Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

[Diminished Triad]

Marshall MG Series MG100HCFX & MG100HFX 100W Guitar Amp Head,Marshall MG4 Series MG100HFX 100W Guitar Amplifier Head combined with Marshall MG Series MG412CF 4x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet Carbon Fiber Straight or Slanted OR............

Fender Mustang V V.2 HD 150W Guitar Amp Head and matching Mustang V V.2 412 4x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet..........

Marshall or Fender when it comes to solid state?
For the gigging musician, are these a decent substitute for the much heavier/sensitive tube amps?
Wondering if when mixed with all the other instruments playing....if this is a workable substitute for tube amps? Love tubes......they are though very heavy and delicate and the solid state option is nice if they can hold their own during the mix in live gigs. We don't play metal if that makes a difference.

I played both above (Marshall and Fender) in a guitar shop but not enough to even guess how they sound in a medium size gig. Very light....and the store owner highlighted the much lower price and how it's relatively more feasible to outfit a band with Marshall/Fender half stacks (both price and weight!).

Thanks!

 

[saladin]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

I had the Mustang V for a couple of days before I promptly returned it.
The Marshall solid states would be a better bet!

 

[dominus]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

I'm a solid state guy, and for your purposes I'd go for the Blackstar ID series.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

Kustom. Acoustic.

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

You could spend about the same amount of money and get one of those Jet City 20-watters. Change the tubes and they sound great.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

The older marshall valve states were cool the newer MG series leave a lot to be desired. They arent god awful bad but they sure arent good either. Ive used an old Marshall Valvestate 8100 for years as my throw away amp. (When we have a practice space that I'm not 100% certain is secure and think things might get stolen) and it sounds good and rocks hard but those amps now are getting on 20 years old and are actually kinda hard to find but if you do find one you should only pay 200-300 for it.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

The older marshall valve states were cool the newer MG series leave a lot to be desired. They arent god awful bad but they sure arent good either. Ive used an old Marshall Valvestate 8100 for years as my throw away amp. (When we have a practice space that I'm not 100% certain is secure and think things might get stolen) and it sounds good and rocks hard but those amps now are getting on 20 years old and are actually kinda hard to find but if you do find one you should only pay 200-300 for it.

Is there a Fender or Marshall on the market today that is solid state and solid? Pretty cool to have a young musician have a half stack behind him and the prices are much more affordable than outfitting the same group with tube amps......and much more durable (moving from one gig to another). Thanks again!

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

The cabinets accompanying solid state alternatives (at least Marshall and Fender) are much more affordable than those designed to be used with tube amps. It is just because of choice of inexpensive parts/assembly or is there something less expensive about running a solid state amp through a half stack than there is sound from a tube amp? Thanks!

 

[DankStar]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

The cabinets accompanying solid state alternatives (at least Marshall and Fender) are much more affordable than those designed to be used with tube amps. It is just because of choice of inexpensive parts/assembly or is there something less expensive about running a solid state amp through a half stack than there is sound from a tube amp? Thanks!

Great question - sometimes it would appear there's not much difference. Some of Marshall's ss cabs are physically smaller but that's not too big of a deal.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

The cabinets accompanying solid state alternatives (at least Marshall and Fender) are much more affordable than those designed to be used with tube amps. It is just because of choice of inexpensive parts/assembly or is there something less expensive about running a solid state amp through a half stack than there is sound from a tube amp? Thanks!

Its only economic. If you put the small Marshall 4x12's next to a real 1960 4x12 the differences are very easy to see and feel. The tolex and casters are different and they do just feel cheap. The smaller size changes the sound and not really for the better but its passable. The speakers are way different and are a major factor in the price difference. There is no reason though related to if an amp is solid state or tube why you would use different cabs. Its juts one is designed for a more expensive product range and one for a cheaper product range. I havent played a fender solid state since the grey carpet M-80 series that was out in the 80's and 90's so i cant really comment on them. Marshall MG's are ok starter amps. They sound OK but never really good. I see lots of guys fighting with them using a ton of pedals and stuff trying to make it good when the problem is the amp. If you dig it and it fits your price range there is particular reason to avoid them an Marshall MG wont take long periods of abuse if you gig it constantly it starts to show battle scars fairly quick. BUT that being said in this market right now if you do some shopping you can find some cool stuff used. JCM900s and DSL's can be had for 400-500 pretty easy. Its not hard to get into a full tube half stack for 700-900. The other day a friend of mine picked up a Peavey xxx with cab for 550 bucks off craigs list. So deals are out there if you want to shop.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

I haven't ever played/heard any of the big Marshalls. I know some of the small ones have some pretty cool sounds for say a 15watt amp.

