Marshall 1936 2x12 Cabinet

A simple word to describe this cab is AWESOME.
She's light in weight, but pushes a ton of air. I believe mine has the T75s in it. This cab was in excellent condition when I bought it a few days ago. It was priced at $430, which is an excellent deal.
I'm not certain what year it was made, but I do know for a fact it was in the '80s. It's got a single 8 ohm jack. It's got great bass and treble responses. Nice and boomy but not muddy, and this sucker can sound MASSIVE.

I have only one complaint. This sucker is incredibly thin. My Mesa Nomad head won't sit stable on top of it, so that's one point off the rating... That's really my only complaint though.

Like I mentioned before, I run my Mesa Nomad 100 head through it. I play classic rock in a cover band, and pretty heavy rock / metal. This cab is incredible. It sounds so massive, it gives that 'chunk' when you need it, yet it stays so sweet sounding when needed too. This cab sounds nothing less than extremely high quality. I prefer this cabinet to the a Mesa 212. Very British tonally.

I've only had it for a few days, but it's from the '80s so it's had to last at least 20 years. Sounds like a damn good deal to me.

Never had to deal with Marshall.

I've been playing for going on 8 years now. I also own an MG100DFX half stack, which I use for backups with my PODXT Live. My main rig though, is a Mesa Nomad head and this cabinet.

If I could find another cab that sounded this good, I would buy it right away, whether this was stolen or not!

I compared her to the Mesa 212 and Marshall 1960AV cab. Both were stocked with the V30s. This one just has a much more present sound and it kicks ass. Nice bite to it too.

I wish it had casters, and I wish the body had more depth so my Mesa could sit on top. Other than that, perfect!

Just bought this new. Mfg date is week 36 of 2008. No comment on features, it's a speaker cab with mono/stereo inputs

My reference is the other two stock Marshall cabs I own: a 1960A (G12T75s)and a 1960AV (V30s). I use Gibson guitars, a DSL 100 and JVM 410H.

This cab sounds excellent, MUCH better than the MC212 I traded in toward it. It shines for everything I play through it, whether clean, dirty, Metal, Rock, Jazz, etc. It's not overly bright or boomy, and sounds like it would sit in a live mix just about where it should, maybe more clearly than a 4x12 due to its smaller size. It handles the low end of my DSL 100's Deep switch setting, though I'm sure there's a limit at some point.

Compared to my 4x12's it sounds as I expected, perhaps even a little better.

I'd give it a lower rating, but I can't find any reason to knock any points off.

Looks built as solid as my 4x12s inside and out, read more below.

I went for this with a little apprehension because of some of the bad reviews on this board. It sounded and looked fine at the store, so I bought it and brought it home. First thing I did was open it up and have a look inside. It's made of whatever kind of ply board people say (compressed MDF or whatever it is), but it doesn't look the least bit shoddy to me. In fact, it looks very clean and solid. Models from the 80's may have been built with better wood, but I can't juat walk into a store and get an older one, especially one that hasn't been messed with. Personally, I don't care if they're made out of newspaper and glue, as long as they sound good and hold together well, and this cab sounds great.

One note on the tolex reports: the tolex is the exact same build quality as every other typical Marshall head and 4x12 cab. It's no different, at least that's the case with mine. As anyone can see, even the old Old OLD Marshall cabs are often torn to shreds.

Lastly, every Marshall speaker cab I've owned has speaker bolts that are not screwed "tight" to the baffle. That's because there needs to be some flexibility between the metal basket and the wood baffle, otherwise you run the risk of getting resonant peak frequencies. Cab sound shrill and lack bass? Did you tighten the speakers all the way down to the baffle because you thought they were loose?

Bottom line for me is that this cab isn't exactly "value priced" when you consider that its plywood 4x12 counterpart is only $$100-$170 more and comes with casters, but still this is an excellent sounding lightweight/portable 2x12 cab. For $630 it should come with casters or else it should be priced around $575.

I would definately buy it again as long as the price wasn't any higher. $630 is pushing it for MDF construction with no casters included.

This is a review for the recent, "cheap MDF" version of the cabinet, loaded with the often-excoriated 75s. Features are well described below. I will refrain from rating them.

I picked this up used, just because I was always kind of curious about these. Low expectations, honestly. I am really impressed! Sounds big, clear, punchy, and tight. I play loud frazzy punk/hard rock. Might be less impressive for jazz, I suppose.

Seriously, really surprising. I am pairing it with an Avatar cab loaded with 4 Alnico Blues, and the combination is killer. Yes, the Blues are warmer and rounder and "prettier", but the 75s in this oversized cab sound terrific. Damn - another piece of gear I have to keep, since it is too useful to sell.

