Hey Marshall Amps fans,

If you didn't know, next year is Marshall amps 50th anniversary (though some would argue that it's their 49th) - anyway, there's a countdown on their website which currently shows about 3 weeks remaining before they start unveiling what they're gonna be offering in celebration of this momentous occasion.

See here - http://marshallamps.com/

Marshall posted this on their Myspace page (and elsewhere) during the Summer of this year -

"WE NEED YOU! Be a part of our 50th Anniversary
With our 50th Anniversary literally just round the corner, we've got so many exciting things planned to celebrate our Golden Jubilee. All of which would be nothing without the help and involvement of our loyal, committed fans, hence why we need you, the Marshall family, to send in pictures of you and your Marshall amp taken anytime, any place, over the last 50 years. The more bizarre the shot or location, the better! Alternatively, if you've ever had the pleasure of meeting our Guv'nor Dr Jim Marshall OBE and had your picture taken with him, send that in too! We've got something exciting planned for your pictures but can't say too much just yet. We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!

For a chance to be involved in this exciting project, send your pictures to 50yearsofloud@marshallamps.com ensuring your images are 300dpi resolution and a minimum of 2Mb and a maximum of 5Mb in size.

By sending us your pictures, you are giving permission to Marshall Amplification plc to use the supplied image in either a printed or digital form, consenting to any photo manipulation that may be required. We will endeavour to use all the images we receive, however, if they do not meet the above criteria we reserve the right to reject them."

I've been doing some digging to try and find out ahead of time what the new amps are likely to be and, to be perfectly honest, I've not really found anything conclusive but it gave me an idea to start a speculation thread and also to share with you what I've found so far -



This photo was taken by Anderton's (UK guitar store) whilst on a visit to the MArshall factory to see the amp(s) in person.

Link - http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =3&theater

Okay, this is from the 2012 Marshall calendar -

- notice how all the amps pictured are currently available to buy (yes, even the 1959RR) except for Miss December.... The JTM45 Offset design. Now this is particularly interesting because if the 50th anniversary is an anniversary of anything, it's of that specific amp.
Marshall actually already reissued these around 2001 but due to legal issues they were for export only. A limited run of 300 were made- 250 for the US and 50 for Japan.
But they never officially appeared in the UK... maybe now would be a great time!

Here's a better pic -



Is there a clue from their previous anniversaries - like the 2550 Silver Jubilee series in 1987 (their 25th anniversary)


And the 6100 for their 30th (1992)


Some Plexi reissues for their 35th (1997)


JTM45/100 for their 40th (2002)



I'm thinking there'll be 'something for everyone' - something hardwired and super limited at the top (possibly the Offset 45), there'll be a NEW production model (like the Jubilee and 6100 in their day) with all the bells and whistles of the AFD100 and YJM (power scaling is a given, I'd say) and I reckon there'll be an addition to the Class 5 range in the more affordable bracket.. it would be a no-brainer for Marshall to continue following Blackstar Amp's lead and produce a 1 watt amp for plexi fun in the bedroom!
I really don't think that Marshall are simply going to reissue the silver Jubilee series but in an appropriately GOLDEN-hued tolex.... but it'd be cool if they did...

Anyway, over to you -

What do you think they should do?

What do you think they'll probably do?


And yes, I realise this is the Fender forum!

As a real Marshall fanatic,I can't wait to see what the 50th Ann. has in store.I wonder if the 50th Ann. Edition amps will be covered with a tacky looking gold Tolex in keeping with the silver Tolex for the 25th Ann. models.I really can't picture a gold Tolex without it being gawdy.

Anyway I guess I'll send in a group shot of my 3 beauties.Maybe they'll have a prize of a new Marshall amp of some sort.I imagine that they'll have give aways of some sort. Wouldn't it be ironic if only people from Europe could enter and Canada and the U.S. were unable to enter?

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I am a long time Marshall man:

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I still enjoy seeing that amp and guitar Mr. O !!

[quote="guitslinger"]I really can't picture a gold Tolex without it being gawdy./quote]

I know what you mean, man - Maybe they'll use a cream levant style and just stick gold piping and logos on it... with a gold mirror-finish panel? That'd look pretty classy... if you're Liberace!

VERY cool

I've never played one of those but my 1st proper Marshall was an 8080. It was SS, too, but I loved it and damn, that little thing worked hard :O)
I saw a video recently were I heard that Jim Marshall's favourite amp was the 8080.... apparently they were shipping 800 of those a week!

Hi Dino,In Michael Doyle's History of Marshall,Jim Marshall is quoted as saying that the JCM 800 2203 was his favourite.That's the worst thing when reading or hearing from "reliable sources" both can be perfectly credible but one clearly was misquoted or got his wires crosssed.

O.O. : That's an absolutely fabulous setup.What's the score on the double neck,is one neck open tuning for slide and who's it made by?Anyway it looks great but I can't quite pick out the logo-it appears to be Fender but I thought that they were only made in small quanities or for special order in the 60s.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Maybe not, guitslinger - 'Officially' at least, I dare say his favourite amp is the 800 - the JCM800 full stack is probably the most iconic amp set-up ever, of any brand. Those things were and remain incredibly popular. They're also, arguably, the last great amp that Marshall made.
The guy who said that the 8080 was Jim's favourite amp was a chap called Phil Wells. He's the service manager at Marshall HQ and has been working there for absolutely years; I'd say that the 8080 may have been too 'cynical' a quote to have gone in a biography.... albeit an infinitely more telling one.

I heard it 'somewhere' in this 2 part video - it's over an hour long but it's cool if you wanna see what goes on at the factory and don't have the opportunity to take the tour in person. I have and it's a gas.... you see lots of stuff you want to take home!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeerxAO3 ... re=related

HAHA - go for it, dude! They can't be that expensive and Christmas is coming... treat yourself!

Sounded great with Strats? Man, that's the thing, so did the 8080. I've also found that Strats sound better than Les Pauls or whatever when using amp models and such... though I make the Fractal Axe thing the exception; that sounds superb no matter what you stick in the front of it!
Anyway, must the forgiving nature of single coil pickups.... low output pups, perhaps?... But I know what you mean.

Hi OO: all the times I've seen that photo, I never noticed before that you have no strap buttons. (Unobservant, huh?) Did some buttons arrive later, or do you play that beast sitting down?

Anyhow. What I'd like to see from Marshall in their 50th year - or any other time:

A truly fine one watt amp. I love my Class5 - keep going in the same direction!
Something excellent in the vintage reissue flavor. Their choice.
Something excellent at the cutting edge of amp technology. Their choice.

Whatever Marshall do, it'll always be interesting, at the very least.

Cheers - C

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Couldn't agree more, C - my predictions are pretty much exactly what you'd like to see and I'm just holding off buying a Class 5 in anticipation of them releasing a 1 watter - they pretty much have to.... don't they?!

The double neck was made by me: Warmoth body, two MIM Fender necks, other bits.



Yes, that pic was taken before the buttons were installed. It's really not too bad to play standing up ... Cheers.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

What a coincidence, it's Ernie Ball 50th anniversary in about 18 days too.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

And the 25th of the Fender Custom Shop, I believe.