Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

[Pushpin&Poetry]

Background:
I'm ditching my Line 6 Vetta 2 combo, and using the money to buy a Marshall 800. I will prob have to cough up some more unless I get a nice deal on both ends of selling and buying.

If I buy a Head:
I'd prefer the 2204, 50watt, vertical jack model. I'd also like to get a 2x12 set of speakers as currently I would just be playing this at home and am in between bands.

If I buy the combo:
I don't really know about the combo's. I'm wondering if there are some that are good and some that are not? Also, should the combo be made 1983 and before? How do the combo's stand up the heads?


What do you suggest I get, or can you please help me out with some info? Thanks

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

Get the head. This will lend you infinite cab possibilties, like a closed back cab for heavier tone. Also, a head will isolate the speaker vibration from the tubes.

 

[zippy]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

The one thing I can definitely say is avoid the horizontal input 800's. The general consensus is they sound like crap compared the the ones with vertical inputs. I've never heard anyone really complain about the combos not being any good, but I'm sure there are a lot of guys on here more knowledgeable than me about this.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

the head

 

[Pushpin&Poetry]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

thanks everybody, very good points, i'm def going for the head!

One more question:
How are the Canadian marshall 800's are they the same things? I know of a 2204 canadian, w/ vertical input's which seems to be selling a bit less than the U.S. one's I've seen.
Thanks

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

Go for the head!!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

I'd get a head, and I'd get one that uses EL34s, rather than the ones that came with 6550s.

Bill

 

[Pushpin&Poetry]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

Here's what i'm talking about with the Canadian amp. At least I think it's from Canada. Does these differ at all besides the diff knobs?

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

What's a horizontal jack model look like?

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

Forgot to add: Heat radiates, conducts, and convects from the tubes, so anytime you can get amp chassis that has the tubes over the electronic guts (as in a head)...the less heat will be exposed to all the electronics (like heat soaked combo above the tubes)...other factors such as hours of use/volume being the same.

 

[Pushpin&Poetry]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

Okay, cool so i'm def going with a head now. But, What about this Amp with these different power knobs? Is this the exact same thing tone wise as the regular marshall 2004?

Thanks for all the great feedback.

 

[devastone]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

Yes, tonewise it would be the same. IIRC, the Canadian models only had 4 and 8 ohm impedance choices (no 16 ohm). But, if you can get a good deal on that one, I'd go for it.

As far as EL34s vs 6550s, you can have a tech change it from one to the other, it's just a resistor change. I actually like 6550s. So does Zakk and so did Jimi. EVH used 6CA7s in his Marshalls, 6CA7s are (were) the American version of the EL34s, they are harder sounding than EL34s, kinda between EL34s and 6550s. I'm using EH 6CA7s in my Trace head and really like them.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Do I want Marshall 800 Combo or Head?

I know that the singer from The Darkness used the combo version for his solos if that helps any.