NCD - Marshall 2556A

[fitz]

Picked this up today from a local CL listing.
Marshall 2556A 2x12 that was originally sold with the 24" small box 2553 Silver Jubilee.
Same size as the 1965A&B 4x10's that I used to have.

Going to use it with the 5100 behind it.
Been looking for a 2x12 to replace the homemade 2x10 column cabs.
There's a thump to 12's that I just can't get from 10's, no matter how many there are.

It's seen some road wear,,,
Planning on a little bit of a "makeover".



Most of the tolex is missing from the back panel, so that much less to tear off.



More tolex missing from the bottom, as well as one of the corner guards.



Came with these old Utah brand speakers the PO pulled from a Fender Bandmaster - or that's the story I was told.
Supposedly 60w 8 ohm, but I'm reading 10.2 ohms at the jack (series wired).



Kinda dull sounding, and they must have a fairly low sensitivity as they are quite quiet compared to the 4 ~ 10's.
Swapped them out for some junk I had on the shelf - looking for a pair of speakers that'll work better with the 5100.




I actually have a 72x36 piece of that green tolex - enough for a wrap that covers around the bottom corners with a double seam on the bottom.
Might also splurge and get some black for the cab and the little head shell.
Sorry Mitch, it's not going to be white, or that SJ gray.

I'll update as the refurb progresses.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Nice! Marshall G12 Vintage! Sweet. Better than what's in there.

 

[DirtySteve]

Congrats!

 

[ibmorjamn]

That's a nice cab !
What are the dimension if you don't mind?

 

[Ramo]

Nice, happy thrashing!

 

[fitz]

That's a nice cab !
What are the dimension if you don't mind?

Thanks,
24" x 24" - basically the same cab as a 1966A with the SJ cosmetics.

 

[fitz]

Nice! Marshall G12 Vintage! Sweet. Better than what's in there.

That G12 Vintage is a bit of a Frankenstein speaker.
Cone was severely damaged, and the frame is a little bent.
I glued some paper across the tear and glued along the frame where the cone was torn loose.
Looks ugly AF, but no coil rub, and sound comes out of it...
Even the 70/80 sounds better than the old Utah's.

There's a pair of 8 ohm V30's on my local CL that I've messaged the seller about - waiting to hear back.
They're on the far side of town, and would be a PITA of a drive to pick up, but $50 each is hard to pass up.

 

[ibmorjamn]

That G12 Vintage is a bit of a Frankenstein speaker.
Cone was severely damaged, and the frame is a little bent.
I glued some paper across the tear and glued along the frame where the cone was torn loose.
Looks ugly AF, but no coil rub, and sound comes out of it...
Even the 70/80 sounds better than the old Utah's.

There's a pair of 8 ohm V30's on my local CL that I've messaged the seller about - waiting to hear back.
They're on the far side of town, and would be a PITA of a drive to pick up, but $50 each is hard to pass up.

I would say , take a look at Avatar speakers right now.

Marshall really boasts about the 70/80's
I only heard them in one cab where I actually liked them and they were in a Blackstar 2 x 12 closed back cab. Maybe the amp guitar combo?

The one I had years ago in my DSL 40c I gave away. Maybe pre maturely.

 

[fitz]

I would say , take a look at Avatar speakers right now.

Marshall really boasts about the 70/80's
I only heard them once and was impressed in a Blackstar 2 x 12 closed back cab. Maybe the amp guitar combo?

The one I had years ago in my DSL 40c I gave away. Maybe pre maturely.

They're harsh and bright in a closed cab.
Ok for high gain, or with a dark amp, I guess.

I had some with my MX112 cabs and when I A/B compared them to anything else, the anything else always sounded better.
I unloaded mine in an ugly homemade cab I bought for the speakers that were in it.

If you were able to give one away, I'd call that a break-even deal.
There's plenty to be had on the cheap on Reverb and my local CL.
I'll send you that one in the pic for the cost of shipping if you want it.

 

[ibmorjamn]

They're harsh and bright in a closed cab.
Ok for high gain, or with a dark amp, I guess.

I had some with my MX112 cabs and when I A/B compared them to anything else, the anything else always sounded better.
I unloaded mine in an ugly homemade cab I bought for the speakers that were in it.

If you were able to give one away, I'd call that a break-even deal.
There's plenty to be had on the cheap on Reverb and my local CL.
I'll send you that one in the pic for the cost of shipping if you want it.

No , thanks. I appreciate the offer but I am speaker pour right now. Besides I don't want to waste the fuel it costs to ship it. lol. I was going to build a 2 x 10 for my DSL but seeing this cab made me think. My current Carvin 2 x 12 angled cab is a artifact of old and classic but I need something else.

 

[Sapient]

Nice speaker unit!

 

[fitz]

Dissassembly has commenced.



The Rivet Remover™



Got the foot cups out ok, but the corners that were left were so brittle, they just shattered like glass.
Corners are easily replaceable; the foot cups are unobtanium, so glad they were salvageable.
Either way, the rivets had to come out.



Tolex off.
I've peeled cabs before in one piece, but this one was a biotch.



Quick coat of rattle can black (or any color you got on hand) hardens up any remaining stickiness in the old contact cement.
Got some wood filler to do in spots where the old glue pulled off some ply - then a rough sanding.

 

[fitz]

Just placed an order with Mojotone.
They were the only ones with Marshall Black Somweave grill cloth in stock.
Going to replace that crappy mesh with some proper grill cloth.

Also got some gold piping, a pack of speaker spade connectors and a 2-hole square jack plate.
Since I've deciphered the secret wiring layout of the Palmer Cab Merger, I can hook a pair of 8 ohm speakers up with just 2 switching jacks to choose either 4 or 16 ohm load.
Already have the rest of the parts and pieces I'll need.

Going with the green tolex I have in stock.
Also going to flip the little head shell and make it taller with the 5100 on top so the knob labels are right side up like in the combo.
Finishing off the green / gold / black with some knock off gold block logos I have laying around.



If I don't hear back soon on those V30's across town, there's another cab available local with 8 ohm T-75 & H-80 for the same price in an ugly Fender-ish 212 cab.

 

[DirtySteve]

That's going to look great.

 

[fitz]

Huh, just sold those Utah speakers in about a day and netted a buck ten after shipping & fees...

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

Congratulations @fitz , I do like these smaller cabs, they are very good looking, and sound great.

 

[Robb]

Great find and cool job !

 

[fitz]

Got out the cabinet stretcher after work today and added 1-3/8" to the height of the headshell.



While it was cut in half, I drilled for the chassis bolts and test fit the head in the top mount orientation.
Also removed about a gazillion staples and got the junk grill cloth off.



There was no logo mounting plate, so I'm going to add one for a 9" logo while the baffle is naked.
The head panel is going to get cut from a spare left over I have from a salvage AVT head shell, so it'll have the same 9" logo pin holes.



Not going with script logos, but will have the option to change my mind - wouldn't be the first time...
I'm going with these block logos for now.



Mojotone order shipped today with an estimated delivery Friday.
Might be a fun weekend!

 

[fitz]

Never heard back from that CL listing for the V30's, and now the listing is gone.
So, I made arrangements for plan B.
Picking up this cab tomorrow evening. (not getting the '68 Bassman)



This is the cab with the T-75 & H-80, 8 ohm.

 

[ibmorjamn]

Very nicely done so far.