Vintage Guitars
I'm happy with this
This website uses cookies to personalise content and adverts, to provide social media features, and to analyse traffic. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. See terms and conditions
MARSHALL | VINTAGE ADVERTISEMENTS

Marshall advertisement (1970)

This is How You Look to the A&R Man

Marshall Amplifiers

Small.
Insignificant.
Potential chart-busters?
He'll decide for you. Based on your sound. That's what hit records are made of.
But quality sound. The sort you can only get from the very best amplification equipment.
Volume matters but so does tone.
All this adds up to a number one.
As it has done for the top groups who use Marshall. Like the Tremeloes, the Family, the Small Faces, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Toast, the Bee Gees, the Herd, the Love Affair, Sons & Lovers and other great sounding names. Their sound made them

Advert highlighting the quality of Marshall amp tone

More

    Marshall advertisement (1970) This is How You Look to the A&R Man

    Other related vintage advertisements

    Marshall Amplifiers - The
    Marshall Amplifiers - The 'Marshall Sound' is Getting Around
    February 1967 advertisement for Marshall amplifiers. Rose-Morris were the UK distributors of both Marshall and Rickenbacker. This advert is total mod.. and totally of it's time. Ironically the foot...
    Marshall Amplifiers - The
    Marshall Amplifiers - The 'Marshall Sound' is Getting Around
    March 1967 Rose-Morris advertisement for Marshall amplifiers and the Marshall SupaFuzz pedal.
    Marshall Amplifiers - Food For Thought. Vanilla Fudge. Grapefruit. The Toast.
    Marshall Amplifiers - Food For Thought. Vanilla Fudge. Grapefruit. The Toast.
    British advert for Marshall amplifiersIn case these names have escaped you we'll tell you they're where you should be. At the top. You might say you're as good and deserve to be there too. However ...
    Marshall Amplifiers - The Sound Bouncer
    Marshall Amplifiers - The Sound Bouncer
    Bounce a sound today. Give an organ peal a lift. Boost a bass. Do it with this tremendous sound bouncer, a new development in speaker cabinet design by Marshall. The heavy duty 18" speaker with 150...
    Marshall Amplifiers - Let em hear it like it is
    Marshall Amplifiers - Let em hear it like it is
    UK advert for Marshall - placed by Rose-Morris; distributor of Marshall products at the time
    Marshall Amplifiers - Hear No Evil
    Marshall Amplifiers - Hear No Evil
    1971 UK Marshall amplifier advertisement
    Marshall Amplifiers - Power Zone
    Marshall Amplifiers - Power Zone
    Ground zero is the sharp end of the power zone. That's where you'll find Marshall - always at the sharp end and that's where the action is. Take an action line to ground zero-that's firepower, that...

    Marshall

    Vintageguitarandbass.com is funded by its visitors. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. For more info see terms and conditions.
    1993 Marshall 1959 SLP 100 Watt Super Lead Plexi RI Head Very Nice  /  Pre FX Loop

    1993 Marshall 1959 SLP 100 Watt Super Lead Plexi RI Head Very Nice / Pre FX Loop

    Bound Brook, New Jersey, 088**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $1899


    1993 Marshall model 1959 SLP 100 watt "Plexi" Reissue
    This is one of the earlier ones without the effects loop that sound truer to the originals
    These heads really nail the "plexi" sound. I've used these with Gibsons & Fenders & it always ends up sounding like the records from that ACDC "kerrang" to Jimi or Jimmy Page tones . it's in there without "modeling "
    This one is all original except for one filter cap, new tubes & bias caps that were installed as preventive ... more
    eBay logo
    Marshall Major "Pig" Amp with master volume mod 1969-1970

    Marshall Major "Pig" Amp with master volume mod 1969-1970

    Orem, Utah, 840**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $3800

    UNTESTED - UNABLE TO TEST - NO INDICATOR LIGHT TO JUDGE IF DEVICE POWERS ON | INDICATOR IS MISSING / TUBES ARE STORED IN BUBBLE WRAP / RUST ON HARDWARE / STICKER RESIDUE / TEARS AND SCRATCHES IN LEATHER MATERIAL / OTHER SCRATCHES, SCUFFS, SCRAPES... more
    eBay logo
    Marshall Popular 1930 2x10" Combo 1970 - Black

