The Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi is a Marshall amplifier, currently around $1599. Close alternatives include the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the 1976 Marshall 1959 Super Lead. It pairs well with the Xotic BB Preamp and the EarthQuaker Devices Hoof.
Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi
Marshall · amplifier
The Marshall 1987 is the classic 50-watt Plexi head, a cornerstone of British rock tone. Non-master-volume by design, it delivers clear, crisp, pearl-like cleans at lower settings and a warm, singing British overdrive when cranked. The sound is honest, open, and intensely dynamic, responding to pick attack and guitar volume so closely that it sharpens a player touch. Less bass-heavy and more immediate than the 100-watt Super Lead, the 50-watt Plexi defined countless hard rock and blues rock records of the late 1960s and 70s. It reaches its magic at high volume, so many users pair it with an attenuator for manageable levels.
- british
- overdrive
- open
- touch
- attenuator
- singing
- pick attack
- hard rock
Good for
- Live
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi is commonly used in
- Rock
- Classic Rock
- Blues Rock
- Hard Rock
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi
Xotic BB Preamp
Xotic
22% matchXotic BB Preamp's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof
EarthQuaker Devices
22% matchEarthQuaker Devices Hoof's fuzzy fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
EarthQuaker Devices White Light
EarthQuaker Devices
22% matchEarthQuaker Devices White Light leans toward bright, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Earthquaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device
EarthQuaker Devices
17% matchPut Earthquaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device after Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi in the signal chain, clear of Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi's own gain stage
J. Rockett Airchild Six Sixty
J Rockett
16% matchMarshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi's dynamic character and J. Rockett Airchild Six Sixty's compressed voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Catalinbread Cloak
Catalinbread
15% matchKeep Catalinbread Cloak in Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi's effects loop, clear of Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
JHS 3 Series Delay
JHS Pedals
15% matchKeep Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi's dynamic voice out front: JHS 3 Series Delay goes in Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi's effects loop so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Cry Baby Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q Multi-Wah
Cry Baby
tonal matchVoiced for Marshall-style amps
Cheaper alternatives
Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp
Friedman
72% similarityFriedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Vox Valvenergy Mystic Edge
Vox
72% similarityVox Valvenergy Mystic Edge recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost)
Benson Amps
72% similarityBenson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost) recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
DOD 250-x
Dod
72% similarityDOD 250-x recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Boutique & premium upgrades
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall 1959HW
Marshall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
3rd Power Phantom Dragon 45
3rd Power
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Carr Skylark Special
Carr
95% similaritysimilar tone character
3rd Power DRGN-100
3rd Power
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
65% similarityShared character: hard_rock, touch, response
1976 Marshall 1959 Super Lead
Marshall
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head
Marshall
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Ceriatone British Style Plexi50 Lead
Ceriatone
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall 1959HW Hand Wired
Marshall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Pre-Sale! Hot Cat Head
Bad Cat
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi?+
The closest matches in character are the Friedman Dirty Shirley, the 1976 Marshall 1959 Super Lead, the Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head. Budget picks: Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, Vox Valvenergy Mystic Edge, Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost). Boutique upgrades: Marshall JCM800 2203, Marshall 1959HW, 3rd Power Phantom Dragon 45.
What pairs well with the Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Xotic BB Preamp, EarthQuaker Devices Hoof, EarthQuaker Devices White Light — Xotic BB Preamp's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying.
How much does the Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi cost?+
Around $1599 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).