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.

2x12 Marshall cab with Celestion G75t's in it and stereo inputs

I play a Mesa DC-5 head through this cab and after 3 years of use, I'm not all that impressed. I have also played this though a 4x12 Marshall with Vintage 30's and the sound was great. I wanted something smaller than a 4x12 for gigging and honestly this isn't much smaller - it's very large for a 2x12. I haven't ever had any buzzing issues or anything else like others have stated, this cab is just plain dull. It has no life whatsoever. One of the other guys said it perfectly that the sound is very narrow and just shoots out at your legs.

It's a marshall cab. Solid as a fuckin' rock.

Never needed it.

If this cab were lost or stolen I would buy something else. No heartbreak. I give this cab a 6 only because its totally solid and has never shit out on me.

80's 1936 2x12 with Celestion 75's. This one is real plywood.

Single 1/4" jack for 8ohms

An extra jack would be nice but usually the amp has a 2nd jack anyhow.

Fits in the backseat with ease!

Sounds fantastic. Great low end as it's a rather large 2x12...not like the 1922.

The attack is nice and quick, and it's not boomy either.

Classic Marshall sound.

No probs...and it's an old, used 1980s unit.

Never dealt with support.

7 years. Own a mesa 1x12 recto cab, Yorkville/Traynor YCV40, custom made Vox AC-30TB clone, custom single EL84 amp, custom 18W plexi style marshall amp, and a whack of bass gear.

2x12
Mono or Stereo
etc.

I play with a Sovtek Midget 50H. (Maxed)
With a Turbo Rat and a Big Muff (also Maxed)

Wall of Sound (Noise)

I never gig with a backup.

Never needed it.

The people who have given this cab a bad review are simply deluded.

I'm sorry to judge you from your reviews but you all sound like the sort of guitarists who care more about the equipment they have than making music.

I bought this because -
I can fit it in my car.
It's a reasonable price.
Got the classic marshall tone.
Reliable.

Anyone who would play with a full (4x12 x2) marshall stack in a small venue is a penis.

Pretty standard fare. Nice build quality. 2 Celestion G12T-75's. Rugged and reliable. Typical Marshall toughness. No worries.

This cab sounds way FAT. Chunky and crunchy, smooth mids, cuts right through the mix. I was looking for something a little more portable for informal jamming with my buds and this totally delivers the goods. I use a 1959 slpx head and it will thump you in the chest at 20 feet away. It does the job. Period.

No issues whatsoever.

Never needed it!

I don't understand why these dudes wanna slam this cab. I opened mine up and it's ALL birch ply. Second, Vintage 30's and Greenbacks always sounded mushy to me when driven hard. Check Yngwie and Zakk and see what they use. G12T-75's. Now Zakk's got this deal with EV which is even more over the top. Bottom line: if you need something to drag out of the house that will kick major ass like your 4-12 cabs without the moving hassle, this is the dude. Add it to your cab collection. You'll be glad you did.

Marshall 1936 2x12
Made in 1999
Used with Marshall JCM 800 100 watt Head and also
Marshall EL34 100/100 + Digitech GSP2101

Basically ive read some reviews here where people have mentioned how cheap and crap their NEW 1936's are. I have to agree cos i borrowed one of a mate (it was 6 months old) and it sounded like shit. Any cabs over about 5 or more years old are good. The new ones from Marshall are cheaply made! Crap wood etc. I think they actually come from china now but im not 100% sure. Im pretty sure all the valvestate stuff i made there.

Never ever had a problem.

Nil

The 'OLD' 1936's are tight sounding, bassy and handle great amounts of volume. I reckon they sound better than the Marshall quads. I prefer to use 2 1936 cabs as opposed to 1 quad. If your thinking about buying one remember, the older the better but not abused obviously!

Its a 2 x 12 Cab. No real features to speak of.

Ii played a Mesa Boogie Lonestar head through this Cab, and it sounded thin and harsh. The cab buzzes at high volume. The focus of the sound is very narrow as noted by previous commenst from other users. I tried teaming the cab with a 2 x 12 Mesa recto cab, and the recto sounded better on its own. What was the point of adding this cab to my setup. I ended up returning this cheap made in China 2x12 Marshal.

This Cab is made from cheap particle board. Take a moment and open up the back, and you will be shocked at the shoddy workmanship. The G12-75 speakers are made in China under license to Celestion, and are really harsh sounding with poor low end, thin mids and harsh highs. Don't waste your money buying Vintage 30's and putting them in this cab, it makes no sense to house any quality speakers in this poorly constructed cabinet. The Handles are made of cheap plastic, held on by 4 screws. It is very light, but then again, particle board and plastic handles don't weigh very much.

I have been playing for over twenty years, with different cover bands. Shame on Marshal for using their name to rip off honest musicians.

Well, it's a 2x12 cab. It gets a 10 for actually having 2 12" speakers, and a 0 for cheap plastic handles, tolex bubbling from poor adhesive application, lead wires barely clipped onto the speakers, and oh yeah, did any of the other bazillion reviewers happen to mention - these thoroughbred pieces of crap are made (most of them) from MDF. Thats right, the world's "premiere" guitar amp manufacturer is building their precious cabinets from the same garbage used to make the cabinets under your bathroom sink. Truly despicable.

OK, I got this to use under a JCM800 2x12 combo. I really dig the original vertical input combos, and thought a half open/half closed back half stack would be interesting. The 1936 actually looks pretty cool and fits the 800 and 900 combos perfectly, so I figured I'd give it a try. I play rock/hardcore mainly on a LP Custom with minimal effects, using the amp and speakers in conjunction with my guitar to shape the sounds. This cab clashed horribly with the Celestion 65's in my combo. I figured I would swap out the g12t75's for Vintage 30's, but when I opened up the back and saw its internal construction I figured why bother. Overall, the flimsy construction and (in my opinion) tonally deficient speakers created a choked, lackluster tonality which did not do my nice 800 combo any justice whatsoever.

I can't imagine this piece of poo would last any serious working musician for any decent period of time. I haven't even tried using the handles. I started to, but the slightest pressure made it feel as if the 6 tiny screws holding it to the MDF (again, so shameful) wanted to tear right out. As I write this I'm looking over at the thing just shaking my head. When I took the jack plate off the back one of the speaker leads popped off. Are they serious with asking $550 new for these things?

Didn't own it long enough to call them.

I've been playing for over 20 years, and I will add that I can't remember the last time I sat down to write a review. I just hope I can save one more unfortunate soul from flushing their money away on a ridiculously over priced, under appointed piece of junk like the 1936. BUY A CARVIN LEGACY CAB. Their 4x12 model is the same price ($539, even less!), is made of nice plywood, has a sick steel grill/corners/HANDLES, and comes standard with Vintage 30's which, I really don't care what style of music you play - if you have a quality amp they will open up your sound and let it breathe. I am not an amp/speaker snob, but I've definitely played enough amps and cabs to know what sounds good and what doesn't. The 1936 DOESN'T. I repeat DOES NOT. peace

i got this cab new in 2003 so i assume this is a post 2000 model although i have to admit that i am not completly sure when it was made.

difficult to comment on features.. i mean... its a cab! but it does have the option to be used stereo as well as a standard cab, so i guess it gets a 10.

i use this cab with a marshall tsl 100. im playing custom jacksons, and telecasters with humbuckers screwed to them, i love the sound that i get with this setup (see my review of the tsl 100 head), a lot of the reviews here say that the sound is too directional (laser beams) but, i have actually found the dispertion to be pretty good. also with the solid back you get more volume pushed forward and don't lose it to the back of the stage.

