One of the most respected names in the music industry when it comes to rock and roll
equipment, if not the most respected, is Marshall amps . Started in London,
England in 1962 by Jim Marshall, Marshall Amplification has been endorsed and used
by some of the biggest names rock and roll has ever known. Marshall guitar amplifiers
have been used by Eric Clapton, Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and
Slash, just to name a few. The artists swear by the consistency and pureness of sound
that Marshall guitar amps continue to put out.
Jim Marshall owned a music store in Hanwell, England during the sixties. He taught
drumming lessons for quite a few years and was a well established drummer in his own
right. Several of his students when on to become famous musicians such as Mitch
Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Mickey Waller (Little Richard), and Mickey
Underwood (Ritchie Blackmore). A few of his customers such as Pete Townshend,
Ritchie Blackmore, and Jim Sullivan used to frequent the music shop and confess their
need for specific types of amplifiers that were not readily available to them at the time.
Hearing his customers out Jim Marshall eyed an opportunity and decided to go forth
and produce guitar equipment. At the time the most popular guitar amps came from
America by the Fender company. The Fender amps were well like among musicians,
but were not very affordable. In his mind Jim figured he could create a similar product,
just as effective, and less expensive than the Fender brand and went to work building
several prototypes. After a few trials and tribulations the sixth prototype to be produced
finally came out the way Jim liked it, in what he called the Marshall sound, and Marshall
guitar amplifiers were born. The sixth prototype was originally named the “Mark II,” but
was later named the JTM45 after Jim and his son Terry Marshall. The 45 referred to
the 45W of power that the amp produced.
From there Jim expanded and began producing Marshall guitar amplifiers on a larger
scale. His biggest mistake in the early years was signing a fifteen year distribution
deal with Rose-Morris, because in his words, “Rose-Morris hadn’t a clue.” Rose-Morris
nearly priced Marshall guitar amplifiers out of much of the worlds range for quite a while.
To offset the overpriced contracts Jim started the Park brand of amplifiers, which were
essentially Marshall guitar amplifiers, but with the Park logo. Jim endured and Marshal
guitar amplifiers have thrived in the music industry with one of the most trusted names
in the business for over forty years.