Jimi Hendix's "Modded" Marshalls

[chrisom]

Most of this is probably already common knowledge here, but it was interesting to read it in the pages of the May 2012 Guitar Player magazine- co

From Marshall Amplifiers:
Thanks to extensive research, we have learned from technicians and roadies of the period that the 1966 Super 100 heads that Jimi used were ‘stock’ except for minor modifications to the tone circuitry that were implemented in response to his request for ‘more treble.’ There is evidence to support this in our reference, where we found two small but significant component changes to the tone stack. Replacing a 56K resistor with a 33K, and a 250pf capacitor with a 500pf not only gives the amp a moderate treble boost (resulting from the capacitor increase) but also an increase in bottom end and low mids (due to the drop in the value of the resistor). There is also a small but noticeable decrease in the amount of mid-cut when compared to the JTM45* as a result of these changes.

This ‘more treble’ modification is included in your Super 100JH, as it was in the amazing sounding, and pristine condition (in terms of circuitry) reference unit (serial number 7026) ** from 1966 that we used as one of our references. *TONAL NOTE: the original Super 100 was essentially a JTM45 pre-amp driving a 100-Watt output stage. The ‘more treble’ modification just described not only gave the amp more cut and edge but also gave it slightly more gain - basically the same sort of wave-shape but with a bit more drive. As the Marshall 100-watt head evolved due to more and more artists requesting ‘more treble,’ this was one of the modifications that eventually became standard in Marshall pre-amp circuits.

**REFERENCE UNIT NOTE: The reference ‘Super 100’ mentioned, Serial Number 7026, is the well-known unit owned by Rich Dickinson of England. He bought the amp in 1971 after seeing it advertised in the UK weekly music publication, Melody
Maker - the ad, placed by ‘Carlsboro Sound,’ stated it was previously owned by Hendrix. A worker in the store told him it was
sold to them by one of Jimi’s roadies. Even though the head has: - J.H. Exp stencilled on top of it; is 100% period correct; contains the aforementioned modification and there is strong photographic evidence that indicates Jimi owned and used this amp, there is no conclusive proof for Marshall Amplification plc to be 100% certain. That said, there is no doubt that Jimi owned amps exactly like it due to the time period in question.

Also available online at http://marshallamps.com/downloads/files ... %20Eng.pdf

[chrisom]

It was really cool to see Jeff Beck using the Super 100JH Handwired Reissues on his tour last April, 2011. He's come full-circle with his sound gear but his sound is still really HIM.

I played my Stratocaster for 1-2 hours at midnight last night, into just an "old-school" rig - a Wah (w/ reissue FASEL inductor drop-in board), my old beat-up ProCo RAT distortion, into a Strymon ElCapistan (echoplex simulator), into a Marshall Class 5 set relatively "clean". Man, Jim Marshall had it down, bless his soul. I could cop old Beck, Hendrix, & Page sounds at bedroom levels w/ many of the harmonic overtones but at a fun level...

[chrisom]

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[Roe]

I have yet to see an authoritative source showing how and when jimi's amps were modded. the dickinson amp had more mods than this but we don't know when they were performed

[chrisom]

More authoritative than the Marshall Amplifiers company themselves?

[Roe]

yeah, haven't seen much evidence. we don't know when the dickinson amp was modded

[Xplorer]

yes, and i heard a story about another jtm45/100 : jim marshall approached the owner of this amp to clone this one initialy ( much lower value on the bright cap though ... not 500pf ... ) But the owner didn't want to, so instead he cloned the dickinson amp, which was actualy used by Noel.

But jimi, looking for more treble : yes, that's what i heard many times, by some peoples in the know. Also : more power.
more treble and more power... i heard about a concert of jimi that sounds the way he really sounded in the reality, much more trebly than what peoples think. but i didn't hear it yet. Can't wait. this is how some peoples who saw hendrix in the reality back then, heard him.

[Tone seaker]

he cloned the dickinson amp, which was actualy used by Noel.

The Dickenson amp was used by JIMI not Noel. there are lots of pictures to prove it. Look at the montery footage and there are several places that you can see the broken front plexi pnnel on Jimi's stack.

[Xplorer]

yes, that's true.

[Tone seaker]

yes, that's true.

are agreeing or disagreeing with me?

[chrisom]

Jimi had more than one amplifier. I read where Jimi Hendrix had amps in the US and England so he didn't have to ship them. I know he used other amps besides Marshalls as well. So I bet if you played a Strat through any of his Marshalls (even Noel's) with an echo, wah and fuzz, you'd cop a decent Hendrix sound.

My point was that it was interesting that they talked about the beginnings of the circuit evolution from the old Bassman/JTM-45/Super Bass values to the Super Lead values. I wasn't trying to debate over what specific amp head had the "exact" Jimi fav tone/circuit.

Just like with the EVH or Slash amps discussed here, I'm sure any vintage-correct like-model Marshall/Metropoulos will get you more than close enough...

[Xplorer]

why seing cynism allways, peoples ? ha ha ha !

No , this means : yes, it is true, what you say is true, and not wrong, agree. the amp has been seen played by hendrix. but actualy, it doesn't say everything, and which amp was his favourite, etc ..

[Xplorer]

yes, indeed. But we can't be sure that the dickinson's mod mentioned in your article was jimi's favourite. It says that it was modded, ( but maybe later, after hendrix ) , that's all. But it's allways interesting anyway. Basicaly we have this reflex here , to have some hard time at confirming a hendrix fact, ha ha ! and we like to discuss that.

[chrisom]

by Xplorer » why seing cynism allways, peoples ? ha ha ha ! No , this means : yes, it is true, what you say is true, and not wrong, agree.

The only downfall of blogging- you can't hear vocal inflections or see expressions, so statements that would be normal conversation can be viewed ambiguously, interpreted incorrectly, taken in the worst way, and it's off to the races...

Jimi rocks. So does Jimmy, Eddie and Jeff; Peace- co

[Xplorer]

Totaly agree With you.