for a 2x12 this has an awesome sound, in fact in the shop i also played the 1960 4x12, and sound wise there's not a lot in it. obviously a 4x12 is louder and has better dispertion, but the 1936 is really good, compared to other 2x12's its just astounding, the laney offer is utter crap, (i dont know what speakers they use but they're shocking... odd because i have used laney 4x12's and they've been pretty good) and the 1936 is even better then the mesa 2x12.. i guess because its physicaly bigger so you get a 'rounder' more full sound.

as i said, i use this with a 100 watt marshall head, but i have lent it to other bands at gigs and it has sounded really good with they're heads and combo's, so its not just down to marshall cabs with marshall heads! i was particually impressed with the sound one guy got with his 2 channel 100 watt laney head through my cab. (although admittidly i do really like laney amps anyway.. despite their lousy 2x12)

gets a 9 because although its really good, it would probably sound better with some better speakers, green backs or something.

had this cab for more then two years

regular gigs... (at least 1 a month, most of the time more like 3)
band practise everyweek...
gets moved a lot... (probably slides to much in the back of my car, and while i try to take as good care of it as possible, it inevitably gets banged about a bit, it was afterall bourght to be a workhorse.)
i play really loud..

and so far no problems at all. (i hope i havn't jinxed it now!!)

obviously it would be better to have a backup at gigs, however.. i can't afford one, and it wouldn't fit in my car, so i gig without backup all the time and so far no problems, i depend on it completly and i no longer worry about my lack of backup!

never had to deal! never had any problems, however came with warrenty, and the dealer/service center is fairly close... which is nice.

playing since primary school (classical guitar lessons courtesy of my parents) , but only playing seriously since i put my first rock band together, so a bit more then four years. (im 20 next month)

if it were stolen or lost i would definatly get another... well actually im a student and have no money, so what i would do is cry, then hunt down the guy who nicked it, beat him to death with my shoe, then steal his wallet and buy myself a replacement with his credit card.

the only gripe i have with this cab is that the input jack plugs are plastic, i'd be happier if they were metal.

whats really cool is that you get a real marshall sounding marshall cab, that will
A: fit in a small hatchback with the seats down, and still leave space for some more gear,
B: is easy to move, lighter and less awkward then a 4x12
and C: still looks awesome,.. a real marshall stack that you can transport without roadies!

get one!

feel free to contact me if you want to chat about gear, im no expert but i can give you my honest opinion!

Everyone's nailed the features already. One thing I will say is that my cab was made with MDF (chipboard). THis a HUGE difference than solid pine or another actual wood enclosure. For the price of the cab...it should be real wood.

The "sound" out of this cabinet wasnt bad. What I had an issue with is its dispersion. It's dispersion pattern was pretty much a laser beam coming at my knees. I had a huge problem actually hearing myself with this cab. I thought the problem was the "modern" soundign G1270s that were in there so I put in some Vin 30's. Much better sound..but still didnt solve the dispersion issue.

Didnt have an issue.

I play in a classic rock band with another guitarist and I could never hear myself. At one point I remember turning to our bass player during a song...taking my hands off the neck of the guitar and just strumming. We both looked at each other becuase we couldnt hear a thing.

Overall there are much better cabs for the money. Try Avatar for one. It doesnt say Marshall....but is a much better constructed cab much cheaper. I replaced my 1936 with an Avatar and MUCH preferred the sound. I'm also probably more of an open back kind of guy however..so keep that in mind.

You know the features already . . .

See below . . .

No worries, mate . . .

Not required . . .

This review is not just about the 1936. Harmony Central is a great forum, perhaps the best on the web, so I just wanted to post my recent experiences with all my gear - a system of systems, if you will - and hopefully assist the novice as well as the aficionado in the process.

My profile: Guitarist in a three-piece cover band (see http://milesfromclever.com). We play danceable (but never cute) rock n' roll. My style is basically power/open chords with the occasional lead fill. I need a rig that growls as well as offering some semblance of clean. I like channel switching over working the volume knob, especially in the heat of a live performance.

My history: I played in a band called The Cheaters based out of Pensacola, Florida back in the late '80s. Since that time, besides being used for the occasional video soundtrack or one-of project, my gear collected dust while I made a go of another career. I started my current band about a year ago with my old gear: a Washburn G-20 and a Laney AOR-50 as well as the normal garden variety of effects pedals. Then I decided I wanted to upgrade. Begin the journey.

The first step was a new guitar. I've always wanted a Les Paul, but didn't want to throw down two grand, so I compromised and bought a Special. I got lucky here, as mine showed up in great shape. I had it set up by my guitar tech and basically all he did was lower the action. I use Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings and recently tried the Power Slinkys, which I like.

Next, I needed to groom the Laney. I replaced the Fane with a Celestion G12T-75 and swapped all the tubes (2xEL-34/4x12AX7). The result was replusive. Instead of swapping back, I decided to by a Marshall 1936 and borrow my bassist's Mesa-Boogie 50-cal+. That was a big improvement, but I still wasn't satisfied. I stuck Vintage 30s in the 1936. NOT GOOD. (See my Vintage 30 review under "Celestion.") Swapped one of the G12T-75 back in. A little better, but still not acceptable. Swapped the G12T-75 with a Greenback. Better still. Came into the possession of a Marshall JCM800 2205. Had it hot rodded by Doug Weisbrod of Music Technologies in Springfield, Virginia. Took some time to figure out the quirks of the Marshall head. (Generally, my lessons are given to me during gigs.) Had Doug stick 6L6s in. Result didn't work for me. Had Doug put EL-34s back in (JJs). Better. Realized the remaining Vintage 30 in the 2x12 was still barking in a way that bothered me. Swapped that with one of the G12T-75s. (That speaker has a bad rap on this site, for some reason.) Decided I needed an attenuator, which Doug generously lent me. Played a show and didn't like the sound. Blamed the Marshall. Swapped the head with the Mesa between sets. Sounded fine, but I was bummed that I'd spent so much money and invested so much time and still didn't have the sound I was looking for. Plus, sidelining the Marshall head just seemed WRONG. A/B'd the two heads the next day in my home office and realized the attenuator (Ultimate) was choking the tone in a way that I hadn't figured out during the gig the night before. Stage dynamics are different from home office dynamics (duh . . .). So I'm sticking with the Marshall (without the attenuator).

So, to review:

Speakers - There is no single answer. I fear you have to simply put the speaker in your cabinet with your effects and your guitar on your stage at your volume mixed by your sound tech through your monitors and see if you like the results. For example, I bought Vintage 30s based on the reviews and absolutely cannot stand them.

Tubes - Another process of elimination. I can say I like EL-34s better than 6L6s and prefer the 12AX7EHs over the others.

Amp heads - The most important variable of all. If you play live you need to listen to the amp at the volume you intend to perform at. This is especially true for Marshalls. Beware: New Marshalls don't like to be cranked like the ol

This is a 8 year old Marshall JCM 900 1936 2x12 cab. Being only a cab, other questions are not applicable.
It has mono - sterio choice and 8 or 16 ohms. very versatile.

This is where it get rough... The Marshall absolutely melts the competition. I have a Peavey Classic 30. All tube with a single 12 inch Blue Marvel speaker. It sits on top of the Marshall like a little dog on the porch. When I fire it up, the three speaker combo sounds like a souped up 4x12. A lot of air movement and a great sound wall. The 1936 handles all the lows and mid ranges. The peavey handles the high ends and has a good mid and low range to boot.
Together its an unbeatable couple.
I run a Fender Dlx Am 50th Anniversary Strat through this setup.
A great sound. I have a couple of pedals but the pure sound is so good, I hate to use them.

