UK 1967(?) Vox Continental Super II - Grey top Percussion

[Guest]

Hi all,

New to this forum, not sure how active it’s users are and if anyone will be around to help me but I’ll post anyway. Ive just acquired for £50 a Vox Continental Super II, the percussion version with the grey top. I’m looking to do a restoration by myself, however I have no previous experience and quite frankly don’t know what I’m doing. But I’m willing to learn! Anything crazy I will have her sent off somewhere to be fixed. She’s in pretty knackered shape at 1st glance but I’m hoping it’s just cosmetic and can be cleaned up and brought back to former glory. It came with original legs but no power lead or foot pedal. Pedal I’m not too bothered about as I’ve seen it was only used for volume (hope this is correct) but the power is obviously the first issue I’m having to deal with. It has a bulgin 3 pin socket but I have no idea where to get one? Ones I’ve seen online only seem to be adapters not full leads with plugs on the end. If anyone can point in the direction of where I can get one to power up old Bertha it would be much appreciated!

Thanks

[Alenhoff]

Two options:

Buy a Bulgin plug (which I guess is what you call an adapter), find any three-wire power cord and wire it to this plug.

Or replace the Bulgin socket with a modern IEC socket and use an IEC power cord. (Available at any computer store.) One advantage of this is safety. The Bulgin socket/plug do not meet modern safety standards.

If you truly don't know what you're doing, don't guess. Find a friend with electronic experience or a tech who can do this task safely.

Original Vox volume pedals are often in demand from collectors, and can be very expensive. But your organ will work properly with any inline, passive volume pedal.

Alan

[Drawbar Dave]

Two options:

Buy a Bulgin plug (which I guess is what you call an adapter), find any three-wire power cord and wire it to this plug.

Or replace the Bulgin socket with a modern IEC socket and use an IEC power cord. (Available at any computer store.) One advantage of this is safety. The Bulgin socket/plug do not meet modern safety standards.

If you truly don't know what you're doing, don't guess. Find a friend with electronic experience or a tech who can do this task safely.

Original Vox volume pedals are often in demand from collectors, and can be very expensive. But your organ will work properly with any inline, passive volume pedal.

Alan

I have an original Vox expression pedal that I got as part of a package deal. I don’t know whether to repair it or sell it as it is.

[Alenhoff]

I have an original Vox expression pedal that I got as part of a package deal. I don’t know whether to repair it or sell it as it is.

What's the issue?

If you can fix it easily and cheaply, you'll broaden the market of potential buyers. (Lots of vintage keys guys don't do their own repairs and shy away from buying non-working items.) If not, you'll still find many interested people. There isn't a whole lot that can go wrong with these. (Replace a pot, re-solder a wire, maybe adjust the tension so it doesn't slip.)

Alan

[Drawbar Dave]

Alan, it’s missing two feet, the cables need replacing and it needs a rubber bumper under the heel of the treadle otherwise the serrated piece that moves the cog on the pot comes out of position. I’m going to spend some time on it. After reading your blog (I have a similar story to yours) I think this pedal is the Jaguar one as it looks more like a standard Vox wah pedal in shape.

[Alenhoff]

Alan, it’s missing two feet, the cables need replacing and it needs a rubber bumper under the heel of the treadle otherwise the serrated piece that moves the cog on the pot comes out of position. I’m going to spend some time on it. After reading your blog (I have a similar story to yours) I think this pedal is the Jaguar one as it looks more like a standard Vox wah pedal in shape.

It'll be a worthwhile fix. People will often pay crazy amounts of money for the last accessory they need to have a "complete" vintage instrument. The pedals frequently sell for $200 or more. (There are a couple on eBay now with asking prices of more than $350. That's ridiculous, but they will make more typical prices look like a bargain.) The pedal used on the Jag is the same as the one used on the Italian version of the Continental, which is the most common version of the organ found in North America. So lots of people are looking for them.

Alan