| Features - Series 90 V131 Enclosure |
| Output Power |
65 watts RMS, 130 watts peak |
| Speaker(s) |
Two Vox/Celestion Alnico 12" speakers
One 25 watt Celestion (not Goodmans Midax) mid frequency horns with crossovers |
| Size (Speaker Cabinet) |
31" H x 27" W x 11.5" D, ~85 pounds |
| Included Accessories |
cover, chrome roller stand |
| Features - Series 90 V132 Preamp |
| Output Power |
Preamp only, requires V130 or V131 Series 90 powered speaker cabinet for operation |
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Channel One:
"Normal"
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Two inputs,
one volume,
one bass,
one treble
reverb and tremolo selectable to Channel 1 or 2
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Channel Two:
"Brilliant"
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Two inputs,
one volume,
one bass,
one treble
reverb and tremolo selectable to Channel 1 or 2 |
| Size (Head) |
8" H x 22" W x 10.5" D, ~22 pounds |
| Accessories |
cover, head clamp, two button foot pedal |
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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, and the V131 (2x12, one horn, 70 watts, the cabinet shown at left). It also included two interchangeable preamp control sections: the V133 and V132 (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 V131 powered speaker cabinet had the same physical dimensions, speaker complement and chrome tubular trolley as the V4131 Royal Guardsman cabinet. The V130 Series 90 powered speaker cabinet was identical in size, speaker complement and used the same chrome tubular trolley as the V4141 Beatle 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.
The two channel V132 Series 90 amp preamp "head" shared the functions and features of the V1083 Vox Berkeley III head. 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 interchangeably 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.
North Coast Music offers many
replacement and restoration parts
for the Vox Series 90 V131 and V132
Some are shown below.
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