Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Other Stuff => Other Topics => Topic started by: Ritchie200 on February 15, 2017, 05:23:32 pm
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Perusing fleabay and came across this rare gem. I have heard there were less than 100 of these ever built. It's been re-covered but the front plexi is flawless. Big $$$$, but it has about $2K in GEC KT88's in there - if they are still good! Lots of chassis pics. It's fun to look at these old beasties!
Jim
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-MARSHALL-200-aka-the-pig-from-late-66-early-67-/322421397107?hash=item4b11d01673:g:uqMAAOSw2gxYoJhM (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-MARSHALL-200-aka-the-pig-from-late-66-early-67-/322421397107?hash=item4b11d01673:g:uqMAAOSw2gxYoJhM)
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A different rare Marshall popped up on Reverb recently. Seller was relatively new, only sold pedals & Squire guitars. Then was representing a $25k first-run Marshall Bluesbreaker...
A Marshall expert on a different forum (I know, sound B.S.; but this expert is vetted by numerous famous collector/dealers who use their real name as their handle on the forum) took a brief look and noted the chassis was a later 60's model, repackaged in cabs not made by Marshall, with knobs off a different Euro-brand product, to turn an $8k amp into a $25k amp.
I can't see how anyone buys one of these things online, with known instances of certain UK music stores who used to produce fakes on an assembly line. Like buying a 1959 Les Paul Standard online; you really want an in-person inspection by several 3rd party authorities to validate the item is what it claims to be.
None of the above is intended to mean I think this Major is not authentic. I know I do not know nearly enough about them. But I'm pretty well scared off of buying anything vintage that I can't completely authenticate from finding out about all the fakes around (like guys who specialize in making $30k replicas/forgeries of late-50's Bursts: it's silly-expensive except that they're made to then be sold on for $150k+).
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Yeah and then the seller probably pulled it off and said the "seller" he was representing lied to him.... It's tough to be an expert on all things Marshall/Fender/Hiwatt/Laney/etc.... It's even more difficult with guitars. There is a place here in town called Killer Vintage. The owner actually wrote the most widely used book for guitar appraisals. He said it took years and years and help from many many people to compile the information. He also talked about the fakes as well as the oddball stuff. They have good vintage stuff and are well known. Guys like Clapton, Frampton, Slash, Beck, Malmsteen, Kieth Urban, Ron Wood, etc. have been in the store. It takes years to build that kind of cred.
I've done a lot of research on Marshalls and refer to my History of Marshall book quite often. But even that was proven wrong, actually on this board. An oddball Marshall that the book said only came in a single 12", actually also came in a 2x12 combo. And this book/bible was written with Jim Marshall and the factory's input! I used to post quite often on the Marshall forum when I could help or provide some history, but got tired of arguing with the 16yr old "experts". I know intimate details about the Major (out of necessity!) and I am constantly shaking my head when I read the internet "lore" concerning this amp and what so-and-so supposedly did with it. I'm sure there are similar Super Lead, SVT, Bandmaster, AC30, etc, true experts who are doing the same! I think it goes back to what these manufacturers were doing back in the day. Using radio spares, bulk component buys on surplus, or whatever was cheap and available that week of manufacture. I think it is very much a moving target, especially the early or oddball stuff. You really have to know your stuff. What's embarrassing is admitting that I owned or played some of these "vintage" amps back in.... well, you know!
This Major is indeed the real deal. Board, chassis, iron, all jive. Head was re-covered. Is it original? If I wanted one, would I buy it from France without a visit, shakedown, and room in my luggage to bring it home? Nope!
Jim
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I can't see how anyone buys one of these things.......................
Me either!
Maybe gut it and put a fish tank in there? :dontknow:
What else would anyone do with that thing?
Space heater?
Toaster?
Mood lighting?
Boat anchor?
Pommel horse?
You could probably get Ritchie to play in your back yard for 8K at this point....and even he would just whip out an ENGL and be done with it.
:happy2:
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Ok smarty pants... Pete Townsend played one for about five minutes and Mick Ronson played one for the Bowie years. Other than that, I do t know of any big names who used the pig.
I'm sure we could get Joey B to play it, Then he'll shed a fake tear and try to sell it for twice as much at Norms Ripoff-I mean rare guitars?
Jimbob
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The Pig had active tone controls (bass and treble only) that significantly impacted the drive and volume. The knobs are marked Master, Treble, Bass above the knobs and Volume, Volume, Volume below! It's like like two pre and one master volume. Only three knobs on the front of this thing along with power switch, pilot light, and two inputs. The smaller cab cutout for the chassis front made it look like a pig's snout (supposedly) - hence the name. This amp was not UL and had "only" about 540v on the plates. Even though it is called a Major, it is nothing like the later Major. Front nameplates and the schematic call it the Marshall 200. Only the later Pigs had the Major tag on the back. I just read something that only 30 of these things were ever built. Not sure if that is accurate, but they are rare as hens teeth! In the video below if you go to 4:00 you will hear that classic Ronson/Bowie lick.
Jim
! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHav_y8doTg#)
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So, is there a schematic?
I don't see anything for a Marshall 200 with "active" tone controls :dontknow:
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Auction ended and picturers taken down.....Hmmmmmmm :rolleyes:
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Such a deal I got! Wanna come over and take it for a spin? :undecided: :m2
:laugh:
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Earplugfest 2017 at Willabe's :headbang:
you're gonna want this...
Got it off the web of lies and deceipt, so you never know.
Anyone care to confirm/deny?
For anyone keeping score, it is missing a pair of grid stoppers on a pair of output tubes
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It's a Major, don't need no flippen grid stoppers..... :blob8:
Jim
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Wanna come over and take it for a spin?
point it east so I can pick up skip off the big lake :laugh: