Guitar Gear Gems: Marshall Group amp revenue was only 5%
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This week on Guitar Gear Gems, we look at how the sale of headphones and portable speakers bolstered Marshall Group’s revenue for 2023. We also check out a limited edition Warm Audio Foxy Tone fuzz in purple. Finally, we look at the new Harmony H62 Hollow Body Reissue Series.
Marshall Group
The Marshall Group has stated that amp sales only accounted for 5% of the company revenue last year. Marshall Group reported a $389m profit since the Zound Industries takeover. However, only a tiny part of this profit was due to amp sales. Marshall Group CEO Jeremy de Maillard revealed these figures recently, and this Billboard report shows that 70% of the Marshall Group’s revenue is derived from speaker sales. In comparison, 25% comes from headphone sales.
A Digital Future?
Thankfully, the Marshall brand sells units, but not for actual guitar amps, as they make up that last 5% of revenue. The Billboard article states it “will continue to push its iconic hand-made valve amplifiers but will step up its strategy with its digital amplifiers and digital tools.”
The sales of Marshall Motif-II-A.N.C headphones and the Middleton portable speaker have potentially saved this British brand name and iconic guitar amp brand.
BluesBreaker
As a guitarist, I’m happy the brand is making a profit and releasing great products, including the recent reissue of the BluesBreaker overdrive pedals and tube amps, like the Studio Vintage SV20H.
Plus, if Marshall can crack that digital market and move into new areas for growth, we can hope for more guitar amp-related releases.
Warm Audio Foxy Tone Purple limited edition
Thomann is celebrating their 70th Anniversary, which means they have secured a limited amount of these funky, retro-looking Warm Audio Foxy Tone Purple limited edition fuzz pedals. It is a reissue of the Foxx Tone Machine. It’s a pedal they first re-released in 2020 and usually comes in an orange finish.
Fuzzy
I like the purple fuzz finish on this limited run, and it also has some very nice specifications. The circuit utilizes New Old Stock Fairchild germanium transistors, selected germanium diodes, high-watt carbon resistors, and film capacitors.
Purple or Orange?
The original orange version is also available, but I like this new purple finish. The fuzz controls include Volume, Sustain, and Fuzz, plus an Octave-Up switch. Lots of fun to be had with these and if you like purple, then maybe do not hesitate as these are a limited run and will only be available for a short time.
Harmony H62 Hollow Body Reissue Series
These Harmony H62 Hollow Body Reissue Series hollow body models offer a classic look and a great clean tone. It follows the H72 model they announced in 2021 and is part of the same Reissue Series.
Each one comes outfitted with a pair of Harmony-designed pickups, and these are designed to deliver warm and articulate clean tones. They are controlled via dual volume and tone knobs and a three-way toggle switch.
Two Tone Sunburst
This latest model comes in a two-tone Sunburst finish. It has a spruce top and a flame maple hollow body design with f-holes. The C-profile neck has a rosewood fretboard with a 12” radius and is fitted with medium jumbo frets.
Affordable Hollow Body
This hollow-bodied model is priced at $849, which I think is very reasonable for what it offers, and it looks like a fun guitar to play.
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