"Arfa Daily"

** As a long time repairer of guitar amplifiers, I can safely state that
at no time did the Marshall company ever show any sign of any expertise
at
either design or manufacture of valve guitar amplifiers. This is still
true today.

The original model was cobbled together by a two service techs under the
direction of a drummer ( Jim himself ) - a rough copy of a Fender
Bassman -
it was pretty horrible.

Later models incorporated several changes, including the use of EL34s,
that
made the design worse and very prone to self destruction.

Marshall's success in the marketplace was DESPITE the actual product, not
because of it. Endorsement from Jimi Hendrix and others was the main
reason for any sales success.

AFAIK, Jim Marshall never took any credit for the designs nor accepted
any
blame for their many shortcomings either.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshal...cation#History



Whilst your observations are true of some of their products,

** Its is true of all of them.


and I would agree that this has been the case from the outset, I think it
is maybe a little harsh to condemn all of their many designs over the
years.

** The designs are all poor and Jim did not do them.


Again, I think it is a little unfair to the company to say that they have
succeeded *despite* their designs.

** It is an inescapable conclusion based on obvious facts.


their case would have been helped by testament from the likes of Hendrix,

** You are rewording my post - leave it ALONE !!!

Hendrix used Marshalls on stage, AFAIK that is all he did.


Marshall Amplification has been in business for some 50 years, and I don't
care how much they have 'created' a name for themselves, if the equipment
was as poor as you believe, they would not have survived in such a
competitive and limited specialist market.

** You ****wit opinion - contrary to all the facts.


I know that we'll probably never agree on this Phil, but I have no axe to
grind here, nor any particular allegiance to the Marshall company, other
than that their products keep earning me a living - but then so do Fender
and Trashdown and Soldano and many others.

** So you have NEVER worked out why Marshalls blow EL34 valves and OTs all
the time ?

When the most other brands do not.


I just thought it appropriate to comment here amongst fellow engineers, on
the passing of someone who has been instrumental in keeping valve
technology alive in this equipment,

** That is where you are 100% wrong.

Jim Marshall never had anything to do with the electronics design of amps
sold under his name. Manufacture has been carried out by others since 1980s
with Jim only acting as a figure head for marketing purposes.

Jim has been to Sydney once or twice and in the early 80s was a guest
speaker at a music gear convention. Before Jim spoke, the MD advised the
audience that there were to be NO questions about the famous unreliability
of Marshalls cos Jim was not personally involved in their manufacture.

Get real.


..... Phil