Marshall Amplification is a British company that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones (made by Zound Industries), and, having acquired Natal Drums, drums and bongos. It was founded by the late drum shop owner and drummer Jim Marshall, and is now based in Bletchley, Milton Keynes.
Marshall's guitar amplifiers are among the most recognized brands in amplification. They were originally based on Fender amplifiers, but became known for their own specific sound (the Marshall "crunch"), and were soon sought out by guitarists seeking that sound as well as higher volume than was delivered by many current amplifiers. Many of the current (and reissue) models of guitar amplifier continue to use vacuum tubes, as is common in this market sector. Marshall also manufactures less expensive solid-state and hybrid equipment.