New Marshall 1959HW Day + 1960BV 4x12

[James Freeman]

How does the 1959 compare to the 1987 in the room?

Through a load box, once I compensate the 1987x by +3dB to match the 1959HW output volume, they sound very close to each other despite having different preamp, power and negative feedback specs ('68 vs '72), once the and PI and Poweramp are distorting it all sounds very similar, even the JCM800 sounds like a Plexi when Master is on 10.

I dare not play a NMV amp through a cab in a room... I need my hearing.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

Through a load box, once I compensate the 1987x by +3dB to match the 1959HW output volume, they sound very close to each other despite having different preamp, power and negative feedback specs ('68 vs '72), once the and PI and Poweramp are distorting it all sounds very similar, even the JCM800 sounds like a Plexi when Master is on 10.

Where is the presence?

 

[Elf]

Through a load box, once I compensate the 1987x by +3dB to match the 1959HW output volume, they sound very close to each other despite having different preamp, power and negative feedback specs ('68 vs '72), once

Congrats!!!!! Owning a 1987X this is very good to know, it helps with the curiosity.

Thanks for posting those inside pictures!!!

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Through a load box, once I compensate the 1987x by +3dB to match the 1959HW output volume, they sound very close to each other despite having different preamp, power and negative feedback specs ('68 vs '72), once the and PI and Poweramp are distorting it all sounds very similar, even the JCM800 sounds like a Plexi when Master is on 10.

I dare not play a NMV amp through a cab in a room... I need my hearing.

which one do you prefer between 1959 and 1987? Not just talking about 50W vs 100W but taking into account everything, do you have a preference?

Spoiler: spoiler

the correct answer is 2203

 

[Orvillain]

 

[la szum]

2024 was good to me, I am truly grateful for the people and other forces that made my situation happen.
May the cosmos deliver all your desires and cure your GAS too.

PS.
Marshall is reasonably priced here so I could afford to buy an amp every few months and other small gear in between.
The AxeFx and Peavey were more expensive than any of the Marshall gear, including the 1959HW.


View attachment 33024

View attachment 33026View attachment 33025

A few more pedals like BE-OD, SLO, HX Stomp XL, Maxon OD808, RAT, MT-2, a bunch of Aliexpress pedals, pedal-boards, power supplies and more.

Dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[la szum]

Unlikely.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I've been thinking... a 1959 stack and DR103 stack would go well together. I wonder if would project well enough?

 

[James Freeman]

which one do you prefer between 1959 and 1987? Not just talking about 50W vs 100W but taking into account everything, do you have a preference?

Spoiler: spoiler

the correct answer is 2203

When I want high gain and control over the eq and volume, I prefer a boosted 2203.
When I want a harmonically rich gain that cleans up with the volume on my guitar, the Plexi does it much better.

One has to be a better and more expressive guitarist (musician?) to make the Plexi show its full tonal range, this amp is an extension of the instrument and your playing, in my experience.

 

[HotRats]

Marshall 1959HW is in the house.
Also got a 1960BV 4x12.

The 1959HW is a new production of a '68 Super Lead, some say the holly grail of the Plexi era Marshall amps, the sounds is beautiful and I have grown to love the buzzy squishy sound of non-master volume amps.
I'm not going to mess with it, this amp will remain stock as long as I own it, it's a piece of modern art, a piece of history and a symbol of an era of good music.


View attachment 32938

View attachment 32944

View attachment 32940

Some gut shots.

View attachment 32941

View attachment 32939

View attachment 32942

View attachment 32943

Now that's lovely, man.
Turret boards are sexy.

 

[CakeEater]

Through a load box, once I compensate the 1987x by +3dB to match the 1959HW output volume, they sound very close to each other despite having different preamp, power and negative feedback specs ('68 vs '72), once the and PI and Poweramp are distorting it all sounds very similar, even the JCM800 sounds like a Plexi when Master is on 10.

I dare not play a NMV amp through a cab in a room... I need my hearing.

Are you playing through monitors or are you taking decibels off the cab of the load box? Can your load box take the 100W Plexi output to silent?

 

[James Freeman]

Are you playing through monitors or are you taking decibels off the cab of the load box? Can your load box take the 100W Plexi output to silent?

I trust the Fractal and Suhr load boxes can take 100W, no issues so far.
Apart from transformer and inductors buzz, yes, it's quiet.

There are several ways I use to play the Plexi's:

• Load box into a poweramp into a cab.
• Load box into DAW with IRs into monitors.
• Load box into an fx return of another tube amp <- This one sounds REALLY good.
• The 1987x has a PPIMV so I can play at bedroom volumes directly into the cab but it loses all the poweramp distortion nuances that makes a Plexi sound like it does.

Plenty of ways to play NMV amps at sane volumes these days.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Awesome stuff. Thanks for the gut shots., way more interesting than the outside. Really quality parts in there too. Well done Marshall.

 

[EOengineer]

I know you don’t want to mod it but honestly a PPIV master is so helpful on these unless you have an attenuator. I’d almost never be able to use my 1959 without it. I get it though.

Awesome amp, legendary circuit.