Series 1 BB's on reverb

[granttg83]

Been a sudden flurry of these recently...a little like waiting for a bus!

What does everyone make of these...admittedly limited photos on all three!

1967 Marshall JMP Bluesbreaker 50w Tremolo 2x12 | Reverb

One of the holy grails of Marshall tone, this is a 1967 JMP Bluesbreaker Tremolo 50 Plexi 2x12 amplifier - the sound heard on some of our all-time favorite recordings. This Bluesbreaker is in remarkably clean shape and works exactly as it should. The plug has been converted to a modern 3-prong ca...

reverb.com

1965 Marshall Super Tremolo Model 1961 4x10 | Reverb

An even rarer version of the legendary 'Bluesbreaker' - this is a 1965 Marshall Super Tremolo Model 1961 in the 4x10" incarnation, complete with the gold plexiglass panel, black levant tolex and pinstripe grille. This amplifier is in astounding condition for its age with no tear to the tolex and ...

reverb.com

Marshall 1962T - Bluesbreaker (1966) | Reverb

Selling this original 1962T Bluesbreaker from 1966.It's in very good condition for it's age.It has recently been serviced, I have the complete list of work done on this unit upon request.A custom flight case is being made for shipping/I'm ready to deliver it in person for serious buyer.Feel free ...

reverb.com

The 1961 is interesting, looks a bit too clean though. Never seen a RM plate either? The JTM45 62 looks the real deal to me...just a shame about those "improvements"!

 

[Beryllium-9]

Another fun one on Reverb

https://reverb.com/item/80918329-1966-marshall-jtm45-bluesbreaker-2x12 The description even manages to get in a "dig" at the tweed amps :facepalm:

marshallforum.com

 

[NumbSkull]

I dont get why they are so expensive.
Reissues are available for about £1000 fairly easily,
do the originals sound better ?
I would expect the reissues to be more reliable,
and probably more authentic as a lot of the originals will have been repaired / modded.
Other old amps about the same age are almost worthless.
I want to understand because there is clearly something I am missing, but they do not appeal to me at all.

 

[playloud]

I dont get why they are so expensive.
Reissues are available for about £1000 fairly easily,
do the originals sound better ?
I would expect the reissues to be more reliable,
and probably more authentic as a lot of the originals will have been repaired / modded.
Other old amps about the same age are almost worthless.
I want to understand because there is clearly something I am missing, but they do not appeal to me at all.

As far as reissues go, the Bluesbreakers are some of the worst/least accurate. Two obvious issues are incorrect power tubes (5881, at least on the standard ones) and incorrect cabinet dimensions. The appearance leaves a lot to be desired also.

As far as reliability goes, why would they be more reliable? The parts (e.g. transformers) are lower quality in general, and the PCB ones are obviously harder to service.

 

[Dogs of Doom]

Been a sudden flurry of these recently...a little like waiting for a bus!

What does everyone make of these...admittedly limited photos on all three!

1967 Marshall JMP Bluesbreaker 50w Tremolo 2x12 | Reverb

One of the holy grails of Marshall tone, this is a 1967 JMP Bluesbreaker Tremolo 50 Plexi 2x12 amplifier - the sound heard on some of our all-time favorite recordings. This Bluesbreaker is in remarkably clean shape and works exactly as it should. The plug has been converted to a modern 3-prong ca...

reverb.com

1965 Marshall Super Tremolo Model 1961 4x10 | Reverb

An even rarer version of the legendary 'Bluesbreaker' - this is a 1965 Marshall Super Tremolo Model 1961 in the 4x10" incarnation, complete with the gold plexiglass panel, black levant tolex and pinstripe grille. This amplifier is in astounding condition for its age with no tear to the tolex and ...

reverb.com

Marshall 1962T - Bluesbreaker (1966) | Reverb

Selling this original 1962T Bluesbreaker from 1966.It's in very good condition for it's age.It has recently been serviced, I have the complete list of work done on this unit upon request.A custom flight case is being made for shipping/I'm ready to deliver it in person for serious buyer.Feel free ...

reverb.com

The 1961 is interesting, looks a bit too clean though. Never seen a RM plate either? The JTM45 62 looks the real deal to me...just a shame about those "improvements"!

well... Music Zoo is a well-known high dollar music store, w/ a good reputation. Don't know about Jules of Canada...

