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Average Price: $2,376

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$300

$801+

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Description

Unleash the power of classic rock with the Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head. Revered by guitar legends for its robust sound and remarkable tonal versatility, this amplifier head is a cornerstone in the evolution of rock music. Known for its iconic all-valve design, it delivers a timeless, harmonically rich tone that has defined the sound of generations.

The Super Lead 100-Watt Head features a quartet of EL34 power valves, providing an unmistakable punch and dynamic range. Its dual-channel capability allows for seamless transitions between clean and overdriven tones, making it perfect for any style—from the crisp, articulate sounds of blues to the heavy, saturated tones of metal. The addition of three ECC83 preamp valves ensures that your sound remains pristine, even at high gain levels.

Built with the touring musician in mind, the Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head is housed in a robust, road-ready casing that can withstand the rigors of life on the road. Its master volume control offers precise adjustments, making it easier than ever to dial in your perfect sound. Whether you're playing in a small club or a large stadium, this amplifier head has the power and flexibility to meet your needs.

Key Features:

  • 100-watt all-valve head
  • EL34 power valves and ECC83 preamp valves
  • Dual-channel design for clean and overdriven tones
  • Master volume control for precise sound adjustments
  • Road-ready construction with a durable casing
  • Ideal for a range of music styles from blues to metal
Guitar Hangar - Lessons, Rentals, Repairs, and More

Guitar Hangar - Lessons, Rentals, Repairs, and More

Vintage Marshall Super Lead 100 Watt Amp Head Demo | Guitar Hangar

Video thumbnail for Vintage Marshall Super Lead 100 Watt Amp Head Demo | Guitar Hangar by Guitar Hangar - Lessons, Rentals, Repairs, and More

Vintage Marshall Super Lead 100 Watt Amp Head Demo | Guitar Hangar

Guitar Hangar - Lessons, Rentals, Repairs, and More

Guitar Hangar - Lessons, Rentals, Repairs, and More

Video thumbnail for Vintage 1972 Marshall Super Lead 100 Amp Head Demo AC/DC and More! by Brad

Vintage 1972 Marshall Super Lead 100 Amp Head Demo AC/DC and More!

Brad

Brad

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head.

Build quality

  • The presence of a laydown power transformer is notably rare, seen in some 1975 models.

    Source
  • The circuit board is not made of aluminum; it's the front control panel with volume and tone knobs that has this finish.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Older models typically have four speaker outputs, while some later versions, like a 1975, feature only two.

    Source
  • The Super Bass typically has a shared cathode on the first gain stage, while the Super Lead has a split cathode, offering slightly more gain.

    Source
  • Anti-slip pads are recommended to prevent the amp from moving due to its powerful vibrations when cranked up.

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Setup and maintenance

  • Checking the transformers and pots for date codes can help pinpoint the production year of the amp.

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Mods and upgrades

  • Switching from 6550 to EL34 power tubes is recommended by owners to achieve the classic Marshall tone.

    Source
  • Modifying a Super Lead to switch to a Super Bass setup involves changing the V1A cathode cap/resistor, tonestack, and PI coupling caps.

    Source
  • A master volume mod, typically bypassable, is often added to these amps for better volume control without sacrificing authenticity.

    Source
  • Adding an effects loop and an extra speaker output are common mods that enhance the Super Lead's functionality.

    Source

User experience

  • A Fryette Power Station can effectively attenuate the Super Lead’s volume, making it more suitable for home use without sacrificing tone.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Super Bass, with higher headroom, is described as a step towards Hiwatt-like clarity, but still retains a thicker, JTM45-like tonal character.

    Source
  • The OR50 is considered by some to surpass the Rockerverb in sound quality, though the OR100 with its switchable power levels offers unique convenience.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Super Bass is noted for its suitability in achieving Malcolm Young’s rhythm guitar tone, as heard on AC/DC's "Ball Breaker" album.

    Source
  • It's noted that the amp can be impractically loud, making it challenging to achieve natural overdrive at manageable volumes.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Legendary Tones - 100 Watt Marshall Super Lead

legendarytones.com

The Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head is heralded as the quintessential amplifier for iconic rock tones, revered by legends like Hendrix and Page. Its simple, hand-wired design and dynamic distortion characteristics make it a staple for achieving classic soundscapes. However, its lack of pre-amp or gain control requires ear-splitting volumes to unlock its full potential, limiting its practicality in today's volume-conscious environments. Despite this, its historical significance and tonal prowess still make it a coveted piece for those who can accommodate its demands.

positive

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 10 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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1 star
nikkiangelus

An OK-sounding vintage amp.

Let's face it: You can never quite go wrong with a Marshall since it's been the quintessential rock tone for what, 50-60 years now? This particular amp would be great if it wasn't for the outdated design, though. It looks and sounds good, but has only one measly channel. In order to push any drive out of it, you have to crank it all the way up to 11 and this motherfucker LOUD! There's no way a sane person would use it live without reamping it.

