Marshall Major

[Smilemon]

What is known about these behemoths.
My short list on them.
1. They are 200 watts of KT 88 or KT 66 Power.
2. They don't have a distortion channel.
3. They weigh a ton.
4. They look really vintage
5. Not many were made. 250 is that correct?

The local guitar shop has got one, while, in the process of buying it from a seller, they think it might be too big to sell.

I might be interested in it though, even if I could only use it for clean tones. I tried to pick it up, it has to weigh as much as a large dog, small horse.

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Marshall Major

Its a 200 watt non master volume single channel amp. Loud as all hell, tons of headroom. Used by John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mick Ronson (David Bowie's guitarist), and Ritchie Blackmore amongst others.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Marshall Major

I hear that you can pull out a pair of the tubes and cut it down to 100 watts, is this safe?

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Marshall Major

There were actually two versions. The earliest ones were called the Marshall 200, they only had 3 knobs: volume treble, and bass. This amp was nick-named "The Pig" and is what Mick Ronson played.

Later 200 watt Marshalls were called the Marshall Major, and were basically normal 4-input, 2-channel, TMB metal front heads with 200-watt output stages.

Here's a link.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Marshall Major

The one in the shop looks quite a bit like the Marshall 200, Only 3 knobs if i recall.

 

[Diego]

Re: Marshall Major

The pig? Boy that thing must be insane! 200 watts... :eek13::eek13::eek13:

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Marshall Major

I really hope that Dave (shop owner) has the bawls to buy it, hes thinking that no will buy it caus its too big, but if i get a job this summer i would think about buying it. It would need a full stack though. No half stack for this beast.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Marshall Major

Maybe you should just get a normal plexi reissue or something if that falls through and you wind up not getting it. Even a 50 or 100 watt plexi sort of thing (doesn't have to be Marshall, always be on the lookout for clones and such) will give you some nice headroom and you'll be able to raise the volume a little higher so you can have a thicker clean sound... Just a suggestion if the major or pig doesnt work out.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Marshall Major

What is known about these behemoths.
My short list on them.
1. They are 200 watts of KT 88 or KT 66 Power.
2. They don't have a distortion channel.
3. They weigh a ton.
4. They look really vintage
5. Not many were made. 250 is that correct?

1. They are 200 watts and are powered by KT88's
2. They are 2 channels but like all vintage Marshalls there is no "distortion channel"
3. Yes they do
4. Because they are old
5. Not many no, I never heard a number and 250 sounds like a very low amount...I would guess more than that

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Marshall Major

Marshall only built a SMALL handful of amps that are known as "The Pig"...Im talking less than a dozzen or so so I doubt thats it's one of those...more than likely just a Major.

Also, FWIW...those amps sound very little like a 1987 or 1959 Plexi head...

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Marshall Major

yeah, I havnt tried it out yet, but it looks so cool... i guess its just curiosity right now... i wanna say i have played a 200 watt all tube amp

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Marshall Major

Two hundred measely watts out of a tube amp...

Yeah, that's 6 6550s you see behind that grate...

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Marshall Major

The fact that the shop owner wants nothing to do with it should tell you something.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Marshall Major

Lol, He just became a marshall dealer, and hes not sure how well they are going to sell. Just got the first shipment in, Some Super Dual Lead or something, im not that impressed, i want vintage.

 

[Stratovarious]

Re: Marshall Major

if you do get it,

you have to be careful

they are INFAMOUS for having issues

and apparently distortion pedals screw em up :S


they were designed to be REALLY REALLY REALLY clean, so even if you have it on 10, it will have minimal breakup

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Marshall Major

hmm, i heard that they break up at around 1/4 volume, and sound quite different from any other marshall amps, what exactly do the pedals do to these amps, any confirmation on the desrtuction?

 

[Stratovarious]

Re: Marshall Major

hmm, i heard that they break up at around 1/4 volume, and sound quite different from any other marshall amps, what exactly do the pedals do to these amps, any confirmation on the desrtuction?

I cant remember exactly

but I remember reading an article somewhere by Dawk (Ritchie Blackmore's old tech)

try find some stuff here

http://dawkmods.proboards34.com/

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Marshall Major

So the 200 pig has a Ziggy Stardust sound. Did Mick Ronson drive it with pedals to get this sound or is it raw, That is one of my favorite songs.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Marshall Major

i think blackmore also had his modded

but he used a treble booster non stop

I wouldn't worry about it, pick it up, rock it out

 

[Stratovarious]

Re: Marshall Major

blackmore had his modded to 280 watts

but they put out somethin like 500 watts of distortion