Members 2B Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Hi all Plexi / old Marshall fans... I've played old Marshalls for years, mostly "metal-panel" amps from mid '69 to '75, and a couple of JMP 2203/2204 amps, + some other stuff like the Silver Jubilee, and Slash Signatures. Most of these amps have been GREAT, with killer tone.During years I've NEVER had any problem with these. Ok, I've blown a couple of fuses on my old "workhorse", a '79 JMP2203, but thats just nothing. Then, step into "plexi-territory", and problems DO exists.Unreliable amps not meant for gigging hard?I've had my turns with a couple of these..., on the positive side my '68 Super Bass is still 100% and killer.But, are some just meant to be kept in the closet by collectors after 40 + years?Hmmm, I'm starting to think so.My point is, I guess I'll never drag a plexi to a gig without a back-up.Killer tone, yes. Reliable? IMO, NOT all of'em.I guess Marshall after all did make some great "upgrades" for the metal-panel amps. The old plexi trannies have great tone. But, they are not that well done (best quality). "Well-done" might sooner or later be like toasted "well-done". Marshall did use cheap parts at that time, for the better or worse...Maybe these amps are for the collectors anyway. Nice to look at, cool to stuff away, but not suited to be cranked on a regular basis. What's Your opinion and experience? T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members telephant Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 My Superbass has only give me one problem. It blew a power tube while I was onstage. Though I finished the show with it, I had no gain. Ironically I was nailing SRV's tone at that point because I kept turning the volume up to compensate but there was no gain, only clean punch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blargh Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Very true, only a complete moron would take a plexi to a gig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cloudnine Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Well, mine isnt a vintage model by any means, but I run it hard everytime I play it. I dime it all the time (albeit with a hotplate) and other than getting pretty damn hot, it's fine for me. They worked for everyone in the 60s/70s okay, it seems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Big Hair Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 plexis are the greatest amps in the world!!! I only gigged with one once because I needed a volume boost when i was in my band, but the tone was superb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blargh Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 I might be mistaken, but don't old plexis put out too much plate voltage for new production EL34s? I think I heard that somewhere, might be false. Those old Mullards could take a beating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vlad Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Plexis suck balls... Marshalls are the worst amps EVAR!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Big Hair Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by vlad Plexis suck balls... Marshalls are the worst amps EVAR!! send me yours then if you no longer require it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vlad Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by blargh I might be mistaken, but don't old plexis put out too much plate voltage for new production EL34s? I think I heard that somewhere, might be false. Those old Mullards could take a beating. I dunno... My '71 has a plate voltage of 505-510... I've read it at 515 at times... SED's work fine Every tube I had in there worked fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vlad Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by Big Hair send me yours then if you no longer require it Nope... I'll be buried with that amp... I played the XTC for a couple hours last night then turned on the SL... man o man... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Big Hair Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by vlad Nope... I'll be buried with that amp... I played the XTC for a couple hours last night then turned on the SL... man o man... I was recording some songs in a "studio" earlier in the week. Had an assortment of amps and used the plexi for the vast majority of them. It just reeks of dirty rock n roll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vlad Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by Big Hair I was recording some songs in a "studio" earlier in the week. Had an assortment of amps and used the plexi for the vast majority of them. It just reeks of dirty rock n roll That's the best description. It just sounds like dirty '70's rock... If you boost it, it's slimey '80's rock... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Big Hair Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by vlad That's the best description. It just sounds like dirty '70's rock... If you boost it, it's slimey '80's rock... the wife is going out for a couple of hours tomorrow...... officially I am baby sitting.................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vlad Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by Big Hair the wife is going out for a couple of hours tomorrow...... officially I am baby sitting.................. unofficially you will be damaging your son's hearing... I hope you got a 100 watt Marshall Baby Monitor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 2B Posted March 3, 2006 Author Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by blargh I might be mistaken, but don't old plexis put out too much plate voltage for new production EL34s? I think I heard that somewhere, might be false. Those old Mullards could take a beating. . Yes, I've heard something like this.I guess some of the chinese EL-34's would face some problems with an old 100W plexi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 2B Posted March 3, 2006 Author Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by Big Hair plexis are the greatest amps in the world!!! Actually, I do not think so. IMO they are not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Big Hair Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by vlad unofficially you will be damaging your son's hearing... I hope you got a 100 watt Marshall Baby Monitor... LOL - he can cope quite nicely in the car with ACDC/Darkness etc! I guess I will be hotplating whilst keeping the door open and an eye on him in the other room actually, I need to redo all of my lead solos - i listened to them and they sound like a bag o {censored}e....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vlad Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by Big Hair LOL - he can cope quite nicely in the car with ACDC/Darkness etc! I guess I will be hotplating whilst keeping the door open and an eye on him in the other room actually, I need to redo all of my lead solos - i listened to them and they sound like a bag o {censored}e....... You used the Plexi for solos as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 2B Posted March 3, 2006 Author Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Hotplating an old plexi?Have fun....You might get surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Big Hair Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by vlad You used the Plexi for solos as well? no I used the Herbert lead tones were not a problem, lead playing sadly was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vlad Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by Big Hair no I used the Herbert lead tones were not a problem, lead playing sadly was I know the feeling... I've gotten some kick ass tones but the playing wasn't there... Hit or miss with me. I need a few beers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vlad Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Originally posted by 2B Hotplating an old plexi?Have fun....You might get surprised. I'm pretty happy with the Rich Mod Hotplate combo... It works very well for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rich Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 I haven't ever had any reliability issues and we figured out what to do with all the input holes of my *gasp* plexi. It even has footswitchable channels AND the lampshade mod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cloudnine Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 Couch mod, too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Voodoo Amps Posted March 3, 2006 Members Share Posted March 3, 2006 The old plexi trannies have great tone. But, they are not that well done (best quality). "Well-done" might sooner or later be like toasted "well-done". Can you explain how you came to this conclusion? We've worked on a great deal of older Marshalls and the transformers we always rugged. Marshall did use cheap parts at that time, for the better or worse...Maybe these amps are for the collectors anyway. Nice to look at, cool to stuff away, but not suited to be cranked on a regular basis. What usually needs to happen with older plexis is they need to be gone through by a tech who has experience working on many of those amps. For what it's worthTrace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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