Jennings Electronic Industries V100
Autumn 1973 to 1975
Music trade press, August 1973. The cab is a JEI D4, 4x12".
The JEI V100 was introduced for the first time at the Russell Hotel Trade Fair, August 1973, replacing the relatively short-lived Jennings AC100 - see this page on the AC100.
At launch, the V100 cost £134.85, rising step by step to £148.33 and £156.50 in January and December 1974 respectively.
On the left, JEI prices in January 1974; on the right December.
The chassis is likely to have been assembled under contract for JEI by Triumph Electronics, old mates of Tom Jennings. The preamp is similar to that of the V30. The power section of the amp - 100 watts output from four El34s - is a version of one designed by Dave Roffey of Triumph Electronics c. 1970 for Vamp, also to be found in Triumph's own 100 watter; the Johnson Amplification "100W Universal Amplifier"; and the Jennings AC100.
In an email concerning the purple V100 pictured below, Dave Roffey said:
"This is certainly a strange beast. The power amp section is definitely the original chassis I designed for the Triumph 100 watter. I do recall the effort required in the days of silk screening artwork. All that letraset rub down lettering! Similarly with the PCB work and sticky backed, black crepe tape layed down by hand. Took days then. One of the reasons for [my] moving on to Vamp, was that Triumph was floundering a bit, losing direction, and the glamour of new spirit, grabbed the 'young' mind I had in those days. I felt guilty as I matured, but at least had the opportunity of speaking to Geoff and putting it all to rest."
Seems to me this is a marrying of concept and available stock, between Triumph and Jennings at the time when both companies were at a leaner stage. Quite who designed the front end, I am not sure, but Geoff Johnson was not a guy to give in, and most likely used contacts to get this unit together. He would have been presented with a design goal, discussed cost effective variations and produced a prototype for approval. The pre amp stages would have come from prior designs, with a bit of manipulation for the reverb. Bit of jiggling for the case, and that would have been it."
Chassis screening and spraying would have been done in a small unit in South Croydon, behind a music shop where I bought my first Burns Jazz guitar just before Strats were available in this country. Ah! the good old days! I'll have a ponder over the next few days, and see if anything pops up in the brain cells that might be more useful. All the best, Dave."
Although the V100 is a striking looking amplifier, particularly with its accompanying D4 speaker cabinet, it evidently did not sell well. At present (August 2020), only two are known to survive (pictured below) - serial numbers 1003 and 1007, the sequence beginning at 1000. As chassis and amplifier cabinet are both fairly light in terms of construction, it may be that others did not stand up to the rigours of being heaved into and out of vans.
Serial number 3 (1003) - currently in the USA (collection: Lee Holt)
Serial number 7 (1007) - currently in the UK
A large amp: 25 1/2" wide; 12 1/2" deep; 9" tall; Nice-sounding with good reverb. A couple of replaced components in the power section, but otherwise all original. Probably from late 1974 - one of the pots has a date code for the 33rd week of that year.
Although the general appearance is handsome, there are a few design quirks. The chassis is not easy to get in and out of the case. Not only does one have to take the carrying handle off, but detach and reattach, inside the case, an L-shaped metal bracket that attaches to the back of the preamp.
Additionally, a slightly greater thickness of steel would certainly have benefitted the chassis, which is prone to flex when removed the box under the weight of the transformers.
But these are great amps, and probably not made in large numbers.