Marshall Amplification facts for kids
 |
|
| Public limited company | |
| Industry | Amplification Musical instrument manufacturing |
| Founded | London, England (1962) |
| Founder | Jim Marshall |
| Headquarters |
,
England, Sweden
|
|
Area served
|
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Europe, Asia, United States |
| Owner | Marshall Amplification PLC (1962-2023) The Marshall Group (2023-present) |
Marshall Amplification is a British company that makes music amplifiers and speaker cabinets. These are used by musicians to make their electric guitars sound loud and clear. The company was started in London by a shop owner and drummer named Jim Marshall. Today, it is based in Milton Keynes, England. Since 2023, Marshall Amplification has been part of a bigger Swedish company called the Marshall Group.
Marshall started making amplifiers because American-made Fender amps were very expensive. Their first amp, the JTM45, came out in 1963. Guitarists like Pete Townshend from The Who visited Jim Marshall's drum shop. They wanted louder amps with a better sound. So, Marshall began making powerful 100-watt amplifiers.
These early amps had clear plastic (called Plexiglass) control panels. This led to models like the 1959 Super Lead being known as "Plexis." Famous guitarists like Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page used Marshall amps. This helped the brand become legendary. Later, the JCM800 series came out in 1981. It became very popular with hard rock and metal bands. Marshall celebrated 25 years in 1987 with the Silver Jubilee amp. They kept updating their amps, like the JCM900 and JCM2000, and created new lines like the DSL and JVM.
Many Marshall amps, even new ones, still use special glass tubes called valves (or vacuum tubes). These give a warm, powerful sound. Marshall also makes amps that use transistors (solid-state), or a mix of both (hybrid), and even digital modelling amps that can copy different sounds.
Contents
How Marshall Amplifiers Started
The Beginning of Marshall
Jim Marshall was a successful drummer and drum teacher. In 1962, he opened a small shop in Hanwell, London. He sold drums, cymbals, and drum accessories. Jim also gave drum lessons there.
Three guitarists, Ritchie Blackmore, Big Jim Sullivan, and Pete Townshend, often visited his shop. They encouraged Jim to make guitar amplifiers. They told him what kind of sound and design they wanted. So, Marshall Limited grew. They hired designers and started making guitar amps. Their goal was to compete with popular amps like the Fender amps from the United States.
Creating the Marshall Sound: The JTM45
Jim Marshall wanted to create a cheaper amp than the American ones. He didn't have much experience in electrical engineering. So, he got help from his shop repairman, Ken Bran, and an EMI apprentice, Dudley Craven. They really liked the sound of the 4x10-inch Fender Bassman amp. They built several test models using the Bassman as a guide.
The sixth test model created what Jim Marshall called the "Marshall Sound." At first, Jim only sold the amps in his shop. As more people wanted them, Jim asked Ken and Dudley to work for him full-time.
The first six amps were put together in the garden sheds of Ken Bran and Dudley Craven in West London. They were very similar to the Bassman circuit. However, Marshall chose to separate the amplifier from the speakers. He used four 12-inch Celestion speakers in a separate closed cabinet. This was different from Fender's open-back combo with 10-inch speakers.
Other important changes included using higher-gain ECC83 valves in the preamp. These changes made the amp get a distorted sound (called overdrive) sooner when the volume was turned up. It also made the treble frequencies louder. This new amp was called the "JTM 45." The name came from Jim and his son Terry Marshall, and the amp's maximum power (45 watts). Famous guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and bands like Free used Marshall amps. This made them very popular in the music industry.
A Big Deal and a Mistake
In 1965, Marshall signed a 15-year deal with a British company called Rose-Morris. This deal gave Marshall money to make more amps. But Jim Marshall later said it was "the biggest mistake I ever made." Rose-Morris added 55% to Marshall's prices for amps sold outside the UK. This made Marshall amps too expensive for many international buyers for a long time.
Park Amplifiers
The deal with Rose-Morris meant Marshall couldn't work with some of his old friends, like Johnny Jones. But Jim Marshall could still build amps outside his main company. So, he started a new brand called Park. The name came from Johnny Jones's wife's maiden name.
