Vox amplifiers helped shape the history and sound of an entire generation of British bands with their unmistakable “British Tone”. First and foremost: the Beatles.
By the early 1960s, Vox amps were already popular in Europe thanks to groups like The Shadows. But it was with The Beatles that the brand gained worldwide fame — extending even to Vox guitars, which had been somewhat overlooked until then. In 1964, Vox even started a collaboration with the Italian company Eko.
It all began in 1962, when Beatles manager Brian Epstein made an informal agreement with Jennings Musical Industries, the parent company of Vox. In exchange for visibility, The Beatles would receive exclusive and free access to the latest Vox amplifiers. A decisive move that would take the Vox “British sound” to stages and TV screens across the globe.
The first Vox amps used by John Lennon and George Harrison were AC15 Twins, soon replaced by the legendary AC30s. Paul McCartney, on the other hand, used a Vox T60 – the first transistor bass amp – paired with a dedicated 18" cabinet (T100).
By late 1963, as screaming crowds grew louder, John and George switched to the more powerful Vox AC50s. But even those weren’t enough: in 1965, ahead of the famous Shea Stadium show in New York – the first major rock concert ever held in a stadium – Vox developed a special 100-watt model for them. The Vox AC100, with twice the output of its predecessors, ranked among the most powerful guitar amps of the time. In the studio, less common models also appeared, such as the hybrid-valve Vox UL730 — used by George Harrison on Revolver and Sgt. Pepper — along with Foundation and Super Foundation bass amps used by Paul in later sessions.
The Beatles continued using Vox amps throughout their touring years. Even in the studio and promotional videos, Vox remained a constant presence until 1968, when Fender amplifiers began to appear. By then, Epstein’s gentleman’s agreement – “as long as I am their manager The Beatles will use Vox amplifiers” – had effectively lapsed, and the band embraced a warmer, more “American” sound for their later recordings.
In our photo: an original Vox T60 bass amp head from 1965 (just like Paul McCartney's). paired with its Vox T100 cabinet, and a Vox AC30 guitar amp. All strictly Made in England. You can spot them in our videos for Now and Then, We Can Work It Out, Rain, Something and Dear Prudence.
