My ‘71 Checkered cab is back home!

[decoy205]

Ever since I closed my studio back in 2009 my Marshall cab was at my buddies house in his home studio. It was just sitting there all these years. I have my 73 custom and my Friedman MDS and been kinda wanted to get this bad boy back to pair with them.

Here it is:

And next to its 73 sister:

I got this cab for free back in like 2005. It was sitting in someone’s garage. It was missing the bottom tolex wheels sockets and the input Jack. Wood and speakers were all good and original. Has the rola green backs in it.

I spruced it up back then and used it at the studio.

Now I can pair it with my Friedman so i thought I’d share!

-John

 

[cooljuk]

Those are great! I have a nearly identical one. Mine has 1972 G12M 75Hz Pulsonics. It might be my favorite all-around cabinet.

...if you ever want to let it go, I could arrange a family reunion for it with mine.

 

[Deftone]

Wow, Nice!


at 1st I thought you meant one of these....

 

[decoy205]

Those are great! I have a nearly identical one. Mine has 1972 G12M 75Hz Pulsonics. It might be my favorite all-around cabinet.

...if you ever want to let it go, I could arrange a family reunion for it with mine.

Agree! It definitely has that “greenback tone”. I love these speakers for sure.

Wow, Nice!


at 1st I thought you meant one of these....

Ha! You know I know it doesn’t sound as cool as Salt pepper ha.

Here’s shot with its new buddy… pure classic rock Tonez.

 

[cooljuk]

Wow, Nice!


at 1st I thought you meant one of these....

I'd drive that. Bet it sounds pretty nice, as well.

 

[Mr French]

She still looks new! I love my b cabinet. Back in the day I used to have a few 4x12 and 2x12. Last ones I purchased was the TV & BHW version when they came out.

B cabs sound sweeter than slant.

 

[decoy205]

I also went back through my notes and this actually could be a 72. The serial number was quite low (checked my gear page convos from back 2008). It has the metal handles and low serial so the assumption was made that it may be 72.

 

[gkelm]

Sweet! Enjoy that thing!

Mine’s a little younger (‘76)…can’t imagine a better cab.

 

[blee57]

Very Nice! Here's my Taxi. I named it Hammock!

 

[blee57]

Very Nice! Here's my Taxi. I named it Hammock!

 

[decoy205]

Very Nice! Here's my Taxi. I named it Hammock!

Awesome ! I love yellow!

 

[The Ballzz]

Ever since I closed my studio back in 2009 my 73 Marshall cab was at my buddies house in his home studio. It was just sitting there all these years. I have my 73 custom and my Friedman MDS and been kinda wanted to get this bad boy back to pair with them.

Here it is:

And next to its 73 sister:

I got this cab for free back in like 2005. It was sitting in someone’s garage. It was missing the bottom tolex wheels sockets and the input Jack. Wood and speakers were all good and original. Has the rola green backs in it.

I spruced it up back then and used it at the studio.

Now I can pair it with my Friedman so i thought I’d share!

-John

John,

Mine has May '72 date code speakers and used to look just about identical, but already had plastic handles, but plastic top cups and no corner protectors! I've had it since '74. I'd guess yours to be very early '72 or possibly even late '71. You should get the date codes and other numbers/codes off the speakers for the most accurate dating and go here to de-code:

Bygone Tones

Vintage Guitar Speakers & Cabinets

www.bygonetones.com

My War Horse sounds fabulous and looked almost new when I got it!

Just Sayin'
Gene

 

[decoy205]

John,

Mine has May '72 date code speakers and used to look just about identical, but already had plastic handles, but plastic top cups and no corner protectors! I've had it since '74. I'd guess yours to be very early '72 or possibly even late '71. You should get the date codes and other numbers/codes off the speakers for the most accurate dating and go here to de-code:

Bygone Tones

Vintage Guitar Speakers & Cabinets

www.bygonetones.com

My War Horse sounds fabulous and looked almost new when I got it!

View attachment 670426

Just Sayin'
Gene

Killer! Yeah I gotta find the old pics which the speakers and the serial number. My grill cloth looked similar to that when I got it. It had a cat pee smell (I think a cat was living in the garage it was in) so the grill cloth is newer which is why it looks newer haha.

