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Vintage threads from the first ten years

The old 70's vintage Marshall Mark II

5/25/2000 7:04 PM
Shon	The old 70's vintage Marshall Mark II Anybody know where to find one of these amps ? A schematic would be great. Marshall does not seem to make any amps that are anything close soundwise to these heads. Any amps or preamps out there that may be similar ? So far the Kendrick Black Gold 15 watter has the sound I am looking for, but needs lots of outboard eq tweaking. Suggestions please!

5/26/2000 1:38 PM

Trace

quote:
"Anybody know where to find one of these amps ? A schematic would be great. Marshall does not seem to make any amps that are anything close soundwise to these heads. Any amps or preamps out there that may be similar ? "

There were the 'ol 4-input-ers as well as the Master volume series that people refered to as "JMP's" so it depends on which model you are refering to.

4 input-ers: Model #'s 1959 or 1987 (the schematics can be found here in the "schematics" section.

Master Volume: Most people like the 2203 (same amp as the JCM800) but most of the time the bias splitters were 150K verses 220K's. The 2203 is a 100 watter and the 2204 is the 50 watter. I'm pretty sure the schematics for the JCM800 is also here on the Ampage's schematics section.

Both of these amps are usually around and run between $500.00 to $700.00 depending on the model and year. If you need help tracking one down just give me a holler. If you want to build one then check out the schematics section here!!!! Building is always fun!!

Trace

5/26/2000 8:01 PM
Shon	Thanks Trace! Well I have the schematics for the 1987 and 1959 etc but was wondering if there was a certain 70's model that had a preamp that gave the amp a wailing lead sound a la Malmsteen, perhaps at lower volumes. I sold my 50 watt 1987x reissue amp because even with all the controls on 10 it was to me a very loud fender clean with marshall type eq sound to it. I was under the impression that on 10 it would give a lead tone with sustain and pinch harmonics..no way!! It did seem that if I put a DOD250 pedal in front of it that it would wail but then the level on the pedal would make it very loud to arena level sound pressure, so I did not want to risk my speakers to see if this would work. I suppose the key for me would be to install a master volume and tweak the eq on it. And yes I am aspiring to build myself, I heard Torres has a preamp kit that I could tweak but I don't know if the kit comes with all the info I need to tweak it my way. Shon

5/26/2000 8:01 PM

Shon

Thanks Trace! Well I have the schematics for the
1987 and 1959 etc but was wondering if there
was a certain 70's model that had a preamp that
gave the amp a wailing lead sound a la Malmsteen, perhaps at lower volumes.

I sold my 50 watt 1987x reissue amp because even
with all the controls on 10 it was to me a very
loud fender clean with marshall type eq sound to it.
I was under the impression that on 10 it would give
a lead tone with sustain and pinch harmonics..no way!!

It did seem that if I put a DOD250 pedal in front
of it that it would wail but then the level on the pedal would make it very loud to arena level sound pressure, so I did not want to risk my speakers to see if this would work. I suppose the key for me would be to install a master volume and tweak the eq on it. And yes I am aspiring to build myself, I heard Torres has a preamp kit that I could tweak but I don't know if the kit comes with all the info I need to tweak it my way.

Shon

5/27/2000 6:14 AM

Trace

quote:
"Thanks Trace! Well I have the schematics for the
1987 and 1959 etc but was wondering if there
was a certain 70's model that had a preamp that
gave the amp a wailing lead sound a la Malmsteen, perhaps at lower volumes."

Malmsteen used the 1987 amps...I believe the 1973 (the year) and they were the point to point versions. The PTP had the extra bypass cap on V2A (.68uF) where the PCB's didn't. Also the Presence pot had a .68uF verses the common .1uF (most of the time at least).

quote:
"I sold my 50 watt 1987x reissue amp because even
with all the controls on 10 it was to me a very
loud fender clean with marshall type eq sound to it.
I was under the impression that on 10 it would give
a lead tone with sustain and pinch harmonics..no way!!"