    Marshall Popular 1930 2x10" Combo 1970 - Black

    Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $2799

    Here we have a vintage Marshall Popular 1930 2x10" combo! This entry level amp is in good condition overall and good functioning shape. It has dual 10 inch speakers, built-in tremolo and two channels with dual inputs for each channel. The amp also has a hard wired footswitch. There has been a voltage transformer added, which is installed in the bottom of the cabinet, to convert this amplifier to US power with a modern 3 prong cable. The amp has seen other service over the years but remains in ... more
    eBay logo
    1970s Marshall ??Big M?? 4x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet Straight Vintage 1960B 412

    1970s Marshall ??Big M?? 4x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet Straight Vintage 1960B 412

    Hendersonville, North Carolina, 287**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $1500

    Tolex and grill have some wear but good condition overall, especially considering its age. Has original Eminence speakers still in it. Sounds great.
    ... more
    eBay logo
    1967 Marshall Plexi - SUPER PA - 100w Amplifier - SP 20599

    1967 Marshall Plexi - SUPER PA - 100w Amplifier - SP 20599

    Greensboro, Maryland, 216**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $8000

    1967 Marshall Plexi - SUPER PA - 100w Amplifier - SP 20599... more
    eBay logo
    1988 Marshall 2555 Black Jubilee With 1960AV Cab

    1988 Marshall 2555 Black Jubilee With 1960AV Cab

    Roseville, Ohio, 437**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $3550

    1988 Marshall Model 2555 2-channel 50W / 100W "Black Jubilee " . Perfect working order. Very nice cosmetically. Loaded with matched quad of JJ El34s. Also included is a Marshall 1960AV Vintage 4x12 cab. It has the original Marshall branded Celestion G12V Vintage speakers dated to 2005. The cab is rated at 280w. There is a blemish (pictured) on the grill. New wheels! I purchased this cabinet in November of 2019 from the estate of Eric Moore (The Godz). Will deliver within 100 miles of Roseville, ... more
    eBay logo
    1970s Marshall 1960A 100 Watt 4x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet Celestion Greenbacks

    1970s Marshall 1960A 100 Watt 4x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet Celestion Greenbacks

    Hendersonville, North Carolina, 287**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $3000

    Great cab. Obviously has some wear from use but very good condition, especially for its age. Sounds great. Has original Rola Celestion Greenback speakers. Date code on the baskets dates to August of 1972.
    ... more
    eBay logo
    1973 Marshall 100watt JMP plexi Superlead Guitar Amp Amplifier Vintage Head 70s

    1973 Marshall 100watt JMP plexi Superlead Guitar Amp Amplifier Vintage Head 70s

    Topeka, Kansas, 666**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $9999

    This vintage 1973 Marshall 100watt JMP plexi Superlead guitar amp is a true gem for any musician. With its classic design and powerful sound, this head amplifier is perfect for any guitar enthusiast. The brand Marshall is known for its high-quality products, and this amp is no exception.

    I have owned and appreciated the fabulous tone of this full stack Marshall since 1986. I??m 59 this year and ready to pass this on to the next caretaker.
    Cabinets are available.

    The ... more
    eBay logo
    1966 Park Marshall guitar amplifier amp Cabinet cab 66 Rare Top Handles Vintage

    1966 Park Marshall guitar amplifier amp Cabinet cab 66' Rare Top Handles Vintage

    Ladera Ranch, California, 926**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $6500

    1966 Park Made by Marshall guitar amplifier company in UK amp 4 X 12" Cabinet cab 66' Rare Top Handles Vintage. Thin lip, no side handles. Has 70's Celestion 12" Speakers with the original cones. These are extreemly rare. This one is in rough shape but sounds amazing. Great Rock and Roll Vibe! Buyer pays all shipping, local pickup preferred
    ... more
    eBay logo
    Marshall JCM 900 Lead-1960 Cabinet With JVM Marshall 410H 100W Valve Amp

    Marshall JCM 900 Lead-1960 Cabinet With JVM Marshall 410H 100W Valve Amp

    Torrance, California, 905**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $2000

