OK, So What Is So Special About Old Plexis?

[Rick Lee]

I never run my Silver Jub RI with the output master below 7, so it always sings.

 

[Scumback Speakers]

560 plus volts? Wow, yeah that's high, no wonder your old plexis sound different to you. But going through tubes is understandable at those plate voltages. I've heard of 500 or so, but 560 plus is really high.

 

[Racerxrated]

I'm glad when people don't find anything special about them...leaves me with a chance of scoring one. Last chance I got to fire up a 69 at volume was fucking religious. Anyone who thinks you can get close with any Master volume Marshall, especially what they make now...well...that's cool...more old, worn out stuff for me! C'mon it's old! It's too loud. I'll take it and give it s good home. You can rock that Vietnamese DSL, it sounds killer Bro!

Come on man, I didn't say that I didn't find anything special about them. I said I find something special about all of them. I just haven't heard the difference or been stricken by any particular nuance the vintage Marshalls I've tried have to offer. Maybe the ones I tried didn't have the mojo. I don't know, so that's why I'm asking. I'm not naysaying or trying to say it's all bullshit, I just want to know from the guys who are into that kind of thing.

Like most or even all of you, I've had a shit ton of amps. Mostly Marshalls/modded Marshalls. And after all the vintage and reissue Marshalls I've had here, I can say that my version of the truth on this rests solely on the vintage Drakes/Dagnalls. Whether it's from aging or the way they made them then compared to now, IMO once you get ANY vintage Marshall up to a roaring volume the newer ones just fall short in THAT tone. Not by a lot, but still fall short.
Case in point..Jubilees are my favorite Marshall, with a boost. They've chased even the Camerons away.
I had a 2555x and then scored a 1990 black tolex 2555. The reissue is spot on, and killer...but when I compared them at 5-7 on the master the vintage 2555 just sounded better. Not a ton, but better nonetheless. And I've had reissue 2203s, 1959s, 1987s, etc.

Ah yes the 2555x compared to the old Jubilee is a bit different. I don't know about the volume thing because I never got my 2555x that loud. At 2 it's pretty damned loud. It was bit dark and rubbery at very low volume, but really opened up nicely. I saw a video which I think does a good job of showing the difference. Have you seen this one?

Not sure if this has been mentioned but there are 3 different revisions of the circuit for the jubilee series. The Black 1990 Version is Revision 3 which is what the Slash Jubilee signature models were based off as well. I used to have 2 of the Slash ones.

I read where after serial#3000 in 87 the circuit remained the same until it ended in 1990. I have a 90 2555 and it sounds like my other 6 except for #6xx which had much less low end. I've heard the Slash 2555 has even more low end. My 1990 has almost Mesa low end to it..

 

[Rick Lee]

I thought Sovteks were one of the few that can handle over 500v. I know I was reading up on them when retubing my SLO, but then those are 6L6s.