Park amps were slightly different from regular Marshalls. They might have silver or black front panels instead of gold. They also had minor changes to their internal circuits. Park made various amps, including a 45-watt head. Some unusual ones included a 75-watt keyboard amp.
The Park brand stopped in 1982. Marshall later brought it back for some cheaper amps made in Asia. The older Park amps from the 1960s and 1970s are now quite valuable to collectors.
Other Marshall Brands
.jpg)
Marshall Amplification also used other brand names for different reasons. These included Big M (for Germany), Kitchen/Marshall (for a music store chain), Narb (Ken Bran's name spelled backward), and CMI. Amps sold under these names are rare and can be very expensive for collectors.
Blackstar Amplification
In 2007, some Marshall employees left to start their own company, Blackstar Amplification.
Famous Early Marshall Amps
The Bluesbreaker Amp
To save money, Marshall started getting parts from the UK. This led to using different transformers and a new type of valve called the KT66. These changes gave Marshall amps a more aggressive sound. Guitarists like Eric Clapton loved this new sound.
Clapton asked Jim Marshall to make a combo amplifier with a tremolo effect that would fit in his car. This led to one of Marshall's most famous amps, the "Bluesbreaker" amp. Eric Clapton used this amp with his 1960 Gibson Les Paul guitar. This combination created his famous sound on the 1966 album Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.
The Plexi and the Marshall Stack
The amps from this time are easy to spot because of their clear plastic (Plexiglas) front panel. This is why they are called "Plexi" amps. In 1967, Marshall released a 50-watt version of the 100-watt Superlead, called the 1987 Model. In 1969, the plastic panel was replaced with a brushed metal one.
Pete Townshend and John Entwistle of The Who wanted even more volume. This led Marshall to design the classic 100-watt valve amplifier. Marshall's developers, Ken Bran and Dudley Craven, added more output valves and bigger transformers. Four of these amps were built for Townshend. This is how the Marshall Super Lead Model 1959, the original Plexi, was created in 1965.
Townshend also asked Marshall to make a huge 8x12-inch speaker cabinet. This was soon replaced by two 4x12-inch cabinets. The 1959 amplifier head was placed on top of these. This created the Marshall stack, which became a famous symbol in rock and roll. Having a "wall of Marshall stacks" often showed how important a band was. Even if the amps were just for show, they looked impressive. Most modern 100-watt amp heads are based on Marshall's original design.
Another Valve Change
Around this time, the KT66 valve became more expensive. So, Marshall started using European-made Mullard EL34 valves. These valves gave Marshall amps an even more aggressive sound.
In 1966, Jimi Hendrix visited Jim's shop. He tried the amps and guitars. Jim Marshall expected Hendrix to want something for free. But Hendrix offered to buy the amps at full price if Jim would help him with repairs around the world. Jim Marshall agreed. Over the years, several of Hendrix's road crew were trained to fix Marshall amplifiers.
Marshall Amps in the 1970s and 1980s
The JMP Series
After 1973, Marshall started using printed circuit boards (PCBs) instead of hand-wiring amps. This made production faster. Many people debate if this changed the sound of the amps. In 1974, some circuit changes were made to the 1959 and 1987 amps. They were renamed with 'mkII' and 'JMP' (which stands for "Jim Marshall Products").
Marshall's US distributor also had them switch to tougher General Electric 6550 valves instead of EL34s for amps sold in the US and Japan. The different valves and circuit changes gave these mid-1970s Marshalls a very bright and aggressive sound.
In 1975, Marshall introduced the "Master Volume" (MV) series. This included the 100W 2203 and 50W 2204 amps. The goal was to control the amp's volume while keeping the distorted sound Marshall was known for. Marshall designers connected the two input stages in a new way. They also changed the gain circuit to keep the sound of the older "Plexi" amps. The second channel volume control became a Master Volume, placed between the preamp and EQ.
