Vox Mark VI Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966)
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Item # 8740
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Vox Mark VI Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Italy, serial # 230092, sunburst polyester finish, mahogany body, maple neck with ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.
One of the all-time great "posing" guitars, the Vox Mark VI is a true 1960s classic. Like most production Vox guitars sold in the US, this one was built at the Eko factory in Recanti, Italy. JMI in Dartford, Kent -- the Vox brand's parent company -- was already overstretched by 1964, supplying amplifiers to the UK and world markets. Instead of greatly expanding their guitar-making facilities, they outsourced the bulk of instrument production to the Italian firm.
These Eko-made Vox guitars are more consistent than their much rarer English-made cousins and in some ways better made, particularly in regard to necks and fretwork. By the time Thomas Organ in California had taken over US distribution of JMI's products, nearly all the Vox guitars they handled would be of Italian parentage.
The unmistakable teardrop-shaped Mark series guitars were originally a stylistic outgrowth of the trapezoidal-bodied Phantom line; indeed, the earliest model was called the Phantom Mk. III. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones got one of the first hand-built prototypes, and the exposure the model received in his hands in 1964-5 was quite enough to quickly make it the most sought-after Vox guitar.
The "Mark" series quickly expanded to include 6, 12, and 9-string guitars as well as a bass. All were cataloged in several different colored finishes but this guitar's sunburst is by far the most common variation. They feature three standard Vox pickups with a wiring rig derived from the Stratocaster, i.e. master volume, two tone controls, and a three-way switch. This fairly early example features a single piece maple neck (later ones are laminated) with a bound ebony fretboard. The vibrato is derived from JMI's "Hank B Marvin" unit and is basically copied from the solid body Bigsby. This Mark VI shows some wear but is very playable, as well as eminently poseable and collectible!
Overall length is 41 1/4 in. (104.8 cm.), 12 1/16 in. (30.6 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth at side. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a nicely original example, with just some typical wear overall. The finish shows dings and dents, mostly to the body edges -- the neck finish is very clean. The neck itself and fingerboard are in very solid shape with none of the typical Vox cracks. The guitar has been refretted with somewhat larger wire than the original and plays very well -- some would say better than when new.
There are small repaired cracks on either side of the neck pocket between the heel of the neck and the first pickup rout -- these are almost unavoidable on this design. All hardware is complete and original except the bridge cover and upper actuation bar for the flip-up mute are missing; the mute is still functional although, as always, not particularly useful. Overall this is a good-playing example of this stylish JMI creation in a later '60s Vox rectangular hard case that is battered and somewhat oversized. Excellent - Condition.
One of the all-time great "posing" guitars, the Vox Mark VI is a true 1960s classic. Like most production Vox guitars sold in the US, this one was built at the Eko factory in Recanti, Italy. JMI in Dartford, Kent -- the Vox brand's parent company -- was already overstretched by 1964, supplying amplifiers to the UK and world markets. Instead of greatly expanding their guitar-making facilities, they outsourced the bulk of instrument production to the Italian firm.
These Eko-made Vox guitars are more consistent than their much rarer English-made cousins and in some ways better made, particularly in regard to necks and fretwork. By the time Thomas Organ in California had taken over US distribution of JMI's products, nearly all the Vox guitars they handled would be of Italian parentage.
The unmistakable teardrop-shaped Mark series guitars were originally a stylistic outgrowth of the trapezoidal-bodied Phantom line; indeed, the earliest model was called the Phantom Mk. III. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones got one of the first hand-built prototypes, and the exposure the model received in his hands in 1964-5 was quite enough to quickly make it the most sought-after Vox guitar.
The "Mark" series quickly expanded to include 6, 12, and 9-string guitars as well as a bass. All were cataloged in several different colored finishes but this guitar's sunburst is by far the most common variation. They feature three standard Vox pickups with a wiring rig derived from the Stratocaster, i.e. master volume, two tone controls, and a three-way switch. This fairly early example features a single piece maple neck (later ones are laminated) with a bound ebony fretboard. The vibrato is derived from JMI's "Hank B Marvin" unit and is basically copied from the solid body Bigsby. This Mark VI shows some wear but is very playable, as well as eminently poseable and collectible!
Overall length is 41 1/4 in. (104.8 cm.), 12 1/16 in. (30.6 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth at side. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a nicely original example, with just some typical wear overall. The finish shows dings and dents, mostly to the body edges -- the neck finish is very clean. The neck itself and fingerboard are in very solid shape with none of the typical Vox cracks. The guitar has been refretted with somewhat larger wire than the original and plays very well -- some would say better than when new.
There are small repaired cracks on either side of the neck pocket between the heel of the neck and the first pickup rout -- these are almost unavoidable on this design. All hardware is complete and original except the bridge cover and upper actuation bar for the flip-up mute are missing; the mute is still functional although, as always, not particularly useful. Overall this is a good-playing example of this stylish JMI creation in a later '60s Vox rectangular hard case that is battered and somewhat oversized. Excellent - Condition.