Randy's amp

[randy will never die]

I don't know if anybody has noticed this but randy used a 1959 plexi

Well it so happens that the famous (brown sound) Eddie van halen tone from 1979-1984 was from a Marshall 1959 plexi as well but I think his was hand wired

A little spooky

[rhoads56]

Randy's was from 1979, and the circuit, transformers, etc, was different to the 60's plexis as used by EVH. They are totally different beasts, from the same 'father'.

Even real plexis, from the 60's all sounded different from year to year. I own three, a 1967, 1968, and 1969. The 67 is loudest, and a cleaner tone. The 68 is dirtier, but has more of a rounded bottom end. The 69 has more gain, but not as much volume. When I compare the volume, the 69 is as loud as my 120w Peavey 5150. The 67 and 68 FEEL much louder.

If you were to compare them to guitarists we know, the 67 would be Jimi, the 68 EVH and 69 George Lynch. That's the tones my amps get.

The 67 starts breaking up around 6-7 on the volume, the 68 comes in a little earlier at 5, and the 69 even earlier in the volume than that. Randy's amp had some internal mods to the first preamp tube, to double the gain at that stage.

My '68 is smack bang in the middle (serial number) between EVH's and Jimi Hendrix's main amp. EVH's is 12301, mine is 1233x and Jimi had 12361

But, having said all that, I still prefer my own little 36 watter I'll have to upload some pics and a soundbyte.

[randy will never die]

So I don't understand why Marshall sold replicas of Randy's white amp and called them 1959rr. I am a little confused

[rhoads56]

The model 1959 went through a number of changes that effected the tonal output. Ive owned a few 70's 1959's, and they sounded different to my 60's. The distortion is harsher for one.

Its like saying "i have a Les Paul". Which one?? A fifties Les Paul featured very similar, but different, components to a 70's version. Which of course, was different to today's Les Paul. They are all 'guitars'. They all make a sound which we call 'guitar tone'. If you compared Gibson's sales sheet, they look identical (humbuckers, Mahogany, Maple, Rosewood), but each of those 'parts' are different to the original specs (Indian vs Brazilian Rosewood, different wire quality/magnets/covers/windings for the pickups, Honduras vs Brazilian Mahogany, etc etc)

If you broke it up into parts, it looks the same. But some of those parts had subtle, but also significant, changes to the tone.

A 1959 is VIRTUALLY a Fender Bassman. Its real close. But, it had different tubes, different transformers, and those two things alone make for a drastic change in sound.

Another thing that can't be discounted, is the values of the components used. Over time, resistors creep up in value. What was 220k, might be 230k after ten years. That resistor, in the right place, would let more gain through to the valves, which then react differently. Capacitors work the other way. They "wear out" to a certain extent. This is one reason older amps have a nicer tone, to most people. They weren't like that back in the day, they've drifted off spec.

[The Flying Dutchman]

So I don't understand why Marshall sold replicas of Randy's white amp and called them 1959rr. I am a little confused

This is probably interesting for you:

If the 1959RR is wired exactly as Randy's original than he never used that cascade mod:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2281&hilit=1959RR&start=45

[RandyRox]

.

[fortress]

I have a 1987 marshall modded by David Bray and with an overdrive in front, its Tribute tone

Take the old marshall you want, and you will sound like randy

[dannyahansen]

So I don't understand why Marshall sold replicas of Randy's white amp and called them 1959rr. I am a little confused

1959 is the circuit a 100w NMV 4 hole, rr is well you know what that designates, and the amp isn't a "replica" it's a tribute amp that pays "homage" to Randy. If you take a look at the head box you will notice it's a JCM period box, it also has a black metal back panel where as Randy's had the usual JMP style with a wood frame and wire grill.

I think this is important to know what 1959 means. It also means there is no master volume like there is on model 2203 amps. THe early amps were called "plexi" because they used plexi glass on the front of the amp. Randy's amp would not be a plexi because they switched to an anodized metal front some time in the early 70's. The Tribute amp also uses the JMV chasis, which is the new chasis that Marshall switched to. Of course you only know that from looking at the back of the amp.

Randy's amp would have been a JMP which is a transition period for Marshall. JMP stands for Jim Marshall Product.

[dannyahansen]

So I don't understand why Marshall sold replicas of Randy's white amp and called them 1959rr. I am a little confused

This is probably interesting for you:

If the 1959RR is wired exactly as Randy's original than he never used that cascade mod:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2281&hilit=1959RR&start=45

It would seem that he never used it live. However to say he never used it is something you cannot say unless Randy claimed that he never used it.

[The Flying Dutchman]

So I don't understand why Marshall sold replicas of Randy's white amp and called them 1959rr. I am a little confused

This is probably interesting for you:

If the 1959RR is wired exactly as Randy's original than he never used that cascade mod:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2281&hilit=1959RR&start=45

It would seem that he never used it live. However to say he never used it is something you cannot say unless Randy claimed that he never used it.

Of course I agree with that!
No doubt he tried that cascade mod at some time. But he probably found out that not using the cascade but instead boosting his amps with a MXR dist+ and/or EQ pedal give better results. Not using the cascade (or mastervolume) gives you a more open sound.
But again: we never had a look inside his amps ourselves. If his amps where wired differently internal than the 1959RR maybe he always used the cascade mod! Who knows. But when assuming it (the 1959RR) is wired exactly as the original we can say that so far we haven't seen any evidence that he used that cascade mod live.

[hansolo]

His tech would know. Is Pete M. still alive?

[The Flying Dutchman]

His tech would know. Is Pete M. still alive?

He was interviewed for the Documentary. I hoped to see some of that back in the book by Andrew Klein, unfortunately nothing of that.

[BowTie29]

Does anyone here have experience with the 1959SLP reissue from 2001 I believe. In a blindfold test would you be able to tell a difference between an authentic vintage one and the reissue? I am aware each year was a bit different so does anyone know what year the RI would compare to?

[Shockwave]

Dunno about the 59 reissue but my modded 78 JMP MKII sounds dead nuts to Randy's live tone. Of the JMP's i guess the 78's are considered the best year of all. I have tried a few an i would say thats true. If you ever have a chance to get one definitely pick it up.

[BowTie29]

I have the chance to get either a 76 2203 or a 2001 slp59 RI. Wondering if the 1959 sounds just like a vintage would cause ive never played an actual 1959 before. Im gong to try them both but may have the 59 cascaded if I do get it.