Here are the two REAL questions you need to ask:

#1 Does the audience care? Will it make a difference to the sound they hear?
- Odds are not really. Unless an instrument gets lost in the mix. And that's really more about not too much gain and proper EQ.

#2 Do you really need a massive 4x12 half stack? IS there going to be a PA?
- If so, a cranked 15watt SS will do the job. In fact, it probably has a direct line out.

As for solid state - Peavey Bandits been rocking the world for decades.

 

[richard parker]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

I used to rehearse through MG half stacks and they are the worst amps I've ever played through. Tons of gain to impress young metalheads but the sound is horrible. They're for inexperienced players who think the Marshall badge is a sign of quality. Used tube amp or a Bandit would be better.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

Coming in loud and clear: Bandit and a few others are decent options to Fender and Marshal SS's.........and used tube amps can be found for reasonable prices. Good stuff. Really appreciate the advice and recommendations!
Is there a tube (stock or replacement) that seems to be most preferred for classic rock? R&B? A few tubes in each amp but wondering who makes the tube of choice these days? ;-)

 

[RealtyViking]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

Good all-around inexpensive amps are (in no particular order that can be found for $500 or less used):

Crate "V" series or Vintage Club
Peavey Classic 30 or 50
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Fender Deluxe Reverb

If you want really loud:
Fender Twin (red knob and late silver face are usually cheaper)

Out of the two you listed I would go with the Marshall MG. I would try to get a decent speaker cab other than the Marshall MG cab. The Marshall MG amp is better than the Marshall MG cab.

 

[blues]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

I had a Bandit from the 80s for a few years. It took pedals well and was built like a tank. My wife has a Peavey pacer from the 70s and it takes pedals well too. She still has it. I never cared for the built in overdrive in both amps. You can find them cheap and with a good dirt pedal there ok. Nothing like the newer Marhsall SS amps or modelers but I bet they last longer.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

The best solid state Marshalls are the ones that they made in the mid to late nineties. The Lead 100 MOSFET and Artist heads. They have identical preamp sections but the Artist has a tube power section

They sound really good compared to any of the Valvestate or MG series amps... I played them both in the 80's along with a JCM800 at one time or another and they both held their own with the JCM800.

The preamp distortion is really vintage sounding and has a real JMP vibe. My Weehbo JMP drive immediately reminded me of the preamp section of the Artist or Lead 100 MOSFET... although the JMP drive has more gain on tap, the Lead 100 MOSFET and Artist sound great with dirt pedals and or boosts.

FWIW, You can find those two heads for CHEAP on eBay.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

Hey now! I just got an early 90's Valvestate!!!! Thing is freaking awesome. And the earlier version AVT 50 - not too shabby either. But I agree - in general, later versions of those, I'm not much of a fan. AVT 50 is the only thing I liked from the AVT line.

Tube power????? Solid state front? That's messed up. Out put tube distortion is generally an unreasonable and destructive thing. That said it can be pure awesome if you can take the volume and afford the repairs.

And as for the over-gained sounds, there IS a volume knob. Use it wisely. But I'd rather have an MG15 than a big one, but like I said - never used one, don't care to.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

Tube power????? Solid state front? That's messed up. Out put tube distortion is generally an unreasonable and destructive thing. That said it can be pure awesome if you can take the volume and afford the repairs.

FWIW, I have played Musicman amps that are ss front, tube power, they sound great!

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

Tube power????? Solid state front? That's messed up. Out put tube distortion is generally an unreasonable and destructive thing. That said it can be pure awesome if you can take the volume and afford the repairs.

Marshall has done this a number of times. Even the vaunted Jubilee has many diodes in the preamp. The JCM900-4100's have solid state distortion with a tube tone network out front.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Marshall and Fender solid state alternatives?

For non-Metal, go with a Peavey Bandit TransTube 1x12 or 2x12 combo, or a Fender RocPro1000 head (all SS) and Carvin VE212 cabinet with Carvin "British" 12s (Union Jack on the back).

I used the 1x12 TransTube combo in my old band for doing everything from CCR to Alice In Chains to Nugent to Skynrd to Sabbath. The local drunks we played for didn't mind.
The Peavey died (I killed it) and was replaced by the Fender/Carvin setup.