Built like a tank. I have heavey duty casters on the bottom. Bought it used and it looks great!!

Never had to use.

Great Cab - I plan to buy a Peavey Classis 50 and pair with this bad boy. Should blow the doors off most places.

Do you know what year the amp was made in?(1988?)
Is the amp versatile enough for you and the styles of music you play?(THIS BOTTOM KICKS MAJOR-ASS W/MY MARSHALL 4103.)
What are those styles?(HARD ROCK!)
Where do you use this amp?(ANY/ALL GIGS PRACTICE!)
Does it have enough power for you?(IT'S A MARSHALL BOTTOM..'NUFF SAID!)
Feel free to enter any other features (THIS BOTTOM RULES! IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE A 4x12 BOTTOM IF NOT BETTER! EASY TO LOAD/MOVE. I SHOULD HAVE HAD ONE YEARS AGO! MY ADVICE RUN OUT AND GET ONE(IF YA CAN FIND ONE)!!!!)

What guitar and pickup styles are you using it with?(ALL GIBSON PRODUCTS)
How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)?(GREAT. ROCK HARD)
Is it noisy?(NEVER)
What kind of sounds can the amp make?(DNA)
How much variety?(ALL/ANY)
How brutal is the distortion?(MAJOR KICK-ASS SOUNDS! CRANK IT UP!!)

Can you depend on it?(YES)
Would you use it on a gig without a backup?(YES)

If you've dealt with the company, how helpful/friendly were they?(NEVER DEALT WITH. BOUGHT USED)
Ever try and get it repaired?(NO)
Were you able to find an authorized service center easily?(YES)

How long have you been playing?(20+)
If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else?(I WOULD HUNT THE PRICK DOWN AND BEAT HIM OVER THE HEAD W/IT)
what do you love about it?(SOUNDS/LOOKS GREAT. EASY TO LOAD/MOVE)
What do you hate?(NOTHING)
Did you compare it to other products?(YES ALL OTHER SPK BOTTOMS)
Why did you choose this one?(MARSHALL BABY!)
Anything you wish it had?(NONE)
Anything else you'd like to share?(GET THIS BOTTOM AND BE COOL)

Mono or stereo 2 X 12 cabinet. Comes with caster holes but no casters. Traditional Marshall good looks.

As others have said here, if you're a veteran or a gigging musician looking for professional tone, the first thing you're going to want to do is rip the G12T-75s out and replace them with Vintage 30s or Greenbacks or one of each (as I did). I have a JCM 800 head and the 1936 is perfect for what I'm doing. I play small clubs with small stages and drive to gigs in my small SUV, so a 4X12 isn't a practical option. No worries. The 1936 can handle the job, and it looks great on stage.

Fine.

Never had occasion to call them . . . yet.

Overall, you might do better with a plywood or birch cab rigged with better speakers out of the box. But . . . I was a sucker for the Marshall logo. Check eBay. Once in awhile you can find somebody who's already done the work for you by putting in better speakers. Don't pay any more than $400.00, though.

8 OHM Mono and 16 OHM Stereo Inputs. Celestion GT-75s. Thats all I can say about the features of a cab..

I'm running an Ibanez SZ320 into a modded Peavey Triple X. This cab sounds great. It handles the lows extremely well and there is no distortion upon cranking the clean channel. I play a variety of rock and hardcore. I downsized to a 2x12 cab from a 4x12, and this thing is just as loud. This is what you should get if you're looking to buy a 2x12 cab. Whether its running directly from a head, or an extension from a 2x12 combo.

The construction on this thing is very nice. Very heavy-duty and sharp looking.

Never dealt with Marshall

Over all this cab is great. I've been playing guitar for seven years. This is the first quality cab I ever owned and I'm pretty happy with it. I started out with solid state combos, then i eventually got a randall rh100 head and randall 4x12 cab. Although the randall head is one of the best sounding solid states, the 412 cab sucked ass. I got the marshall cab, and it made the randall sounded twice as good. Then i ditched the randall and bought the Peavey Triple X and all hell broke loose.

2x12 closed back speaker cabinet. Can be wired for stereo or mono.

I modified my 1936 (JCM 900 version) cabinet by pulling the Celestion G12T75 speakers and replacing them with AlNiCo Tone Tubby 12 inch speakers with hempcones. Each Tone Tubby is 8 Ohms, and I had them wired in series for 16 Ohms mono. The Tone Tubbys substantially improve the sound, in my opinion. More information on them is available at the A Brown Soun website. The G12T75's are harsh by comparison.

However, since the Tone Tubbys tend to emphasize low-midrange over high-midrange, I run the 1936 cabinet in conjunction with another 2x12 open-back cabinet with an Eminence Patriox Cannabis Rex speaker and an Eminence Red Coat Private Jack speaker, which emphasizes the high-midrange.

Together with this cabinet, the 1936 cabinet rules. Utilizing two 2x12 cabinets also provides MUCH better sound projection than using one 4x12 cabinet, as they can be angled to cover different parts of the room. The ultimate "half stack".

Reliability has been good so far.

Haven't dealt with Marshall.

Even on its own this cabinet rocks.

I found this 1936 2x12 cabinet second-hand in a local music shop going for #100. No idea of its age, but overall its condition was pretty reasonable and seemed good value. It offered a golden opportunity to beef up my sound without breaking either the bank or my back.

Whilst it has a stereo option [75 watts per side into 16 ohms], the fact it is rated at 150 watts handling into 8 ohms mono was all I really needed to know.

Simply it's a 2x12 cabinet with two Celestion G75's and it's made by Marshall. It's physically smaller than my 4x12, can handle the output of a Hiwatt DR103 and the price was right. Proved to be adequate justification to SWMBO [She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed!] for purchase.

Ignoring the almost silly price, the 1936 provided the means of bridging the sonic gap between my Marshall MG30 - with its single 10 inch driver - and my Hiwatt DR103 and its 4x12 cabinet. The MG30 is fine for jams but its limitations have become more pronounced playing gigs with my new blues band. Loud drummers and amped-up harp players tend to swamp a single 10 simply because of the limited physical area of air it can move.

Playing a festival earlier this year with my Hiwatt rig reminded me of the impressive sounds [and sheer volume] it makes. However there are major practical difficulties using a 4x12 in cramped pubs. The 1936 should be the answer to my prayers.

Like so many other reviewers, I can only endorse the comments of its portability matched to to an impressive sound output. With either a Les Paul or HSS Strat going through a Boss CS3, a Morley Power Wah and a ProCo RAT into the Hiwatt, the 1936 copes well with either guitar, projecting their respective voicings with clarity and power. I don't know if anyone else has tried using the 2x12 on its side so the speakers are stacked vertically? Anyone with comments on, or experiences of, this approach?

Not yet gigged the 1936 with the blues band, but initial trials suggest a definite improvement in sound, projection, sustain and sweetness. That, of course, may be largely due to old-fashioned valve [tube] power but without a box to convert it to air movement then what's the point?

It will interesting to hear the 1936 used in conjunction with the 4x12 with the DR103 at full tilt...

Too early to say. Minor tear in the Tolex on the rear panel but where would rock'n'roll be without Gaffer tape patches? Handles seem adequate and all the corner-pieces are intact.

