Have one of these myself, never done anything technical other than use some contact spray in the pots, so really interesting to see such an in depth look inside the amp! Great content!
Same with me - found one for $40 at an antique store - plugged it in at the store and turned knobs to no sound. Figured what the heck, took it home and after a few rounds of contact cleaner, it works like a champ.
@@hacksguitarhobby I saw that one as well. That backstage 20 got me through 14yrs of gigging. Towards the end I accidentally tore the cone and replaced the speaker with a carvin. It didn't mess up the tone.
@@hacksguitarhobby You missed a golden opportunity here! I have several Lead 12's and one basic simple mod you can do is open-up the baffle board to accept a 12" speaker! Lead 12's really come alive with a 12" speaker in them! Doesn't make any sense to put a 10" speaker back in them!
@@kennyh5083 I considered it, because I noted there was room. I looked for a 12 locally but didn’t find a deal on one with the correct impedance. I had my heart set on a stock restoration, but the greenback is a nice minor upgrade that will let someone put it back to stock fairly easily.
Great restoration job! Looks brand new! I have one of those and it screams, great for practicing at home or recording but it’s pretty load for only 12 watts! I guess it’s 12 British watts! Lol
Pretty sure I used amplifiedparts.com and ordered them with the corners. Seems they only have one size, just different colors. Search their site for Marshall rivets.
Good job, it should sound excellent with the Greenback! The pots in the 80's SS amps are the weak link, they always need some level of cleaning or replacement.
nice man! I did a very similar restore eh like last year I guess... I was basing it off of this amp (just cause its very similar - the schematics etc). I restored the Park (by Marshall) G10R. I'll share some pics here shortly... Wish I woulda had this video at the time! :)
It's not what lead me to this video, but I was mildly disappointed that you didn't actually show the part where you added quick connect terminals to the amp's output wiring. I've been meaning to do that to more than a few old amps / speakers I have laying around... 😄
ruclips.net/video/goxVeefDpQg/видео.htmlfeature=shared Only thing I did differently from this guy was that I solder the connection after crimping. I do not use insulated connectors.
My discharge wire uses about an 80k resistor, which was the only high wattage resistor I had laying around when I made it. If I was ordering parts I would use a 10k 10W resistor to drain a little faster.
Found your video while doing research on a Marshall lead 12 head a friend left me....trying to get it working for my son now but it's a UK model 220/240v. Very little on the internet but it sounds and looks like I can change 1 wire and use it in the US? Please help? I have the schematic and am a descent electrician I just need to know what wire to move where. Please if can help or post a video we would be so greatful. Ty
I no longer have this amp, but the power transformer should have an unused tap. That tap would be the halfway point of the coil, and you would likely use that tap instead of one of the other legs of the coil. I’d have to spend quite a bit of time researching it myself, haha. Best of luck.
@@hacksguitarhobby you're amazing and thank you for getting back. After getting into it further, it says 3005 USA...so I believe there was a sticker removed denoting 120v just leaving the stamped 220/240v on the case. Cleaned it up, thanks to you made sure the board wasn't grouning on the case and still no power. Turns out it has the wrong fuse and power isn't getting to the switch....I think I've almost got it. Love your work and attention to detail, I restore motorcycles so I appreciate another craftsman. Thanks again and happy 4th!!
Nice job. New sub. I have a Lead 20 I bought about 12 yrs. ago from a lady who just played keys at church. Paid $90. Can of deoxIT and was like new. Those old 10'' speakers are fantastic. Shame you had to replace it. If you don't mind, can you tell us where the replacement was made, and what it cost? Sorry if I'm being too forward. Play On.
Celestion G10 Greenback, think I paid $85. They are probably made in China but I have heard that some of the parts for that series may still be made in the UK since the G12 is still made there.
@@hacksguitarhobby I know that some people jam 12" speakers in here, that would be a cool mod as well, but I can tell you really like to keep things as close to stock as possible which is cool too. There's no question that the g10 GB is definitely an upgrade though. Great job. I'm watching this because there is a Lead 12 in my area for sale and I'm thinking of going for it, just for a worry free portable amp to jam with thatw has the marshall sound and look. I would love to have a 12" greenback put in. Does this amp have an emulated headphone jack as well? My wife would definitely appreciate that - right now I'm playing through a 4x12 cab in my dining room LOL
Kinda. There is a Hacks Guitar Hobby page, but I haven’t interacted with it since I started scheduling video releases about a year ago. I’ll look into reviving it.
I've found these Lead 12s really come to life with a Celestion V type jr 50watt.
Nice, I can imagine that working well.
Great job fixing it up … I just picked one up this weekend , no issues with it yet
Sounds great too
Cheers 🎸
Really love this model. I'd like to try a Reverb 12 as well.
Have one of these myself, never done anything technical other than use some contact spray in the pots, so really interesting to see such an in depth look inside the amp! Great content!
Thank you.
Same with me - found one for $40 at an antique store - plugged it in at the store and turned knobs to no sound. Figured what the heck, took it home and after a few rounds of contact cleaner, it works like a champ.
@@LEWDUVA hopefully you don't need to keep spraying to maintain it. If I leave mine for a week or two it gets a bit crackly again.
@@LEWDUVA That's awesome, what a deal!
Beautiful job. Wonderful resurrection.
Thank you!
My, you certainly go in for... 'comprehensive' refurbishment and attention to detail. Well done! It's a bit like industrial archeology.
Thank you very much!
Nice work!
Thanks!
Every time i see a combo i imagine it as a head it's a easy mod and i am sure the Lead 12 would be perfect
In this case, they actually make the Lead 12 as a mini stack, so it's very true.
Great amps. Nice restoration there.