    The Marshall JCM 900 Lead-1960 Cabinet with JVM Marshall 410H 100W Valve Amp is a high-powered electric guitar amplifier designed for performance venues. This stack amplifier features 2 speakers, 4 channels, and a Power of 100W, making it ideal for delivering the classic Marshall sound that guitarists have come to love. Made in the United Kingdom, this amplifier is part of the Marshall DSL100H product line and is known for its vacuum tube technology and Deluxe Reverb model. Perfect for musicians... more
    eBay logo
    1967 Marshall JMP 1987T Tremolo 50 Plexi Panel 4x10 Vintage Tube Amp

    1967 Marshall JMP 1987T Tremolo 50 Plexi Panel 4x10 Vintage Tube Amp

    Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $7500

    Up for sale, a 1967 Marshall JMP 1987T Tremolo 50 4x10?? combo amp in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original footswitch and a vintage Brimar-branded tube set. This Plexi-panel Marshall pairs a JMP 1987T Tremolo 50 chassis with a custom 4x10 enclosure loaded with vintage Celestion 7442 speakers. This amp was a mainstay in Paul Allen??s ??Cross Town?? studio for years, purportedly used by many of Allen's notable friends including Tom Petty, George Harrison, ... more
    eBay logo
    Vintage 80s Marshall Lead 12 Model 5005 England

    Vintage 80's Marshall Lead 12 Model 5005 England

    Benicia, California, 945**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $279

    This amp is available for local pickup only. It's a solid amp that you will enjoy. It sounds great and has been tested. If you are seriously interested in having this amp shipped (if you're outside of the Northern California area, feel free to Google "GuitarFinds" and reach out to discuss possibly shipping. But please note, at this time we very much are against shipping amps ( They tend to get banged around when they're shipped).


    So if you're local in the Northern California ... more
    eBay logo
    vintage 1976 Marshall JMP MK2 100 Master Lead

    vintage 1976 Marshall JMP MK2 100 Master Lead

    Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, 395**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $4850

    Vintage 1976 Marshall JMP MK2 Master 100 Lead Amp is in excellent condition for almost 50 years old. Looks to be all original Sounds absolutely awesome. Have to sell for financial reasons. You won't find another one as nice as this one
    ... more
    eBay logo
    Marshall SV20C Studio Vintage Plexi Guitar Combo Amp

    Marshall SV20C Studio Vintage Plexi Guitar Combo Amp

    Nashville, Tennessee, 372**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $1100

    Retro Gear Shop is a high-end boutique store located in Nashville, Tennessee
    Marshall SV20C Studio Vintage Plexi Guitar Combo Amp
    For sale is a used Marshall SV20C Studio Vintage Plexi Guitar Combo Amp. It's tested and fully functional. From smoke free private home studio. There are some minor signs of cosmetic wear. Tubes all test excellent. These retail for $1499 new, save some here
    *Check out the pictures to make sure you like it. Pictures are of actual item for sale *
    Flat ... more
    eBay logo
    MARSHALL Valvestate AVT2000 OEM Amplifier Control Knobs Lot of 11 Black Gold VTG

    MARSHALL Valvestate AVT2000 OEM Amplifier Control Knobs Lot of 11 Black Gold VTG

    New Braunfels, Texas, 781**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $45

    MARSHALL Valvestate AVT2000 OEM Amplifier Control Knobs Lot of 11 Black Gold
    Description:
    Set of 11 original OEM MARSHALL Valvestate AVT2000 amplifier knobs, ideal for authentic replacement or restoration. Black ribbed sides with gold tops and indicator lines match the original factory look
    MARSHALL OEM amplifier control knobs lot of 11
    Black ribbed design with gold tops and markers
    Genuine parts made for Valvestate AVT2000 series
    Factory replacement with durable ... more
    eBay logo
    Vintage Marshall Lead 12 Guitar Amplifier Mini Stack 3005

    Vintage Marshall Lead 12 Guitar Amplifier Mini Stack 3005

    Collingswood, New Jersey, 081**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $850

