Vox Essex bass amp??

bigbutes89 · #1 03-08-2006, 05:21 PM

anyone out there have a vox essex? any opinions. how loud can you push them, etc... thanks

Wesley R · #2 03-08-2006, 06:10 PM

in '72. IAt first I used it as a jam amp as my Standel was too big. I hooked the handle of the cart over the fold in a back seat of a '66 Impala wagon. Later it was my tuning and warm up amp. The guy that had it before me tore it down and resolderd everything. It made the amp very reliable.
It was loud enough for what it was and when the cones were fresh, it wasn't so band. Short scale basses seemed to work better than full scale basses.

Best of Luck,
Wesley R.

Thornton Davis · #3 03-08-2006, 06:44 PM

I bought it slightly used in 1968. It was made in 1967. It's a model V-1043. They made 3 versions of the Essex Bass Amp the 1041, 1042 and the 1043. The only differencs was slightly different output power.

Although the amp is rated at 55 watts, it's more like 35 watts.

It did a great job back in the late 60's and early 70's but soon after it was obsolete. It just couldn't keep up to the higher powered tube amps.

I still have the orginal Vox cover and cart for mine.

I would agree that they sound better when a short scale bass is run through them. Now a days, mine sits beside a few of my basses in my rec room. I've always loved the look of it. Maybe someday i'll find a new home for her.

Here she is today,

TD

R Briere · #4 03-08-2006, 07:40 PM

As I posted in another thread, the VOX amps from the "good old days" didn't have the best SOUND in the world, but they get my vote as the coolest looking amp. I owned a couple of Essex amps and they sounded, by todays standards, AWFUL! OK, so awful might be too good a rating, but tell me that pic above doesn't bring back great memories of a time when we didn't argue over power and weight and other goofy stuff. If you owned a VOX amp, you were as high up the food chain as you could possibly get.

PS: I sold my white VOX PHANTOM bass a couple of years ago. It's easy to spot: There's a chunk that was taken out of the bottom on the back side of the bass. Any of you happen to see it? I'd love to get that bass back. :^>)

bigbutes89 · #5 03-08-2006, 08:22 PM

thanks

bigbutes89 · #6 03-08-2006, 08:23 PM

What about orange or hywatts?? any opinions???

brianrost · #7 03-09-2006, 09:19 AM

Orange and HiWatt: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Better than an Essex, though only Vox amps have "Tone-X" which I guess transports you into an alternative universe or something

(actually it's just a combination bass and treble EQ on one knob).

R Briere · #8 03-09-2006, 11:34 AM

Brian....I liked the explanation about being "transported into an alternative universe" a lot better than the single knob theory. I've always wondered HOW I got to this alternative universe.....and then I suddenly remembered turning the "Tone-X" knobs on SEVERAL of my Vox amps. I believe that you might be onto something there, Son!

watspan · #9 03-09-2006, 04:21 PM

I had one in the 70's--used it with my acoustic 146 for extra volume! I liked the switch in the back that was an electronic tuning pitch--a G if i remember! I think mine was made by the thomas organ co. in ca,

RockBobby · #10 03-09-2006, 04:38 PM

I bought one (my parents bought it) in late 60's. It lasted forever, but it was weak and compared to other amps, it sounded awful.

ezstep · #11 03-09-2006, 06:46 PM

I bought one back in 68 or 69 (?). I haven't seen even a photo of one until this thread. Thanks, TD.

It had one "Volume" knob and one "Tone" knob, and an on/off switch. Mine was 35 watts IIRC. Believe it or not, back when the Shure Vocal Master was the "premier" garage band p.a., the Essex could keep up with everything else. It did its job and it was loud enough for most backyards, clubs, even the ocassional gymnasium.

That being said, I would not want another one.

sub006 · #12 02-06-2013, 11:56 AM

I got mine in the fall of '66 and used it for a couple of years in a British Invasion band. It was imposingly large back before stacks became common, and plenty loud enough since we weren't doing stadiums at the time.

Running a '64 Precision Bass through it, it sounded just fine. Although a single channel, our keyboardist would jack his Farfisa organ into it and with volume adjustments on the two instruments, both were well-amplified and projected. Speaking of transport, I'd set it on the passenger seat of my '64 Sting Ray and anchor it with the seat belt. It fit because I had the convertible with hardtop, more headroom and a taller door opening than the fastback coupe.

mpdd · #13 02-06-2013, 12:03 PM

mine was wired wrong/modified so the tone knob just made it louder, it did not work well with my gibson grabber, however it excelled as an amplifier for my cd player