Jules is pick up in person, so, there's that...

At NAMM, when the companies bring out all their custom creations (for the show), Music Zoo snatches most of them up.

 

[nortiks]

Personally I never cared for the BB, so I guess I'm out as a bidder, lol.

 

[Jason deBroux]

I just picked up 90s RI of the 50 watt 2x12 tremolo combo for $1500. TBH, it sounds great. The tone is exactly what I was going for and is the closest thing to a certain guitar players clean tone out of an amp that I have ever heard with out dropping thousands of bucks.

The only explanation I can find as to why they’re so expensive is there are people out there that will pay for it. The guy I bought my amp from waited for 3 months and passed up multiple deals just because he turned out to live down the street and around the corner and he dug my style of play.

I once played a Super 100 that the shop was asking $18k for. It ended up selling.

Brand + Vintage + Demand = $$$

 

[goldtop0]

With the three amps, caveat emptor.
Get an expert like London John on here to give his assessment(which I think he may have done in the separate threads for each one).

 

[Beryllium-9]

well... Music Zoo is a well-known high dollar music store, w/ a good reputation. Don't know about Jules of Canada...

Jules is pick up in person, so, there's that...

At NAMM, when the companies bring out all their custom creations (for the show), Music Zoo snatches most of them up.

Been watching this monster from MZ for quite a while now...

1969 Marshall Major 200W Head and 4x12 Full Stack | Reverb

The Marshall full stack of all Marshall full stacks: this is a 1969 Marshall Major 200 watt head with two Marshall 4x12 cabinets. Used by the likes of Richie Blackmore and John Frusciante for their strength and power, the Major is a force to be reckoned with. The amplifier and its two accompanied...

reverb.com

 

[BlueX]

Been watching this monster from MZ for quite a while now...

1969 Marshall Major 200W Head and 4x12 Full Stack | Reverb

The Marshall full stack of all Marshall full stacks: this is a 1969 Marshall Major 200 watt head with two Marshall 4x12 cabinets. Used by the likes of Richie Blackmore and John Frusciante for their strength and power, the Major is a force to be reckoned with. The amplifier and its two accompanied...

reverb.com

That Major was sold in Sweden originally. Maybe I should go there and get it back.

Can't see any info on the cabs, or speakers. Should be some part of the asked price.

 

[NumbSkull]

And whats with all these BB pedals listed for silly money ? Why ?

Marshall Blues Breaker Bluesbreaker Mk1 Overdrive Guitar Pedal | eBay

<p>Marshall Blues Breaker Bluesbreaker Mk1 Overdrive Guitar Pedal. </p><br /><p>Marshall bluesbreaker pedal in good condition, please check photos and make sure you are happy with condition before buying, tested and works fine, foot switch can stick a bit, might be easy to fix..</p>

www.ebay.co.uk

Marshall Bluesbreaker MK1 Pedal | eBay

<p>Well used Marshall Bluesbreaker MK1 pedal. You know what these are all about. This one sounds great, and has been well looked after, always living on my pedalboard in a Flightcase. I have personally owned for 15 years, but the time has come to move it on. </p><br /><p>£500 delivered to your...

www.ebay.co.uk

This one is nice, but its not vintage. Tempting.

1997 Marshall Limited Edition 35th Anniversary JTM 1962 Bluesbreaker White 1/250 | eBay

White Custom Color. They are not holes in the fabric. This is in gorgeous condition and never left its hardcase. 85cm height.

www.ebay.co.uk

And this one is near me, but I dont need it if I already have a JVM and JCM800 ?
But I dont have a 45 ...

Marshall Vintage Modern 2266C 50w Valve Combo JTM KT66 | eBay

Marshall foot switch included.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Clanger1]

At a quick look 4x10 is certainly not 1965, more like 1967, which makes a big difference to rarity n hence value. Plenty of red flags too. Will look at others later.

