DESIGNED TO DELIVER
Inspiration can strike anywhere. The Marshall Studio series made its world debut at the 2019 NAMM trade show in California, with Dan Hawkins of The Darkness spraying molten valve-driven riffage over an open-mouthed music press. The flashpoint for this small-but-mighty range of heads, combos and cabinets came two years earlier, at the Music China event in Shanghai.
Manning the Marshall booth, it wasn’t unusual for Product Director Luke Green to meet amp enthusiasts pitching ideas. But this one was different. “This guy came up to me,” remembers Green. “He was a musician, not an industry guy. And he asked if we could bring out a JCM800 that was only 20 watts. He said that he had two 100-watt heads and stacks in his house, but they were too loud to play.”
At the dawn of his business in the 60s, Jim Marshall had created ever-larger amps for a gain-hungry clientele. Now, over a half-century later, the demand for a downsized product was a sign of the times – and the British firm was still listening intently to its customers. “Sometimes,” says Green, “a musician will say something they think is insignificant and you’ll realise it could be a fantastic amp. And
