Marshall

[ Fender Guitars ] [ Gibson Guitars ] [ Marshall ] [ Midi Files ]

Behind every successful enterprise there is always a very human aspect. In the case of Marshall the Company's success is closely tied to the history of Jim Marshall himself.

DRUMS TO AMPLIFIERS BY DEMAND

Many of Jim's pupils became successful with their own bands and consequently began to bring their guitarists and bass players into the shop. Their demands for guitar products meant that Jim now had to stock guitars and amplification. In addition Jim soon realised that he could produce his own cabinets to cope with the louder volume levels and turned his garage into a workshop, building just two cabinets a week in 1961. By 1962 an amplifier was needed to provide something extra for the rapidly developing guitar players and Jim enlisted the help of Ken Bran, an electrical technician and former customer. After months of trials they finally settled on the design -The Marshall Sound was born.

After a difficult childhood ruined by illness, Jim started work in 1936 at the age of 13 with no formal education. By the time he was 14 his interest in singing led to a part time evening job in a band. After a succession of day jobs with little or no prospects, Jim began a career in engineering as a toolmaker, largely on the strength of his own learning from books. His semi professional music career had blossomed into regular work playing the drums and by 1947 he began to study under Max Abrams - a highly respected drum teacher. Jim was so busy playing and teaching his own pupils by the early 50's, that he had to consider turning professional. He quickly became very successful as a sought after professional drummer and as a drum teacher, with up to 65 pupils a week attending his school. From the amount of retail business his drum school was generating it became obvious that he should open his own shop. In 1960 the first Marshall shop was opened.

The first amplifiers were totally hand built on aluminium chassis with 5881 valves (similar to 6L6's). Serial numbers started at 1000, though the first 3 or 4 were taken by prototypes. When demonstrated in the shop these early amps caused a sensation. The quality of the tone was something previously unheard and quite unique. Orders for 50 were taken from that first model.

The Marshall business was now highly successful and a second shop was opened virtually opposite the first. The original shop now became the amplifier manufacturing plant and the back of the second shop was the cabinet workshop. Output was still too low, so a small factory in Southall was set up to manufacture cabinets in 1963. Even this was not enough to cope with the demand created by the reputation of the Marshall sound and the growing list of endorsees.

New premises had to be found and in 1964 a 5000 sq.ft. factory in Hayes, Middlesex was set up. Output now reached 20 to 30 amplifiers a week and 60 cabinets. As emerging bands such as The Who began to re-shape the presentation of music, demand grew quickly as other players wanted a piece of the "wild" Marshall sound. Pete Townshend was instrumental in the next major step. His wish to drive harder, accelerated the development of the first 100 Watt heads. He also asked for a special 8x12 cabinet. The impracticality of this cabinet led to a "stacked" version i.e. one 4x12 on top of another.
The Marshall Stack was here!

By the end of 1965 a production of 40 amplifiers and 100 cabinets per week was unable to reduce the growing back orders. Demand, fuelled by the appointment of a distribution company, exploded. The world was crying out for more Marshall. The solution was another move. Marshall now moved to Bletchley, Buckinghamshire into 7000 sq.ft. Export sales grew as the success of British bands spread abroad. Throughout the 1960's Marshall sound powered the most influential and original guitar players. From Pete Townshend with The Who, Eric Clapton with his distinctive Bluesbreaker tone, then with Cream; to Ritchie Blackmore with Deep Purple and the greatest ambassador of all, Jimi Hendrix. With his prodigious guitar talent, he used the power of Marshall as a creative tool and as an extension to the instrument itself. 1968 and the sales explosion created the need for greater capacity. A 14000 sq.ft. purpose built factory was opened and at last the world market stood a chance of fulfilment. Investment in massive PA systems powered the tours of many early 70's "super groups". Multi coloured Marshalls appeared and the product range expanded.

By 1975 the first transistor heads were introduced, followed by the first Master Volumes in 1976. Guitar styles soon adapted to squeeze the most from this extension of the Marshall sound. Here began the quest for gain which continues to this day.

1981 saw the end of the 15 year distribution contract and the introduction of the JCM 800 Series. We were now fully back in control of our own destiny, with phenomenal products, another demand explosion occurred. The long awaited Split Channel amplifier came in 1982 and was an instant success, with it's incredible flexibility and distortion control; the world loved it!

One of the proudest moments for Jim and the company came in 1984 with the presentation of the Queens Award for Export Achievement. This was followed by the move to our present site, where a staff of 90 now occupied 50000 sq.ft. Another personal triumph for Jim was his induction into the Hollywood Guitar Centre Walk of Rock in 1985.

Celebrations of the Marshall 25th Anniversary and Jim Marshall's 50 years in music, reverberated throughout the world in 1987, Special Limited Edition Jubilee products received great acclaim and continued our upward spiral.

As the company has grown, Jim has assembled a first class team, which in the lead up to the 90's has taken Marshall to new heights. The factory has now extended to 70000 sq.ft. and the workforce has grown to 220. The present generation of ever more demanding guitar players are enjoying our recent innovations. The Series 9000, JCM 900 valve amps, SE1OO speaker emulator, Valvestate and new effects pedals, have all received the welcome we appreciate most, they are being PLAYED.

To celebrate our 3Oth Anniversary we have produced a remarkable new amplifier which holds true to the tradition of excellence instilled in the company by its founder. One man's drive and vision has created this legend which continues to grow.