Marshall handwired series

[NecroPolo]

Have any of you guys played some of these?


http://www.marshallamps.com/images/products/handw/hw.htm


I'm rather a modern Marshall (JCM800+) guy but that little 20watter makes me sigh... :32: :32: :32:

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Marshall handwired series

I played several "modern" Marshalls back in my club-playing days (mid-80's), both JCM and JMP 2203's, 2204's etc. After 15 years or so away, I now have a handwired amp - handwired by me. It started off as a Bogen PA amp, but is now a mostly Marshall schematic, but with the original solid state rectifier. So I guess that makes it pretty close to Marshall's 20 Watter. Check the link in my signature for all the sorted details.

I like this amp better than any JCM I ever played. Cranked low-wattage amps simply work better than 50- or 100-Watters. I don't miss the extra tone controls at all. Just a single volume & tone is enough.

However, I'm with you. As much as I love my homemade mutant, that 20-Watter stack makes me all mooshy inside.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Marshall handwired series

I played several "modern" Marshalls back in my club-playing days (mid-80's), both JCM and JMP 2203's, 2204's etc. After 15 years or so away, I now have a handwired amp - handwired by me. It started off as a Bogen PA amp, but is now a mostly Marshall schematic, but with the original solid state rectifier. So I guess that makes it pretty close to Marshall's 20 Watter. Check the link in my signature for all the sorted details.

I like this amp better than any JCM I ever played. Cranked low-wattage amps simply work better than 50- or 100-Watters. I don't miss the extra tone controls at all. Just a single volume & tone is enough.

However, I'm with you. As much as I love my homemade mutant, that 20-Watter stack makes me all mooshy inside.

:bigeyes: :eek2:

Man, your little beast is AWESOME :smoker:

Something that looks like this MUST have TONE. The P-T-P structure inside reminds me a lot of my lovely old Selmer T'n'B and I have no doubt it's a sonic monster!

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Marshall handwired series

Aw, shucks... I don't know that I deserve a jaw-drop for this amp. If you want to see what some really nice 18 Watter clones look like, check out 18Watt.com

I've never really subscribed to the "PtP sounds better than PC boards" line of thinking. This amp started out PTP, so I stuck with it. I think either can sound good, and if I was building amps in volume I'd definitely go PC, or maybe eyelets/turrets. PtP is too time-consuming for the dubious sonic benefits. (There. I said it. Now I'm really in trouble.)

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Marshall handwired series

I've played the combo through a power brake. I thought it sounded stunning. Sort of a miniature version of Jimmy Page's mid-period Zep tone with slightly more gain. I was very impressed at how smoothly and musically it cleaned up when you roll the volume back on your guitar. Great amp.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Marshall handwired series

You might also take a look at the Fargen Miniplex and Mightyplex. Both have EL-34's, but the Miniplex's power section is scaled down to something like 12W. Pretty interesting concept to take old ear-splitting Marshalls and re-package them into something that won't turn your walls into sawdust. There's almost no tone I like better than my strat's neck pickup (Chubtone 63's) into a cranked British style amp like an old Marshall, the Bogner plexi channel, or my Matchless Chieftain. It just sounds like pickups/wood to tubes to speakers. Pure, and beautiful!

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Marshall handwired series

Has anyone compared these smaller HW Marshalls to the Bad Cat Cub II, Top Hat Club Royale, etc. I'm thinking about adding another EL84 amp to join my Orange AD15, and these are the leading candidates.