What do you think of Marshall's Today ???

[Pwozzie]

You And Your Silly Clean Channels!!!1

[coldsteal2]

I know im mental, but i try to stay on my meds

[lp59aholicDon]

Harpo, You should check out a JCM000 Dual Reverb, OR a Vintage Modern, but forget that Power Soak, especially if its the Tom Sholtz one, one very bad attenuator, The Marshall isnt much better

Originally Posted by Harpozep

The way we talk about Marshalls is quite confusing. The 900 series has a 401 in it? I guess. But even after reading this:
THE MARSHALLFORUM GUIDE TO MARSHALL AMPS - Marshall Amp Forum

I still get confused.
All I know is I have owned a TSL combo from around '98 and liked the sounds it put out quite a bit. It was quite loud even at its 50 watt setting, and had old style tone compared to the grunge stuff one heard on the radio etc. Best combo amp I've ever owned and way different than my Mesa 20/20 x 4 stereo 12's that I also ran.

You folks seem to mostly say current Marshalls appeal to high gain fanatics and that the only good tone is from obsolete out of production gear or maybe their Vintage/modern line? Do I have that right?

I know I cannot play at loud volumes much and want a decent British tone with reverb. SO perhaps I should look into the Orange Rockerverb 50 and a power brake ( I do own an original Power soak though so I may try it )There is an Orange dealer near me , so I may have a mission today..

The Tiny Terror looks good, but I'm a reverb fanatic, so it is out. Though if it has an effects loop I could get a free standing Fender Reverb unit for one. I'm just not that much of a tone snob that I rule out reverb. I love reverb and will deal with any "tone robbing" consequences there of. It's only Rock and Roll, so anything goes

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by lp59aholicDon

Harpo, You should check out a JCM000 Dual Reverb, OR a Vintage Modern, but forget that Power Soak, especially if its the Tom Sholtz one, one very bad attenuator, The Marshall isnt much better

Thanks. Would that be the Marshall JCM 900 4100 Dual Reverb? It seems to be another well regarded out of production model. I found this description:

"Specs: The JCM 900 Dual Reverb was produced by Marshall during the 1990's. Marshall engineers voiced Channel A for sparkling clarity but added enough percussive punch to kick out every note. Channel B provided "potent gain and grinding aggression" for solos. Each channel has its own reverb control. Features of the Dual Reverb series * Separate preamp gain controls: Channel (A) 1-10, Channel (B) 0-20 * Tone network with Treble, Middle, Bass, and Presence controls * Individual master volume controls for each channel * Separate reverb controls for each channel * Manual or footswitch operation for channel selection * Effects loop with sensitivity control * Direct and recording compensated line ouputs * Impedance selection switching * Two speaker outputs * High/low power switching (pentode to triode) * Valve failure LEDs * Entirely wired and assembled by hand in England * 100 watt models (model numbers 4100, 4101, 4102) feature 4 x 5881 output valves, 3 x ECC 83 preamp valves"

I just cannot have the volume associated with a 100 watt hafl stack though. As much as I love all out roar and tone, I will need to bring it down in DB and loose some tone/add spnginess, etc. Just what has to be, unfortunatly.

Are there any attenuators that you would recommend?
I used the Sholtz for years with my Ameg V4 head and a Sound City 4 x 12 cab. No ill effects that I'm aware of. Some folks highly revere it while others say it was badly designed and hurts the amps.

I just need to bake some power tubes for the sounds I crave. Pushing just the preamp tubes is not getting me there with my Mesa and will likely not with any Marshall as well. Plus I need the volume at human levels, not rock god ones

[hedzeppelin]

Originally Posted by plexipaul

Designed after `59 Bassman circuit.

That's what I thought. Thanks for verifying that!
They say that the '59 Bassman is the "Holy Grail" of amps.

