SC6 Remembers 'The Father of Loud' .....

Rock Amplification Legend Jim Marshall Passes Away ...


     Every once in a while, we note the passing of a person who might have made a particular influence on us in one way or another.  Fortunately, we really haven't had one for quite some time, but that came to an end today, with the passing of Jim Marshall, who passed away at age 88...



     For those of you who really know us, you are well aware of what an important, if not overwhelming, influence music has played in our life.  Since age 13, when I got my first guitar, rock music has been probably the second most important aspect of our life, only behind the people in it.  Yes, music has been more important than work... Maybe if we ever had a job that challenged or interested us, we'd care more.  In rock music, the equipment is almost as important as practicing, and there are a few names that are synonymous with Rock: Fender, Gibson.  Marshall is one of them as well....



      Jim Marshall was the uberGod of rock amplification.... Before he came along, most guitar amps were clear-sounding with no power behind them.  Marshall made them louder, and with the distinct distorted sound that makes rock different.  While you could choose from various guitars, depending on what sound you wanted, when it came to amps, there was only one choice - the Marshall Stack.  It utilized a separate head and speaker unit, which was rare, and had four speakers, where most amps had one.  It was radically different, and it changed the sound of Rock forever...


    Nearly 50 years since he started, Jim Marshall's company is still the premier amplifier in the business.  While he may now be gone, Marshall will continue on - and we'll still dream of actually owning one!  We almost did once, but the mail order company ran out, so I got impatient and got my Fender Princeton, which I still own.  But it would have been nice to hear what I sounded like through a Marshall....


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