The Vox Series 90 amplifier series was introduced by the Vox division of the US based Thomas Organ Company in 1969. The Vox Series 90 amps were revolutionary in design and were the flagship models of the US Vox line from 1969 through 1971. Unlike most amplifiers, the power amplifier and power supply sections of the Series 90 amps were mounted inside the speaker cabinet. This made the control section, or "head" quite lightweight as it no longer needed to include a power transformer or power amp section.

In 1969, Thomas Organ produced a six page brochure introducing the Series 90 amp series. They also included Series 90 amps in their 1969 and 1970 catalogs.

The Series 90 line included two models of powered speakers: the V130 (4x12, two horns, 140 watts RMS, the cabinet shown at left) and the V131 (2x12, one horn, 70 watts). It also included two interchangeable preamp control sections: the V132 and V133 (the amp head shown at left).

The Series 90 amps replaced the Beatle and Royal Guardsman amps that Vox introduced three years earlier in 1966.

The V130 powered speaker cabinet had the same physical dimensions, speaker complement and chrome tubular trolley as the V4141 Beatle cabinet. The V131 Series 90 powered speaker cabinet was identical in size, speaker complement and used the same chrome tubular trolley as the V4131 Royal Guardsman cabinet.

The Beatle and Royal Guardsman cabinets included the Goodmans Midax horn but the Series 90 cabinets were equipped with a similar mid horn and driver manufactured by Celestion. Celestion also provided the 12" alnico "silver" speakers for the enclosures.

While the two channel V133 Series 90 amp preamp "head" shared most of the functions and features of the V1143 Beatle head, the V133 added variable distortion and a rotary sweepable MRB boost control. A cable with an eight pin "octal" plug interconnected the preamp to the powered speaker cabinet.

The V132 and V133 preamp "heads" could be used with either of the Series 90 powered speaker cabinets.

While revolutionary in design, Vox Series 90 amps never really achieved significant sales numbers. As the 1960's drew to a close, Thomas continued to design and build complex solid state amps such as the Series 90, but very few seemed to care. Guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend were leading guitarists away from Vox and onward to the tube amp designs from such manufacturers as Marshall, Hi Watt and Orange. Thomas Organ failed to recognize and respond to these changes in the markeplace and lost virtually all of their market share by 1970. By mid 1971, Thomas Organ liquidated the entire inventory of Vox amps, organs and guitars at "fire sale" pricing and ceased Vox operations in the US.

Free Schematics for the Vox Series 90 V130 & V133
Click here to download the original Thomas Organ schematic for the V130 Vox Series 90 powered speaker enclosure courtesy of the Vox Showroom and North Coast Music.

Click here to download the original Thomas Organ schematic for the V133 Vox Series 90 control section courtesy of the Vox Showroom and North Coast Music.

North Coast Music offers many replacement and restoration parts for the Vox Series 90 V130 and V133 Some are shown below. One pin corners Replacement Vox Logos Replacement Handles with Gold Loops Head Clamp