Marshall Super Lead 1959 HW Modified

Historical Context and Positioning in the Range

The Marshall 1959 is one of the most influential amp heads in rock history: a 100W all-tube base that defined the famous "Plexi" tone, both for its bright cleans and its monumental crunch when pushed. The Super Lead Modified 1959MS version follows this lineage but takes a clear stance: preserving the raw personality of the 1959 while integrating choices aimed at "today's musicians," in the spirit of the modified amps that shaped rock sound, especially on the American West Coast.

Who This Amp Is For

The 1959MS is primarily aimed at guitarists who want a true tube amp feel and an ultra-responsive playing platform: from intermediate players comfortable with volume control to pros in studio and on stage. With 100W, it excels in rehearsals (with a suitable speaker cabinet), on large stages, and in recording when seeking a dense, lively natural saturation. Style-wise, it's at home in classic rock, hard rock, punk, stoner, and all aesthetics where pick attack, guitar volume knob control, and "punch" in the mix are priorities.

Features and Innovations

This "Modified" version retains the spirit of the Super Lead and adds typically sought-after evolutions found in modified versions: a master volume for better overall level control while preserving the saturation character from the preamp and the feeling of a "big amp" under the fingers. The amp offers 2 channels and allows exploration of complementary settings (one channel brighter/more biting, the other rounder/thicker), with a very musical approach to sculpting gain. In line with the 1959 heads, this is a machine designed to interact with the guitar and pedals (boost, overdrive, fuzz), building a powerful yet clear sound capable of going from articulate crunch to denser saturation depending on settings and attack.

The Sound

The Marshall Super Lead Modified 1959MS is a 100W all-tube head with a typically British grain: present mids, a sharp attack, a lively top end (never shy), and a tight low end when played loud and tight. The cleans have ideal brightness and dynamics for open chords, while the crunch arrives with that natural compression and "elastic" feel that are the signature of Super Leads. Pushed, the amp delivers massive and very expressive saturation, excellent for riffs, power chords, and solos that need to stand out effortlessly. Within the Marshall Super Lead 1959 universe, you find tones associated with iconic rock and metal guitarists (for example, very cutting punk/rock approaches or heavy, singing crunches), illustrating the circuit's versatility when playing with the guitar, a boost, and the volume control.

Technical specifications

Category	Guitar amp head	Number of channels	2
Technology	Tubes	Color	Black
Amp tubes	4 x EL34	Finishing	Black tolex
Pre-amp tubes	ECC83, 2 x ECC83	Power output	100 W
Category	Amplifier

Power	100W	Speaker Outputs	2 x 6.35mm Jack speaker outputs
Channels	2	Impedances	16, 8, and 4 ohms
Preamp Tubes	2 x ECC83, 1 x ECC83	Dimensions	740 x 305 x 210 mm
Power Amp Tubes	4 x EL34	Weight	21.4 kg