Marshall Amps 1960A and 1960B 4×12 Cabinets circa 1970 – Stage Used & Owned by Eric Clapton / Derek and the Dominos – WOW!!! Marshall

Marshall Amps 1960A and 1960B 4×12 Speaker Cabinets

Personally Owned and Stage Used by Eric Clapton

Derek and the Dominos Stenciled pair of Guitar Amplifier Speaker Cabinets

Featured in the Eric Clapton sale of Guitars and Amps in aid of the Crossroads Centre

ATTENTION Serious Collectors and Eric Clapton Enthusiasts! Make’n Music is happy to present a curated selection of guitars and amplifiers which were previously owned and used by none other than Slowhand himself, Eric Clapton! Various items are featured as part of this Eric Clapton collection; including a custom Gibson ES-335 electric guitar presented to Eric by Gibson for his 2001 tour, the two stage used 4×12 Marshall speaker cabinets offered here, which are stenciled “Derek and the Dominos”, one Jaguar Limited Edition Marshall Bluesbreaker combo amp presented to Eric by Jim Marshall himself, and a stage used Music Man HD-150 Reverb Head and 2×12 Cabinet with “Duck Bros.” roadcase. If you are an avid Clapton collector, or simply an enthusiast of rare, vintage, collectible guitars and amps, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to obtain your own personal Eric Clapton Rig!!! Just imagine this killer selection of gear all set up in your mancave or jam room. Think of all the stages and players this iconic gear has seen. When I close my eyes I can imagine myself there, relishing the sounds (and smells) or Rock and Roll! Keep reading for more detailed information. (Also, if you are reading this on a marketplace website, please refer to the Make’n Music website for additional details and photographs of all items).

This particular listing is for a pair of 1970 Marshall 4×12 Speaker Cabinets, Model 1960A and 1960B, Serial Numbers 34172 and 33583, Stenciled “Derek and the Dominos”

The 1960A (slant) cabinet is consistent with 1970 specifications including Birch ply construction, large white script Marshall logo, basket weave grille cloth and metal handles. It is loaded with only three Celestion G12M 25W speakers which also date to 1970. The back panel of this cabinet is missing some screws. The 1960B (straight) cabinet is also consistent with 1970 specifications including Birch ply construction, large white script Marshall logo, basket weave grille cloth and metal handles. It is loaded with all four Celestion G12M 25W speakers which also date to 1970. “DEREK AND THE DOMINOS” is stenciled on top of both cabinets in white paint. Both cabinets exhibit some cosmetic wear and tear consistent with age and tour use, including dings and scuffs. The tolex on the bottoms is especially rough, probably from all the loading and unloading while on tour, but overall they are actually in very good shape. The 1960B cabinet sounds fantastic! Marshall 4×12 cabinets from this era are highly regarded for tone and one listen will explain why. The 1960A cabinet was not tested due to the missing speaker and it will require some maintenance including a replacement speaker in order to be used. We would be happy to complete this work prior to shipping if so desired. Please contact us to discuss prior to purchase.

Background information:

After having changed his musical direction by quitting Cream, forming Blind Faith and then leaving for Delaney & Bonnie in 1969, Clapton began favoring Fender amps to the Marshall stacks he was previously known for. In fact, Clapton was often seen playing through late 1960s Dual Showman amps on his appearances from the 1969/1970 period. In an interview conducted for the Japanese publication Guitarists of Genius published by Shinko Music, Baz Ward, the former road manager for Derek and the Dominos, told Saiichi Sugiyama of an incident during the Dominos first tour of UK clubs in the summer of 1970. When they played the Mothers in Birmingham, Clapton was heckled by an audience member who complained he couldn’t hear Clapton’s guitar. Clapton was playing through a Fender Dual Showman at the time. Clapton replied that he was playing as loud as he could and the heckler said ‘tell the rest of the band to shut up then’. After this gig, Clapton told Baz Ward to go and buy a Marshall stack the following day. This he did and Clapton used a Marshall stack on some of the nights on tour. Photos from the UK tour show Clapton playing through a Marshall stack that he purchased. According to Baz Ward, Clapton also used Marshall cabinets in the US on tour in the autumn of 1970 but he had modified those cabinets with extra jack inputs to facilitate a quick change-over in case of an amp breakdown. In view of the absence of those modifications, and based on the speaker codes dating to early 1970, it seems possible that these are indeed the speaker cabinets that Ward purchased in Birmingham.

These cabinets carry the same stencil applied to the guitar case of Capton’s 1956 Fender Stratocaster, Brownie – the Layla guitar that was sold at the first Crossroads Guitar Auction in 1999 for the then-record price of $497,500. 

Provenance: Originally sold / purchased from Bonhams Auction House in New York during The Eric Clapton sale of Guitars and Amps in aid of the Crossroads Centre, on March 9th, 2011. Make’n Music is happy to offer these cabinets for sale on consignment from the original purchaser. The Certificate of Authenticity personally signed by Eric Clapton is included.

Shipping: We are happy to ship worldwide. Due to the high value, weight, and size of these items the Service and Cost will be determined and calculated based on buyer location. Please confirm shipping price before purchase. The posted shipping price does NOT include insurance. All items are sold as-is. What you see is what you get except the original hard shell case which is included but not pictured. 4 certificates are shown but only the 1 certificate specific to this item is included. 

 

Photo Credits: 

Main Image by Nina Laseau

Clapton using a Marshall stack during Derek and the Dominos first Tour of UK clubs in the summer of 1970, when Clapton prohibited his real name from appearing on the bill. Photograph courtesy of the Mike Sawin Collection.

Clapton on stage performing With A Little Help From My Friends with Joe Cocker, Charlie Watts and Jimmy Page at the US Arms Concert, 9 December 1983, Madison Square Garden, New York. Photograph courtesy of Bob Gruen/

All other photographs copyright Make’n Music except the photo of Jim Marshall and Eric Clapton (copyright unknown)