Thanks!
i had one of these, along with a peavey backstage 20. I hooked them up to a marshall 2x12
I did a video on a Backstage as well. Love these smaller ‘80s solid state amps.
@@hacksguitarhobby I saw that one as well. That backstage 20 got me through 14yrs of gigging. Towards the end I accidentally tore the cone and replaced the speaker with a carvin. It didn't mess up the tone.
Really enjoying you channel. Found this resto very interesting and the result looks and sounds awesome. Great job!
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback!
@@hacksguitarhobby You missed a golden opportunity here! I have several Lead 12's and one basic simple mod you can do is open-up the baffle board to accept a 12" speaker! Lead 12's really come alive with a 12" speaker in them! Doesn't make any sense to put a 10" speaker back in them!
@@kennyh5083 I considered it, because I noted there was room. I looked for a 12 locally but didn’t find a deal on one with the correct impedance. I had my heart set on a stock restoration, but the greenback is a nice minor upgrade that will let someone put it back to stock fairly easily.
Great job, sounds sweet
Thank you!
Great restoration job! Looks brand new! I have one of those and it screams, great for practicing at home or recording but it’s pretty load for only 12 watts! I guess it’s 12 British watts! Lol
Thanks, turned out great. Awesome little amp!
Going to do the same thing with a lead 12 I just picked up. Tolex is clean. Just needs some touch ups
Nice, these things are great.
Pretty sure I used amplifiedparts.com and ordered them with the corners. Seems they only have one size, just different colors. Search their site for Marshall rivets.
@@hacksguitarhobby quick question, what size Marshall logo did you order? Was it 9”? Thanks!
Yes, 9"
Good job, it should sound excellent with the Greenback! The pots in the 80's SS amps are the weak link, they always need some level of cleaning or replacement.
Most pots do, but mini pots are the worst!
nice man! I did a very similar restore eh like last year I guess... I was basing it off of this amp (just cause its very similar - the schematics etc). I restored the Park (by Marshall) G10R. I'll share some pics here shortly... Wish I woulda had this video at the time! :)
Cool, those are good little amps!
It's not what lead me to this video, but I was mildly disappointed that you didn't actually show the part where you added quick connect terminals to the amp's output wiring. I've been meaning to do that to more than a few old amps / speakers I have laying around... 😄
ruclips.net/video/goxVeefDpQg/видео.htmlfeature=shared Only thing I did differently from this guy was that I solder the connection after crimping. I do not use insulated connectors.
@@hacksguitarhobby Thanks!
Great video! What did you use to clean the face?
I usually use glass cleaner or a light degreaser like 409.
What size resistor to discharge the power? I was about to take mine apart to clean the pots and jacks, but am kind of scared now
My discharge wire uses about an 80k resistor, which was the only high wattage resistor I had laying around when I made it. If I was ordering parts I would use a 10k 10W resistor to drain a little faster.
Found your video while doing research on a Marshall lead 12 head a friend left me....trying to get it working for my son now but it's a UK model 220/240v. Very little on the internet but it sounds and looks like I can change 1 wire and use it in the US? Please help? I have the schematic and am a descent electrician I just need to know what wire to move where. Please if can help or post a video we would be so greatful. Ty
I no longer have this amp, but the power transformer should have an unused tap. That tap would be the halfway point of the coil, and you would likely use that tap instead of one of the other legs of the coil. I’d have to spend quite a bit of time researching it myself, haha. Best of luck.
@@hacksguitarhobby you're amazing and thank you for getting back. After getting into it further, it says 3005 USA...so I believe there was a sticker removed denoting 120v just leaving the stamped 220/240v on the case. Cleaned it up, thanks to you made sure the board wasn't grouning on the case and still no power. Turns out it has the wrong fuse and power isn't getting to the switch....I think I've almost got it. Love your work and attention to detail, I restore motorcycles so I appreciate another craftsman. Thanks again and happy 4th!!
Can you listen a bad distortion when note decay in this amps? its seem a fizzle
I didn’t find any problems with this one, but that’s subjective like anything, I suppose.
My plexi does that. Seems like a Marshall thing.
Nice job. New sub. I have a Lead 20 I bought about 12 yrs. ago from a lady who just played keys at church. Paid $90. Can of deoxIT and was like new. Those old 10'' speakers are fantastic. Shame you had to replace it. If you don't mind, can you tell us where the replacement was made, and what it cost? Sorry if I'm being too forward. Play On.
Celestion G10 Greenback, think I paid $85. They are probably made in China but I have heard that some of the parts for that series may still be made in the UK since the G12 is still made there.
Those speakers in Lead12 are crap, In Lead 20 have better speakers...
@@VintageVibes810 Definitely bigger magnets and higher wattage rating (35 vs 25).
@@hacksguitarhobby I know that some people jam 12" speakers in here, that would be a cool mod as well, but I can tell you really like to keep things as close to stock as possible which is cool too. There's no question that the g10 GB is definitely an upgrade though. Great job. I'm watching this because there is a Lead 12 in my area for sale and I'm thinking of going for it, just for a worry free portable amp to jam with thatw has the marshall sound and look. I would love to have a 12" greenback put in. Does this amp have an emulated headphone jack as well? My wife would definitely appreciate that - right now I'm playing through a 4x12 cab in my dining room LOL
@@MatthewDeacon-jc8hi It does have a headphone/line out jack on the right side of the controls.
The original speaker is a bit lame. Should be upgraded.... i.e. a greenback... just like you did.
It sounded so much warmer, and I’m sure it would improve after break-in.
Hello..are you on Facebook?
Kinda. There is a Hacks Guitar Hobby page, but I haven’t interacted with it since I started scheduling video releases about a year ago. I’ll look into reviving it.