I may use this cab by itself for tiny, dank rock clubs. It spews out a lot of volume for its size.

Seems decent, but no basis for a rating. The cabinet is not made from 13-ply voidless Andalusian Ironwood. It is not the typical low-grade crumbly MDF or chipboard, either. Not sure what it is, but it's lightweight, resonant, and solid. The usual Marshall green elephant skin tolex and plastic corners & handles, which in my experience hold up very well.

Never dealt with them, so no rating.

37 years of inept guitar playing, some professional, most for fun. I have owned a lot of gear, and I am surprised by how good this cabinet sounds. I won't rush out to sell my Mesa or Avatar cabinets, but I think I will keep this one.

I would hesitate to spend $600 new for this, but if you need a small, lightweight cabinet that fits in your backseat, this might work for you. Very cool sitting on top of a 4 X 12, too.

Nice and simple, one jack for mono 8 ohm input and use both jacks for 16 ohm stereo use! This one is made from MDF but the older ones were plywood.
Loaded with celestion G12T-75 speakers. Personally i like these cos i find they can handle more or less any style of music pretty well. A good hybrid speaker if you like...
It is pretty big for a 2x12 cab but that has its pro and cons. Doesnt come with castors...instead its just got some cheap platic feet! Its not difficult lift really but i soon had the feet off it and put on some decent metal braked rubber wheeled castors on which does make life that bit easier:) Much better castors than those cheap things that marshall put on as standard to 4x12 cabs.
I dont actually have this cab anymore. I had to sell it cos i have no space to keep it anymore and iv got myself a peavey classic 50 combo instead of a half stack. Still a very good cab all the same.

I used to have a marshall avt150h which i ran through the 1936. Not the greatest amp in the world but made a pretty good clean sound so i ran a pedal board through it. The cab makes all the right sounds and dispersion is ok. It can be very directional but if you set it up at the right angle/direction and most importantly, set it OFF THE GROUND...then you will be heard!
Personally, i really like the sound of this cab. Also makes a very nice combo stack if you have a decent combo amp with an 8 ohm speaker output.

I used mine for about 3 years and it sustained a fair few knocks in that time but you'd never really know it. It doesnt look damaged at first glance and its just as strong as it was when i bought it. Definately lives up to the marshall reputation of being a robust and roadworthy bit of gear.
Gig without a backup??? no problem. I did for the 3 years that i had it and it was fine.

Never had to contact marshall so cant comment.

Overall i reckon its worth having especially if you play classic to modern style rock. But it suits most styles pretty well due to the speakers being quite versatile.
The only reason i decided to sell mine was because i wanted to move to a nice combo amp and lack of storage space! If i was to play larger venues more regularly though i would be very tempted to buy another one and rig it up to my peavey classic which would make a great combo stack.
Reason for 1 or 2 less points in this rating is mainly cos of its being quite directional with sound dispersion which for a large cab you wouldnt really expect!
Other than that though, a good buy.

It's an old JCM 800 (1936) cabinet. Bought it 2nd-hand for 300,- euro. The former owner put Celestion Vintage 30's in it. The speakers are 8 ohm each and wired in series for a total impedance of 16 ohm. It's got a sturdy metal jackplate and has been wired for the mono input only...wich is perfect for me. No stereo B.S. for me.
I opened up the back and it's made of plywood and the former owner did a good rewiring. Like I already said, it's an old cabinet and has some wear. I'm fine with that...it's supposed to be used and above all it's about how it sounds...not how it looks or how it is build.

Very nice actually. It's brighter than my 1960AX with greenbacks, but does what it's supposed to do. Have not gigged with it yet. I got it for the smaller gigs. The cabinet has more volume than a typical 2x12" cabinet, so will give more bottom end. Need to play a bit more with it and if it's not quite to my taste then I will swap 1 V30 for a Greenback.

It's from the early eighties and lasted so far. The cloth in front of the speakers has a hole, but can last another couple of years. Build like a tank and ready for another century.

Never dealt with them. Very good in fixing things myself, so I think that will be a much faster (and proper) service.

My amps are 2 x Mesa Blue Angel amp-heads (1 on a 1960AX and 1 on a 1936). These amps have variable output amps: 18 watts (with 2x6L6 tubes), 30 watts (4xEL84 tubes) and 38 watts (mixture of both tubes). I mostly play on 18 watts mode, so I don't get deaf and the output tubes are driven pretty fast. These cabinets give me a detailed and very full sound. What can I say: works for me.
If it doesn't for you, try something else.

