Vox AC100 History & Sound Demo

All about the Vox AC100!
One of the best guitar amplifiers to come out of the 1960's.

[@1953MMike]

When I was 14 I had an 18 watt Vox Cambridge. I wanted an AC100. They're just so cool! 😎

[@roughcutguitars]

Really nice and thorough run down - and when you pulled out I Feel Fine on that J-160... SHEESH! Time travel.

[@guitargearconnection]

Thanks for that!!!!

[@henriquelhrf]

was the original record made with acoustic guitar? @@guitargearconnection

[@JP5466]

@@henriquelhrf YES!

[@ksharpe10]

Wow rare photo of jeff Beck testing ac 100 out, with 2 fans. Thanks for posting this very informative.

[@guitargearconnection]

Thank you!

[@JayHawke84]

Personally, while being largely different, the Korg era AC100, the AC100CP deserves a mention but was hampered by two problems, they came with low quality valves by default and was paired with a 412 cab with unsuitable speakers (Warfdales) - not to mention that a number of people expected a reissue JMI era amp. I found this amp on Ch.1 in the ballpark of an "evolved" AC100 (having midrange, gain and tone cut) but ch.2 is pure rock and roll and gets into heavy metal. I used a bass through the 2nd channel and the fat switch turned on and bass, mids and treble at 12 o clock, it got into the territory of Motorhead easily

[@jasondorsey7110]

Do you use a ric?

[@JP5466]

Wish you would've turned it up past 5 so I could hear some dirt!

[@SalsBodybuildingArchives]

Hey there Paul…what a great collection of Vox Amps and Beatle guitars. This is a great video and I just love this AC 100’s and Solid State Super Beatle amps too. I have a question…I’ve seen pictures of The Beatles playing concerts using the AC 100 but with no mic in front of the amp. Look at pictures of the Shea Stadium Concert. Now; is there a line out from the amp that would go to the P.A. System or did the amp’s sound just bleed into their vocal mics. 100 watts is not very loud standing in the middle of a baseball field. How could anyone hear it sitting so far away. Thanks and keep posting, Peace, Sal 💪🏼🎸

[@guitargearconnection]

Thanks for that Sal! Interestingly, the lads ended up going into the studio and overdubbed it all for their first Shea appearance (heard they did it on 2nd one too). The screaming was just too loud for anything to be recorded audio wise during the show. And yes they didn’t use mics in front of their amps! Just cranked them up all the way and whatever was heard, was heard lol

[@SalsBodybuildingArchives]

@@guitargearconnection Thank you Paul for taking the time to reply. I have (2) AC 15 amps. One with a Blue Alnico and one with a Greenback. Love them both. I also have a Casino and 330 Ric. Every time I plug into my Vox with either guitar; my hair immediately grows out into a Beatle Haircut and I get a Liverpool accent. I just love J,P,G & R and the wonderful music they made. That’s the whole reason I wanted to play guitar. Good luck to you and please keep posting, Peace, Sal ✌🏼

[@JP5466]

@@guitargearconnection Wasn't ALL overdubbed, it was "enhanced".

[@thebigsuperbeatle]

good to see some of my cabinets here

[@HMJohnsonGuitar]

I enjoyed it!

[@ac30lifestyle]

Fascinating video on this classic 100 watt amplifier,but why was it sounding like an ac4? Turn it up

[@musAction]

great. those ac100 amps take me back to 1964 and photos of the beatles US tour. Would loved to hear a demo of it kinda cranked, which i assume they did on that and later tours.

[@guitargearconnection]

Noted!

[@jonathanhorne6503]

The AC-100 didn’t like the 60hz USA power, it made them run hotter than the 50hz European power.

[@RuderalisFPV]

What is the transparent ac30 at 1:12?

[@guitargearconnection]

It was a plexiglass version they had out. Not many made. Pretty cool looking!

[@janinapalmer8368]

Cath bias does sound better 😊 no doubt about it.... as long as you use wire wound non inductive resistors .

[@geofff6671]

These amps sound really nice.

[@bobbystereo936]

With it only having a top boost circuit, it maybe a bit to bright.? I let my buddy use mine for a gig & he didn't like it. Didn't have enough balls he said.

[@hoboroadie4623]

The Dr. Z Z-80 looks promising, and I think that it is unlikely that I will find six working AC-100s that I can use in my rig. (I have found a couple, but the Beatles had six, so hello Doctor...)

[@JR_Taylor]

I read only 10 basket topped sdl cabs were made but your video sound like more were made. How many do you think were made please?

[@guitargearconnection]

I would say about 10-20. Nobody will ever truly know, but just in America alone I know of 3, and in England I know of 2. And I kind of just stumbled upon knowing of these, I didn’t dig to try and locate. With Spain being a large importer of vintage gear, and now Japan being in the lead, I would say there are definitely a few lying around that haven’t been come to light yet.

[@JR_Taylor]

@@guitargearconnection thanks that's really interesting, do you have links to share on these. I recently discovered one in the UK, it'll be on the voxac100 site soon. That resource thinks only two survive (plus mine) so it might need some more updating.

[@guitargearconnection]

@@JR_TaylorI have some pictures of the one for sale recently, and I’ll see if I can dig up the other pics. What is your email?

[@soundmasterg]

You're pronouncing cathode bias incorrectly. It should be pronounced similar to cat on the first part, with the emphasis on the first part of the word rather than the second part of the word. Other than that, nice video! Love these amps!

[@guitargearconnection]

Thanks for that! I knew there was a chance I was screwing that up.

[@haytguugle8656]

CA-thode & THER-mister. These are absolutely common component names (cathode more than thermister) that anyone with any knowledge of electronics, especially tube amps, would know as introductory terminology basic to the simplest operation of amplifiers.

[@hoboroadie4623]

@@haytguugle8656 Brimistor. It is kinda the opposite of a Thermistor, iirc., but look it up yourself, the hoboroadie is pretty unqualified to make this comment.