Marshall Major Inside

[trykkermike]

i fucking thought this was a video of the Marshall Major headphones inside, why the hell did they give 2 completely different products the exact same name??? -that would be the same as if Volvo named a big sedan and one of their highway trucks "S80" .. cool.. easy to find out whatya talking about.

[EJG5150]

Master volume?

or is it just loud as hell

[shearn666]

What a beauty - a man's amp the Major. Blackmore got great tones out of his. You gotta turn them up tho, and they're LOUD!!

[jadochararo]

this was sexy

[Malachi01]

maybe this question has nothing to do with this amp, but where is the best place to get tubes at a good deal? and wich brands are best? I play old school Death metal mostly, also blues and classic rock. thanks.

[diesect33]

love that "picknick table" by the power tubes. what kind of gain and voicing has it?Pretty

[charles1967]

Thanks for the tour of the guts. Very interesting to me since I've built a couple Marshall amps. All the old ones are a little different inside, and it's cool to notice the little variances here and there.

[irvan36mm]

I was looking at the build sticker on your chassis & I see that the same person that made your back panel,Rosemary,also made mine on my 1971 Super Bass 100 head!!

[ehalt2]

your pinch harmonics are very unique.

[XzaccYXguitarXplayer]

Riff, yhu should make a video showing how to modify a marshall to sound like yours. that would be epic :D

[shred5]

Careful opening that baby up... the high voltage in this amp could be lethal!

I have a '69.

Did you use this amp for the recording? If so, can I ask what distortion pedals do you use that work well with it?

I tried a Keeley treble booster through mine once and melted a tube right into the tube socket...sounded awesome though!

[lidesnowi]

That's a really cool amp !

Looks like a Cascade mod job?

[riffguy]

The artist's name is Riffguy.

[bubbah12345]

@riffguy lol nice playing, it sounds a little like pantera to me, thats what i thought it was when it first started

[riffguy]

It's called Nightride.

[jimdog1964]

Do you modify any of your amps or do you keep them stock?

[riffguy]

They're all modified.

[diesect33]

@riffguy what're the mods? Love your playing man, good vibrato and phrasing

[Rrracket]

Thanks for posting. I have a line on one, so this helps to authenticate it

[ChollyTheGreat]

thats what i call an guitar amp

[j2112c]

This is just Amp Porn... Teaser... until the tops off! Now... where did I put the tissues.

Seriously though are these really a hazard to work on with high voltages ect?

[Kramer10205269]

Yes, extremely dangerous. The OT is prone to arcing and it runs at up to 600 volts. Ultra Linear === Extremely Loud and Clean. Other amps might shock you..this thing will just kill you if you don't know what you're doing.

[stevenjw2006]

@j2112c but they only give u a 4min preview, then u have to put ur credit details in

[diesect33]

@j2112c just popping tubes in no but, when you're futsing around with the caps and resistors yes, it can kill you. if you get a bias probe though and get instructions on proper usage biasing your amp's a non issue.

[ruffles272]

holy shit look at the size of that transformer!

[crawlbat89]

Is there much difference in these than the 70s hiwatt custom 200.I was thinking about getting one of these made by my amp tech he has the schematics on how to make one and at an affordable price.I was wanting to stack my hiwatt 200 and one of these together to play bass out of.

[ace69er]

Sounds like a GOOD idea!

[guitarmasterjvc]

anyone know if that pre amp is the same as the normal leads

[mjbcustoms]

Those are some huge screen grid resistors!

You might want to get some new electrolytics in the future, yours appear to be all stock 40 years old.

[obsidiantwilightband]

Clean interior! The tone gods have blessed you! I wish my Mesa Mark III was that simple on her underbelly.

[steven21042]

Would that be Rosemary's sig in there?

[SAMoanSANtana]

This is response to ConnerMan127: About pulling two of the power tubes to reduce the output. DON'T EVER DO THIS ON A MARSHALL MAJOR! The output section is Ultra-Linear and removing two of the power tube will cause the OT to start switching and and arching. And you can get voltage swings of up to 1200VDC so you destroy the OT and the Tubes Very Expensive Repair, let alone if it doesn't kill you!

