Vox AC30/6 TB 1974 Dallas-built, hand-wired chassis, restored case, silver alnicos
This is thoroughly serviced Dallas-built AC30/6 top boost chassis installed in a restored case with classic ‘silver alnico’ speakers.
We have two of these, at present, so feel free to come and try them both!
Now 1970s AC30s can be either terrible or brilliant, depending on which model you have. After the JMI years, there were some (not great) PCB-based versions put out under Birch-Stolec ownership but then, for a brief and wonderful period, there are the hand-wired, British built reissues that Dallas introduced when they bought Vox. These were a beautifully-made return to the original design (with some minor improvements) built in a purpose-built factory in Essex. Sadly, these Dallas (and then ‘Dallas Arbiter’) amps were only built for a few glorious years before, again, cost-cutting and mass-production again started to impact the lineup.
Needless to say, this is the good ones! This is a Dallas-built AC30/6 TB chassis dating from 1974. The chassis is in almost original condition and it has been paired with a restored ‘70s case and beautiful 70s ‘silver alnico’ speakers.
The case is not original to the amp, but has been restored to its former glory using our own range of spares. It is now an extremely well-turned out example sporting black basketweave tolex, black grill cloth and silver hardware (just as the original case would have). Improvements on the original JMI case design include the use of a plywood baffle and a double row of vents to help the cooling, plus bevelled vents by the faceplate. Air flow in these 70s amps is significantly improved on the JMI period which - in an amp which drives the power tubes hard - is a very useful upgrade.
The chassis has been thoroughly serviced including replacing the main filter caps (original values), repairing the Vib/Trem switch (perhaps a weakness on these chassis as both of the examples I’ve worked on recently were broken in identical ways) and fitting an internal 3A fuse to the live feed.
The matching pair of speakers are not original to this amp, in fact they are a few years earlier (1970) but they are in glorious condition and very appropriate for this amp. Dallas ‘inherited’ several hundred of these from the previous owners of Vox and used them in the early Dallas-built amps. The T1088 ‘silver alnico’ speaker (and before that the same speaker, painted blue) had been used by JMI for AC30s since the early 60s. These are dated 6th May 1970 and have their original VSL stickers still intact. These, and their highly sought-after pulsonic cones, are in perfect condition and give this amp the ‘classic’ AC30 chimey sound.
The only significant change that Dallas made from the JMI specifications was the use of a SS rectifier which gives this amp a slightly more aggressive feel with a little less ‘sag’ but also a bit more output. Make no mistake, this can be a seriously loud amp if you choose to crank it up! Other than that, Dallas made 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 (in contrast to our ‘75 example) still has the treble and bass controls wired the ‘vintage’ Vox way around where they work as ‘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.
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 thoroughly serviced Dallas-built AC30/6 top boost chassis installed in a restored case with classic ‘silver alnico’ speakers.
We have two of these, at present, so feel free to come and try them both!
Now 1970s AC30s can be either terrible or brilliant, depending on which model you have. After the JMI years, there were some (not great) PCB-based versions put out under Birch-Stolec ownership but then, for a brief and wonderful period, there are the hand-wired, British built reissues that Dallas introduced when they bought Vox. These were a beautifully-made return to the original design (with some minor improvements) built in a purpose-built factory in Essex. Sadly, these Dallas (and then ‘Dallas Arbiter’) amps were only built for a few glorious years before, again, cost-cutting and mass-production again started to impact the lineup.
Needless to say, this is the good ones! This is a Dallas-built AC30/6 TB chassis dating from 1974. The chassis is in almost original condition and it has been paired with a restored ‘70s case and beautiful 70s ‘silver alnico’ speakers.
The case is not original to the amp, but has been restored to its former glory using our own range of spares. It is now an extremely well-turned out example sporting black basketweave tolex, black grill cloth and silver hardware (just as the original case would have). Improvements on the original JMI case design include the use of a plywood baffle and a double row of vents to help the cooling, plus bevelled vents by the faceplate. Air flow in these 70s amps is significantly improved on the JMI period which - in an amp which drives the power tubes hard - is a very useful upgrade.
