2012 Marshall Product Catalog

3 FROM “THE GUV’NOR” JIM MARSHALL We’re Still Listening . Welcome to Marshall Amplification’s 2012 catalogue. As you probably already know, 2012 is a special year for my company as it marks our 50th Anniversary. As you can see from the front cover of this catalogue, in keeping with the tongue-in-cheek title of the 2004 biography, “The Father of Loud,” we’ve decided to label our special anniversary “50 Years of Loud.” To be honest, when I teamed-up with Ken Bran and Dudley Craven (RIP) with the idea of building the world’s first rock and roll amplifier in the autumn of 1962, we had no idea what the future held in store.To be honest, I would have been delighted if we could have built and sold 50 amps. I didn’t dare dream that our little endeavour would last 50 days, let alone grow into a globally respected company that’s still going strong and growing some 50 years later. The reason we made the very first Marshall amp came from me chatting with all the up-and-coming young guitarists who came to my drum shop in the early ‘60s. They told me what they were looking for from a guitar amplifier and that there was nothing available at the time that did exactly what they wanted. Because of that I decided to put together a team that could build an amp that produced the sound I could hear in my head based on what the lads had described to me. Ever since then, that’s how my company has operated and grown. We’ve listened carefully to what guitarists want in terms of sound and features, made sure we completely understand those needs and then we strive to exceed their expectations. We also work tirelessly to ensure that we offer the best possible value without compromising reliability, components, build-quality, finish, flexibility and, of course, that all-important commodity – Tone! I’m also proud to state that while a lot of companies who claim to be British actually build nothing in the UK anymore, Marshall still makes all of our high-end products in our factory in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, England. Although our Golden Anniversary isn’t until September of this year, we’ve already announced some 50th Anniversary products – a series of five 1-Watt amp pairings (in this catalogue) plus a Limited Edition handwired 1962 Bluesbreaker combo which will be released later this year. These UK made amps are only the start of our celebration – more Anniversary products and events will be announced as September draws closer. In the pages that follow you’ll also learn of our latest signature products, the British built, Joe Satriani signature head and cabs, plus the affordable new 2012 DSL Series which comprises of two heads and two combos. Everybody at Marshall amps is very well aware that ultimately the real reason for our longevity and success is our legion of loyal customers. Thank you for all your continued support over the past five decades as without it we wouldn’t be celebrating 50 Years of Loud! Enjoy this catalogue and rest assured, we’re still listening very carefully to what you want from an amp and will continue to do our utmost to not only satisfy but exceed your expectations. Here’s to the next 50 years! Sincerely, Jim Marshall 4 5 Demeaning jokes that make drummers out to be drooling dolts are ten-a-penny – especially in guitar playing circles. This said, there is one skin-beater that no self-respecting six-stringer would ever dare poke fun at. Why? Because, without this drummer, rock as we know and love it today, might not exist. His name… JIM MARSHALL – THE FATHER OF LOUD The Jim Marshall story is a fascinating, sound they just couldn’t find. “Listening to rest is history. Marshall quickly became the true-life, rags-to-riches tale. Born in London, what they were saying gave me a very good world’s pre-eminent rock amplifier maker – a England, on July 29th, 1923, his childhood idea of what they wanted,” Jim states. “So, I status the company still proudly holds today, was anything but easy. “I never really got decided to put together a small team to build a winning countless honours along the way, an education because I was in hospital all valve amplifier with the specific sound the lads including the Queen’s Award for Export in the time with tubercular bones,” Jim reveals. were after.” 1984 and 1992. How does Jim ensure that As a result of this unfortunate affliction, he his latest products remain every bit as cutting spent most of his school years quite literally edge as they were when they first appeared cocooned in a plaster cast. some 50 years ago? “By listening to guitarists Without the benefit of a formal education, Jim and finding out what they really want,” is began working at age 13. He also learned his instant reply. “In my opinion, the most to tap dance and, before long, music had important thing in what we do is the person become the focus of his life. “A band leader who’s actually going to play through the amp heard me sing and asked me to try out,” once we’ve made it. If you don’t bother to Jim recalls. He passed his audition with listen to the end-user, you’ll miss the mark flying colours and, by 14, he was performing on certain things because no-one knows 6 nights a week as the lead vocalist for a everything.” 16-piece, big band. In 1942 the band’s drummer was enlisted and Throughout his career, Jim has devoted Jim stepped in. His natural talents behind the countless hours and a huge amount of money kit were quickly obvious and, before long, he After several attempts, the first Marshall to charities for disabled and underprivileged was a much in demand performer & teacher. head was built in September 1962. It was an children. “It all goes back to spending so In fact, Jim’s weekly roster of 65 pupils instant hit. Jim tried it with a 2x12″ cabinet but much of my young life in that wretched plaster included several who went on to find fame and didn’t like the sound. “Plus we kept blowing cast,” he explains. “I decided at the age of fortune, including Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix) up speakers like there was no tomorrow!” 14 that if I ever became rich enough, I would and Micky Waller (Little Richard, the Jeff Beck He laughs. “So, I decided to put four 12″ look after young people who need help and Group). speakers in the smallest enclosure we could encouragement. I’ve done well from nothing build, so it’d be easy to transport.” And so the so I’m just putting something back in.” Not Marshall 4x12″ cabinet was born – a product surprisingly, Jim was made an honorary that’s still deemed the “industry standard.” Doctor of Music in 2002 and awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2004. In 1965, another important Marshall milestone was reached. “Pete Townshend asked if I could build him a 100 Watt head and an 8x12″ cabinet,” Jim states. “I agreed but warned him that his roadies wouldn’t like handling such a big cabinet and suggested stacking an angled 4x12″ on top of a straight one instead. Pete was having none of it though, so we built him what he wanted and off he went.” In 1960 Jim opened a drum shop. “All the Jim’s prediction proved correct and drummers used to bring their groups in with Townshend returned to have the 8x12″ cab them, which is how I got to meet guitarists like “cut in half.” The result of this logical solution Pete (Townshend) and Ritchie (Blackmore).” was the creation of what is now one of the Jim recalls. “They kept pestering me to stock rock world’s most instantly recognisable icons guitars and amps so I decided to give it a go.” – the 100-Watt Marshall stack! He quickly became aware of the fact his guitar playing customers were all searching for a From that point on, as the saying goes, the 1965 JIM’S MARSHALL TIMELINE 100 Watt 1959 head & 30 Watt 1987 2004 2012 Bluesbreaker Combo Silver Jubilee Jim receives OBE 50 Years of Loud! 1947 1962 1992 1923 Studies drumming First Marshall amp 1973 1981 Queen’s Award 1998 2007 Jim Marshall born with Max Abrams JTM45 Jim’s 50th Birthday JCM800 Series for Export MG Series JVM Series 6 0 9 0 3 0 0 4 0 1 0 7 0 5 0 8 0 2 0 1936 Early 50s 1964 1975 1984 1991 1997 2008 Starts work at age 13 Professional Drummer First Marshall Stack Master Volume Queen’s Award Valvestate Series DSL Series Jim’s 85th Birthday for Export 1942 Jim opens music 1968 1992 1999 Starts drumming store in London 200 Watt Marshall Major 30th Anniversary Acoustic Soloist JMP-1 6 7 NOT A COVER BRAND Over the past five decades, we’ve produced a veritable arsenal of amps. While each and every model is unique in character, they’ve all had two vitally important things in common: 1) They’re 100% pure Marshall & 2) They allow you to sound like yourself! We don’t need to copy others and neither do you. Life’s too short for that. We are not a cover brand, we’re original and so are you.

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