1968 Marshall 50 Watt Plexi, Duane Allman Les Paul "Cherryburst", OX4 Pickups

1968 Marshall 50 watt "1986" model (Bass amp), original stock circuit and Drake transformers. The 1986 model was favored by Duane Allman.
The output tubes are a NOS set of early '70's Tesla's. V1 is a NOS Mullard from the late '60's, V2 and V3 are NOS early '70's RFT's.
It must've been a good day at the Drake factory when they wound the output transformer in this thing, it sounds like some sort of possessed howling Banshee. Sounds like it was made in a haunted house ;)
The amp is setup to run on 115 volts AC, you can see a VariAC in the background.
Bias is set to 37mA @ 445 volts.
The cab is an original white basketweave 100 watt model with the original G12H's. The speakers have lead (75hz) Pulsonic cones.
The guitar's a '13 Les Paul "Duane Allman Cherryburst" with Mark Stow's OX4 pickups that are rather low output. The guitar's plugged straight in, no pedals.
You can hear a couple of clicks in middle of the vid, that's the switch on the guitar, when I switch pickups to the middle position for the clean stuff.
There's a drum set in the room, pardon the snares rattle. The snares were off but it's rather loud and everything in the room started shaking when this amp started talking ;)
Pardon the hack job playing. I'm about 25 years removed from using Marshalls, a tweed Fender and an ES-5 is more my speed.
For a better demo of this amp, by a professional guitarist, my friend Jd Simo did a clip with it about 2 years ago... you can find it in my video folder. Actually, here's a link:
• JD Simo, 1958 Les Paul...

[@gotta56forme]

This is one of the best sounding plexi vids on all of YT. Congrats sir, I think you won the amp lottery.

[@Dagger_323]

Just got my first set of OX4’s in my LP. I can confirm: they are phenomenal pickups. Unbelievable overtones, harmonically rich, great dynamics, enough clarity without being too bright or harsh. Everything you could want in a good PAF.

[@RNFORLAW]

Doesn't get much better for me....THIS IS THE SOUND ~

[@bloodbrother2204]

NOTHING ON EARTH CAN BEAT AN OLD PLEXI MARSHALL - BEST AMP ON THE EARTH!!! I HAVE A NEW 50 WATT PLEXI - BUT LISTEN AGAIN TO THE GRANDFATHER OF - IF ITS IN A GOOD WORKING CONDITION IT BLOWS EVERYTHING AWAY - VERY GREAT PLAYING LIKE IN EVERY VIDEO OF YOU - YOU TONE SOUNDS LIKE FROM 1799 - IN A POSITIV WAY - LONG BEFORE ELECTRIC GUITARS EXIST - JUST AMAZING

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Well thanks Bloodbrother, I appreciate the kind words man!

[@SuperTechno2012]

You mean the 60s

[@TURNITUPNLETURRIP]

Righteous plexi tones- and sweet licks- shows the great tone of this Marshall. Thanks for posting! Simo's clip is very good also. Keep on posting!

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Thanks man, appreciate the kind words!

[@jhullin]

This is tone of legend!! Sounds so freakin amazing. I would kill to see some gut shots of this beast. Very nice. Thank for sharing............

[@RooseveltMckinley]

You're very kind, thank you!

[@druwk]

Making my insides rumble with headphones over KZbin! BEAST!

[@jojogun1957]

This is the kind of demo that will drive you crazy, I thought my marshall type amp sounded pretty good until I heard this.As they say a good fifty watt plexi can go from clean to scream with just a twist of the volume knob.I've had 3 Marshalls and several clones that we all know and none had the layers of harmonic tones as this one. Real nice playing too,nice variety of tones.

[@Und3adPhant0m]

Man, I love that tone. If only I had enough money for the set up.

[@shakeyjonez]

Three people disliked this vid? We seriously need to improve our gene pool people. This amp is a great example of the British invasion.

[@johnbeloe]

Stow winds some great pickups!

[@timothyjay2012]

Awesome sounding 68 Plexi Bra!!!! 🤘 🇬🇧 🤘

[@ButchieT]

Damn that sounds good Gary....you nail a Greg like tone...can't tell if I am hearing the amp, the pickup, or the tubes....maybe the celestions.....killer combo whatever it is!!

[@MrLespaul2000]

Jesus that sounds killer! You must have have good neighbours though...or they are deaf!

[@kevinallen6955]

You are to modest man.:-) Great playing and a wonderful amp.

[@PanamaJack666]

I'd love to live next to you, that sounds SWEET!

[@rikh78]

it sounds absolutely incredible, must be a lot of fun to play :)

[@buraktulbentci1787]

This sounds great, so rich, loved the harmonics. I wish, I lived nearby, I'd definitely drop by. Of course I'd bring some beer, chips etc... :)

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Thanks! Bring it man!!

[@michaelcraig9449]

Dont forget the WEED!! Tokin' is way more important than beer!!

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

i opened two windows to download this vid, about 6 seconds apart,, sounds great,, i recommend it :)

[@askandziora]

My '68 traynor yba-1 sounds very close to this amp. Great tone.

[@bobolsen8067]

Agree the 50 watt bass model is the best!Sounds better then the"guitar version!"

[@okiebob64]

Massive tone!

[@jimmyp1017]

awesome tone bro...

[@TheGuitarMan71]

Two words: Duane Allman

[@johnpandolfino8663]

Very nice......great tone

[@007snipershot]

Ok, ok, enough already...you sold me, I'll take it. So where do I send the $800 bucks to? :)

[@thegaragesessionproject274]

Amazing! Realy good sound.

[@mwooly1]

Sounds better than mine for some reason

[@askburlefot2645]

Sounds killer!!!

