JMI VOX AC30 restoration project

vic · 2010-01-25T22:52:46+00:00

I recently bought this old topboost AC30. A real gem but as you can see it's a serious restoration project. The Woden trannies and choke date from late '64. The speakers are the original grey alnico celestions. The GZ34 rectifier was substituted for a solid state rectifier diode which will have to go. The most expensive items are going to be the Vox grille cloth....and Vox logo It sounds fantastic and with the return of the GZ34 will sound even better.

inflames

Well done Vic, that looks amazing!
One day, when I'm all grown up!

vic

Thanks guys....
to recover or not to....that's always the BIG question. Normally I would think 10 times before I remove original material from a valuable amp...even electronics...but in this case I had little choice. The tolex was just sooo bad in places. ☹ and nothing looks worse than a patch up job.

Reinhard

Vic that looks absolutely stunning! I am very impressed. Would you mind forwarding his details to me? It is always good to know of someone able to do this kind of work.

Keep the pics coming, I am enjoying following this thread.

AlanRatcliffe

Vic is that Eugene Vermeulen? If it is, I hear he's doing all sorts of good work - fret dressing, refinishing, etc. But I also got the impression he's just takes on a few jobs that he'll enjoy. Is that correct?

vic

Hi Alan...yes it's Eugene van der Meulen...he does fret work, set-ups, guitar restorations, etc etc.....VERY meticulous indeed and probably one of the best around.

singemonkey

C'mon. You just bought a new AC30 and threw the old one in the bin right? ?

Amazing work VIC.

vic

And here is the final product...chassis and speakers loaded...sounds excellent . Much thanks to Eugene van der Meulen... ?

Loaded with the original Celestions (dated May '65)

Showing the back...unloaded

vic

a few more JMI's...the mothers of EL 84 amps...so they say.. ?
LtR AC10 (1966, my 1st Vox...used this amp in the Feather Market Hall, Port Elizabeth, mic'ed-up, amazing sound and volume....has the EF86 pre-amp tube)
This amp has an interesting history...when I came to Stellenbosch as a student my father advised me to sell my gear as I was going to be a good student and nothing else..! which I did at the time. Many years later I bought it back from a collector here in Cape Town....soooo glad I did.
AC30 (late '64...grey panel, had this one for many years now, Normal model, incredible rich sound)
AC30 (1963 copper panel, brass vents, Normal model, punchy thick sound)

MIKA-the-better-one

I love the AC30 sound, and sadly have never owned one. My plan is to run an ac30 and a bassman in stereo, when I get the cash and the backbone of hercules.
You seem to have a sweet amount of Vox power. Its amazing how good this new one looks, WOW

Gearhead

MIKA the better one wrote My plan is to run an ac30 and a bassman in stereo

I hope for your ears the plan is to get some attenuators as well. Or ear plugs... Are you sure you wouldn't just A/B switch them?

vic

MIKA the better one wrote I love the AC30 sound, and sadly have never owned one. My plan is to run an ac30 and a bassman in stereo, when I get the cash and the backbone of hercules.
You seem to have a sweet amount of Vox power. Its amazing how good this new one looks, WOW

Thanks Mika....there are still a few around. A full-grown AC30 weighs in at around 32 Kg.... ?

MIKA-the-better-one

Its cuz you feed it well. ? Weight never bothered me, I have literally no muscle, but in the end a bit of carrying is worth the coolness and sound

vic

Well...Dr Mars has now converted it back to valve (GZ 34) rectification....whow what a difference it has made ! We also swopped out some of the 40+ year old pre-amp valves with other vintage ones and now it's ready to rock 'n roll. ? Thanks Karel.

MIKA-the-better-one

you are like the Moses of Ac30's. leading them out of disrepair into the promised land.

singemonkey

MIKA the better one wrote you are like the Moses of Ac30's. leading them out of disrepair into the promised land.

TomCat

Reading this thread is making me GAS for an amp restoration project.......Hmmmmmmmmmmm...... :-\

vic

MIKA the better one wrote you are like the Moses of Ac30's. leading them out of disrepair into the promised land.

? I did not have to go through deep waters, which suddenly became very shallow, though ?

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