As noted on the previous page, for around fifteen or so months production of the AC30/6 went side by side with that of the AC30/4. To simplify assembly, all preamp chassis were drilled for six inputs, the two that were superfluous for the AC30/4 being blanked off when the control panel was fitted:

A detail of the chassis of serial number 4715.

"Melody Maker" magazine, 30th July, 1960. The earliest dated advert for the AC30/6 to have emerged so far. Paul was Paul Jennings, son of Tom, and manager of "Musicland" at 88 Broadway, Bexleyheath.

Also in "Melody Maker", 30 July, 1960, was an advert featuring Shirley Douglas and Chas McDevitt and mentioning "*new Vox amplifiers". Much the same ad featuring Chas and Shirley had appeared a fortnight earlier, but without the mention of anything being new. See this page.

The first formal note of prices in the music press came in November 1961:

"Melody Maker" magazine, 19th November, 1960. The AC30/6 is 89 guineas; the AC30/4 is 85 gns. There is also an AC30/4 Bass model at 89 gns.

The serial numbers of black panel AC30/4s and AC30/6s ran from the outset in the same sequence - from the low 4200s to low 4700s. When the AC30/4 was phased out in October 1961, the AC30/6 Twin shared the continuation of the sequence with the new Super Twin through to 1964, black panels giving way to copper in late 1961 - see this page.

As there was no such thing as a black panel AC30/6 Bass at first, one only finds the designation "N" = Normal voicing. The AC30/6 Bass came a little later. The "W" (an upside-down "M") - also found on the plates of AC30/4s - may signify something along the lines of "wide frequency", distinguishing these amps from the more constrained tonal response of the early AC2/30 and AC/30.

Vox AC30/6 serial number 4680.

The speakers chosen for the split-front cabinet were new - and standardised (or at least regularised): the Celestion "blue" - G12 alnico T530, sprayed Jennings blue - as depicted in the page from the brochure below.

Note that the brochure illustrates a control panel for the new circuit of the AC30/6.

Although the AC30/6 became, in late autumn 1961, the principal model offered by Jennings, orders for the AC30/4 were still honoured at the old price of 95 guineas (£99 5s). See the documents on this page. For a limited time, however, the AC30/6 could be had at the special price of 100 guineas (£105) - a canny means of helping along the phasing out of the AC30/4 and the move to the new amplifier.

As a further means of aiding this process, JMI began producing the AC30/6 in Normal and Bass voicings, the latter advertised for the first time in late September 1961. The earliest AC30/6 Bass that is known beyond doubt is serial number 4756B - see below - near to the end of the run of black panel amps.

Below, a shot published in November 1961 of two AC30s - probably black panel - in the window of John E. Dallas's shop, Clerkenwell, London.

Music trade journal, November 1961.

CIRCUIT AND COMPONENTS

The key differences between the AC30/6 and AC30/4 lie principally in the preamp. There is a single treble "cut" control instead of the dedicated bass and treble controls of the AC30/4. The EF86 is replaced by an ECC83 - one half each for the first stage of the Brilliant and Normal channels. And of course, there is the Brilliant channel itself, whereas before there had only been the Normal.

A more detailed description of the circuit will be reserved for another page. For the moment, simply to say that the changes introduced in May 1961 served to lift the gain of the amplifier (Brilliant channel in particular) and to enhance irs treble response.

Below, the information panel of a circuit diagram for AC30/6 produced in late 1961 or early 1962. This has the "list of changes" through to May 1961 - see further down this page. The circuit was first drawn out on 29th April 1960 by Dick Denney, and the ruled drawing made (traced) by Derek Underdown.

The circuit was later designated A/026 (by mid June 1963), then OS/065 in late 1964. More information of the various iterations of the sheet can be found here. Notes on the introduction of a new capacitor - marked C41 in the diagram - into the circuit in February 1961, see this page.

The transformers for both the AC30/4 and AC30/6 were made by Haddon ("Haddon Transformers Ltd." of South Ruislip), the choke by Radiospares. Resistors are white 1/4 watt Eries; coupling capacitors by and large are black WIMA Tropydurs; and filter capacitors are Hunts, Radiospares, and TCC. Potentiometers were made by Egen Electric Limited. The valves originally fitted are likely to have been yellow-print Mullards.

Up to Spring 1961, chassis were assembled at the Vox works at 115 Dartford Road. For pictures of the site and the factory, see this page (on the Vox AC100 website). Thereafter, chassis were assembled for JMI by Westrex at its Coles Green Road works. They are instantly recognisable by the presence of red dye on the solder joints, daubed on at point of inspection to indicate that the joints were good.