The wide-ranging comments from Harmony Central reviewers made me somewhat cautious when testing the 1936 with my DR103, but that may be no bad thing. No obvious rattles or buzzes ....

No contact - although the Marshall factory in Bletchley is only half-an-hour away...

Thirty years making noise. Let's see how the Blues Consortium reacts to the Hiwatt/1936 pairing. I suspect for the first time it won't be our drummer who causes the noise problem! Personally I'm looking forward to having some olde worlde valve technology behind my blues licks.

I think I got a bargain and probably my most useful hardware acquisition in quite some time. Let's see how it pans out and I'll report back to Harmony Central.

This is an update on a review that I wrote several years ago.
I have been using this cabinet regularily for many years.
Amps are JMP Mk 2, 100 watt and JCM 900 50 watt (EL-34's).
Original 75 watt Celestions.
Note: These speakers sound better with time.
The cabinet has functioned flawlessly.
I gig and jam often both indoors and outdoors.
I had to get rid of the JMP 100 watt monster.
It was just too loud even with two power tubes removed.
When cranked the JCM is Marshall all the way.
The biggest problem with this amp is that it is directional.
Who ever it is aimed at gets a full blast of sound while people on either side can't hear it well.
I made a half open back for it and it helped..some but it is still directional.
I have tried other cabinets but they did not sound good.
I made a stand where it sits 2 feet off the floor and is angled up at 45 degrees.
This works well in clubs with high cealings or outdoors but not so well in smaller places with low cealings.
The cabinet has the tone all Marshall users covet but it is difficult to manage.
In over 8 years of using this cabinet I still have not found the answer.
Possibly by adding a second cabinet it will spread the sound out.
Or possibly it will have two laser beam sounds instead on one.
Keep this in mind when you buy a Marshall cabinet.

Been playing close to 40 years.
Guitars are Guild Bluesbird with P-90's, old Fender Telecaster, acoustic/electric, LP Custom (3 humbuckers).

This cab was made in 2004 by marshall, 2x12 inch gt75 speakers.
it allows me to paly any style of music from gilmore to hendrix.
IT also has stereo and mono inputs, which is always good.

I run this am thourgh a avt 50watt combo amp and a BOSS ME-50 EFFECTS PROCESSOR. This extention cabnet sounds great and for the people who think its to bassy, get some balls! only joking, Anyway ive had it for only a day and already i am in love thank u marshall for making such great amps. Guitars used, Fender American delux and a 67 flying v reissue.

The construction is great no flaws and the detail of the cab is suberb. Just to point out one small thing that i like about this cab is the handles. Very attractive and sturdy. Im going to give it a 9 for reliability since ive only had it for a day.

never needed it

I have been playing for 8 years now and havent had many amps, but i know what sounds good to me and thats this cab it is worth every dollar. I also own a martin D-35 AND AN 80 SOMETHING IBANEZ REVERSE NECK, not quite sure of the model.

2x12 speakers, mono or stereo. Had a 4x12 cab, this 1936 cab is easier
to lug around. Fits a regular size Marshall head, I use a Marshall Plexi 1987X. The cab is made of some kind of compressed fiber board,not plywood (Marshall skimping on the cost of plywood).

The cab sounds very big, similar to a 4x12 cab. Nice bottom end sound.
Even though the cab is made of compressed fiber board, the cab gives a nice warm sound. It also projects well. I switch between a Strat, 61 Gibson SG, and a Les Paul. All sound big through the cab and retain their tone.

I've had no problems with reliability.

No need to ask.

I give it a 8 for overall rating because Marshall really acted cheap by not using real plywood (shame on you). My advice is to get the plan for this cab and make your own and use real plywood.

2x12 speakers. Wood, tolex, some ABS, and 1/4" jacks. Can be run Mono or Stereo.

I run a JCM900 SL-X 2500 50 watt head through this. They were made for each other. When I bought the head new in '95 I didn't have enough for a cabinet right then, so I ran it through an old 15" speaker cab. It sounded great then, but when I finally got the money a couple of months later and got the 1936, it was like I had bought a new amp too. Fantastic cabinet. Tight, punchy, and not at all bad to haul around.

This thing is now 9 years old and has hardly had a break. The tolex is ripped to S**T (I am recovering it soon) and there's never been any problem with it.

Never had to deal with them

This cabinet is amazing. I've read other reviews that are not very favorable and it's too bad those people didn't get the same cabinet I got. Perhaps they received the 'Friday before long weekend' one just like cars. I would recommend it to anything looking for a solid, not too heavy cabinet to drag around week to week for gigs.

I own the old JCM800 version of the cab. No stereo, unlike the JCM900 version, and no particle board. 2x12 GT75 celestions. I bought it in 1990 second hand. Speakers are originals. Bought it then because I couldn't produce the dough for a 4x12 and still wanted to gig. Guess I was blinded by the white 'Marshall' logo, and to this day I think I was right back then.

Now I use a Gibson Les Paul (490/498 stock) on it. (mainly) Together with mij Ibanez RG760 the 1936 is the only thing that I stil have from my high school years. It has never let me down. Over the years all kinds of amps ran through it: Dual Showman, jcm800, jcm900 (a real disaster), London City, Marshall Valvestate 8100 (got tired of unreliable tubes) Trace Elliot Speed Twin H100 (didn't like trannie-valvestate)
Remember there is a VERY big difference between the JCM800 1936 mono-wired cab and the JCM900 stereo-wired cab. The old version is made completely of plywood and the construction is way more rugged and dependable. It sounds a whole lot better, too.
The only thing I do not like about the JCM800 1936 is the poor projection. You have to stand right in front of the speaker to get a good sound. I always have to place it on another cab to get projection. My 1960TV is much better projectionwise. (also soundwise but it is a 4x12 greenbacks, extra tall cab so comparison will be unfair)
Nice for smaller gigs. Mine looks beaten, adding to the vintage vibe.

Cabs only break when the speakers are overloaded or the paper is dried out or corrupted by moisture. Or you can set it on fire.

Once in my younger years I made a bet that I could stay inside the cab for half an hour with the back screwed on. I figured, if I took out the celestions first and stick my head and feet out of the holes, it would work. I obviously was a lot thinner then, but I lost the bet.
Don't try this at home, kids.

Have no idea. I repair damaged equipment myself. This thing didn't die out on me yet. I guess it never will.

Very good for a small 2x12 cab. Nicer to lug around than a 4x12. No casters! Dependable speaker. It fits almost any amp. (although some amps are just as big as the speaker, like my Speed Twin H100 and that looks a bit odd..)
I compared it to the newer jcm900 1936 and they are NOT on par. By FAR!! There is NO comparison!!! It is a completely different cab, although the speakers are the same. If you ever have a chance, compare the two and be convinced.
If you like the sound of GT75's (which is a personal thing) try the jcm800 1936 and see if you like it more than the obvious 1960's. (you might) The only real drawback for live use, in my opinion, and if you like the sound of the type of speakers, is the projection. For me, it is unusable for rehearsals, because of the limited projection. Very easy to mike, though. Right now, for gigging I use my 1960TV, and for recording I use the 1936. (sort of a retirement for the 1936) Because of the limited projection, placing mikes on different spots in front of it makes a big difference in recorded sound. (which, to me, is a good thing to experiment with, getting all kinds of soundcolours from the mikes and mixing them together to get a nice blend. One can get real thick recorded sounds that way.)

