strat59

Marshall Plexi's refer to amps built in that late '64 - '68 period for cosmetic reasons having a Gold Plexiglass Front panel. Up to '66 they had a white rear panel, then the change to all gold front and rear panels. I believe Ken Bran suggested the use of the gold plexiglass to Jim for marketing reasons.

As with all Marshall amps in this period they were evolving and being tweaked as the style of music changed from the Bluesy to more Heavy in the late '60s early '70s. From the early JTM-45s with R/S Trannies and later Drake , the use of KT-66 , KT-88 , EL-34 tubes, then SS Rectifiers. There really isn't a definitive Plexi sound as all these variations sounded slightly different to each other. Most refer to the '68 JMP as the "Plexi" sound. But they all sound great just depends on your preference for Blues or Harder Rock. Filtering was low on the early amps giving them that softer warmer blues tone. It then increased to tighten up the tone in conjunction with the use of EL-34 tubes and SS rectification. A more punchy sound. Each variation had their own unique tone so it's not really applicable to say this or that is the Plexi Tone.

The only clones I feel nail the era specific tones of the Originals are the Gladius Brand from Germany. They do a range of era correct Plexis and they are killer.

Marshall Amps

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tone seaker

Plexi's were made until mid 69

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strat59

'69 ....Not going to argue over a few months. Point being there is no one exact sound of a Plexi Marshall & All those referring to their re-issue amps on Ebay etc as Plexi Marshalls are not exactly correct.

Blokkadeleider

Ohh, what difficulty we have on deciding what is a plexi...
Any Marshall amp with a plexi front panel made up until 1969 or somewhere thereabouts perhaps?
Some of them as different as day and night and many different models too.


Gr,

Gerrit.

Ricochet

So if every vintage plexi is sounding different, who's to say a Reissue isn't in fact sounding period correct?

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strat59

You could argue that, but it's usually the argument of those that don't own
a real Plexi

I'm yet to hear a boutique or re-issue that nails the feel and tones of those
Marshalls made in that period.

The closest I will admit IMHO are Gladius Amps that are superbly made replicas and Custom Brian Wallace Transformers. They are era perfect in detail
and made from the highest qlty components. They nail the tones far better than re-issue Marshalls do. You Tube has a bunch of vids with Thomas Blug
demoing.

LAARS

People use the word Plexi like its a exact sounding amp. From what I've seen and heard, no two plexi's sound alike. I've heard Marshall Metal face 100watt super leads that have that type of sound that reminds me of a plexi, though they are not a "plexi".....

Everyones idea of what is a good guitar tone is different. I always loved the tone in Alright now, by Free, yet its come to light that his amp might not have even been a Marshall on that song. Some say it was a Selmer T&B 50 used on that song. Go figure..........

A 1966 JTM45 plexi sounds nothing like a 1968 JMP 50 watt plexi yet both are "plexis"... To me, that sound that I want to hear for a "plexi tone" is very clean thick glassy tone, with little gain that still allows the notes to be heard. You hit it hard and its distorted, but clean......

Ricochet

The first part made me chuckle. I suspect it's true.

I have to ask tho, with a circuitry that is relatively simple, and all the components being known, what is the secret to a good plexi? Good transformers?

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tone seaker

There is a difference between a 68 and a 69 plexi. The 68 famous and sought after 12xxx series had a 820 ohm resistor on the V1B Split catholde and the 69 had a 2.7K. The 68 is a little gainer sounding or distorted which ever you want to call it.

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LAARS

I don't mean to disagree, but Voodoo amps V-plex nails it. Its the reason I own 2 of them...... My Voodoo amps V-plex is a directly cloned 1968 50 watt plexi, that was reversed engineered by Trace, including having Mercury reverse engineer the transformer. He used all the same components as the original, and the soldering is mil-spec, which is better then the soldering jobs of years ago.

A/B'd against the original one, no one could tell the difference...... Its the reason I own two of them. With that said, it sounds "exactly" like that one Trace cloned....... No two plexi's sound alike.....

gbravo

True. I've got a 68 & 69 50W. The 68 definitely has more gain. The 69 stays clean until you turn the volume up to insane levels. FWIW, I've also got a reissue and it doesn't sound like either of them.

metromutt

Actually he's referring to the 100w 12 series.

up to LARRS it's easy to get lost or influenced with this plexi speak but the main thing is to find an amp that is pleasing to your ears.

LAARS

Thats one of the things that makes it soooo hard when people say "plexi". Depending on what got used for components, no two amps will sound the same.

Interesting that 68s seem to have more gain then 69s.....

Viking62

I have a JCM 800 2203 and a 1959 SLP (if you can bare the volume) so ok neither are Plexi's but have different tonal characteristics. I've gotta say though my YJM has everything in one. Classic tone and crunch of a fully cranked Plexi and the hardcore sound of an out and out metal amp. I think its the best thing Marshall have ever come out with and cant believe its taken so long, the front of it looks vintage Marshall and all the magic is around the back... Outstanding Amp!!!!

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richieG

That rig is my holy grail.

awesome

janarn

That looks like my livingroom amp!

Georgiatec

So you don't read a lot of books then?

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Blokkadeleider

Nah, he put it there just for the picture.


Gr,

Gerrit.

Jucciz

That thing surely bears a high resemblance with my living-room amp, although it's a couple of years older. Sweet stack, congratulations!

Here's mine - not a plexi, but I hope you don't mind ('72-'73 fullstack):

strat59

That's interesting , first I've heard that Kossoff might have used a T&B 50w.
I have seen him playing through an Orange Half Stack and sounding the same as he does with the Plexi's. I have pics of him pre Free with what looks like a student band. Had his Les Paul Burst & a Marshall Half Stack even then. So I'd say he always used the Marshalls IMHO , but could be wrong. Loved his Tone & Playing !!!

LAARS

I'm a huge fan of his too.... I do have to say that his tone on Alright now, is not the same tone I hear on all the live clips. Its close, but not the same.

There is a lot of talk at www.woodytone.com about it. He worked at a music store that carried Selmer T&B 50 watt amps.... Who knows for real what he used, except maybe the engineer who recorded it.

I just find it interesting that one of my favorite tones might not even be a Marshall 68 Plexi...... Which goes back to no two plexi's sound alike.

Even if it was a Marshall and not a Selmer T&B 50, it doesn't sound like other plexi's.

Polvo

Live at the Isle of Wight festival he his using a Super P.A, amongst what seems to be a couple of metal faced Marshalls. His tone is ripping regardless, I to have read he didn't record that song with a Marshall in the studio.

SmokeyDopey

I would call a "Plexi" if it has the Plexiglass panel, Period (and the circuit, of course). I don't give a **** if it was made in 67 or yesterday.
I'll call the 60's model maybe an ORIGINAL plexi, but I'll still call them a plexi being a orignal or re-issue.

I'm wrong? Aw... Too bad.

strat59

To be fair when people refer to a "Plexi" Marshall they are referring to the Originals from the '60s.

"I'll call the '60's model maybe an Original"....... Er I think there is no debate that those made in the '60 ARE the Originals .

Modern Replica's made by Marshall are just that. Replica's made to replicate the look and (ahem) Tone of the Originals.

tone seaker

I love my 68 super trem stack but i gota admit my super JH-100 with gold lion KT-66's sounds amazing. They even better chained together cranked

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strat59

Now that's what I call Weapons of Mass Destruction !

Blokkadeleider

Beau-ti-ful!


Gr,

Gerrit.

*Just ehm... is it nice to be sandwiched like that?

tone seaker

thks

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