This is more of a statement than a review.
I have had this cab for 12-15 years.
Bought it new shipped from England.
It has been gigged and jammed with almost constantly.
Too many guitars to remember.
Both single coils and hummers.
I even used it as a bass cab.
2X12 for full size head.
Plastic handles and plywood.
It is indestructable.
Much better than the old heavy Marshall cabs.
75 watt Celestions sound wonderful.
Fantastic punch and bottom end.
The tolex is getting beat up especially on the bottom but it still looks good.
I play 2 different heads through it.
100 watt JMP Mk 2 and a 50 watt JCM 900 both with Mullard pre and power EL-34's.
This is a real workhorse that just keeps on sounding great.
It weighs about 45 pounds with casters and it fits in the trunk of my cars.
I have been gigging for about 40 years and I had lots of amp heads and cabs.
The only cabs that come close to it are the old Orange and Hiwatt cabs.

It features 2 12" G12T-75 speakers and a stereo/mono input. The hardware is cheap plastic, not as quality as I had expected. Overall, it can handle what I throw at it. The rating would be higher if it had better hardware.

I've had this cab for about a year and initially I liked the sound; it was a big improvment over the Fender 2x12 I was using. My tone tastes have changed over the years and I find that I prefer a much more punchy hard driving tone these days. This cabinet doesn't give me that punch I want and has a lot of "fuzzy" tone (when using distortion) on the high end; I absolutely hate that fuzziness.

Not much to go wrong but the plastic stuff could be an issue with lots of gigging. I don't gig much as I do almost entirely studio work.

Have never needed to contact them.

I've been playing for about 25 years and this cabinet would have been ideal for the style I played in the 80's. I prefer modern hard rock like Pillar, POD, Hoobastank, etc. and this cab doesn't even come close. If you're looking for classic rock tone, it'll probably work for you.

I would not replace this cab with the same type. I'm looking to replace it with a Mesa Boogie Recto cab or Road King cab.

The 1936 has two celestion speakers, mono and stereo inputs. Not sure what else you would want in this cabinet but it's nearly perfect in that department for me!

I run a Peavey Rockmaster Preamp through a Classic 50/50 Power Amp into this cabinet. Utilizing the resonace of the power amp gives this cab a nice chunk sound perfect for classic rock all the way up to metal. Clean is nice, brilliant as well

I have owned this cabinet for about 8 years. It has never given me one minutes grief!

Never had to deal with Marshall so no opinion.

This cabinet is a great sounding 2x12. I don't know about the newer ones but this one I have sounds great. If you se one used try it for yourself, don't take my word on it!

JCM 800 Lead Series, made between 1981 and 1983. Black tolex and black basketweave grille. All plywood (except the back panel, which is MDF as on all post-1971 Marshall cabinets). One mono input. Originally loaded with Celestion G12-65s. Someone had installed G12-75s, which I replaced with 65s from 1981.

Having owned an all-MDF 2000 version of this cabinet, my tone went from night to day when I got this one. Spend a few extra bucks and get an old one! They only used G12-65s for a few years, and I much prefer these to the 70s and 75s they used later, but I'm not looking for a scooped sound. I'm more in the AC/DC meets Ramones category.

Nice thick plywood. The tolex is still in good shape on mine. Marshall uses cheap plastic for the corners, handles, and jack. These need periodic replacing, but luckily the parts are still made.

I use this cabinet with a 1978 Marshall 2204, and the sound is unbeatable for what I do. Not only is this cabinet easier to carry than a 4x12, but in the small clubs where I play, I can set the master volume of the amp higher. It projects just fine. If it got stolen, I'd hunt down another.

Mine is from the 80's I think. Built solid. Stereo or mono input. I like that it's wide and stack very nicely on my 4x12. My amp also fits well on top, tho not perfectly into the grooves.

I can imagine that the newer ones are crap, but this one I have is great. Very big low end and sounds absolutely incredible when teamed with my Splawn 4x12 with V30's. Nice sounding speakers, but I might put something else in it eventually in the pursuit of perfecting my tone(s).

This thing makes classic rock and metal sounds that suit me just fine. I'm not your average metal guy tho. No scooped mids! I prefer vintage tones and all tube single channel amps. I use it with my SG std w/p90's and also a 77 Ibanez custom agent LP copy which has an original dimarzio super distortion in the bridge. Both guitars sound awesome through this cab. I go for a bassy, midrangey tone with the treble cut back a little. I play a 71 ampeg V4, which is a clean amp. I use pedals for the fuzz and dist, plus a clean boost to get my natural overdrive. My style of playing is lead and rhythm in the classic rock style and stoner/doom/heavy psych. I can't find any faults with this cab, tho I can imagine that a 2x12 could be even better. It's pretty light and easy to load and carry too.

It always works for me so far.

??

I've been playing guitar for 20 years. I own some nice stuff, but not anything extravagant or expensive. This cab I got used for $250 on my local craigslist. It was just what I needed as I was tired of lugging my 4x12 to practice.