A History of Marshall The Illustrated Story Of The Sound Of Rock [Sheet music]

Michael Doyle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1993

Marshall amps have defined the sound of rock for a generation, boasting such notable users as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page. This book explores the British company responsible for that sweet overdrive sound - the company that originated the amp "stack" - tracing the impressive lineage of its valve ("tube" to us Yanks!) guitar amps. Doyle is the acknowledged authority on the subject, and here he combines detailed chronologies of the various model and serial numbers, straightforward explanations of their features and construction, and aesthetic evaluations of the results. The book is dotted with the names of rock luminaries and peppered with photos - well over 100 black-and-white ones, plus a 32-page color section and a 32-page full-color appendix that reproduces all of the Marshall catalogues of the sixties.

Product Details

• Sheet music: 256 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard; 1st edition (August 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793525098
• ISBN-13: 978-0793525096
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #275,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Notch Review of the Best Amplifiers Available, July 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Marshall The Illustrated Story Of The Sound Of Rock (Sheet music)

This is one comprehensive book. It is a purist's dream. It has pictures of Marshalls dating back to the Hendrix days, including schematics, and closups of the interiors, exteriors, and platforms of the heads, and the cabinets, ranging from the first "BlueBreakers" (Eric Clapton) 2 X 12" cabs to the early 'Pete Townsend' 8 X 12's (that roadies revolted over.

If you ever wanted to know about British Rock, this is IT. It includes sections on the oldest Marshalls, the early Marshalls, the later Marshalls, the Present (and best) Marshalls (I know for a fact), plus sections on valve amplification and THE preiminent speaker manufacturer, Celestion, of Ipswich, UK, and how they prominently figured into the making (and success) of Marshall products.

The one word of caution I picked up on, and had to find out the hard way, is that the valve section, on tube amplification, which is very key to the entire effort, is that that chapter presents the views of Michael Doyle, NOT Jim Marshall, so don't presume every word is gospel from Jim Marshall himself. The comments about specific valves (tubes) are Micheal's views and not those of Jim Marshall. Jim has his own favorite tubes and to my knowledge, they may not be found here. Although it is quite clear that he prefers the soft, fat sound of driven tubes, to the alternatives.

If ever there was a book about the products that brought us the British invasion of the 60's, the Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, etc, this is it. It is finely written, detailed, but not overly indulgent, factual, and comprehensive. This is one of the best books on amplification I have read. It is a collector's must. A classic.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Reference For Marshall Enthusiasts., June 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Marshall The Illustrated Story Of The Sound Of Rock (Sheet music)

This book does a great job of covering all of the bases that make up Marshall amplifiers. The provision of schematics is really helpful in troubleshooting and just seeing how the amp works. The color section is a joy to look at, and the reprinted catalogs are as well. A great book at any price.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent. Well documented reference with lots of photos., February 12, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Marshall The Illustrated Story Of The Sound Of Rock (Sheet music)

This reference book takes you on a well-crafted journey from the early beginnings of Jim Marshall to the release of the JCM900 and 30th Anniversary series amplifiers in the decade of the 90's. Not only is the text easy to read, but there are scores of beautiful, full color plates of Marshall and Park amplifiers from the earliest models to the latest releases. Mr. Doyle has solicited the help of collectors and dealers to bring you photos of rare models that you won't find anywhere else. Historians, collectors, and working musicians alike will want this tome for their library, since it covers important information on Marshall amplifiers such as: model information and product specifications, serials numbers, how to date your amp, and even a special section on Celestion speakers. I enjoyed the catalog reprints that are sprinkled throughout the text. They provide a great way to catch the flavor of the period. Marshall endorsees throughout history are also mentioned. Did you know that Roy Orbison was a Marshall user? How about Pete Townshend? Or Bian Poole and the Tremoloes? Musicians wanting to recreate the sound of certain artists may catch a clue by the amplifier these stars are pictured with. As an added treat, Billy F. Gibbons, lead guitarist for ZZ Top, wrote the spirited introduction to the book. The do-it-yourselfer will appreciate the over 50 pages of circuit diagrams that Mr. Doyle has included. While mostly tube (valve) amp schematics are shown, there are also transistor amp diagrams here. Mr. Doyle has certainly done his homework in this department. Marshall amplifiers helped launch the careers of such rock legends as Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page, and are still considered the upper crust of the amp kingdom. Many of today's artists use Marshall gear in their backline and in the studio. If you've dreamed of owning a Marshall amplifier yourself some day, or are looking for the ideal gift for that hard to please musician on your gift list, I know of no better investment than this handsome volume. - Brett McCarron, webmaster, The Unauthorized Marshall Home Page (http://www.olywa.net/blame/br01000.htm