Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker Combo Amplifier Review | Guitar Interactive Magazine

Review of the Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker Combo Amplifier! Reviewed by Michael Casswell! For more guitar, amp and pedal reviews head to bit.ly/GuitarInteractive
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[@KelsterVonShredster]

Best demo of this amp on the planet. RIP Michael Casswell, you were a great guitarist!

[@michel333100]

I have played guitar for a lifetime and this guy Michael Casswell has got to be the most accomplished player I know of. yeah there's a lot of great players, but I have followed this guy for years and really enjoyed his playing and what he has always brought to the table of music. when I heard of his death, I was deeply upset. what a shame you had to go. you will be missed a great deal. How could this ever have happened? Rest in peace Michael

[@cgavin1]

There's some great videos on KZbin showing him in his element with other great players. My favourite has to be when he totally stealth's Joe Bonamassa in a jam and Joe just says 'why aren't you interviewing this guy!' :)

[@stevetoalz4902]

RIP Michael. wonderful player and great bloke.

[@anythinginvegas]

Swimming pool accident? Jeez, that sucks!

[@liamsilver4843]

what's a bloke?

[@kardRatzinger]

Why do you ask? Have you been banned on wiktionary?

[@painiscupcake5433]

Bizzarre pool accident

[@brianis1000]

there,s a bit of in-accuratcy about this report . It was,nt a swimming pool but he was swimming in the sea while on holiday ....One of the better guitar teaches in my opinion... Sadly missed.

[@davemcafeeguitar]

Michael Casswell you are sorely missed. RIP 🙏

[@jorgiewtf]

What I love about watching so many gear reviews on KZbin is that they are low-key amazing jam-vests by amazing musicians! Thanks for the great jam, review and RIP! 🙏🏻

[@michaelberry530]

I always dig the Demos by Michael Casswell. He plays well and does a great job explaining the in and outs of what ever he is reviewing.

[@MrLeadbelly1966]

Notice the tone section of his amp. Treble, Mid, & Bass all turned up to 10!!! Who else does this? Not too many guitarists venture into this territory. That was the first thing I did to my very first guitar amp, many moons ago (Randall Commander II). Brilliant! Well done, Sir...

[@whistlemusic8572]

I've literally watched this video everyday for two years! So good!

[@tonisiret5557]

Just googled for this amp, & I see Michael Caswell. Never met him, but what a player & I'm sad that he's gone. Thank you Mic!

[@glenfenderman]

Finally I get to see someone who demos this amp properly! Good job, bro!

[@xxPanteraxxx]

The sustain, listen to it. You could go and grab a bite and still hear it.

[@penisdestroyer572]

tap

[@minnesotajack1]

aaaaahhhhhhh. You’d still be hearing that one

[@cgavin1]

Didn't know or ever meet Mike Casswell but you got to admire him for continuing to play so right and tight despite clearly having health issues. God bless, sir!

[@sandrosadhukhan]

Didn't know about his health condition, what was he ailing with?

[@DeliriumDayz]

I have been a fender amp guy forever, but THIS sounds like the best electric blues amp ever

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

I agree. Also have always been a Fender player

[@Fluxxcraft]

That is because it basically is a fender amp

[@BlakkstoneHexx]

Killer playing and perfect for this amp! Awesome review!

[@zundap100]

I really miss these music gear reviews from Michael Casswell. Rest in peace, good man.

[@freakhead21]

RIP Mike.

[@Spartanm333]

Thanks for the video. Nice to see a simple demonstration of how the LP controls can be used to push the amp into distortion without any pedals or fiddling with the controls - as the guy suggested, set your controls high (even 12 noon will do) and around 2 on the volume you will be relatively clean, 5 you will start to push the amp into that nice break-up zone and 9 you are world war 3, man the silos, Gary Moore has landed. The second trick he didn't quite show on the LP is that with the standard layout, two pickups each with independent controls, you can of course have the neck (which is generally more mellow) set at 2 and the bridge set at 7/8 - this way you can go from rhythm into overdriven lead on the Marshall just by flicking the toggle switch - it doesn't get any simpler on any rig than this. Taking that one step further, you can have two types of pickup to accentuate the change more - 490R alnico 2 and 498T alnico 5 overwound work well for rock, particularly with a Marshall valve. The final piece of the classic triad is the Maxon / Ibanez Tube Screamer - whilst this pedal was originally designed to add a valve 'sound' to solid state amps it is flexible enough to drive your signal without any distortion effect and critically without colouring the pickups (which most pedals do). What this means in practice is that you can use it in your line to push the Marshall into overdrive at lower volumes so you can enjoy the goodness without blowing the windows out. Works for me even on a modern Gibson USA LP and DSL Marshall which wont break the bank. :) PIC. bit.ly/36QVQkF