    ONE owner
    Guitar Amplifier
    VINTAGE 1987 Marshall Lead 12 Mini Stack MODEL 3005 Guitar Amplifier
    Tested and Working
    Very good condition
    Great Sound
    Pots Cleaned and Serviced
    Included Head and Two Cabinets
    I bought this amp brand new back in 1986 / 1987. ONE owner
    MARSHALL LEAD 12 Micro Mini FULL Stack Straight Slant Cabinet Amp JCM Vintage 1987ish 80's Marshall Mini Stack without the original shipping box
    Played it to make sure it ... more
    eBay logo
    Jim Marshall Autographed Marshall Amp Signed T-Shirt 1997- Brand NEW

    Jim Marshall Autographed Marshall Amp Signed T-Shirt 1997- Brand NEW

    Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, 480**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $100

    Rare one of a kind autographed shirt by the late Jim Marshall given to the Late Dennis Noda from Cannibal and the Headhunters / Classic Rock AllStars. Never worn. Size XL. From NAMM show.
    ... more
    eBay logo
    2001 Marshall 1960BC Classic 100 Watt 4X12 Speaker Cabinet Celestion Greenbacks

    2001 Marshall 1960BC Classic 100 Watt 4X12 Speaker Cabinet Celestion Greenbacks

    Hendersonville, North Carolina, 287**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $1500

    Extremely rare cab. Basically it??s a marshall 1960B with Celestion Greenback speakers. Or you could look at it as a 1960BX with the 1960B aesthetics. Original Greenback speakers are still in it. Sounds great. Tolex has some wear but good condition overall
    ... more
    eBay logo
    1967 Marshall pinstripe 1960a 4x12 cab 100% original 0 issues pre rola celestion

    1967 Marshall pinstripe 1960a 4x12 cab 100% original 0 issues pre rola celestion

    Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio, 434**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $7000

    Qty 1 1967 Marshall 1960a pinstripe cabinet 100% original down to the wire .Zero issues with speakers(all of them) .No rubbing, loose spiders on these. Really a nice cab and hard to get with all speakers sounding right. These speakers all have 20 labels but I believe them to be early 25 watt medium magnet / 003 cones. They do have the 20 label on them which was normal for a period
    Speakers I believe are from June 1967 . Date codes 08 FM on front also. All have extremely clean cones and I ... more
    eBay logo
    1980s Marshall Head Front Panel w /  9" White Logo & 80 Vintage Grill Cloth 3205

    1980s Marshall Head Front Panel w / 9" White Logo & 80' Vintage Grill Cloth 3205

    Kansas City, Missouri, 641**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $125

    I believe it's a 1980s Marshall Head Front Panel with a 9" white logo and 80's vintage grill cloth is a vintage amplifier part designed Marshall head panel with grill cloth to match speaker cabinets. This head panel was from the 80's maybe a solid-state hybrid amplifier
    head like the Marshall Lead 100 MOSFET 3205 or 3210 models. Perfect for guitarists looking to add a unique and retro touch to the looks. It measures 21 5 "
    Long and 4 & 1 / 2" Tall with white piping around 3
    of ... more
    eBay logo

    Find more Marshall at vintageguitarsforsale.co

    There are 0 comments on this page so far. Add your comment

    Comment on this article

    Anti-spam question - to catch web robots

    Contact
    info@vintageguitarandbass.com

    mailing list

    Follow

    Facebook  Instagram  YouTube

    Other Great Sites

    Recent posts on vintage guitar and bass

    1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass

    1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass The Hagstrom Swede bass, or model HB 903, was only built in small numbers: just 1479 basses shipped between 1971 and 1976. Unlike the current range of Hagstrom guitars, the 1950s-1980s Hagstroms were built in Sweden. This example comes from 1973 and is pretty typical: translucent cherry finish, mahogany body, mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard. It's a really nice bass, beautifully appointed with a very wide tonal range, and a great playing feel. It is relatively heavy though for a mahogany instrument, mostly due to its thick solid body. Very cool bass, and certainly one of the very best basses produced by Hagstrom.

