Marshall Major

{{Short description|Bass guitar amplifier}} thumb|300px|right|A Marshall Major. The '''Marshall Major''' (Model 1967<ref name=doyle>{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=Michael|title=The History of Marshall: The Illustrated Story of "the Sound of Rock"|year=1993|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-7935-2509-6|pages=43–45|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E90tMBs9_FEC&pg=PA45}}</ref>) was a bass guitar amplifier made by Marshall. It was introduced in 1967 as the "Marshall 200" (in reference to the power of the amplifier). It had a plexiglass panel and two inputs in one channel, but in contrast with the 100 watt heads made by Marshall, the first series had split{{clarify|date=April 2025}} tone controls. For the second series, in late 1968, Marshall reverted to ordinary passive tone controls, and was called the "Marshall Major".<ref name=pittman>{{cite book|last=Pittman|first=Aspen|title=The Tube Amp Book|year=2003|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-87930-767-7|pages=75–76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JT1I7Ld76YsC&pg=PA75}}</ref>

The amplifier used KT88 output valves,<ref>{{cite book|last=Fliegler|first=Ritchie|title=Amps!: The Other Half of Rock 'n' Roll|year=1993|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-7935-2411-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NgG8bmBayLwC&pg=PA15|author2=Jon F. Eiche|page=15}}</ref> two ECC83 preamp valves and one ECC82 valve as a phase inverter.<ref name=doyle /> Approximately 1,200 of these amps were produced from 1967 to 1974;{{citation needed|date=February 2011}} Marshall ceased production when the supply of KT88s ran out.<ref name=pittman />

The amplifier was used by rock musicians who needed very high volume. A notable user is Ritchie Blackmore; his Major had the two input channels cascaded into one, essentially creating the first Marshall with a master volume.<ref name=pittman />

==Other versions== The Major was also made as a PA amplifier, Model 1966 (from 1967 to 1971, with eight inputs in four channels; known in 1967 as the PA 200), and as a bass amplifier, Model 1978 (from 1967 to 1974).<ref name=doyle /> A line of on-ear headphones by Marshall have also been issued with the same name.

==Notable users== * Jimi Hendrix * Ritchie Blackmore<ref name="pittman" /> * Tom Bukovac<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bohlinger|first1=John|title=Rig Rundown: - Tom Bukovac |publisher=YouTube |date=21 January 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d62l3AgIaPg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/d62l3AgIaPg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * John Frusciante * Josh Klinghoffer<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kies|first1=Chris|title=Rig Rundown: Red Hot Chili Peppers [2017]|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25290-rig-rundown-red-hot-chili-peppers-2017|website=PREMIERGuitar |date=February 2017}}</ref> * Joe Perry<ref>{{cite book|last=Prown|first=Pete|title=Gear Secrets of the Guitar Legends: How to Sound Like Your Favorite Players|year=2003|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-87930-751-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqQjuzPrqIwC&pg=PA55|author2=Lisa Sharken|page=55}}</ref> * Mick Ronson<ref name="doyle" /> * Stevie Ray Vaughan<ref>{{cite book|last=Kitts|first=Jeff|title=Guitar World Presents Stevie Ray Vaughan: ... From the Pages of Guitar World Magazine|year=1997|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-7935-8080-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mf6L5Q3_62IC&pg=PA113|page=113}}</ref> * Dan Andriano<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/alkaline-trio39s-dan-andriano-on-punk-production|title=Alkaline Trio's Dan Andriano On Punk Production|work=BassPlayer.com|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-us}}</ref> * Frank Zappa<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raison |first1=Drew |title=Frank Zappa's Amp Rigs -A Look Inside |url=https://emeapp.org/2019/08/14/frank-zappas-amp-rigs-a-look-inside/ |website=EMEAPP |accessdate=12 January 2020 |date=14 August 2019}}</ref> * Lemmy Kilmister * Daniel Rydholm

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Instrument amplifiers Category:Marshall amplifiers Category:Valve amplifiers