Marshall Major great soundclip

[Ritchie200]

Met this guy on a Major website.  Not only is he an unbelievable player, he has modded his Major with the "one wire mod" as well as a PPIMV.  This thing sounds unreal - very similar to running a stock Major full bore with humbuckers but without the speaker breakup and compression (for lack of a better description) and output tranny fires.  This is why I am such a fan of this old amp.  Not familiar with the tune (may be an original), but he is playing an Ibanez Jem and it is very Steve Vai'ish.  So here ya go Doug!  Hope you all enjoy!


Jim


Fire breathing '68 Marshall Major Plexi sound clip. (by Michael R/T)

[tubenit]

That sounds great!  Is he using pedals?   Excellent player, for sure!

with respect, Jeff

[EL34]

sounds cool

[Ritchie200]

Straight in no pedals  a little verb on the recording 

Jim

[SILVERGUN]

That does sound great!.....

Have you ever modded that dinosaur of yours?

[Ed_Chambley]

Sounds very similar to the tone in Burn, but how can that be without a Strat?

[Ritchie200]

SG, no mine is a stock block with new caps.  This guy is sending me a schemo of his mods.  There are several "one wire mod" opinions out there for this amp - many do NOT work and this is an amp that likes to let out its magic smoke.  This guy got it right.  Ritchie had Marshall do it for him and you can hear it on Machine Head/Made in Japan/Who do we think we are/Burn.  Other modifications were done for Stormbringer - Rainbow.  This guy said there is a special balance that you can achieve between the OWM and the PPIMV and they work very well together.  Jeez I wish I had this knowledge back in the 70s-80s, maybe I'd have more of my hearing.


Ed, I have asked him to do a video with a Strat so we shall see.  There is not much difference between humbucker and single on mine when it is humping.  Just a little more shimmer with a single.  It has a very distinctive (what I call) slashing distortion - especially when you start pushing the KT88's.  Obviously this guys tone is in the preamp, but the Major is unique in its design there too.  Again, that is why I love this beast!


Glad yawl liked it!  I will convert you yet!
Jim

[tubenit]

There is some info out there about this, but I'd love to see a schematic.  This video shows what he did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dc2ARDaV64#ws

http://www.marshallforum.com/workbench/69543-one-wire-mod-cascade-series-add-tons-gain-3.html

Jeff

[tubenit]

OK,  I am thinking this may be pretty close to what he did?   One wire mod and PPIMV.  I am thinking this is sort of a Hoffman "hotswitch" idea but with PPIMV in a Major?

Jim,  maybe you could send this schematic to Michael R/T and ask him if that's what he has done?

Jim,  is your Major this one?:  http://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/marshall/Marshall_major_1967u_lead_200w.pdf

Jeff

[SILVERGUN]

SG, no mine is a stock block with new caps.

OK,  I am thinking this may be pretty close to what he did?   One wire mod and PPIMV.  I am thinking this is sort of a Hoffman "hotswitch" idea but with PPIMV in a Major?

You should start soaking those chassis bolts in Kroil so we can crack that pig open....
- You're gonna need 2 more 9 pin sockets,,,one for an active FX loop, and the other for a nice square-wave-ifier
- Then I'm thinking maybe one of Doug's relay power supply boards just to power some nice LED back-lighting
- A couple more front panel holes,,,ya know, PPIMV, etc. .....and you can put some switches in place of those stoopid extra inputs
- Pull 2 of those french fry lamps outta the back
 .....and then you're all set

Let us know when you get there and we'll help you finish it up 

[Ed_Chambley]

SG, no mine is a stock block with new caps.

OK,  I am thinking this may be pretty close to what he did?   One wire mod and PPIMV.  I am thinking this is sort of a Hoffman "hotswitch" idea but with PPIMV in a Major?

You should start soaking those chassis bolts in Kroil so we can crack that pig open....
- You're gonna need 2 more 9 pin sockets,,,one for an active FX loop, and the other for a nice square-wave-ifier
- Then I'm thinking maybe one of Doug's relay power supply boards just to power some nice LED back-lighting
- A couple more front panel holes,,,ya know, PPIMV, etc. .....and you can put some switches in place of those stoopid extra inputs
- Pull 2 of those french fry lamps outta the back
 .....and then you're all set

Let us know when you get there and we'll help you finish it up 

Hey, I gotta a 68 Plexi 1987 Circuit and an 68 Super PA all original.  I also have a build sort of like a JCM 800 and JTM50 together.  Since I built the latter it would be best to mod the originals, right?  Which one do you think, the Super PA is what I was thinking.


Also, all those input jacks come in handy when you are using more than 1 amp at a time.  You can jump channels and still have an input available.  I only have one amp with a single input and I am going to add another.  I copied a Fargen ole 800 and they only have one input.  I have to put it last as a line out or direct box doesn't work very well.

