LATER JMI DEFIANTS

Jennings Musical Industries: July 1967 - early 1968

The picture above is from the Vox solid state catalogue of July 1967. The amp ilustrated is actually a pre-production model - note the position of the footswitch socket. For more on prototypes and pre-production amps, .

Continued from the previous page on early JMI Defiants.

General characteristics of later JMI amps

  • DIMENSIONS - unchanged. Amp: 23 1/2" wide, 9 1/2" high, 11" deep. Cab: 32" wide, 21" high, 12" deep. Covers were provided for both amp and cab, the latter being extremely rare these days.
  • Production of the amps on this page began in mid 1967 and ran through to early 1968.
  • The form of the serial number is given as ST..xxxx. As has been mentioned, "ST" stands for "Super Twin", indicating that cab and amp are separate.
  • At around serial number 1510, the plates say "AMPLIFIER" only, rather than "VOX AMPLIFIER", and have only two panels.
  • Control panels are generally deep black.
  • By serial no. 1300, the new-style case - lacking top fixings for the preamp - had been brought in.
  • Jack sockets are black plastic rather than the metal with white ceramic surrounds of the earlier amps.
  • The lettering of the logo is in gold, intially "VOX" only, then "VOX. Solid State".
  • Back panels are still cloth covered and have angled corners. Post-JMI panels have square corners.
  • Two indicator lamps are present - one for mains supply, one for the standby circuit. The standby lamp was done away with later.
  • The schematic for the preamp remains OS/136, the power amp OS/134.

Later Defiants made in the Vox Sound Equipment Ltd era (early 1968 - late 1969) and subsequently by Vox Sound Ltd (late 1969 - c. 1972) are registered on this page. The serial numbers of those run from c.2001 - 2900.

Below, a register of surviving amps. If anyone knows of early Defiants that have not yet been included, do let me know.

Serial number 1300 - currently in the UK

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Thanks to Steve for the pictures.

Serial number 1311 - currently in France

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Serial number 1318 - currently in France

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Serial number 1332 - currently in the USA?

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Images posted on this excellent site. A v. nice amp, complete with original covers.

Serial number unknown - currently in the USA

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Black plastic input jack sockets and plain silver logo (as for instance, no. 1318 above). The control panel is black. One red indicator lamp lens (correct) and one orange (a replacement).

Serial number unknown (1314?) - currently in the UK

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A nice cab and amp set. The tolex of the speaker cab and the back grille cloth on the amp renewed. The cab, marked "64" in chalk, has its original drivers and paper circuit diagram (glued to the side inside). The VOX logo on the back of the amp, and presumably on the front, is in gold - no "Solid State" beneath.

SOLID STATE increasingly now in the logo

NEW

Serial number 1393 - currently in the UK

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Serial number 1419 - currently in the USA?

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Serial number 1422 - currently in the USA?

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Said to be a Defiant; a Defiant flag on the front; and "Defiant" on the serial number plate. But the box is a Conqueror box.

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Serial number 1440 (?) - currently in the UK

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"Vox Solid State" in the logo. Condition excellent. Paired for many years with a set of PA speakers.

Serial number 1456 - currently in the USA?

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Serial number 1458 (?) - currently in Europe

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Excellent external condiition. The preamp is pretty much untouched. The power section has been modified though, having now four 2N3055 power transistors along the lines of a Supreme.

Serial number unknown - currently in France

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Excellent condition. "Solid State" in the logo of the cab too. Original footswitch, speakers, and cab mounting hardware.

1968

"AMPLIFIER" alone on the serial number plate

Serial number 1484 - currently in Sweden

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Recently brought back to full working order. The cab, divided to form two single 12" units, still has its original Celestion drivers. Thanks to Bernt for the pics.

Serial number 1487 - currently in the USA ?

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Serial number 1500 - currently in Europe

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Serial number 1518 - currently in the USA

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Power section 1711. A wonderful, pristine Defiant, complete with covers and original cables, the remains of the hang-tag visible on the mains. Thanks to Mark for the pictures.

Serial number 1535 - currently in Germany

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Great condition. Paired with a Foundation Bass cab (Vox Sound Equipment Ltd) still with its chrome support. Thanks to Daniel for the pictures.

