Marshall Silver Jubilee

**GilkyBear** · #1 12-13-2008, 11:47 AM

OK, after a lot of digging I finally figured out what type of amp I have. It is a Marshall 2550 Silver Jubilee. It isn't silver and doesn't say silver jubilee on it and that is what was confusing me forever. Every time I searched online, all that would come back were the silver jubilee series. Mine is black and gold. I finally came across the info that they only made them in silver from 1987 to 1989, after that they kept making them but in black and gold and minus the 'silver jubilee' name.

SO, does anybody have any info on this amp, it is in the shop right now getting the push pull master volume replaced, re-tubed and biased. I don't have the footswitch for it and would like to get my hands on one but I have no idea what kind it was.

**elcid** · #2 12-13-2008, 12:29 PM

That's an awesome amp man. I had a Slash Signature Marshall that I wish I never got rid of. Same amp, different cosmetics.

**GilkyBear** · #3 12-13-2008, 12:44 PM

Thanks Cid. I actually picked it up years ago from a pawn shop, it came with a 4X12 cab loaded with Celestion Greenbacks. I had no idea what it was at the time other than a Marshall half stack at a good price so I grabbed it. It didn't have the footswitch and there was a problem with the push pull volume so I just sat it at a decent clean setting and used the processor for distortion. Now I am getting away from digital effects and getting the pot changed out and retubed and all that, so I am really really interested to hear how it will sound after the work is done. I think I will grab some evidence audio cables and everything so I can try to get as pure a tone as I can from the head alone and then maybe just a handful of simple effects pedals.

I already grabbed one of the new hand wired ts 808s from Rich. Maybe I'll throw in a nice delay/reverb, maybe that new Paul Gilbert compressor, and a nice chorus/flanger and we'll see where that gets me.

andy7jem · #4 12-13-2008, 01:22 PM

Nice amp. The only info i have is this

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilkyBear

they only made them in silver from 1987 to 1989, after that they kept making them but in black and gold and minus the 'silver jubilee' name.

Get her fixed and crank her up though

**jemsite** · #5 12-13-2008, 01:30 PM

that is a fantastic (one-channel distortion) amp. i used to have a 50w head... it had tone to die for just no flexibility in regard to sounds. should have kept anyways... glen

**GilkyBear** · #6 12-13-2008, 02:05 PM

Just what I was thinking Glen. I was thinking of getting a Fender Bassman or Vibroverb for the cleans and this one for the distortion and then just running an A/B box.

It really has never been 'right' since I got it so I am really looking forward to getting it back from the shop.

**Ayrton** · #7 12-13-2008, 02:35 PM

I have the Slash version (same thing), and you can't get a better Marshall for that "hard rock" sound.

**jemaholic** · #8 12-13-2008, 06:36 PM

Kev- third paragraph-

To commemorate his 50 years in music and 25 years in the amplifier business, Jim Marshall introduced a limited edition collection of tube amps and cabinets in 1987. The amps, based on the 2203 and 2204 master volume designs, were known as the "25/50 Silver Jubilee" Series models. The products were distinctive, with their silver vinyl covering and chrome panels. They also featured a special commemorative plastic plate on each amp, a copy of which appears below.

As a special tie-in with the 25/50 theme, Marshall introduced a half-power mode so that the user could select either 25/50 watts on the 50 watt models, or 50/100 watts on the 100 watt models. This feature has been carried over into the JCM 900 series amps, but only on the 100 watt models.

The Jubilee Series amps also featured quiet switching between lead and rhythm channels. When the 1987 sales year ended, the special models were added into the existing JCM 800 line-up as the Custom Series (although they were sold in the traditional black vinyl after the Jubilee year was over). The model numbers for these amps were prefixed by a "JS" (Jubilee Series) after 1987.
It's interesting to note that Marshall did not produce a 100 watt combo model during their 25/50 anniversary year.

And of course, no story of the Silver Jubilee line would be complete without mentioning its strongest proponent. Guns N' Roses' lead guitarist, Slash, wholeheartedly endorses these amps. So much so, in fact, that Marshall reintroduced the 100 watt model (in black vinyl) as the Slash Limited Edition Signature amplifier in 1996.

**GilkyBear** · #9 12-13-2008, 06:44 PM

Cool, thanks Jeff. So I assume a JCM 800 footswitch would do the trick? I see a bunch of footswitches on the bay, just want to make sure I get the right one.

*Edit* I found one pic of the Silver Jubilee amp and it has a one button switch, so that must be what I am after...
http://www.freewebs.com/sloguns/Mars...an%20small.jpg

**Ayrton** · #10 12-13-2008, 08:56 PM

Gilky, the correct footswitch is a P801 single button.

Here is the manual as well if you want it.

http://www.drtube.com/schematics/mar...2550manual.pdf

**jemaholic** · #11 12-14-2008, 08:48 AM

Actually, the 2 button (with reverb) will also work with that model, but make sure it has the phone jack.
Those are really great amps - you should be thrilled with the new tubes and biasing.
If possible, ask your tech to replace the 12AX7 preamp tube in the first position with a NOS Mullard 12AX7. This is the #1 trick Marshall 'afficianados' do for *that* sound.

~j

waylay00 · #12 12-14-2008, 01:33 PM

That is an awesome amp! It's been Joe Bonamassa's main choice for a while too.

Racerx2k · #13 12-14-2008, 02:53 PM

Aw, man. Nice snag on that amp and cab. The Jubes are some of THEE best Marshalls. I remembering drooling over the first one I ever plugged into. Man, to have the money to buy one........(drooooooooooooooooool).......

**GilkyBear** · #14 12-14-2008, 05:22 PM

Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to getting it back from the shop. I bought it in a pawn shop about 5 or 6 years ago and it have never had the tubes replaced or had it biased. I doubt that it has ever had it done honestly, so the difference should be pretty noticeable. I went ahead and bought some vovox cables too, so I should be getting a real nice strong signal. Mmmmm can't wait to get her back...

**GilkyBear** · #15 12-14-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemaholic

Actually, the 2 button (with reverb) will also work with that model, but make sure it has the phone jack.
Those are really great amps - you should be thrilled with the new tubes and biasing.
If possible, ask your tech to replace the 12AX7 preamp tube in the first position with a NOS Mullard 12AX7. This is the #1 trick Marshall 'afficianados' do for *that* sound.

~j

Thanks for that tip Jeff, I might just do that myself after I get her back. If I'm not mistaken there is no need to bias if you are only doing the preamp stage, right? I could just pop them in?

And it doesn't have reverb, I think I need the one button Ayrton pointed out, unless you know something I don't about another function??