Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

[Swampy]

Picking one up on a trade tomorrow. I’ve read they’re kind of Hot Rodded 800-ish.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

ive heard people say the same but i didnt really hear it. odd little amps but ive heard them sound good on stage. tube power section, ss preamp.

 

[Swampy]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

Welcome to the family, Marshall.



Only messed around with for 10 minutes so far, going to dive into it more this evening, but I’m liking what I’m hearing. Haven’t owned anything Marshall for 18 years. I’m thinking this could make a great Wet/Dry stereo rig with the Orange.

 

[metlking]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

I've heard the first Candlebox CD was done mostly on an Marshall Artist (and also mixed with a Peavey VTM).....Killer tones there!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

I've heard the first Candlebox CD was done mostly on an Marshall Artist (and also mixed with a Peavey VTM).....Killer tones there!

Yeah, I loved Candlebox. Another victim of coming out right before grunge killed all that was good..
not familiar with the 3203, but its interesting that for as little respect as Peavey seems to get, their amps seem to be associated with alot of dam* good music. The VTM seems so under appreciated

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

I've heard the first Candlebox CD was done mostly on an Marshall Artist (and also mixed with a Peavey VTM).....Killer tones there!

No kidding?
That’s a great guitar tone that dude has, for sure.

 

[DonP]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

I love my 3203. i get fantastic AC/DC tones on the normal channel, and with a MXR EQ in the loop, I can get fantastic metal tones on the boost channel. Mine is playing through a Laney 4x10 cab with Fane speakers.

Plenty of info and mods on the Marshall Amp Forum. I use pedals and EQ's to avoid modding mine.

 

[Swampy]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

I love my 3203. i get fantastic AC/DC tones on the normal channel, and with a MXR EQ in the loop, I can get fantastic metal tones on the boost channel. Mine is playing through a Laney 4x10 cab with Fane speakers.

Plenty of info and mods on the Marshall Amp Forum. I use pedals and EQ's to avoid modding mine.

Yeah, I saw the C13 mod and others that people have done.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

So,whats your thoughts having spent some time with it?

 

[Swampy]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

So,whats your thoughts having spent some time with it?

I’m happy with it. Plenty of volume. Definitely Marshall toned. I’ve never spent a lot of time with an 800, but I’ve owned a JCM900 in the 90’s. Reminds me of that amp a little, just quite a bit gainy-er with the boost channel dimed.

 

[RevDoom73]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

I had one of these briefly a while back, I put a GE-7 eq through the loop and used an OD pedal in front and got awesome hard rock/metal tones out of it!

 

[devastone]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

FWIW, when I saw Candlebox back in the day Peter was using the 100W Peavey Classic heads, no Marshalls or VTMs in sight. They had some big hits with their first disc, and they were from Seattle so I don't think it was grunge that killed them, more the sophomore album jinx.

 

[DonP]

Re: Any fans of the Marshall 3203 head?

I’m happy with it. Plenty of volume. Definitely Marshall toned. I’ve never spent a lot of time with an 800, but I’ve owned a JCM900 in the 90’s. Reminds me of that amp a little, just quite a bit gainy-er with the boost channel dimed.

If you are using it correctly, the boost channel dimed will get very bassy and somewhat muddy even with the tone all the way up. I use the MXR 10 band EQ in the loop just like I would on a Mesa Mark series for Metallica, V shaped. It can really thump. Up the 1KHz slider and you can get some other cool metal tones.