Players soon found that turning the Master Volume up on these new amps created even more distortion. This sound was sharper and edgier. Guitarists like Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, and Slash later used this sound. The 1959 and 1987 non-master volume models also continued to be made until 1982.
The JCM800 Series
In late 1980, Marshall's deal with Rose-Morris ended. Marshall then put the 2203 and 2204 MV models, along with the 1959 and 1987 non-master volume Super Leads, into new cases with new panels. He called this the "JCM800" series. The name came from his initials and his car's license plate. Marshall made several different amps under the JCM800 name.
The Silver Jubilee Amps
The year 1987 was special for Jim Marshall. It marked 25 years of making amplifiers and 50 years in music. To celebrate, Marshall released the Silver Jubilee series of amplifiers. These included the 2555 (100-watt head) and 2550 (50-watt head), plus other combo amps.
The Jubilee amps were based on the JCM800s. They had a new preamp and a special feature: half-power switching. This meant the 50-watt model could switch between 25 and 50 watts. The amps were covered in silver and had a bright silver front panel with a special plaque.
The Jubilee amps also had a "semi-split channel" design. This allowed for two different input gain levels. You could switch between a "classic Marshall" sound and a more modern, higher-gain sound. The distortion from the Jubilee range is famous from Slash's live performances with Guns N' Roses. Other famous Jubilee users include the Black Crowes and John Frusciante from Red Hot Chili Peppers.
After the Jubilee year, a few more 255x series amps were made until about 1990. These looked like standard black and gold Marshalls but had the same internal parts as the Jubilee amps.
Marshall Amps in the 1980s and 1990s
More Competition
Marshall started facing more competition from American amp companies like Mesa Boogie and Soldano. So, Marshall updated the JCM800 range. They added new features like "channel switching." This meant players could switch between clean and distorted sounds with a foot switch.
This feature first appeared in the 2205 (50 watt) and 2210 (100 watt) series. These amps had more preamp gain than ever before. They used a new trick called "diode clipping." This meant a solid-state part added extra distortion to the sound, like using a distortion pedal. These split-channel JCM800s were the highest-gain Marshalls built at the time. Many guitarists loved them, and they are still used today by musicians like Tom Morello.
Around this time, Marshall also experimented with solid-state amplifiers. These amps were getting better due to new technology. Even though they were often seen as beginner amps, Marshall's solid-state lines were very successful. They allowed new guitarists to play amps from the same brand as their favorite musicians. The Lead 12/Reverb 12 combo series was especially popular. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top even used these amps on his recordings.
The 1990s: JCM900
In the 1990s, Marshall updated its amps again with the JCM900 series. These amps offered even more distortion. They kept popular features from the late JCM800 models. However, some models used solid-state parts for much of the distortion, which some guitarists didn't like. Still, the JCM900 line was popular with younger musicians in pop, rock, punk, and grunge music.
There were three main types of JCM900 amps. The most common were the 4100 (100 watt) and 4500 (50 watt) "Dual Reverb" models. These had two channels and used solid-state parts for distortion. The 2100/2500 Mark IIIs were like JCM800s but with added diode clipping and an effects loop. The 2100/2500 SL-X models replaced the diode clipping with another preamp valve, making them the highest distortion of the three. Many JCM900s made between 1994 and 1998 used 5881 valves because good quality EL34s were hard to find.
Marshall also released some "special edition" amps, like a "Slash Signature" model. This was a re-release of the Silver Jubilee 2555 amp, with the same internal parts but a standard Marshall look and a Slash logo. Only 3,000 of these were made between 1996 and 1997.
30th Anniversary 6100 Series
In 1993, Marshall celebrated 30 years in the amp business. They released the 30th Anniversary series of amplifiers. The 6100LE had a special blue covering and gold faceplate. Later versions, the 6100 and 6100LM, came in standard Marshall colors.
All 6100 versions had three channels: clean, crunch, and lead. The clean channel could sound more like a "Fender" amp. The crunch channel had three modes to recreate classic Marshall crunch sounds. The lead channel had a gain boost and a special switch for its sound. Marshall hoped this would make it competitive with other high-gain amps of the 1990s.