You have read them all below i guess ,mono stereo blah blah

I'm using a mesa dual rec head and a les paul. And no i'm not a nu metal head, i just like the crunchy orange channel of it. I like tonal old school rock ala Angus Young, Paige etc and with the recto punching it then it handles most of the sounds well. It seems to have a real tight bass response even with some altered high treble
recto settings and i wish it could 'cut' a little more. The G12s may get replaced for some V30's but reading elsewhere they may be even more bassy. I may ab it against some other 2x12s and update this review. IT has a nice BIG sound for a 2x12 and helps my poor back getting to practice n gigs (thats mainly the reason i opted for this cab.)....overall i'm pretty impressed and for 100 quid then u cant go wrong....it'll probably get modded anyway

pretty new to it at the mo but seems fine

not dealt with

It's a great cab and has a nice big sound. I think i may just go for the mesa 2x12 instead though.

Here's my review of the Marshall 1936 2 X 12 cab, purchased "new" in Spring of 2002. This quality and construction of this enclosure is dismal at best; almost a year later, I'm not quite sure where to attach the blame for such a substandard excuse for a name brand speaker cabinet.

I had hoped to received a unit in genuine new condition, as that's what the Musician's Friend catalog copy was implying. If I really feel the urge to purchase factory second misfit junk, local garage sales would be the most obvious (and most economical) means to obtain what I presently own.

Oh yeah, features. Visually it looks like a brand-new Marshall 1936 Lead 2 X 12 cab, so it's got that going for it.

Problems arose from the start, as I never had played through a Marshall 2 X 12 before, but somehow I had expected to hear the renowned punch and focus that Marshall cabs are known for. It simply wasn't happening with this dog. A full slate of rehearsals and gigs (not to mention my day job), kept me from getting around to doing what I should have done right from the start, namely pop the back panel off the thing, and switch the stock speakers for a pair of Celestion Vintage 30's I had, as I thought maybe the stock 75 watt ones as supplied were the problem.

The real problem started there, as the interior of the cabinet is undoubtedly the finest example I've seen of a half-assed attempt at trying to sell something that was already wrecked beyond repair. The inside of the speaker baffle board boasts a crudely-made wooden prop that was evidently supposed to help steady the front of the unit when the cab was assembled, in effect, linking the baffle board to the back panel. I've done wood projects in grade school that were of far superior design and execution than what I saw inside this enclosure.

One possible reason for the makeshift addition was evident enough, as the left-hand side (from inside back) of the cabinet was SPLIT from the handle cutout all the way down to the bottom corner joint. No wonder the thing sounds loose! I was convinced that the split wasn't a result of mistreatment during shipping to my home, as the interior of the unit has an extra bar-code sticker that identifies this unit as a REVAMP.

I'm afraid to take this anywhere, as the whole works might finally fall apart when lifted by the handle on the messed-up side. Maybe I should just build my own cab and slap that Marshall logo on the front of it for sheer mockerys' sake. I'm pretty certain the homemade one wouldn't sound near as loose.

A mail-order adventure, courtesy of Musician's Friend. They told me that since I waited past the time allotted for their 45 day warranty, that I had to deal directly with Marshall. They didn't care that they had sold me a misfit factory second misrepresented as new gear.

I'm through with Musician's "Friend", now I don't have enough confidence in them to order a single guitar pick. This hasn't been my first episode with them, either, but it will be my last. BE FORWARNED.

I've been playing rock'n'roll for over 30 years, and I think I know what sounds good.

Anyone wanna buy a 1936 cab (as is)?

well, features....its a 2x12 cab, but can go mono, or stereo...good!

les pauls,les pauls, les pauls,oh, and 1 flying v...i mainly use this cab with a marshall jcm 900, but have also wired the amp section of my fender quad reverb through it. both ways, sounds great...it opens up the various tone controls on the amps, you can actually hear the difference as you tweak the teb, mid and bass.

solid

haven't had to call as the cab works perfect.but...check the marshall site they give pre-problem advice for their products.

ive been playing( and buying) for a long time, my family has long learned to ignore my habit.if it were stolen, oh yeah,, id buy it again. as far as things i wish it had, i took care of it myself. i took off the marshall wheel caster braces and put in HEAVY DUTY casters i found at the hardware store.(gee, was that all of the so called collectors groaning?)and if i might put forth some personal philosiphy...HARMONY CENTRAL>>>i love this site, i find the user review section a very useful starting place for any musical purchase i could make.but. im tired as seeing it used as some 14 year old minded dork's forum to use as a "garbage languge " eisel, like it gives his some sort of ligitimicy.i would like to refer other musicians AND THEIR KIDS to this site, but as you can imagine, dont want to take the chance. im sure the advertisers here would agree. anyway, thank you for this forum.

Brand new oversized 2x12 cab. Tried it out down at Sound Source in Chico, CA. Can do stereo as well as mono which is rare in 2x12 cabs so I guess that would garner a high feature rating.

Brought in my Hughes and Kettner Tube 100 head as I am in search of a cab that is worth my $$. I had my sights set on an old JCM 800 4x12 but this cab grabbed my attention as I have been wanting to try one. I am not a big fan of the stock celestions that marshall puts in the 1960 cabs which is what this cab has as well. I have to say I was pleasantly suprised with these speakers in this cab. Very even sound--not too bright or bassy, midrange was happening. Sounded pretty wide, not too beamy. The B side of channel one on the Tube 100 is a pretty bright AC/DC type sound but sounded very classic through this cab. Cranked up the heavier sounds to see if anything would start woofing or farting out and no such thing happened. Clean settings sounded great as well. Plugged into the JCM 800 cab after a good run through the 1936 and the 800 sounded not so good. This cab does a great 4x12 impersonation--I liked it much better than the newer stock 1960 cabs I've heard. However, don't buy one if you need to compete with a 4x12 because you will loose (duh...its only 2x12's). Buy two!! If you're the only guitar player or if the other guitar player doesn't have a half stack, you should be fine provided your amp has the bollocks to push the cab. Very good sounds from this cab.

I've been playing for going on 10 years and this is notably the coolest sounding 2x12 cab I've heard. The mesa recto 2x12 is too small to sound...well as big as this cab does. The mesa 2x12 is deeper (in dimention) but doesn't have the spacious sound that this cab has. I have played through a Genz Benz G-flex but its been a while and that same day I ended up buying a mesa 3/4 back 1x12 over the G-flex. The 3/4 back 1x12 has an oversized cabinet as well which I think is a key part of the sound of the 1936--gives it more room to breath. If you like more of a straight "rock" marshall tone (emphasis on mids and highs and nice but not overpowering lo-end and great overdrive/distortion) rather than a nu-metal or hardcore sound, this cab may be what you are looking for.

I bought this 1936 2x12 cab new in 1988 (Back in the day!)along with a new Marshall JCM 800 50 watt dual channel/reverb 2x12 combo amp. The little gold plate in the lower left corner on the grille reads JCM800 LEAD SERIES rather than 1936 as seen on the newer ones. The 1936 Model # on this older cab is stamped on the back side above the speaker jack. I play and have always played Hard Rock/Metal 70s and 80s style. I'm glad that I have held on to this one as it has the original British made celestion GT75 speakers as does the combo I bought with it. Some of the more recent ones have the made in China Celestions which may or may not make a difference in sound but the country and the name just don't add up to me. How are you gonna get that Brit mojo out of your Celestions if they came from Red China?!! It's like saying I have a 63 Corvette that was made in Korea. It just don't jive. Fucking global economy shit!!! Anyway I've always thought these speakers suited my style of playing very nicely. I've used the cab for small gigs, party's etc. over the years and at home with very good results. It's not quite as wide open sounding as a 4x12 with the same GT75s but it's close enough for the small venues I've always used it for and it's a hell of alot more portable. This older model 1936 doesn't have the dual stereo/mono plug in on the back just the mono but thats fine with me. It also lacks the plates on top that the newer ones have for holding an amp head in place and only has one carry handle on the top. Plenty of power handling capability for the 60 and 50 watt 2x12 Peavey and Marshall combos I use it with for an extention cab.