[@kcave23]

I love that guitar so much.

[@MrStoofpotje]

Lovely guitar playing, Mike.

[@robertg5437]

That amp sounds.... bloody marvelous....Mr Casswell a fine picker......

[@altag1]

The amp sounds fantastic in this video, unlike some uploads where you hear room noise etc. I am curious to know the signal chain and if any post processing was added, or is this simply a matter of having high quality recording capabilities, a great amp, nice guitar, and a great player... In any event, this video really compliments the amp... RIP Michael from Dallas,TX

[@davidvarela8739]

ok, you've just been added to my "super cool licks" list.

[@benjgoodell]

not trying to be graphic but that gave me a bit of a chub. beautiful sound.

[@mattchurchill]

Back again June 23. Legend. RIP

[@MUSIC4URDOG]

Really great playing

[@BrentHarmon]

Would have been nice if did some Clapton Era Bluesbreaker tunes.

[@alexmcmurtrieSits]

Oh, if I could only play like this. Damn. So sweet

[@thelegendnedk]

Kool Amp ! Kool guitar ! Great Player ! Thank you !

[@a.j.garrett9639]

Great video for a great amp. But what's great gear without a good man behind it all making it come alive? Sorry to read of his passing, a true talent.

[@ethancase123]

it cracked my up every time when he said that it was extremely loud cuz if a musician says something is extremely loud then you better grab onto to something cuz that speaker is gonna through you to the wall

[@SammyBones]

+ethancase123 sometimes people say something is extremely loud when the tones hurt their ears. I know this amp is loud, but loud is perspective. At higher volumes, maybe the high end needs turned down? Amps produce different tones at different volumes. ...just saying. #loudness

[@SammyBones]

+Daniel John Prutton ok. :) #imquiet

[@lexist7]

+ethancase123 man, this thing sounds like it's a hundred watts

[@shawnglass108]

I think what he meant was that it is loud for a 30 watt amp. He had it completely cranked to get that classic overdrive tone that Bluesbreakers/JTM-45’s are known for. Any 30 watt tube amp is loud when it’s cranked but the Bluesbreakers have a huge cabinet for a 30 watt amp. I’ve got one of these handwired Bluesbreakers. It’s absolutely amazing but I use an attenuator with it. That makes it useable in any environment or gig.

[@Bigsbeee]

@@shawnglass108 I use my Bluesbreaker Clone with Fryette PS100 - LOVE IT !

[@goiastr7760]

Sounds great!

[@riseofthefallen301]

I just love this guy!!!

[@OneBiteoftheCherry]

Check out Joe Bonamassa if you like this guy!

[@FiveseveNp90]

Power = current * voltage. Hand wiring has nothing to do with it. Percieved VOLUME, however, depends on a whole bunch of factors.

[@PetrosGailas]

Thanks!

[@stevehughes1510]

The G12C speakers are great in this amp, a very very good tone.

[@sakitakungtyan]

Really good amp!

[@paulmcgilloway]

R.I.P Michael

[@minsang6704]

love that fuzzy sound

[@keliadesign9973]

Awesome Tone !

[@kidlargo1]

Sweetest tone ever!! Wow!

[@andrewbutcher3391]

And it sounds fabulous.....

[@richardcrompton6009]

Such a sad loss RIP brother

[@JonHallMusic96]

That kick at 4:10 oh my gooooooodness

[@thekitowl]

I have a Bluesbreaker from 95 when it was first reissued & it doesn’t sound any different to the newer HW series . Still my favourite amp for recording.

