S
swarfrat
Guest
So I started combing FB/CL/Ebay/Reverb for Marshall 1965a's and 1966a's. I briefly considered 1936's but apparently they're beamy/tubby, and they're not often priced aggressively. Same with the 65/66's. I JUST missed a white 1965a for $150 because someone had painted it black and it looked like crap, but appeared to be in decent shape otherwise.
But it's got me thinking. Other than the occasional beat to crap 1960A for $350ish, which is still kinda big, it's not looking like a multi-speaker box around 24x24 that looks appropriate with a head (I have a Marshall Lead 12, and a JCM800 2204 project I've been thinking about pulling out of the closet) for under $300. So maybe build? I found some drawings for dimensions and getting the baffle looking right. But I'm kind of torn. So far the options rolling around my noggin are:
1) 1965a clone (4x10, probably use Warehouse ET-10's in it)
2) 1966a clone (2x12 diagonal, probably use ET-65 or greenbacks)
3) A vertically aligned 2x10 in a 1965a/1966a size box. (25"x25")
4) A vertically aligned 2x12 in a 1965a/1966a wide box that's 1960a height (25"W x 30"H)
I'm really most drawn to the last two options, which to my knowledge have never been made by Marshall, but especially #3. (They did make a 1960 sized 2x12 called the 1961, but I'm really not interested in that - vintage collectible drawbacks with none of the advantages, and it's as big as the real deal.)
Curious as to the collective opinion, particular if you have experience with the WGS 10" options. I tend to run my 800 tones on the tight side (who doesn't?) What think ye? A straight up 1965A clone is probably the LEAST attractive option to me, as 1) it's easily the most available, 2) also has the highest parts cost, and 3) between 1 and 2 is also teetering way too close to the build vs buy argument. The 1966 is a bit harder to find, so 2 vs 4 really boils down to OCD/Diagonal speakers/dispersion/aesthetics of taller cab. I don't really have a dog in the 10 vs 12 fight, except for the fact that you have a lot less options to chose from if you go 10.
But it's got me thinking. Other than the occasional beat to crap 1960A for $350ish, which is still kinda big, it's not looking like a multi-speaker box around 24x24 that looks appropriate with a head (I have a Marshall Lead 12, and a JCM800 2204 project I've been thinking about pulling out of the closet) for under $300. So maybe build? I found some drawings for dimensions and getting the baffle looking right. But I'm kind of torn. So far the options rolling around my noggin are:
1) 1965a clone (4x10, probably use Warehouse ET-10's in it)
2) 1966a clone (2x12 diagonal, probably use ET-65 or greenbacks)
3) A vertically aligned 2x10 in a 1965a/1966a size box. (25"x25")
4) A vertically aligned 2x12 in a 1965a/1966a wide box that's 1960a height (25"W x 30"H)
I'm really most drawn to the last two options, which to my knowledge have never been made by Marshall, but especially #3. (They did make a 1960 sized 2x12 called the 1961, but I'm really not interested in that - vintage collectible drawbacks with none of the advantages, and it's as big as the real deal.)
Curious as to the collective opinion, particular if you have experience with the WGS 10" options. I tend to run my 800 tones on the tight side (who doesn't?) What think ye? A straight up 1965A clone is probably the LEAST attractive option to me, as 1) it's easily the most available, 2) also has the highest parts cost, and 3) between 1 and 2 is also teetering way too close to the build vs buy argument. The 1966 is a bit harder to find, so 2 vs 4 really boils down to OCD/Diagonal speakers/dispersion/aesthetics of taller cab. I don't really have a dog in the 10 vs 12 fight, except for the fact that you have a lot less options to chose from if you go 10.