The reissues (in my opinion) sound nothing like the original 1987 (plexi's). It's a shame but I see Marshall has now decided to go with a reissue that is all point to point and it's mighty expensive!

Trace

5/27/2000 10:53 AM
Ray Ivers	Shon, I saw Yngwie early last year, and went backstage and talked briefly with his tech. He was using two large-box metal-panel 50 watt Marshalls (I would say that 1973 is as good a guess as any for the year), apparently running NOS Mullard EL34's. He was also using a TS-9 Tube Screamer, and of course those scalloped Strats with the DiMarzio HS-3's. His tech was up to his ears in the tear-down, but he told me the amps were completely stock. All amp controls were on 10 except the bass control, which was set at 0. Incredible show! I'm not a big recommender of pedals, but there are two Menatone pedals that I like, and may get you the sound you're looking for. The latest model 'King of the Britains' (which I got to try out at the N.A.M.M. show with Brian Mena sitting next to me) is a high-gain Marshall preamp/tone stack, implemented with FET's - I thought it sounded great; gainy and crunchy with no fuzz. Also, the 'Red Snapper' is the only 'gain enhancement' (i.e. mostly clean gain boost with tonal change and some distortion when cranked) pedal I've tried and really liked - if your amp is almost there in terms of gain and overdrive, this pedal may well complete the package. Ray Ivers face time

5/27/2000 10:53 AM

Ray Ivers

Shon,

I saw Yngwie early last year, and went backstage and talked briefly with his tech. He was using two large-box metal-panel 50 watt Marshalls (I would say that 1973 is as good a guess as any for the year), apparently running NOS Mullard EL34's. He was also using a TS-9 Tube Screamer, and of course those scalloped Strats with the DiMarzio HS-3's. His tech was up to his ears in the tear-down, but he told me the amps were completely stock. All amp controls were on 10 except the bass control, which was set at 0. Incredible show!

I'm not a big recommender of pedals, but there are two Menatone pedals that I like, and may get you the sound you're looking for. The latest model 'King of the Britains' (which I got to try out at the N.A.M.M. show with Brian Mena sitting next to me) is a high-gain Marshall preamp/tone stack, implemented with FET's - I thought it sounded great; gainy and crunchy with no fuzz. Also, the 'Red Snapper' is the only 'gain enhancement' (i.e. mostly clean gain boost with tonal change and some distortion when cranked) pedal I've tried and really liked - if your amp is almost there in terms of gain and overdrive, this pedal may well complete the package.

Ray Ivers

face time

5/27/2000 11:52 PM
Bicamen	Ray is exactly right with the Menatone Red Snapper. Brian Mena lives and makes these pedals about 5 miles from my house. I talked to him about which pedal to use to for an already overdriven JMP/JCM Marshall to give that last push for overdrive and he said "Red Snapper"!! I am using the Red Snapper on a beautiful Marshall 2204S, modded by our very own Trace, and boy what a beautiful, thick, juicy tone!!! I leave the gain of the pedal at 9 o'clock and the vol at about 1 o'clock. It is so transparent as far as letting the true sound of the amp through. Much, much more than any Tube Screamer, SD-1, etc.

5/27/2000 11:52 PM

Bicamen

Ray is exactly right with the Menatone Red Snapper. Brian Mena lives and makes these pedals about 5 miles from my house. I talked to him about which pedal to use to for an already overdriven JMP/JCM Marshall to give that last push for overdrive and he said "Red Snapper"!!

I am using the Red Snapper on a beautiful Marshall 2204S, modded by our very own Trace, and boy what a beautiful, thick, juicy tone!!! I leave the gain of the pedal at 9 o'clock and the vol at about 1 o'clock. It is so transparent as far as letting the true sound of the amp through. Much, much more than any Tube Screamer, SD-1, etc.

5/28/2000 12:48 AM
Tony Leach	What's the going price on a Red Snapper? TOny

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