[@Daryl-id2if]

They were first reissues in 1989. I have one

[@mehmetkizilaslan7123]

Missing this guy..

[@MetalPlayGames]

Holy ship it's big combo!

[@sungpark5437]

Rämpyttäjä &

[@5150show]

Rest in Peace Micheal .

[@lars4738]

What style/genre is the first part in? Awesome playing!

[@Strateuphoria]

the woman tone, for sure, nice demo Mr Casswell!

[@msaintpc]

Damn good pickin' bro.

[@alvin10388]

this is my fav amp..thnx 4 the demo

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Amazing player. RIP

[@MrBIGJIMH]

At what volume on the amp are you doing all this stuff on the LP?

[@moose6676]

God bless this guitar genius 🙏🏻

[@dquillen1]

Damn, that is sweet...

[@petermcnally4277]

Do you guys happen to have a video on how to sound like Eric Clapton during the Bluesbreaker era without breaking the bank?

[@Rainydaydreamaway7]

You just have to bluesbreak the bank instead man. Involves leaving your current band to co-found the first supergroup, becoming a drug addict, growing a sweet walrus looking mustache, running away to join delaney and bonney for some reason, and a host of other questionable decisions, perhaps not in that order. Oh, you'll also want to buy a Marshall and a double humbucker geetar. That's just money well spent, you need the real deal to get the real sound. It might be a 5 percent difference between middle of the pack and top of the line gear, but it's the difference between good and great. Two years later tho I doubt you give a shit about my 2 cents lmao

[@eaglewindrider7700]

SURE MISS HIM

[@jordanhooper6237]

RIP mike

[@MusicFanatical1]

Loud? But does it go to 11?

[@vittoriochimetto]

Complimenti....

[@stuartkelly396]

RIP Michael

[@Glicksman1]

I know that it may seem heretical, but this or very, very close to this sound can be had at 1/10th the volume using a good clean amp, a good compressor (or two) and a good OD pedal. The addition of a nice booster like an Xotic EP wouldn’t hurt either. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sound of this and other similar cranked amps, but where the hell are you gonna use them, not to mention the permanent damage to your ears (and your apartment lease) if you practice at home at such a volume? Great amp for sure, but impractical for most players.

[@stevebell4853]

"I know that it may seem heretical, but this or very, very close to this sound can be had at 1/10th the volume using a good clean amp, a good compressor (or two) and a good OD pedal." It's not heretical. It's just wrong. You will get nowhere near the sound or feel of a cranked amp using a clean amp and a pedal. Why do you crank an amp? It's not for the volume, it's for the dynamics,. so we're talking about touch here. You're not going to get cranked amp dynamics from a clean amp and a pedal, you're just not. You'll get something that sounds similar, but you wont feel it like a cranked amp, nor will the tone be genuinely the sound of the amp, it will be the sound of a cranked transistor or chip. Don't try to tell me that a cranked transistor sounds and feels like a cranked amp. "but where the hell are you gonna use them, not to mention the permanent damage to your ears (and your apartment lease) if you practice at home at such a volume? Great amp for sure, but impractical for most players." I think that at the price it's sold for, it's safe to assume that this is not an amp meant for most players. I dont see what the problem is, you buy one or you don't. Why worry about someone else's choices or circumstances? It's just inventing things to be negative about.

[@montag4516]

Plug a choice axe directly into this amp and it will kick ass. You'll know it and feel it immediately. No, I don't own one but that doesn't keep me from appreciating it. That's a killer amp. And it's better to have power to spare even if you never need it than to be short of it when you do.

[@danielcarter3928]

i wish there was an option for something like this but at a low bedroom friendly wattage! i’ve been looking and looking and the JTM 1 watt is the only thing similar, and it’s pretty stripped down. any suggestions?

[@brown22sugar25]

Say fuck it and turn up

[@ronaldburke3082]

Try a Carr Mercury. That will be the last amp you'll ever want for situations where volume is a concern.

[@BicycleJoeTomasello]

I doubt it is any louder then a Vox AC30HW but I''ll have to listen to be positive

[@ny2568]

what model and colour is this les paul?? totally dig it!