Serial number 1540 - currently in the USA

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Serial number in the 1500s - currently in Europe

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Pictured with a "Vox Sound Limited" Supreme cab from the early 1970s in a Super Beatle Trolley. Note "Amplifier" alone on the plate of the Defiant.

Serial number 1562 - currently in the USA

Amp and cab set. All effects in order. This entry may have to be moved below depending on format of logo and serial number plate.

Serial number 1567 - currently in the UK

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Sold in the UK in 2006.

Serial number 1580 - currently in the UK

A late, complete, JMI set. The speakers are still Celestion T1297s. Serial number plate has "AMPLIFIER" at its head.

Serial number 1582 - currently in the USA

Amplifier section and speaker cab.

Serial number 1583 - currently in the UK

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The sad remains of no. 1583; a set of push buttons from a radio has been inserted as a means of switching the MRB on and off.

Serial number 1584 - currently in the UK

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A good late JMI Defiant. Thanks to Steve for the pictures.

Serial number 1587 - whereabouts unknown

This is actually serial number 1567 (see above) sold in the UK in 2006.

Serial number unknown - currently in the UK

Above, pictures of a late JMI Defiant - note "AMPLIFIER" alone rather than "VOX AMPLIFIER" on the serial number plate - with a UL760 speaker cabinet (two twelve-inch T1225s and two ten-inch Celestion T7442s) with a non-standard closed back. Amp and cab were bought from a keyboard player from Dartford who had bought them directly from the Vox factory. Thanks to Phil for the pictures and info.

Following the failure of the 4 and 7-series amps as a commercial prospect, Vox retained numbers of speaker cabs from the range (extremely good speaker cabs, with Celestion T1225 drivers). Some were used for loans (for events at the Empire Pool, Wembley), others were sold with AC50s and the new solid state range. At least two Supremes were supplied with 4120 cabs to the organists of bands in Spain (Los Brincos and Los Bravos).

UL760 cabs are normally open-backed. The equivalent 60watt bass cab in the 4-series was the UL460, its dimensions the same as the UL760 cab, but with two T1225s (i.e. no ten-inch drivers), and a closed back. UL460 backs are extremely thick and would protude some way from the back of a UL760 if fixed on. The UL760 cab above is likely to have a specially-made back therefore. Its side stands are presumably Defiant stands.

Serial number unknown

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Sold in 2016. Probably still in Belgium. Serial number plate with "AMPLIFIER" alone, but the number unreadable.

Serial number unknown

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Old pictures again. "Amplifier" alone on the serial number plate.

Serial number unknown

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Old pictures. "Solid State" in the logo. "Amplifier" alone on the serial number plate.

Serial number unknown

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As above, old pictures. "Solid State" in the logo. "Amplifier" alone on the serial number plate.

Serial number unknown

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Again, old pictures. "Solid State" in the logo. Serial number plate lacking. A nice set.

Serial number unknown - currently in the USA

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Repro serial number plate (unstamped). The speaker cabinet is a later "Vox Sound Limited" unit with "Vox Sound Equipment Ltd" labelled drivers. Thanks to Mark for the pictures.

Serial number unknown - currently in the UK

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A single pic.

Late JMI / VSEL

When JMI was formally wound up in mid 1968, "Vox Sound Equipment Limited", the new parent company, took over its stock, presumably selling initially a number of amps and cabs that JMI had finished but not sold.

It is likely too that that VSEL made up new amps from completed but still separate preamp and power amp sections.

The amp below, with its silver logos and unusual castors, was probably made in the second half of '68.

Serial number unknown - currently in Italy

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. Mounting hardware present, along with side stands. The castors with exaggerated hoods are also to be found on the stands of a Vox Conqueror belonging to the same collection. The two amps were presumably sold in Italy by "Comusik", owned by E.M.E. For the brochure, .

Serial number unknown - currently in Europe

vox defiant

A single picture of a Defiant with a type of castor similar to those on the amp above. Also in excellent condition.

On to the next page of Defiants - "Vox Sound Equipment Limited".