The Vox/Jennings Domino amplifiers were effectively a budget range aimed at non-professional and younger players. There were many competitors in this field: Ampleco, Fenton-Weill, Selmer, Watkins, and Dallas Arbiter.

The Standard/Normal initially sold in reasonable numbers, though its popularity (which admittedly never matched that of the Domino Bass) waned fairly quickly. An overview of the range and notes on contemporary prices can be found here.

JMI "Precision in Sound" fold-out catalogue of later 1963.

Late 1963, the price of the Domino Standard in the Jennings shop in Bexleyheath, "Musicland". Cash price of the AC4 was £23 and 2 shillings.

The circuit of the Domino Standard/Normal was effectively that of the AC4: single channel, two inputs, tremolo. The three controls are: volume; tremolo speed; and combined on/off and tone. Control panels were blue initially, then engraved black and white trafolyte, followed by silk-screened black and white.

Control panel of serial number 1047.

Control panel of serial number 1049.

Control panel of serial number 1833.

Four valves were employed: EZ80 rectifier, EF86 preamp gain, ECC83 for the tremolo, and a single EL84 power valve. The mains tranformer allowed for operation at 110V and 230V, indicating that sales to America may initially have been an intention or at least hope.

Information panel from the first version of the JMI circuit diagram for the AC4 and Domino Normal, OS/051, dated 6th March, 1964. A new version was drawn in September 1964. These superceded the first sheet, OS/009, drawn initially for the AC2/AC4 alone in December 1961. Two versions also of OS/009 survive.

As in the case of the AC4, chassis were assembled by Triumph Electronics in Purley. Alan Griffin, who worked at Triumph from 1963 to early 1965, remembers fitting the black panels and white control knobs.

Speakers were generally bronze-coloured Plessey 1010, impedance 3 ohms. Cabinets had a closed back, giving more protection to the driver than cabinets with upper and lower back boards (as for example in the case for the AC4).

Speaker of serial number 1047.

AC4 rear view.

Serial number plates had "AMPLIFIER" at their head rather than "VOX AMPLIFIER". The three main types that were used for the range can be seen on this page.

In mid 1964, the cosmetics and format of the Domino range - at this point Normal, Bass, and Super Reverb Twin models - were updated. The livery became for a time green and silver. The new colour can be seen on this page.

Old-style Standard/Normal cases measured 20" x 15" x 7", the new ones 24" x 17" x 8" (not 18" as the advert below would have it).

Late 1964 "Precision in Sound" newspaper format catalogue (UK issue only).

New-style Domino Normals are evidently quite rare. To date none has come to light, though that may well change.

Surviving amps

Below, pictures of a cross-section of surviving amps. The serial numbers that have come to light so far lie in the 1000 range.

Serial number 1047

Original Plessey speaker still in place. The visible Mullard mustard capacitors in the preamp have "A3N" and "B3N" date codes for their manufacture = first and second quarters of 1963 respectively.

Serial number 1049

Original speaker in place. The control panel is engraved black and white trafolyte. A wooden block footswitch (for the tremolo) is hard-wired.

Serial number 1345

Original white footswitch survives. The control panel is now of the standard anodised/etched type, as fitted also on the amp pictured below. Still the first type of plate with short panels.

Plastic serial number plate from this point.

Serial number 1702

Serial number 1833

Note the Type 2 plastic serial number plate.

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