Original vs. Reissue Plexi

[GRK]

Any thoughts?

I've never been a Marshall person so I'm pretty clueless but I'm interested in finding out about plexi's. I'd appreciate any info or 101 about all plexis including reissue. Which ones are sought after and whatnot.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

Mark told me the newer ones arent so hot, but the early to mid 90's reissues were actually pretty good ...

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

i've heard that about older RI's being better also. wives tales, who knows?


i've heard and played modded 1959SPL's from two deferent guys and they are one hell of a starting point, both amps play really nice. i get the feeling those Dagnall trannies may have some magic? one was a 93 and the other was a 98.


i played the 93 unmodded and it didn't really get me excited, but i also didn't spend much time with it, or try many pedals.

 

[stephen sawall]

If you can find a old one that sounds good, they can be killer. Most are mod or in bad shape. None of the RI sounded as good to me. Not to say they are not good amps.

 

[GRK]

If you can find a old one that sounds good, they can be killer. Most are mod or in bad shape. None of the RI sounded as good to me. Not to say they are not good amps.

How were the RI different? I have no idea about them. Are they also handwired? Different transformers? Or are they supposed to be exact copies?

 

[ratter]

The 1959HW is the lone handwired 100w reissue. It's a real nice amp, IMO, and you can sometimes find good deals on them.

 

[stephen sawall]

There are ones that are hand wired. Most are not. I belive in most cases they found a " good one" then tried to make it sound like/ copy the guts. To my ears - it's about resonance and harmonic complexity that make the old ones better (maybe this is just in my head, but I am not the only one who feels this way). Marshall and a lot of other people used what ever they had when they ran out of parts (if it was close). They also had something like a 5% parts tolerance. This means every head had it's own sound. My Father fixed amps on the side when I was growing up. I have owned / played a lot of the classic amps. I have been in a room with a half dozen or more old Marshalls many times. Everyone I have played has had it's own sound / personality.
There are lots of amp makers today that make (to my ears) copys of the amps that sound as good or better than the originals. My favorite amp is the THD Flexi 50. Go take a look at that.

 

[GRK]

Interesting. Thanks for all the info so far.

Actually, I wouldn't mind owning a good copy built by another company cause that'd mean I wouldn't deal with the fixing / changing old parts issues. Ofcourse, if I find the right original in the right time (when I have cash for it) I'd go for it.

On that note, what are some really successful copies?

 

[Anonymous]

The 1959HW is the lone handwired 100w reissue. It's a real nice amp, IMO, and you can sometimes find good deals on them.

If you are going that way on it, I'd recommend you have George over at metroamp build you a perfect replica of a '68 12 series. Cheaper and incredible sounding. Better yet, save another grand or so by ordering a kit from him and building it yourself!

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting. Thanks for all the info so far.

Actually, I wouldn't mind owning a good copy built by another company cause that'd mean I wouldn't deal with the fixing / changing old parts issues. Ofcourse, if I find the right original in the right time (when I have cash for it) I'd go for it.

On that note, what are some really successful copies?

Metro Amp
Blankenship
Mojave
Blockhead
Ceriatone

and a host of others.... They all do a great job...

I still say save yourself some money and build it yourself. Right now George at Metro Amp is having a holifday sale. You can buy an incredibly authentic '69 100W Super Lead kit with everything you need and complete step by step instructions for $900! The instructions are really, really good - hard to fuck up. Also if you run into any problems, the Metro Amp board is filled with knowledgable, helpful folks who will help you get it right...

Steve

 

[stephen sawall]

Man this is giving me GAS. I saw the holiday specials on there site.
That and to build my own with a few mods......

 

[Anonymous]

Mark told me the newer ones arent so hot, but the early to mid 90's reissues were actually pretty good ...

Yeah, but you can get 'em cheap and tweak 'em to sound great in no time...

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Man this is giving me GAS. I saw the holiday specials on there site.
That and to build my own with a few mods......

$900 for a 100W Super Lead kit is off the charts. Hell, I almost ordered one and I'm already building my own design...

Steve

 

[GRK]

I'm extremely illiterate to amp building. Wouldn't that be a problem?

 

[stephen sawall]

I think I saw $999 for the kit, how much are they not on sale?

 

[Anonymous]

I'm extremely illiterate to amp building. Wouldn't that be a problem?

The directions for the '69 kit are extremely detailed and easy to follow. I know lots of people who have been successful who had never built an amp of any kind before, nor did they have any electronics background. YMMV though...

Steve

 

[ratter]

The 1959HW is the lone handwired 100w reissue. It's a real nice amp, IMO, and you can sometimes find good deals on them.

