Is this a 70's Marshall cab?

[nevusofota]

I don't know much about 70's Marshall cabs but I need some help on this one. Does it look legit? What are those speakers? What's up with the rectangular input jack? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[flatheads_4ever]

I'm looking at it on my phone, so it's hard to tell. It looks like a reissue to me. That cabinet would have Celestion greenbacks. The jack plate is a input and thru jack. My 70's Marshall cab is different I think. It's been in storage for a few years, so I don't fully remember.

 

[harddriver]

That's a Big "M" cabinet that Marshall/Unicord marketed in the US in the late 70's to cut their import costs. A lot of differences, notice the MDF construction, smooth tolex and the crap speakers I can't remember what they were in my old cab but they had a really weird magnet design. Not sure what speakers those are in the pics. Mine had Marshall script on the corner protectors and a big U for Unicord on the handles.

I had one I picked up in the mid eighties even with Celestion speakers loaded in it I never cared for it, the MDF is just dead compared to a real 13 ply marine grade Birch Marshall cab, but as always YMMV. I finally sold mine thank god but I know a couple of players that actually like them.

 

[Luca79]

Look weird and cheap. The baffle is made of chipboard, better pass.

 

[nevusofota]

Thanks for the info. I'll stay away.

 

[halebox]

stay away

 

[Chester Nimitz]

 

[tubortski]

Yup, looks like a Big "M" cab with no M logo.

 

[nevusofota]

Just curious as to why it's called a big "M" cab?

 

[psychodave]

That's a Big "M" cabinet that Marshall/Unicord marketed in the US in the late 70's to cut their import costs. A lot of differences, notice the MDF construction, smooth tolex and the crap speakers I can't remember what they were in my old cab but they had a really weird magnet design. Not sure what speakers those are in the pics. Mine had Marshall script on the corner protectors and a big U for Unicord on the handles.

I had one I picked up in the mid eighties even with Celestion speakers loaded in it I never cared for it, the MDF is just dead compared to a real 13 ply marine grade Birch Marshall cab, but as always YMMV. I finally sold mine thank god but I know a couple of players that actually like them.

YUP! I concur.

 

[Racerxrated]

Some people like them because of the B cab design, but has the upward slanted baffle. They change out the back panel for better material, and the speakers also. GC has one, they listed it for 6-800 but it has a Marshall logo. I'd bet someone sold it to GC as a Marshall 70s cab and GC gave them more than it's worth, GC none the wiser. There's a mint one at a Music go round in Wi for 300 I think..that's about what they're worth.

 

[cecilbag]

I'm glad I read this thread. I would have assumed it was a 70s. Great info guys

 

[harddriver]

I would have to revisit my Big Book of Marshall but I think these were made here in the US, cabs were plywood with MDF baffleboards and back. Yeah, the guy who owned may have thought it was a made in England Marshall, they have small Marshall script embossed on the cab corners, I think the caster cups so why wouldn't you think it was a true marshall. The smooth tolex and the Big U on the side handles give them away. What's funny is the vintage Marshall cabs that I have now all have smooth cab corners with no script and embossed script Marshall on the caster cups and side handles, so they must have made new plastic hardware for the Big M run to differentiate them from made in UK cabs which seems kinda strange. In stock condition they had a script M in the lower right corner of the speaker grill.

When I bought mine I though I got the deal of the century at the time but no matter what I did with the cab(swapping speakers and such) it never compared to my Marshall 1982A slant cab which I still have.

There's one on Ebay right now for 950.00. After owning one I would make sure it's made in UK true marshall. A collector might want one just for the historical context but that's about it IMO. Here's what the guy had in his ad, at least he's not trying to pass it off as a Marshall UK cab.

This listing is for a Vintage 1970's Marshall "Big M" 4x12 Electric Guitar Speaker Cabinet. This cab was made by Marshall in the late 1970's and the speakers are Rola 12" speaker with 2857801 codes which I believe date the speakers to 1978. This 4x12 cab is called a "Big M" cabinet because of the large M in the lower left corner of the grill cloth. In the 1970's Marshall was looking to lower the shipping costs of cabinets from the UK and designed these Big M cabinets from the 1970's we're assembled in the USA.

 

[Racerxrated]

Now, there is one exception with the "Big M" cab that I read about...the big M's that were made by Marshall and shipped to Germany. These are actual English made cabs, but had to lose the Marshall logo because a German company had the rights to the name in Germany..those cabs ARE worth a ton and usually have pre Rola Celestions in them. Same concept, large letter M in the right corner front of the cab.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Baffle is chip board. Blackback cabs are Birch.

This cab or its speakers are nothing special.

$600 to $800 is laughable if you know anything about 70's Marshall cabs.