Serial number 4304 N (?) - currently in the UK

A copy of this entry has also been placed - just in case - on the page on black panel AC30/4s. The serial number plate, apparently deliberately scratched, is currently on a refurbished beige cabinet containing a copper panel chassis from 1962 / 1963. The hire purchase card accompanying the amp - certainly from 1961, said to be from Hessy's in Liverpool - seems to have become wetted or rubbed in such a way as to obscure the serial number. The photos of the card that have been posted are slightly indistinct. Update - it is evident from pictures posted on FB that the chassis, or perhaps one newly slipped in, now sports a control black panel.

Serial number 4350 - currently in the USA

Picture from Jim Elyea's book. Pre-production traffolite control panel with individual bounding lines for the controls and markers for the settings. A similar panel can be seen on an early AC30/4 chassis (or at least the remains of one) - at the foot of this page. The relevant image is this one:

The controls on this panel have captions and within the compartments there are marked settings.

Serial number unknown - currently in Europe

A pre-LOC AC30/6. Cabinet re-covered. Sold in Italy in 2013/2014. Unusual metal jack plug socket nuts. The bodies of the jacks are Rendar though. Below, a second set of pictures:

Sold on Reverb in 2019. Some good shots of the electronics, notably the pre-LOC footswitch tagboard. Haddon transformers, Radiospares choke. The speakers, wired up with the original yellow and pink wire, have date codes 16JE and 23JE = 16th and 23rd September 1960. The cone of the T530/CT3757 has the code "RIC 1 FW". Note that the VOX speaker label is far more scuffed than the Celestion BO24 label.

2022: various elements have now been changed - the speakers (now Celestion blues); the speaker wiring; a number of capacitors in the preamp (replaced with Mullard mustards); and the input jack nuts.

November 2022 A reliable source has indicated that the control panel has not been changed (as previously stated). The original, thoroughly cleaned, is still in place.

AC30/6s with Celestion blues - late 1960/early 1961 to late 1961

The amps below for the most part have Celestion T530 blue speakers. The earliest known to be original to speaker cabinet and serial number plate, are those that belonged to serial number 4478N, date code 15EF = 15th May 1961.

Serial number 4463N - currently in the UK

Serial number 4478 N - currently in the UK

AC30/6 serial number 4478 N, the yellow cast of the original photos reduced where possible. Assembled at the Vox Works (115 Dartford Road) late 1960 / early 1961. The remains of beige cloth underlies the thick vinyl wrap. One of the original Hunts capacitors has the date code "WNY" = 17th week of 1960. This is of course simply the week in which the capacitor was made at the Hunts Works in Earlsfield (South London), not the date of manufacture/assembly of the amp. The WIMA Tropydurs in the preamp were replaced in the mid sixties with Mustard caps (date codes of 1964 and 1965). It will be interesting to see 4478 when it resurfaces for sale again (as it certainly will).

Late August 2020: the chassis is now separated from its original cabinet. Both speakers have the date code: "15EF" = 15th May 1961. Thanks to Marc for the pictures.

A detail of the cone code of one of the drivers: "RIC 1 UJ"

The Shadows' amps - issued in March 1961

NME Poll Winner's concert, 5th March 1961. Photographed by Harry Hammond.

Note the logos high up on the front and the special "The Shadows" legend. Picture from Getty Images.

Below, some interesting details from pics taken on 18th June 1961 - The Shadows playing in Calais, a day trip planned as a double bill with Gene Vincent, though Vincent was in the end unable to appear. There's a short newsreel clip of The Shadows' performance on youtube.

The pics show the backs of the band's first set of split-front AC30/6s - smooth black vinyl, brass vents, black leather handles, black and gold circular control knobs, and the serial number plate of at least one amp on the lower back panel (rather than the upper, as is normal).

Note that the amp has five screws along the top edge of the top back board.

Serial number unknown - currently in Australia

Serial number unknown - currently in the UK

Cabinet, speakers and chassis original from factory - the amp evidently much used over the years. Sold twice in the UK (two sets of pictures, the first from some time ago). No component date codes known at present. The main filter capacitor in the preamp (silver can) is a later TCC-Plessey component.

Chassis - currently in Australia

The blue Hunts capacitor has the date code "YAW" = 9th week of 1961. The TCC capacitor next to the choke has the code "SC" = March 1961; the tone pot is also March 1961 = "CI". The grey Radiospares coupling capacitors are replacements for the original black WIMA Tropydur.

