A Return to Marshall’s JTM Roots
Marshall’s Studio series has long served as a Sweetwater favorite, as it perfectly packs many of the company’s iconic amplifier models down into compact, gig-and-studio-ready combos and heads. From the Super Lead to the Silver Jubilee, the Studio series encompasses almost the entirety of Marshall’s long history — with the ST20C Studio JTM, it reaches all the way back to the beginning. This 20-watt, 1 x 12-inch combo amplifier precisely replicates the creamy highs, loose lows, and smoky overdriven tone of the original Marshall 2245 — the platform that arguably defined the biting sound of British blues rock, while also setting the stage for Marshall’s later amplifier creations. Plus, while it’s certainly a vintage throwback, the ST20C Studio JTM comes equipped with all the Studio series’ usual bells and whistles, including a 5-watt power scaling mode, FX loop, and speaker-emulated DI output. Vintage-inspired from the metal “coffin”-style logo to the levant front covering, the UK-built ST20C Studio JTM is a top-tier tonal tribute to the model that began the Marshall legend.
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A tonal tribute to Marshall’s famed 2245/JTM 45
More than just an aesthetic tribute to Marshall’s early days, the ST20C Studio JTM’s dual 5881 power tubes and trio of ECC83 preamp and phase inverter tubes match the original 2245. In comparison to the later EL34-equipped Marshall models that would define hard rock in the 1970s, the ST20C Studio JTM’s tone harkens back to the birth of British blues-rock, perfectly capturing the loose bass, rounder response, and compelling natural compression of its JTM inspiration. Overall, the ST20C Studio JTM supplies an extraordinarily versatile tube tone that can take you from stadium-ready power-chord rhythms to dark, moody blues lines without breaking a sweat. And if you’re after just a touch more control, Sweetwater guitarists recommend trying out the time-tested trick of patching both channels together and blending their tones!
Vintage-inspired Celestion G12M-65 Creamback speaker
Originally released amid rock’s mid-1960s revolution, the Celestion G12M Creamback found in many a vintage Marshall amplifier helped define the sound of the burgeoning blues-rock scene. It’s arguably Celestion’s most iconic ceramic magnet speaker, gracing the records of countless all-time greats, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. The Marshall ST20C Studio JTM combo’s G12M-65 retains the same vocal-like midrange, creamy highs, and aggressive overdriven tone of the original, only with a significantly higher power rating and a slightly improved low-end response to better suit the modern guitarist. For players who clamor for the raw and organic dirty tones that set the stage for Marshall’s dominance of the classic rock era, Sweetwater guitarists agree: the Celestion G12M-65 speaker is tough to top.
Loaded with all the player-friendly features you need
Consider yourself lucky, because the Marshall ST20C Studio JTM sports plenty of onboard features not found on the original 2245. An onboard FX loop makes integrating your pedals and external processors a breeze. Attaining cranked tones at listenable volumes is a breeze thanks to a power reduction circuit. You also get a speaker-emulated DI output for easy recording or routing to a PA. You’ll value the ST20C Studio JTM modern flexibility almost as much as you appreciate its classic tone.
Early-era Marshall aesthetics
Far from the later plexi-equipped, script logo Marshalls that we all know and love, the Studio JTM series reaches back to an earlier time in the Marshall legend — when Marshall amps still wore their American influence on their sleeve. This amp’s levant front covering, gold piping/beading, and handsome metal Marshall “coffin” logo look as though they rolled right out of Jim Marshall’s workshop, beaming with early 1960s style. And perhaps best of all, the ST20C Studio JTM boasts a high-end enclosure crafted from finger-jointed plywood for a lighter weight and superior sound.
Marshall ST20C Studio JTM 1 x 12-inch 20-watt Tube Combo Amp Features:
- 2-channel, 20-watt tube combo amplifier inspired by Marshall’s early 2245 model
- Dual 5881 power tubes, 2 ECC83 preamp tubes, and an ECC83 phase splitter capture the creamy highs, loose lows, and exceptionally dynamic overdrive of the original JTM
- Celestion G12M-65 Creamback speaker offers a slightly higher power rating and enhanced bass response over the original Creamback found in early Marshall amps
- High Treble and Normal channels can be patched together for endless tonal experimentation
- Treble, Middle, Bass, and Presence knobs to dial in your sound to perfection
- Speaker-emulated DI output for easy recording and straight-to-PA gigging
- FX loop makes it a breeze to integrate your favorite time-based and modulation pedals
- JTM-inspired aesthetics, including levant front covering, metal “coffin” logo, gold piping, and fawn fret
- Premium finger-jointed plywood enclosure
- Handbuilt in the UK Marshall factory