Over the years I've played Gibson and Epiphone Les Pauls and Destroyers two stock 1970s Fender Strats, a Ball EVH, Kramer American Baretta, and a Kramer American NightSwan through the 1936. Like I said before the sound this cab produces suits my music style to a tee.
My latest favorite sound with this cab is pairing it up with my Peavey 5150 60 watt, closed back 2x12 combo. The sound that I get with the Peavey and Celestion speakers mixed together is super rich and creamy when driven with the high gain channel. No effects added. Just amp, speakers and guitar (Usually my 87 Kramer Baretta).

Reliability? Hey what can I say about it. I've blasted Metal Guitar through it for 16 years and it's still solid as a rock. Someone will probably still be pissing off the neighbors with it long after I'm dead.

Sorry, Never dealt with them.

I've been playing for over 20 years now mostly as a hobby and a non pro. I've had chances to play through alot of different rigs and cabs and I've always liked this smaller extension cab with a combo tube amp because I can approach that full stack wallop but still be highly portable. If it were lost or stolen I'd try to find another vintage 1980s, all British 1936 to replace it with instead of one of the newer ones with the fucking communist red China Celestions.

Year 2000 model. I play Hard Rock/Metal and Blues (Maiden, Zeppelin, ACDC, Rush, SRV, etc.) and this cab gets the sounds that I need, and then some. You can put one head through it for 150 Watts of stero sound, or two for 75 watts each.

I would have put "no opinion" in the rating here, only because its just a cab, and is not supposed to have many features, but it does have a couple of different configs so I gave it the max rating. Its deffinatly a great cab. I bought it knowing that it only had 2 12 inch speakers, so I wasnt expecting more than I bought, which it sounds like some of the other reviews were expecting a 4X12 sound, from a 2X12 cab.

I play Fender Strats (SRV with Texas Specials, American Standard with a SD 'lil 59 in the bridge and stock pickups in the neck and mid positions, and a American Special w/Floyd and a Di'Marzio Super Distortion in the bridge with SD hot rails in the neck and bridge) through a Marshall 2000 TSL 100 head. I deffinatley get ever sound I need.

No noise on any setting, the cleans are clean at all volume levels. The only nock may be a little too much low end. But I haven't been able to attest it to the head or the cab yet, so I won't let that hurt my rating. The distortion is classic, perfectly suited for my sounds.

Yes, this is a British made cab. I have no idea where the speakers are made, and I dont know if its partical board or plywood (looks like plywood if you go to www.marshallamps.com). But listen... It matters not where the cab or speakers were made, what matters is the sound. And this cab makes a great sound. The country where the products were made, does not make a difference, the people and company who make it do. And Marshall make fantastic equipment. As soon as you start limiting yourself to products made in the USA only, or any other country for that matter, then you have started limiting your sound and your horizons, and closing your mind.

Remember, self-delusion breeds pride...Pride breeds the inability to learn.

No complaints.

Never delt with them.

I've been playing 15+ years. I own a Mesa Boogie Mark IV and a Mesa Boogie Subway Rocket. But I play the Marshall more then the Boogies, by far.

If it were lost, or stolen? I would probably replace it with a 1960B 4X12, but that would only be for the extra 'umph' from the extra watts and extra speakers. But only if space were not an issue, as its nice to have this 2x12, it's so much smaller.

Love the compact size and the sounds. I dont hate anything about it, but I do wish that the jacks in the back were metal and not plastic, only because I think its a point of weakness (plastic) not because I've had any problems with it.

I have to give it a 10 (almost gave it a 9 because I have never contacted them to get a CS opinion) because for only $349.00 you could not buy something new that is better, maybe as good, but not better.

erm, i guess it's got that switch on the back that a lot don't....

i use a strat with a humbucker and an sg thru an AVT275 with the 1936 also. Suits what i play which is punk, rock and alt rock also some quiet stuuff too. it has a big sound and i'm very pleased with it. Sounds decent next to the 4x12 marshall the other guitarist in my band uses. It sounds exactly how i want and really stands up well against the 4x12 so i guess i'm glad i got this instead. Good value for just over 200 pounds.

Only had it a short while so can't really comment....

Makes my marshall AVT275 (combo) sound LOADS better, the difference between AVT being played on its own and with the 1936 is huge. However, whilst only being a 2x12, the cab is still pretty big and would benefit from having castors which arent't supplied (and cost #30 a set from marshall) - that's it's only black mark really.

150 watt stereo cabinet. (2)75 watt Celestions. Particle board construction, black Tolex covering.

This cab is decent but not great. I use it with a 50 watt Laney Pro Tube Lead head and various Fender guitars. It has great bottom end and can handle all the gain the Laney dishes out but sounds a bit harsh to my ears. I think the cheaper particle board construction robs it of some tone. The GT12-75 Celestions aren't a favorite of mine either. I hope to replace them with greenbacks when I have the time and $$$. Has a big sound for a 2x12 though. Decent cab but Marshall can do better.

I've been using it for 3 years and no problems yet.

Being the only Marshall product I own, I have never dealt with them as far as service goes.

It's a decent cabinet. Very loud with lot's of bottom end. Marshall cut some corners manufacturing these though. I don't know if it's worth the $400 I paid for it. For that kind of cash, you'd think Marshall could at least give you some real plywood and/or better cones. What it lacks in tone, it somewhat makes up for in volume and reliability. Not the worst cab in the world, but not the best either.

i bought this box a little over a year ago and it does me ok. i play a gibson lp studio and a 72 tele costom wich i just got and both sound good with my marhsall dsl 201 combo and jcm 600 head. the speakers in it give a good rock tone with nice meaty low end. but any ways i love guitar and just play for kicks at home, so there is probably better some wheres out there.

still works fine after a year, not like its rocket science to build 1 of these so it better last especialy if its stationary in the house. once in a while tighten up the screws to stop rattles, but how hard is that.

bin playin 6 or 7 years and just starting to get not the best but the ok kinda gear. if your not into the big time gig or touring guitarist and such the 1936 might do you just fine.

features ? 100% particle board, mediocre made in CHINA celestions and good looking styling with cheap saran wrap thin tolex. variable impedance. used with my 2204 marshall head sounds ok. not worth $420 though, returned this particle board pos for refund!

sounds like a pillow is duct-taped over front of speakers. no more new marshall products for me. wanted a matching cab but not that important after this cab left a bitter taste.

marshall claims they use only the finest wood and the best construction, well we all have the right to lie! last a lifetime they say, maybe another lie? paper-thin plastic handles and tolex. this cab was designed by an accountant. marshall blows! what a disgrace to what was a rock icon. good thing i got a satisfaction guarantee and was able to send this turd back.

there product is junk, how could they fix it? they could build it out of 13-ply birch, use metal handles, thick and durable tolex like they used on my 2204 head and of course stop putting those MADE IN CHINA CELESTIONS in their cabs. if you're looking at buying this cab look inside first.

