Vox AC15 1960 Two Tone Version 7 Third Circuit EF86 1960

No Sales Tax For Customers Outside Of California.

This is one of two extremely rare, early Vox amps we currently have in stock.  The other is an extremely early AC30 in blue diamond covering, which we'll be adding to the website very soon.

This amplifier represents a rare transitional version of the Vox AC-15, produced only for a brief time between February and late 1960. Its distinctive two-tone grey cabinet sets it apart, with a darker upper third contrasting against a lighter lower section, highlighted by a line of gold piping.

The control panel, finished in black and gold, was originally paired with rounded black knobs, though some examples from this run were shipped with the pointer knobs you see on this example. At this stage in development, Dick Denney had finalized the third AC-15 circuit, replacing the earlier ECF82 with a pair of 12AX7s and, most notably, shifting the EF86 tube to the first channel to feed directly into the phase inverter.

Power comes from two EL84 tubes paired with an EZ81 rectifier, driving a single 12-inch speaker for about 15 watts of output. The familiar four-input, two-channel layout is here, with individual volume controls for each channel. Channel one includes tremolo speed and depth, while channel two provides a tone knob and top cut control—offering the chime and warm saturation that helped define early British rock recordings.

Most early 1960s AC-15s show heavy wear.  This example is extremely well-preserved. The original handle remains, but using it is not recommended as they can break, and you'll never find a vintage replacement.  The grille cloth displays some wear and staining, but importantly remains intact. The original hardwired JMI footswitch is still with the amp.

Inside, this AC-15 retains much of its originality. The Celestion T.530 speaker, still sporting its original cone, sounds excellent. The wiring between the speaker and the amp has been amended.  A male plug was added to wire leaving the speaker.  A female jack was added to the wire running to the amp.  This allows use of an external speaker so you can keep playing time on the original speaker to a minimum.   

The transformers—power, output, and choke—are all factory original, with the output transformer having been rewound by Brian Sours of Soursound.  Brian is the foremost expert in vintage amp transformer restoration. 

The potentiometers are original. Recent servicing includes fresh electrolytic capacitors, a grounded three-prong power cord, cleaning of pots and jacks, and proper biasing of the output tubes.

Overall, this is a remarkably well-kept piece of Vox history—a rare, short-lived design offering shimmering cleans and touch-sensitive overdrive that capture the unmistakable sound of early British rock.

"1960 was a year of great experimentation at Vox. Everything was ready for a change. Circuits were redone, wild and wacky coverings and grillcloths were tried, and by year's end, the cabinets would have a complete redesign. While Dick [Denney] was re-doing the insides of the A.C.15., Tom [Jennings] was changing the look of the outsides. First off was the change from the Cream w/diamonds covering to not one, but two fabrics - a light and a dark speckled grey. These were separated from each other by a length of thin gold piping inset into the front and sides about three quarters of the way up. This was standard issue from roughly February to September 1960". Jim Elyea. Vox Amplifiers The JMI Years, p. 360

"Perhaps the best known users of this two-tone version of the A.C.15 were The Shadows. Although they were perhaps the most photographed band to use the two-tones, other groups used them too, including The Terry Young Five in 1961, and Gerry Marsden on the early 1960s."

We plan to ship this amp in three boxes: one for the chassis, one for the cabinet, and one for the speaker.  The buyer will have to reassemble the amp.  This is not terribly difficult.  This is the only way we can ship this relic in good conscience.  Everything will be double boxed with ample packing material, and expedited shipping will be mandatory to keep the amp out of the shipping system for extended periods of time.  Thus, shipping will be expensive.  

A brown box or variac will be required to use this amp due to the power taps available.  Operation at 110v is recommended.  You cannot plug this amp straight into the wall - something to consider for all 50s and 60s amps, which were designed to handle lower voltage than utilities currently supply.

• Case/Cover?: No
• Color: Two Tone Grey
• Dimensions: W20-3/4" x H20-3/4" x D10-1/2"
• Weight: 44lbs 2oz
• Watts: 15 Watts
• Date: 1960
• Where is Date Noted?: Serial#, Codes
• Speaker 1 Brand: Vox
• Speaker 1 Size: 12"
• Speaker Code: See Pics
• Speaker 1 Cone: Original
• Power Transformer Brand/Codes: See Pics
• Choke Transformer Brand/Codes: See Pics
• Output Transformer Brand/Codes: See Pics
• Extension Speaker Out? No
• Reverb or other effects?: Vibe-Trem
• Rectifier Tube: EZ81
• Rectifier Tube Brand: Phillips
• Power Tubes: 2 x EL84
• Power Tube Brand: JJ
• Preamp Tubes: 4 x 12AX7/ECC83, 12AU7/ECC82, EF86
• Preamp Tube Brand: Telefunken, Mullard
• Filter Caps: Original
• Pedal: Yes, original
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Tolex/Tweed: Original
• Grille: Original
• Knobs: Original
• Handle: Original
• Power Cord: Grounded upgrade at some point
• Notes: 

Shipping policy:

When you purchase this item you are hereby agreeing to this shipping policy. We remove tubes from amps that could be damaged in shipping.  We remove the chassis from some amps so that the large transformers don't damage a chassis or cabinet.  We remove heavy speakers from some amps so they don't damage baffles.  These cases result in multiple box shipments, and they require the buyer to do some assembly on delivery.  We do this because we have experienced shipping issues in the past, and this is our prevention measure.  Vintage amps are sold as-is because they can need service intermittently.  Everything is tested here in our shop on the way into our inventory, and again before shipping.  We will cover shipping damage, but we cannot be responsible for the failure of vintage components in 20-to-50-plus year old amps. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.