When music store owner and drum teacher Jim Marshall set to work designing "the world's first rock 'n' roll amp" to realize the musical vision of local guitarists, he was creating a tradition that laid the very foundations of rock music. After playing the sixth prototype of 'Number 1', which would later become the JTM45, Jim said, "That's it! That's going to be the Marshall sound from now on." And so it was: since the 1960s, Marshall amps have been the first choice of the greatest guitarists in rock history.
Now, Jim Marshall's story is told in a new authorized biography, 'Jim Marshall: The Father of Loud', by Rich Maloof (published by Backbeat Books), which features a forward written by guitar hero (and personal friend of Jim) Slash. The tale is a captivating one, broken down into two main parts. The first section traces Jim's story, from childhood as a young boy diagnosed with a rare bone disease, to his stage success as a singer and big-band drummer, to the development of the iconic Marshall stack and Marshall's rise to prominence in the amplifier industry. It profiles a man dedicated to listening to his customers and inventing new ways of satisfying them, constantly improving and fine-tuning his designs and, from the beginning, a believer in the value of teamwork.
The second half of the book delves into the amplifiers themselves, including a well-illustrated section on 'amp anatomy', with inside shots of the amps, plus a 'Top 11' list of Jim's favorite models over the years. There's a tour of the factory, a fascinating collection of comments from Marshall owners, 'Setups of the Marshall Stars' -- detailed rig diagrams of six Marshall greats from the 1960s to the 2000s -- and other 'Marshallabilia' that will please Marshall owners and guitarists of all ages. There's also a view of Marshall in the 21st century, and an appendix for dating Marshall amps by serial number.
Now in his eighth decade, Jim is still pursuing his goal of bringing musical visions to life, on a worldwide scale. This book honors the man and encourages the reader to do the same -- most importantly, by pursuing their own musical dreams.
"What Jim Marshall did . . . was provide English heavy metal and blues players of the mid '60s and early '70s with these weapons." -- Pete Townshend
"Jim and Les Paul are the forefathers of the whole thing." -- Zakk Wylde
"When I stand in front of my rig, if my nuts ain't shaking then I ain't satisfied . . . and the only stuff that can do that is my Marshalls!" -- Kerry King
"I introduced Marshalls to my backline in 1970. I've used them ever since and probably always will." -- Jimmy Page
"If you want to get a little bit rude and loud, you've got to have a Marshall. . . . It's the big daddy." -- Jeff Beck
Rich Maloof is an editor, writer, musician, and former editor in chief of Guitar magazine whose work has appeared in numerous publications and Web sites. Co-author (with HP Newquist) of Backbeat Books' The Way They Play series, Maloof has also penned Joe Satriani: Riff by Riff and The Alternate Tuning Reference Guide. He has been playing guitar for more than 25 years. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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