Joe Satriani famously used the early EL34-powered versions of these amps. He used only the clean channel live with his distortion pedal. The Anniversary models were very complex, with many features like MIDI channel selection and power switching. Other famous 6100 users included Alex Lifeson from Rush.
Current Marshall Amplifier Models
Marshall still makes many amplifiers today. They combine modern designs with reissues of older, classic amps. Most models aim to have the famous Marshall "roar."
Modern Amplifier Series
The JCM2000 range, released in 1997, continued the JCM800 and 900 series. These amps removed the diode clipping and used more valve gain stages instead. The DSL (Dual Super Lead) and TSL (Triple Super Lead) models are part of this range. The DSL is an update of the JCM800 series. It's known as a great workhorse amp. In 2012, Marshall released a new DSL line made in Vietnam. This included the DSL100 head and various combos. In 2018, they updated the DSL series again, adding smaller amps for home players.
Marshall also created the JVM series as a new flagship amp. These amps have up to four channels, each with three modes you can switch with a foot pedal. They also have dual master volumes and reverb controls for each channel. You can program these features into the foot switch to easily change your sound. The JVM range includes various heads and combos. Guitarist Joe Satriani uses a special signature JVM amp.
Around the same time, Marshall released the Vintage Modern amp. This amp is simpler, with one channel. It's designed to be controlled more by the player's style, like the old "Plexi" and JCM800 amps. But it has modern features like foot-switchable distortion levels and an effects loop. The Vintage Modern series uses KT66 valves, which are similar to the 6L6 valves.
Vintage Reissue Amplifiers
In 2001, Marshall reissued many of its older amps, like the Model 1959-SLP. This amp is a reissue of the "Plexi" amp from the late 1960s. However, these reissues use printed circuit boards inside to save money. The original amps were hand-wired. Marshall now offers a "hand-wired" series for those who want the original build style.
Solid-State and Hybrid Amps
Marshall's "Valvestate" amps combine valve and solid-state technology. These are now called the "AVT series." They are cheaper than all-valve amps. They use a 12AX7 preamp valve to "warm up" the sound, along with solid-state parts for the power amplifier. These are seen as amps for intermediate players, bridging the gap between the expensive valve amps and the cheaper MG series.
In 2009, Marshall released the MG4 line of practice amps. These amps offer many features while being easy to control.
Bass Amplifiers
Marshall makes a professional, all-valve bass amp called the VBA400. It has eight 6550 power valves and several preamp valves. It works with both active and passive bass guitars. It also has an XLR output for recording.
In 2008, Marshall created its first signature bass amp head for Lemmy Kilmister from Motörhead. It was based on his "Murder One" 100-watt super bass unit. Marshall also makes solid-state bass amps called the MB series, ranging from 15 to 450 watts.
CODE Series Amps
In 2016, Marshall introduced the CODE series of modelling amplifiers. These amps can copy the sounds of 14 different preamps, 4 power amps, and 8 speaker cabinets. They also have 24 effects. You can control these amps using Bluetooth from your phone or tablet. They can also stream audio from a computer.
Origin Series Amps
The Origin series is a line of lower-power, all-valve amps made in Vietnam. They are designed to sound like the "Plexi"-era amps. Marshall created them because many guitarists wanted lower-volume amps. The Origin5 is a 5-watt amp that can run at either 5 watts or 0.5 watts using Marshall's Powerstem technology.
Powerstem technology allows the Origin amps to reduce their power output while keeping the same sound quality. This is done by changing the voltage inside the amp. The Origin line includes various combo amps and heads.
MS Series Micro Amps
The MS-2 is a tiny 1-watt micro amp with 2 channels and a 2-inch speaker, perfect for practice. The MS-4 has two 2-inch speakers and looks like a full Marshall stack.
