SeriesMarshall Handwired

The Marshall 1974X HW is (as indicated by the "HW") a hand-wired 1 x 12 combo amp in the style of the famous Bluesbreaker amp. The amp is rated at 18 watts and has a tube compliment of 2 EL84 tubes in the power amp, 3 ECC83s in the preamp, an EZ81 rectifier tube, and uses part of the tube regiment for the valve-driven tremolo. The control layout is extremely simple. The basic controls for both channels are Volume and Tone with the difference being that the Tremolo channel has two controls for Speed and Intensity. There are two inputs per channel with the normal channel having two identical inputs, whereas on the tremolo channel the bottom input is -6db and is voiced slightly darker than the upper input. Finally, the combo has a specially-voiced 20 Watt, ceramic magnet, 15 Ohm, Greenback speaker that just oozes vintage vibe. There is a connection for an extension cabinet and an impedance selector switch to keep everything in harmony. Although I've never used it, there is a foot switch for the tremolo to turn it on or off. And, in true vintage Marshall style, the two channels can be "jumped" to provide additional tonal variations. UTILIZATION I got this amp on a lark--someone bought it and didn't like it (????) so I got it at a smashing used price. I love this amp. Like the old Plexis you can jump the channels and get a little boosted sound (and the tremolo option). Footswitch and amp cover are included. The normal channel is super-simple: Volume control and one Tone knob. The amp doesn't really get any louder beyond about 3, but just breaks up more. I run the tone control around 1:30 and the Volume all the way up. SOUNDS Holy lord. Honestly, if I had to go out and do a simple club gig and was being rated on tone, this is the amp I'd take. The tone that comes out of the "aged" 1 x 12 greenback makes you want to weep. Even with the volume dimed and ripping overdrive I can roll back my guitar controls and it cleans up nicely. Probably the best natural overdrive I've ever heard. Sounds good with ANY guitar, even my Squier and low-end Ibanez guitars, but plug in a nice Les Paul or American strat and you'll just lose hours in the creamy, buttery tone. Interestingly enough, I recently had the opportunity to play a BluesBreaker combo (the 30-Watt 2 x 12 version of this amp) and found it to have too much bass and not-as-sweet overdrive. Takes any pedal well, but no effects loop so if you want the amp's overdrive you're probably not going to be able to use time-based or modulation effects well (unless you're doing cleans-only). I don't know that this amp will get into death-metal territory without a pedal in front, but it sounds so good I don't know that you'd want to. OVERALL OPINION This amp is really purpose-built. This amp does what it's intended to do EXTREMELY well. It is outstandingly clean and when cranked up delivers the sound of Rock 'n Roll that is ingrained in all of our heads. I was skeptical about the price-to-value ratio but when playing the amp all concerns fade away. As noted above, I tried the 2 x 12 version and didn't like it as much. Having had MANY Marshall amps in the past, and now having this Hand-wired model I don't know if it's just a mental perception thing, but the difference is there in the tone. It's something you really have to experience for yourself, and I encourage everyone who is a fan of Rock 'n Roll to play this amp at least once.

I bought the Marshall 206 amp when I was stationed in Germany and have taken it everywhere. This amp has been played in Iraq, Paris France, all over Germany, Ibiza Spain, A majority of places here in the U.S.A. and now in the Virginia and North Carolina. Because of the option to use 6AA batteries and the minimal space it takes up this amp has been my companion wherever I go. Its portability also means that I can take it to family functions, parties, and even gigs (I use it to warm up). I keep this in my trunk on trips just in case the need arises to play any where I go. I recommend this amp as a practice / travel amp. I can personally say that this amp, for its size and price has been a great investment UTILIZATION This thing DESTROYS the tone of any other practice amp I've played, including some costing 4X the price. These are the folks that make Boss pedals, and the build quality is evident from the feel of the knobs, to the catch of the input jack, to the sturdiness of the cabinet. While the effect choice is limited, and effect level adjustment is absent altogether, the presets are very good, well balanced, and extremely easy to use. I bought one for my wife to learn on, and turned right around and bought one for myself. These things are wall and battery-powered, and they get loud! SOUNDS Perfect for taking to the park and crashing a picnic. Now I can practice anywhere, actually sound decent while doing it, and I can leave my pro gear in the freakin' studio since it looks more impressive there anyway. OVERALL OPINION The Marshal 206 amp may be small, but its not very quiet. I got this a while ago, and i love it. It's great for beginners and people who don't want to bother their roommates. However they might ask you to turn it down a bit. Its great for practice. The quality is great for the money

This is a fantastic amplifier from marshal application. It is a hard-working workforce amplifier that will give you a great clean plexi type Marshall tone as well as a good solid tube overdriven tone. This is the guitar amp that many hard rock players will grab in need of their hard rock tones as well as a good amplifier to get modified into some more modern addresses Marshall style tones. UTILIZATION MARSHALL 1959HW Specs FEATURES 1959HW Head yes Combo No Output (RMS) 100 Watt Tremolo No Speakers No Pre-Amp Valves 3 x ECC83 Power Amp Valves 4 x EL34 Valve Rectifier No Footswitch (supplied) No Dimensions (mm) 740 x 275 x 210 5 26 Weight (kg) 22 (approx. 48.4 lbs.) FEATURES 1959HW Cabinet Type – Angled yes Cabinet Type – Base yes Speaker Type G12H-30 Speaker Configuration 4 x 12" Power (RMS) 120 Watt Impedance 16 Ohm SOUNDS The tone of this amplifier is so Marshall to the utmost degree. It has that classic Marshall sound that you've ever heard and will can retain all that great Marshall goodness even if it's modified. This amplifier is a classic amplifier that thousands upon thousands of musicians of reach for to get their great guitar rock tones. These amplifiers work best with the greenback style speaker in at 4x12 cabinets in my opinion. They sound good in at 2x12 cabinet as well. The greenback speaker is perfect to my ears because I've grown up listening to greenback speaker playing guitar but the H 30 speakers are another great speaker that matches well with this amplifier. Use a jumper cable to connect the two channels to get some of that dark tones from the darker channel and you can have a great punchy driving Marshall tone. OVERALL OPINION These amplifiers though are discontinued are pretty easy to find on the used market. Marshall saturated the market with these amplifiers back in the day and they're pretty easy to come by. I've seen them for as low as $1200 in this bad down time economy. I had a recommend this amplifier to anyone looking for a classic martial sound and needs a good workforce amplifier to do that with.