Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

Luke Duke

Luke Duke

PRSlustologist
So I was out pawnshopping (verbing weirds words) yesterday and found one of these babies for 799 bucks list. It's the tube rectified 30 watt two channel 2X12 combo orginaly made for Clapton. The tolex was torn one side about as big a a quarter, the back left bottom edge was torn and there were some scuffs of the right side top. Grill cloth had a few pulls but they could be cut with scissors.

I talked to my the guy who owns Argenta guitar and he told me if I could get into it for good money if I didn't like it I could always sell it. So I went back and plugged in a US peavey tele and dialed it in: the volume pots were scratchy (easily fixable with contact cleaner) but I couldn't hardly even HEAR the TREM when I turned it on. I read (online) between the time I came back to the house and went to the Pawnshop that it was gimmicky, but is it THAT bad? When the place cleared out I dimed it and the OD was GREAT. It wasn't near as loud as I thought though. My Z is EASILY louder but it didn't have the patch cable between channels so is that the reason? The guy would only come off a 100 bucks. :rolleyes: So I left it.

Anyways I really liked the tone and am thinking I might still pick one up or see if it's there next month when I'm back up here with the in-laws.

My questions in plain simple form:

1. Is the Trem really that weak or was it messed up?

2. Would it benefit from EL34's (I think it has 5881s)

3. What good does the patch cable do?

4. Does the patch cable make it louder?

Thanks fellas

Luke
 
Re: Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

I can only answer question 2. If the amp uses 5881's, you'll have to do a fair bit of modding to run EL34's. EL43's draw a higher heater current than 5881's, about 1.5A.
 
Re: Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

Luke Duke said:
My questions in plain simple form:

1. Is the Trem really that weak or was it messed up?

2. Would it benefit from EL34's (I think it has 5881s)

3. What good does the patch cable do?

4. Does the patch cable make it louder?

Thanks fellas

Luke
Click to expand...

Ok...
1. The trem should be pretty strong...maybe not as strong as a BF Fender amp, but strong

2. Putting EL34's in it is a matter pf preference...but it could be done easy enough...if I had one I would go with KT66's! (if you could!)

3. The patch cord allows you to use both channels one and two, blending the 2 channels lets ou get a nice fat tone that still cuts...this is a very popular thing to do with any 4 hole Marshall

4. The patch cord doesn't make it louder
 
Last edited:
Re: Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

Jag513 said:
I can only answer question 2. If the amp uses 5881's, you'll have to do a fair bit of modding to run EL34's. EL43's draw a higher heater current than 5881's, about 1.5A.
Click to expand...


The transformers in a Bluesbreaker reissue are strong enough to handle EL34's...all that has to be done is the tube socket needs to be re-wired (6L6/5881's and EL34 use a different pin out), and the bias should be changed.
 
Re: Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

Quencho092 said:
it'd be a crime not to get a good pair of kt66's.....
Click to expand...


When Marshall reissued the 1968 "Bluesbreaker" KT66's were not being made and to cut cost's they made the cab slightly smaller...the problem is that KT66's will not fit in a reissue Bluesbreaker!
 
Re: Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

Thanks for the help thus far guys! I really liked the breakup on it and my ears weren't bleeding surprising enough. I dimed it on both channels and am very curious what it sounds like mixed.

The trem was very weak and almost inaudible, glad I now know how it is supposed to be. I saw one on ebay that the guy had disconnected the trem, but he said it was easy to reverse what's that about.

Thanks again guys!

Luke
 
Re: Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

the guy who invented fire said:
When Marshall reissued the 1968 "Bluesbreaker" KT66's were not being made and to cut cost's they made the cab slightly smaller...the problem is that KT66's will not fit in a reissue Bluesbreaker!
Click to expand...

Doh!!!

bummer, 'cause I agree that would be the way to go

A while back, I saw word that JJ might produce a small bottle KT-66, but I haven't seen anything lately about that.
 
Re: Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

I thought the Bluesbreaker reissue was 45 watts? Its just the 2x12 combo of the JTM 45 isnt it?
 
Re: Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

Well no it probably isnt exactly... If i remember right pushed into 10% distortion a marshall 50 watter is putting out something closer to 90 watts... So the power has a scale to it... What my question was more about was does Marshall rate the bluesbreaker reissue at 30 watts?
 
Re: Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker RI

I have no CLUE why it's rated at thirty, only thing I can guess is because of the output trannies.

Luke
 
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