In a nutshell: The vintage points are cool and it's hot crunch sounds great in the studio, but there are a tons of newer amps that are capable of doing the same thing without bursting an eardrum.

jimmarchi1

ummm, a superlead has 2 channels, normal and bright? I've owned many, used to be my amp of choice when I played big venues, definitely 2 channels, split cathodes into a mixer gain stage, shared cathode follower tweed bassman EQ and then into the power section. do you mean it doesn't have independent EQ? Its just for fien tailoring, this is an amp where you start with everything but presence at 10 and turn down from there until it sounds right in the room you're playing.

jimmarchi1

its really loud, yes, but in a 500+ seat venue you don't even need any attenuation, its just enough level where you don't need to waste floor wedge headroom on your own guitar sound and you can have it full of kick, snare and bass guitar

its a specific tool for a specific job.... I got rid of my superleads because in my current situation, even with a little hotplate attenuation, the rooms they would be in are so small that any living thing standing directly in line with the cab will evaporate into the atmosphere as plasma... but in a big space where the sound can diffuse and there's a few hundred tightly packed bodies absorbing up the high frequency reflections? not that loud.... I would also debate that there are master volume amps that cop the sound.... I've heard close but the feel is never there and if you DO wanna turn up in a big space then you lose something because of all the extra preamp gain. Some of the Soldano's get close to a JMP version and the bogner stuff gets plexi-ish in the right mode or whatever, but this is one of those eleusive sounds, especially because every superlead sounds different. I've never used 2 that sounded the same. I ahd 4 of them in the studio at once and every single one was very different whereas an 800, 900 or a 90 Laney is pretty consistent amp to amp even with different tubes and biasing.

also, you can rebias this amp (and almost any other EL34 amp that runs 700v or less plate voltage) for JJ's very robust 6V6es and run it at 1/2 impedance to make it a fire breathing 30 watter. I've tried this toconvert one of my 50 waters into a 15 watt head for home recording with great results. Its an easy, non-destructive mod.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Steve Stevens uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Steve Stevens

Guitarist

Michael Jackson (band)

...
Verified via YouTube

At 5:13 in this promo for his signature amp Steve Stevens discusses his 1969 Marshall "Plexi" superlead when referencing the tour he did with Vince Neil in support of Van Halen.

See how Jamie Rhoden uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Jamie Rhoden

Guitarist

Title Fight

...
Verified via Photo

During a show at Coachella in 2014, Jamie Rhoden can be seen playing through a Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head, as evidenced by a photo on Wikipedia.

See how Johnny Bond uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Johnny Bond

Guitarist

Catfish and the Bottlemen

...
Verified via YouTube

en el segundo 0:50 se lo puede ver arriba del gabinete orange

See how Al Jourgensen uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Al Jourgensen

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Ministry

...
Verified via Guitarguitar

"...I mean the profiles I’m using, it varies from Marshall Super Leads to like uh, I have some Wizards on there and, you know, Diezels, Mesas, it really depends on what the song calls for but yeah, I’m super, super happy with them."

See how Tom Scholz uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Tom Scholz

Guitarist, Bassist

Boston

...
Verified via Premierguitar

In this PremierGuitar article, Scholz's gear list includes a Marshall Super Lead 100.

See how Brad Whitford uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Brad Whitford

Guitarist

Hollywood Vampires

...
Verified via Premierguitar

The Whitfords depended on the time-tested—and Hendrix-approved—Marshall Super Lead and a Marshall 4x12. The head is a reissue 100-watt model, and the cabinet is a 1960BX loaded with Celestion Greenbacks. It’s mic’d with a Shure SM57

See how Shane Moran uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Shane Moran

Guitarist

Title Fight

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video titled "Title Fight - (FULL SET) 1.26.18 Long Island, NY" by Feet First Productions, at timestamp 11:01, Shane Moran can be seen using a Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head.

See how Duane Denison uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Duane Denison

Guitarist

Silver Jews

...
Verified via Photo

Duane used a Marshall Super Lead, according to this Guitar Geek rig diagram.

See how Hisako Tabuchi uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Hisako Tabuchi

Singer, Guitarist

Number Girl

...
Verified via Photo

A Marshall Super Lead can be seen sitting atop an Orange 4x12 cabinet in the background.

See how Susan Tedeschi uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Susan Tedeschi

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via Premierguitar

As far as rigs paying tribute to Hendrix, Tedeschi’s hit the nail on the head with the loud, clean power of a reissue Marshall Super Lead 100- watt head driving a Marshall 1960BX cabinet loaded with Celestion Greenback 25-watt speakers and mic’d with a Sennheiser e906

See how Craig Nicholls uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Craig Nicholls

Singer, Guitarist

The Vines

...
Verified via YouTube

Used primarily in the Highly Evolved era for live shows. You can see it in several of their performances from that era, including Live On Channel V 2002, which i linked. It can be seen in the background, behind Craig, in most of the more open shots.

See how Tom Keifer uses Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head

Tom Keifer

Singer, Guitarist

Cinderella

...
Verified via Vintage Guitar® magazine

Tom, when asked how many amps he owns states "Twenty-five, maybe more; six or seven Super Leads, three or four Bassmans, a couple of old Gibsons in tweed"

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Gibson Les Paul Standard Solid Body Electric Guitars
5
Fender Esquire
Fender Esquire Solid Body Electric Guitars
4
Boss TR-2 Tremolo
Boss TR-2 Tremolo Tremolo Effects Pedals
4
Fender Telecaster
Fender Telecaster Solid Body Electric Guitars
3
Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars
3
Marshall 1960A 4x12'' Cabinet
Marshall 1960A 4x12'' Cabinet Guitar Amplifier Cabinets
2
Gibson ES-335
Gibson ES-335 Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars
2
Klon Centaur Professional Overdrive
Klon Centaur Professional Overdrive Overdrive Effects Pedals
2

Community setups

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jimmarchi1

jimmarchi1

Gear IQ 41029

fazliemreguven

fazliemreguven

Gear IQ 238

1 alternative for Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head, curated by the Equipboard community.

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