Vintage Vox Electric Guitars, Basses and Amplifiers >> Vintage Guitar and Bass (original) (raw)
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Vintage Vox guitars from the 1960s
Vox content on this site is sorted into categories:
Vox was a massive name in 1960s Britain, with Vox guitars and even more Vox amplifiers widely used by the very biggest names in British music: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Hollies, The Dave Clark Five and the Yardbirds, to name but a few. Soon American acts would join the roster, most notably Paul Revere & the Raiders and James Brown, but also countless less well known bands. For a few short years in the mid 1960s, the Vox name was everywhere. Today, vintage Vintage Vox guitars are highly collectable, especially the teardrop and phantom styed guitars, and the more unusual models: early JMI guitars and those with complicated inbuilt effects circuitry.
But the story of the 1960s Vox guitars is complicated, with many different guitars made in different plants worldwide, often quite different from each other. But it started in England; JMI were making Vox guitars at a factory in Dartford, Kent (See pic), primarily for Shadows fans in the UK. After Beatlemania, Brian Jones' teardrop Mark VI and the British Invasion of 1964, they could not keep up with worldwide demand, especially in the US. JMI outsourced some production to two Italian factories, EKO in Recanati, and Crucianelli, primarily for the American market, and at it's peak had a huge number of models available. Eventually the UK factory ceased guitar production, and the last few Vox guitars available for several years, were the Vox Giant range guitars, made in Japan.
Today, many of these rare guitars are highly collectable, with vintage Vox guitar values on the rise. They are loved for their crazy shapes and for the exciting sounds from the built-in guitar effects. Have a listen to some vintage Vox soundclips.
The various Vox guitar manufacturers
Vox guitars have been produced by various manufacturers in the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan; for convenience, you can split 1960s Vox guitars into four main categories. Each had different components, and it is not too difficult to place a guitar in one of these groups, just by looking at controls, pickups etc.
Two UK-produced Vox Ace guitars from 1962/3
Vox Prototype Designer Mick Bennett drills holes for control knobs, of a Vox Mark guitar at the Dartford plant, United Kingdom
The Jennings shop, 100 Charing Cross Road, London, specialised in Vox guitars
JMI - Vox guitars made in England
The earliest UK Vox's were solid-body guitars, assembled in the JMI 'Unity Works' plant in Dartford, Kent, with components coming from numerous British suppliers. Later necks were imported from Italy, but even with an Italian neck, these are regarded as the British Voxs. Unable to cope with worldwide demand, a second plant 'West Street' was opened nearby in 1965, but was badly damaged by fire in January 1966. Numerous JMI guitars were produced in the UK, from the Fender-style solid bodies Shadow, Ace, Stroller and Consort, to more original designs, such as the Phantom, Mark and Marauder. These were primarily for the British market, though many were exported to the United States in the early/mid 1960s.
Crucianelli / Eko - Early Italian Vox guitars
At the same time, there was significant demand for hollow-body instruments, something not easily produced in any numbers at the Dartford plant. So Vox imported a range of guitars from Italian manufacturer Crucianelli. These models include the Vox Lynx, Vox Cougar bass, Vox Challenger, and Escort bass. Furthermore, demand for solid body UK models was so high that certain guitars were produced simultaneously in Britain and Italy (primarily by Eko of Recanati). Italian Phantoms from this period have some differing components and construction from their British-built counterparts.
EME - Italian Vox guitars for the US
The third main phase of Vox production is possibly the best known worldwide. These were the Italian built Vox's from the EME factory in Recanati; a joint Venture between Vox UK, Eko in Italy, and Vox's US distributor Thomas Organ. Most of these instruments were bound for the United States, where they were distributed by the Thomas Organ Company.
Although they have distinctive components, and often built-in electronic effects, most were versions of existing Vox models: primarily the phantom and teardrop shaped guitars (eg Delta, Starstream), Gibson/Gretsch-style single and double cutaway hollow bodies, (Ultrasonic, Viper, Cheetah, Apollo, Bossman) - plus the Invader and Thunderjet solid bodies.
From 1966 things started going wrong for Vox, ultimately resulting in the company briefly going out of business, and Vox guitar manufacture ending in the UK. By mid 1968, JMI were in the hands of the receiver. Leftover Vox guitars were distributed unbranded (though potentially still with some Vox markings) by Dallas Arbiter.
