Musings on Marshalls

Ancient1

Back in 2001 (i think) i bought my first Marshall combo, a G80 R(CD), a precursor to the current MG line, afaik.

The reason i wanted a Marshall in the first place is that i have a 70s Fender Twin Reverb and an even more ancient Vox, and soon i will try to have the Fender shipped here from home (abroad) - yes Doc, you're welcome to hang out at my house when and if it arrives

The G80 is just fine, it's actually a very good amp (yes it's the "assembled in India" entry-level Park line) and louder and more powerful than any other amp i've played through, but something just doesnt cut it. Something's just not right for me there and i can't pinpoint it. It's not like i am blessed with Eric Johnson's ears, but still.....dunno what it is that i dislike about it.

Anyways, i am close to making a decision to sell it, and i want another Marshall combo. I havent been a gigging guitarist for a long time now so i dont need a halfstack, plus how on earth would i justify that to the missus?

I've been looking at the Valvestate combos for some time now and i kinda like them. The MG series just doesnt do it (and if it's any indication, a million people are trying to sell these right now on boards, buy&sell etc).

Why Marshall? I dont know - believe me when i tell you that nothing on this earth sounds better than a Strat through a twin reverb, but i would just like to have a Marshall as well.

So guys, let's talk Marshalls and maybe i'll learn a thing or two and be able to decide what i want.

PS - Unfortunately, KH and Feylya, there just isnt any money for a Mesa or Engl. BTW, what's the Mesa DC-5 like?

Doctor J

Ancient1 wrote:

yes Doc, you're welcome to hang out at my house when and if it arrives

Hang out? Dude, I'm moving in


Before you do anything rash, you have to hear my Fender Roc Pro, solid state clean channel, valve gain channel and you should be able to pick one up 2nd hand for less than €300. The Mack Daddy of tone in the cheaper combo field.

There, I said it...

cormhag

i agree with you, i just have an mg 10. theres nothing wrong with it, i just dont like it and i cant see why. what kind of wattage are you looking at.

Ancient1

Hang out? Dude, I'm moving in

Lol, if you organize a skip for her clothes, shoes etc, you have yourself a deal.

Seriously though, now you got me thinking about the Roc Pro....sounds interesting dude.

I'll tell you where my dilemma really lies. My two greatest passions in life are Metal and Blues, strange combination, but hey...
I've always played Fenders and always will, and i've always had great amps to match those guitars. The thing is, if one day i do start jamming some metal with someone again, i wouldnt want to do that through a delicate old Fender amp - even though it's doable, a Marshall might have that extra punch...

Anyways, i would be perfectly happy with a Fender Blues Junior (aaargh, fitz, why o why did you sell it...?), but you can't have two Fender amps. Or can you?

cormhag - in terms of wattage, i think that something around the 50 watt mark is more than enough for any situation...

Doctor J

The Roc Pro is a Metal amp man, they kept it hush hush though. I've never had need to put the gain past 7 for even the mightiest of Metal riffage. The clean channel is sweet too but the dirty channel is where it's really going down.

Ancient1

Damn you Doc, here i am googling for the Roc Pro instead of working

Tell you what, if you manage to convince me that a Marshall is, shall we say, unneccesary, then i'll buy you a case of beer.

I'm trying to fight this preconception that Marshall is a must-have for rawk...you know?

Doctor J

I will put the Roc Pro up against any Valvestate or MG you and your legion can unearth... and I will smote them down!

I have the Roc Pro 700 (70W) 1x12" - there's a Roc Pro 1000 (100W) with three channels, I think. Either one is sweet. I was recording with it last weekend and it was too loud at 3.

Beautiful amplifier, shame they don't make them anymore.

Ancient1

If anyone else had told me that i would not have paid that much attention....hmmmm.

Must think...must think...

(watch this space)

Doctor J

Heh heh, when I was looking for an amp a few years back, a mate of mine told me about them. I saw one going in the Buy And Sell and went to check it out. I played just one chord (honestly) and turned to the guy and said "I'll take it!"

bombidol

i have that exact Marshal 80watt from the first post. and while its not the greatest in the world its a perfect jam amp thats handy for draggin around. played a monkey load of gigs with it and it never let me down. doesnt sound special but it does the job

Ancient1

doesnt sound special but it does the job

That's exactly it. It sturdy, well built, loud, but it just lacks something. Character, i guess. Yes, that's it - character.

