Marshall Lead 12

[swarfrat]

So despite swearing off amps... went to the beach for just a weekend for our anniversary. I pull up local craigslist just out of habit. Bunch of stuff I don't need. Then I see this Marshall Lead 12 head. And I google it. Apparently they're pretty darned cool. It's a 1980's from the Artist series - my friend in high school had the mosfet head and the full 1965A/B 4x10 stack and it sounded awesome. Price is beginning to tick up, but I got it for $100 + shipping.

It's on the truck today.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-5IaYOvmjQ[/youtube]

Now I need to figure out some sort of cabinet. I see a few 412's local for $350-450 in rough to ok shape, but I don't have room in the music room for a 412. A vertical slant 210 would be AWESOME for it. Maybe I'll build something with Warehouse ET10's.  I'd pick up a a 1965A if I could find one local at a decent price. There's one for $500 4hrs away. Nope/nope. I'd drive it for $300 but I'm not sure I'd pay $500 across town.

What's really funny is I've always loved the Mesa Boogie cabinetry options, and had thought about finishing my JCM 800 1987 kit in the closet - and doing it up in Walnut/Cane grill. I was sort of thinking maybe making it a 112 combo on a 112 extension cabinet. Always loved the look/utility, but this... nah it needs a vertical slant 2x cab.

 

[swarfrat]

1966A and 1965A look like good options. Both are about the same size (24x24x12). About the same price as the 412's used at least the cheaper 1960A/B's, but I like the size/weight.

 

[bagman67]

If you need an interim solution, I have one of these I wanna divest.  Virtually unused but a little dusty.  The cab is particle board loaded with a 30-watt, 16-ohm Celestion-designed, Vox-branded loudspeaker.  It sounds really good for the price.  Just not getting used at Castle Bagman.

Vox AC112TV cab.

I'd let it go for a good price plus shipping or if you would like to propose an interesting trade I'd be curious to hear about it. 

 

[pabloman]

Check out Guitar Center used. I've done this a few times. Tons of great cabs at really good prices. Theres usually some good high end stuff  there. The Bogner Alchemist 212 cab is a good bargain. You'd be surprised how many cabs are loaded with greenbacks for dirt cheap. The Vox night train stuff comes to mind.  112 Orange cabs are a good way to go too.  Check it out. Shipping is free. 

 

[swarfrat]

Near as I can tell, Marshall never made a vertical 2x10 - or any guitar 2x10. After months of combing Music Go Round and Guitar center websites daily for other things, it slipped my mind to look there for speaker cabinets.

I like what I heard of the Warehouse ET10 and Green Beret 10 - the TS parameters they list though are whacked - the parameters don't line up by an order of magnitude. So I'm not sure if either is a good candidate for a closed back cab.  I'm thinking about making something like a 1966A but in 2x10. Or maybe even more like the Mesa 212 half back, but in  Marshall dress. Of course, there's no real reason to go with 10's if the footprint is going to be 24x12.  I need to go home and measure my JCM 800 kit chassis just to make sure whatever I build can sit under that should I ever finish it.

I'm looking for low mid thunk, a bit of raunch, but not so little treble that clean tone suffers. ET10 clips sounded pretty good.

 

[swarfrat]

There's a Carvin 412 in good shape at the kinda local Music-Go-Round for $150... except I don't really want a 30"W box.  And a rough 1960A for $350...  And a rough Mesa vertical half back 212 in PA for $350... dunno why I'm so fixated on the quarter stack thing. Looks I guess - and getting it up off the floor and making the most of the 12 watts.

 

[Cagey]

If you can deal with the size/weight, there are few cabs that sound as good a 412. The worst 412 I ever heard sounded pretty damn good. There's something about that configuration that just works. One of the bigger surprises I ever heard was plugging a little 5 watt Bugera into a 412. brought that little rascal right to life.

 

[stratamania]

What about a vertical 2 * 12.

Here is one with Marshall on it.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MX212AR--marshall-mx212ar-160-watt-2x12-inch-vertical-extension-cabinet

Lots of other folks make them.

 

[swarfrat]

I'm steering clear of the MX/MG lines. i suppose i could pick up an MG and put decent speakers in. i sold an MG 412 a couple years ago. it was truly horrid.