Best Marshall small Combo

[Reload in 5]

So, my valve junior is just about where I am happy with it, so now I want to start saving up for something.
I want a small Marshall style amp. Can be any maker. Here is what I THINK would be ideal, feel free to tell me other wise.

Power in the 15-25 watt range

single 12" (if you can convince me that a 10" will be just as good go ahead)

2 channel with boost. Heres where it gets fuzzy. Perfect amp would go plexi on chan 1, hot rod JCM on chan 2, and have a lead boost. I would back off guitar volume on chan 1 for a slighty dirty clean tone.
OR
If it has a single plexi chan, I could use my crunchbox for the jcm sounds.
I could use a pedal for boost if needed.

Would like for this to be in the $500 range, but could go more depending on features (could sell pedals if they arent needed)
If I have to spend more (less than $1000) I would def consider it, but have to save much longer. Its hard to justify the cost right now.

This would be used some in Church and small gigs.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

Studio 15 from the 80's used, if you can find one. They are not quite as "cool" as the 18 watt clones and re-issues, but as the result they don't cost as much.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

Studio 15 from the 80's used, if you can find one. They are not quite as "cool" as the 18 watt clones and re-issues, but as the result they don't cost as much.

Well that would be a good possibility. I can only find one, and it is listed at $800

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

You have a few options:

See if someone like Ceriatone makes a clone kit for the studio 15 or 18 watt in your price range.

Go 6V6 clone, such as a 5E3 clone, since Marshalls are originally based on the tweeds and the 6V6 has a more EL34 type response.

Theres always the modelling amp option too.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

i think you are asking a lot for $500... 3 channels is not easy to do... so ya a distortion box in front of a 2 channel amp would be perfect...

people may think i'm nutty but i think my Peavey Classic 30 combo with an extention cab does the ACDC sound better then my 2 Marshall heads do...

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

i think you are asking a lot for $500... 3 channels is not easy to do... so ya a distortion box in front of a 2 channel amp would be perfect...

people may think i'm nutty but i think my Peavey Classic 30 combo with an extention cab does the ACDC sound better then my 2 Marshall heads do...

I doubt I will find a 3 channel, or even a 2 channel with boost as I said. I would expect that to put me closer to the $1000 mark if not more (hope to be under)
But, If I can get 1 channel, that just kills, I will use a couple of pedals to get the rest.
If someone made a studio 15 clone I would be real interested in it. The schematics are out there. I wouldnt even mind not having the xlr or headphone crap. Maybe even lose the attenuator. I can get a good cab for about $175, I have a v30 clone already, so a complete chasis for under $325 would work, but it looks like that is not gonna happen. I suppose I just need to figure out what is gonna be perfect for me and start saving.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

If you go with a Studio 15, be sure to swap the Vintage 30 speaker out with a G12H30 speaker. It's a much better match for that amp.

You are lots better off just buying what you want rather than trying to find a way to have someone make it or buying something that is supposed to be "close" to what you want. It never works out as well as saving your pennies and investing in the thing you really wanted in the first place.

Marshall has some 1x12 JCM 800 amps that you may be interested in. The 4010 and 4210 are both 1x12 and should sound pretty darned good I'll bet. The JCM 900 4501 would also be of interest.

 

[firebirdV]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

I don't know much about this subject, but you might look into the Fuchs Lucky 7 or the Black Jack 21. They both seem to be very plexi-like, but they have only one channel and no master volume. The Lucky 7 is single ended and can run an el34 or a 6v6 for 7 or 5 watts respectively. The Black Jack 21 runs off of two 6v6s. I have not played either of these amps, so you will have to find out whether they fit the bill for yourself.

 

[Stef]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

vox ac15

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

The problem with EL84 amps are that they don't usually sound all that Marshally.

There are suppossed to be some 6V6 plexis out there but I don't know any by name. You could google and see what comes up. I also know some have converted JTM45's over to 6V6 with a modded bias and by using a different rectifier tube to lower the voltage.