21 years of playing and i'm buying all my cabs from usa businesses that use real wood. i like the look of cab but that's it and that is'nt going to take me very far. is mr marshall senile! i'm totally disgusted with the new marshall of the last 13 years. i'll only buy used older marshall heads. marshall is as lame as laney now.

Marshall 1936 2x12 cab. I aquired my 1936 cab when I decided my 4x12 cabs were a pain in the arse to be hauling around. It complements the Marshall full size heads nicely for a neat looking mini-stack. I've used this cab at gigs with no problems whatsoever. The cab comes set up to receive Marshall casters (an $80 option)-I wish it would have come with them to begin with considering the price of the 1936.

Wow!! I coudn't believe this cab sounded as good as my 4x12 cabs! Great low end!! With my eyes closed I'd swear I was in 4x12 heaven. I play a Marshall JCM800 2204, Marshall Jubilee 25/50, and Gibson Les Pauls through it......great sounds!!!

Very dependable, would gig without back-up.

Never had to deal with 'em

I'm a 31 year old guitar player and I've been playing for 16 years. I've owned 10+ Marshalls over the years, and thousands of dollars worth of guitars. I've finally found what works for me(Les Pauls and Marshalls). I've sold the rest.

After getting spoiled with my 1936 2x12, I'll never go back to using 4x12's, unless of couse I make it big, and have a crew of roadies to haul them around. 80% of bands nowdays use 4x12's as stage props. Do yourself a favor, save money and your back, get a 1936 cab. You wont regret it, and your ears will think you're playing through a 4x12!

This is just a comment on the screws holding the speakers to the cabinets.

I have been playing throught my 1936 cabinet for over 5 years now and the screws have vibrated loose on several occasions.
I usually don't notice this till I hear a speaker clunking around loosly in the cabinet.
My suggestion would be to take the back off the cabinet every couple months and tighten the screws.

The Marshall 1936 cabinets are 2x12 speaker cabs equipped with Celestion G12-75T speakers, which suck. The cabinets are well made and look quite nice. The cabinet sound is quite nice. The only beef I have with my cabs is that the tolex is applied too loosely and it shifs around on the wood when you put the cabs in a truck with stuff stacked on top. After the Trip, the tolex is 'smushed' into 'wrinkles'

Only one way to describe the sound of the speaker in the 1936 in my opinion -"sucks", unless you want to shred people to death. Harsh, no cry, no scream, no joy. I use 2x1936 cabs with a Marshall EL34 50/50 and a Gibson Les Paul, or Fender Strat. I have had the cabs for about 7 years and have tried numerous sound scenarios through them. Mostly an ADA MP1 or Marshall preamp to efx to EL34 power amp. No matter what I tried, I could not get them to sound good (to my ear)

Excellent. No beefs about reliability

No need to use them

I have been playing for about 30 years. I could not afford good equipment most of that time, but in the early 90's, I was able to get some Marshall equipment. So I bought the stereo power amp and 2 1936 cabinets. I tried everything I could to get a good sound out of the rig, eq, different pickups, effects, but it always sounded like crap. I never knew what the problem was until I decided to swap out the Celestion G12-75T stock Marshall speakers with Celestion Vintage 30's. The difference was night and day. The harsh, deafening, screeching, annoying guitar sound was replaced with wounderful, soulful guitar tone. The same was true when I tried Celestion greenbacks. They blew away the G12-75T's. I am very angry about this actually, because I bought Marshall speaker cabs thinking I was going to sound like the pros. Well, yeah you can sound like them, but you have to throw out the speakers you just paid a lot of money for! I am starting to think that this music equipment hype is a screw job. They give you crummy speakers so you have to spend even more money. I found out that Marshall has changed their speakers several times over the years, so be careful what you are buying. Just because you are buying a cabinet that has the Marshall name on it, it unfortunately does not mean it will sound like your favorite artist who uses one. I hope this review will save you the 9 years of pain and frustration I had trying to find out why my sound sucked no matter what I did to it! P.S. If my G12-75T's were stolen, I would send the creep a thank you note and a bonus check. The cabinets are good and well made, the speakers utterly suck beans.

What can you say. I am marking this high because for a 2x12 cabinet, this moves some serious air. It has a much bigger sound (don't confuse with loud) than other dual 12's and I like the looks. It also fits my Marshall DSL 50. I got it from Sameday Music and it was there in 2 days in excellent shape (would have been there the next day except we had 28 inches of snow!)

I use this with a Marshall DSL50 and my soul guitar is a Epiphone Black Beauty with Seymour Duncan SH-1's.

This started as a stock 1936. I read the reviews in the column and purchased it because it really fits my needs without the weight of 4x12. I found the speakers to be more in your face than I wanted, so I bought a couple of Greenbacks from Sameday Music, with great service again.

I took the opportunity to look at how the speakers were mounted, having read some of the reviews. So, these are mounted on particle board, but Marshall uses a mounting bracket (you have to take the speakers out to see them. The speakers themselves have a compression foam attached to the rim that is pressed against the particle board. You can tighten the screws down fully, but after a little thought, I realized you may not want them only very snug to the board - less chance for noise transmission.

That all done, the Greenbacks are just the sound I wanted. Now this puppy smokes and sounds so great with the DSL50 and Black Beauty.

no problems yet and I've taken it apart and looked at the construction. The screws aren't loose. They are set right for the mounting brackets. Take a look at my note above.

haven't needed it.

199? JCM 900 1936 2X12, 75 watt celestions.
I posted a review here (last review) when I got it in 1998.
This is an update after 5 years of hard playing.

It has mono 8 ohm and stereo 16 ohm inputs.
I have never used the stereo input.

People may complain about the particle board construction, the wiring, plastic handles etc. But this cabinet is a workhorse.
It is getting a little rough looking after 5 years of dragging it all over, dropping it, scraping it and literaly pushing it to its limits.

I have used this with many guitars, both single coils and humbuckers.
I play loud!
Last summer I played several outdoor concerts with a 100 watt tube amp maxed out for hours on end in swealtering heat.
It performed perfectly and sounded great.
I have even used it with a bass.
I am now playing through a 100 watt (tube) Marshall 1977 JMP Mk2 Master Volume head. Same as a super lead with a master volume.
The cabinet takes everything I can throw at it and sounds excellent.
It just keeps on ticking.

Can't ask for more.
Not many cabinets will take constant abuse for 5 years and still sound great.

No

I have been playing since the 60's.
My main guitar now is a 1962 Les Paul Custom (3-humbuckers).
I chose this cabinet because it matched my JCM 900 head (long gone from power trans failure).
It closely matches my 1977 Marshall Master Lead head now.
Only noticable difference is that the lettering on the head is smaller than that on the cabinet.
Like all Marshall products it is made to be used.
Don't be afraid to push it.
I'm getting older and dragging around a heavy birch 4X12 cabinet is out of the question.
My amp head weighs 60 pounds and the cabinet weighs 60 pounds.
I have casters on the cabinet and it rolls well.

This cabinet was bought as new in 2003 I use it for gigs/jam sessions. The stereo option (8 ohms mono / 16 ohms stereo) is the main reason I purchased it besides the Marshall name. This cabinet is the perfect extension for my Marshall 8240 stereo chorus combo (I amplify the cabinet with a Marshall 8008 rack mount stereo amp)- both are valvestate amps. Other than the stereo option its a speaker cabinet that is easy (compared to a half or full stack) to lug from place to place. I recommend you get casters for it. I rated it a 9 because it does everything you could expect from a cabinet but it did not get a 10 because the lack of casters.