[Ritchie200]

SG......  You see, this is why we are so...fundamentally, far apart.  For example, you are the kind of guy who would not blink and eye at putting a small block chevy into a classic Mustang (shudder!), or carve up a historic, very limited run of one of the best amplifiers known to man AND played by the one and only master of metal mahem, Mr Blackmore - I, would not.

Ed, the mod he describes in the vid is for his super lead, not the Major.  The guy has lots of cool toys!

Jeff, yes I have the 1967.  Thank you for the layout!  I will send it off.  Have not heard from him in a while.  His is a 1968 (? cant remember and I gotta run) bass model.  Mine is the Lead version and there are some differences like the top boost on channel one.  There have been many attempts at the one wire mod on the lead version:  Channel one (top boost) into channel two, or visa versa, or completely reworking the channels.  Many with disastrous results.  I do not want to cob this amp up, so I am wanted to see his detail.

Thanks guys!
Jim

[tubenit]

Jim,

Before the week is out, I am going to try to draw up an editable SCH DRAFT version of your stock Major.  And then I'll edit it and add a one wire mod and PPIMV as I am thinking this guy did his?   I find the original Major schematics somewhat difficult to read & not all that legible.

Once I get that done, I will post in on the Tweaks forum for further dialogue.

Obviously it will be a guess but perhaps a reasonable one as a good place for discussion.  Thanks for sharing the info. The Major has some very unique features before, in and after the LTPI.

I am not planning on building one, but I am somewhat intrigued by the amp and the tone is obviously very cool.  I realize it may be purist heresy, but do you think a two tube KT88 version would capture most of the tone.  The mods change the tone some, but if I am understanding you still capture the essence of the Major.  So, maybe a 100w (2 tube) version would still capture the essence?  What do you think? 

STARTED a thread here:  http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=17548.0

With respect, Jeff 

[Ritchie200]

Jeff,

It's a cathodyne with a driver stage.  I have read a few website posts on the net from (supposed) Major owners bragging about "getting rid of that wimpy 12au7 and replacing it with a 12ax7 and it turns it into a scorching Ritchie Blackmore in-a-box".  Wrong.  The 12au7 is there to swing the big current that the quartet needs.  If you sub in a ax7 it will thin out the sound very noticeably as you turn up the wick.  Its amazing what a little bit of knowledge can do for internet misinformation lore....

There are two actual owner/users out there that know what they are talking about - if you ever run into them:  MajorWatt and Majornut1967  Majornut built a Major from scratch about ten years ago.

PLUS one of our very own, Groundhogken is the grand master of the Major!  He has been teasing me about building a two tube mini-major for a couple of years now.  He has all the parts.  Not sure where he is at with that project. 

So Jeff....  I will throw this out there for everyone to see.  IF you build a mini-major, I PROMISE to never again make fun of your......guitar (term used very loosely).  Waddia say?  Come over to the dark side!  I'll show you what blooming really is!  Of course you may start to have destructive guitar urges (not a bad thing in your case), as well as sudden pyro interest.  All in all, I think it will make you a better all around dude!  You will gain more friends (me for one), plus you will be fighting off the women like crazy due to your new noticeable cool-guy swagger.  That record deal will also be beneficial.  All within your reach....

Jim

[Ritchie200]

Oh he said he used the Ken Fisher PPIMV.  I'm not sure what that is.

Jim

[Ed_Chambley]

Oh he said he used the Ken Fisher PPIMV.  I'm not sure what that is.

Jim

There are 2 PPMIV types published in the trainwreck pages.  Version 1 is a dual 1m pot and Version 2 is a 100K pot and replaces the bias resistors.  Version 2 is where I think the LarMar using the 250K pots came from.  These replace the 220k bias resistors.
Link to the Trainwreck pages:
http://www.blueguitar.org/new/schem/trainwreck/the_trainwreck_pages.pdf


Attached is a good drawing of the LarMar and explains how to install.

[jojokeo]

Just seeing this and late to the party once again on another subject I thought was already discussed, but I guess not? Anyway, the pot value is very important on what you use. I just worked all weekend on my Tweed Super Deluxe replacing it's cross-line MV w/ a PPIMV/LaMar such as posted above. When looking at many tube datasheets usually the grid return resistors can be up to 500K maximum when tubes are self-biased but it drops down to 100K if the amp is fixed-biased. This helps makes your decision for you on what value pot(s) to use. In my case for using either 6V6s or 5881s self-biased, a 250K dual ganged pot simply replaced the two 220K resistors.
 
Just wanted to put this out there in case some body reads this and goes about changing things in their amp without taking this into account. It would be an easy mistake to make and shows even the late great Ken Fisher made mistakes.

[Michael R/T]

Here's my last Major YouTube video for the year, kinda going out with a bang with this one.
I hope ya guys enjoy some of my best rippin' of the year threw my '68 Marshall Major 200w Plexi and Marshall 4x12 Celestion Greenbacks cab.

