Vox Phantom

The Vox Phantom is an electric guitar, originally released in 1962 by the Jennings company. It is unique for its distinctive, pentagonal shape, which became part of the iconic representation of the British Invasion. Originally made in England, manufacturing was later relocated to Italy.

Features of the Vox Phantom included 2 or 3 single-coil pickups, open-back tuners, and a Tune-o-matic bridge inspired by similar Gibson bridges. Later models included a Bigsby-inspired tremolo, designed by Vox's founder, Thomas Jennings. It included a round leather-coated pad on the back for comfort while playing. A 12-string version, the Phantom XII, was also made. Both 6 and 12 string guitars were also made as "Stereo" versions; capable of operating in stereo with a special cable which connected to two ampflifiers simultaneously. This enabled complex panning and switching effects that were in vogue as Psychedelic rock was popular.

Another variant of the Phantom guitars was the rare "Special" built in the UK, then later in Italy, a white version being famously used by Ian Curtis in the 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' video. This included on board effects such as fuzz, Tremolo, and repeat percussion. Effects were operated by a series of push buttons along the bottom neck side of the pick guard, with knobs to contol vibrato & repeat speed. this model also has an 'E' tuner built in which can be used for an interesting drone effect.

The guitar shared many of the practical problems of similar unusually-shaped guitars, such as Gibson's Flying V. Its shape made it difficult to play sitting down, and its polyester finish scratched easily at its corners.

Numerous copies of the Vox Phantom's distinctive five-sided body design were manufactured, by companies such as Teisco and Kawai under the Domino brand name. Contemporary copies are also manufactured by companies such as Eastwood Guitars (called the VG6) and Jay Turser (called the Phantasia). Jack Charles of Phantom Guitarworks continues to build replicas of this and other VOX models.

In the late 1990s VOX reissued USA built versions of the iconic Phantom, Mark III Teardrops and Mando Guitars. The USA models are considered to be the most playable versions of these instruments ever made.

For 2011 VOX reintroduced the original pentagonal body shape in its Apache series. The travel guitar hosts a 2-channel guitar amplifier, speakers, several rhythm patterns, and an E-String tuner.

• Tom Petty uses a 12-String in the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Video for "Refugee"
• Tony Hicks of The Hollies
• Dave Davies of The Kinks (he briefly used a 6-string as well as a 12-string model in 1964)
• Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers
• members of Paul Revere & the Raiders - used a Phantom IV bass and a Phantom VI in concert
• members of The Electric Prunes
• Sterling Morrison of The Velvet Underground
• Captain Sensible of The Damned
• Johnny Thunders of The New York Dolls
• Stiv Bators can be seen using and holding one in many pictures and on various album covers.
• There are pictures of Dee Dee Ramone of The Ramones using them, although it is unknown whether or not he actually owned one.
• Benjamin Orr of The Cars
• Greg Kihn had a Phantom XII
• Ian Curtis of Joy Division - owned three Phantoms, two white Phantom VI Specials with push button effects and a black Phantom (model unknown). One of his white Phantom VI Specials appears in the video for "Love Will Tear Us Apart."
• Daniel Hunt of Ladytron
• Richard Hawley of Pulp - uses a Teisco copy of a Phantom in concert
• Rudi Protrudi - uses a black & white Vox Phantom VI in - The Fuzztones: where the band logo consists of two crossed Vox Phantoms guitars
• Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestown Massacre used a black Phantom XII for sometime before switching to a Vox Starstream XII and ultimately a Vox Ultrasonic.
• Courtney Taylor-Taylor of The Dandy Warhols can be seen in the Documentary DIG!
• Ukigumo of Tokyo Jihen
• Dave Gregory has a white Phantom VI
• Bernie LaBarge owns a black Vox Phantom Stereo 12-string, and used it on his 1981 hit "Dream Away".
• Paul Saulnier from PS I Love You uses a Vox Phantom XII Stereo guitar in the video for Facelove (from Meet Me At The Muster Station, 2010).^[1]

References