[@totc6196]

Dude this is insane

[@infectionsman]

wow why doesnt my plexi sound anything like that. It must be the glorious drake 784-139!

[@F3502000]

Man that sounds killer!

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Thank you very much, you're very kind!

[@henryjames8928]

Damn, it sounds so good! Do you know if the bridge pup is alnico 2 or 4? Also, are the tubes el34, 6ca7, or 6550? Thank you!!

[@leibstandarte1stSS]

Sweet Baby Jesus ... That what it's all about,right there.

[@bluesful]

Serious tone here.

[@Worldwideguy96]

Mouth watering...

[@mattevans5960]

Hell Yeah!

[@Earlvis]

The Holy Grail

[@jato1956]

Wow...syrup of the Gods!

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

yep that's a rock plexi,, the sound by witch all others are measured.

[@deltaic2409]

Do you know what the plate voltage is?

[@michaelcraig9449]

What is the deal with OX4 pickups, compared to what Duane would have used? Which ones exactly did he use? I heard he sometimes changed pickups around from different guitars. Did he use any pedals at all?

[@impala327]

Duane had some PAFs. OX4 makes PAF-style pups. Beyond that...?

[@justaregularrobloxplayer5678]

Hi Do you know if your 1986 model had a share cathode on V1, on the mixer resistor 470k does it has a 556pf or a 500pf. On the tone stack does it has a 556pf or a 256pf?

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Yes, shared cathodes. It's a straight up 1986 circuit and the 556pf cap. The tone stack uses a 300pf cap.

[@justaregularrobloxplayer5678]

@@RooseveltMckinley awesome, thanks. That amp sounds incredible.

[@mattfuller4307]

Sounds killer I have a Gibson ga 6 from 1955-57 sounds pretty close with my 69 Gibson Flying V

[@theshyguitarist]

Be really cool to hear how a Les Paul with some Wizz pickups would sound through that amp.

[@sigep0359]

+theshyguitarist OX4's are very similar to Wizz pickups. I have both, and tonally they are so similar it is hard to discern which is which.

[@theshyguitarist]

That's pretty interesting to know. I've just about been dying to try the OX4's. Have you played any other pups through that setup? I've also been a tiny bit curious about some of the Sigil and Rewind offerings. Take care.

[@F800GSJay]

+theshyguitarist just the wizz PAF clones and a set of 1960 PAF's no others.

[@theshyguitarist]

No. OX4's are pretty good from what I hear. I also have Shed pickups....phenomenal.

[@lar7300]

Just got this amp and 1960tv greenbacks Jeff beck custom les paul in oxblood with the wizz paf Is tone heaven! Too bad it was around 9 k$$. But you can’t take it with you!!

[@TheSterlingSound]

That's amazing. How far up was the level? Any other tone settings?

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Volume 1: 10, Treble: 10, Middle: 10, Bass: off, Presence: 3

[@lar7300]

Just bought one

[@2007srv]

@@lar7300 Is it like this ? I have a 68' lead clone and I want to clip the bright cap . they say it'll be as the Bass version , same circuit ?. I'm hoping searching before I do it , This sounds wayyy nice !

[@arfboucher3855]

JJ6550s will get a 6550s Marshall to a heavenly tone , my 74 sounds warm and thick like this, great playing on this vid and the sound is better than Johan Segborn, he uses too much treble and too little bottom.

[@conjering]

Incredible sounding amp. Can you tell me the model number of the Drake OT

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Drake 784-139

[@conjering]

Thanks your amp sounds great

[@t-boog2173]

Yeah, she's screams. Can I ask what model and wattage speakers in your cab here? Thanks Man!

[@conjering]

show us the inside guts of the amp

[@j.r.wishmire6459]

Do you still have this amp, and would you be willing to sell it?

[@Stefano_Rodriguez]

Your neighbors disliked this video.

[@vaporettos]

These go to eleven ? 

[@KoChunRockGuitar]

Are the OX4s regular wind or Hot Duane?

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Just the regular set Mark makes. Great pickups!

[@willdenham]

Sounds almost as big as the 100.

[@TheMortybob]

is this not the same (preamp) circuit as the 100 watt "Superbass" version? ive seen demos of the 100 watts cranked and they dont "sing" like this. Is the lower wattage allowing it to go into overdrive easier?

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Oh yeah, it is the same (basically) preamp section as an SB. The 50's have a different character than the 100's... more gain, at least for some of them. A lot of it comes down to tranformers and certainly... tubes. No two old plexis sound the same, and I think most of that is about the transformers. Some Marshalls have transformers that sound, for lack of a better term... spooky... like the transformers were made in a haunted house... on Halloween. This is one of those amps. I've had 100 watt amps that do the same thing The amp's wide open too. They don't really do their thing until you turn 'em all the way up. Hope that helps!

[@TheMortybob]

thank you...cool!

[@2007srv]

@@RooseveltMckinley Hey nice tone for sure . So I heard if I clip the bright cap out of my 68' 50 watt lead it will be the same circuit / sound as the Bass version ? thanks .. I'm sure it won't sound as bad ass as this but lol Its a clone w/ old Mullards in it . thanks again and for the vid :)

[@stevencancel1727]

The vintage 50 watt ones seem to have it, it's more than remove the bright cap, 1986/2100 circuit is different than the lead circuit

[@thomasalmy2408]

Are you using a distortion box?

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Nope. Guitar... cord... amp.

[@philfischer4115]

OMG I live in Seattle. Ill trade my 64 blackface for that....wait....no....wait yes!

[@Tuffmutha]

On 6:56, what riff or song is that from. Real tight tones bro.

[@RooseveltMckinley]

Thanks man, appreciate it... at that point I was just goofing around with ZZ Top's "Brown Sugar"... or something like it ;)

[@RUNNOFT71]

Jesus christ dude