Marshall 1974X

[racerevlon]

Ok, so anyone who knows me knows I have a ton of amps that I switch/blend to get the exact tone I want.

So recently I acquired a Marshall 1974X reissue combo. Holy lord. With an overdrive pedal and mic'd up (and maybe and extension cab as it's a 1x12) I can't think of any gig I couldn't play. Anyone who is SERIOUS about his/her tone should go play one of these. Mind you, I'm all for MIDI and instant switching, but the tone that comes out of this hand-wired beauty is enough to make you weep...

[Ayrton]

Cream in a box...

[racerevlon]

and pretty much any 70's--80's rock tone. I've been meaning to put an overdrive or distortion pedal in front of this thing to see what's what, but the straight-in tone is so good, I just haven't got around to it...

[Hikey Mikey]

Wow, sounds like a great amp, congrats.

A Marshall noob question: what does the model number mean? Does it have any correlation with the year 1974?

[racerevlon]

Originally Posted by Hikey Mikey

Wow, sounds like a great amp, congrats.

A Marshall noob question: what does the model number mean? Does it have any correlation with the year 1974?

Sorry--but I'm at a loss on this one--I know that the "X" means it's a reissue, and the Marshall web site says, "The 1974X is an authentic re-issue of the fabled model 1974 combo of the late sixties (1966-196."

Truth be told, I've never understood some of the Marshall model numbering, but I'm sure there's either someone out there who knows or there's a book on it.

Cheers,

Race

[eviltwin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshal...mber_confusion

It all went wrong from the beginning...for example they named a 4x10 30W combo 1961 (in 1965!)
The same model with 2x12s was named 1962. Marshall indeed got started in 1962 with a head known as JTM45 (2245), despite only having 30W and the 1962 was based upon that circuitry. In all the confusion, it was no wonder that people started calling the 1962 combo the "Bluesbreaker", after an album that made the sound famous:


That's also why people use (unofficial) terms like Plexi (1959) or Jubilee (2555), and why Marshall themselves have rationalised the terminology. Marshall are now also using the nicknames in the official designations, for example the reissue 1959 SLP 100W, stands for Super Lead Plexi. The 1962 is now officially the 1962 Bluesbreaker.

Ironically the album that made Clapton, the Bluesbreakers, the amp and arguably Marshall famous, was nicknamed after the comic book Eric can be seen reading, IE the Beano album

IF I ever get a Marshall reissue it will be one of those.


although that 1974X is pretty cool as well, a Plexi reissue is tempting, even if you have to crank it up...

[Hikey Mikey]

Thanks for the info guys, once again congrats, Race. Rock on with that Marshall . . .

[racerevlon]

The thing I like about the 1974X over the Bluesbreaker is that the 1974X is only 18 watts while the Bluesbreaker is 30 watts. Thirty watts cranked is dang loud.

As far as a Plexi, I was looking at the Plexi reissue, but then the 2021X half-stack caught my eye. I heard one at a local Guitar Center and was blown away by the tone coming out of that little 20-watt head and 2x12 cabinet. Plexi tone without having to dime a 100-watt amp. Check it out--there's clips on YouTube as well.

Cheers,

Race