05 Oct 1976 Marshall JMP “1959″ Super Lead Mk II, 100 W
So, it says Angus loved these right? Those damned 100 watters, no Master Volume. Right. It says he “only” wanted those, he only liked those, he only blah blah blah.
Okay. Found. Incoming (you know, once you know the record of your life has it on it, I’m not going to save on things. These will be more and more vintage – and expensive – as time goes by. As the word spreads that Back in Black was made with these – and not BiB only! As Back in Black prepares to be Album number ONE in history for sales, of any genre).
A Super Gentleman – probably Scottish? – had one for sale, but not on eBay. NO mods whatsoever.Better – way better, money wise – deal than each one of the previous two (one still incoming, the 50 watters MV is at the customs, I’m told). Condition wise it’s excellent as you can tell. All of the three recently purchased look more or less this good. I’m not one who cares for exterior condition, but on amps, it is a good sign of them having been treated well. And amps NEED to work well.
This was the accompanying text:
After much soul searching I’ve decided to sell my Marshall JMP MK II Superlead. I don’t need to tell you just how great this classic Marshall sounds and this is quite an aggressive sounding example. This amp was recently given a thorough overhaul by John Phillips (probably Scotland’s top amp tech), who hardwired the speaker outputs to 8 or 16 ohm to avoid problems caused by the old style impedance selectors falling out in amps of this age. Other than that it’s original and in excellent condition.
See it here (pictures courtesy of seller for now):
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So basically, this is the EXACT same model (unsure about the year, naturally) as Angus’ back then. But the same amp type for sure. Wait for me, Ang, I’m going to try to get there, too!
You know you will hear it. This one will need an attenuator.
(Thanks, Camillo!)
MANU996
Posted at 16:42h, 24 MayDoes anyone know were to get one of these 1959 JMP’s from the late 70’s?
OldSchoolRocker666
Posted at 20:52h, 17 NovemberMay i ask Fil, where do you get replacement tubes for this and the other JMP(s)?
kjellgibson
Posted at 11:02h, 15 AprilHandla från Tyskland http://www.tube-town.de -Bra mycket billigare än GMF i Gävle
Kinglance
Posted at 20:10h, 10 NovemberBought myself a JMP Marshall 50 watt on Ebay. From the auction I found here! 😀 Mine looks really worn, your Marshall’s look so clean, so untouched. U bought them on Ebay too? I love Relicd things! :p
jakesg61
Posted at 19:31h, 10 NovemberQuick question Fil, or others? Would you go for a 30 watt JTM 45 or a 1959 SLP 100W? and is there a great difference in max volume between the two?
OldSchoolRocker666
Posted at 18:38h, 10 NovemberFil, about your Angus Young Signature (with the Seymour Duncan Pickups), have you tried it on this amp, and if so, can you discribe the character of the tone somehow?
– Seb
jakesg61
Posted at 14:53h, 08 NovemberHey Fil, I Know you are on a mission to find the same tone as heard in the back in black song/album. I have set my self a person quest to find an all around tone to cover all ac/dc albums. I believe if I can find out what amps they use on gigs then i can succeed as I know they obviously they wont change amps half way through a gig for a song from a different album. I have been cheking out various information (I understand not of all if is true), however I came across this information, that you may have seen before but hear it is anyway. Quote from the website- Crabsody in blue-
“For the Ballbreaker world tour AC/DC purchased 12 1959SLPs (100 Watt re-issues) and 24 1960BV cabinets complete with vintage grille cloth. Angus also purchased 2 2100SL-X heads for good measure.
While on stage Angus and Malcolm plug into 4 1959SLPs each with each head driving 2 cabinets. Angus still uses his favourite studio amp an ancient JTM45 on the road too. This ancient beauty powers a single Marshall 4×12 cab which is located in an isolation box under the stage for mic’ing purposes.” I also found a picture on google that you may have also seen before, http://www.radialeng.com/images/AC-DC-wall-of-amps-724.jpg The two amps in the picture look like 1959 100W SLP’s to me, what do you think?
LeroyKincaid
Posted at 15:01h, 08 NovemberThey aren’t Super Leads, Jake.
