1968 Vox Dynamic Bass JMI UK-Made Solid State Amp Head & 1x15 Speaker Cabinet w/ Fane

Up for sale, a circa 1968 Vox Dynamic Bass solid state head and matching 1x15 speaker cabinet in excellent condition and in perfect working order. One of Vox's most coveted and obscure amps, the Dynamic Bass is notable for having an identical output section, two channel design, and cosmetic appearance as the Conqueror, the amp used heavily by the Beatles on both Magical Mystery Tour and the White Album. The preamp has been altered to support bass features, including a Tone X control borrowed from Thomas Organ-designed amplifiers in the USA.

The UK-made Dynamic Bass was part of JMI's push towards all solid-state construction of Vox’s amp line, boasting a host of features and two distinct sounding channels. Channel One (Normal) boasts Volume and EQ controls, with an incorporated fuzz (labeled as Distortion) circuit that utilizes three germanium transistors, not dissimilar to a Tone Bender. The fuzz is thick and wooly, with good sustain as well as a sputtery sizzle that sounds distinctly Vox. Further tone shaping is accomplished via a three-way Midrange Boost rotary switch (labeled MRB Effects) and a two-way on/off switch to engage this additional tone circuit. Varying from quite mild to very intense, the midrange peak with this effect can be heard most drastically on the third setting with the treble control in its higher range, where the sound has the squawk of a cocked wah pedal. Channel Two (Bass) boasts Volume and the sweeping Tone X control.

The matching 1x15 extension speaker cabinet is loaded with the stock 15” ceramic magnet Fane 183 blue label speaker, rated for 60 watts and 15ohms (same as a 16ohm load for conventional usage), with a heavy duty frame and both the original foil Fane label and smaller model sticker intact.

Cosmetically, there are some minor marks on the original black basketweave tolex and diamond lattice grillcloth. The faceplate is clean with pristine graphics and the original knob set, and the serialized plate, raised Vox logos, and “Dynamic Bass” badge are present.