Marshall JMP Model 1992 Super Bass 100 Watt Plexi *LOCAL PICKUP ONLY* Tube Amplifier (1969)
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Item # 10913
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Marshall JMP Model 1992 Super Bass 100 Watt Plexi *LOCAL PICKUP ONLY* Model Tube Amplifier (1969), made in London, England, red tolex covering finish.
Marshall amps are certainly a rock legend, with a sound that has defined both an entire style and era of music. This unusually early red Super Bass full stack is a real monster, both in volume and tone. Marshall amps owe their humble beginnings to the Fender Bassman 5F6-A, the original subject re-interpreted using English components and originally sold exclusively through Jim Marshall's London shop. Both the circuit design and sound soon evolved from the Fender paradigm into something entirely their own.
Early Marshalls powered the sound of the Who, Cream, Hendrix and beyond, de rigeur among top UK groups by 1969. Although the dedicated bass models were popular with many A-list bassists (arguably more so than the original Bassman) many notable guitarists have also chosen the Super Bass model over the Super Lead; Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Eric Johnson, to name a few. Consequently, the Super Bass has developed something of a cult following, but the differences between Super Lead and Super Bass amount to little more than a handful of components; one circuit can fairly easily be modified into the other.
Similar to the Bassman, Marshall's Super Bass features four inputs and two channels, often jumpered with a short lead for more preamp gain, along with controls for each channel: volume, treble, middle, bass and presence controls. The head sports a quad of EL34 power tubes, putting out a whopping 100-watts into the iconic closed-back cabinet loaded with four 12" Celestion speakers, another Marshall innovation that owed much to The Who's John Entwistle, ever on the lookout for ways to make his bass louder and an early and eager advocate of this full-stack design.
These amps came of age in the late 1960s, an era when bands routinely played large stadiums and festivals, often without PA sound reinforcement for the guitars. In 1969 amplifiers with this sort of power were a necessity rather than a luxury, and the tone became the new rock standard. These days, we have the luxury of attenuators, to tame these beasts somewhat and protect our ears!
This gleaming red Super Bass is a relatively early example of the revered Plexi full stack, especially rare considering its custom color covering. Dating 1960s Marshalls accurately can be somewhat tricky as serial numbers were seemingly applied at random until around July of 1969. There are no date codes on electric components to go by either. Luckily, with the inspection sticker on the steel chassis, we can narrow down production/test date to May 15th 1969. The two 4x12 cabinets can be dated by the speakers residing in them; both date to 1970. Covered in crimson Tolex this would have been a custom-ordered rig; we'd love to know who first took delivery!
Height is 72 in. (182.9 cm.), 29 in. (73.7 cm.) width, and 14 in. (35.6 cm.) deep.
Cosmetically, this full stack has clearly seen some use but remains in well-preserved condition for its age. The custom color red Tolex covering shows moderate amounts of scuffing and some minor tears, most notably on the edges as well as one spot on the back panel on the straight cabinet that has been reglued, as well as a few more minor corner spots. Both the original handle and the gold piping on the head remain in great condition for their age.
The Plexi-glass front panel is in great condition showing very little wear. The original knobs show some corrosive staining, but are all intact, free of cracking and none are missing! The grille cloth on both cabinets appears original and is free of any visible tearing. There's very subtle staining (presumably from a spilled beverage) on both cabinets. Casters on the slanted cab appear to be original as well.
Electrically, this amp is nicely original. Both cabinets date to 1970 and contain the original 12" Celestion 'greenback' G12 ceramic speakers; the slanted cabinet speakers date between June and August of 1970 and the straight cabinet speakers date between June of 1969 and July of 1970. The cabinets' serial numbers are 33238 and 34254, respectively.
The amp's transformers and pots all appear to be original; pots retain undisturbed red-marked solder joints throughout. Relatively little work has been done in order to preserve originality to the greatest extent possible. Almost all of the carbon film resistors and the fabled 'mustard' signal capacitors look original. The amp has otherwise seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, install of a new grounded 3-prong power cord, all sockets, pots and jacks cleaned and power section biased to spec with a new matched quad of the robust and ever-reliable JJ EL34 power tube. The amp is set up for US voltage and as they used to say, "Ready To Rock". Overall Very Good + Condition.
