1968 Marshall?

[mr11]

Can anyone identify this amp? It's a local craigslist posting saying it's a 1968 100 watt Marshall. It's listed for $6500 which makes me curious. Rare find or rip off? It says the cab is 4x15...?! Lies?!

 

[RevolverRT]

That cabinet does not look like a 4x15.

 

[War Admiral]

4X15....ah...no. Never heard of that in my life unless its a bass cab. Never seen that headshell for a 68 marshall neither...hmmmm.... edit: nope I was wrong...they made 4X15 cabs like that

Ive seen marshall 4X15 like this...

 

[gtrwun]

Not a 4x15 thats for sure. Impossible to know what that head really is , based on that picture.

 

[LP Freak]

What's the serial #?

 

[King Guitar]

should look like this...
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=155347&p=1767723&hilit=68+Marshall+plexi#p1767723

 

[mr11]

Thanks guys. Makes me think the person who listed it doesn't really know what they've got either

 

[RevolverRT]

It would make things a lot easier if he just turned the amp around and took a picture of the back lol. Looks like a Marshall SLP with a 1970s era 4x12 (maybe blackbacks or greenbacks). But $6500 sounds a bit out there in my opinion. Especially since it's not all original, not in the best of condition, and the cabinet is bit beat up.

 

[Marshall Freak]

With the large logo, corner protectors the cab is after 72. If it's a plexi, it's got a later headshell. Look at the pics brad posted. Look at the ledge below the knobs. See how it's a flat surface then a corner? See how on the picture posted in the original post is more angled or beveled? That's 69 or later.

Marshall did ale some 4x15 cabs, but that's not one of them.

 

[marvcus]

Definitely ask for the serial number.

My '69 Plexi serial # is SL/A 10xxx if that helps you any.

I would venture a guess that the cab is a '72/'73.

 

[AndyK]

Definitely ask for the serial number.

My '69 Plexi serial # is SL/A 10xxx if that helps you any.

I would venture a guess that the cab is a '72/'73.

I thought 68 and older were 12,000 serial numbers??

 

[King Guitar]

Definitely ask for the serial number.

My '69 Plexi serial # is SL/A 10xxx if that helps you any.

I would venture a guess that the cab is a '72/'73.

I thought 68 and older were 12,000 serial numbers??

My 1968 is serial #: ST/A 10356

 

[marvcus]

Definitely ask for the serial number.

My '69 Plexi serial # is SL/A 10xxx if that helps you any.

I would venture a guess that the cab is a '72/'73.

I thought 68 and older were 12,000 serial numbers??

The EVH fan side of me thought that way, too, until I bought one and the History of Marshall book.

My understanding is since the serial number has no letter at the end, like "SL/A 10001A" but, instead, ends with a number,
that is indicative that it's a plexi, made before July 1969. Accordingly, the ones with the "A" (or any other letter) after the number mean
it was made after July 1969 and metal panel.

Similarly, Brad's is ST/A with no letter after the numbers.

OP: Get us a picture of the back (panel and chassis layout) and that will get you closer to confirmation.

 

[mr11]

Yeah I'm not getting any replies back from the seller. My guess is he just has no idea what he has/doesn't have.

 

[AndyK]

I was going by what George says:

The Metropoulos Amplification 12,000 Series accurately replicates early 1968 era Marshall 100 watt Superlead and Superbass amplifiers with serial numbers in the 12XXX range. Just like original Marshalls, the 12,000 Series offers a more aggressive sound than the earlier 10,000 Series plexi.

 

[marvcus]

I was going by what George says:

The Metropoulos Amplification 12,000 Series accurately replicates early 1968 era Marshall 100 watt Superlead and Superbass amplifiers with serial numbers in the 12XXX range. Just like original Marshalls, the 12,000 Series offers a more aggressive sound than the earlier 10,000 Series plexi.

Yup, that's correct.

Earlier Plexi's to Later Plexi's by serial number range:

SL 10000 - ~67
SL 12000 - ~68
SL/A 10000 - ~69

 

[AndyK]

I was going by what George says:

The Metropoulos Amplification 12,000 Series accurately replicates early 1968 era Marshall 100 watt Superlead and Superbass amplifiers with serial numbers in the 12XXX range. Just like original Marshalls, the 12,000 Series offers a more aggressive sound than the earlier 10,000 Series plexi.

Yup, that's correct.

Earlier Plexi's to Later Plexi's by serial number range:

SL 10000 - ~67
SL 12000 - ~68
SL/A 10000 - ~69

Since Brad's is a '68, I am guessing there is a transitional period between the 12,000 (early 68's), and maybe the SL/A 10,000's (in late '68-69)?

 

[londaxe]

Sort of. I recall in late 68 they moved the preamp filter cap to the top of the chassis, and it looks like that tremolo amp is one of these amps. This was before all six caps were mounted on top of the chassis. I think these are either very late SL 12XXX amps or very early SL/A 10XXX amps.

I'm a bit unclear on the 50 watts though. I've got one that's labeled S/A 105xx (very late plexi panel from early 1969), but I know there were older amps with serial numbers in the 11000 range.