Amalgam Audio MRSH JT50 1967 NAM Core DI

This is easily the single most iconic, musical, beautiful and rare amp in our stable. An original 1967 MRSH aluminium block end chassis JT45/JT50 transition model amp. It has the exact same circuit of the 1966 era JT45, but features transformers later used in the black flag JT50 amps along with the EL34 tubes these were meant to go with instead of the KT66 that came before in the JT45.

As such it truly combines the very best features of JT45 style balanced, round and full tone that can get really smooth and spongy with the massive punch that is attributed to the EL34 based amps, but without any hint of brashness, harshness or hardness that some of the later EL34 based amps tend to.

Along with the JT50 style transformers and the EL34 tubes the amp loses some of the flubbiness that the JT45 style amps tend to - the bass stays together better, is way punchier and more defined, while it also has a bit more clean headroom and more usable crunch even with the volume maxed out. On top of it all it takes pedals even better than the JT45.

Due to this rare combination of almost oxymoron-like qualities and the extreme rarity of its specific circuit (it even still features the JT45 filtering cap values, while most of the JT50 amps have increased filtering) this is the first amp that we gave a name - we refer to it as the Unicorn.

So, how does it sound - dial it up to 6-7 on the High Treble channel and it is instant AC/DC back in Black type crunch for days with a humbucker guitar. Right about that point it will take you together with your Strat to Hendrix land. Though Hendrix used 100W amps, this amp gets a very good approximation of those super punchy big and bold semi-clean tones that Hendrix is known for. Add a fuzz and its a lift-off.

It is hard to list users of this specific model, as it is almost impossible to identify it from others - it looks like a normal JT45 from the outside. The most legendary user of this era of amps however is Angus Young, most prominently on the Back in Black records, which really is a different sound from a typical JT45. You can get JMP bass spec sounds from it in the style of Duane Allman and punchy Hendrix style semi clean and overdriven tones.

We encourage you to test it with your favorite analog or digital fuzz, boost and overdrive pedals - it takes everything like a champ.

The capture set features 18 DI captures of the amp and amp with pedals. The NAM I set features 6 gain ranges: clean, edge of breakup, crunch, dimed, drive, lead and 3 EQ settings per gain range: Bright, Balanced, Warm. This set includes captures of these 3 pedals with this amp:

BSB (Vintage Marshall Bluesbreaker MKI)
SCH (Schaffer Replica)
808 (Ibanez TS808)

SPECIFICATIONS

- 2xEL34
- 3x12AX7
- 1x GZ34
- Fixed bias
- Negative feedback loop
- 50W output