Chassis - currently in Australia

Main filter cap., Hunts date code "NWW" = 17th week of 1961. Hunts cap. under chassis date code "YI W" = 3rd week of 1961. Green TCC preamp filter capacitor date code "RA" = January 1960.

Chassis - currently in Europe

Pre-list-of-changes AC30/6 chassis slipped into the trapezoidal cabinet of a much later AC30 Super Twin. Mains transformer has been replaced. The original Haddon output transformer and Radiospares choke survives A modern top boost unit has been added.

Serial number unknown - currently in the USA

A later assemblage. Cabinets recovered in Korg white vinyl from one source, chassis from another. Note the separate tagboard at left (with green capacitors) for the vibrato/tremelo footswitch circuit.

Serial number unknown - whereabouts unknown

Now in a post-1964 cabinet (assuming the silver alnicos are original to it). Note the small tagboard at left - therefore likely to be pre-"list-of-changes".

Serial number unknown - currently in the UK (?)

Now in an AC30 Anniversary cabinet, the original serial number plate transfered to the back panel. The small tagboard is visible in the preamp at left. Voltage selector set to 245v. The chassis may be that of the amp immediately above - note the orange capacitors.

Post "List of Changes" - 8th May 1961

"Melody Maker" magazine, 20th May, 1961, the AC30 in view said to be "New" - re-stated in the first line of the text: "new series amplifiers" - corresponding to the "List of Changes" noted on the circuit diagram, 8th May 1961.

JMI circuit diagram for the AC30/6 with the list of changes at 8th May, 1961.

Serial number 4680 N - currently in the USA (?)

A Super Twin box with the chassis just visible inside - nothing else for the time being. The serial number plate is genuine (and original), non-standard for AC30s though. Interesting to see the remains of black cloth under the plate.

Below, the serial number plate with a black panel AC30/6 chassis. Not sure what happened to the box. If box, plate and chassis originally went together, then this was a very early Super Twin.

Serial number 4693 - currently in Finland

The chassis and speakers are long gone, but the serial number plate and cabinet remain. The cabinet now contains a copper panel AC30 chassis and speakers from late 1962 (Celestions with date code "11LG" = 11th November 1962).

Serial number 4696 N - currently in the USA

Old pictures from ebay. Sold by Electro Music of Doncaster in June 2007, shadows of stickers on the front. The original footswitch survives. Blowing the thumbnails up well beyond their natural size shows that the amp is an AC30/6 post-list-of-changes.

Serial number 4701N - currently in the UK (?)

A superb example. Thanks to Richard for the pictures.

Serial number 470x B (?) - currently in the USA

Pictures from the early 2000s. It seems probable that the chassis is not original to the box. Note the new slider board and the presence of silver alnico Celestions. If that is case, and if the plate does actually read "470x", which is certainly in the right range for an amp of this type, then the plate must have been transferred from the old box too.

Serial number 4717 N - currently in the UK

The serial number plate alone survives - on the back panel of a Super Twin amplifier section from 1963/1964 (copper panel, black basketweave covering). The amp to which the plate originally belonged was probably an AC30/6 rather than an AC30/4.

Serial number 4754 - currently in the UK

Cabinet refurbished and in good order. Interesting to see that there is no designation of voicing ("N" or "B") on the serial number plate. One of the pots has the code "FI" = June 1961.

Serial number 4756 B - currently in Europe

Serial number 4760 - cabinet and serial number plate only

Position here is provisional (the original chassis is gone). Note however that the serial number plate is of the same type as the amp above.

Click for a larger version of this image.

Old pictures from ebay. Sold in May 2007. As the seller stated, the chassis is a replacement for what was there originally. The Woden transformers have the date codes "HU" = August 1963.

Serial number 4763 N (?) - currently in Australia

Three sets of pictures

Above, pictures taken in 2012. Chassis assembled by Westrex. Haddon transformers; capacitors renewed. Note the streak by the rectifier valve. Below a set of pictures from 2013, the chassis now in a different cabinet.

The same chassis in a different box (note the streak by the rectifier valve mentioned above). In these pictures one can see slightly more clearly the wrongly-positioned hole for the rectifier valve - typical of Westrex chassis at this time. The repro serial number plate, deliberately scratched up to make it seem old, is of the later type with long silver panels. The number - 5014T - is nonsense.

The chassis and preamp restored (modern capacitors replaced). The serial number plate (5984N) currently on the box is from a later copper panel AC30.

