Marshall Model 1978 – The 200-Watt Bass Beast
The Marshall Model 1978 is one of the rarest and most powerful bass heads ever made by Marshall. Released in the early '70s, this 200-watt amplifier was designed to handle the deep, rumbling low end of electric bass with authority. While the 100-watt bass heads like the 1992 were beloved by many, the 1978 took things to the extreme: offering more power, more headroom, and even more room-shaking bass.
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What Is It?
The Model 1978 is a 200-watt all-valve (tube) bass amplifier head. It uses four KT88 power tubes — a step up from the typical EL34s in the other Marshalls of the time — which helps it pump out an earth-shattering 200 watts of clean bass tone. The preamp section, like other Marshalls, features three ECC83 tubes, and the standard volume, bass, middle, treble, and presence controls are in place to sculpt the tone.
While the Model 1978 is marketed as a bass amplifier, it has an unusually clean and clear sound, making it a great tool for any musician who needs massive amounts of headroom and clean, punchy low end. Whether you’re playing with a heavy pick or slapping those strings, the 1978 can handle it all without breaking a sweat.
Why It Was Built
Marshall designed the 1978 to handle the growing demand for more power in bass amplification. Bands in the early ‘70s were pushing their equipment to new extremes, and the 1978 was built to compete with the biggest systems on stage.
The added power of the 1978 allowed bassists to keep up with the monster guitar amps like the Model 1967, without losing clarity or definition. But it wasn’t just for bassists, guitarists who wanted a thick, clean sound for rhythm playing also flocked to the 1978.
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Matching Cabinet Setups
The 1978 was paired with several Marshall cabs to give bassists the complete setup for delivering massive, room-filling sound. These included:
- 200/1 Setup
The Model 1978 head paired with two 1935 bass cabs, each containing 4 x 12" Celestion bass speakers. This setup delivers 200 watts of low-end punch — perfect for the loudest gigs.
The cabs were carefully matched to ensure bass frequencies were projected clearly and without distortion, even at extremely high volumes.
Who Was Using It?
While the Model 1978 wasn’t as famous as some of the guitar heads, it found a home with professional bassists who needed the clean power to drive massive sound systems. It was particularly favored by bands in the heavier rock and funk scenes, who demanded high output and tight, controlled low end. Many rock bands used the 1978 on stage to make sure their bass wasn’t drowned out by screaming guitars.
Why It Still Matters
Even though it’s a bit of a hidden gem, the Marshall 1978 is still highly sought after by bassists and collectors. It’s incredibly rare to find one in good condition, and those who do swear by its pure, clean tone and insane power. For vintage bass tone, it’s one of the top-tier amps to own.
If you’re after a 200-watt amplifier that can handle any gig, whether you’re on bass or guitar, the Model 1978 is the Marshall you want in your arsenal.
Dimensions
- Height: 11" (27.94 cm)
- Width: 29" (73.66 cm)
- Depth: 11" (27.94 cm)
If you wanna sell your vintage Marshall from 1963-1974 click here
