SteveD Which Marshall KT66 Amp Design Are You Most Proud of?

[frank9310]

Steve,

Since you designed what I and many industry pros would consider the 3 most important and best sounding amps that Marshall has introduced since the mid to late 60s, not to mention the first since the mid 60s to be equipped with KT66 valves, being the reissue hand wired JTM45/100, the JH100 Hendrix Stack and last but not least the Vintage Modern, which is described as being a spin-off of the the other two designed for the masses with modern features, and all of which you designed based on one of Jimi's actual amps.

That said, which of these 3 titan amps that would have made Jimi jump for joy, would you say you are most proud of designing and why?

Also, how did you wind up with this huge undertaking and honor?

Last, any interesting stories about how this all came about or any plans on writing a book about it all?

In many respects, for what I'm discovering about my VM giving me that same tone Jimi had and more, you're like a modern day Jim Marshall! I would love to learn how this all came about and what made you design the VM the way you did. You da man!

[SteveD]

Steve,

Since you designed what I and many industry pros would consider the 3 most important and best sounding amps that Marshall has introduced since the mid to late 60s, not to mention the first since the mid 60s to be equipped with KT66 valves, being the reissue hand wired JTM45/100, the JH100 Hendrix Stack and last but not least the Vintage Modern, which is described as being a spin-off of the the other two designed for the masses with modern features, and all of which you designed based on one of Jimi's actual amps.

SD: I wish I could say that I designed the JTM45/100 and SUPER100JH but the reality is that they were born in the 60s at the hands of someone else. However, it was my job to bring authentic reissues to the market some 40 years later. The Vintage Modern is of course a new design and heavily inspired by the work I did on the other two.

That said, which of these 3 titan amps that would have made Jimi jump for joy, would you say you are most proud of designing and why?

SD: I think Jimi would like them all because they would all facilitate his dynamic style of playing.The Vintage Modern is of course the most personal to me.

Also, how did you wind up with this huge undertaking and honor?

SD: Because I'm (nearly) old enough to remember them first time round and have become very familiar with them over the years. It was just logical really.

Last, any interesting stories about how this all came about or any plans on writing a book about it all?

SD: It's a job I have great passion for but nonetheless a job and the reality is far less dramatic than the ideality. I enjoy the process of doing my little bit in getting a product from drawing board to production line, especially with a company like Marshall, but don't feel inclined to write a book. However, I may get all romantic about it when I'm older!

In many respects, for what I'm discovering about my VM giving me that same tone Jimi had and more, you're like a modern day Jim Marshall! I would love to learn how this all came about and what made you design the VM the way you did. You da man!

SD: Your far too kind! Jim is an icon and a man I can respect and admire for what he has achieved by virtue of years of very hard work. I on the other hand just consider myself to be lucky to be working for him.

I wanted the Vintage Modern to be able to reproduce all of the classic 60s and 70s tones with any type of guitar.

Here you go - the very first Vintage Modern prototype I ever built!

[frank9310]

Thanks Steve! I realize as an employee of Marshall, you must get humbled a lot but I do agree that someday you will look back and say Gollllly Gee! look at the whole new revolution these 3 amps started!

I also undertsand about the JTM45/100 and JH100 being previously designed, but to resurerect those old parts from Drake, etc to vintage spec had to be a daunting task of trial and error in getting the original sound down, especially since today's voltages and saftey requirements are different than they were 40 years ago.

The JH100 is next on my list! For now, I'm happy with the VM and you cleared up a lot in my mind about this whole thing. Thanks!

[frank9310]

Woo Hooo! That's the VM in development!?! Cripes!!!

So it looks ike you used either Mallory or Sozo caps on the design table. Do the Lego type caps that were used in the production models sound close, or as a modder, do you think maybe replacing those with Mallory or Sozo may make it sound even better for the hardcore tone chasers on a budget or working their way up to the JH100?

[dos]

Doing my in-depth analysis of the amps design, layout, circuitry and components I can see you are missing a knob on one of the pots. Sorry, it's been a long day. Thanks for sharing this with us Steve, makes one even more attached. And on wednesday I'm getting my Class 5 - I'm all excited!

[Ghostrider]

Good read

[DeanM]

Doing my in-depth analysis of the amps design, layout, circuitry and components I can see you are missing a knob on one of the pots.

Dude you've really got a knack for that!!! :dance

[DeanM]

Here you go - the very first Vintage Modern prototype I ever built!

Thats so cool to see the #1 VM prototype!! thanks for postin!!

[MKB]

Doing my in-depth analysis of the amps design, layout, circuitry and components I can see you are missing a knob on one of the pots. Sorry, it's been a long day. Thanks for sharing this with us Steve, makes one even more attached. And on wednesday I'm getting my Class 5 - I'm all excited!

The reverb card is missing as well.

Thanks for posting this pic Steve, that's the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. I love the chassis holder, gonna make me one of those!!

[DeanM]

Doing my in-depth analysis of the amps design, layout, circuitry and components I can see you are missing a knob on one of the pots. Sorry, it's been a long day. Thanks for sharing this with us Steve, makes one even more attached. And on wednesday I'm getting my Class 5 - I'm all excited!

The reverb card is missing as well.

And theres a red indicator instead of purple!!

[SteveD]

Doing my in-depth analysis of the amps design, layout, circuitry and components I can see you are missing a knob on one of the pots. Sorry, it's been a long day. Thanks for sharing this with us Steve, makes one even more attached. And on wednesday I'm getting my Class 5 - I'm all excited!

The reverb card is missing as well.

Thanks for posting this pic Steve, that's the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. I love the chassis holder, gonna make me one of those!!

You can actually see the header for the reverb card but there was little point in leaving a perfectly good card in this prototype once it was put into storage, which is where it was when I dug it out to take this photo for our Japanese distributor.

[SteveD]

Doing my in-depth analysis of the amps design, layout, circuitry and components I can see you are missing a knob on one of the pots. Sorry, it's been a long day. Thanks for sharing this with us Steve, makes one even more attached. And on wednesday I'm getting my Class 5 - I'm all excited!

The reverb card is missing as well.

And theres a red indicator instead of purple!!

The purple did not exist at the time. It came later!

[DeanM]

Doing my in-depth analysis of the amps design, layout, circuitry and components I can see you are missing a knob on one of the pots. Sorry, it's been a long day. Thanks for sharing this with us Steve, makes one even more attached. And on wednesday I'm getting my Class 5 - I'm all excited!

The reverb card is missing as well.

And theres a red indicator instead of purple!!

The purple did not exist at the time. It came later!

yeah i tawt as much! with all the talk of spec changes and all it seemed likely. as part of the products developement in early stages etc. trial and error etc.

its also cool to see the prototyped digital circuitry on the proto board!! channel switching and all!! used those proto boards alot in college!

if this is the first prototype, were there others after it? and did the design change much?

[SteveD]

There were a few more prototypes as the design evolved.

[frank9310]

I wouldn't know what I was looking at even if I did see them but the prototype you posted kind of looks like a hybrid of one of those Metroamp kits.

Steve, how do the production grade signal caps required to keep prices affordable sound in comparison to those Sozo or Mallory caps used in the prototypes?

You better snatch that proto up for the Marshall museum! 30 years from now, do you realize what that baby will be worth?!