What makes older Marshalls so loud?
- Thread starter xxxplorer
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crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
The knob marked 'Volume'.
The knob marked 'Volume'.
Jeffrec
New member
SongsForTheDeaf
New member
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
Not sure but that is what makes them so great! crank a JMP or JTM45 and throw on a fuzz... HEAVEN! this is coming from someone who HATES modern marshalls
Not sure but that is what makes them so great! crank a JMP or JTM45 and throw on a fuzz... HEAVEN! this is coming from someone who HATES modern marshalls
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
Simple circuit + big Drake transformers + 4 high wattage speakers.
Some solutions are...
50W-100W Attenuator
Turn down the volume and gain, and make up the gain and punch with a boost pedal
If it has an FX loop, run a reverb/FX unit in the loop and choke off the volume using it's output level set lower than unison.
If it has 4 power tubes, pull out the inner or outer two, and set the head's ohms to half what the cabinet is.
If it has 2 power tubes, buy some THD yellowjacket EL-84 modules. This allows you to install lower wattage EL-84's in place of EL-34's.
Simple circuit + big Drake transformers + 4 high wattage speakers.
Some solutions are...
50W-100W Attenuator
Turn down the volume and gain, and make up the gain and punch with a boost pedal
If it has an FX loop, run a reverb/FX unit in the loop and choke off the volume using it's output level set lower than unison.
If it has 4 power tubes, pull out the inner or outer two, and set the head's ohms to half what the cabinet is.
If it has 2 power tubes, buy some THD yellowjacket EL-84 modules. This allows you to install lower wattage EL-84's in place of EL-34's.
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LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
Its even simpler that that - The Guvnor was from the worlds greatest generation. Definitely not a teacupper. So by association, his products had to live up to his greatness - hence the ability to unleash the freakin' fury out of the box, even 20 years before the fury was needed!
His products are definitely not for teacupper crowd!
(Tongue firmly in cheek for the above statement - just so I'm clear)
Its even simpler that that - The Guvnor was from the worlds greatest generation. Definitely not a teacupper. So by association, his products had to live up to his greatness - hence the ability to unleash the freakin' fury out of the box, even 20 years before the fury was needed!
His products are definitely not for teacupper crowd!
(Tongue firmly in cheek for the above statement - just so I'm clear)
vinta9e
New member
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
Okay, so you want more serious answers to your question and not just joking around. Think of a generous power supply that doesn't sag too early, and a gain structure that does not squash the waveform flat. As far as speakers go, it isn't really the "hiwattage"
rating, but their efficiency and number that do count. And don't forget about the spectral content - a 50Hz sine at 100dB does not seem as loud as a 1500Hz sine at 100dB. It's not a secret that Marshall amps and cabs are voiced to highlight the midrange frequencies that a typical human ear is most sensitive to.
It all adds up.
Okay, so you want more serious answers to your question and not just joking around. Think of a generous power supply that doesn't sag too early, and a gain structure that does not squash the waveform flat. As far as speakers go, it isn't really the "hiwattage"
rating, but their efficiency and number that do count. And don't forget about the spectral content - a 50Hz sine at 100dB does not seem as loud as a 1500Hz sine at 100dB. It's not a secret that Marshall amps and cabs are voiced to highlight the midrange frequencies that a typical human ear is most sensitive to.It all adds up.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
everdrone
New member
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
also it has TONS of upper midrange that cuts through any mix, sometimes in an unwanted or undesired way that I have found you cannot dial out
also you have to crank it way up to get the breakup that you are wanting with that amp design, so it gets really loud
it is perception really, I mean a combo amp gets that loud in DBA decibels too, but it will sound more tin and upper highs screaming
also it has TONS of upper midrange that cuts through any mix, sometimes in an unwanted or undesired way that I have found you cannot dial out
also you have to crank it way up to get the breakup that you are wanting with that amp design, so it gets really loud
it is perception really, I mean a combo amp gets that loud in DBA decibels too, but it will sound more tin and upper highs screaming
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
You see back in the day Marshall invented this thing called 11...
You see back in the day Marshall invented this thing called 11...
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
3X12AX7 in the preamps will have something to do with it - Fenders had at least 1 12AT7 or 12AY7, depending on model.
I've got a Plexi RI on a Greenback 2X12 set up right now - on low output (y cord) its pretty loud on about 1.5. Speakers are more efficient on a 4X12 than the usual Fender.
3X12AX7 in the preamps will have something to do with it - Fenders had at least 1 12AT7 or 12AY7, depending on model.
I've got a Plexi RI on a Greenback 2X12 set up right now - on low output (y cord) its pretty loud on about 1.5. Speakers are more efficient on a 4X12 than the usual Fender.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
More efficient and simple design, I guess... Also, true output is almost definitely higher than the stated wattage. But I agree. For my amps:
Mesa (120W) = Loud
Splawn (100W) = Louder
2203 (~100W) = Holy hell, not even close!
More efficient and simple design, I guess... Also, true output is almost definitely higher than the stated wattage. But I agree. For my amps:
Mesa (120W) = Loud
Splawn (100W) = Louder
2203 (~100W) = Holy hell, not even close!
CountFeedback
New member
Re: What makes older Marshalls so loud?
I <3 JMP
I was about to go on about why the big companies have not made a good amp since the mid 1980s.....
but people like what they like and that's cool, if they get to try an old JMP they'll find out the truth
I <3 JMP
I was about to go on about why the big companies have not made a good amp since the mid 1980s.....
but people like what they like and that's cool, if they get to try an old JMP they'll find out the truth
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