Vox Sound (Japan)
The last Vox's produced in the 1960s, (and into the early 70s) were the Japanese-made Vox Giant guitars. Aimed at the UK/European market, and first shown at the August 1968 Frankfurt trade fair. These guitars were mainly copies of American designs - Les Paul (and later SG) styled solid bodies and Gretsch Country Gent styled semi acoustics - quite nice guitars, but without the uniqueness of earlier models. These did not sell particularly well, and importation quickly stopped, leaving Vox to concentrate on Amplifiers for the rest of the 1970s.
Dating Vox guitars
Unfortunately dating Vox guitars by serial number is hard. There is no Vox guitar serial number lookup. Records of JMI guitar production does not exist at all, whilst EME Vox serial number data does exist, but is not widely available. However serial numbers were applied more or less consecutively, and by examining certain features of guitars it is possible to suggest an approximate shipping date. UK built Vox guitars are often equipped with datable components (e.g. Morganite and Egen potentiometers - see potentiometer codes which gives an approximate date of manufacture.
Latest Vox guitar updates
The most recent content posted to this site on vintage Vox guitars:
1963 Vox Super Ace
The Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area
1966 Vox New Escort
The Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.
1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar
The Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.
1967 Vox Stroller
The Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.
1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)
A nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale
1963 Vox Clubman II
The Clubman was one of the earliest UK-built guitars produced by Vox at it's Dartford plant. As an entry level model it was very light, fitted with the most basic components, and not made of the most select woods, but it's unique styling, low price and easy playability made for a relatively popular guitar. Initially there were two guitar models, the single pickup Clubman I and dual pickup Clubman II, and a companion Clubman bass - check them out in the 1962 Vox catalogue. The guitar was redesigned in the middle of 1963, getting a new Strat-style body, but examples with the older body style were still being shipped perhaps as early as the start of 1964.
1963 Vox Consort
The Vox Consort was produced in the UK throughout the mid 1960s; originally modelled on the Fender Jaguar, it was one of JMI's better quality instruments, with many features not seen on lower-priced guitars. This early example mixed innovative tone circuitry with Vox's original chrome-covered V1 pickups, for "every possible variation of tone from bass to sharp brilliance". By the middle of 1963, the model had been redesigned, becoming less Fender-esque and more Vox - have a look at the redesigned Consort in the 1963 Vox catalogue
Inside the Vox guitar factory 1965/66
A recollection of life inside JMI's two UK Vox factories in Dartford: Dartford Road, and West Street, Erith, circa 1965/66; building Vox solid body guitars; working on special instruments including a highly ornate Vox Soundcaster for the Royal family and a five-string Symphonic bass for the Hollies; plus sharing your sandwiches with Bill Wyman! By Tony Russell.
1963 Vox Symphonic bass guitar
The Symphonic bass was one of the models produced by JMI in the UK, primarily for the early sixties British market. It was comparatively high priced, still cheaper in the UK than the Fender Precision that it was emulating, but not by much, and actually more expensive in the USA. It only sold in small numbers in Britain and barely at all overseas. No equivalent model was produced in Italy, and although it remained in UK price lists as late as 1967, it is unlikely many instruments were shipped beyond 1965.
1963 Vox Precision in Sound brochure
This early Vox brochure comes from summer 1963, still the early days of JMI production, and shortly before the beat boom of the mid 1960s. At this time, Vox guitars were built in the UK, primarily for the British market. The company had refined it's production methods, to some extent, and many of the guitars shown are quite different from those in the Choice of the Stars catalogue from late 1962. Includes primarily Vox solid body guitars, basses and amplifiers. See other Vox catalogue scans here.
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1966 Vox Bulldog With OHSC
Georgetown, Massachusetts, 018**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1875
The Vox Bulldog V241 was introduced in 1966 and only lasted a few years. It was designed to capitalize in the popularity of Mosrite guitars, thanks to The Ventures. It also resembles a Strat and was even priced higher when it was introduced!
