- MARSHALL
- chevron_right DATING MARSHALL AMPLIFIERS
Dating Marshall amplifiers can be challenging, but most information is available to correctly identify the date. In 1969, Marshall started using both model codes and serial numbers, which are listed here. Marshall exclusively used Celestion speakers in their amps, and if the speaker is original, it can be dated with the Celestion speaker code (see section on Celestion speaker codes). Most amps underwent cosmetic changes during the same time, so most amps can be group in a certain period of manufacture by what they look like.
October 1962-December 1964 - No recorded serialization exists and the only known information is that numbers started at 1001 and ran numerically in sequence. At the beginning of 1964 they started with 2001. The serial numbers are stamped in the back panel of the chassis, with an occasional model number. Amps from this era are covered in black levant with a gray grille, feature an old block-style Marshall logo, and some chassis' are mounted offset.
January 1965-June 1969 - Serialization unknown from this period, but model codes are known. Plexiglass panels (hence the name Marshall Plexi) were used. Marshall started using their four-digit model system around this time and most models should have this on the chassis. Amps from this era are covered in black levant with a black front on heads or gray grille on combos, feature an old block-style Marshall logo, and all chassis' are mounted center.
Model Codes:
/A - 200W
SL/ - 100W Super Lead
SB/ - 100W Super Bass
SP/ - Super PA
ST/ - 100W Tremolo
S/ - 50W
T/ - 50W Tremolo
July 1969-September 1992 - The Marshall date coding system was introduced in 1969. The serial number is broken down into three different parts - the model code, serial number, and date code. The charts are listed for the model and date codes, and the serial number is simply the production ranking. These serial numbers are on the back of the chassis, except for the years 1979-1981 when they were on the front panel. The model code changed slightly from earlier models, and these codes were both used into the late 1970s. On date codes, they started at A in July 1969, which ran until December 1970. They then skipped the letter B and started with C in 1971. O, I, and Q weren't used since they looked too much like numbers. Up until 1983, the order is model code, serial number, then date code. In 1984, it changed to model code, date code, and serial number. Aluminum back panels were also introduced in 1969. Examples: SL/A G 10058 is a 100W Super Lead produced in 1975. RI 13590 Z is a reissue model produced in 1991 or 1992.
Model Codes:
A/ - 200W
RI - Reissue
SL/A - 100W Super Lead
SB/A - 100W Super Bass
SP/ - Super PA
ST/A - 100W Tremolo
S/A - 50W
T/A - 50W Tremolo
Date Codes:
A - 1969/1970
C - 1971
D - 1972
E - 1973
F - 1974
G - 1975
H - 1976
J - 1977
K - 1978
L - 1979
M - 1980
N - 1981
P - 1982
R - 1983
S - 1984
T - 1985
U - 1986
V - 1987
W - 1988
X - 1989
Y - 1990
Z - 1991/1992
October 1992-July 1997 - A new bar code was introduced along with the serial number applied by a sticker instead of being stamped on. This new system consists of nine numbers. The first two numbers indicate the last two numbers of year, the middle five are the five-digit serial number/production rank, and the last two indicate the week of the year (01-52). Example: 961018915 is amp number 10189 made in the 15th week of 1996. This is also the first time speaker cabinets were issued a serial number.
August 1997-Present - Marshall expanded on their previous idea with a bar code and added more information to the serial number. This new number contains two letters and 10 digits, wihch is applied to all amps and speaker cabinets. The first letter indicates the country of manufacture:
M - England
C - China
I - India
K - Korea
The next four digits indicate the complete four digit year of production (between 1997 and 1998, some models produced overseas may only have a two digit year). The next two digits indicate the week (01-52) of the respective year the amp was built. The last four digits indicate the serial number/production rank. The last digit indicates what voltage the amp is set for:
A - 230V (U.K.)
B - 120/60 (U.S.)
C - 220/50 (Canada)
D - 105/50/60 (Japan)
E - 220/60 (Europe)
F - 130/60 (Mexico)
Z - used on models where there is no power such as speaker cabinets.