Marshall Model Numbers
Marshall's way of naming amps can sometimes be confusing. Early amps were just named after their catalog number. For example, the 1962 Bluesbreaker was item number 1962 in the Rose-Morris catalog. Later amps had range names and model numbers that gave information about the amp. For example, the JCM2000 range included models like the TSL100 (Triple Super Lead 100W). Speaker cabinets often have prefixes like JVMC212 (JVM cabinet 2x12-inch speakers).
Headphones and Bluetooth Speakers
In 2010, Marshall partnered with Zound Industries to make headphones and Bluetooth speakers. Zound Industries is known for its Urbanears headphones.
In 2018, Marshall announced two smart speakers that use Amazon Alexa.
The Marshall Legacy
The classic Marshall Stack is made up of an amp head (the amplifier part) placed on top of two stacked 4x12s. Each 4x12 is a speaker cabinet with four 12-inch speakers arranged in a square. The top cabinet often has the top two speakers angled slightly upwards, giving the Marshall stack its unique look. When only one cabinet is used, it's called a half stack.
In the 1960s, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle of The Who helped make stacked Marshall cabinets popular. Townshend said Entwistle started using Marshall Stacks so he could hear himself over Keith Moon's drums. Townshend then had to use them to be heard over Entwistle. The very first 100-watt Marshall amps were made for Entwistle and Townshend after their equipment was stolen. They asked Jim Marshall to make their new gear more powerful. Jim said the cabinets would need to be twice as big. They agreed, and six of these huge amps were made. Two went to Townshend, two to Entwistle, and one each to Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriott.
These new "double" cabinets (with 8 speakers) were too heavy to move easily. So, The Who asked Marshall if they could be cut in half and stacked. The existing single cabinets (with four speakers) were then changed for stacking, which became the standard.
Entwistle and Townshend kept experimenting with their gear. While most bands used 50-100W amps with single cabinets, they both used twin stacks. Each stack was powered by new experimental 200W amps. This greatly influenced other bands like Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Led Zeppelin. However, The Who couldn't afford to take their full rigs on early overseas tours. So, Cream and Hendrix were the first to show off this setup widely, especially in the United States. Even though The Who helped create the "classic" Marshall sound, they only used Marshalls for a few years before switching to other brands. Cream and Hendrix are often given credit for inventing Marshall Stacks.
Musicians kept trying to get louder. They started "daisy chaining" two or more amps together. By 1969, Hendrix was connecting four stacks, including Marshall and Sound City amps.
This race for more volume continued into the 1970s with bands like Blue Öyster Cult. They used an entire wall of full-stack Marshall amplifiers as their stage backdrop. Artists like Slayer and Yngwie Malmsteen also use walls of Marshalls. Both Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman of Slayer often played in front of 24 cabinets. Malmsteen toured with 30 heads and 28 cabinets! However, many of the cabinets used by rock bands are just for show and don't actually work.
Marshall in Sports
Marshall is an important sponsor of local sports. They were one of the first shirt sponsors for Milton Keynes Dons football club. They also sponsored Milton Keynes Athletic Club and the Milton Keynes Lions basketball club.
Marshall Records
In early 2017, Marshall Amplification announced they had started a record label. They opened an office in London and signed a deal with Alternative Distribution Alliance, a company owned by Warner Music Group. Marshall Records signed a distribution deal for North and South America with Better Noise Music in 2018. In 2020, Marshall Records made a deal with Sentric Music for publishing.
Artists who have released music through Marshall Records include Bad Touch, D_Drive, Grand Slam, Keywest, King Creature, Press to MECO, Rews, Reigning Days, The Bottom Line, Therapy?, and The Dirty Youth.
Since 2013, Marshall Records has been a separate part of the Marshall Group.
Marshall Arena
In September 2018, Marshall Amplification announced a naming agreement with Arena MK (at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes). This means the space will be used for music events and called the Marshall Arena. The first band to perform there was the Black Eyed Peas.
The Marshall Studio
In 2021, Marshall Amplification opened a modern recording studio at its base in Milton Keynes. The studio has a special Neve 8048 mixing console. This console was once in a studio in Paris and was used by The Rolling Stones for their album Some Girls.
Images for kids
-
A wall of Marshall-branded refrigerators.