[shred5]

@SAMoanSANtana, good advice! I melted a tube into the socket and toasted three other tubes cranking mine with a treble booster...

Now I'm using a Soldano Supercharger or JCM 900 SL-X for distortion...

[diesect33]

@SAMoanSANtana yeah you really shouldn't do it in any amp. it's HORRIBLE on the trannys too.....they lose all their favorite lipsticks in the heat....anyway, Tag boards are so much sexier than PCB's

[SAMoanSANtana]

The "PIG" & Major are quite different. The PIG has four controls only and the tone controls are active. Also the PIG is not ultra-linear, a very rare amp only a few were made. The Major was made from 67-74 had an ultra-linear output and an enclosed tone circuit, a very different sounding Marshall amp (quite clean). Both amps use the KT88 power tubes, with a about 600VDC on the plates these amp will kill you dead. they tended to have output transformer problems.

[Tubenjunge]

i don't have any clue about guitar tube amps or amps at all. Can someone recommend some websides or YT-videos to get a understandable first overview how all theese tubes, catodes anodes and stuff work?

[Traynorcustomreverb]

If for some reason you need to work on this amp BE VERY CAREFUL.

Ultra-linear amps pose extreme danger.

One wrong move and your loved one's will be shopping for your casket.

Cool amp though.

[rip2shred]

My friend once owned one of these. Damn what a ton of balls, smoked both my 50wt MKII and Super Tremolo.

[LazyBastard69]

Dang that's some big ass tubes in there.

[sdp862]

john frusciante uses one also

[BostonRocker51]

looks like mine but w a back panel. Those Majors are really heavy. The transformers weigh a ton. Great sounding amp, tho. Thanks for posting

[fatharmonix]

if it has 2 speaker outs just use 2 attenuater u may have change up the wiring outside the amp.

[thomazchaves]

I got a similar amp, but it is a brazilian copy, but actally same circuit

[OZZYTS808]

amp looks in pretty good condition

[johnnywerner]

Hi man! I'm working in my Major clone but I have some problems. How much is the correct negative value of bias setting? tks

[riffguy]

It's around -85 volts.

[johnnywerner]

OK, tks

[sasdim]

295 $ for that marshall?!?!?

Lucky!

[ChuckMullis]

No luck just Smart Riffguy !!!!!!

[Delta1382]

I wish Majors came in a lower wattage, I want one really bad, I just don't need 200 watts, way more power than I'll ever need.

[scarfacedan09]

What about a regular Marshall 1959 SLP 100watt?

[ConnerMan127]

Completely different sounds. The major is fatter in my opinion. As for your problem Delta, i do beleive you can remove 2 of the KT88's and reduce the wattage to 100.

[J3sst44]

Doing that you run the risk of blowing a transformer. And @ your next comment, the pig and major are different, if I remember correctly, the pig doesn't have a full EQ and such.

[fatharmonix]

thats wut makes a mojor a major, kt88's

u could have a 2 x kt88 100 watt amp tho.........

[ledzedleppelin]

hey man sounds nice.. i was just wondering what mods you have on this amp? i tried modding it back in the day until i accidentally blew the OT-- things like a master volume, an fx loop, and running one channel into another for more gain but it was it still to fat and clean for my tastes (not to mention voice of god) so i eventually gave up on it.. moved on to a jcm 900 :D

[riffguy]

All the mods you've mentioned are basically what I've done to this amp. Majors don't respond to these mods the way a typical 50 or 100 watt Marshall does, so I had to do a lot of tweaking to make it sound right

[fender51503]

They dont even make amps today that have as much power as these vintage marshalls.GOD THEY ARE LOUD!!!

[ChuckMullis]

And sweet !!!!!

[utopianreality]

Does anyone know if Stevie Ray Vaughan used this amp head?

(I know he used a Marshall at one point, but I dont know the exact one!)