I Play Black Sabbath / Metallica type of heavy metal. God gave us Marshall to create this type of sound. My main Guitar is a Gibson SG with 500t and 496R pickups. The cabinet sings like a bird with correct string manipulation and roars with god like thunder when tearing through a heavy rythem. However, when I first got the cabinet there was a lite rattle/buzz from the unit noticeable when playing bassy clean riffs. I took the back off the cabinet and noticed there was not a single screw tight - not a single screw! I was discouraged but fortunately I have experienced this with marshalls newer products so I tightened every thing up and it sounds great. I rated the a 6 because if I did not tighten the screws it would have sounded worse and worse as the screws vibrated loose - shame on Marshall

I have not had any problems other than the loose screws I mentioned - I would have no fear using this without a back up.

Had no contact with Marshall

I have been playing for 17 years, I play Marshall, Gibson, and Martin (acoustic) If this cabinet were stolen or lost I would replace it (but I would tighten the screws as soon as I got a new one) Overall it is a little expensive compared to some other brands and a little disappointing because of the loose screws but it sounds great and I expect to last me a long time I have no regrets

N/A

The GT12-75 speakers are very tight sounding and very, very bright. I had previously put in a review but that was 24 hrs. now it's 1 month. The bigger cab size is nice but I switched the speakers for a pair of Celestion Vintage 30's from an old Marshall cab used. The speakers say Marshall right on them. First the GT12-75's are not a bad speaker just not the sonic print I was after. They have a scooped sound. Can handle alot of distortion without breaking up. It didn't seem to sustain the way I needed it too. The Celestion 30's are much louder. Fantastic mid's with great sustain and a slightly looser "vintage" feel to them. Powerful punch to them with this cab. I would give this an 8 with the speaker upgrade. There are a few reasons keeping this out of the 10 spot. See below

I don't think this cab would last 20 - 30 yrs. if you gigged with it off an on regularly. The construction is not top quality by any means. I don't gig at all so it will never leave my house except for a friendly jam at someone's house.

N/A

I was a little squirrely reading about that last review after I bought mine. I never checked the wood. Mistake #1 The corners are plastic but I don't gig so it wasn't a big deal. I worked with a plastic company before and if it's high density poly propelene it's pretty strong. I really wanted the Marshall cab to go with my Marshall DSL 50. 1/2 stack look and feel in a convenient 2 x 12. The person below is DEAD ON. I put in the Vintage 30's myself and really feel stupid I didn't grab a Carvin cab first. I love Carvin gear and guitars. Marshall really cut corners on quality from the plastic nuts, insert for the plugs are plastic, the particle board, the speaker screws were not really tight. The speakers connectors weren't sodiered (whatever the spelling is on that) I sodiered the Vin. 30's in. The screws are all tight now, the Vin. 30's sound AWESOME with my DSL 50 with EL-34's w/ JJ's, Fulltone wah, Spoonful Overdrive Unit, Guyatone MD-3 delay, Carvin DC127 and Fender Strat Plus w/ Kinmans. It resonates great with the gear I have and won't sell it because it working for what I need. But I do feel burned alittle bit by Marshall cutting serious corners on quality parts and craftmanship. I should have stuck with Carvin. I still like the 3/4 cab and it's meeting my needs for what I do but if you gig reguarly one fall down 3 stairs and it's done. This was my first time exploring Marshall stuff and I would seek out older vintage Marshall before this stuff. The harsh review down below is accurate and I was blind before I pulled the back off to see for myself. That's why I like Harmony Central. Sometimes it's a pat on the back and sometimes it's a slap in the face. I am really insane with true bypass and my tone. I got this cab into an acceptable zone for me to use.

The best feature, and the reason I bought this, is so I could up both outputs of a stereo rig without having to lug 2 separate cabs.It's difficult to find a 2x12 with stereo hookups in this price range.

I use it with all my guitars; strats, les pauls, 7-strings. It WILL suit my styles when I'm finished with it! Okay low end, highs are good. I'll be changing out the speakers to Celestion Vintage 30's first thing. Otherwise, nothing spectacular. Compared to the Carvin Legacy Cab I just bought WITH Celestion V30's that were made of wood and cost $100.00 less, you decide....I'm kinda bummed.

Call me ANAL but the first thing I did was take the back off and see EXACTLY what I had just bought. Guess what? All STRIPPED SCREW, PARTICAL BOARD CONSTRUCTION! Yep, I was pissed too. Then, I find every screw in the speakers are loose too. Tightened those up, put the back back on, put the screws back in and 3 are now a little bigger so I could get them tightened up.

Something else, all the hardware, handles, corners are cheap plastic. All the writing you see on the cab besides the white "Marshall" logo are just cheap stickers...some not even put on straight! You cant take them off without damaging them because they are made of aluminum foil. The "1936" logo that goes on the front of the cab had come off and was destroyed so I just took the plastic plate off the front. It looks better now.

Overall this cab is like that cheap "put-together" furniture you get at KMART. I'll have to be real careful with it if I don't want to break the particle board!

Don't EVEN want to go there!

I've been playing 30 years as a hobby and I'm still just learning. I've got more gear than a sane person should have. If it got stolen I would collect the insurance and THANK the guy who took it. I checked the website and it says, sure as shit, something like, "Our cabinets are all wood, finger joint construction" which led me to believe they were actual "plywood". They are wood PARTICLES, all pressed together and mixed with glue under pressure. NOT PLYWOOD. I bought 2 Carvin 2x12 Legacy cabs that were all freakin' PLYWOOD with metal hardware and Celestion V30 speakers for $100.00 LESS! I feel like an idiot for gettin this cab, to tell you the truth. If you are looking for a QUALITY 2x12 that's worth the money, DON'T BUY THIS, I'm warning ya!The ONLY good thing I have to say is the STEREO OPTION IS NICE.

The cabinets were made a few years ago not sure the exact date, These cabinets are quite versatile for my style of playng, blues, jazz, thrash metal , progressive. It has mono and stereo inputs, 150 watts rms , it has everything i could want from a cabinet. I use the amp at home for practice, and at gigs. I own two of these and I must say if you need to play any louder just mic your rig, but there shouldnt be any reason to be any louder.

I play a fender stratocaster standard with stock single coils. I also play a jackson dinky reverse with dimarzio pickups, and a custom T W DOYLE Modified BC RICH warlock Saphire purple with hand wound pickups and kahler trem. suites my style quite well, i love the tones from these cabinets. the cabinet can get quite loud if you need it too in any variety of sounds from clean to distortion to effects. Clean channel a beautiful shimmering glassy tone crystal clear, and the distortion is throaty punchy and ball shaking powerful! I blow my friends mesa into oblivian!

these cabinets seem extremly sturdy and reliable. I really dont have to worry about them breaking down on me. Never broken down.

Never had to deal with Marshall. but i hear that they are great. warranty is 3 years i think ?

Ive been playing about 8 years. To go along with my rig I own a VHT 292 power amp a boss gt3 effects board, furman power conditioner, bbe 882 sonic maximizer, and a nady dual band wireless, along with two JCM 900 1936 lead 2x12's,I might possibly switch back over to a JCM 900 and hot rod the hell out of the thing. I'd definatly buy these cabinets again if they get stolen , they are great because they are easier to lug around then a 4x12 and are just as loud. Love them to death. Nothing to hate, I compared it to the Mesa 4x12 cabinet, and the marshall 4x12's and these two together sounded so full and LOUD compared to the others. If your looking for a portable half stack get one , if you really want some balls behind you i really suggest getting another one ! you have the freedom to do whatever you need then.