Usually, when we refer to gear using the word
“mystery,” it’s because we don’t know what
the hell it is. But in the case of this Vox, it’s
because it truly is a Mystery. Some refer to it
as the “AC 20,” but Jim Elyea, author of
VOX
Amplifiers: The JMI Years, coined the name
Mystery Amp.
Several of these apocryphal amps have been
found, but none of them have had a matching
serial-number plate. They may have been
produced by JMI, or they may have been
assembled from leftover parts by an unknown
person. To quote Elyea, “All we know is that
we don’t know.”
Here’s what we do know: The amp has three
Goodman 10" speakers, each of which is
marked with a red band around the magnet,
and they’re set in a lightweight enclosure.
This particular amp has many unique features,
including an AC10 reverb circuit, a Parmeko
transformer, a silkscreened front panel (some
versions reportedly have anodized copper
panels), and a chassis that’s not cut for a
vibrato circuit. Its controls include Volume,
Tone, Speed, Depth, and Reverb. It also has
two inputs and a voltage selector.
Anyone have more information on this oddity?
Let us know!
Thanks to Rick and Randy of Guitar Hangar
for listing this on Gear Search! Whether you’re
looking for a vintage piece or a modern take
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