Friedman Brit-50 Head

[Mike Oxhuge]

Pick up a reissue HW Marshall 1959. They are not too expensive used. That will give you the best approximation of the real deal without spending 4-10k on a real 68-69. All these 'Plex' amps are just attempts at cloning or 'approximating' the real deal. Instead, get the real deal.
Killer amps.

I'd just been wondering how good the 1959 HW was and now I have an idea.

 

[skoora]

I took a 1996 reissued 1959SLP in a trade a while back and it totally slays. I didn't even pull the back panel off when I took it in. Later on I did and saw the trannies were replaced with ClassicTone and the caps were the blue F&Ts. So it had had some work done, but damn if that amp doesn't have the Marshall mojo in spades.

It was the same with my ‘75 50 watter. Plugged in and thought, Oh, this one sounds good. Took a look in the back and fully equipped with MM iron and choke, which I think is why the price was reasonable. Normally this would make me lose interest not having the OG Iron, but I realized I couldn’t deny how good it sounded to me, so I bought it. I didn’t even look inside until years later, to not put a negative image in my mind in case it was Mickey moused inside. When I did finally get it worked on, ain’t gonna lie, was pleased to see a lot of the original signal caps, resistors etc.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

I took a 1996 reissued 1959SLP in a trade a while back and it totally slays. I didn't even pull the back panel off when I took it in. Later on I did and saw the trannies were replaced with ClassicTone and the caps were the blue F&Ts. So it had had some work done, but damn if that amp doesn't have the Marshall mojo in spades.

Classic Tone made transformers for MESA to their spec's for decades before they went titz up.
CT did not advertise that fact.

 

[Rick Lee]

I miss ClassicTone. I got Merrens for my first build, but Chris goes off the grid for months at a time, so I had to go CT for my next ones, and now they're gone.

 

[harddriver]

I miss ClassicTone. I got Merrens for my first build, but Chris goes off the grid for months at a time, so I had to go CT for my next ones, and now they're gone.

Heyboer is still around and still builds them as they were built in the 1970s' and 1980's. Even Mercury Magnetics sound great as well.

Who was building Merren's transformers? Was he winding them himself?

 

[Rick Lee]

I think Chris does everything, but not sure. MM is crazy expensive.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

I bought an OT from MM once. I didn't notice any additional sound improvement to justify the price markup.

 

[technomancer]

Just use Heyboers...

 

[Jdub]

This is the truth that can only be told in a true band setting. I don't play out much anymore but a few times a year. Last summer, I brought a Snorkler over for rehearsals and dammned if it didn't get swallowed up quick. I was very surprised; it lasted a few more weeks but then I brought my 72 SL and it was no issue. You play them back to back, you don't notice such a huge difference but....

Blue mode on Snorkler did ok for me but when switched to Red it would actually be quieter in the mix despite dialing in every which way to make red louder and dirtier.. Or least the same volume and dirtier. But it would only be dirtier, and because so much softer, it faded in the mix. Had to use something like a micro amp in the loop to boost the volume of red. I just got the Jose a few days ago. I think it might e a good balance... and I like that I can use it without the mods engaged, so it should sound and behave like a Marshall. Too early to say.

 

[LP Freak]

Blue mode on Snorkler did ok for me but when switched to Red it would actually be quieter in the mix despite dialing in every which way to make red louder and dirtier.. Or least the same volume and dirtier. But it would only be dirtier, and because so much softer, it faded in the mix. Had to use something like a micro amp in the loop to boost the volume of red. I just got the Jose a few days ago. I think it might e a good balance... and I like that I can use it without the mods engaged, so it should sound and behave like a Marshall. Too early to say.

The Snorkler would have been better off just being a single channel amp. I’m sure that would’ve made it cheaper also.