History
In 1962 Vox introduced the pentagonal Phantom guitar, originally made in Kent, England but soon after made by EKO of Italy. It was followed a year later by the teardrop-shaped Mark VI, the prototype of which was made specifically for Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, using a non-tremolo Fender Stratocaster bridge.
The Mark VI was released in three versions, as a 6-string, a 9-string, and a 12-string. The 9-string had three wound strings and three pairs of unwound strings.
The Phantom guitar received an international prize for best design when it was released.
Even though Vox discontinued the production of these guitars in the seventies, accurate copies of the Teardrop and other VOX models are still manufactured by Jack Charles of Phantom Guitarworks.
In the late 1990s VOX reissued USA made versions of the Phantom, Mark III Teardrops and Mando Guitars that were designed by John Hawkins of North Coast Music and built by Kevin Smith of ToneSmith Guitars. These USA made guitars are considered by many to be the most playable versions of these instruments ever made.
To celebrate their 50th Anniversary in 2007 Vox commissioned a limited run of Mark III, 2 pickup, fixed bridge, antique white "Teardrops" completely made in the USA with a "Zero Fret" neck. Due to a depressed world economy Vox stopped production short of the projected 100 units.
For 2011 VOX has reintroduced the iconic Teardrop in its new APACHE Series. They are travel guitars which feature the original teardrop body and host a 2-channel guitar amplifier, 2 speakers, dozens of rhythm patterns, and an E-String tuner, all of which are built into the instrument body.
Read more about this topic: Vox Teardrop
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