Marshall handwired combo

[Hot _Grits]

Checked out the new 18 (20?) watt handwired marshall combo a couple of days ago. It was set up with a powerbreak, so I could crank the output stage without having the store guys throw stuff at me.

Overall, I was very impressed. Basically, it sounded like a great marshall in miniature. To my ears, it sounded like a variation on the plexi tone, though it had a little more natural gain than a plexi-type amp. Especially impressive was it's ability to clean up really nicely via reductions in the guitar's volume. There were really nice shades of overdrive at all points on the dial.

Using a US$6000 Les Paul Standard that had been taken out of a display case for the guy who previously tried the amp, I got the sweetest neck pickup tone I've ever heard from a humbucker guitar, and a crunch tone that sounded like Jimmy Page's live tone from the recent live DVD. We are talking archetypal marshall tone.

Overall, I'd say the handwired marshall was the best marshall tone I'd ever heard at under rat-killing volume. This amp would be killer for recording, though I'd doubt it would have a grerat deal of live applications. Mind you, if it was miked offstage and then sent to monitors, it might be a killer solution for getting big tone without blasting several quads and ruining the onstage mix.

 

[Illini1330]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

how much was it?

 

[xerxes]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

dont forget it could have had a great sound because of the kick as$ guitar you were using!

 

[Ez74]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

i'm waiting for AMS to get these in stock

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

dont forget it could have had a great sound because of the kick as$ guitar you were using!

yes, I'm aware that what i played was 'no ordinary guitar'. I've never really experienced Les Paul GAS outside of p90 models, but now I have it bad.

As for cost, about US$ 2200.00. We're not the cheapest place to shop for something that gets shipped from the other end of the earth...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

Those things are expensive, but if you were to have 2 amps that define your tone, the 18W Marshall and a Fender Vibrolux would make a great A/B/Stereo rig.
I spent the day playing my Les Paul Prem + Std, and really realizing what a great combo the CC/Seth is.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

Those things are expensive, but if you were to have 2 amps that define your tone, the 18W Marshall and a Fender Vibrolux would make a great A/B/Stereo rig.
I spent the day playing my Les Paul Prem + Std, and really realizing what a great combo the CC/Seth is.

I use the Seth/CC set too. When we did a humbucker shoot out at my place a year or so ago, that's the set that I thought won. We compared Burstbuckers, lots of other Duncans, and even a set of Tom Holmes humbuckers.

I'd love to build one of those Marshall 18 watt clones.

Probably will...

Lew

 

[jeremy]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

ive thought about that as well, a freind of mine has an 18w blockhead (marshall clone) that is a killer tone machine. ive used it on one gig and with a mic it was fantastic!!

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

Was it this badboy????..........

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MSH1974X

 

[xerxes]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

i saw one of those in a guitar store near my, however, it was a head and cab thing.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

Can someone provide a link, pls?
Never mind, I found it.
Doesn't look like my cup of tea, tho.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

Another cool one like that, only cheaper, is the Fargen Mini Plex. Personally, I'd probably want it in a head version, so I could use any cab I want. Low wattage tube heads sound killer on a 4-12, since you've got the head cranked, and the 4-12 cab gives you the same tone as you'd have with 100W on a 4-12.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

Those things are expensive, but if you were to have 2 amps that define your tone, the 18W Marshall and a Fender Vibrolux would make a great A/B/Stereo rig.
I spent the day playing my Les Paul Prem + Std, and really realizing what a great combo the CC/Seth is.

An 18 watt marshall and a vibrolux would be the low wattage rig of doom! -add an AC15 and you've got the whole palette...

 

[mrid]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

http://www.guitarplayer.com/archive/1204/1204_BenchTests2.htm

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Marshall handwired combo

The original 18 watters are among the best amps Marshall ever made.

I have yet to play one of the new handwired ones but if they are half the amp the originals were then I CANNOT WAIT to try one out.

Nice wattage as well....you can crank them to get the tubes glowing without killing all life within a kilometer.