Marshall Capri 1966 - Red Tolex

This is an exceptionally rare late-1960s Marshall Capri combo in Red Tolex, a fascinating and seldom-seen piece of early Marshall history. These compact practice/club amps were built in small numbers and were among the company’s earliest attempts to offer cranked Marshall tone at manageable volumes. To find one in this condition is remarkable.

The red Tolex is in astonishing shape for its age, showing only light signs of use and retaining its vibrant colour. A wonderful survivor and a genuine collector’s piece.

The Capri features two inputs—high and low sensitivity—and a simple single-channel layout with two gain stages. As you turn it up, it moves from crisp clean tones into that unmistakably vintage Marshall grit. There’s plenty of touch-responsive harmonic distortion on tap, with a warm midrange and the lively attack that defined Marshall’s sound in the mid-’60s. Think early blues-rock and British invasion textures: raw, dynamic, and beautifully unrefined in all the right ways.

This example is fitted with a replacement Celestion Greenback, which suits the amp's voice perfectly. The original speaker is also included; it still functions at lower volume but requires a recone if you want it fully restored.

Artists associated with early low-wattage Marshalls include players from the pre-stack era—those chasing breakup at sensible volumes long before the big Super Leads took over the stage. The Capri shares DNA with the small combos used by countless British blues and rock guitarists as they shaped what would become the classic Marshall sound.

A very special amplifier, both historically significant and genuinely enjoyable to play. Lovely to have in the shop—and even nicer to offer to the next custodian.