I Need A Marshall Experts Advice..

[oceantracks]

Hey guys, great forum, this is my first post.

I've been playing guitar since the Sixties and have owned a lot of amps, but somehow have never ended up with a Marshall, so I'm not hip to which models do what.

I have an mp3 snippet of a guitar break that to my ears sounds like it was played through what I picture as a typical Marshall sound. I was wondering if any of you kind souls who really know Marshalls might email me, and allow me to send you this short snippet to get your opinion on the best head and cab combination to capture this kind of thing. To me, Marshalls have always had, for want of a better term, an odd, "hollow" kind of thing going that I really like a lot. I heard it in the old record "Alright Now" by Free, I heard it back in the Deep Purple stuff, and now this little mp3 comes from a recent record by Hilary Duff, of all people. So it seems the sound is pretty timeless.

Email me at oceantracks@mac.com if you feel like giving some advice.

Thanks!
Tom

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: I Need A Marshall Experts Advice..

Hey Tom,

Welcome to the board!!!
I'm not a Marshall expert but I can bump this to the top for ya'. Good luck.

Peace,

Darrin

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: I Need A Marshall Experts Advice..

You can email me the clip at rocktropolis@gmail.com, if you like. I will be glad to review it, and help if I can.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: I Need A Marshall Experts Advice..

I think the best buy would be an early 80's JCM-800 master volume head or combo amp. I like the 50 watt version but SRV used the 100 watt version. Both are LOUD!

As far as speakers go, I prefer the G12H-30 or Vintage 30 if you're talking open back combo amp. In a 4 x12 bottem, the G12H-30, Vintage 30 or G12M-25 Greenbacks sound great.

The Greenbacks sound best, to me, in a 4 x 12 closed back cab...they lack deep bass in an open back combo amp but still sound really good.

I sold my '82 Marshall 50 watt combo amps when I found my '70 small box 50 watt Marshall model 1987 head. It's my favorite Marshall I've ever owned, including the 50 watt plexis I used in the late 60's/early 70's.

My MIJ Boss DS-1 overdrives my Marshall beautifully, and I can leave it on all the time and just adjust my guitar's volume control to go from very clean to Clapton/Cream or Jeff Beck/Truth or Satriani type overdrive.

I have to admit though that I rarely use my Marshall anymore...it's just to loud for playing at home and for the kind of gigs I occcasionally play these days.

Instead, I gig with a pair of late 50's Fender tweed Deluxes or mid 60's Deluxe Reverbs...Celestion speakers in all of them.

Lew

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: I Need A Marshall Experts Advice..

First off welcome Ocean!

Let me dispell a few things you are picturing... I have been fortunate enough to have chatted with major producer Roy Thomas Baker who actually engineered that track "Alright Now". From what I gathered from him they were not Marshalls, but probably small amps like a Vox or similar English amp. Someone else in on the conversation asked how that song sounded so fresh even today, he said in true English fashion... "I'd like to think I was brilliant, but it probably was due to excessive drinking".

As far as Hillary Duff, I know John Shanks (who produced and played gtr on some of it) has a few Marshalls round his studio, but I bet you'll find some other Fenders, vintage amps as well as some boutiques on it. And if you didn't know John was Melisssa Etheridges guitar player for many many years.

Feel free to send me a small MP3 too... az@instituteofnoise.com

Now matter how hard I try to get away from A Marshall tone, I always seem to come back to it. That and a Les Paul are like a PB&J sandwich!