Marshall amps are certainly a rock legend, with a sound that has defined both an entire style and era of music. This unusually early red Super Bass full stack is a real monster, both in volume and tone. Marshall amps owe their humble beginnings to the Fender Bassman 5F6-A, the original subject re-interpreted using English components and originally sold exclusively through Jim Marshall's London shop. Both the circuit design and sound soon evolved from the Fender paradigm into something entirely their own.
Early Marshalls powered the sound of the Who, Cream, Hendrix and beyond, de rigeur among top UK groups by 1969. Although the dedicated bass models were popular with many A-list bassists (arguably more so than the original Bassman) many notable guitarists have also chosen the Super Bass model over the Super Lead; Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Eric Johnson, to name a few. Consequently, the Super Bass has developed something of a cult following, but the differences between Super Lead and Super Bass amount to little more than a handful of components; one circuit can fairly easily be modified into the other.
Similar to the Bassman, Marshall's Super Bass features four inputs and two channels, often jumpered with a short lead for more preamp gain, along with controls for each channel: volume, treble, middle, bass and presence controls. The head sports a quad of EL34 power tubes, putting out a whopping 100-watts into the iconic closed-back cabinet loaded with four 12" Celestion speakers, another Marshall innovation that owed much to The Who's John Entwistle, ever on the lookout for ways to make his bass louder and an early and eager advocate of this full-stack design.
These amps came of age in the late 1960s, an era when bands routinely played large stadiums and festivals, often without PA sound reinforcement for the guitars. In 1969 amplifiers with this sort of power were a necessity rather than a luxury, and the tone became the new rock standard. These days, we have the luxury of attenuators, to tame these beasts somewhat and protect our ears!
This gleaming red Super Bass is a relatively early example of the revered Plexi full stack, especially rare considering its custom color covering. Dating 1960s Marshalls accurately can be somewhat tricky as serial numbers were seemingly applied at random until around July of 1969. There are no date codes on electric components to go by either. Luckily, with the inspection sticker on the steel chassis, we can narrow down production/test date to May 15th 1969. The two 4x12 cabinets can be dated by the speakers residing in them; both date to 1970. Covered in crimson Tolex this would have been a custom-ordered rig; we'd love to know who first took delivery!
Height is 72 in. (182.9 cm.), 29 in. (73.7 cm.) width, and 14 in. (35.6 cm.) deep.
Cosmetically, this full stack has clearly seen some use but remains in well-preserved condition for its age. The custom color red Tolex covering shows moderate amounts of scuffing and some minor tears, most notably on the edges as well as one spot on the back panel on the straight cabinet that has been reglued, as well as a few more minor corner spots. Both the original handle and the gold piping on the head remain in great condition for their age.
The Plexi-glass front panel is in great condition showing very little wear. The original knobs show some corrosive staining, but are all intact, free of cracking and none are missing! The grille cloth on both cabinets appears original and is free of any visible tearing. There's very subtle staining (presumably from a spilled beverage) on both cabinets. Casters on the slanted cab appear to be original as well.
Electrically, this amp is nicely original. Both cabinets date to 1970 and contain the original 12" Celestion 'greenback' G12 ceramic speakers; the slanted cabinet speakers date between June and August of 1970 and the straight cabinet speakers date between June of 1969 and July of 1970. The cabinets' serial numbers are 33238 and 34254, respectively.
The amp's transformers and pots all appear to be original; pots retain undisturbed red-marked solder joints throughout. Relatively little work has been done in order to preserve originality to the greatest extent possible. Almost all of the carbon film resistors and the fabled 'mustard' signal capacitors look original. The amp has otherwise seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, install of a new grounded 3-prong power cord, all sockets, pots and jacks cleaned and power section biased to spec with a new matched quad of the robust and ever-reliable JJ EL34 power tube. The amp is set up for US voltage and as they used to say, "Ready To Rock". Overall Very Good + Condition.