Recreating Malcolm Young's 1971 Marshall Super Bass - PART 1

[@alexguitar841]

AC/DC is a gift from God. Malcom and Angus set the standard for classic Marshall tone.

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

That unmodified tone sounded awesome. Need to get my hand on a 50 watt one.

[@Skoora]

That intro riff to Jailbreak has haunted me my whole life. It is one of the most unique tones in rock and Malcolm hasn’t exactly had it again in any other song. It’s just all bark with zero sizzle. Have never had an old Marshall or newer amp, that even when set cleaner, have no sizzle and that kind of clanging bark.

[@bobtuiliga8691]

Yeah its the ultimate rhythm guitar riff played by the ultimate rhythm guitarist! When you say sizzle are you meaning that kinda fuzz/fizz when the amp starts to break up?

[@aross5234]

Malcolm is the whole reason I ever picked up the guitar. This vid is awesome

[@kevinmurtagh4996]

Malcolm Young had my all-time favorite guitar tone. As someone who almost only cares about rhythm guitar, his tone and play style were the absolute pinnacle. Not much gain, bright but not ice picky. The power came from his right hand, and where/how he picked/strummed. Just the perfect hard rock rhythm guitar sound.

[@sting1111]

A video on the Baxandall plate fed tone stack could be interesting. Maybe we can explore a bit more about what Marshall was doing here? Please like this comment if anyone else is interested. I have been studying ACDC tone for years and I think this is closest I have ever heard.

[@ericbouza854]

Looking forward to the next 20 parts. 😂👍

[@FrankDux-rq7go]

I remember from the Lee Jackson Tone Talk when he told the story angus' team asked him to come and hot rod their amps. he went to sound check, listened and told them, are you crazy? no. it's perfect the way it is. holy grail right here.

[@LeonTodd]

Far out that's THE sound right there isn't it?

[@Waspfella]

Sean has got a diamond in the rough re this amp !!

[@94xjrgodown2]

Its better than the Hope Diamond now mate!! it'll Give your 74 Supe Bass a run for its money!!

[@sting1111]

I actually like the sound of when the amp came in. It sounded cleaner and less fizzy or more like early ACDC which I have always preferred. this is my humble opinion. :). however I also loved the sound after Jason tackled it. I would be interested in a video explaining the differences between shared cathode and plate-fed tone stack.

[@mookytc]

Man that gold top sounds nice into that Marshall! Fine selection of tunes for the demo (as usual)!

[@dancrowe7860]

Woof! That "Before" amp is dry! Can't wait to hear what you can pull off with this amp.

[@94xjrgodown2]

Trust me this amp OF MINE sounded ordinary. Jason using a Les Paul with Humbuckers in the clip made it sound good. BUT with a hollow body Jet with 3.9k output Filtertron pickups it sounded woeful with no balls or volume whatsoever. Wait till part 2...

[@malcolmyoungacdc]

Hey man, have you ever tried a reissue 1992? Interested to hear your thoughts if you have. I am looking for a new amp 🤘

[@94xjrgodown2]

@@malcolmyoungacdc No mate I havent! I did not know they even re issued the Superbass. What country are you in? Sean

[@malcolmyoungacdc]

@@94xjrgodown2 sorry you are right, no reissue super bass. I was thinking of the SLP1959 but of course that's different. I am trying to decide what to get, currently have a JMP 50w but find it has too much gain. Was thinking old super bass or JTM 45 with some Vintage 30's. You rock bro btw!

[@94xjrgodown2]

@@malcolmyoungacdc Thankyou! If you can find a Superbass then get that. Not a fan of the JTM45. I use the G12M65 and also the 75's. Got rid of my Vintage 30's Too muddy.

[@malcolmyoungacdc]

@@94xjrgodown2 cheers for the tips mate. If you have time would love your feedback on my current set up - see shoot to thrill video. I was thinking of the JTM/V30's because of the sound I heard on Chicago Music Exchange Full Band Friday - If You Want Blood - wouldn't mind your thoughts on his tone, the intro really highlights a particular sound.

[@KleyDeJong]

Very cool amp, I did not know Marshall built a plate fed baxandall Super Bass! Interesting circuit...

[@calebkey2050]

You should check out the circuit for the JCM 800 version of the Super Bass, even more interesting stuff going on. They finally got serious about making the Super Bass an actual bass amp! ...(still not enough watts tho)

[@seanblythe9109]

Oh my lord I already want part two

[@mrt7476]

Great stuff, Jason! Interestingly, the modded 1992 sounds just like my ‘75 1986.

[@geezberry8889]

that has to be the cleanest '71 i've ever seen. thought it was a reissue at first

[@markkinney5030]

O yes sir! That tone sound makes you want to play all night long!