[@JonHallMusic96]

Gibson Les Paul classic plus in trans Amber, been looking for a nice one for sale for ages haha

[@MrSubwaypat1951]

yeah it goes to eleven

[@chingasofarkaso]

What kind of pickups are in the guitar? That makes a huge impact on the sound coming out of that speaker.

[@thekitowl]

Mitch Farkas I believe he said it was a les Paul classic, so that has Gibson’s high output 50’s PAF ‘s .

[@billrand4138]

all eq on 10?

[@xx55AC55xx]

What beautiful guitar is that?! what LP model and whats the top

[@guitarist100]

Its a early Les Paul Classic with a Flamed maple top about 1993, 1994 i think

[@psychojackjack2139]

You should all checkout the new Fender Bassbreakers. You might all be very pleasantly surprised :)

[@lars4738]

How close are they?

[@natashaseider1637]

Last time I played with jumper cables is when my bloody car wouldn't start !!!!!

[@kevink8415]

good amp 🎵🎵🎵🎼🎼🎶🎶🎸🎸

[@Joeobrown1]

could someone explain the linking of the two channels to me please? are there 4 inputs - because if so how does a lead come out of one and into another?

[@Chrismayo1981]

It links both channels together to get the full preamp tube potential. The second input in channel one becomes the output to channel two and pushes both channels together. It's like an AB-Y box.

[@Joeobrown1]

I sort of half understand

[@doitallhome]

***** 2 of the inputs are wired together on each channel. So its like putting a wire that grabs your guitar cables signal and puts it in the other channel. think of it like this channel 1: O==O channel 2: O==O Notice that they are linked. so if you put it in either channel it becomes this channel 1: (your guitar)==X since they are linked the the spare input in channel 1 has you signal too. So if you put a wire that hooks it up too the other other input it would be like hooking up your guitar to both input since the other unsused input still has your signal.

[@Joeobrown1]

right, so if you wanted to have two guitarists play through this one amp (whether that's a good idea or not), could you put both through the input 1s? or would it have to be 1 and 2? and is it *really* 4 inputs, or 2 inputs with 2 outputs? this would make a lot more sense if I had one

[@doitallhome]

Yes could actually put both through 1 but I'm not sure how well it would work. It's more like two channels with one input with two hole.

[@DanOughton]

You seem to have glossed over the fact that it has a GZ34 valve rectifier which is what makes it so touch sensitive and sets it apart from the later Plexi sound and feel. Oh and I certainly couldn't sit next to mine at full volume, my ears would bleed.

[@shakeAbooty88]

Dan Oughton Cool man. And can you play that well as well?

[@DanOughton]

shakeAbooty88 hi, check out my channel, you decide...

[@shakeAbooty88]

Dan Oughton Got me.

[@shakeAbooty88]

arbitermatt There's no need for putdowns mate.

[@stryanx4395]

Miss Mike

[@BlindTom61]

Sweet, but why are these amps so expensive?

[@ezragonzalez8936]

cant believe Michael is gone! drowned in a freak accident in Spain .. life is to short!

[@CarstenMoreno]

What kind of Gibson Les paul is this that is used in the video?

[@michealkiefer4613]

It's a 1993 Classic with a AAA flametop.

[@GraffitiPhysical]

I like it. I guess if you sit right next to it that's why it's loud.

[@marciooliveira5262]

It has an original footswitch

[@jonathankahanovitch2839]

Slash gibson ?

[@mattlillis6152]

It’s got two 12” speakers that’s why it sounds so loud hahah

[@Blueslicks321]

Hey Chad Kroeger is going to want his wrist bands back before NickleBack goes on tour...

[@mikestak]

when both pickups used, it sounds like telecaster is it?

[@macintune]

Master Guitar Lesson plus Demo- RIP

[@TasmanGuitarsAmps]

Everything is on 10. Of course is loud!

[@laudirjunior8922]

Between Marshall JVM410C and Marshall Bluesbraker, which one is the best?