Examples: M-1999-34-1234-B indicates an amp built in the England production facility in the 34th week of 1999, is serial number 1234, and the voltage is set for U.S. use. C-2003-09-1560-E is an amp built in China in the ninth week of 2003 and the voltage is set for Europe use.
October 1962-December 1964 - No recorded serialization exists and the only known information is that numbers started at 1001 and ran numerically in sequence. At the beginning of 1964 they started with 2001. The serial numbers are stamped in the back panel of the chassis, with an occasional model number. Amps from this era are covered in black levant with a gray grille, feature an old block-style Marshall logo, and some chassis' are mounted offset.
January 1965-June 1969 - Serialization unknown from this period, but model codes are known. Plexiglass panels (hence the name Marshall Plexi) were used. Marshall started using their four-digit model system around this time and most models should have this on the chassis. Amps from this era are covered in black levant with a black front on heads or gray grille on combos, feature an old block-style Marshall logo, and all chassis' are mounted center.
Model Codes:
/A - 200W
SL/ - 100W Super Lead
SB/ - 100W Super Bass
SP/ - Super PA
ST/ - 100W Tremolo
S/ - 50W
T/ - 50W Tremolo
July 1969-September 1992 - The Marshall date coding system was introduced in 1969. The serial number is broken down into three different parts - the model code, serial number, and date code. The charts are listed for the model and date codes, and the serial number is simply the production ranking. These serial numbers are on the back of the chassis, except for the years 1979-1981 when they were on the front panel. The model code changed slightly from earlier models, and these codes were both used into the late 1970s. On date codes, they started at A in July 1969, which ran until December 1970. They then skipped the letter B and started with C in 1971. O, I, and Q weren't used since they looked too much like numbers. Up until 1983, the order is model code, serial number, then date code. In 1984, it changed to model code, date code, and serial number. Aluminum back panels were also introduced in 1969. Examples: SL/A G 10058 is a 100W Super Lead produced in 1975. RI 13590 Z is a reissue model produced in 1991 or 1992.
Model Codes:
A/ - 200W
RI - Reissue
SL/A - 100W Super Lead
SB/A - 100W Super Bass
SP/ - Super PA
ST/A - 100W Tremolo
S/A - 50W
T/A - 50W Tremolo
Date Codes:
A - 1969/1970
C - 1971
D - 1972
E - 1973
F - 1974
G - 1975
H - 1976
J - 1977
K - 1978
L - 1979
M - 1980
N - 1981
P - 1982
R - 1983
S - 1984
T - 1985
U - 1986
V - 1987
W - 1988
X - 1989
Y - 1990
Z - 1991/1992
October 1992-July 1997 - A new bar code was introduced along with the serial number applied by a sticker instead of being stamped on. This new system consists of nine numbers. The first two numbers indicate the last two numbers of year, the middle five are the five-digit serial number/production rank, and the last two indicate the week of the year (01-52). Example: 961018915 is amp number 10189 made in the 15th week of 1996. This is also the first time speaker cabinets were issued a serial number.
August 1997-Present - Marshall expanded on their previous idea with a bar code and added more information to the serial number. This new number contains two letters and 10 digits, wihch is applied to all amps and speaker cabinets. The first letter indicates the country of manufacture:
M - England
C - China
I - India
K - Korea
The next four digits indicate the complete four digit year of production (between 1997 and 1998, some models produced overseas may only have a two digit year). The next two digits indicate the week (01-52) of the respective year the amp was built. The last four digits indicate the serial number/production rank. The last digit indicates what voltage the amp is set for:
A - 230V (U.K.)
B - 120/60 (U.S.)
C - 220/50 (Canada)
D - 105/50/60 (Japan)
E - 220/60 (Europe)
F - 130/60 (Mexico)
Z - used on models where there is no power such as speaker cabinets.
Examples: M-1999-34-1234-B indicates an amp built in the England production facility in the 34th week of 1999, is serial number 1234, and the voltage is set for U.S. use. C-2003-09-1560-E is an amp built in China in the ninth week of 2003 and the voltage is set for Europe use.