If you are going that way on it, I'd recommend you have George over at metroamp build you a perfect replica of a '68 12 series. Cheaper and incredible sounding. Better yet, save another grand or so by ordering a kit from him and building it yourself!

Steve

I mentioned the HW because I've seen them as low as $1400, which is a fair sight cheaper than having George build one, isn't it? I honestly don't know...I'm asking. With used prices bottoming out I wouldn't be looking to buy anything new, frankly. And while it might not be the cork-sniffery thing to say, the HW sounds just as good and would be just as reliable as the Germino I owned. I guess my point is, to the OP, they're worth a look if you find one for the right price. As are all the other options mentioned.

On that note, I'll throw in a plug for my new amp, the Badger 30. It's not a plexi clone per se but it does a badass smallbox plexi/metalface type of sound with the added advantages of more gain, a master volume, power scaling, and fx loop. I've seen the heads for as low as $1400 on that one too.

 

[GRK]

The 1959HW is the lone handwired 100w reissue. It's a real nice amp, IMO, and you can sometimes find good deals on them.

If you are going that way on it, I'd recommend you have George over at metroamp build you a perfect replica of a '68 12 series. Cheaper and incredible sounding. Better yet, save another grand or so by ordering a kit from him and building it yourself!

Steve

I mentioned the HW because I've seen them as low as $1400, which is a fair sight cheaper than having George build one, isn't it? I honestly don't know...I'm asking. With used prices bottoming out I wouldn't be looking to buy anything new, frankly. And while it might not be the cork-sniffery thing to say, the HW sounds just as good and would be just as reliable as the Germino I owned. I guess my point is, to the OP, they're worth a look if you find one for the right price. As are all the other options mentioned.

On that note, I'll throw in a plug for my new amp, the Badger 30. It's not a plexi clone per se but it does a badass smallbox plexi/metalface type of sound with the added advantages of more gain, a master volume, power scaling, and fx loop. I've seen the heads for as low as $1400 on that one too.

I actually found some HW reissues for dirt cheap considering what they go for new. They are definitely an option. I'll take people's word who say nothing beats the original but a HW reissue for couple grand less than the original is hard to pass

 

[Anonymous]

The 1959HW is the lone handwired 100w reissue. It's a real nice amp, IMO, and you can sometimes find good deals on them.

If you are going that way on it, I'd recommend you have George over at metroamp build you a perfect replica of a '68 12 series. Cheaper and incredible sounding. Better yet, save another grand or so by ordering a kit from him and building it yourself!

Steve

I mentioned the HW because I've seen them as low as $1400, which is a fair sight cheaper than having George build one, isn't it? I honestly don't know...I'm asking. With used prices bottoming out I wouldn't be looking to buy anything new, frankly. And while it might not be the cork-sniffery thing to say, the HW sounds just as good and would be just as reliable as the Germino I owned. I guess my point is, to the OP, they're worth a look if you find one for the right price. As are all the other options mentioned.

On that note, I'll throw in a plug for my new amp, the Badger 30. It's not a plexi clone per se but it does a badass smallbox plexi/metalface type of sound with the added advantages of more gain, a master volume, power scaling, and fx loop. I've seen the heads for as low as $1400 on that one too.

I didn't know you were referring to a used amp. I thought you meant finding good deals on a new 1959HW... You can find a used "George built" metroamp for less than $1400 though. (They are $2500 new...)

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

If you are going that way on it, I'd recommend you have George over at metroamp build you a perfect replica of a '68 12 series. Cheaper and incredible sounding. Better yet, save another grand or so by ordering a kit from him and building it yourself!

Steve

I mentioned the HW because I've seen them as low as $1400, which is a fair sight cheaper than having George build one, isn't it? I honestly don't know...I'm asking. With used prices bottoming out I wouldn't be looking to buy anything new, frankly. And while it might not be the cork-sniffery thing to say, the HW sounds just as good and would be just as reliable as the Germino I owned. I guess my point is, to the OP, they're worth a look if you find one for the right price. As are all the other options mentioned.

On that note, I'll throw in a plug for my new amp, the Badger 30. It's not a plexi clone per se but it does a badass smallbox plexi/metalface type of sound with the added advantages of more gain, a master volume, power scaling, and fx loop. I've seen the heads for as low as $1400 on that one too.

I actually found some HW reissues for dirt cheap considering what they go for new. They are definitely an option. I'll take people's word who say nothing beats the original but a HW reissue for couple grand less than the original is hard to pass

Go play one and make sure it is what you are looking for.

Steve