And if i can have something better for the same amount of money then why not!

Well G80, looks like your days are numbered....

dabhoys

The roc pro is the real deal. I've played the docs one and its ****ing class. I'm keeping my eye out for one during the summer to add to my collection. Its a ****ing excellent amp.

You'd be stupid not to buy one Anciet1. There load as feck too!!!!

Go on you know you want to...

dabhoys

New marshall stuff isn't worth a ****. Valve stuff included. There old school stuff is class. Theres much better amps out there for the money...

Ancient1

Sounds like a great amp and the reviews so far have been really good....i'll keep my eyes open. Can't believe i've been in the dark about the Roc Pro.

And what about the DSL, TSL and JCM combo series....has anyone abused one? (Even though they're way outta my price range).

bombidol

if you are willing to put some money into it. I am selling an old Fender Pro 1000 Tube amp. 100 Watts combo, old school removable tweed front. Loud as god himself. Needs some electrical work as it cuts out everynow and again. Ive been quoted at 50 euro to have the work done. Tubes are old too , they will either sound sweet or crap and need to be replaced

Eoin Madsen

The MGs and Valvestate are children's amps, I'd avoid them. You have a Fender Twin Reverb... I mean... I think there might actually be a law against having one of those in the same venue as a solidstate Marshall. Just let me go look that up.

I'm going to have to second Dabhoys. I'd put a Line6 Spider against a JCM900/2000 Combo, no bullsh*t. The stack JCMs are better, but still a far cry from the Great Marshalls of the past.

If you want a small Marshall based on the Marshall reputation, you should be looking at getting an original JTM45 or 50watt Superlead.

Ancient1

Bomb, i'll give that some serious thought! What type of electrical work are we talking about? Revalving and rebiasing and/or more?

I think there might actually be a law against having one of those in the same venue as a solidstate Marshall

Lol, that's true...as for the JTM45 - i wish! I'd love to try out these Marshall combos vs. the heads but i'm never up early enough on a weekend morning to go into a shop and avoid the masses of kids.

feylya

The housemate has the same amp as you're talking about. I hate it.

What about a Peavey Classic 30? Not a Marshall (obviously) but 30W, all tube and has a nice overdrive to it. Throw a tubescreamer in front of it and you're laughing!

Ancient1

Hm......i think i'd take the Blues Junior if i was getting a 30watter, but that Peavey has similar specs and looks quite decent.

feylya

Eh, isn't the Blues Junior 15W?

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw6_fender_blues_junior_prodinfo.html

Ancient1

Oops, my bad.

feylya

And there's the Classic 50 too!

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw6_artikel-166734.html

John

Doctor J wrote:

I have the Roc Pro 700 (70W) 1x12" - there's a Roc Pro 1000 (100W) with three channels, I think. Either one is sweet. I was recording with it last weekend and it was too loud at 3.

Beautiful amplifier, shame they don't make them anymore.

Whenever Herr Doktor recommends this amp I feel obliged to back him up. It's a fine piece of equipment. The other guitarist in my band uses one (the 1000W version). It can sound absolutely gorgeous and clean or you can go onto one of the distortion channels and get another lovely dirty tone. Or you can go one further and go to the second distortion channel and unleash the monster in you. I give it two thumbs up.

Doctor J

They re-attached the second thumb? Cool, you just can't beat advancements in science!

Ancient1

Herr Doktor

Lol, reminds me of Herr Flick (Alo Alo) "There's no reason to cease your jollification just because a senior gestapo officer in a particularly bad mood has just entered ze premises".

Anyways, thanks for all the feedback guys, i have a rather long "consideration" list now, but the Roc Pro is on top at the moment....

dabhoys

For the price and what you get with the roc pro you really should. Like I said earlier I hope to aquire one myself at some point...

Karl Hungus

I have to say, I went looking for a Roc Pro after the Doc recommended one to me. Didn't find one though, so good luck Ancient1.

I wouldn't rule out the Valvestate either though. A friend of mine has one, and christ, the sound he gets from it is unreal! Lets not forget that many classic Death albums, like Individual Thought Patterns was recorded with the Valvestate 150, and that's what Chuck used live too. So stick on some Death, and think to yourself, do I like that tone?

bonzai bob

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46654&item=7320051623&rd=1&ssPageName=WD2V

Ancient1

Saw that this morning, bonzai bob

I think i need to sell my current one first though...

John

it's tempting only I just bought my electric picnic ticket