The Bulldog features a carved top, ebony fretboard, 3 single coil pickups, 3 way selector, one volume control, two tone controls, body and neck binding, metal nut, and a palm mute. It was made in Italy by EKO
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VEGA ELECTROVOX MAPLE ARCHTOP W / TONE SWITCH - CIRCA 1940-1950 *READ (P03033664)
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$1000
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Crucianelli Elite 702B Bass 1965 Sunburst Vox Cougar V214 Espana Italy
Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1000
1965 Crucianelli Elite 702B Sunburst
Vintage semi hollow body short scale bass!
Made in Italy ca. 1965
These basses were built by Crucianelli but were branded under numerous names. Most famously it is also the Vox Cougar V214 bass. It was also the Panaramic 1204R bass and the Espana EL-38 bass. It also could have been branded under the Tonemaster, Hengelo Tonnema, Imperial, Elite, or Crucianelli names. Crucianelli also made the Vox Lynx V213 guitar
Crucianelli certainly took many ... more
1969 VOX Violin / Spyder Bass Case Honest / Light wear NO keys FREE FREIGHT. L@@K
Hartsville, South Carolina, 295**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$400
This vintage VOX Violin / Spyder Bass Case is a rare find for any musician. With its unique design and history, it's sure to be a conversation starter. The case is in great shape and has only minor signs of wear, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a high-quality storage solution for their bass guitar The case is perfect for anyone who wants to keep their instrument safe and secure, while also adding a touch of style to their collection. Whether you're a seasoned musician or just ... more
Vox Bossman Guitar With Original Case
Colorado Springs, Colorado, 809**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1200
Excellent condition with original case. Built in effects. 1960s Vox Bossman. Made in Italy. You won??t find a cleaner example anywhere
... more
Vintage VOX Spitfire Electric Guitar - USED
Spencerport, New York, 145**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1049
Up for grabs:
Vintage VOX Spitfire Electric Guitar - USED
COOL FSA FIND
PLEASE ASK FIRST ABOUT INTL SHIPMENTS AND WE DO NOT LOWER VALUES. NEW Please inquire about international shipments before you buy, please! We cannot ship everywhere due to box size limits
All guitars ship insured FEDEX, international shipments must meet country specific size limitations and shipping constraints and we will not lower the value for customs and may not ship the same day, we have our handling ... more
Vox 60's Vintage Mark VI Teardrop Style Guitar - (Used)
Kokomo, Indiana, 469**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2800
This vintage 60's Vox guitar is in good condition for it's age. There are several finish imperfections including a missing chip that is about 1 / 4 inch (see pictures). Pick marks and normal wear is evident from general use. The vibrato arm is included but is missing a spring and the fastening hardware. The guitar has been set up in our shop with new strings. The action is set to play fast and easy. The intonation is true up and down the neck. The truss rod functions properly. There is minimal ... more
Vintage 1960's Vox Mark XII 12-String Electric Guitar Owned by Steve Earle
Bigfork, Montana, 599**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$4499
This listing is for a
Vintage 1960's Vox Mark XII 12-String Electric Guitar Owned / Played by Steve Earle
Italian made Vox from the mid 60's, it was owned and played by one of my favorite artists: Steve Earle!
This 12 string guitar features a teardrop shape, 3 tone sunburst and 3 single coil pickups
Steve used this on El Corazon (my 2nd favorite Steve Earle record) and whenever he used an electric 12 string on a record or play live
The guitar has finish checking through out as ... more
Phantom Guitarworks (Vox) Limited Edition Teardrop Hollowbody #10 of 20
Ashburn, Virginia, 201**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1898
This Limited Edition Phantom (Vox) Hollowbody Teardrop guitar is in mint unplayed condition. It is #10 of only 20 made. All Phantom®, Teardrop® and MandoGuitars® are hand-assembled in the United States of America with foreign and domestic parts
The bookmatched flame maple top pattern in the see-through red finish does not show up too well in photos but it's stunning in person.
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1960's VOX made in England JMI Super Ace short-scale Sunburst
Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1090
Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1960's made in England JMI Vox Super Ace short-scale guitar in its original Sunburst finish. It has a good playing neck with great frets. It's all original and includes a period correct non-original Vox hardshell case. This Super Ace looks great with nicks + dings, some finish checking and other cosmetic wear. The tremolo arm is just a bit loose, but works. The guitar itself remains structurally sound with no ... more