The Vox AC10 - overview of versions
Updated and corrected August 2024
JMI flyer, late summer 1959, the TV front AC10
Below, an overview of the various versions of the AC10, along with a (very) provisional synopsis of surviving examples - for the time being, instances only where the serial number is known. The page is ancillary to Glen Lambert's page on Derek Underdown's work on the AC10.
Over the years, numerous photos of early AC10s have of course circulated, but for the most part these have been fairly general views, relatively few showing details of serial number plates, electronics, and so on. The list is bound to expand though, so do check back from time to time.
AC10 versions
- in wide rectangular cab covered in gator vinyl, speaker offset to the right-hand side. Single channel. Un-numbered circuit diagram. Late 1957 into 1958.
- in small TV front cab. Single channel. Available in standard or with internal tremolo added. JMI OS/004. Late 1958 - 1959. The AC10 "Throwback" had the same circuit, late 1960-early 1962.
- in a slightly larger TV front cab with larger "island" opening for the control panel. Four knobs, two channels. It was a fully-featured reduced power version of the AC1/15. Summer 1959 to mid 1960.
- a return to the G1/10 type circuit but with an ECF82 to allow a 2nd normal channel. Four knobs, two channels, single chassis. Mid 1960.
- final version of the AC10. Integral tremolo, five knobs, two channels. Black then copper panel. JMI OS/008. Late 1960 until 1966.
Surviving amps
Serial number / number of inputs / colour of control panel / estimations of date. For the time being, only AC10s with known serial numbers are encompassed (as mentioned above). Where panels are concerned, "island" indicates a panel located beneath a full cutout in the cabinet top (set in from the rear edge, all four sides of the cutout surrounded by vinyl). Later cabinet tops had a cutaway at rear. "Elyea" is Jim Elyea's wonderful book on "Vox Amplifiers". Dates, deduced from component date codes and other indicators, are given in colour. Notes on cabinet types are given where particularly relevant.
Version 1 - single channel (G1/10)
Version 2 - single channel (TV Front G1/10)
Pictures of one the first TV Front G1/10s made (no serial number unfortunately) can be found here.
Version 3 - two channels, four knobs (Vox AC1/10)
Version 4 - two channels, four knobs, single chassis (Amplifier No. 2)
Version 5 - two channels, five knobs (Amplifier No. 3)
All have TV front cabinets except where specified. Note that there is a considerable gap in the outline below - between numbers 3337 and 3433. Numbers 3430 and 3431 are "Throwbacks" (included in the section following).
AC10 "Throwbacks"
Advertised from November 1960 to October 1961. A few were evidently made ready for sale in 1962, however. Tall split-front cabinet. A page on the "Throwback" can be found here.
Version 5 - two channels, five knobs, copper panel (Amplifier No. 3 ctd)
All have split-front cabinets, fawn covering:
Version 5 continued (Amplifier No. 3 ctd)
Black cabinet covering, though still some late fawns: