Two NOMAD (New Old Marshall Amps Day)
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Steve Ouimette
Tele-Holic
ANY NOMAD day is a great day, and yours is no exception. LOVE the red Mercury!
Thanks, I’ve never even turned on the Mercury, but I trust the shop where I buy most of my vintage gear.
I had always been curious about the Mercury’s and this amp was kind of an added bonus it the amp trade deal.
Steve Ouimette
Tele-Holic
I've never played a Mercury either but have always loved the cosmetics of them and the Capri. Please keep us posted, I'm dying to know what it sounds like.
RodeoTex
Doctor of Teleocity
"Nomad"
I like that.
Seems appropriate for an old amp that's been around.
I like that.
Seems appropriate for an old amp that's been around.
Very nice! Good for you! Good prices I hope.
jondanger
Poster Extraordinaire
Son of a . . .
Congrats! Looking forward to a report after you wind them up.
Sent from my iPhone using (link removed)
Congrats! Looking forward to a report after you wind them up.
Sent from my iPhone using (link removed)
This is 7th JMP that I’ve owned, and with just a 1/2 hour playing it, i can say that is one the warmest sounding Marshall’s that I’ve owned.
Those G12-65’s are so good.
The Mercury’s sound is just so-so. Definitely not a loud amp. Just one EL84 powering the thing with the original 12” speaker.
Other than a hole in the grill cloth, and two tears in the tolex, it is in good condition. I’ll probably clean it up, get it serviced, and then decide whether to keep it or let it go.
Still pretty cool owning a 1972 Marshall (I did own a 1969 Marshall two years ago).
Steve Ouimette
Tele-Holic
Loud isn't important to me but tone is. One El84 powering a 12" might be a little on the light side but how does it sound cranked all the way up?
'72 was a good year for Marshall. One of my favorite metal panel 1959's was a '72. I owned a '67 Super PA for a long time and that was a thing of beauty too. Right now I've only got an '81 JCM 800 (2204) and an '84 JCM 800 Bass Series head (with the active EQ). Both are great but I do miss the 70's ones. So good!
'72 was a good year for Marshall. One of my favorite metal panel 1959's was a '72. I owned a '67 Super PA for a long time and that was a thing of beauty too. Right now I've only got an '81 JCM 800 (2204) and an '84 JCM 800 Bass Series head (with the active EQ). Both are great but I do miss the 70's ones. So good!
I'm sure that has a lot to do with them throwing it in with your deal. Small Marshalls (smaller than a #1974) are kind of white elephants, but they're nice to look at.
I've always found it interesting how many tiny British amps have big impressive cabinets. In the US a <10W amp would have an 8" or 10" speaker in a tiny box, the Brits would do a small single-ended amp with a 12" or two 10" speakers, or an 18W amp with two 12"s. A Vox AC10 Twin is as big as a Vibrolux Reverb. An 18W Marshall #1973 is as big as a Pro Reverb.
Still, new toys are fun, congratulations.
i run a jmp50 head on top 4x12 with the older gt75(very much like a 65 and vintage (oldest ones made.smoother) in an X pattern..it is such a great rig ..once you have a jmp its hard to go anywhere from there on a search for tone, especially for rock
I found this YouTube video giving an example of what the Mercury should sound like. Mine does not sound this good. I didn’t even check last night if the one EL84 was glowing when testing it. Hopefully servicing the amp will bring some better tone back into the amp.
codamedia
Poster Extraordinaire
My favorite Marshall... I'm jealous!
Congrats on the find(s)... but in particular, this one!
Well, I checked the EL84 and it was not lit. I swapped it with a Mesa EL84 from my tube stash. A small glow from them Mesa tube.
The amp is definitely louder now and tone has improved (more like the above video). Not sure if the amp needs rebias now. The Mesa tube still only has a slight glow.
Kewl!
Steve Ouimette
Tele-Holic
Sounds not too bad! But it could use a little more gain when it's cranked. Then again, it's 5 watts and that's about what you'll get from something in that range with a 12. Still dig it!
