Vox AC-100 amplifiers

From late spring/early summer 1965 until November 1965, John Entwistle and Pete Townshend switched to using Vox gear on stage, John with two Vox T-60 amplifiers and cabinets, and Pete with two Vox AC-100 Super DeLuxe 100-watt amplifiers and open-backed cabinets with Midax horns. Continuing the practice started with the early Marshall 4x12 stacks, Pete fitted the Union Jack flag on the grillecloth of the amp.

The AC-100, the first 100-watt amplifier, used four EL34 valves and was originally designed for John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles, who began using them on stage in mid-1964.

The amps, though rated at 100 watts, were not well suited to the Who’s volume, and reliability — with heads catching on fire — was questionable.

So, unsatisfied with the sound and reliability (and following their van being stolen on 2 September; after which they leased Vox gear until November, when they unceremoniously dumped it back at the hire company), they returned to Marshall, with the debut of the Marshall 8x12 stacks and 100-watt amplifiers in early November.

(For more infomation, see Max The Mod’s great description.

In 1967, they would return to rented Vox equipment for the early U.S. shows, with a later incarnation of the AC-100, the U.S.-manufactured U.S. Thomas Organ (VOX) V1141 “Super Beatle” 120w amplifiers and 4x12 (w/two horns) cabinets.

Pete’s first use of Vox amps came in 1963, when he joined the Detours, sharing Roger’s Vox AC-15, which he had acquired from Detours rhythm guitarist Roy East who had drowned whilst on holiday.

Selected quotes

All quotes and references are copyright their original owners and are included for reference only.

Guitar Player, November 1975, interview with John Entwistle

When we first started calling ourselves the Who I used a Marshall 50 watt amp with a 4-12 cabinet. I had the first 4-12 cabinet that Marshall made. We more or less forced them to make 100 watt amps by changing to Vox, who already had one out.

AC-100 Specificiation

Speakers: Four Vox Celestion Alnico 12″ speakers and two Midax HF horns.
Valves: ECC83, two x 12AU7, four x EL34
Controls: Two inputs, volume, bass, treble
Chrome roller stand

Ca. 1965, with Vox AC100 and Rose, Morris, Co., LTD., Rickenbacker 1993.

Driving a Danelectro Guitarlin into the Vox amp.

August 1965, with four AC-100 amps.

Ca. 1962 or 1963, as the Detours. Pete playing the £3 Czechoslovakian acoustic he’d acquired from his parents’ antiques shop, “Miscellania,” on Ealing Common, and right of Roger, who is playing the Epiphone Wilshire that he would eventually give to Pete, what appears to be a TV front Vox AC-15, with cabinet corners.