The 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w is a Marshall amplifier. Close alternatives include the Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp and the Friedman IR-D. It pairs well with the Analog Man King of Tone and the Browne Amplification Carbon.
1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w
Marshall · amplifier
The Marshall JMP 1987 Super Lead is the 50-watt sibling of the better-known 100-watt 1959 Super Lead, sharing the same non-master-volume, four-input Plexi-family circuit at half the output. Produced across the JMP badge era of the mid-1970s to early 1980s, the Mk II designation reflects circuit revisions Marshall made over that production run. At 50 watts it reaches saturation at more manageable volume than its 100-watt sibling while keeping the same open, harmonically rich breakup that defines the non-master-volume Marshall sound. It is associated in this catalogue with Dave Murray of Iron Maiden.
What stands out
“[Pros] ✓ Delivers classic Marshall tone reminiscent of early '70s models at a fraction of the price ✓ Ideal for modding; transforms into powerful rock amp with modifications ✓ Versatile sound range from classic rock to metal, adaptable to v…”
— from the reviews
“Produced across the JMP badge era of the mid-1970s to early 1980s, the Mk II designation reflects circuit revisions Marshall made over that production run”
— from the listing
“At 50 watts it reaches saturation at more manageable volume than its 100-watt sibling while keeping the same open, harmonically rich breakup that defines the non-master-volume Marshall sound”
— from the listing
“The Marshall JMP 1987 Super Lead is the 50-watt sibling of the better-known 100-watt 1959 Super Lead, sharing the same non-master-volume, four-input Plexi-family circuit at half the output”
— from the listing
“It is associated in this catalogue with Dave Murray of Iron Maiden”
— from the listing
- iconic marshall sound
- classic rock
- rock
- lead
- harmonically rich
- breakup
- open
- versatile sound range
Good for
- Live
Genres the 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Metal
- Rock
Pedals that stack with the 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
30% matchpushes an amp at the edge of breakupPushes an amp already sitting at the edge of breakup over the line. (edge of breakup → clean boost)
Analog Man King of Tone pushes a edge of breakup tone toward clean boost
Goes in front of the amp
Browne Amplification Carbon
Browne Amplification
30% matchpushes an amp at the edge of breakupPushes an amp already sitting at the edge of breakup over the line. (edge of breakup → clean boost)
Browne Amplification Carbon pushes a edge of breakup tone toward clean boost
Goes in front of the amp
Browne Amplification Gritador
Browne Amplification
30% matchpushes an amp at the edge of breakupPushes an amp already sitting at the edge of breakup over the line. (edge of breakup → mid-forward)
Browne Amplification Gritador takes that edge of breakup character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
JHS Pedals JHS Whitey Tighty
JHS Pedals
18% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
What JHS Pedals JHS Whitey Tighty brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Goes in front of the amp
Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive
Origin Effects
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive after 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w in the signal chain, clear of 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe
Catalinbread
12% matchRun Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe in 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w's effects loop, clear of 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Catalinbread Epoch-Set
Catalinbread
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Catalinbread Epoch-Set in 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w's effects loop, clear of 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Browne Amplification Ethane
Browne Amplification
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Browne Amplification Ethane goes in front of 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w in the chain
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp
Friedman
72% similarityFriedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Friedman IR-D
Friedman
72% similarityFriedman IR-D recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Soldano SLO
Soldano
72% similaritySoldano SLO recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Strymon Iridium
Strymon
72% similarityStrymon Iridium recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
69% similarityShared character: classic marshall sound, early 1980s, middle
Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 Dual Super Lead 2-Channel
Marshall
68% similarityShared character: classic marshall sound, iron maiden, reliable performance
Marshall Jimi Hendrix 60th Anniversary Half Stack
Marshall
67% similaritySimilar role and voicing
Marshall JVM410H
Marshall
64% similarityShared character: classic marshall sound, users
Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head
amplifier
63% similarityShared character: classic marshall sound, users
Marshall Class 5
amplifier
52% similarityShared character: versatile sound, classic rock
Fender 'Black Panel' Twin Reverb (1963-1967)
Fender
51% similaritySimilar voicing: dynamic, harmonically rich
Fender '68 Custom Twin Reverb
amplifier
50% similarityShared character: versatile sound
See all alternatives to the 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w?+
The closest matches in character are the Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, the Friedman IR-D, the Soldano SLO.
What pairs well with the 1978-81 Marshall JMP 1987 Mk II Super Lead 50w?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Analog Man King of Tone, Browne Amplification Carbon, Browne Amplification Gritador — Analog Man King of Tone pushes a edge of breakup tone toward clean boost.