[Darkburst]

Since Marshall can't make a decent channel switching amp I went with a newer Splawn Quickrod. Awesome Marshall crunch, nice clean and high quality parts and construction. Affordable too. The Bogner Shiva is a great alternative, though more pricey.

[lp59aholicDon]

Harpo, IF you need the 100 watts, but I had 4500, and 4501 ( 1 12 Combo )
The 900 series uses a half power switch in the back which is already some attenuation right there The 4100 series does the same going from 100 down to 50 ,
There are several ways in which to attenuate an amp, either thru making the signal work down or thru DC resistance, The Power Soak uses a very crude form of resistance using wood blocks,
but here is my all time recommendation for attenuation, I have seen it used and used it myself, I am shopping for one as well

https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/mass.htm

[LoKi]

Originally Posted by Darkburst

Since Marshall can't make a decent channel switching amp I went with a newer Splawn Quickrod. Awesome Marshall crunch, nice clean and high quality parts and construction. Affordable too. The Bogner Shiva is a great alternative, though more pricey.

The Quickrod has a solo boost too, doesn't it? Great amps.

[Darkburst]

Originally Posted by LoKi

The Quickrod has a solo boost too, doesn't it? Great amps.

Solo boost and three different voicings/available gain. It seriously cured my Marshall halfstack GAS. I've had it since 2006.

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by lp59aholicDon

Harpo, IF you need the 100 watts, but I had 4500, and 4501 ( 1 12 Combo )
The 900 series uses a half power switch in the back which is already some attenuation right there The 4100 series does the same going from 100 down to 50 ,
There are several ways in which to attenuate an amp, either thru making the signal work down or thru DC resistance, The Power Soak uses a very crude form of resistance using wood blocks,
but here is my all time recommendation for attenuation, I have seen it used and used it myself, I am shopping for one as well

https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/mass.htm

Thanks for the link to the weber. I had heard of them but not investigated. Seems like a very refined power soak. I'm sure it is better for the amps.
Guess it's time to sell the Power5 soak to the hoards on ebay and put some 4 towards a weber.

The biggest problem I have with heads is so many of them do not have reverb, and I'm a reverb guy. My V4 did, it was a late '70's model. I even used the reverb to record some vocals through in a pinch back in my four track reel to reel days.

I went to the local Orange dealer today. All they had left were some Crush practice amps and other solid state thingies.

I have several solid state thingies now and one real tube Mesa. I'm thinking a British tube sound is what I'm really after, so I'd love to try a Rockerverb 50 Combo or head. Might still need to bring down the DB with a Weber. Dunno yet....

I saw some Marshall combos today, the Vintage Modern. Looked like it has a good voice, I just want it to channel switching too...
I guess I want it all, eh

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by Harpozep

Thanks for the link to the weber. I had heard of them but not investigated. Seems like a very refined power soak. I'm sure it is better for the amps.
Guess it's time to sell the Power5 soak to the hoards on ebay and put some 4 towards a weber.

The biggest problem I have with heads is so many of them do not have reverb, and I'm a reverb guy. My V4 did, it was a late '70's model. I even used the reverb to record some vocals through in a pinch back in my four track reel to reel days.

I went to the local Orange dealer today. All they had left were some Crush practice amps and other solid state thingies.

I have several solid state thingies now and one real tube Mesa. I'm thinking a British tube sound is what I'm really after, so I'd love to try a Rockerverb 50 Combo or head. Might still need to bring down the DB with a Weber. Dunno yet....