The top one is a JTM45/100
Bottom is a Superbass. Both are Malcolms.
jakesg61
Posted at 16:50h, 08 NovemberForgive my lack of knowlage, they look alike dont they?
Does Angus have the sam set up or does he use the 1959’s (for live performances)? Thanks
jakesg61
Posted at 17:11h, 08 Novemberis the 45/100 bigger than the lower wattage version (in physical size) thats what confused me
LeroyKincaid
Posted at 13:58h, 09 NovemberYes it is, Marshall heads we’re talking about , only come in two different sizes, obviously the 50 watt head being a lot smaller than the latter. And both are similar in looks.
So the heads in the pic are both 100 watts.
Don’t worry, I got confused too.
I think Angus used 1959 and JTM45 re-issue heads on the BI tour.
jakesg61
Posted at 14:13h, 09 NovemberAhh right i see now, thankyou for explaining that :),
That would explain Malcolms, bassy cleaner tone.
Dont know if to get a 59 or a JTM45 now hehe think ill go for the 59slp think they are cheaper. Do you have any of these amps?
jakesg61
Posted at 14:47h, 09 NovemberThe amp above like said is a MKII super lead 100w 1959, but i have a picture of a JMP 1959 100W Super lead and it looks different, doesnt have rocker switches it has toggle switchs and no white piping around the edge, whats the difference? earlier production?
jakesg61
Posted at 14:50h, 09 Novemberthe picture i seen says its a MKII also but looks different to the one above
OldSchoolRocker666
Posted at 21:14h, 01 NovemberThe black and red swich on the left side of the panel, what function does those fill?
jakesg61
Posted at 11:42h, 09 NovemberNot sure in what order but on switch turns the amp on, and one puts it on standby so it can warm up before being used of left on standby after use, i belive its to do with the tubes
OldSchoolRocker666
Posted at 21:18h, 28 OctoberThis amp vs an Plexi JMP from 68´, how different are they in specs and tonewise, anyone who knows in generall?
jakesg61
Posted at 17:00h, 15 OctoberI saw AC/DC earlier this year at Download 2010 I was right up front, I got a good look at the Amps looked to me like they were 1959 100W but not the MK II, is it the MK I? Looks slightly different to the MK II, it has the metal toggle switches rather than the plastic red and black rocker switch, but they seem to use these alot live, maybe the amp they use to cover all there album range rather than changing amps every time they play a song from a different album? If that makes sense? Hope this is relevant
Max
Posted at 15:07h, 14 OctoberIf I may step-in a second here..
In my experience, I think that the less active stages (tubes) you have in a guitar-amp, the better the overall result will be as far as tone and expressive quality..
.. this way the distortion you get is really only happening with the final tube-stages and the power-tubes, which have more balls than the tiny preamp tubes.
You guys probably know this already, but that’s one of the tricks for getting a good soulful tone regardless..
now, when I see people trying to get a good blues-rock tone out of a mesa-boogie master volume amp… hmmmmm…
OldSchoolRocker666
Posted at 12:56h, 14 OctoberI found the same year model at a reasonable price, a Master Volume MK 2. SL/A Lead from 1976, http://www.blocket.se/stockholm/Marshall_jmp__76_30090281.htm?ca=8&w=3
It doesn’t have 2 channels though, it’s not exactly the same model as this one you have Fil, i don’t know if it will sound any big difference , it’s in original stock form, never been modded or anything, but what i’am wondering is if the amp in stock form would differ anything, really, from this amp you got.
At least tonewise, is it a safe bet that, if this amp is in stock form, will do the ”sound”?
SGACE
Posted at 14:32h, 14 OctoberThe first heads (1976) had a transitional circuit (less gain). It was basically a mix of a super lead with a pre-PI master volume.
That circuit didn’t last long and was replaced (1977) with the classic 2203/2204 circuit (with cascading gain stages).
OldSchoolRocker666
Posted at 15:18h, 14 OctoberSo in other words , no, it wont be as accurate as i would wish it to be if i wanna obtain the same amp tone like this one, correct?
SGACE
Posted at 15:30h, 14 OctoberI would prefer a JMP MV from the period 1977-1980.. The above info doesnt apply to the NMV MKII amps..
