'The Shadows'

1960 Vox AC-15

This is an original 1960 Vox 'Turquoise & Gray' AC-15 watt EF86, tube combo weighing 45.00 lbs., and is identical to the one that the British group, The Shadows made so famous. The 'two-tone grey' covered solid pine cabinet measures 20 1/2 inches wide x 20 3/4 inches high x 10 1/4 inches deep, and has the original 'Diamond Lattice Pattern grill-cloth" and original black hard plastic handle. "Jennings" rectangular bronze badge affixed to the middle top of the front of the amplifier. Two lighter grey removable back panels. Original 1" diameter red rubber feet on base of cabinet. Original twelve-inch Celestion T.530 'Alnico' speaker with ceramic magnet and gold & blue foil sticker.  Black top control panel with four inputs  "Vibrato" inputs, with two rotary controls (Speed/Vib-Trem) and two "Normal" inputs with two rotary controls (Volume/Tone). Five-way 'plug-in' selection for mains voltage, two-way on/off switch and red pilot light. Serial No. "4129" and Model No. "AC-15 0" stamped in blind on rectangular metal plate affixed to top back panel of cabinet. Complete with the original JMI 3 3/4 inch diameter vibrato footswitch. A wonderful sixty-five-year old legend… just turn it up for real tube gain at a reasonable volume. Complete with the original Vox 'on/off' foot-pedal (for Vibrato). This is by far the finest example of a 'Two-tone gray' AC-15 that we have ever seen. Recently fully serviced by Bryan Sours of SourSound in Portland. (full details of service available on request).

A quintessential piece from the golden age of British combo amps. Sonically, it captures the shimmering clarity and dynamic response of early Vox tone at low volume, and opens up with truly inspiring complexity when pushed. A spectacular-sounding amplifier by any standard.

One of the most iconic amplifiers ever made, the early Vox AC-15 - alongside its larger sibling, the AC-30 - defined the sound of the UK Beat Era. Revered for its rich tonal character, the AC-15 has remained a favorite among discerning players who prize touch sensitivity and clarity over sheer volume. While the AC-30 became the dominant stage amp of its day, the earlier - and ultimately rarer - AC-15 has grown ever more sought-after in recent decades, especially as performance and recording volumes have moderated.

"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."