I saw some Marshall combos today, the Vintage Modern. Looked like it has a good voice, I just want it to channel switching too...
I guess I want it all, eh

Ok , with a Weber, alot of things can be done, If you Attenuate down far enough you can then go into a reverb box of one make or another, another thing is these attenuators can be used on Combos as well as Head/ Cabinets .
Attenuating some amps , like a Bassman59 type or a Plexi will give you tones so sweet you wont even miss your reverb at all, Trust me I love verb too, but I've done this, and you wind up reaching tones you could never find , because they were hiding in the verb
Slide a EQ into the loop of a VIntage Modern, Attenuator Use the High and low gain and your volume knobs and tones and you wont need a second channel, you will have more than enough tones, plus the wanted or needed verb on call

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by lp59aholicDon

Ok , with a Weber, alot of things can be done, If you Attenuate down far enough you can then go into a reverb box of one make or another, another thing is these attenuators can be used on Combos as well as Head/ Cabinets .
Attenuating some amps , like a Bassman59 type or a Plexi will give you tones so sweet you wont even miss your reverb at all, Trust me I love verb too, but I've done this, and you wind up reaching tones you could never find , because they were hiding in the verb
Slide a EQ into the loop of a VIntage Modern, Attenuator Use the High and low gain and your volume knobs and tones and you wont need a second channel, you will have more than enough tones, plus the wanted or needed verb on call

Thanks. Looks like the Weber is a great tool

I'll agree that reverb can hid tone, but it also adds an ambiance that is all its own that no room can emulate. Sometimes you get a room that works real well for you and the reverb never gets turned on. It's just nice to have it available.

[BOBBO]

Originally Posted by Darkburst

Since Marshall can't make a decent channel switching amp I went with a newer Splawn Quickrod. Awesome Marshall crunch, nice clean and high quality parts and construction. Affordable too. The Bogner Shiva is a great alternative, though more pricey.

What do you need channel switching for ? I use my one channel JCM800 and boost it with a Klon for more chunk !!

[Darkburst]

Originally Posted by BOBBO

What do you need channel switching for ? I use my one channel JCM800 and boost it with a Klon for more chunk !!

I like channel switching because sometimes I want a true clean sound. Rolling down the volume doesn't get clean enough for me and I believe an amp should have the proper amount of gain built in. The Quickrod smokes any channel switcher Marshall has made in tone, features and build quality. I'm not really into effects... I like just having the amp footswitch, tuner and wah.

[coldsteal2]

marshalls arent suposed to be clean

[mokume]

JCM 800 reissues are good as are the Vintage Moderns. I'm curious to hear the new Randy Rhoads model JMP...

[coldsteal2]

You can get them at really decent prices on eBay also

[Darkburst]

Originally Posted by coldsteal2

marshalls arent suposed to be clean

My amp has the best of both worlds. That's cool if you don't need or want a clean sound. Since we don't live in the late 60's anymore I expect amp companies to offer amps that deliver both nice cleans and raunchy crunch. Some people like lugging around multiple amps for cleans and crunch, but I like having it all in one box.

[coldsteal2]

I guess so.
Back in the old days you just used a Plexi, for clean
you turned it half way, and for lead you cranked it
but nobody can handle those DB's anymore, so that makes
sense

[Darkburst]

Originally Posted by coldsteal2

I guess so.
Back in the old days you just used a Plexi, for clean
you turned it half way, and for lead you cranked it
but nobody can handle those DB's anymore, so that makes
sense

I think that's the main issue with those non-master volume amps. They're so loud that you'll get arrested before you get it sounding the way you want. If you try and rock a Plexi at a club you probably wont be invited back!

Maybe the new Vintage Modern channel switcher will be good. If I didn't need or want a clean channel I'd have totally bought the original single channel version. It's a sweet sounding amp for crunchy Marshall tones.

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by Darkburst

My amp has the best of both worlds. That's cool if you don't need or want a clean sound. Since we don't live in the late 60's anymore I expect amp companies to offer amps that deliver both nice cleans and raunchy crunch. Some people like lugging around multiple amps for cleans and crunch, but I like having it all in one box.

