrive, the Valve-Tone and the Distortion-Booster.
1999
Ex-Beatle George Harrison stabbed at his home by unknown assailant. Harrison survives the attack.
The Vox Pathfinder 15 practice amplifier makes is debuted and is well received at the Frankfurt Musik Messe. The Vox Cambridge range is developed for release in late 1999.
2000
The new Vox Cambridge 30 Reverb & Cambridge 30 Reverb Twin amplifiers arrive featuring a two channel valve driven preamp. Frankfurt Musik Messe sees the launch of the new Vox T-25 bass guitar combo.
'Everlast' appears on the back cover of VOX's catalogue with the AC30.
2001
Apple Computers introduce first generation iPod.
VOX R&D becomes a division of KORG Europe.
July's music trade shows in the US and UK launch the new revolutionary Valvetronix range and T60 & Pathfinder 10 combos.
2002
The Vox T-15 bass amp and new pathfinder 15 & 15R amps are shown at the Frankfurt Musik Messe.
AC30 makes a resurgence when Lenny Kravitz tours with a wall of combos and custom cabinets.
2003
VOX introduces the UNION JACK WAH pedal with a colourful flag on the pedal body.
Matchbox 20 appears in an ad with the VOX AC30.
2004
U2 releases hit album, 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb'.
VOX's relationship with Brian May is further cemented when the company introduces the VBM-1 Brian May Amplifier.
VOX releases their Handwired AC30 head and combo to critical acclaim.
The Pathfinder 10, 15 and 15R portable combos are reintroduced.
Youth oriented artists begin to insist on VOX, when groups like Primus, Train and Our Lady Peace join the VOX register.
2005
Live 8 benefit concerts are held around the world, as part of the Make Poverty History campaign.
VOX R&D office established in England.
ToneLab is introduced, offering VOX's innovative Valve Reactor and Valvetronix modeling technology in a portable desktop processor.
VOX introduces COOLTRON technology and releases the first line of battery powered stomp boxes that include a tube.
The new CHROME SERIES of Valvetronix amplifiers is launching, targeting younger players with modified looks, great modeling sound and a punch of power.
VOX production moves to China and the AC30 Custom Classic is introduced.
VOX continues to gain popularity and artists such as Meredith Brooks, Simple Plan and Slipknot endorse the AC30 and Valvetronix amps.
2006
Guitarist Brian May announces that Queen is heading back into the studio for recording sessions. The lineup Queen + Paul Rodgers features Brian May, Roger Taylor and Paul Rodgers – the former lead vocalist of Free.
The portable, affordable DA5 amplifier is launched and later includes a variety of amps in colours like red, pink and green.
VOX's popularity surges with diverse artists that include Jim Ward of Sparta, Claudio Sanchez from Coheed & Cambria and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy.
2007
'VOX Amplifiers, the JMI Years' by Jim Elyea is published.
Taking a further step forward in sound development, VOX presents its AC50 and AC100 CLASSIC PLUS heads, cabs and combo.
VOX celebrates its 50th year of amplifier design with two custom created AC15 models, the first in its new line of Heritage Collection amplifiers.
The Future - Wait and see!
| READ MORE STORIES... | |
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The story of VOX. As seen in the November, 2007 issue of Vintage Guitar magazine (2MB PDF) |
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The VOX story. As seen in the October, 2007 issue of Guitar Player magazine (2.3MB PDF) |