Max
Posted at 15:43h, 14 OctoberI would avoid all master-volume amps made by marshall, although they are not bad amps.
The problem is not only one of master-volume vs. non-master-volume but that Marshall (probably for convenience’s sake) reduced the gain of the second stage, probably to avoid microphonics at full volume, but the way they did it was such a compromise that it makes the distortion more of a fuzz. You can hear the sound fizzle-out as the note fades away.
this can easily by fixed by modding it, and you get a better tone than you’d expect from such an amp.
but as far as classy, expressive tone you need a 4-input and possibly a good attenuator, as mentioned by the others here.
SGACE
Posted at 15:57h, 14 OctoberMy friend, if I test a MV against a NMV with use of an attenuator (choose the best One), for me I prefer the sound of the MV, hands down. The attenuators even the best ones are a compromise (tonewise). I will agree that maybe the MV will sound fuzzy at some point, but that depends also which speakers you use. I have tried both versions MV and NMV, and for my needs the MV is the overall winner.
OldSchoolRocker666
Posted at 16:39h, 14 OctoberReason why i ask is because of a few things i have in mind, first of all; stock form, i really like stuff that isn’t mixed or modified unless there is a good reason to, value of an amp is one thing but it’s not that i care that much of the value and being able to sell expensive, i care more that i get the desired tone i seek for the money, if i’am to pay expensive for one thing last thing i want is to be disappointed it doesnt ”do it”.
Second; the basic amp tone. I wanna be 100 % sure that the stuff i aquire is as satisfying as i want it to, i wanna be accurate, depending on the purpouse and what i aim at. I don’t stricktly play AC/DC style but the first time i will buy an tube amp, i wanna be able to nail the amp tone without any large difficulties, i wanna be able to hear the massive chrunch as i hear it on record if i can possible set things correct, proper guitar, technique, amp e.t.c, i wanna try to bend the strings and play the shit out of the guitar and the amp, hearing the chords, notes and soloes as i can hear on record and in my head, i wanna nail ”it” basicly, but not entirely limited to Angus basic amp tone.
Third; accuracy and reability. I’ve heard, but i might be wrong, that amps like these are well buildt, and even if reissues of some models have a garaanteee, i love vintage but i also want it to hold together!
And last, fourth; simple, i can’t stand high gain amps with millions of knobs and settings, it’s just not the thing for me, for me, it’s the classic stuff, the plexis, the jmps and the gear made many years ago, gear which has the kind of magic sound which i seek
I like most amps to be stock , i don’t like effect pedals and such, mainly cause i think the gear sounds ”better” if they are used as they are naturaly, in stock form.
I would only take effects if it would be very limited and not making the stock sound feeling bad or muddy, so to speak, and if it added some sort of ”magic” to the specific tone i experiment with
Thanks for all answers!
Lemmiwinks
Posted at 23:19h, 13 OctoberI bought a jmp 2104 combo from 79 today. It was a real good tone in it with the blackbacks. Also got some real vintage 60 or 70’s filtetrons in my gretsch today also wich sound very good.
Somekind of mod was made to the amp because it only had a ”depth knob” next to the input hole. When I maxed the knob upp the sound were more deep. And when I rolled it of it was the normal tone. Anyways Im so satisfyed with this amp. My first REAL marshall <3
OldSchoolRocker666
Posted at 22:22h, 13 OctoberSince amps like these , i find it odd that Marshall didn’t think of the high amouts of sound these amps would give when they were cranked, didn’t they think they would be to loud for the ordinary people when they were brand new?
I mean since amps like this needs attenuators to get them down to a reasonable non-deaf-range, did Marshall at all consider they could be to massive in sound when they were made, at least for most ordinary people buying them?
OldSchoolRocker666
Posted at 08:06h, 06 Octoberhttp://cgi.ebay.com/1978-JMP-Marshall-MK2-Master-Model-100W-Super-Lead-/170547156428?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b56715cc
How about?
adam10603
Posted at 19:44h, 05 Octoberhttpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJmUMshxE2o
I would suggest you this attenuator, if you are looking for one. This one doesnt change the tone at all (some attenuators do!)
