Plexi 50 - Classic '69 British Crunch
This amp model is inspired by Thomas’ original 1969 Marshall Model 1987—his very first Plexi and still one of the favorites in his collection. This particular amp has been featured on countless studio sessions and appears on many of his solo recordings. It has been slightly modified for a sweeter, rounder tone while fully preserving the raw character of a true vintage Plexi.
The 50-watt design sits in the perfect sweet spot: powerful and punchy, yet easier to drive into power amp saturation than its 100W counterparts. This is where the magic happens—delivering that unmistakable organic Plexi crunch, shaped by the power section rather than preamp distortion.
Equipped with 5881 power tubes, this amp offers a unique voicing compared to classic EL34 designs—featuring a smoother top end and a slightly more pronounced, musical midrange, with a character leaning toward 6L6-style response while still retaining its unmistakable British attitude.
Like all non-master-volume Plexis, the tone is highly interactive and shaped by volume and channel blending. The classic Bright and Normal channels can be combined to dial in everything from bite and presence to warmth and body—covering a wide tonal range from sparkling cleans to rich, dynamic overdrive.
The result is a sound that is open, raw, and extremely touch-sensitive, with a woody attack, natural compression, and singing sustain when pushed.
Sound-Charakter
- Classic late-’60s Plexi tone with a slightly sweetened edge
- Power amp-driven crunch and natural compression
- Open, raw, and highly dynamic response
- Smooth top end and rich mids from 5881 tubes
- Excellent clean-up via guitar volume
- Wide tonal range through channel blending
X-CONTROLS
INPUT: BRIGHT / BRIDGE / LO Switch between three modes:
- BRIGHT (1 MΩ input impedance): The most open and bright setting—ideal for humbuckers.
- BRIDGE (500 kΩ input impedance): Blends Bright and Normal channels for a balanced tone; dial in warmth via the Normal channel.
- LO (Normal Channel): Warmer, rounder response with reduced input level.
- LO VOLUME II (NORMAL VOLUME) Controls the level of the Normal channel, adding warmth, body, and low-end fullness.
Pro-Tipp
Use BRIDE MODE: Bright and Normal channels and blend both volumes to shape your tone. Use Gain towards maximum to push the amp into power amp saturation and control the gain from your guitar—this is where Thomas´uses it with his Strat to get his signature Tone.
When using Humbucker guitars switch to BRIGHT MODE for maximum openness and dynamics.