Question regarding Marshall EQ (1972 NMV 1986)

hwestman · February 10th, 2005, 04:49 AM

Hi,

A short question for those in the know:

I have been using a Marshall Non Master Volume head (1986) from -72. Even with a 1936 2x12 cabinet I find bass and lower midrange content rather overwhelming.

Bass control is always on 0, Mid is on 50% and treble is maxed, presence is on 70-80%.

I like the sound it makes but it feels slightly weird to have to use the extreme settings.

Is this normal? Could it be that the tubes I use generate a lot of low end (JJ:s)? Could it mean that it is time for a cap job?

Harald

Unburst · February 10th, 2005, 10:49 AM

If it hasn't been capped recently then a cap job is probably in order.

Other than that, if it sounds good, don't worry about it.

Tim Swartz · February 10th, 2005, 03:37 PM

If you had a lead amp you'd have to do just the opposite. I prefer the bass/PA amps as you can actually turn up treble and presence without getting every dog on the block howling. I have a '68 SuperBass and set it very similarly. I also have a '71 Lead, and I can only turn the presence and treble up to about 3.

hwestman · February 10th, 2005, 05:05 PM

So how can I tell if it is a bass, lead or PA model? It only says 1986 on the back...

Harald

David Barnett · February 10th, 2005, 07:34 PM

Which input do you use? 4-input non-master Marshalls typically have a dull channel and a shrill channel. Lotta guys bridge both channels and blend the two volumes to find their tonal balance.

JTM45blues · February 10th, 2005, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwestman

So how can I tell if it is a bass, lead or PA model? It only says 1986 on the back...

Harald

1986 is a bass model, as per Michael Doyle's great book "The History of Marshall: The Sound of Rock and Roll". Let me know if you don't want that bass model anymore, if you're unhappy with it, no sense in keeping it, just send it my way.

You may want to try to locate some Mullard 12ax7's for the preamp, this brightened up my 50 watt lead model even more, and also made it louder. But I cut the bright cap on my bright channel and replaced it with a much more sane 100pf value cap, instead of the stock 5000pf, which will shear the nuts off a dog at 40 paces.

hwestman · February 13th, 2005, 05:03 PM

Thanks to all of you for the input. They way it sounds makes more sense now that I realise it is the bass model.

I like it a lot but still feel I could use a bit more brightness. Today I played it with Tone Bones (triode) through the speaker of my Princeton 2 and it is a lovely sound... sparkle and grind, dirt and definition. I will definitely try to find a Mullard 12ax7. Should I get one for the first position or should I try to switch out all of them?

Harald

February 10th, 2005, 04:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
hwestman Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 394	Question regarding Marshall EQ (1972 NMV 1986) Hi, A short question for those in the know: I have been using a Marshall Non Master Volume head (1986) from -72. Even with a 1936 2x12 cabinet I find bass and lower midrange content rather overwhelming. Bass control is always on 0, Mid is on 50% and treble is maxed, presence is on 70-80%. I like the sound it makes but it feels slightly weird to have to use the extreme settings. Is this normal? Could it be that the tubes I use generate a lot of low end (JJ:s)? Could it mean that it is time for a cap job? Harald

February 10th, 2005, 03:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,904	It is normal If you had a lead amp you'd have to do just the opposite. I prefer the bass/PA amps as you can actually turn up treble and presence without getting every dog on the block howling. I have a '68 SuperBass and set it very similarly. I also have a '71 Lead, and I can only turn the presence and treble up to about 3. __________________

February 10th, 2005, 10:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
Unburst Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 185	If it hasn't been capped recently then a cap job is probably in order. Other than that, if it sounds good, don't worry about it.

February 10th, 2005, 05:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
hwestman Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 394	So how can I tell if it is a bass, lead or PA model? It only says 1986 on the back... Harald

February 10th, 2005, 07:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
David Barnett Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: LIttle Rock, AR Age: 52 Posts: 5,494	Which input do you use? 4-input non-master Marshalls typically have a dull channel and a shrill channel. Lotta guys bridge both channels and blend the two volumes to find their tonal balance.

February 13th, 2005, 05:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
hwestman Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 394	Thanks to all of you for the input. They way it sounds makes more sense now that I realise it is the bass model. I like it a lot but still feel I could use a bit more brightness. Today I played it with Tone Bones (triode) through the speaker of my Princeton 2 and it is a lovely sound... sparkle and grind, dirt and definition. I will definitely try to find a Mullard 12ax7. Should I get one for the first position or should I try to switch out all of them? Harald