Vox AC30/6 TB 1975 Dallas-built, hand-wired very original condition
This is a very original, just thoroughly serviced Dallas-built AC30/6 top boost.
We have two of these fantastic Dallas AC30/6 at present, so feel free to come and try them side by side!
Now 1970s AC30s can be either terrible or brilliant, depending on which model. There were the (not great) PCB-based designs that were put out under Birch-Stolec ownership and then, for a brief and wonderful period, there are the hand-wired reissues that Dallas introduced when they bought Vox. These were a beautifully-made return to the original design, plus some improvements, built in a purpose-built factory in Essex. Sadly, these were only made by Dallas (and then ‘Dallas Arbiter’) for a few years before, again, cost-cutting and moves to mass-production again started to feature in the lineup.
Needless to say, this is the latter! It is a Dallas-built AC30/6 TB dating from March 1975, almost original condition and with its original 1975 Creamback speakers still in fantastic condition.
The case is original and in great condition for its age. There are some very minor marks (as you would expect - it’s 50 years old) to the original grill cloth, and the vents are replacements (from our own range) but it is in extremely good, clean shape. Improvements on the original JMI design include the use of a plywood baffle and a double row of vents to help the cooling.
The chassis has been thoroughly serviced including replacing the main filter caps (original values, ARS and F&T), cleaning and repairing the earthing of the mains lead and mains transformer, replacing two (poor replacement) pots with quality CTS ones, repairing the Vib/Trem switch and replaced the capacitor (both of which were broken) and fitting an internal 3A fuse to the live feed.
The speakers are original to the amp - a pair of lovely 25w Creamback T1871 date coded Jan 1975. One code as an 044 stamp code while the other (identical and also original) ‘large rib’ pulsonic cone has no stamp. T1871s are 8 ohm G12M speakers, similar to T1511 but with a more open tone and a little more volume. These were probably designed specifically for Dallas/Vox by Celestion. While they are a ceramic speaker with a slightly more aggressive tone than the earlier Alnicos, these are a great match for this amp.
The only significant deviation from the JMI origins of this amp is the use of a SS rectifier which gives this a slightly more aggressive tone, a little less ‘sag’ and a bit more output. Other than that, Dallas made a few improvements to the cooling and to the earthing of the chassis (better EL84 sockets and retaining clips, better air flow, earthing of the heater circuits has been moved and a ‘hum control’ adjustment added) none of which impact the tone. This one has the treble and bass controls wired the conventional way around (where turning up the treble knob increases treble) rather than the ‘vintage’ Vox way around (where they are ‘cut’ controls - turn up the treble knob to cut more treble).
The amp will come with a brand new set of JJ EL84s and a mix of pre-amp valves.
All three channels work as expected and sound as they should. All the switches, pots and controls operate smoothly and work as expected. It has been checked and cleared by our fully qualified amp technician and will come with his brief summary report and recommendations (all followed).
Grab a bargain. These later AC30s are not well understood and often get mistaken for the poorer quality PCB or Italian-made examples. Make no mistake, this is a proper Vox AC30, hand-built in England. Last of the true AC30s!
This is a very original, just thoroughly serviced Dallas-built AC30/6 top boost.
We have two of these fantastic Dallas AC30/6 at present, so feel free to come and try them side by side!
Now 1970s AC30s can be either terrible or brilliant, depending on which model. There were the (not great) PCB-based designs that were put out under Birch-Stolec ownership and then, for a brief and wonderful period, there are the hand-wired reissues that Dallas introduced when they bought Vox. These were a beautifully-made return to the original design, plus some improvements, built in a purpose-built factory in Essex. Sadly, these were only made by Dallas (and then ‘Dallas Arbiter’) for a few years before, again, cost-cutting and moves to mass-production again started to feature in the lineup.
Needless to say, this is the latter! It is a Dallas-built AC30/6 TB dating from March 1975, almost original condition and with its original 1975 Creamback speakers still in fantastic condition.
The case is original and in great condition for its age. There are some very minor marks (as you would expect - it’s 50 years old) to the original grill cloth, and the vents are replacements (from our own range) but it is in extremely good, clean shape. Improvements on the original JMI design include the use of a plywood baffle and a double row of vents to help the cooling.
The chassis has been thoroughly serviced including replacing the main filter caps (original values, ARS and F&T), cleaning and repairing the earthing of the mains lead and mains transformer, replacing two (poor replacement) pots with quality CTS ones, repairing the Vib/Trem switch and replaced the capacitor (both of which were broken) and fitting an internal 3A fuse to the live feed.
