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AMPLIFIER FAQ

AMPLIFIER FAQ

Rift main man Chris Fantana checks out a cheap and cheerful solid-state
amplifier from the 1980s that could be perfect for the modern era

Have a burning question about your amp or, worse still, a burning amp? Email us at editors@guitar.com

ABOVE An M6 machine Hi Chris. As someone who makes and repairs valve amps, are you catalogue, manufactured in the same period and
screw holds each end of the strictly all about the hot glass? I’m looking for something cheap sported the same look and style too.
Marshall Reverb 12’s chassis and cheerful that doesn’t upset the neighbours during lockdown The reason I love these amps is simple: they truly
to the cabinet and wonder if there are any solid-state amps you’d recommend. sound like valve amplifiers. I’ve not come across any

ABOVE RIGHT The amp’s NIGEL, PUTNEY other solid-state amplifier that has managed this the
chassis is well designed and way the Lead 12 does. Clearly, I’m not the only one
replete with high-quality Great question, Nigel. It just so happens that an amp who realised this – ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons used one
components crossed my workbench this month that could be ideal to magical effect on My Head’s In Mississippi. The
for your requirements. tone is that of a classic cranked Marshall without any
TOP RIGHT The 16-ohm It’s no secret that I’m a valve-amp enthusiast. For hint of fizz, and that’s no mean feat considering that
Celestion G10D-25 speaker
has a bigger sound than such ‘ancient’ technology, valve amplifiers can still the amp is loaded with a single 10-inch Celestion
you might expect make jaws drop the world over. I could wax lyrical G10D-25 speaker.
about this for a long time, and I’ve been known to In 1984, Marshall added spring reverb to the model
sing the praises of thermionic vacuum tubes to the and gave it the moniker Reverb 12, model 5205. This
editor of this very publication into the small hours of is the version that landed on my bench this week.
the morning. Valve circuits aside, there’s another amp Despite being almost four decades old, it’s still going
that stirs up in me those same emotions – and it’s a strong and only requires some TLC and preventative
solid-state one. “Heresy!” you shout. But bear with me. maintenance to keep it going. If you happened to read
Introduced in the early 1980s, the brilliant Marshall my column on amplifier servicing a few months back,
Lead 12 1x10 combo model 5005 was the smallest of you’ll be familiar with the process.
a new solid-state line-up that also included the 5002 The customer complained of a few scratchy pots,
Lead 20-watt 1x10 and the 5010 Master Lead 30-watt a few crackles, and some buzzing here and there. On
1x12 combo. The Lead 12 was later available in head the whole, however, the amp is functional. Removing
format too, model number 3005. It didn’t have the the 0.8mm steel chassis from the cabinet is simple, as
JCM800 logo but it was included in the same there are just two machine screws holding it in place.

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