[fender51503]

yea,he used plexi's,major's, some fender amps. and he also used some rare company that were called "dumbells'. I'll send u the video

[utopianreality]

Thanks!

[fender51503]

no problem man:)

[fatharmonix]

who?

[JD0x0]

its "Dumble" he used a SSS or Steel String Singer

[ProudConfederateSon]

Pure 1970's rock tone. What a great yet totally unreliable head. My brother bought on in 1971. He wishes he still had it now!

[alexledzepguy]

Hang on why hasn't yours blown up yet?

[sam14641]

hahaz really? i'm thinking of getting one

[alexledzepguy]

Do they are great amps, the best ever made, just remember that they are not that reliable. It depends what age it is and what you do with it. Mine blew a few years ago because I modded it to 300W.

[jamesgarvey12345]

o dear...lol

[fatharmonix]

how did u doooooo that?? add power tubes!! get an ampeg! FUCK!!

[kirbygrubb]

i may be mistaken but didn't ritchie blackmore use the same amp in his days with deep purple and rainbow?

[riffguy]

Yes, he did.

[llgnr]

Didn´t ritchie blackmore use a modded Marshall Plexi? At least this is what I read in a guitar-magazine.

[kirbygrubb]

good possibility that he has used both at some point in his career.

[JHallia]

Have you used a bass with this amp? I had a Major in the 70's and used it for bass, not sure if it was an actual bass Major- but it was a great sounding amp, very loud. It kept blowing fuses for some reason so I traded it in and got a V4 which was much more reliable, but not nearly the power. Wish I still had the Major!

Great playing, BTW. Cool song.

[javableak]

que pena no poder oir como suena, la musica no esta mal, pero prefeririamos todos oir el ampli, ademas pena tambien de la mala calidad del video!!

En fin, en el fondo no esta mal el video, Saludos!!

[KitchenMarshall]

Is it true that you can't use overdrive/ fuzzpedals with this? Why do you think marshall stopped making them? How many kilos weighs this ultra cool boatanchor? Great vid! Thanx.

[hendrixistheking]

i own a 68 major and i use overdrive/fuzz pedals with it daily. they probably stopped making them b/c they are so fucking loud and clean!!! a lot...it is difficult for one scrawny musician to lift it by him or herself

[KitchenMarshall]

Thx for the reply! Yeah, I was wondering about using it with fuzz/ overdrivepedals since i've heard these Majors would have a habit of blowing the OT that way! Good PA is probably the reason for the Majors demise. Someone is selling a '70 over here and it looks so tempting.. I think I want a Riffguys amp! :-)

[BRADHblackdragon]

Hi I love that song in the background...who is that playing please

[riffguy]

It's me.

[putos91]

Do you sell it?

[MarcBolan3]

So what you got running on the back plate??

Im guessing youve got a Master Volume in there, and are the two extra jacks for an effects loop??

killer amp man, and the song in the background is badass too ;)

[riffguy]

This amp came from the factory with 4 speaker jacks. I've turned those extra jacks into an effects loop. On the front panel, volume 1 is now the master volume and volume 2 controls preamp gain. The amp hasn't been externally modified though.

[MarcBolan3]

woah cool!!

im guessing you added an extra pre tube?

just wondering why the tube isnt inline with V1 and V2, even though the is already a hole there, with a cover over it.

cool amp though man :)

[riffguy]

No extra tubes. I'm not sure why the driver tube isn't inline with the the preamp tubes. The extra tube hole is for the PA head which had an another tube since it had 4 channels. I haven't cut any holes in this amp and all my mods are easily reversible.

[Stratman78]

Nice amp! Back in 2000, I traded my '73 Marshall Super Lead 100 plus $50.00 for a '73 Marshall Major (Lead Model 1967) which I still have, but I use it strictly for Bass.

Run a Fender Precision Bass through it & you got the old John Entwistle sound (however, he played through a Marshall "Pig").

[ConnerMan127]

The Pig and the major are the same amp i beleive. Could be wrong though.

[racerxfanfrenzy]

Thats the cleanest, ANYTHING ive seen from 1971

[Longshankious]

Are those KT88's?