[@ryanintopeka]

My gods that sounds amazing. Holy crap. 🤤

[@danilofaggiolino7125]

the stock amp is sounding killer!!!!!

[@j.w.5485]

I've always felt like a lot of Malcom's early stuff didn't have a ton of distortion. Just a super-powerful sound.

[@bobtuiliga8691]

Agreed. I thought the first demo was closer to Malcolms level of distortion. Just needs volume and a more aggressive right hand!

[@Skoora]

Needed an old Gretsch as well.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

I’ll give you my address, you can send me one. Lol

[@Brannyman66]

@@HeadfirstAmps I’ll send you one 😊

[@94xjrgodown2]

@@Brannyman66 that would be awesome my friend!

[@markevans6657]

I know Sean , he is so passionate about the ‘Mal sound ‘ i to have an old super bass but it was Master volumed .. but still sounds very Mal :) Great stuff!

[@sweetpain67]

There it is.

[@MichaelSorensen-bl3ec]

Sounds pretty good. I'm always surprised at how clean Malcolm's tone actually was, I think it was a conscious decision so that his parts would mesh with Angus's more dirty tone and both would be clearly audible. That "Rock & Roll Singer" riff was re-purposed by Billy Duffy of The Cult in a song called 'Wildflower'.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

100% wild flower! I've always thought that.

[@bobtuiliga8691]

"re-purposed" is a very kind way to put it 🤣

[@tracynorton6410]

Jason....you gotta get a Gretsch w/ filtertrons in yer stable of guitars....hey, Jim Moginie (Oils) used one thru his Marshall

[@weld4beer106]

Here for the party 🎉

[@jasonwalters6329]

Good year 1971!!

[@cmatte82]

Where can I find more info on that tone stack??? I built a 18w TMB. And I’ve been wanting to use it to experiment with things like this.

[@CausingLewis]

Wow, Crazy Had no Idea Marshall ever had a bax tonestack on an amp this era, really cool! Curious how it compares to the Oranges of the era considering their similarities at that point. Thanks for sharing Jason!

[@CausingLewis]

Sidenote, I've put james/bax tonestacks in a few things and I've always really liked them. Especially Plate fed.

[@bobtuiliga8691]

@@CausingLewis when I try it with a high impedance source in TSC it becomes very lossy and lop-sided. Is there a trick to it?

[@CausingLewis]

it’s definitely on the lossy side no matter what, which is why it seems to work better plate fed. Mine seems pretty flat with the controls at noon

[@rebelcat420]

I’d love to see a schematic for this. Can’t seem to find one anywhere

[@HeadfirstAmps]

For the plate fed? I’ve never seen one.

[@qddk9545]

I have built around 10 tube amps from the bottom: 1987, 18w, 2204, AC30, Princeton ... and modded a lot of different amps. I have followed a lot of builds on YT, and read a lot of the tube amp books around. 2 things that make me wonder is: 1. Why don´t amps builders experiment with cathode bias ?? It is easy and sounds very good in VOX, Matchless and some older Fender amps. 2. Why don´t amp builders use the Matchless type post inverter MV ?? It puts the PI into play, and sounds very good in Matchless amps. I think about building a 50w Super Bass with cathode bias, Post PI MV and only plastic caps in the whole amp. SCR makes some 650v plastic caps that can be used for PSU caps, at reasonable prices.

[@bobtuiliga8691]

The negative feedback and dissipation of cathode biasing becomes more of an issue with larger tubes which is why you usually see it used with smaller tubes, especially EL84s/6BQ5s as they only require a few volts bias. You do see it on bigger tubes from time to time though

[@victorbeebe8372]

Aloha and Mahalo!

[@KB_Joys]

Might be a nice platform for a gain stage. I hadn't thought about that before with this circuit. Makes me think of a jcmb800 ish, with yet another gain stage.

[@qddk9545]

JCM800 is not ONE amp, it is a broad series of amps, spanning over very different circuits: 4-input Plexi type, 2 input MV type and the real 2 channel type. More of them comes in heads, 1x12 and 2x12.

[@KB_Joys]

@@qddk9545 true, but for simplicity I do believe that everyone knows which one I'm talking about

[@gabrielstevens41]

Hell yeah

[@matthewridgeway9250]

Need an MY switch so onr can switch the amp in and out of the mod. Vould switch a set of relays.

[@StartUpRight-dp3qz]

The original is perfect, I don't understand why you have to touch it.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Two reasons. First, the owner wanted it changed. Second, it’s how I earn a living.

[@MAURIIIII2009]

LIVE WIRE❤⚡⚡⚡⚡🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@OneHandleToHandleThemAll]

The stock one sounds better...