SoloDallas
Posted at 05:01h, 06 OctoberAdam, you must have read my mind. That is the one.
adam10603
Posted at 07:19h, 06 October😀
When will your 50W MV amp appear on the site ? I can’t wait to hear that too.
really nice amp btw. I’m sure you will get a BiB tone out of this amp, with the correct mics, EQ, etc. I can’t wait to hear it!
in sum: I can’t wait to hear the result of the whole BiB tone (re?)search.
Tyler
Posted at 18:31h, 05 OctoberAs far as attenuators go Fil, is there any that you would recommend? Also, I’ve heard that you can remove 2 tubes, (the 2 inner or 2 outter) and cut the power in half. It’s kind of controversial because some people believe it does damage or you have to have the amp rebiased. have you ever tried this?
HagusYoung
Posted at 18:09h, 05 OctoberThats a piece of Rock n Roll history, and it looks like you just brand new, realy nice catch. 100 watts of breathing tube fury, this thing is going to blow your ears 😀 id love to stand infront of that baby and see who gives up first 😉
Keep it up Fil, were counting on you. This is a great journey for all of us, who either cant play as good or simpy arent in the position to own this stuff. 79 sounds like a holy number to me !!! Man Fil Highway to Hell could be recorded on such a thing, i cant believe it, i get a big smile on the face when i read those numbers ! 😀
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:14h, 05 OctoberYes, even HtH could have been recorded on these. I do believe so, actually. And naturally, “we” will try.
The main reason for buying all of these is that I plan on doing loads of tutorials with “the right sound” this time. And performance videos, too, if I don’t get banned from planet earth because of copyrights 😛
HagusYoung
Posted at 18:23h, 05 Octoberna well keep them away, nobody will harm this place here 😀 if it happens, well, i live quite close to angus, ill take a ride over and tell him that youre a good boy 😀
and really, youre doing ALL this stuff for free. I bet he would understand 😉
Once the day will come, and i will play the holy 3 A’s through one of these Babys 😀
And really i strongly do believe that HtH was done on a JMP. I always related that, or tried to relate, these sounds to a JTM type of amp, but the JMP gave me a new aspect a new sound type and it sounds more like the JMP type of sound. Voltage is a JTM, yes, Deeds not sure could be both but LtbR and Powerage sound more JMPesk to me.
Michael91
Posted at 18:06h, 05 OctoberI saw this JMP already last weak on ebay and I tought: “Should I buy it?”
I regret it a little bit:) but you deserve it.
I think this is the REAL thing!
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:12h, 05 OctoberThere’s others like this one and there will be others for sale. This appears to be just the right time. Unfortunately, this is due to the crisis. I was one of the ones to suffer for first, since my family and I lost a load of money on the financial meltdown happened in 2008. But it seems we’re recovering very well and my job has just paid me off a lot recently. Lots of good business incoming from Germany and… India. So I pulled the trigger on loads of things from last August. Naturally, my shopping spree is almost at its end, I can’t keep buying this like this. But here’s hoping I will do well with these. Thanks Mike
Michael91
Posted at 18:37h, 05 OctoberI’m happy to hear that all is fine with you and your family.
banane
Posted at 17:43h, 05 OctoberI’m very impressed, Fil. Cool thing. And just another one I cant wait to hear
SoloDallas
Posted at 17:58h, 05 OctoberThanks Franz. Naturally, there are multiple purposes for amassing all of this gear: tutorials and performances. My ambition is to get “there”. And spread it.
GoingDownOnTheWay
Posted at 17:43h, 05 OctoberI think this one will deliver “the” tone.
The mastervolume is great, as you showed us, but too gainy in my opinion.
From comparison I’d say that the secret are the JMPs in general. Though superleads share the same circuit (very similar at least) for all decades, something is special to the JMPs that is just pure early AC/DC.
SoloDallas
Posted at 17:57h, 05 OctoberI really hope so. It’s been such a long journey to get here. Not that I’m tired of it, on the contrary. Recent events – me finally finding out with the help of good friends such as SGAce and others – that these were them, I even found new energy. But like I said previously, this time – meant as these series of attempts – must be it.