Ideal Marshall tone?

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There are just so many great Marshall tones, it's hard to pick one. And it is hard to evaluate these amps anywhere but with a band on a stage. The JCM 800 4010 I had sounded so-so in my home, but cranked above 5 with a 212 cab--OMG! They're kinda like the athlete who dogs it at practice, but is an All-Star when the game is on the line.

I've played a bit on JTM 45s, and would have to say that's a favorite, but tend to prefer the amps with EL34s over 5881 and 6550 amps. I've played 900s and 1959s and Anniversarys and Jubilees and DSLs and TSLs and all have been able to produce great tones.

I have to say though, while I'd love to have a Marshall amp of some kind again, I am a Mesa guy. I bought my first Mesa amp around 1995, and promptly got rid of the Marshall and all my vintage Fenders. These amps give me the sounds I hear in my head and fit my band situation perfectly, but there is something about that Marshall "KRANG" that I love. I'm not sure I could get that from a Stiletto or Royal Atlantic, but at this point in time I am amp rich and tone happy.

Back around 1969-70 when I was in college, there was local Seattle band named "Cannonball", and the guitarist was one of the very first Marshall users I'd ever seen live. He had a full stack of what I'm assuming was a 100-watt Plexi, and played a '56 Goldtop Les Paul. He was a terrific singer as well, but had a terrible stutter when he talked. To this day, that remains one of the best guitar tones I've ever heard. If you've never played on or heard a full stack Plexi with the volume knob above 7--let me tell you, it is a near religious experience.

There is a local guy here in Portland who has a whole stable of really expensive, hand-made boutique amps; and he's an excellent guitarist. He came to one of jam sessions one night and borrowed someone's DSL401--and wouldn't you know it, but that was the best tone I'd ever heard from him. And we talked about it, and he had to admit that the little DSL combo was an eye-opener for him too.

It would really be a lot of fun to be able to play through all the amps of the different eras one-by-one. I suspect I'd STILL want a roomful of them!

Bill
 
Re: Ideal Marshall tone?

I know there's no "best" marshall tone, but what do you prefer? Can be for anything from classic rock to death metal to jazz. I've played 18w versions of the plexi circuit and the 1974x circuit (which was originally an 18w anyway), and I think I like the plexi better, even though it may be a little more "scooped" sounding. It could also be the speaker, I don't know.

But I can't help but be curious about the higher wattage versions. Specifically the 50w 1987x, the 100w 1959 model, the 50w and 100w JCM800 amps, the super leads, etc etc. I've heard good things about the jubilee as well and I believe slash uses one (I could be mistaken).

What sound do you hear in your head when you think marshall?

For me it would be the Early Clapton tone. A Les Paul or 335 through a cranked Marshall is a close to bliss as I think one can get!
 
Re: Ideal Marshall tone?

When I think of Marshall tone I think Eric Clapton and Cream.

That's still my favorite Marshall tone...those 100 watt Plexi stacks and the sound Clapton got.

He still keeps a Marshall stack onstage:

 
Re: Ideal Marshall tone?

Randy Rhoads, old Ozzy Jake E Lee, Slash and Tom Morello have my favorite Marshall tones. What are they, a mix of 800s, Jubilees and the like?
I like other amp tones way more, but if I was looking for a Marshall tone I would want one derived from those.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
 
Re: Ideal Marshall tone?

Randy Rhoads, old Ozzy Jake E Lee, Slash and Tom Morello have my favorite Marshall tones. What are they, a mix of 800s, Jubilees and the like?
I like other amp tones way more, but if I was looking for a Marshall tone I would want one derived from those.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

Tom Morellos neck single coil tone with the JCM 800 is crazy good. Love it live on the Grand Olympic stadium concert

 
Re: Ideal Marshall tone?

My fav Marshall tone is also Blackmore. That video of Man on the Silver Mountain is a prime example.
 
Re: Ideal Marshall tone?

Tom Morellos neck single coil tone with the JCM 800 is crazy good. Love it live on the Grand Olympic stadium concert


I didn't really think a JCM800 was that useful until I heard Morello. I also didn't really understand how amazing a bassist could be in rock/metal until Tim Commerford.

Edit: ugh sh!t I forget how much I love that song sometimes. getting me choked up.
 
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Re: Ideal Marshall tone?

Hell yeah Tim is an amazing bassist... he adds serious groove to their songs and I love how he doubles main riffs that Tom plays. I love RATMs style so much I made a song with my new band that sounds very Rage Against the Machine lol... no name for it yet so we just call it Rage. Love when bass doubles what the guitar is playing for the ultimate punch in the face ! haha
 
Re: Ideal Marshall tone?

Love Slash's Civil War tone. But otherwise, I'm a sucker for modern tones and flexibility so JVM all the way.
 
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