The chassis has been thoroughly serviced including replacing the main filter caps (original values), repairing the Vib/Trem switch (perhaps a weakness on these chassis as both of the examples I’ve worked on recently were broken in identical ways) and fitting an internal 3A fuse to the live feed.
The matching pair of speakers are not original to this amp, in fact they are a few years earlier (1970) but they are in glorious condition and very appropriate for this amp. Dallas ‘inherited’ several hundred of these from the previous owners of Vox and used them in the early Dallas-built amps. The T1088 ‘silver alnico’ speaker (and before that the same speaker, painted blue) had been used by JMI for AC30s since the early 60s. These are dated 6th May 1970 and have their original VSL stickers still intact. These, and their highly sought-after pulsonic cones, are in perfect condition and give this amp the ‘classic’ AC30 chimey sound.
The only significant change that Dallas made from the JMI specifications was the use of a SS rectifier which gives this amp a slightly more aggressive feel with a little less ‘sag’ but also a bit more output. Make no mistake, this can be a seriously loud amp if you choose to crank it up! Other than that, Dallas made 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 (in contrast to our ‘75 example) still has the treble and bass controls wired the ‘vintage’ Vox way around where they work as ‘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.
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 thoroughly serviced Dallas-built AC30/6 top boost chassis installed in a restored case with classic ‘silver alnico’ speakers.
We have two of these, at present, so feel free to come and try them both!
Now 1970s AC30s can be either terrible or brilliant, depending on which model you have. After the JMI years, there were some (not great) PCB-based versions put out under Birch-Stolec ownership but then, for a brief and wonderful period, there are the hand-wired, British built reissues that Dallas introduced when they bought Vox. These were a beautifully-made return to the original design (with some minor improvements) built in a purpose-built factory in Essex. Sadly, these Dallas (and then ‘Dallas Arbiter’) amps were only built for a few glorious years before, again, cost-cutting and mass-production again started to impact the lineup.
Needless to say, this is the good ones! This is a Dallas-built AC30/6 TB chassis dating from 1974. The chassis is in almost original condition and it has been paired with a restored ‘70s case and beautiful 70s ‘silver alnico’ speakers.
The case is not original to the amp, but has been restored to its former glory using our own range of spares. It is now an extremely well-turned out example sporting black basketweave tolex, black grill cloth and silver hardware (just as the original case would have). Improvements on the original JMI case design include the use of a plywood baffle and a double row of vents to help the cooling, plus bevelled vents by the faceplate. Air flow in these 70s amps is significantly improved on the JMI period which - in an amp which drives the power tubes hard - is a very useful upgrade.
The chassis has been thoroughly serviced including replacing the main filter caps (original values), repairing the Vib/Trem switch (perhaps a weakness on these chassis as both of the examples I’ve worked on recently were broken in identical ways) and fitting an internal 3A fuse to the live feed.
The matching pair of speakers are not original to this amp, in fact they are a few years earlier (1970) but they are in glorious condition and very appropriate for this amp. Dallas ‘inherited’ several hundred of these from the previous owners of Vox and used them in the early Dallas-built amps. The T1088 ‘silver alnico’ speaker (and before that the same speaker, painted blue) had been used by JMI for AC30s since the early 60s. These are dated 6th May 1970 and have their original VSL stickers still intact. These, and their highly sought-after pulsonic cones, are in perfect condition and give this amp the ‘classic’ AC30 chimey sound.
The only significant change that Dallas made from the JMI specifications was the use of a SS rectifier which gives this amp a slightly more aggressive feel with a little less ‘sag’ but also a bit more output. Make no mistake, this can be a seriously loud amp if you choose to crank it up! Other than that, Dallas made 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 (in contrast to our ‘75 example) still has the treble and bass controls wired the ‘vintage’ Vox way around where they work as ‘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.
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!