The Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head is a Marshall amplifier, currently around $1952.04. Close alternatives include the Marshall 1987X MK II Reissue 2-Channel 50-Watt and the Marshall 1959HW Hand Wired. It pairs well with the Greer Mizuki blue and the Xotic BB Preamp.
Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head
Marshall · amplifier
The Marshall 1987X is the hand-wired 50-watt Plexi reissue, a non-master-volume EL34 head prized for breaking up tighter and a touch earlier than the 100-watt Super Lead. Its four inputs and jumperable bright and normal channels recreate the classic late-1960s British stack tone heard across rock and blues-rock. All of its overdrive comes from driving the power section, giving open cleans that bloom into focused, cutting crunch as the volume climbs.
- crunch
- clean
- midrange
- british
- open
- hard rock
- articulate
- lead
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head is commonly used in
- Blues Rock
- Rock
- Hard Rock
- Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head
Greer Mizuki blue
Greer
25% matchGreer Mizuki blue's own warm character is the real reason this is worth trying
Xotic BB Preamp
Xotic
24% matchXotic BB Preamp's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof
EarthQuaker Devices
23% matchEarthQuaker Devices Hoof's crunchy voice suits Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head's own crunchy character
Wampler Latitude Deluxe Tremolo
Wampler
17% matchKeep Wampler Latitude Deluxe Tremolo after Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head in the signal chain, clear of Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head's own gain stage
BBE OptiComp
Bbe
17% matchWhat BBE OptiComp brings here leans toward dynamic — that's worth building a pairing around
MXR Analog Delay
MXR
16% matchKeep MXR Analog Delay in Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head's effects loop, clear of Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Universal Audio Golden Reverberator
Universal Audio
16% matchKeep Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head's crunchy voice out front: Universal Audio Golden Reverberator goes in Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head's effects loop so its spring voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz
Keeley
tonal matchVoiced for Marshall-style amps
Cheaper alternatives
Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost)
Benson Amps
72% similarityBenson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost) recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
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
DOD 250-x
Dod
72% similarityDOD 250-x recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Marshall 1987 50-Watt Plexi
Marshall
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall JCM800 Purple Ltd
Marshall
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Marshall 1959HW
Marshall
62% similarityShared character: volume, power_section, hard_rock
Marshall 1959JMH-U Handwired 1959 100w Limited Edition
Marshall
62% similarityShared character: power_section, hand_wired_construction, pick_attack
Carr Skylark Special
Carr
96% similaritysimilar tone character
3rd Power DRGN-100
3rd Power
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Marshall 1987X MK II Reissue 2-Channel 50-Watt
Marshall
98% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall 1959HW Hand Wired
Marshall
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall JMP 2204 Master Model Mk2 Lead 50-Watt
Marshall
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Pre-Sale! Hot Cat Head
Bad Cat
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall Studio Vintage SV20C MkII 20W 1x10 Combo
Marshall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head?+
The closest matches in character are the Marshall 1987X MK II Reissue 2-Channel 50-Watt, the Marshall 1959HW Hand Wired, the Marshall JMP 2204 Master Model Mk2 Lead 50-Watt. Budget picks: Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost), Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, Vox Valvenergy Mystic Edge. Boutique upgrades: Marshall 1959HW, Marshall 1959JMH-U Handwired 1959 100w Limited Edition, Carr Skylark Special.
What pairs well with the Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Mizuki blue, Xotic BB Preamp, EarthQuaker Devices Hoof — Greer Mizuki blue's own warm character is the real reason this is worth trying.
How much does the Marshall 1987X Plexy 50W Head cost?+
Around $1952.04 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Marshall 1987X MK II Reissue 2-Channel 50-Watt
- vs Marshall 1959HW Hand Wired
- vs Marshall JMP 2204 Master Model Mk2 Lead 50-Watt