    1973 Shaftesbury 3400

    1973 Shaftesbury 3400 This example of the Shaftesbury 3400 was produced by Japanese manufacturer Matsumoku who made some great quality guitars in the 1970s and 1980s. This is a slightly later example, and has some features not seen on earlier 3400s. Although nice guitars, these are not in the same league as the Gibson Les Paul it was emulating (no set neck, no carved maple top); but they are far better than many of the entry-level Les Paul copies available in the mid-1970s - for example the Shaftesbury 3400 has gold plated hardware, a solid body bound front and back, Maxon brand humbuckers and nice inlaid neck and headstock.

    1971 Epiphone 1802T

    1971 Epiphone 1802T The Epiphone 1802T was the early name given to the Epiphone ET-270 and derived from an existing Aria guitar, also the 1802T. This was the first of the 1970s Epiphone solid bodies made in Japan by Matsumoku.The model evolved somewhat over its short production run: the very earliest examples were very similar to the Aria, sharing the same body shape, hardware, and clear-coated neck with Fender-style headstock with decal logo. By the time it was designated the Epiphone ET-270 it had been upgraded with the classic Epiphone-style headstock, with nice inlaid logo, and Epiphone 'E' motifs on the truss rod cover and scratchplate. This example from 1971 is somewhere in between with the Epiphone-style headstock, but with silk-screened logo, and no 'E's.

    1971 Shaftesbury 3400

    1971 Shaftesbury 3400Shaftesbury was a brand distributed by Rose-Morris in the UK - generally imported guitars from Italy or Japan. This guitar, model 3400 was produced by Matsumoku in Japan, and was one of the earliest Les Paul copy guitars, debuting in the UK in 1969, although the same guitar was also sold as the Univox U1982 'Rhythm and Blues' by Merson in the USA as early as 1968. It was also available in different territories under different marques, most obviously the Aria 5522 (Japan), Jedson Jet 4444 (UK, Dallas Arbiter), with no doubt many more examples worldwide.

    1981 Gibson Victory MVX

    1981 Gibson Victory MV-XThe Gibson Victory MV-X, or Victory 'Multi-Voice' 10, was so-named because of the 10 distinct switch settings: although on first glance this guitar is very much a 'super-strat', with its three-pickup 5-way switch wiring configuration, the original advertising, sounds like... all of 'em underlines that this isn't just a Stratocaster copy, having the sounds of both Gibson humbuckers and Fender single coils available with a flick of a switch. The model was short-lived, with the first instruments shipping from Kalamazoo in Summer of 1981, and the last (excluding any stragglers) leaving Nashville by early 1982. This one was stamped on August 3rd 1981 in Kalamazoo.

    1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogue

    1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogScan of 1970 Epiphone guitar catalogue produced by Rosetti for the UK market. Undated but most likely from mid-late 1970, this was the first UK catalogue to show the new range of Japanese (Matsumoku) Epiphone guitars. Interestingly, these pages show the Epiphone solid bodies with a single-sided Fender-style headstock layout - a feature quickly replaced with a typical two-sided Epiphone headstock almost immediately. Epiphone electric guitars: 9520, 9525; bass guitars: 9521, 9526; acoustic guitars: 6730, 6830, 6834

    A World of Guitars by Rosetti - 1971

    1971 A World of Guitars by Rosetti catalogueScan of 1971 Rosetti catalogue (UK) featuring guitars from from numerous manufacturers worldwide: guitars by Epiphone, Hagstrom, Levin, Hoyer, Egmond, Eros, Moridaira, Kiso-Suzuki, Schaller, and Tatra.

    1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

    1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

    1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

    1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

    1961 Hofner Colorama I

    1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

    1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

    1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

    1960 Hofner Colorama II

    1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

    1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

    1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

    1981 Gibson Marauder

    1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

    1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

    1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

    1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

    1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
    It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

    1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

    1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass Rose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

    1961 Hohner Zambesi

    1961 Hohner Zambesi This very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

    1963 Vox Super Ace

    1963 Vox Super Ace The Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

    1966 Vox New Escort

    1966 Vox New Escort The Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

    1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

    1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin Care Catalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

    1973 Eko Ranger Folk

    1973 Eko Ranger Folk The Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

    1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

    1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar The Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

    1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

    1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

    1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

    1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

    1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

    1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

    1972 Fender Precision bass

    1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

    1967 Vox Stroller

    1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

    1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

    1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

    1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

    1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music