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mark_a_lucas37 · 08-31-2010, 06:26 PM

The factory is in Bletchly/Milton Keyes, 30 minutes up (50 minutes return) by train north of London. I suggest taking the train to Bletchly (not M/K) from the Euston station in north London. Dont bother with the 1st class tickets, but *do take the Virgin train (faster) if available. A ticket is about 20-UKpds. Trains run about every 30 minutes. Tours (which are FREE) are mainly done Mon-Fri b/c the factory is closed on weekends. Also, Fridays they close early (1p? 3p?) so I suggest a morning visit (9a-12p). Call ahead a few days in advance to get on the list. (the phone is +44(0)190-837-5411). I was lucky and had a one-on-one tour by the service manager (Phil?). Bring your camera but leave your ax at home. There are a few guitars laying around (so the factory dudes can play on breaks), and you may be able to test an amp in the little testing room at the end of the line. You can't buy amps at the factory, and there is alittle glass cabinet of shirts and other swag you can buy, but you cant buy the cute red or classic tweed colored MS-2s - even tho the girls have them queued up to send to dealers! The receptionists are very nice and cute young ladies who will take your picture in front of the 150% sized stack facade on the stairs. BE SURE and visit the "museum" upstairs where you can see --the very 1st JVM45 (bare chassis), --some PA amps, --cabs made for Deep Purple, --Park amps, --Vox amps made by Marshall, --the mashall stack guitar (for SpinalTap-2), --various prototypes, --one of the only Original Offset 45s made in the early 60s, --etc. You will see where the computer-run PCB board component insertion machines are, the cabinet making facility (very interesting and Green approach used!), the guts of the awesum 400w bass amp, and the 2-3 ladies who make the hand-wired point-to-point amps. The tour only takes about 1 hour - 15-20 minutes can be spent in the musem, and the tour takes 45 minutes. Its a gas! Afterwards you may want to get lunch at the "teepee" a local hotel (I forget the proper name) with a decent pub below the teepee. Its only a 5 minute or less drive - dont get ripped off by the cabbie like I did (he drove in circles to rack up the fare!).
When you leave - go to the "Code Breakers" museum (about one-block north and across from the Bletchly train station!). That's only about 10ukpds and you can spend all day there - including the Computer musem which has some Great vintage computers, including the restored Collosus!!! Also - be SURE and tell your cabbie to take you back to Bletchly not M/K station (but you can return from either regardless what ticket you bought).

08-31-2010, 06:26 PM	#24 (permalink)
mark_a_lucas37 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1	Info on Marshall Factory Tours The factory is in Bletchly/Milton Keyes, 30 minutes up (50 minutes return) by train north of London. I suggest taking the train to Bletchly (not M/K) from the Euston station in north London. Dont bother with the 1st class tickets, but *do take the Virgin train (faster) if available. A ticket is about 20-UKpds. Trains run about every 30 minutes. Tours (which are FREE) are mainly done Mon-Fri b/c the factory is closed on weekends. Also, Fridays they close early (1p? 3p?) so I suggest a morning visit (9a-12p). Call ahead a few days in advance to get on the list. (the phone is +44(0)190-837-5411). I was lucky and had a one-on-one tour by the service manager (Phil?). Bring your camera but leave your ax at home. There are a few guitars laying around (so the factory dudes can play on breaks), and you may be able to test an amp in the little testing room at the end of the line. You can't buy amps at the factory, and there is alittle glass cabinet of shirts and other swag you can buy, but you cant buy the cute red or classic tweed colored MS-2s - even tho the girls have them queued up to send to dealers! The receptionists are very nice and cute young ladies who will take your picture in front of the 150% sized stack facade on the stairs. BE SURE and visit the "museum" upstairs where you can see --the very 1st JVM45 (bare chassis), --some PA amps, --cabs made for Deep Purple, --Park amps, --Vox amps made by Marshall, --the mashall stack guitar (for SpinalTap-2), --various prototypes, --one of the only Original Offset 45s made in the early 60s, --etc. You will see where the computer-run PCB board component insertion machines are, the cabinet making facility (very interesting and Green approach used!), the guts of the awesum 400w bass amp, and the 2-3 ladies who make the hand-wired point-to-point amps. The tour only takes about 1 hour - 15-20 minutes can be spent in the musem, and the tour takes 45 minutes. Its a gas! Afterwards you may want to get lunch at the "teepee" a local hotel (I forget the proper name) with a decent pub below the teepee. Its only a 5 minute or less drive - dont get ripped off by the cabbie like I did (he drove in circles to rack up the fare!). When you leave - go to the "Code Breakers" museum (about one-block north and across from the Bletchly train station!). That's only about 10ukpds and you can spend all day there - including the Computer musem which has some Great vintage computers, including the restored Collosus!!! Also - be SURE and tell your cabbie to take you back to Bletchly not M/K station (but you can return from either regardless what ticket you bought).