Marshall 1936 Lead Cabinet?

[velorush]

I have never owned a guitar speaker cabinet.  I have always owned combo amps.  My brief experiment with a Fuchs head bought through GC (documented here ages ago to some amusement) was facilitated by hooking it up to a combo amp cabinet.

I don't need a cabinet, but I think sometimes it would be handy to have one for experimentation.  So I got offered a Marshall 1936 Lead cabinet, locally, so no shipping.  This is their English-made 2X12 closed-back cabinet that is wired to be run in stereo or mono.  It is loaded with some variety of English-made Celestions (V30, maybe, whatever came in it originally).  Queries turn up that it weighs around 50 lbs.  It appears to be in good shape and he's asking $300.

Is this a versatile cabinet for a guy who doesn't own a cabinet (in other words, would this be a great all-around only cabinet), or is this a specialized piece of machinery that should be passed on in favor or "X" that is so much more versatile / lightweight / better-sounding / performance-for-the-money.  Really interested in any anecdotal, "I owned one and..." information anyone has.

I just have absolutely no idea.  Interesting, if this were sitting in a music store at this price, I wouldn't give it a second thought.  Maybe I've answered my own question... 

Again, I don't "need" a cabinet and thanks.

[Biz Prof]

I've had one since 1993 and don't plan on selling it...ever. It doesn't have the bassy "umph"--the gut-punching impact--of a proper 4x12, but it has a powerful projection and a full frequency range given its size and weight. I get along just fine with the stock speakers, although there are many aficionados who faint at the thought of playing through those Celestion 75s. If you can get any version of the 1936 where the box is made of plywood, go for it. I primarily keep mine in storage now (along with its matching JCM 800 Model 1987 head), but I wouldn't hesitate to pull it out for any gig at a larger venue where my amp is likely to be at a higher volume.  By the way, while there's one on my regional CL for $250, most of these listed for sale on FB Marketplace or CL have asking prices of $500+.

 

[gtrdaddy]

It’s a good cabinet and a great price, go for it.

[crunchee]

I had a late '80s JCM 800 version years ago, IIRC, the stock speakers it had at the time were UK-made 70-watt Celestions.  It was a good, sturdy utility cabinet for me, even for home use.  I gotta second what Biz Prof said, make sure the cabinet is plywood for durability and resale value, that's what my old one was.

[DaveH]

Buy it.

[gtrdaddy]

1 hour ago, crunchee said:

I gotta second what Biz Prof said, make sure the cabinet is plywood for durability and resale value, that's what my old one was.

At that price though, does it matter? 

[Never2Late]

I've restored a few 2x12 and 4x12 cabs.  MojoTone isn't re-tolexing cabinets made from particle-board anymore.  They did 'one' for me once, but old-age causes that material to fragment and come-apart when they try to strip it.  I 'second' the recommendation that a good "forever" cabinet should be made of SOLID wood so that you can re-tolex it when the battle-scars become too much.

[velorush]

I've got a couple of questions in to the seller: 1. plywood or MDF? 2. what speakers are in it?

I really, really appreciate all of the help.  I would have been clueless!

I do keep coming to the thought, however, that if I saw this were sitting in a music store somewhere I likely wouldn't give it a second thought.  We'll see what he comes back with and go from there.

Thanks!

[cmatthes]

There is not a single amp/cab I've ever regretted moving along...EXCEPT for my 1936 2x12 cab.  I often wish I had that one back.

I'd say get it.

[crunchee]

2 hours ago, cmatthes said:

There is not a single amp/cab I've ever regretted moving along...EXCEPT for my 1936 2x12 cab.  I often wish I had that one back.

I'd say get it.

I'd say get this one, it's just like my old one, right down to the JCM 800 corner badge!  

 

 

[crunchee]

7 hours ago, Never2Late said:

I've restored a few 2x12 and 4x12 cabs.  MojoTone isn't re-tolexing cabinets made from particle-board anymore.  They did 'one' for me once, but old-age causes that material to fragment and come-apart when they try to strip it.  I 'second' the recommendation that a good "forever" cabinet should be made of SOLID wood so that you can re-tolex it when the battle-scars become too much.

+1!  I knew someone who once had an 'entertainment center' unit, made out of particle board or MDF, back in the '90's; it was BIG, easily about 10 feet long if not more, took up most of one wall in a small room; and had lotsa shelves with storage cabinets on the bottom.  It lasted for about ten years of indoor use, then it started getting swaybacked; they had to throw it out because they were afraid it was gonna dump the heavy old-style 'picture tubed' TV sitting in the middle of the unit out onto the floor.  Moral:  If you can get good solid wood or birch ply, get that instead.  It probably won't wind up in a dumpster.

[cmatthes]

6 hours ago, crunchee said:

I'd say get this one, it's just like my old one, right down to the JCM 800 corner badge!  

 

 

That's actually my old one...long gone (at least 9-10 years).   If it was available for what I sold it for, I'd have it back already!

[Biz Prof]

17 hours ago, cmatthes said:

There is not a single amp/cab I've ever regretted moving along...EXCEPT for my 1936 2x12 cab.  I often wish I had that one back.

I'd say get it.

Looks identical to mine. Chris' regret is well-founded; he really should have kept it.

It's worth mentioning (since I didn't explicitly state this in my original response) that although I had a matching 4x12 Marshall cab (right down to the faded-to-fawn grill cloth, I actually used my 1936 cab at over 90% of the gigs I played back when that old four-holer Marshall head was my primary amp.  Even at The Attic in Greenville, which was a relatively large venue with a spacious stage and a ridiculously massive FOH system, I opted for the 2x12 cabinet nearly every time. My lower back is still thanking me, almost 30 years later!

 

 

[velorush]

Just heard from the seller.  The cab is MDF with Vintage 30s.

Once again you guys have saved my rear end.  I'd never have known to ask (at all).  Probably for the best as I'm just a bit away from buying a special bit of kit I've been after for over a year now.  This would have greatly extended the quest (though having a 2X12 would have been interesting).

So THANKS!

[crunchee]

3 hours ago, velorush said:

Just heard from the seller.  The cab is MDF with Vintage 30s.

Once again you guys have saved my rear end.  I'd never have known to ask (at all).  Probably for the best as I'm just a bit away from buying a special bit of kit I've been after for over a year now.  This would have greatly extended the quest (though having a 2X12 would have been interesting).

So THANKS!

Good news to hear, that you didn't spend your hard-earned money on MDF!    Also, kinda disillusioning to know that Marshall isn't making Model 1936 cabs out of birch ply anymore.  

[Biz Prof]

14 hours ago, velorush said:

Just heard from the seller.  The cab is MDF with Vintage 30s.

Once again you guys have saved my rear end.  I'd never have known to ask (at all).  Probably for the best as I'm just a bit away from buying a special bit of kit I've been after for over a year now.  This would have greatly extended the quest (though having a 2X12 would have been interesting).

So THANKS!

You're welcome!  Look, there are 1936 cabs out there; just have some cash ready and pull the trigger when a legit 800-series cab hits the market.

[velorush]

My understanding (after being alerted here) is that Marshall went to MDF for a period and that perhaps they went back to ply. I have no idea, but the consensus I could find is that current production is plywood with G12T-75s Celestions.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1936--marshall-1936-150-watt-2x12-inch-extension-cabinet