NEW

Serial number 4784B - currently in the UK

Reasonably good condition cosmetically. A list of renewed components accompanies. The speakers are said to have date codes "03LF" and "10LF", which means 3rd and 10th week of November 1961 for their manufacture (not December as the typed note says).

Serial number 4800N

Recently (August 2022) sold on ebay in Germany, the plate from AC30 serial number 4800N (the "8" mis-stamped at first pass), a late black panel amp (AC30/6).

Serial number 4813N - currently in the USA

The box and serial number plate are from around autumn 1961. Note the square corners of the back boards. But the box has been revamped: new vinyl covering, grille cloth, and corner protectors added at front (with double pins). The serial number plate is of the type also used for serial number 4680, above. The chassis and speakers, probably fitted into the older box in the 1980s or 1990s, seem to go together (early 1964). The Woden transformers have date codes "KU" and "MU" = October and December 1963; the Celestion blues are both dated "10MH" = 10th December 1963. Thanks to Rich for new pictures and info.

Serial number 4835 - currently in Finland

Box (with square corners to its back boards) and serial number plate, possibly the speakers belong too (date codes unknown). The chassis is a later replacement - copper panel with Woden transformers, date code "MU" = December 1963. The amp from which the present chassis came must have been a '64. The original is likely to have had a black panel.

Serial number 4843

A section of the back panel and front of the cabinet only known at present. The cabinet is later - dimpled black vinyl, corner protectors, and black metal vents. The chassis has added top boost. No pictures of the control panel are to hand. In all probability, black - a late one. A slim possibility though that it is very early copper. The serial number is definite.

Serial number 4854

Recorded by Jim Elyea as having a black panel (p. 193).

Serial number 4873

Recorded by Jim Elyea as having a black panel (p. 193).

Serial number 4880

Recorded by Jim Elyea (p. 539) - possibly black panel, possibly copper.

Post List of Changes - serial numbers unknown

Serial number unknown - currently in Europe

The box, which is early (square corners to the back boards), has been recovered. It is not known whether either of the two speakers is original to it. At this stage in production, JMI is unlikely to have sent out an AC30 with one speaker specially labelled and the other not.

The black control panel is a reproduction (but may replicate what was there originally). The serial number plate on the back panel is also a reproduction.

As in the amp immediately below (currently in Australia) the chassis has a phantom cut-out for the GZ34 valve.

The pictures above show the amp before it was serviced. The transformers are Haddons. One of the pots has the date code "FI" = June 1961. Three date codes on the Hunts capacitors are also visible: "HWW", "HTW" and "HSW" = respectively 21st, 24th and 25th weeks of 1961 (June and July).

Serial number unknown - currently in the USA

An amp of parts: the box is probably 1963/1964, its original grille cloth replaced with 1970s Rose Morris. The speakers are modern Celestion blues. The serial number plate is from an AC30 Super Twin from 1964. The chassis is a late black panel, late autumn / early winter 1961, its Woden choke with the date code "HT" = August 1962, likely to be a replacement. The transformers are Haddons. Note the white EL84 sockets and the re-welded phantom cut-out for the GZ34 rectifier valve. The various parts - chassis, box, plate - are likely to have been brought together in the 1990s.

Serial number unknown - formerly in the UK

Sold on ebay some time ago - May 2007. No info at present on whether the amp is Pre or Post "List of Changes", so placed here on a temporary footing. Transformers are Haddons (stickers visible on the shrouds). The choke is very ruddy in colour.

Serial number unknown - currently in the UK

Haddon transformers. White Erie resistors in the preamp. Six of the original black WIMA signal capacitors survive. In the power section, the original 82R cathode bias resistor is still in place. White valve bases for the EL84s, and the phantom hole for the GZ34. The speakers accompanying the chassis have date codes 24EG and 25EG = 24th and 25th May 1962. It seems unlikely however that they belonged originally to the cabinet that housed the chassis.

Updated

Serial number unknown - currently in the UK

A further black panel Post-LOC AC30/6 - probably from the summer of 1961. Cabinet recovered, and some work on the electronics. As the pictures are quite small, it is hard to make out any details that are particularly distinctive though (aside from the obvious).

Thanks to Richard, a picture of the amp's cabinet, now restored. The two Celestion blues survive (one removed by a previous owner) and are in full working order. In the preamp, original components with June 1961 date codes.

Back to the page on Vox AC30/4s.

Copper panels appear in the high 4000s, see this page - AC30s in beige cabinets, copper panels.