1965 Vox Teardrop

[Diane Kauffmds]

I have a beautiful, Italian made, Vox Teardrop semi-hollow body guitar in the shop. It came in along with 4 other instruments that need repairs from a musical family with a deep history in WV.

This may be the very first guitar that I'm not equipped to fix. It has by far the most extensive wiring system that I've ever encountered. The electronics aren't working. I started by replacing the 9v battery connector, also replacing most of the wiring to it, because the battery had leaked. I got the Vox running, with output to the jack from all pickups and pots, but later when I tested again, nothing.

It's obvious that the large electrolytic capacitor (of unknown mF) is totally blown and leaking. Im willing and capable of replacing this, but beyond this I have to get into mid 60s transitors, something I'm not going to attempt on a $5000+ vintage instrument.

I thought this would be something different and interesting to bring to the forum. I've already restored a violin made ~1900, a Squire Strat, and an unknown electric from the 70's. There's also one of only 200 Boxer acoustics made in the mid 60's which for some reason has a missing back that I'll be restoring. I'll be starting a different thread on that one.

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[TEETERFAN]

Vox Starstream! What a guitar to see in person! Good luck with that beastly wiring. There’s a bit online at acidfuzz.com that might help. They have schematics on the various onboard effects. Voxshowroom.com has more schematics. Have fun!

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Diane
Perhaps you can suggest to the customer replacing all the electronics with modern but keeping the pickup, knobs, etc that are outside the instruments?? or as much as possible.

What you have there looks like a wiring Bunge in the JUNGLE!

[tippie53]

thats look like the inside of my dads first RCA tv

[Diane Kauffmds]

thats look like the inside of my dads first RCA tv

Honest to God, I was reminded of the RCA and Zenith tv's my Grandpa worked on! Hahaha

[Diane Kauffmds]

After a lot of research, I found the wiring diagrams snd parts list for the electronics. The large capacitor in the photos is very bad, as well as the jack which has corrosion infiltrating the jack insulators. I'll replace these then see what happens.