Marshall MA series? Good? Bad? Ugly?

[Toogy]

What's the verdict on Marshall's new MA series amplifiers? Are they true tube amps like they are claiming to be? The price seems pretty decent so I'm sure there is a catch, what is it?

Marshall Amps :: MA Series

 

[White94RX]

Just seems to be a lower end model. I don't know much about them except Guitar Center was selling a half-stack for like $1200 bucks. I did play on it, but it was several months ago before I really new much about tube amps and how to tweak them for better sound (like gain, volume pots on guitar dimed, tone, etc). I wasn't that impressed, but I'm sure they're capable of some good sounds.

Oh, i just remembered, one of the ones they had at GC arrived with the reverb tank barely hanging on by one screw inside the head. So, did it ship like that and its poor QC, or was it damaged during shipping?

 

[Reaperc89]

I did demo one in a store next to a JCM 2000, and they were very eavenly matched. I didn't spend too much time with them, but my short experience with it left me thinking that it is a pretty good amp for the price tag.

 

[colchar]

I wonder how much they'll be selling the 50 watt combo for?

 

[Drew224]

I wonder how much they'll be selling the 50 watt combo for?

they're already out.

 

[colchar]

I'd be interested in a decent review of these.

 

[Drew224]

... harmony central... and mf. there are customers reviews posted for the whole ma series at mf. i've read them.

 

[White94RX]

and? what were the opinions?

 

["Sunny"]

they are made in china

 

[Standard 64]

Marshall made in China.Now I didnt say that was bad.You figure it out.

 

[Drew224]

and? what were the opinions?

dude. get on mf. look for yourself. reviews are largely positive, some are saying that doesn't sound tight enough. it's bullshit. people are morons, and you are lazy.

 

[rockin'rolldad]

[quote="Sunny";1899474]they are made in china[/quote]

I did a test drive on one of these, it said it was made in Vietnam. Doesn't matter where it was made though, still sounded terrible.

 

[Jody]

Marshall made in China.Now I didnt say that was bad.You figure it out.

Yes they are.. made in china/korea/wherever, and plastic input jacks= no way.. almost bought one, a few weeks back,,, but my dude at GC. steered me clear from it.. glad he did.......Cheap wood for cab,, and Not Celestion loaded....

They did sound pretty decent,But I went with a JCM....and glad I did...

 

[colchar]

I did a test drive on one of these, it said it was made in Vietnam. Doesn't matter where it was made though, still sounded terrible.

What about it sounded terrible? I'd rather hear your opinion than read stuff from random people I don't know at MF.

Also, I read that they used Eminence speakers in these rather than Celestions which is, as far as I know, a bit of a departure for Marshall.

Why do they not seem able to get things right at the low end of the market?

 

[Jody]

What about it sounded terrible? I'd rather hear your opinion than read stuff from random people I don't know at MF.

Also, I read that they used Eminence speakers in these rather than Celestions which is, as far as I know, a bit of a departure for Marshall.

Why do they not seem able to get things right at the low end of the market?

Yep... they are using Eminence speakers in the cabs....another reason to say...
I have a Randall 4/12 cab that Im running my JMC900 through.. Its built just like the JCM 900 cab, and loaded with Celestions...
My man at Guitar center told me "You are better off with your Randall cab, then the MA 4/12"...
The 50 watt MA head runs around $699.99..The 100 watt is $799.99..(U.S.)
I got my 100 watt, MKIII 2100,JCM 900 Master volume cheaper ,, delivered to my door....
Its boils down to what you want I guess.........

 

[Deus Vult]

fwiw, my haze 40 can keep up with my buddy's DSL tone wise. i dunno how it would handle gigging, but for just jam sessions, it has been a great amp.

 

[rockin'rolldad]

What about it sounded terrible? I'd rather hear your opinion than read stuff from random people I don't know at MF.

Also, I read that they used Eminence speakers in these rather than Celestions which is, as far as I know, a bit of a departure for Marshall.

Why do they not seem able to get things right at the low end of the market?

I found the clean channel to be harsh and sterile. It was almost painful to my ears even at low volume. The distorted channel was just mud to me, it seemed to turn chords into nothing but a wall of noise even at low gain settings. Now to be honest I didn't mess around with the control too much so maybe it could sound good with some more eq.

 

[Underliner6]

I playyed one at guitar center the other day. It was very very very cheap quality. I was very dissapointed that a great brand like Marshall put out such a piece of shit amp.

 

[Standard 64]

Yeah,but it says Marshall on it,so the kiddies will buy them up.

 

[Drew224]

if you listen to the product demo on marshall's website, it doesn't sound too bad.