Just tested out the Marshall Class 5

firefly08

Wow. Seriously, I know it's a cliche, but that is a small amp with a BIG sound. I've been hunting for a low power Marshall valve amp over here in the US and I think I've found it! I was complaining about the other valve amps I tested because with the exception of the Mesa Boogies, I couldn't get enough gain. But now I understand, that's because I couldn't crank them up, since most of them were big wattage amps. In the soundproof room in Guitar Center today I maxed out the 5 watt Class 5 and it blew me away. It's the real Marshall sound. I was using the standalone head plugged into a Raven cab, looked like a 1x12, and I later noticed the impedance wasn't even matched. I also tried it in a Marshall MG 4x12 and then a couple of Marshall 1960 4x12s - a straight one and an angled one. I thought the angled one took a bit from the warmth of the sound tbh, but straight one sounded unbelievable. This 5W amp has no problem driving those cones. Only trouble is, even the 5W is too much for my apt. I wish there was a way to have that sound at lower volumes. I have yet to try out the combo, which apparently has a reduced power setting. But either way, I think I am going with the Class 5. The only thing that would improve this amp is built in reverb.

il gatto

If 5w is too much, it's time to start looking at pedals or modelling i fear. Any valve needs cranking for nice overdriven tone. If 5w is too much, time to consider other options that might get a close approximation of the sound you want. Maybe a pedal with a valve preamp might do the trick.

firefly08

Yeah actually I was just looking at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go-ilMukOT4

Great minds think alike

I might be able to get away with most of the 5W, I'll see. But it gives a great sound even on half, and that combined with a pedal like the Tonebone might do the trick.

What do you think about attenuators? The idea is appealing but any of the ones I've seen look seriously expensive.

il gatto

firefly08 wrote: »

Yeah actually I was just looking at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go-ilMukOT4

Great minds think alike

I might be able to get away with most of the 5W, I'll see. But it gives a great sound even on half, and that combined with a pedal like the Tonebone might do the trick.

What do you think about attenuators? The idea is appealing but any of the ones I've seen look seriously expensive.

Attenuators are something I have no actual experience of. They seem very expensive for what they do. Personally, I hate the idea of choking off power like that even though it shouldn't affect tone. I think I'd rather look at other options. Especially as something like that Tonebone looks like alot of fun as well as being cheaper than most attenuators.
This
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr2R35Z5R4g&feature=related

I've always liked the look of. Similar price to the Tonebone.
Having said all that, something like a Boss Overdive, with the gain turned down, but the output up, works like a preamp and drives the valves a bit harder, meaning you can get the sound at a lower volume. It's a trick alot of people use as a makeshift preamp.

kevin65

What about a Blackstar HT-1 head along with a decent cab? There are some good reviews for it on youtube.

firefly08

What about a Blackstar HT-1 head along with a decent cab

Yep heard a few demos. I know I should test one in real life, but from the youtube videos I've seen it doesn't have the same sound as the Marshall, which is what I want. There does seem to be quite a few low power valve amps in this price range but none of them stood out for me quite like the Class 5.

I can't wait to hear what the combo sounds like with the attenuation switch.

Grolschevik

I had a Class 5 combo for a few days, but I had to get rid of it. I really liked the sound of it, but there was an unacceptable level of rattling noise from something loose in there.

There has been an awful lot of online talk about fixes for it, but if I were you I wouldn't go for the combo. Go for the separate head and cab.

firefly08

I had a Class 5 combo for a few days, but I had to get rid of it. I really liked the sound of it, but there was an unacceptable level of rattling noise from something loose in there.

There has been an awful lot of online talk about fixes for it, but if I were you I wouldn't go for the combo. Go for the separate head and cab.

Yep I heard about that but from what I read it's apparently fixed in the latest ones, though it might be tricky to make sure I get a newer one and not old stock. Luckily the Guitar Centers here turn over a lot of stuff so I'd say I have a good chance of getting a recent one.

Unfortunately, Marshall decided not to put the attenuation switch on the head so I think for that reason, I'll have to go with the combo. Without that switch, I'm looking at 3-400 notes for a separate attenuator, if I want the same effect. I could end up using a distortion pedal instead of attenuating, but I'd like the option. Shame the head doesn't have this option, or I'd have bought it on the spot.

il gatto

Damn you firefly. You have me hankering after a small valve amp that I absolutely do not need . I hardly play anymore and I have a JCM800 half stack and an old Peavy transistor amp. I love both of them and still rarely use them. Now I'm looking at that Marshall Class 5, the Vox AC4 and the Laney VC15. I really don't need one, but I'm so tempted right now. I have an old Yamaha RG250 I've been thinking of fixing up. Maybe that will keep my mind off spending 400-500 euro on an amp.