You could also add pentode/triode switching. Come to think of it, the Jubilees have pentode/triode switching, so a 50 watt Jub becomes a great sounding, 25 watt, channel switching Marshall, with FX loop. Have you checked out the Ceria Tone Jubliee kits?

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

I haven't heard either of these, but they get good reviews and with a good 2x12, should give the tones you want. Once complete, they will cost more than five bills, but may be a better way to go. The Haze is two channel I believe. I'm sure plenty of people here have listened to both of these amps and can comment. Good luck man, hope you get the amp you want.


http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-Haze-MHZ15-15W-Tube-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=581909

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...ndsome-Devil-Series-15W-Tube-Head-?sku=483096

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

Check out a 4203 or 3203 Artist RI5.

It's a 30 watter, but responds well at bedroom volumes.

The clean channel isn't really clean, so if it were me I would consider the clean channel an OD channel. You could drive that clean channel with a pedal and then use the dirty channel for the sounds-o-Marshall.

The 3203/4203 has a sold state preamp with a tube output. The one preamp tube is a PI. The PI will affect your sound when you play around with changing tubes.

I have (2) 4203's.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Stef]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

The problem with EL84 amps are that they don't usually sound all that Marshally.

There are suppossed to be some 6V6 plexis out there but I don't know any by name. You could google and see what comes up. I also know some have converted JTM45's over to 6V6 with a modded bias and by using a different rectifier tube to lower the voltage.

You could also add pentode/triode switching. Come to think of it, the Jubilees have pentode/triode switching, so a 50 watt Jub becomes a great sounding, 25 watt, channel switching Marshall, with FX loop. Have you checked out the Ceria Tone Jubliee kits?

I don't need to google
I use JMP MKII 50, JCM800 and Vox ac15 (bluealnico) and vox comes close when pushed hard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr5ZtZMBcTQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ASBYEzHvbQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFWQAfvgKNs&feature=related

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

No problem, I was just trying to help the OP find info on 6V6 plexis. I know they exist, but I don't know what they are called or how to find them.

 

[mtranmusic]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum and have a lot to learn. I was looking Suhr amps and they have little Marshall style amps that they claim are very popular in churches. It costs over 2k though. So that's not an option. Maybe a Butler Tube driver? I own one and it sounds very close to a Marshall when put in front of a clean amp. A lot like Andy Timmons and when set right and pushed with another gain box in front of it I can get a very Vai like lead tone. That's just what I do.

 

[Stef]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

No problem, I was just trying to help the OP find info on 6V6 plexis. I know they exist, but I don't know what they are called or how to find them.

No problemo LPB
Never heard of a 6V6 plexi marshall...but there is a new one
http://marshallamps.com/product.asp?productCode=Haze Overview

this is a very crunchy EL84 marshall, 20watter
http://marshallamps.com/product.asp?productCode=2061X

I like vox nightrain very much!

...but these are not (small) combos, and that's why I suggested ac15.
It's a crunchy, british r'n'r amp, especially with the blue speaker and a good booster like: bsm TB, java boost, dod250, yjm308, fuzz...

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

i want one of those 2000 series 401's or what ever they are called... the 1x12 combo's... i've been seeing a few come up for sale lately for a good price...

 

[thespricket]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

I'm super interested in these amps. They look great and they seem to have all the features you'd want in a small tube amp. I'm sure this will get you close to marshall land.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Bugera-V55-55W-1x12-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=502584

they have a 22w version too, also a 112.

I use an old (mid 90's) Crate "Vintage Club" 112 30w tube combo. It's like those Palomino amps they came out with a few years ago, except built much better. It's along the same lines as the PV Classic 30. You can find them used for less than 300 bucks.

 

[L.W. Badger]

Re: Best Marshall small Combo

I'm just going off the post title....."Best Marshall small combo".

To me that means any Marshall-combo-amp set up with twin 50's.....Twin speaker cabs are the way to go.....full stacks just means more weight to lug around.......mike a twin, and you can rock the crowd just as well.

Tube-head...solid-state.....the audience will NOT know the difference.