VS Audio's Platinum Preamp / Overdrive delivers Marshall's 1987 Silver Jubilee Amp in sleek compact enclosure format

1987’s Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 Amp Combo / Head - had an innovative and unusual preamp section that gave it a slightly higher gain and a somewhat darker and smoother output than the JCM800. The preamp circuit had three gain modes : Clean, Rhythm Clip, and Lead. Where the styling of the amp was also quite different too - with a silver / almost mirror-like finish facia panel, and a sort of muted cream Tolex - contrasting significantly to Marshall’s usual Black and Gold styling.

Part of the allure of the Silver Jubilee is because players like Joe Bonamassa, John Fusciante, Alex Lifeson, Steve Morse, Rich Robinson and Slash have raved about its somewhat distinctive Marshall tones.

Original Silver Jubilee Amp Controls - Input Gain (pull rhythm clip), Lead Master, Output Master (pull channel), Treble, Middle, Bass, Presence, Output : Low / High, Standby : 0 / 1, Power : 0 / 1.

Platinum Preamp Controls - Input Gain, Presence Toggle : Adjust Negative Feedback / Boost High Frequencies, Output Master, Bass, Middle, Treble, Bypass Footswitch, Lead Footswitch.

The Platinum Preamp is meticulously crafted with hand-selected discrete JFETS that give a distinctive blend of classic Plexi and high gain Marshall style tones. Just like the legendary amp it is based on - it features two gain channels, Rhythm for a wide range of clean sounds up to creamy Crunch, and Lead for those full-throttle juicy solos.

By replicating the unique Bass, Middle & Treble tone stack of the valve amp, the Platimun delivers versatile sonic output capabilities, shaping the overall character and texture of your sound. The Presence control, here functioning like a classic presence knob by applying negative feedback, it adjusts the dynamic response and high frequencies of the pedal to be used with any cabinet simulators or recording interfaces. Placing the Platinum further down your effects chain reveals its ability to function like a true Preamp - capturing the exact tones and behaviour that makes the Silver Jubilee® amp so great.

• The VS Audio Platinum Preamp offers the following features:
• Input Gain to control amp-like overdrive ranging from sparkly clean to fully cranked saturation.
• Channel switch to choose between Rhythm and Lead channel similar to Silver Jubilee® amp.
• Unique Bass, Middle, Treble tone stack to tailor the overall character of the sound.
• Presence toggle switch to adjust negative feedback or boost high frequencies.
• 9VDC [-] supply operation 100mA, 2.1 power jack.
• Compact brushed stainless steel enclosure - top-mounted jacks, true bypass, & silent relay
  switching.

The Platinum Preamp is available to order as of today - from the VS Audio Webstore, and at selected dealers worldwide, it’s priced at a very reasonable €229.

It’s the most detailed and comprehensive of the Silver Jubilee pedal takes to-date - where I already personally own the Alexander Pedals Jubilee Silver, and OneControl Mini Jubilee Red. I’m heavily considering adding this one to the reference collection too!

How about you? I know quite a few of you love the Marshall Silver Jubilee Amp in particular - do you already have a favourite take on that sound - room for one more?