Marshall Amplification JCM800 Series - Manual (Page 18)

“I went to the Marshall factory and ordered my own amps,
I had them beefed up and modified there, I got them in white!”
Randy Rhoads
Right:
1959RR Head
1960AW Cab
1960BWEG Cab
Marshall Amplification Product Catalogue 33
1959RR Randy Rhoads Amplifier
1959RR Signature Head
32 Marshall Amplification Product Catalogue
Throughout our history we have strived to build strong
relationships between ourselves and the artists who fly the
flag for Marshall. Sometimes, tragically, this partnership is
ended prematurely. Cited by countless guitarists over the
years, Randy Rhoads remains hugely influential in the
world of rock ‘n’ roll and continues to inspire new
generations to pick up the guitar. As a rock icon who’s
reputation as a technical wizard with a unique sense of
style precedes him, we felt it fitting to honour this
ambassador of Marshall with his own Signature amp.
We are proud to present the 1959RR Head.
In the Beginning
When it came to choosing which amp to associate with Randy, there
was a clear and obvious candidate that had always stood out from
his backline of Marshall stacks. After a visit to the Marshall factory in
1980, Randy took ownership of a specially customised amplifier that
had already earned itself a formidable reputation amongst the
guitarists of the era. The JMP 1959 100 Watt Super Lead, finished in
white, was totally bespoke to Randy and featured on the Ozzy
Osbourne albums Diary of a Madman and Blizzard of Ozz. This
legendary amp, complete with matching 1960 4x12 ” cabinets, also
accompanied Randy on mammoth tours of the USA, UK and Europe
until his untimely death in 1982. With the kind permission of his
family, a Marshall engineer was allowed exclusive access to
examine, photograph and catalogue Randy’s 1959 JMP which had
been kept in secure storage since the early ’80s. The information
gathered proved crucial in attaining those incredible ‘beefed up’
tones and one-of-a-kind styling only to be found with this particular
Marshall amplifier. This allowed the team at Marshall to create a truly
honest and detailed representation of a piece of rock history and, in
turn, do justice to the memory of a guitar legend.
What’s inside?
Internally, the circuitry has undergone modification to the signal
path to allow the amp to produce a breathtaking, overdriven, yet
beautifully full sound, essential for attaining those sort-after
‘Randyesque’ tones. This adjustment, called the Cascading Gain
Stage, makes it possible to control the extra gain that is generated,
affording you complete control over your sound. Components,
including the transformers, have been sourced from the original
suppliers and over 50% of parts are loaded into the circuit by hand.
Every individual wire is soldered into place manually and all
remaining connections are meticulously constructed and fixed into
position at our UK factory. It’s this care and attention to detail that
ensures that the 1959RR is as solid and reliable as the nerve
tingling tones it produces.
Cosmetically the amp retains the distinctive, anodised gold front
panel of the original 100 Watt head while Randy’s iconic image and
signature adorn the back plate. Covered in brilliant white ‘elephant
grain’ vinyl and protected with black corner caps, the whole unit is
topped of with an over-sized, black Marshall logo, a feature that
Randy had added to the original when he visited the factory. If that
wasn’t enough, contained within the handbook are never before
published photos plus exclusive essays and quotes, all celebrating
the life and music of the man himself.
A combination of traditional electronic craftsmanship, modern
construction methods and a passion for creating the most inspiring
guitar amplifiers in the world mean the 1959RR is a true replica of
that infamous amp that left the factory with Randy Rhoads almost
three decades ago. Still revered to this day by many in the music
industry, we at Marshall are honoured that the 1959RR will be
testament to Randy’s longevity and natural talent for good old
fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. This addition to the Signature Series, with its
warm sonic depth and unique majestic style, will no doubt prove its
self worthy of the legendary guitarist it pays homage to.
FEATURES 1959RR
Head ✓
Output (RMS) 100 Watt
Channels 2
3 Band EQ ✓
Cascade Gain Stage ✓
Pre-Amp Valves 3 x ECC83
Power Amp Valves 4 x EL34
Dimensions (mm) 750 x 310 x 215
Weight (kg) 21.5
AMPLIFIER SPECIFICATION
* The Randy Rhoads Signature amplifier is based on the white 1959 head used by Randy
between January 1980 and April 1982 by kind permission of Mrs Dolores Rhoads.