Gear 2

Another Gear Story

Gear Geeks #3. Vintage Reissue Perestroika & The Rock 'n Roll Arms Race.

Now this being for all intents and purposes a music blog, lets talk more about those guitars.  1970's Gibsons and Fenders were more often than not, as heavy as boat anchors.  I've seen Les Paul Guitars from the Norlin era that weighed up around 12 to 14 pounds.  I had a 70's CBS Fender Telecaster that weighed almost just as much.  They were back breakers.  I don't know if it was just a symptom of corporate mass production, or? 

Here's The story

Marshall ORI50H

ORI50H

Marshall ORI50H

JCMC410B Cabinet

This is the amp head I used on all of the electric guitar and bass on my debut album, except for on the title track "I Can Shine".  This is a late model amp (2018 model) which harkens back to the plexi era.  Or at least I think that was Marshalls intention.  It does have an effects loop and built-in boost, which you won't find on an old plexi amp.  It also has a master-volume but does not do insane levels of gain like a DSL or a 900, thus, the "plexi" like sound.  Being my roots are in what we refer now to as classic rock, the level of gain in the Origin suits me fine.  The cabinet shown is a JCMC410B 120 watt, 16 ohm, 4x10 from 1998.  These were originally sold to pair with the short lived JCM600 series amps.  The speakers are Marshall/Celestion Gold Back Speakers.   The Origin amp shined both onstage, and in the studio.  Click on the photo for more Origin video's and stories.

More Origin Here
Marshall JCMC410B 4x10 Cabinet

Marshall 4x10

JCMC410B Cabinet

Here is a gut-shot of the JCMC410B.  These were produced for the JCM600 series from 1997 to 1999.  The 10" 'Gold Back' speakers used, were all custom-voiced Marshall Celestion Heritage models.  These are a 30 watt, 4 ohm speaker.  The cabinet can be wired series/paralell to run 4 ohms, or the speakers can be wired in series to achieve a 16 Ohm cabinet.  My preference, especially for live shows, is to run the cab series/paralell.  This way if you blow a speaker, the rig will still run on the pair that's not blown, so you can at least finish the song your on (of course at your first opportunity you want to switch the head from four to eight ohms, to impedance match to the survivng pair).  These MDF cabinets and speakers were UK made.  The check-grill cloth was for a special anniversary run.  Overall, with the small magnet speakers and MDF construction,these cabinets are comparable to the current Marshall Origin cabinet line coming from Vietnam.

How It Sounds

Dobro Hound Dog

Dobro Hound Dog
Dobro Hound Dog Round Neck

Dobro Hound Dog Round Neck

Resonator Guitar - 11/28/20

Here's the Dobro Hound Dog. It's a fun little guitar. The stock pick-up leaves something to be desired, in the volume department. That said, this guitar does have it's uses, the main one being- it's fun to play.

The resonator guitar was originally designed to help guitarist's be heard in band ensemble situations, prior to the widesoread usage of electric guitars and amplification.  The main design feature is an aluminum cone underneath the bridge, inside the body of the guitar.  The idea was the cone would act as a 'speaker'.  Not being around in the 1920's and 30's myself,  I'm not sure that the design ever really  succeeded in it's intended roll.

The enduring aspect of these guitars is the tone.  They seem to have found a permenent home in bluegrass and the blues, and slide players love 'em!

Salty's Dobro Video

Slide Guitar

Marshall Super Lead 100. The King of Rock n Roll amps.

Marshall 1959SLP

Marshall 1959SLP Superlead on TruckerBomb's 'Light of Jesus'

Goldtop