I’ll try and get my dates but yeah it’s most likely late 71-early 72

 

[The Ballzz]

Killer! Yeah I gotta find the old pics which the speakers and the serial number. My grill cloth looked similar to that when I got it. It had a cat pee smell (I think a cat was living in the garage it was in) so the grill cloth is newer which is why it looks newer haha.

I’ll try and get my dates but yeah it’s most likely late 71-early 72

Yeah, my stains aren't from cat pee, but instead from being hauled constantly through rain and snow, along with the occasional beverage spill, leaky trucks, and so on. My band mates have threatened to kick me out of my own band, if I ever re-cover and/or re-grill it! I do however expect to replace the cracked and crumbling plastic handles, with some metal Scumback units I have on hand!

If actually '71/early '72, those speakers are actually the last of the Pre-Rolas, simply with the newer style stickers applied! Same cones, construction, etc!

Enjoy!,
Gene

 

[decoy205]

Yeah, my stains aren't from cat pee, but instead from being hauled constantly through rain and snow, along with the occasional beverage spill, leaky trucks, and so on. My band mates have threatened to kick me out of my own band, if I ever re-cover and/or re-grill it! I do however expect to replace the cracked and crumbling plastic handles, with some metal Scumback units I have on hand!

If actually '71/early '72, those speakers are actually the last of the Pre-Rolas, simply with the newer style stickers applied! Same cones, construction, etc!

Enjoy!,
Gene

Yeah I mean you know the history and that is real mojo! I think it’s only necessary to recloth or regrill if it hinders the performance or tone. But yeah mine smelled when I got it. In hindsight I maybe should’ve tried cleaning it and saving as much of its originality as I could but I wasn’t really thinking about that at the time. I gotta find those old pics with the stamp on the cone.

 

[The Ballzz]

@decoy205 ,
As important as the cone stamp are the numbers & letters on the frame legs for actual model and dating!
Simply Info Sharin'
Gene

 

[jeepocaster]

I love that look. I just found some checkered grill cloth on EBay for a cab I’m rehabbing

 

[decoy205]

Ok found some old pics that kinda show the stamp really hard to see and the 3rd character I can’t tell what number it is.

 

[Bygone_Tones]

Those date codes are April 71. First month for the Rola labels. Also first month for the checkerboard grill cloth. March 71 tend to be basketweave.

71 was a funny year. There seem to be no greenbacks with ED or FD date codes on them for May 71 and June 71. Yet absolutely loads around with DD date codes for April 71.

So that makes it hard to say when the different transitions happened on Marshall cabs through mid 71, because most of them have DD date coded speakers.

Marshall stopped using the metal handles in late 71, so the cab won't be any later than that. Also the plastic corner protectors came in around mid 72, and the style of serial badge was different from late 71 - they changed to those larger square shaped black and white ones.

Cabs with Aug 71 date codes tend to have the plastic handles.

 

[decoy205]

Those date codes are April 71. First month for the Rola labels. Also first month for the checkerboard grill cloth. March 71 tend to be basketweave.

71 was a funny year. There seem to be no greenbacks with ED or FD date codes on them for May 71 and June 71. Yet absolutely loads around with DD date codes for April 71.

So that makes it hard to say when the different transitions happened on Marshall cabs through mid 71, because most of them have DD date coded speakers.

Marshall stopped using the metal handles in late 71, so the cab won't be any later than that. Also the plastic corner protectors came in around mid 72, and the style of serial badge was different from late 71 - they changed to those larger square shaped black and white ones.

Cabs with Aug 71 date codes tend to have the plastic handles.

Wow! Thank you very much for the detailed reply and information!

So it sounds like mine was built somewhere between April and July 71? Amazing info. I really wish I kept the grill cloth intact now that I know all this. Seems like it was a first round check board grill cloth.

Is there any difference in these first round “Rola” sticker speakers and the pre Rolas? Not that it matters since I always thought they sounded right.

If anyone cares to listen here is a track I recorded with the cab using my 2005 R8: