The Beatles and Vox Amplifiers

A Handshake Deal that Changed the World

After countless gigs in their early days across the clubs and taverns of both Liverpool, Hamburg, and much more, The Beatles' equipment was in the condition you’d expect, beaten, tattered, and torn. The group had not had any commercial success to this point and were playing what they could get their hands on, often small, low-wattage amplifiers that after gaining some local success, could not compete with the noise of their crowds.

The band's early amplification consisted of:

John Lennon - Fender Vibrolux 10 Watt 1x10
George Harrison - Selmer Truvoice Stadium 19T (15 Watt)
Paul McCartney - Elpico AC-55 (15 Watt)

By late 1961, the band grew increasingly frustrated with their live sound and their newly appointed manager, Brian Epstein, considered their equipment to be a liability to the band’s future success. At the band’s first “big-time” audition at Decca Records, the band were forced to use the house amplification because their own equipment was deemed unreliable. The unfamiliarity to the sound led to them famously not passing the audition.

As The Beatles searched for the answer to their ongoing sound problems, they looked to their contemporaries. They were particularly envious of the jangly crisp tone of the instrumental group, The Shadows, who were top of the charts in the UK for their surf inspired hits like “Apache”. The Shadows’ distinct tone caught the ear of the four young Beatles and they were set to match that standard.

The Band faced their last straw after their first session at Abbey Road in June of 1962 with producer George Martin. The Beatles were tasked to record four songs that evening, and despite being scolded for their use of inadequate gear, an undeveloped raw sound, and the band being forced to sack their original drummer, Pete Best, shortly after the session, The Beatles walked out of Abbey Road that night having secured a record deal with EMI-owned Parlophone Records.

Only one month later, Brian Epstein knew he had to pull some strings to give the band the sound they deserved. Epstein walked into the London Vox/JMI Showroom and gave sales manager Reg Clark a bold proposal;

Vox would immediately supply the band with brand-new, state-of-the-art gear
The group would trade in their current amplifiers to offset costs, if there were any
The Beatles would exclusively use Vox amplifiers on stage for as long as he managed the band

Reg Clark shook Epstein's hand, took the gamble on the four young Liverpudlians, shipped out their first AC-15s, and the rest is history.