Went there yesterday. Got my JCM900 (4100) serviced - it had blown both output valve stage fuses but it turned out to be just a short in a valve and not the amp's circuitry. Also had a tour of the factory - third time I've had a look round now. The factory workers are actually on Easter break so not much going on. It did mean that we got to look at a couple of bits you can't normally see & you could talk at a reasonable level without the machinery noise. The guys there are always great, very helpful and very knowledgeable. Where better to get your amp serviced than the place they built it!
Marshall Factory Tour
- Thread starter Guv'nor
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mark_a_lucas37
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Info on Marshall Factory Tours
The factory is in Bletchly/Milton Keyes, 30 minutes up (50 minutes return) by train north of London. I suggest taking the train to Bletchly (not M/K) from the Euston station in north London. Dont bother with the 1st class tickets, but *do take the Virgin train (faster) if available. A ticket is about 20-UKpds. Trains run about every 30 minutes. Tours (which are FREE) are mainly done Mon-Fri b/c the factory is closed on weekends. Also, Fridays they close early (1p? 3p?) so I suggest a morning visit (9a-12p). Call ahead a few days in advance to get on the list. (the phone is +44(0)190-837-5411). I was lucky and had a one-on-one tour by the service manager (Phil?). Bring your camera but leave your ax at home. There are a few guitars laying around (so the factory dudes can play on breaks), and you may be able to test an amp in the little testing room at the end of the line. You can't buy amps at the factory, and there is alittle glass cabinet of shirts and other swag you can buy, but you cant buy the cute red or classic tweed colored MS-2s - even tho the girls have them queued up to send to dealers! The receptionists are very nice and cute young ladies who will take your picture in front of the 150% sized stack facade on the stairs. BE SURE and visit the "museum" upstairs where you can see --the very 1st JVM45 (bare chassis), --some PA amps, --cabs made for Deep Purple, --Park amps, --Vox amps made by Marshall, --the mashall stack guitar (for SpinalTap-2), --various prototypes, --one of the only Original Offset 45s made in the early 60s, --etc. You will see where the computer-run PCB board component insertion machines are, the cabinet making facility (very interesting and Green approach used!), the guts of the awesum 400w bass amp, and the 2-3 ladies who make the hand-wired point-to-point amps. The tour only takes about 1 hour - 15-20 minutes can be spent in the musem, and the tour takes 45 minutes. Its a gas! Afterwards you may want to get lunch at the "teepee" a local hotel (I forget the proper name) with a decent pub below the teepee. Its only a 5 minute or less drive - dont get ripped off by the cabbie like I did (he drove in circles to rack up the fare!).
When you leave - go to the "Code Breakers" museum (about one-block north and across from the Bletchly train station!). That's only about 10ukpds and you can spend all day there - including the Computer musem which has some Great vintage computers, including the restored Collosus!!! Also - be SURE and tell your cabbie to take you back to Bletchly not M/K station (but you can return from either regardless what ticket you bought).
The factory is in Bletchly/Milton Keyes, 30 minutes up (50 minutes return) by train north of London. I suggest taking the train to Bletchly (not M/K) from the Euston station in north London. Dont bother with the 1st class tickets, but *do take the Virgin train (faster) if available. A ticket is about 20-UKpds. Trains run about every 30 minutes. Tours (which are FREE) are mainly done Mon-Fri b/c the factory is closed on weekends. Also, Fridays they close early (1p? 3p?) so I suggest a morning visit (9a-12p). Call ahead a few days in advance to get on the list. (the phone is +44(0)190-837-5411). I was lucky and had a one-on-one tour by the service manager (Phil?). Bring your camera but leave your ax at home. There are a few guitars laying around (so the factory dudes can play on breaks), and you may be able to test an amp in the little testing room at the end of the line. You can't buy amps at the factory, and there is alittle glass cabinet of shirts and other swag you can buy, but you cant buy the cute red or classic tweed colored MS-2s - even tho the girls have them queued up to send to dealers! The receptionists are very nice and cute young ladies who will take your picture in front of the 150% sized stack facade on the stairs. BE SURE and visit the "museum" upstairs where you can see --the very 1st JVM45 (bare chassis), --some PA amps, --cabs made for Deep Purple, --Park amps, --Vox amps made by Marshall, --the mashall stack guitar (for SpinalTap-2), --various prototypes, --one of the only Original Offset 45s made in the early 60s, --etc. You will see where the computer-run PCB board component insertion machines are, the cabinet making facility (very interesting and Green approach used!), the guts of the awesum 400w bass amp, and the 2-3 ladies who make the hand-wired point-to-point amps. The tour only takes about 1 hour - 15-20 minutes can be spent in the musem, and the tour takes 45 minutes. Its a gas! Afterwards you may want to get lunch at the "teepee" a local hotel (I forget the proper name) with a decent pub below the teepee. Its only a 5 minute or less drive - dont get ripped off by the cabbie like I did (he drove in circles to rack up the fare!).
