Where are all the JCM 800 2x12s?

clarkefan

Am I doing something stupid on eBay searches or something?  

I literally can't remember the last time I saw a 1936 JCM 800 2x12 appear.  Plenty of 1936 cabs but not the 80s ones, with the plate that says "JCM 800 Lead Series", with G12T-75 speakers.

I've been looking for years.  Finally found one last year I bought from a fellow TFB member, which has only made me want another one.

Marshall must have made millions of the things?

ICBM

No, from what I remember at the time, they were relatively rare - 4x12"s were still a lot more popular for those who wanted heads and cabinets, and combos were more popular for those who wanted 2x12"s. The trend towards heads and smaller cabinets is a more recent thing.

Bygone_Tones

There is one in the gardiner houlgate catalogue for the next auction (March). No internal shots though:

https://www.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/Catalogues/mi080318/lot0380.html

 They may not necessarily have G12T-75's in JCM 800 gear. G12-65's or G12-80's is a possibility, and much better speakers anyway in my opinion.

I think some of the first 1936 cabs were a bit different to the later ones. Made from 100% ply and thinner like the old 2045 model cabs, with just a strap handle on the top. Those early ones are quite hard to come by.

ICBM

Bygone_Tones said:

 They may not necessarily have G12T-75's in JCM 800 gear. G12-65's or G12-80's is a possibility, and much better speakers anyway in my opinion.

I think some of the first 1936 cabs were a bit different to the later ones. Made from 100% ply and thinner like the old 2045 model cabs, with just a strap handle on the top.

That's correct - the early ones are essentially the same as the old 2045 cab, but with more modern speakers - first G12-65s, then briefly G12M-70s, then G12T-75s - I don't know when the transition to the deep cab happened in that sequence. The G12-80s would have been used in the 1937 bass version - but from what I remember it never went to the G12H-100s when the 1982 cabs did.

Even the early G12T-75s are quite different from the later ones - early ones have a vented magnet and don't sound as hollow and buzzy as the later plain-magnet ones (both UK and Chinese).

clarkefan

Thanks both for the history and the link, very interesting.  And ICBM you've reminded me to swap the vented set of 75's I've got into the cab to give them a run for a while

riffpowers

Whereabouts are you ?? I know someone local to me that is seling one .

clarkefan

riffpowers said:

Whereabouts are you ?? I know someone local to me that is seling one .

Cheers mate, I'm in Bristol, but even if that works I'm not ready with funds right now.  Let me know though...