FruscianteFan

The head model is the new one with the fixes. The problem with the old one was that the chassis was a bit thin and the tube holder wasnt the best. I got one that was rattling and I ended up making it into a head. They are really fantastic amps.

There is also a 'trick' you can do to crank it at low volumes. There is a stereo headphone out on the combo version and I presume the head version has it too. If you plug an extension cab half way into the jack you can crank the amp at low volumes. It doesnt lose any of it's tone and doesnt harm the amp. One of the engineers who designed the amp posted it on the Marshall forum, I'll see if I can find it for you.

In short, BUY THE AMP, you won't regret it!! :cool:


Found the link to the Marshall forum http://marshallvintagemodern.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=3794&sid=94c98657d43cc543911283152682aea4

kevin65

That latest model of the Class 5 has a low output switch on the back which acts as an attenuator. However, this may be on the combo only.

All this talk about small valve amps is giving me a hankerin for a new amp. Curses!

firefly08

There is also a 'trick' you can do to crank it at low volumes. There is a stereo headphone out on the combo version and I presume the head version has it too. If you plug an extension cab half way into the jack you can crank the amp at low volumes. It doesnt lose any of it's tone and doesnt harm the amp. One of the engineers who designed the amp posted it on the Marshall forum, I'll see if I can find it for you.

Wow I wish I had known about that when I tested the head. Thanks for the link! I'm reading up on it now, but if that will work it will be ideal. Actually, the more I read about the various comments from SteveD from Marshall, the more I'm thinking that this is exactly what the attenuation switch on the newer combos does. It probably just switches internal speaker between the main amp output and the headphones output.

firefly08

Well I went ahead and bought it. I went with the head unit but they I didn't like any of the speakers they had in the shop so I'm going speaker shopping tomorrow. There was a nice used Marshall 1960 that I had tested this amp with before but it sold to someone else. Tried it with a Marshall MG 4x12...cheaper but definitely not as good.

The reduced power trick described above works very well...you can power any speaker cabinet at really low volumes. In fact it's probably a bit to low but what the hell...it's a feature that doesn't cost anything. Overall, great amp.

il gatto

Fair play. It's a tidy little bit of kit. Excellent value considering the flexiblity and tone. If I were you, I'd look at either the cabs designed for it or a 2x12. A 4x12 defeats the purpose of such a handy little amp. A 4x12 is a pain to move (trust me, that's why it never really leaves the house).
You should review it here as I suspect there's a good few people who might be tempted to pull the trigger on one.

firefly08

If I were you, I'd look at either the cabs designed for it or a 2x12. A 4x12 defeats the purpose of such a handy little amp. A 4x12 is a pain to move (trust me, that's why it never really leaves the house).

Unfortunately it's not that simple for me. The cabinet designed for it is expensive - $250 for a 1x12. But I don't really want a 1x12...from testing cabs at the shop, I found there's a big difference in the sound in a 2x12 v. a 1x12. So a 2x12 would be ideal...but unfortunately the Marshall 2x12s are not very common so I'd probably have to buy a new one, which is over 600 notes. Madness. The 4x12s sound great, but the big difference for me is that they are very common, and I've seen quite a few used on eBay for around 3-400. It's a pity I can't find a 2x12 for that price, but at the end of the day, I don't want to pay 50% more for a smaller cab that will probably he harder to sell! I'll keep shopping around anyway and see what comes up.

You should review it here as I suspect there's a good few people who might be tempted to pull the trigger on one.

Good idea. I haven't owned many amps so I might not be the best person to review it but I'll do what I can. If anyone has any specific questions or anything they'd like me to demo, let me know.

Grolschevik

Think beyond Marshall for your 2x12". The first Laney in this link is excellent, and the third one is very good value:
http://www.thomann.de/ie/laney_2x12_guitar_cabinets.html

And this Jet City one has gotten decent reviews:
http://waltons.ie/Product/View.aspx?id=29158&cid=36

firefly08

Think beyond Marshall for your 2x12". The first Laney in this link is excellent, and the third one is very good value:

...too late! I was thinking about a 2x12, but I couldn't find one locally that I liked. Don't see much Laney stuff around here. But then I found a nice 4x12 1960B for a really good price in a local place, so I just went for that instead.

I would have preferred a 2x12 for the convenience but it wouldn't have been any cheaper and at the end of the day, I don't bring my stuff anywhere, I just play at home so it doesn't matter that much.