When you leave - go to the "Code Breakers" museum (about one-block north and across from the Bletchly train station!). That's only about 10ukpds and you can spend all day there - including the Computer musem which has some Great vintage computers, including the restored Collosus!!! Also - be SURE and tell your cabbie to take you back to Bletchly not M/K station (but you can return from either regardless what ticket you bought).
JohnnyG
New Member
I'll be heading to the factory soon to get my old jcm 900 lead cab recovered. On a side note I know of one bloke who's not a famous guitarist who's got his picture on the users wall at Marshall. Simply becuase he's been a Marshall user since the 70's and he gets the rockstar treatment.
Hows that for customer service eh
Hows that for customer service eh
MrBlues1985
Member
Finally got round to booking my amp in for a service. Im taking my JCM900 and my buddys taking his JCM2000. Booked in for the 25th October. The lady who I emailed booked us in for the WHOLE DAY!!! I hope they have a kettle on the go hahaha.
Strateuphoria
New Member
8000 units a month:eek2:
and half of that goes to you guys in the States.
Where do all these amps end up?
and half of that goes to you guys in the States.
Where do all these amps end up?
MrBlues1985
Member
Went to Marshall Factory on the 25th October. My amp needed 2 new power tubes, and got all my caps replaced, Lets just say its a new amp now, And they changed my handle for free lol. Got to have a look at there "museum". Its actually just a wall of Marshalls inside the main entrance to the factory, Albeit a very niceeee wall of Marshalls with the numero uno proudly displayed in what I could describe as a plastic box. Hahaha. And a few guitars.
Didnt manage to get a factory tour that day but there service was excellent and very cheap compared to a music shop (The chap that fixed my amp said they service/repair amps at a loss. So they dont make money from it. They price it cheaply as a favour to us guys using Marshalls.).
And the guys that serviced/repaired our amps chatted to us for about 20 minutes after about everything, They seemed more than happy to answer any questions we had about the amps and most likely anything else Hahaha.
All in all a very nice experience, And If your in reach of the Factory in Bletchley I highly reccomend taking your amp there for service/repairs.
Didnt manage to get a factory tour that day but there service was excellent and very cheap compared to a music shop (The chap that fixed my amp said they service/repair amps at a loss. So they dont make money from it. They price it cheaply as a favour to us guys using Marshalls.).
And the guys that serviced/repaired our amps chatted to us for about 20 minutes after about everything, They seemed more than happy to answer any questions we had about the amps and most likely anything else Hahaha.
All in all a very nice experience, And If your in reach of the Factory in Bletchley I highly reccomend taking your amp there for service/repairs.
mrjones2004x
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Where do you work? Im a maint Eng in MK also. Small world hey!
Use to work in Redmoor MK and now in Kingston MK.
Wish i could work at marshall as eng
Ron Meersand
New Member
very cool. it's on my bucket list.
SpiritOfTheAge
New Member
Where do you work? Im a maint Eng in MK also. Small world hey!
Use to work in Redmoor MK and now in Kingston MK.
Wish i could work at marshall as eng
Work in the Mercedes HQ in Tongwell, and also cover a site at Caldecotte lake and Denbigh Rd, the same road Marshall is on!
Malfunction
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Man I loved the video tour! My little VS 15 was made there really cool! I want to go check it out some day!
NeilVox
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I took the tour in '98 when I started working for Dawson's music as a group gear specialist - It was over two days - picked up from the hotel by stretched limo, dinner with Jim and a tour of the factory the next day - the room with all past and present Marshall models with fab - had a nice play around!! Good couple of days!