 

[granttg83]

The 4x10 is likely a lashup I think, the grill looks off and I can’t see much green in the tolex.

The speakers are definitely a mismatch, I asked for some pics and two look to be from 68, and two from 69.

The 2x12 JTM 45 looks good to me. One speaker has been replaced and I’m not sure I’m keen on the cooling solution…but likely an original amp I think

The 2x12 JMP I haven’t decided on yet!

 

[Clanger1]

The last looks legit at a glance. Being an example that has obviously been around for a while the other two don’t look so authentic eh?

 

[neikeel]

The bottom one does look correct but I agree one speaker is a replacement as is the pilot lamp so you'd need to see inside
Top one has had a PT replacement (and not the correct OEM type), it is missing the chassis reinforcement plate and screws wrong (odd to add close up pic of that!) and someone has added ceramic resistors in series with HT in effort to drop the voltage.
Someone has grafted 0.1uF mustards into PI (correct value) but why graft onto leads.
Bias mod is meh.
The 4x10 looks like the board is a new scratch build - and is that a chocolate block connector stuck to the PT.

It seems picky to go over these in such detail but the prices are insane, even if they do sound good.

 

[granttg83]

JTM-45 (bottom one) has several changed parts unfortunately…curious the power transformer is an earlier style with the voltage selector on the top rather than along side the impedance selector…I’ve seen this plenty of times on heads but not on a combo…seems quite inconvenient if you need to change it…but then again if you need to change a tube etc….

 

[neikeel]

Theend bell on the PT looks v shiny..........

No pics of the terminals. Yep I have x3 JTM45s with me right now.
65 script logo - all Drakes and OT & PT selectors on side
64 silver panel RS OT and choke selector on top PT (different terminal layout to the other two)
65 block logo RS OT and choke, slightly later selector on top PT (like my 65)
Board components on this one pictured above are def 65 era type

 

[granttg83]

Theend bell on the PT looks v shiny..........

No pics of the terminals. Yep I have x3 JTM45s with me right now.
65 script logo - all Drakes and OT & PT selectors on side
64 silver panel RS OT and choke selector on top PT (different terminal layout to the other two)
65 block logo RS OT and choke, slightly later selector on top PT (like my 65)
Board components on this one pictured above are def 65 era type

It looks like this chassis definitely doesn’t fit as being correct for a script logo Bluesbreaker unless maybe if it’s a very early script logo from 65

 

[Clanger1]

JTM-45 (bottom one) has several changed parts unfortunately…curious the power transformer is an earlier style with the voltage selector on the top rather than along side the impedance selector…I’ve seen this plenty of times on heads but not on a combo…seems quite inconvenient if you need to change it…but then again if you need to change a tube etc….

All tge early BB had voltage selector on PT. OPT started off as RS. Then Selector on OPT Drake (-74 style iirc) then by the 7200 era on panel as this one. I’d guess this is late 66 but im no expert i lose interest past ‘65..

 

[Flano_mark]

Regarding the 1961 4x10 model - I would agree with Clanger in that it's highly unlikely to be a 1965 year.

There's a lot of detail on the thread below on three of these very early (i.e. 1965) 4x10 1961 models which can be used for comparison - serial numbers 7071 and 7069 shown on page 1 and 7096 on page 6. I've been continually researching and watching the market since i've restored the first one as shown in that thread, and these three are certainly the earliest variants of this model that i've seen.

The series 1 block logo 1961 variants are exceptionally rare amps and are all 1965 year (or debatably 1964 as per 7096), whereas the later series 1 script logo 1961 variants (as per above) do tend to appear more often and are latter year construction, abliet also very rare.

Series 1 1961 Bluesbreaker - What Do You Think?

Hello from Ireland! I have been lucky enough to get this beaut from an old friend. I haven't had the time to get right into the circuit yet, but feel its an amazing find. Unfortunately, the OT is blown and the baffle is rough, but other than that the amp looks to be in reasonably good shape...

www.marshallforum.com

Mark