[@anthonyclarke2076]

This guy deserves Joe Bonamassas record deal I'd listen to him over Bonamassa

[@OneBiteoftheCherry]

Are you high?

[@NotUrBiz]

Anthony Clarke Big world, plenty room for both. Why don't you just ask this guy if he has something you can buy rather than make it a competition?

[@NotUrBiz]

***** Nice strawman argument you have there Jeff. I didn't make a claim that there is anything wrong with competition, just that not every guitar video discussion needs to deteriorate into one. This guy thinks the guitarist in the video should have Joe's record deal, let him go and try to take it. See how absurd the point becomes when taken to its logical conclusion? It's dumb.

[@shakeAbooty88]

harlon57 Yes, it's about variety, not who's the best.

[@OneBiteoftheCherry]

Joe is one of my favourite guitarists and always will be, he's my main blues inspiration along with the Delta bluesmen and the late great SRV. I like Gary Moore, BB King, Joe Satriani and Ritchie Blackmore among other greats (not all blues obviously).

[@bobbarcus8310]

That amp is $4,000.00 My 1963 Bandmaster is just as good if not better,If you get the Non Hand wire BB just lower the Electrolyic cap at the preamp to a 32uf It will sound just as good...The Point to point wiring is just a marketing ploy

[@Renshen1957]

+Bob Barcus "The Point to point wiring is just a marketing ploy"...not if you ever played point to point wired amp or had to work on one compared one to PCB. There are good PTP and PCB and bad amps, but the PCB on cheaper amps are so Bean Counter compromised that PCB translates to P iece of C rap B itch.

[@joelloyd-allen8870]

Nice amp.. if you want one sound.

[@1wide9111]

+Joe Lloyd-allen There is a pedal Marshall makes for this amp.

[@luuk341]

+1wide9111 I have one but its nowhere near the actual sound of this amp.

[@shawnglass108]

One sound? It has quite a few good sounds in it. Including a beautiful clean sound. The bluesbreaker is basically the combo version of a JTM-45 with a tube driven tremolo added to the circuit. The touch sensitivity of these amps is incredible. They can be used for any style that a player would use a JTM-45 for.

[@PenguskaterLloyd]

Yeah you sit that close to this amp turned up to 10 and it's pretty loud.

[@chiptmcc8656]

Whew.....but I'm a hack and could never do it justice!

[@diego2246]

Volume at 10??? 😱

[@derekec]

Tasteful, someone I'll happily admit beats my 50 yrs+ playing abilities. Guess he's gone? Too bad.

[@chickenlickin3820]

r.i.p.

[@nathanadkins2985]

do your self a favor people change out the filter caps. replace with kt66 tubes. it will earn up the amp. these are vintage specs

[@paulk.5767]

he said replace WITH kt66 tubes

[@robertstager6538]

Interesting that the rockers/blues players following the BB Kings, Albert Kings, et al have made amps famous that cost $3,000 or so. The old blues masters tended to at least start out with any amp they could afford, and crank the snot out of budget tube amps to be heard. And now, through the magic of marketing, it costs several thousand to get that 'authentic' sound. The Marshall does indeed nail the 'woman tone,' no doubt. However, it will never be in my budget.

[@sixslinger9951]

now with inflation this amp is $4000

[@Hiwatt100W1]

Is this amp made in the UK or is it made in China or Vietnam like most Voxs and other Marshalls these days?

[@harryemmott8597]

+Hiwatt Marshall are mostly 100% made with quality in the UK my friend, in Milton Keynes (apart from the weird effect pedals they make and the crap solid states)

[@CountryHouseGent]

+Harry Emmott Oh dear. :(

[@shockt9610]

This guy stole Slash's guitar xD

[@dquillen1]

Ron Mishra You are an idiot --- Slash has wrote some of the greatest riffs in Rock N Roll...

[@RWMusic250]

@@dquillen1 actually Izzy Stradlin wrote most of Apettite, I'm pretty sure

[@Pete_Harris]

@@dquillen1 Really? He's more about posing and image than accomplished guitar playing!

[@dquillen1]

@@Pete_Harris -- Yeah, kind of like every great guitarist that ever lived...

[@lal2235]

that sounds expensive,