Vox Amps with Fender Electronics

[Steve Reynolds]

Hi All

For a few years i have heard the myth that the Shadows either used fender amps in the studio etc or that there Vox amps had Fender electronics in them, does anyone know where this comes from?

Reason i ask is ive been looking for a new amp and last night went to see Ernie Lamprell (Strat Trax) and we a/b his 3 AC30s.

One was a AC30 handwired with Blues, next was a 50th anniversary AC30 with Blues and the other was a JMI 1961 original and with an Echo and a strat the tones of each was fairly identical but nothing really blew me away. I put this down to being in a small room although the amps were turned up quite loud.

What then surprised me was this morning i had a chance to play a friends Fender Blues Deluxe and it did blow me away, it sounded much more alive than the Vox and sounded more like the Shads than any of the Voxes did, more of that mid range bark etc.

As a side note i have found when using modelling amps in the past that the fender options were better for that sound than the voxes but i put that down to the modelling.

I guess my question is is there any truth in that The Shads did use fender amps in the studio etc?

[Charlie Hall]

The best theory I have heard is that some of the Shadows Vox amps had Fender Tremolux phase inverter circuits. One model of the Tremolux had EL84 output valves so maybe the phase inverter was copied from that model? Dick Denney was also selling a blond Tremolux at one time as he showed it to me. Maybe that was the model used?
I have heard that Hank did use a Fender Twin in the studio on occasion, which contradicts his known preference for Vox in the early days.
Gary Bryant has a number of older Vox amps and they all sound good with either his Meazzi or his Hall & Collins Signature Echo. Were you trying Ernie's amps with or without an echo unit?
I think in the end some amps sound good and others don't. You really have to try them out extensively to know which are the good ones.
Regards,
Charlie

[rogera]

I know that Roberto Pistolesi maintained that Hank did use a Fender amp on some early recordings and after researching what Fender amps
may have been available he concluded that the Fender Tremolux (narrow panel) was the most likely model.

[scanners]

Interesting Steve, I've heard that rumor too, Hank said he tried a Fender tweed twin but didn't like it I read. One of my Guitar magazine and CD jam alongs I've got, they do apache, they used the Fender amp setting, not the Vox cause it sounded closer to the sound. I thought it may have been cause they were officilally endorsing Vox at the time too
Matthew

[fenderplucker]

Hank has said they didn't use any Fenders in the early days.

Presumably, for people to keep bringing it up there must be some tunes that they think can't be reproduced on a Vox, I would be most interested if anybody could suggest some?

Paul.

[Steve Reynolds]

Hi all

Thanks for your input.

Paul to answer your question there isn't any songs that can't be reproduced using a vox as you guys have proved it however for me I find the fender amp gives that sound straight out the box for live performance without having to use an eq pedal etc now this could be that abbey road made the vox Amps sound different to the original sound etc as we know a lot of studio processing can make any amp sound like anything else fender to vox or vice versa.

[bor64]

Steve,

During multiple meetings with Hank 1 o 1, I've covered a lot of ground regarding his newest and old gear...
He told me multiple times the Vox amps they used were different then the ones Jo public could buy...
First all the kinda proto types....smaller cabinets diff valves, electrics etc.
When the dust settled and the AC30 was in full production, the versions the shad used were also modified....heavy shielding against radio Moscow or the next door Taxi office....his wishes and remarks about Fender tone electronics was not ignored by the Vox people.
At times 9 Vox amps were in carousel use with the shads. The 3 on stage, 3 in the practise shed or in the neighborhood of the studio's and always 3 spare at the factory directly available in need.. Sometimes the 3 at the Voxhole were used to try something out by the Vox folks and when the green light was given by Dick and or the shads after try-out...these 3 got the stage light. The six others were modified accordingly....
Most of the time rumours are spread by people who have trouble to get the sound with there Vox or either don't own a Vox...
At one time a geezer told me he saw the 3 Vox amps on stage and 3 Yamaha's with microphones backstage....guess what, the bloke owned a Yamaha amp.
So a lot of BS is on the net because people made up things because of they own or not own some article....
On some forums the "in house" experts ignore the people who own the stuff, they all write about but never owned or seen....
Easy to see why if they listen or agrees with the owner they are not the experts anymore..
On one shadsite I've told folks when discussing F red...I've 9 instruments in that color 58 60 etc ...not interested at all, but keep ranting about the pink guitar on stage...Ever heard of stage lights

Cheers Rob

[Ernie Lamprell]

That's 3 AC30's up for sale then ?

Regards Ernie L

[newliverman]

Hi Steve
I have owned a Vox Acc30 with blues, a Vox heritage 15, and now I own a Fender Blues deluxe which in my opinion is much brighter with more punch than either of the Vox amps. I love the sound it gives me. I personally would recommend the Blues amp if you play Shadows music. Just my opinion!

[Emiel Visser]

Hi Newliverman,

That is curious, because I had the same experience as you with all the amps, as I had them all.
But indeed, my 1993 Fender Blues Deluxe is the best amp I ever had.
For rehearsing with my band I bought, just for the weight, a Fender Champion 40 and, believe or not, it sounds great for the money and there is also the Tweed Deluxe simulation and that sounds great too.
In combination with my ZOOM MS50 ánd self programmed settings, I am completely happy!
Regards,
Emiel

[jetblack69]

Hi all,

interesting stuff....I own a JMI 1964,and a Vox AC15 50th anniversary.Apache through the normal channel, on my JMI AC30 sounds different than on my AC15 (EL86)50th anniversary.Think the (AC30) Apache sounds...better.

Strangely enough been reading an interview with Hank Marvin for a Swedish magazine FUZZ,by Paul Guy.
Hank told Paul,he thinks when they recorded APACHE,they used VOX AC30.He said in those days the early VOX AC30 was in a slightly smaller cabinet.

Stephano