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Average Price: $2,376
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$300
$801+
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Description
The Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head is not just a piece of equipment; it’s a legendary artifact that channels the raw energy of rock history. Revered by icons like Townshend, Clapton, and Hendrix, this amplifier head is a faithful reissue of the iconic 1959 Plexi model, delivering those electrifying tones that set the stage for rock 'n' roll’s golden era. With its 100-watt all-tube design, it captures the vibrant warmth and dynamic range that guitarists crave, from crisp cleans to searing leads.
This amplifier head isn’t merely a nostalgic nod to the past; it’s a robust workhorse for the modern musician. Crafted with precision, it features a tonally transparent effects loop with a true bypass option, allowing you to integrate your effects seamlessly or strip it back to pure tone. The EL34 and 12AX7 tubes are the heart of this beast, offering a deep, resonant sound that is unmistakably Marshall. Whether you're aiming to relive the past or forge new sonic paths, the Superlead is your ticket to aural nirvana.
Key Features:
- 100-watt all-tube amplifier head
- Faithful reissue of the 1960s Marshall Plexi model
- Features EL34 and 12AX7 tubes for classic rock tones
- Tonally transparent effects loop with true bypass option
- Renowned for its dynamic range and warm, vibrant sound
Product specs
| Brand | Marshall |
| Model | JMP 1959 Super Lead 2-Channel 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head |
| Finish | Black, Red, White |
| Year | 1967 - 1975 |
| Made In | United Kingdom |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Color Family | Black |
| Direct Output | No Direct Output |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 16 ohms, 4 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 2 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 4 Inputs |
| Output Power (Watts) | 100 |
| Power Tube Type | EL34 |
| Reverb | None |
FAQs
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What kind of tones can I expect from the Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head?
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The Marshall Superlead is renowned for its powerful, aggressive tones with a classic British flavor, ideal for rock and metal genres. It delivers a rich, harmonically complex sound with a tight low end and crisp highs.
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Is the Marshall Superlead suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Marshall Superlead, with its 100-watt output, is well-suited for live performances, providing ample volume and headroom to cut through the mix in large venues.
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Does the Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head work well with pedals?
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The Marshall Superlead is known for taking pedals well, especially overdrives and distortions, which can further enhance its natural tone and versatility.
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What types of power tubes does the Marshall Superlead use?
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The Marshall Superlead uses EL34 power tubes, contributing to its distinctive British sound and dynamic response.
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How many channels does the Marshall Superlead have?
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The Marshall Superlead features two channels, allowing for a range of tonal possibilities and dynamic switching during performances.
Videos
Woodwind & Brasswind is now Music & Arts
Marshall Plexi 1959SLP 100W Tube Guitar Amp Head Standard
Reviews
PROS
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Iconic vintage tone, unmatched by modern replicas
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Exceptional gain capability, perfect for a wide range of styles
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Distinctive sound, revered by professional musicians
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Responsive feel, particularly in non-master volume models
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Holds value as a vintage investment
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Excellent for warm vintage clean and natural distortion
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Highly customizable, with potential for de-modding
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Classic rock tone that many seek to replicate
CONS
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Extremely loud, may require attenuation for practical use
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Heavy and cumbersome to transport
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Variability in sound between different production years
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Risk of buying modded or non-original units
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Some models may be overpriced due to vintage status
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head.
Mods and upgrades
Comparisons
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The Super Bass, with shared cathode and different tone stack, offers fuller, darker tones compared to the Super Lead’s split cathode and increased gain.
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Super Bass amps, with higher headroom, are likened to Hiwatt for clarity but maintain a vintage thickness akin to JTM45 tweed clones.
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Pairing the Super Lead with a Gibson SG and two 4x12 cabs is praised for achieving iconic rock tones.
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Features and functionality
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The Super Lead circuit, often associated with classic rock, is renowned for its ability to narrow guitar tones for mixes efficiently.
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The 1979 Super Bass is identified as a model 1992N, not commonly listed, suggesting unique production details not widely documented.
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Late models might have a hand-wired turret board instead of a printed circuit board, which could affect repair ease and tonal authenticity.
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Build quality
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The transition from plexiglass to aluminum control panels occurred mid-1969, influencing the durability and appearance of the Super Lead amps.
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Setup and maintenance
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Inside the amp, a quality control checklist often has initials and a date, providing clues to the production timeline.
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User experience
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A Fryette Power Station is recommended for its attenuation capabilities, making the amp more practical for modern use while preserving tone.
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Owners note the Super Lead's durability, surviving extensive touring and harsh conditions while maintaining its sound quality over decades.
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A 1972 Super Lead purchased in 1987 for $125 has been a staple in multiple recordings, highlighting its long-term value and reliability.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 11 Ratings
5339
The Legend
Running instead of a jcm900 now because it blew a valve and this thing was what I played in punk bands in the early 90s I spray painted Jony on it ages ago i forgot what an awesome head this was modded so the second volume is a gain knob and reverb. I had my old settings on it being: gain 9 treble 10 bass 5 presence 4 middle 8 reverb 3
Artist usage
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According to a Christies auction, Jimi Hendrix used a 1966 Marshall Super Lead 100 Watt amplifier head in several concerts from 1967 to 1969.
According to the auction, here are some of the details of the amp head: "...Serial No. 7026, with black covering, front with white plastic Marshall logo, plexiglas control panel with six rotary controls, four inputs, two switches and indicator light, with white stencil lettering J.H.EXP. on the top in two places..."
"...this was likely to be one of the first Marshall amps that Hendrix ever owned and could have been one of three Marshall amps purchased by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on 11 October, 1966."
Marshall have used this amp as a template for their production of a limited edition handwired Jimi Hendrix Signature Super 100JH head.
The personal guitar tech of gustavo cerati, Barakus, tells at 5:05 of the video:
"Cuando yo llegué (al final de la gira Cancion animal) usaba los Marshall, uno era el Super Bass y el otro era el Super Lead."
Ace used these amps in the early years of KISS and they can be seen in this picture.
This photo is of Johnny Recording 'The Ramones,' New York City, February 1976 according to this Spin article. Premier Guitar writes in this article "when money was finally available, Johnny purchased not one but three Marshall 1959 Mark II Super Lead heads and six Marshall 1960B 4x12 straight cabinets."
During a live performance, Keith Urban discusses his use of the Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head as part of his amp setup, as detailed in the Premier Guitar "Rig Rundown" video at 9:03.
In his Marshal arsenal, Frampton has Marshall Superlead amplifier. This one was modded by Jose Arredondo, with master volume and effects loop included.
Marshall 100-watt amps were mandatory to cut through the often-sludgy sound of that era’s arenas and coliseums, Asheton points out. In time, he crafted a double or triple stack, “Where they take 200-watt heads, and they’d use a 50-watt head as a preamp – so I had the big sound,” he said. “If I may use the overused word – it’s awesome.”
In the Glastonbury 2019 full set video, Lee Kiernan of IDLES can be seen using a Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head, specifically cross-patched from the low input of channel one to the top input of channel two.
"There's a real clarity with a Superlead," says Justin Hawkins, at 6:00 in this rig rundown video.
By then we were involved with John Sinclair and the White Panthers, and we started to see Marshall amps coming over from England. Cream played them; we knew Jimi Hendrix used them because we had opened for him. So we bought a load of the original 100-watt Super Lead heads. We got six of them and two 200-watt bass heads. They were terrific-sounding amplifiers, but incredibly inconsistent; we blew them up regularly. You might get two or three shows out of them and then they’d go up in smoke. We’d have two sets of Marshalls with us on the road and one set in the shop all the time.
Album Usage
The Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
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Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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