Magic Marshall, 1979

guitarforhire · Post by **guitarforhire** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:31 pm

is it abnormal for a plexi to have 3 switches on the front instead of two?

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:02 pm

guitarforhire wrote:is it abnormal for a plexi to have 3 switches on the front instead of two?

No, many had a polarity switch as well as the on/off and standby.

mightymike · Post by **mightymike** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:29 am

BrownSound1 wrote:Maybe that explains why his tone was so different in the club days. I mean, really...his tone was "brown," but it was more of the standard Super Lead sound, IMHO.

It is funny that none of the guys who have supposedly peeked under the hood of that amp have seen a master volume though. Maybe it was just a temporary thing. It is quite puzzling because I've heard people get pretty damn close to his tone both with and without master volumes. (On this very board, mind you)

If he was trying loads on the primaries, and Variacs, I'm sure he's tried
Master Volumes, and probably tried everything under the sun as well.
That being said, it must have been like night and day compared to the gear Ted Templeton was going to record him with. Even if it was the same amp. The Deomos were someone else's amp. Yuk
Not even a good metal face.

It's fun to study these pics. They're a window to what he was doing that day.

I'm sure there are room mics in addition to what we see, but I find it interesting which cabs he has the mic right up against. And are there any hidden heads?
Or does he just have 2 cabs going. If so did he try all those cabs, and settle on the 2? And was he actually recording or is just practicing, because wouldn't the cymbals vibrate if the drums are just sitting there like that? Or did they record the drums and Guitar together?

I'm trying to learn how to record, so this shit fascinates me.

Crunchboy · Post by **Crunchboy** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:09 am

You can hear the snare drum rattle on many guitar-only parts on the old VH records, and countless others of the that pre-modern era.

guitarforhire · Post by **guitarforhire** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:11 am

For the demos wasnt VH flied to new york to record under KISS's gear cuz they couldnt transport all there stuff from California. So eddie would be recording through Ace Frehlys marshall? It doesnt sound very cranked either so that might contribute to the demo tone

Tatosh · Post by **Tatosh** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:48 pm

I have worked the pic in Photo shop so you guys have a clearer view of the amp.

guitar007 · Post by **guitar007** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:01 pm

Thanks, Tatosh.

I’m not a Marshall transformer expert but the OT looks original. So…if it is…this lays to rest Ed’s claim that Jose put bigger transformers in his amps.

Also...can anyone make out where all those cables are going? I'm confused.

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:04 pm

keep in mind eddie blew many trannys.

Necrovore · Post by **Necrovore** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:47 pm

OK Ill concede. That does look like some sort of pot shaft with the clearer pic. Thanks, Tatosh.

Guitar 007, those cables are going all over the place. Mic cables, cabinet cables, etc. I have recorded three times in studios where the band recorded live in situations that looked familier to those VH pics minus the mountain of cabs in the background. There were cables going everywhere. It all depends on where the mics input points are, how the band sets up in the studio all in relation to where the control booth is.

BrownSound1 · Post by **BrownSound1** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:05 am

The "Zero" Demos that were recorded by Gene Simmons were definitely done on the KISS equipment.

Now...if you go back and listen to old boots of VH in the clubs, then you can hear more of that regular Plexi sound. Over the course of time, up until you get to the Pasadena Civic Center show, you can hear the evolution of his tone. If I remember correctly the WB demos have a good representation of his tone at that point in time. Damn near VH1 sounding....of course it should have been, it was done right before VH1.

johniss0001 · Post by **johniss0001** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:26 pm

i am prob speaking rubbish and off topic here if that is a 79 marshall in that pic the plate voltage is a lot lower on them than the 60's marshalls cause my 78 super bass has 357VDC and your plexi is about 500VDC telling you guys which you already know prob but didn't he go with the later circuit because it had more of a browner sound thinkin about george's mod here btw, I find my super bass has a tight raw sort of sound to it earlier break up and things where as the earlier super lead was more of a cleaner tone, correct me if i am speaking rubbish, i find my super bass breaks up around 4 doesn't the superlead break up around 5?

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:31 pm

johniss0001 wrote:i am prob speaking rubbish and off topic here if that is a 79 marshall in that pic the plate voltage is a lot lower on them than the 60's marshalls cause my 78 super bass has 357VDC and your plexi is about 500VDC telling you guys which you already know prob but didn't he go with the later circuit because it had more of a browner sound thinkin about george's mod here btw, I find my super bass has a tight raw sort of sound to it earlier break up and things where as the earlier super lead was more of a cleaner tone, correct me if i am speaking rubbish, i find my super bass breaks up around 4 doesn't the superlead break up around 5?

i dont think ist a 79 head

the picture was taken in 79.

guitar007 · Post by **guitar007** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:17 pm

My guess is that the amp is a late '67 or early '68.

johniss0001 · Post by **johniss0001** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:19 pm

sorry guys i got confused by the back of the amp, but still didn't he replace his plexi trannies for 70's trannies cause the late 70's 1s had a lower plate voltage

BrownSound1 · Post by **BrownSound1** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:31 pm

I don't know about the trannies he used then, but when he had his amp refurbished I believe I read that he provided that guy with some VINTAGE trannies to use as replacements if needed. I've got to find that mag that describes the refurbishment of his old number 1. I think it was a Guitar World, but I'm afraid it may have been tossed out by my wife when we moved a few years ago.