How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

I was pleased to see that the new DSL15C has 6V6s instead of EL84s. Many people think 6V6s do the "plexi at low volume" thing better than EL84s do. Although the consensus in this thread seems to be that current-model Marshalls don't do the "plexi" (or the "JCM") thing at all. Sigh.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

I've only heard older Marshalls and played their models on my modeling amps, but I own a few modern Marshalls (JVM, JCM 1000, JCM 900) and, to me, they sound nothing like older Marshalls, even when they claim to mimic an older tone in one of their gain channels. The news ones sound wetter, seem to have more gain on tap and a less punchy attack, based on what I've heard and experience through models. Even the models of newer Marshalls shares those differences from the models of older Marshalls. I'm not sure what the reason is, but one thing that might be to blame is the cheaper, smaller transformer they used in newer Marshalls, as well as the lack of a choke. Some people mode their newer Marshalls by changing out the transformer and adding a choke.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

You make some good points up there. ^^^^^
Face it. If Marshall still made a "Marshall" ...George Metropoulos would not be the Marshall authority that he is, and the default builder when somebody wants a "Real Marshall".
They do not make amps Like/How they use to. They have gone on to bigger and better things.

People pay a lot for a 1973 Porsche 911, you have to have somebody build/restore one, because Porsche Does Not make cars like that anymore, and they never will.
Most of Marshall's employees would not even know how to Wire/Solder a turret board...just a sign of the times. They make a living doing something else now.
best
 
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Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

There are a lot of Marshall clone builders out there that can probably get you closer to old Marshall tone than a new Marshall. Splawn, Friedmann come to mind.

I used to have a 4010 back in the '90s, one made 1987 with EL34s and a G-12-85. Sounded really good, especially with my Gibson P-90 equipped LP Special. But I missed reverb, I missed an efx loop, and no channel switching. I finally found a Mesa Mark III and that was the amp that gave me the tone and versatility I needed. Sold the 4010 and never looked back, though I occasionally think I should get another Marshall.

Of the newer amps, I liked the EL-34 DSL 50 half-stack I played on, and I think that's all the Marshall I would need for a classic rock/blues gig. Don't care for the TSLs or the newer amps, though the Satriani model might be worth looking into.

Bill
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?



worth watching the whole thing.


Also the Avatar can be ordered with 6V6s.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

Sounds better with a Greenback, IMO.

 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

Rich_S said:
I was pleased to see that the new DSL15C has 6V6s instead of EL84s. Many people think 6V6s do the "plexi at low volume" thing better than EL84s do. Although the consensus in this thread seems to be that current-model Marshalls don't do the "plexi" (or the "JCM") thing at all. Sigh.
Click to expand...

Heard that about the 6v6s myself. I'm considering a 6v6 combo version of my Trinity 18 head. The Trinity folks seem to think that's a good idea.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

6V6 for Marhsall gain? Not quite. All bite, no bark.My Crate Stealth is a four 6v6,30 Watt 1x12 combo amp , and although it is a qoute-unquote- Marshall Hot Rod JCM Amp, it just doesn't have the authority one would associate with a real balls out JCM800 4x EL34 Marshall. That said, it's a great practice amp for a budget Hot Rod Marshall sound .Sounds damn good. Tends to squeal if you crank up the knobs too much.
PLus it gets pretty much bigger through a 2x12 or 4x12 cabinet.
 
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Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

JeffB said:
Sounds better with a Greenback, IMO.
Click to expand...

I agree, although that clip has a lot of other stuff going for it over the Baird/Hodges one. Better micing chief among them. OTOH, you gotta love Warner's rock-star cool and Baird's STP t-shirt.

I have often wondered how my combo would sound with a Greenback in it. It has a G12H80 (similar to a Classic Lead 80); its clean top end might make this amp shrill. I need to find somebody with a spare Greenback to borrow for a while.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

I had a TSL100, and eventually I found that playing a good modeler into the FX return gave me sounds that were closer to what I hear in all those decades of records.

If I get another Marshall or Marshall-y amp, it's going to be a grueling audition process. Kinda dreading it, actually.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

Same story, I have a TSL100, a JVM 2x12 combo, and an assortment of Mustang modeling amps, and the Mustangs are more instantly ready to go, need the least amount of tweaking. It's like they don't just model tube amps, but they model the most ideal tones those amps can put out. The Mustang at low volume sounds like a tube amp at high volume, minus the air movement and all that. I'm considering getting a Mustang head to put over my 4x12, but I'm thinking of waiting for the v3 series because they keep getting better and better. With everything getting better, I wonder if younger people will hear $500 modeling amps, play $500 guitars, and come to the concllusion that paying $1000+ for either is unnecessary and deal a blow to the premium lines over time.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

Maybe. I guess it's up to the premium lines to continue to offer something people feel is worth the money; that's been the challenge in recent years across many industries. On the Marshall thing, I'm completely open. I want the sounds, and I know there's so much stuff out there, that I have no idea where my next amp is coming from.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

Done the modelling thing. Ick.

No modeller, regardless of price is on the same planet as an old NMV or early MV head, when comparing live, in the room tones. The emulation of records and studio hocus pocus, or plugging an mp3 player into a modeller and jamming along to AFD, Nickelback, or some bad UK indy band are completely different animals. My little VOX DA5 kicked ass at that, 10 years ago.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

Yeah… the Marshall I was using was not the sort of Marshall you describe. If those are, let's say, a '67 Mustang, the TSL is a Mustang… from the mid-1980's. I don't know what it means that I was happier using my Vox ToneLab as a front-end into the Marshall's power section, but that's what I have tattooed on my ribcage. Was it room acoustics? Did I have a headcold? New medication?

I don't mean to bash the TSL; we had some great times together, and I really liked the feature set. But I think the right Marshall sounds for me are a little different.
 
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Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

I think it depends on your expectations and values. I'd agree my Marshalls have the potential to sound better than the Mustangs, but it is a much greater hassle and requires loud volume, and the audience probably wouldn't know the difference, if not now, in due time. People might not be willing to put up the added effort and money for the sake of the differences in a decade from now.
 
Re: How well do new Marshalls do the old Marshall thing?

Little Pigbacon said:
Yeah… the Marshall I was using was not the sort of Marshall you describe. If those are, let's say, a '67 Mustang, the TSL is a Mustang… from the mid-1980's. I don't know what it means that I was happier using my Vox ToneLab as a front-end into the Marshall's power section, but that's what I have tattooed on my ribcage. Was it room acoustics? Did I have a headcold? New medication?

I don't mean to bash the TSL; we had some great times together, and I really liked the feature set. But I think the right Marshall sounds for me are a little different.
Click to expand...

You're talking Ford Mustang? If so, that's a first refresh first generation Mustang (original style being 64-1/2 to 66 then came the 67-68 version) vs a second refresh Fox Body Mustang, or maybe a third refresh (the more-common 87 to 93 version).

I'd say a TSL is more like the New Edge (99-04) Mustangs. LOL



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