The speakers are original to the amp - a pair of lovely 25w Creamback T1871 date coded Jan 1975. One code as an 044 stamp code while the other (identical and also original) ‘large rib’ pulsonic cone has no stamp. T1871s are 8 ohm G12M speakers, similar to T1511 but with a more open tone and a little more volume. These were probably designed specifically for Dallas/Vox by Celestion. While they are a ceramic speaker with a slightly more aggressive tone than the earlier Alnicos, these are a great match for this amp.
The only significant deviation from the JMI origins of this amp is the use of a SS rectifier which gives this a slightly more aggressive tone, a little less ‘sag’ and a bit more output. Other than that, Dallas made a few improvements to the cooling and to the earthing of the chassis (better EL84 sockets and retaining clips, better air flow, earthing of the heater circuits has been moved and a ‘hum control’ adjustment added) none of which impact the tone. This one has the treble and bass controls wired the conventional way around (where turning up the treble knob increases treble) rather than the ‘vintage’ Vox way around (where they are ‘cut’ controls - turn up the treble knob to cut more treble).
The amp will come with a brand new set of JJ EL84s and a mix of pre-amp valves.
All three channels work as expected and sound as they should. All the switches, pots and controls operate smoothly and work as expected. It has been checked and cleared by our fully qualified amp technician and will come with his brief summary report and recommendations (all followed).
Grab a bargain. These later AC30s are not well understood and often get mistaken for the poorer quality PCB or Italian-made examples. Make no mistake, this is a proper Vox AC30, hand-built in England. Last of the true AC30s!
This is a very original, just thoroughly serviced Dallas-built AC30/6 top boost.
We have two of these fantastic Dallas AC30/6 at present, so feel free to come and try them side by side!
Now 1970s AC30s can be either terrible or brilliant, depending on which model. There were the (not great) PCB-based designs that were put out under Birch-Stolec ownership and then, for a brief and wonderful period, there are the hand-wired reissues that Dallas introduced when they bought Vox. These were a beautifully-made return to the original design, plus some improvements, built in a purpose-built factory in Essex. Sadly, these were only made by Dallas (and then ‘Dallas Arbiter’) for a few years before, again, cost-cutting and moves to mass-production again started to feature in the lineup.
Needless to say, this is the latter! It is a Dallas-built AC30/6 TB dating from March 1975, almost original condition and with its original 1975 Creamback speakers still in fantastic condition.
The case is original and in great condition for its age. There are some very minor marks (as you would expect - it’s 50 years old) to the original grill cloth, and the vents are replacements (from our own range) but it is in extremely good, clean shape. Improvements on the original JMI design include the use of a plywood baffle and a double row of vents to help the cooling.
The chassis has been thoroughly serviced including replacing the main filter caps (original values, ARS and F&T), cleaning and repairing the earthing of the mains lead and mains transformer, replacing two (poor replacement) pots with quality CTS ones, repairing the Vib/Trem switch and replaced the capacitor (both of which were broken) and fitting an internal 3A fuse to the live feed.
The speakers are original to the amp - a pair of lovely 25w Creamback T1871 date coded Jan 1975. One code as an 044 stamp code while the other (identical and also original) ‘large rib’ pulsonic cone has no stamp. T1871s are 8 ohm G12M speakers, similar to T1511 but with a more open tone and a little more volume. These were probably designed specifically for Dallas/Vox by Celestion. While they are a ceramic speaker with a slightly more aggressive tone than the earlier Alnicos, these are a great match for this amp.
The only significant deviation from the JMI origins of this amp is the use of a SS rectifier which gives this a slightly more aggressive tone, a little less ‘sag’ and a bit more output. Other than that, Dallas made a few improvements to the cooling and to the earthing of the chassis (better EL84 sockets and retaining clips, better air flow, earthing of the heater circuits has been moved and a ‘hum control’ adjustment added) none of which impact the tone. This one has the treble and bass controls wired the conventional way around (where turning up the treble knob increases treble) rather than the ‘vintage’ Vox way around (where they are ‘cut’ controls - turn up the treble knob to cut more treble).
The amp will come with a brand new set of JJ EL84s and a mix of pre-amp valves.
All three channels work as expected and sound as they should. All the switches, pots and controls operate smoothly and work as expected. It has been checked and cleared by our fully qualified amp technician and will come with his brief summary report and recommendations (all followed).
Grab a bargain. These later AC30s are not well understood and often get mistaken for the poorer quality PCB or Italian-made examples. Make no mistake, this is a proper Vox AC30, hand-built in England. Last of the true AC30s!