Lead 12 questions...

[mve4158]

Never had a Marshall amp, so pretty much only know what I've been told about the Lead 12 I got. I was told it was a early issue of the Lead 12 because of, 1)no headphone jack, 2)pointers on the knobs, 3)metal attachments on the handle and the 4)cursive/script "Lead" 12 logo on the front. Any truth to this??? All I do know is it is a kick-ass little amp...and awesome condition for its age!
Thanks for any and all info...

 

[mve4158]

Will be posting internal pictures as well to help answer questions...

 

[DILLIGAS]

I'd take out the G10-25 (I don't like 'em), put it somewhere safe to retain the value of the amp. Drop something a little darker in it. Just my 2 cents.

Drew

 

[GIBSON67]

Nice little amps, I have one. Sounds like it is an early model, but I don't think that raises the value any. Mine does have the headphone jack.

 

[mve4158]

Here are a few more pictures...

 

[BeardedRetroGuy]

Definitely change the speaker. Celestion offers a few good 10" speakers, but you can get other brands cheaper...probably Eminence. Since the Lead 12 is "supposed" to sound like a JCM800, I'd go for a slightly more modern tone myself, but I replaced my Lead 12 (microstack) speakers with Celestion G10 Vintage speakers. Peep my thread here:

http://www.marshallforum.com/cabinets-speakers/36591-lead-12-microstack-speaker-upgrade.html

Speaker Test by FFXIhealer on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

 

[stringbender11]

I just bought a Lead 12 & a Reverb 12 recently. Really love the sound of these amps, true Marshall overdrive and really nice cleans too to my ears. I'm also debating changing out the speakers, still deciding on what to get though.

 

[wakjob]

Here are a few more pictures...

Ok, DEFINITELY something different going on here.

The layout is much different. Looks like some kind of back to back diodes doing the clipping. Probably in the op-amp's feedback loop ala tubescreamer. Or they could be connected to the gain pot Jose style. Hard to tell from the pics.

Much lower power filtering. Two 1000uf's instead of two 2200uF's.

RCA transistors instead of Motorola's.

OK, now all you have to do is buy one with the headphone/lineout jack on the front and do some comparison clips for us.

 

[plexilespaul]

hold on tight to that amp...it is a killer amp and does, as you know, (especially those early 80's ones) the marshall crunch in spades.

 

[wakjob]

BTW. That amp is in exquisite condition. Nice find my friend. Take good care of it.

 

[mve4158]

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[mve4158]

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[mve4158]

Thanks for all the replies...think I'd better hang on to this one. A buddy of mine that has one of the later Lead 12's, with the headphone/output jack came over and tried it out. His response was a "jaw-dropping" one, he couldn't believe the difference!
Now to do some speaker swapping/experiments.
Any other suggestions on speakers???

 

[wakjob]

Celestion G10L-35, Vintage 10, Greenback 10.

WGS Veteran 10.

Reverend 1030.

Eminence has a whole slew of 10" speakers. Martystrat might know about these?

 

[mve4158]

Noticed I had 2 or 3 responses appear at once. Still new to the forum, so please excuse me! I'll get it figured out soon! Once again, any and all comments are appreciated!

 

[mve4158]

I've had several individuals wanting to buy the knobs off this amp, because they have the little pointer on them. I'm amazed at some of the offers I have received. Is the knob w/pointer that hard to find? Not gonna sell them, just curious.

 

[Ed Hunter]

can my 3005 heads be modded to have that earlier circut like the gut shot pics the OP posted here?
The 3005 heads never had that original circut and i was hoping i could mod it to be the same?

 

[Ed Hunter]

Definitely change the speaker. Celestion offers a few good 10" speakers, but you can get other brands cheaper...probably Eminence. Since the Lead 12 is "supposed" to sound like a JCM800, I'd go for a slightly more modern tone myself, but I replaced my Lead 12 (microstack) speakers with Celestion G10 Vintage speakers. Peep my thread here:

http://www.marshallforum.com/cabinets-speakers/36591-lead-12-microstack-speaker-upgrade.html

Speaker Test by FFXIhealer on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

I heard that the celestion G10L-35s in the micro bass stacks or the 1965 cabs are the best overall for the 3005's?

 

[mve4158]

Just installed a Celestion G10 Vintage speaker...AMAZING improvement!!! Stored original speaker in the Celestion box just in case...

 

[BeardedRetroGuy]

Just installed a Celestion G10 Vintage speaker...AMAZING improvement!!! Stored original speaker in the Celestion box just in case...

Deja vous....

No, seriously, I put my G10D-25s in the G10 Vintage boxes and they're sitting in the back corner of my room.