Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker

When you see me giving this amp a "4" on features, don't think that I think they shoud've put more features on this amp. This is the type of amp that isn't supposed to have a lot of bells and whistles. That's one of the charms of the amp. It's more "old-skool" that way. The only complaint I have about the availability of features is the fact that there's no effects loop. Since the amp has no reverb built-in, I like to use my Midiverb 4 to get some wetness. When you turn the amp up, however, it breaks up (and very nicely at that) and the reverb gets bad sounding b/c it's distorting the reverb. So that's my only big complaint about the features. Otherwise, this humble little amp has just as many as one needs. Here's what it does come with: four-band EQ, two non-footswitchable channels, tube rectifier, two 5881 (6L6) power tubes, and tremalo. I'm not sure what the pre-amp tubes were. I only tried it out in the store.

This amp is really killer. It is not a very versitile amp, though. For jazz and blues it sounds the best. Here's how it sounds. The first channel is pretty bright, but not harsh. It is nice and warm sounding, but still has that 'ol Marshall bite. It sounds very Marshally overall, but the 6L6 tubes give is kind of more warmth. I really dig the way the amp sounds when it's bieng pushed at about 8 on the volume. It REALLY breaks up great. Especially on channel one. Channel two is darker, slightly more "Fenderish", and just a little too muddy for my tastes. The tremalo only works on that channel for some reason. Speaking of the trem, I think that this is the only part of the amp's sound that needs a lot of improvement. It's just not very quality-sounding. The amp responds like a Marshall, but with more warmth. Just a very cool amp all around.

Since I never owned the amp, I don't have an opinion. My expierience with other Marshalls has not been very promising, though. They seem to be a very breakable amp, even when you baby it. Maybe this one is different somehow.

Marshall's c.s. sucks. The amp comes with a one-year warranty, but I'm sure it would take FOREVER to get your amp back if it had to be fixed.

I have been playing for 35 years. I own other Marshalls and some old Fenders and Stuff. I play through a Les Paul mainly, and that's what I'd be using this amp for most of the time. I think if I were to get it stolen, I'd buy it again b/c this amp is so killer. Just a really kickin' sound. The only thing I hate about the amp is it doesn't have an FX loop. The main thing I love about it is the sound. It looks good, too. I'd compare this amp to a 59 bassman but with that 'ol Marshall bite and influence. I just wish the amp had an FX loop!! IF I buy it (which I probably will), I'll have to get one put on, and that's another $200. I really love the way this amp breaks up. Sounds really nice low, but when you get down to about two, the amp loses flavor. I'll probably end up buying the thing.

Two channels accessible via input only, the footswitch is for the tremolo, which only functions with Channel 2, for some reason. The tremolo is pretty basic, not like Fender "vibrato". There is no reverb, although this amp would sound great with a stand alone spring-and-tube outfit. However, you can bridge the two inputs with a patch cord, and that's when things get interesting. The Volume controls are very interactive with the channels bridged, and there are a LOT of tones here. If the tremolo were better, and functioned on both channels when bridged, then it would rate a 10, I think.

This is my favorite sounding amp of any that I've owned, and one of the best I've heard, ever, at any price. That's a bold statement, but this is one excellent tone, here. The best way to run it is to bridge the channels, crank everything to 10, control your volume from the guitar, and just adjust to taste. Single coil tones seem just, uh, cream-y, and humbucked sounds range from plump fatness, to ruthless, resonant Angus Young-type barkiness. This amp really changes character with your picking dynamics, too. The thing is to make sure you really like this sound before you buy it, because there's real distinction, here. It only gets a 9 because the tremolo could be better.

If you are familiar with tube amp maintenance, this is a very reliable unit. Tubes do necessitate a little more hands-on involvement with the amp, though. Hasn't so much as hiccoughed in 6 months. I'm stoked. I give it a 9 only because the reissue uses PCBs, and I don't understand how they are mantained, so this may be the weak area in reliability for me.

Bought it used. Haven't needed support, yet.

This is no do-all amp, although it is much more tonally versatile than I thought. I have been playing for 20 years, and this is the first amp I've ever used that I really thought made me sound better. Really. Not a bunch of knobs, switches, and loops, but a very complex sound that I feel I can build something around. It's a 10 for me, but this isn't for everybody.

