UK - To mark the company’s 100th year, Celestion has been honoured by Vox Amplification with the presentations of a special limited-edition Hand-Wired VOX AC30HW60 Amplifier.
The special VOX AC30 was originally created for Vox’s 60th anniversary, and the particular unit features a congratulatory plaque to Celestion, presented by Vox’s managing director Ian Doggett to Andy Farrow, Celestion’s global director of sales.
Since the late 1950s, Vox and Celestion have worked in collaboration to mark some key moments in the history of guitar tone. Most notably, the pairing of the Vox AC30 and Celestion Blue, creating a unique sound that was used by the likes of The Shadows, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
The partnership dates back to 1959, when Vox started using a modern variant of the original Rola G12 radiogram speaker in their AC15 amplifiers. As popularity for rock ‘n’ roll grew, so did the audiences, and the demand for a louder stage sound increased. In response, Vox began developing a more powerful amp, the AC30, working with Celestion chief engineer Les Ward to increase durability and power handling of the alnico G12 speaker, for the purpose of it being used in a guitar amplifier.
In 1960, prototypes of the adapted G12 speaker, which had modifications to the edge of the cone, voice coil and termination wires, were accepted by Vox. A special Vox label was designed for the magnets, and the speaker was given a coat of blue paint. By January 1961, the legendary ‘Vox Blue’ was born, first being used in the AC30, and then the AC15.
Over 60 years later, and the two companies still hold a special relationship, with well over 50 different Celestion transducers being used in Vox amplifiers over the years, including the G12M Greenback, the second iconic Celestion speaker that was introduced in the mid-1960s.
“Vox and Celestion have been working together since 1959 – the birth of British guitar tone,” said Ian Doggett, Vox’s managing director. “And we still hold a special relationship with Celestion to this day.”
“We are very excited to be presented with this special Anniversary AC30 from Vox. The AC30 is one of the most iconic amplifiers on the planet. Partnered with the Celestion Blue, this winning combination is part of so much music that we listen to every day,” adds Celestion’s Andy Farrow.