[riffguy]

No, they're 6550's but are a bit bigger than the average 6550.

[jakeblandjk47]

i would kill for one of those... so watch out!!! John Frusciante has one and theyre so hard to get hold of

[xYNGWIEBLACKMOREx]

is that a plexi?

[riffguy]

No, it has a metal faceplate.

[viddelt]

what do you use to record your playing in other videos? If it is a microphone or any USB, can you tell me what?

[riffguy]

I use the same set up as I would in the studio. I put a Shure SM57 up to a speaker on my Marshall and run it into a mixing board, add some reverb and send that signal into the computer.

[viddelt]

if I may ask again, do you need a mixer?

[riffguy]

No, the important thing is to mike the amp properly.

[budubum]

hi riffguy.

if you miked the amp to ur PC. how do you make the video and the sound clip in sync?

[riffguy]

The easiest way is just to use the webcam software to record the video.

[budubum]

and then muting that built-in mice on the cam and use the sound from the sm57? if so, what software may i use for this edit?

[riffguy]

Just use whatever software came with your webcam.

[budubum]

ok ty.

[agutierrez20]

Hi Paul, what brand of tubes do you use for your marshalls? you kick serious ass!!!!

[riffguy]

I usually just use whatever is available but I tried a set of Groove Tubes in my JCM 800 back in my LA days and was very impressed.

[agutierrez20]

LOL! that's the tubes i use right now on my 800. Have you tried Tesla or Svetlana?

[riffguy]

I think I've used both of those brands at one time or another.

[MusiciansQuarters]

The best in my opinion!! GTs

[TheTorturer666]

A flawless segway into the bridge.

[ebd]

do u re-bias all ur amps urself? and how about mods?

[riffguy]

I do all of my own amp maintenance & mods.

[awesomearman]

Killer amp man. This amp is the backline of Joe Perry and John Frusciante. Rock on!

[BlakkKyotoJapan]

play the deep purple riff please.

[amircg19701]

That is one monster amp. Very Uncontrolable but kicks ass! Connect 2 to 1 and GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

I tried one of these babie out last week. It nummbed my brain out and I was in a daze after 15 minutes of playing. It was LOUD.

[ChuckMullis]

Why didn't you buy it ?

[popgames]

Wow! Now that's a great amp in great condition.

[rickyboyjojo]

haven't been in your site for some time riffguy but every time i come back i feel iam home.. brilliant keep em coming i love them all ...thanks for them all my friend r.b.j

[reening]

WOAH

[apollon601]

would you please give it to me? hahaha

[riffguy]

I meant the last videos that I have already done were recorded with this amp. Unless I run out of ideas, I'll keep making videos.

[MarkFromHawaii]

Riffguy, do you use KT88s (6550s) for the power tubes? Have you tried JJs? They're like Teslas. I get my tubes from Eurotubes. Gotta watch the electrolytic caps as they start to leak as they get old. Nice amp.

[riffguy]

The US spec for this amp is 6550's although only the KT88's will produce the full 200 watts. I have never actually used KT88's since they used to be in such short supply and very expensive. The caps seem to be ok, so far.

[C5150C]

You know when we have those rolling power backouts in Ontario...when all the lights go dim then total blackout?  NOW WE KNOW WHY!!!! I think you could heat your house with that sucker.

[riffguy]

I heat the whole neigborhood with it.

[mjd775]

Riff guy, you gotta keep posting these films!! You bought it 20 years ago, and then took it to pieces for us viewers!! respect fella!!

[PeanutButterFender]

A true vintage Marshall. Point-to-Point wiring. I like!

[joerez8]

so lets hear it man!

[riffguy]

You are hearing it in this video and in my last few videos as well.

[no66y666]

Ah, Marshall, made in England ;-) Fantastic.

[kazmelm213]

how much did it cost?

[riffguy]

I bought it 20 years ago from a pawn shop for a few hundred bucks. It was near mint when I got it.

[thechildishchild]

what? somebody only rated this with 4 stars! how could they?