I think today major wattage output isnt needed as much as a GOOD two channel amplifier The ones that rate high on both for current models are Crate V series all tube and Mesa's , I used to hate Mesa's for clean channels
I still like the Vintage Modern Marshall too the only thing in the Marshall Catalogue that interests me and is near affordable

[lexluthier]

Other than the handwired ones and some of the reissues, the rest are flimsy overpriced junk. Why did Marshall get away from building solid, roadworthy amps? Even as far back as the Jubilee with the big PCB dangling from the front pots and jacks, cracking solder joints all the time. Who ever thought that was a good idea?

[BOBBO]

?

[lp_junkie]

I like certain models that are out there, mostly from more than 10 years ago but there are definitely some good amps.

As much as I loved the JCM800s I do like having more gain, so the newer ones sound great to me.

[banditguitarist1]

I don't like new marshalls at all besides there cabinets I find they lack the great crunch or "brown" sound of the older moldels. I went to Orange and found that amazing tone I was looking for and an amazing clean channel with a Marshall you sacrifice your great cleans for good distortions and now a days you don't even get a good distortion...

[coldsteal2]

Vintage Modern has the old brown sound


speaking of vintage amps, Marshall has a new 1987XPW combo
(Paul Weller....i know Oasis....)
Chanel one is a Super Lead chanel, Chanel 2 is a Super Bass chanel
has two G12C greenbacks, EL34 power tubes
Is white but im not crazy about the grill
if you can get past the dorky grill cloth looks like a great amp

http://www.marshallamps.com/product....ctCode=1987XPW

[Splattle101]

I dunno. I haven't been blown away by the sound of any Marshall since the JCM 800. A guy I used to gig with (he was in the support band) back in the early 90s had a 900, and it just didn't sound as good as the 800s. There was something kind of fizzy about it. Marshall seems to have gone more and more in that direction ever since, with the notable exception of the VM.

But to be honest, there are better heads out there. My ancient Laney AOR slaughters Marshalls. Monstrous bass that no Marshall ever matched, with the tight mid range of a cranked JMP, but with the gain structure of the 800 series. I switched from my Laney to a Marshall JMP in the early 90s (92, I think) because the Marshall must be better (right?). Lots of people commented on exactly the opposite. It was really rather odd. I had people telling me the Laney sounded better (which I really didn't want to hear, having just bought my dream amp), whereas before I'd had people coming up to me after gigs and asking me how I got 'that' tone when I was playing the Laney.

I am slow, but I got the message eventually...

So while I have nothing against Marshall, it's a long time since I was impressed by one. And I definitely like their old stuff better than the new. Unfortunately, the 'new' seems to date from about 1993.

[Splattle101]

Originally Posted by Darkburst

I think that's the main issue with those non-master volume amps. They're so loud that you'll get arrested before you get it sounding the way you want. If you try and rock a Plexi at a club you probably wont be invited back!
...

Well, there used to be some venues around my home town, Perth in Western Australia, that were big enough for a 100 Watt plexi. Like the old Raffles hotel or the Warwick, or the Shenton Park, but those have gone (to make way for bistros ), so I can't think of an indoor venue that would take a cranked Marshall half stack in this town anymore.

This is one of the reasons I play 40 Watt combos these days.

[Splattle101]

Originally Posted by Darkburst

My amp has the best of both worlds. That's cool if you don't need or want a clean sound. Since we don't live in the late 60's anymore I expect amp companies to offer amps that deliver both nice cleans and raunchy crunch. Some people like lugging around multiple amps for cleans and crunch, but I like having it all in one box.

Well, I get that from any decent one-channel amp. It requires use of the volume control on the guitar - which in turn requires that you have decent pots, caps and 1950s wiring - but it works much more seamlessly than stepping on a switch.

[kernelofwisdom]

I've got a Vintage Modern and think it is pretty damn cool that the designer posts on the vintage modern forum. I almost couldn't believe it. Usually the people behind these things are hidden from the customers, by choice I suppose. But he takes time to answer all sorts of questions about the amp, with patience and without dissing other amps. Makes me appreciate the VM a lot more.