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Initially ntroduced in 1959 with a "TV front" cabinet, the AC-10 bridged the gap between the student grade AC-4 and the professional level AC-15. The AC-10 was first available as a 1x10" combo but a 2x10" AC-10 Twin combo was introduced in 1962. The AC-10 Super Twin Reverb featuring a separate head and speaker cabinet was introduced in 1963.
| The earliest versions of the AC-10 had a TV front cabinet covered in a tweed look vinyl (see inset photo at right). In 1960, the TV cabinet was retained but it was covered in a tan vinyl with an embossed diamond pattern. From 1961 through 1963, the AC-10 had a "thin edge" cabinet covered in fawn vinyl (see photo at left). A hinged handle, brass vents, and chicken head knobs were included. |
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Starting in 1963, the AC-10 was offered briefly in a smooth black levant grain vinyl and later in traditional Vox black basket weave vynide. The AC-10 at lower left is a 1964 model sporting a "thick edge" cabinet, black vents, a Vox logo strap handle and black basket weave vinyl.
The AC-10 Circuit
The circuitry for the Vox AC-10 was designed by Dick Denney and was published on Jennings service schematic OS/008, "AC/10 Amplifier No. 3," dated September 9, 1960. The schematic was updated in September 1964 when 120 and 160 VAC mains voltage taps were added to the power transformer for export models.
The tube complement included one ECF82, one ECC83, two EL84, one EZ81 and one EF86, one of Dick Denney's favorite tubes. Denney's preference for the harmonically rich EF86 tube was apparent as it was designed into the preamp circuitry of the entire original Vox amp line (AC-2, AC-4, AC-6, AC-10, AC-15 and AC-30). Tendencies toward microphony in larger amplifiers forced a redesign of the AC-30 in 1961 to eliminate the EF86, but it was retained in the AC-2 through the AC-15 until Vox discontinued the models.
The AC-10 had a Vibrato and a Normal channel, each with two inputs and a volume control. A single tone "cut" control rolled off the treble response in both channels.
Vibrato was a bit of a misnomer as the AC-10 actually had tremolo, not vibrato. The Vibrato channel had Speed and Amplitude (depth) controls. A remote "egg pedal" foot switch actuated the tremolo effect.
Speakers
Vox commonly installed Elac or Goodmans 10" speakers in the AC-10.
The 1x10" AC-10 Is Discontinued
Jennings ceased production of the original, single speaker version of the AC-10 in 1965 but the AC-10 Twin continued to be produced through 1967. The single speaker AC-10 remained in Vox catalogs and price lists until the existing inventory was liquidated.