This amp has two channels that are not switch able. 1 is a more treble channel that some like to use with humbucker pickups. 2 is a bassier channel that I like to use with my strat. The channels may be jumped to get more gain. This means you can run a guitar cable from the secound input of the #2 channel and go into the first input of the #1 channel or any other variation you can come up with. There are t two volumns. One for each channel and they effect each other. If you are in channel two and you want to tighten up the gain turn channel one volumn down. If your in channel 2 and want a looser gain turn the volumn for channel 1 up. It has presence, treble, bass, and midrange. Two 12" 25 watt celestrian green back reissue speakers. It's a all tube 45 watt amp. Tube rectifier, two 5881/6L6 power tubes, and three preamp tubes. It also has tremalo but I never use it. The only feature I wish it had is wheels. This is a heavy amp. I play in a blues band with a bass player that uses a Ampeg with 8 10" speakers and a 400 watt head. This amp holds up in the volumn department. The bass player and I do not mic. our amp.s. I turn the volumn on my "Bluesbreaker" to 9 and use my guitar volumn to go from clean to crunch. I rate this as very versatile because it can do it all easier than using switching channels. All I have to do is use my guitar volumn adjustment. This is a hand wired amp. It's built like an old Marshall except the fiber board circut is a Printed Circut Board circut which has wide spacing between the circuts. The tube sockets are not mounted to the PCB. The control knobs are not mounted on the PCB. The controls and the tubes are hand wired to the PCB.

I play blues, jazz, funk, alternative, and rock music through this amp. Mainly blues and jazz and it is a amp with TONE. I've been told it sounds like a Fender twin at times and like a Marshall at other times. I play a strat and I turn the volumn off on the guitar in between songs but I don't consider the amp noisy. The distortion is not Metallica. It's more like Cream. The amp only has what most would call a clean channel but when you turn the volumn up it breaks up nicely. Again listen to old live Cream or John Mayall records for a idea of the sound/tone.

I've had alot of amp.s and this has been the most reliable tube amp I've ever had. I use it at all my shows without a backup. I've played outdoor shows alot this passed summer and it never has given me a problem. It has never broke down on me. All I do is plug in and play. I have changed tubes but that was just last week to check out the tone difference of tubes not because the ones that came in the amp were wearing out.

I've had other Marshalls that were not the reissues that broke down on me all the time and the customer support stinks. I think most of the Marshall products are crap.

I'd buy this amp again. I'm looking for a Marshall JTM - 45 reissue head to go with a speaker cabinet I have now. I don't like the weight. I love the tone, versatility, the way it breaks up at high volumns. But even at low volumn it has great tone. It has the most midrange of any amp you can find. I think because of the way these amps are made (hand wiring, wood cabinets) and the tone these are the best kept secret out there. It's as good as any hand wired specialty amp at three times the price. Get one before the quit making them. The low midrange on this amp is what makes it sound so good. I've played good sounding Fenders and got my sound swallowed up by the band. This is something about a amp you won't know until you play with a band.

This is the reissue of Marshall's first combo as featured on John Mayall's Bluesbreakers album with Eric Clapton. It is a two channel amp with vibrato and four inputs. Think of a '59 Bassman with vibrato and you've got the picture. The original featured two KT66s for output tubes, the reissue has the ever popular Sovtek 5881s. The reissue cabinet is not as deep as the original, about the same as a Fender Super Reverb. The amp has four 12AX7s (EC 83s) and a rectifier tube (yes!).
The cabinet is plywood, not particle board and fit and finish is excellent. This is the type of amp that gets lost in a big guitar store but looks real classy on stage. The plexi contol face is a nice feature and the knobs have a quality feel to them. A far cry from my '66 Triumph Bonneville that I had as a young man.
Seems like everyone gives 10s on this bulletin board. I give it a "9" 'cause it has a printed circuit board. But the tubes are chassis mounted and it is super easy to access the amp.

I played almost every night in some honky tonk in Northern California for twenty years. Those days are over and I live in Tokyo now. I play blues, but I played a sackful of country as a boy. This amp is a gas. It looks cool as hell and it really delivers. It is NOT your amp if you are a shredder and to put a pedal between it and a Les Paul would be a sin. But, if you are sure of what you want to play, and are confident in your chops, just crank it up to your lead tone, then back off the guitar for a rhythm tone. You're set for the night. Let'r rip! The vibrato has just the right texture to play down and dirty.
This is a "short throw" amp unlike, say, a Boogie Mk II. In other words, the tone develops at the speaker cloth so you can hear yourself on stage instead of fifteen feet into the audience. The speakers give great sound dispersion so that you don't deafen anyone, including the club owner. Folks, this is a great amp. I have six other amps including a '59 Bassman, a '66 Super Reverb, and a '50 Pro. This amp fits right between the Bassman and the Super Reverb. It has the Bassman tone but cleans up like a Super. Can't beat that...

Its blown three fuses so I called Marshall in Merry Olde and talked to Phil in the Service Department who told me ... (see below)

Phil was as helpful as anyone I have ever talked to. He said it might be the rectifier tube. But wait there's more. We spent twenty minutes going over the history of Bluesbreakers, how they work, and how to make them better. Phil, you're great and thanks alot. Service is an 11, just like Spinal Tap.

I woulds buy it again. And, if you are a blues or roots rocking kinda person I would say check this amp out. Its the way to go if you are playng clubs. Or, if you just want a soulful friend to play some Peter Green songs with.