Cheers Michael

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_6kI15gWcM

[jojokeo]

Michael I really like it! The amp sounds sweet but does it make anyone play like that too?! 

[Ritchie200]

I can tell you that for an absolutely positive no-doubt fact, it does NOT!


Jim

[SILVERGUN]

I almost didn't post because I feel like the litte guy who stands behind the big guy and says...
"Yeah,,,what HE said!"
 
But yes, I am with Moe and Larry on this issue.
You rip Michael....no doubt about that.
Sounds GREAT!
 

[tubenit]

That's amazingly remarkable playing!  THANKS for sharing it.  Amp sound good too!

with respect, Tubenit

[jojokeo]

I almost didn't post because I feel like the litte guy who stands behind the big guy and says...
"Yeah,,,what HE said!"
 
But yes, I am with Moe and Larry on this issue.
You rip Michael....no doubt about that.
Sounds GREAT!
 

Since I can't do it in person...
http://youtu.be/ScGPRsHSkaE

[Michael R/T]

Ah you guys are way too kind. :-)

I've always thought of myself as "guitaristically challenged". 

Anyways, modded Marshall Major's rule, I want more of them.   

[TIMBO]

Hey mate, That's AWSOME.
I'm currently referbing an Australian version of the major (Holden Wasp) I can only hope it could sound as great as yours.

[EL34]

Sounds great
Need to up the volume on your lead track a bit
Seemed to be a bit buried in the mix

The tune sounds sort of Vinnie Moorish without the sweeps every 10 seconds, which is a good thing 

[alerich]

That is a great tone. Looking at the schematics side by side a Major preamp with the OWM and a stock JCM800 preamp are quite similar except that the major has a 820R cathode resistor where the JCM800 has the 10K cold biased stage. No wonder that monster has so much gain. I can't get over how smooth it sounds. I may crack open my JCM800 and fiddle a bit with that 10K resistor. Maybe put something on a switch. Cool videos and great tones and excellent chops. I enjoyed them.

[Willabe]

To me, and it's just my taste, I like the LP way better for tone on the cut you posted.

It's a lot smother, warmer, rounder and fuller than the other guitar. I like it quite a bit.

To my ears the Strat type guitar (Stevie Vie?) seems to bring out and emphasize the harsher noise artifacts (?) from the high gain? I guess that's more of a 'metal' sounding guitar tone?

But then again I'm not big on high gain guitar sounds, so......   

If we all had the same tone then who would even care, right?


                       Brad         

[Michael R/T]

Hey mate, That's AWSOME.
I'm currently referbing an Australian version of the major (Holden Wasp) I can only hope it could sound as great as yours.

Thank you !!

If you need any help with your Major, I'm aways around. 

[Michael R/T]

Sounds great
Need to up the volume on your lead track a bit
Seemed to be a bit buried in the mix

The tune sounds sort of Vinnie Moorish without the sweeps every 10 seconds, which is a good thing 

Thank you !!
Yeah, you're probably right, the lead track could come up a bit more.
Thanks for the heads up my friend. 

It's funny you mention Vinnie Moore, I've always loved his style of playing.
A lot of people have told me I sound like him.
Anyways, here's something a little different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dsivZAubdE

[Michael R/T]

That is a great tone. Looking at the schematics side by side a Major preamp with the OWM and a stock JCM800 preamp are quite similar except that the major has a 820R cathode resistor where the JCM800 has the 10K cold biased stage. No wonder that monster has so much gain. I can't get over how smooth it sounds. I may crack open my JCM800 and fiddle a bit with that 10K resistor. Maybe put something on a switch. Cool videos and great tones and excellent chops. I enjoyed them.

Thank you for all the kind words, greatly appreciate it.

You can play around with the 10K cathode in your JCM800, I use to like runnin' a 4K7 cathode with a .1uF bypass cap.
You get lots of gain which sounds really tight.
Just a thought. :-)

[Michael R/T]

To me, and it's just my taste, I like the LP way better for tone on the cut you posted.

It's a lot smother, warmer, rounder and fuller than the other guitar. I like it quite a bit.

To my ears the Strat type guitar (Stevie Vie?) seems to bring out and emphasize the harsher noise artifacts (?) from the high gain? I guess that's more of a 'metal' sounding guitar tone?

But then again I'm not big on high gain guitar sounds, so......   

If we all had the same tone then who would even care, right?


                       Brad         

Thank you Brad for checking out my clip.
Yeah, the LP is my favorite guitar of all.
Nothing sounds better or feels better IMHO.
The Ibanez Jem (Steve Vai model) is great for metal and playing shred style guitar on.
I play mostly classic rock with my band Midnight Special, so the LP gets most of my attention.
Actually, I'm going to buy another LP very soon, ones never enough. :-)