Marshall overhyped?

M

Mephis

New member
I don't want to start a flame fest, so watch it.


I went to a marshall promotional concert last night, they had everything from a JTM45 to a mode 4 fullstack.

I believe the guy's name was John kramer, and he was doing all the demoing and playing. Amazing player I must say. He was using a stock MIA strat for all of this.

Anyway, the 100watt plexi halfstack (Greenbacks) was either set up wrong or was a major let down. He had the channels jumpered and had it cranked. It was a total ice pick in ear experence that made me cringe, it was also the loudest ****ing amp I've ever heard in my life.

The JCM2000 fullstack (75-30s) (DSL/TSL) actually sounded acceptable, although for being a fullstack it wasn't even 1/3rd as loud as the plexi half stack.

The AVT150 halfstack (V30s) actually sounded not half way bad, but still not that loud.

The mode four fullstack (V30s) was suprizing to me. Amazing clean channel, and the dirt wasn't to bad. The distortion sounded fairly good until he started playing with all the scooping options then it sounded like trash.

Actually, as stupid as it sounds, the mode four full stack sounded the best of all of them... As I said, this was a demo I had no control over.



So I'm left confused and saying WTF to all this. :smack:
Someone spell out what was wrong here!
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Mephis said:
I don't want to start a flame fest, so watch it.


I went to a marshall promotional concert last night, they had everything from a JTM45 to a mode 4 fullstack.

I believe the guy's name was John kramer, and he was doing all the demoing and playing. Amazing player I must say. He was using a stock MIA strat for all of this.

Anyway, the 100watt plexi halfstack (Greenbacks) was either set up wrong or was a major let down. He had the channels jumpered and had it cranked. It was a total ice pick in ear experence that made me cringe, it was also the loudest ****ing amp I've ever heard in my life.

The JCM2000 fullstack (75-30s) (DSL/TSL) actually sounded acceptable, although for being a fullstack it wasn't even 1/3rd as loud as the plexi half stack.

The AVT150 halfstack (V30s) actually sounded not half way bad, but still not that loud.

The mode four fullstack (V30s) was suprizing to me. Amazing clean channel, and the dirt wasn't to bad. The distortion sounded fairly good until he started playing with all the scooping options then it sounded like trash.

Actually, as stupid as it sounds, the mode four full stack sounded the best of all of them... As I said, this was a demo I had no control over.



So I'm left confused and saying WTF to all this. :smack:
Someone spell out what was wrong here!
Click to expand...

Well maybe he had a JB in the guitar :chairfall

Nah..seriously. plexis CAN sound icepicky...especially if he's doing the "all on 10" thing and jumpered. I don't like them absolutely cranked..never did..theres a certain point where they thin out and lose bass response and the high end gets NASTY. IME, they are better at about 2/3 up and goosed if you need more gain. Tubes make a diff too.

I used to run my 1987X on the bright channel and celestian 75s or CL 80s..but I backed off the treble and presence. I like the speakers and the pup to suppy the "cut"...not the amp, so to speak.

And YES they are friggin loud:chairfall

IDT the mode 4/AVTs are that bad either...with a decent set of speakers.
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Ahh...and a stock MIA strat?...yeah...that will give ya the icepick in the ear through a cranked plexi.

Live sound...and how stuff sounds recorded are two vastly different things much of the time.
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Yea it was cranked for sure, the tubes sounded like they could blow at any second lol. He was using a stock strat with single coils. I also imagine pushing that kind of wattage with greenbacks wasn't exactly a bright idea either.


Just makes me wonder, how are people getting the amount of dirt out of these that I hear on recordings?
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Mephis said:
Yea it was cranked for sure, the tubes sounded like they could blow at any second. He was using a stock strat with single coils.


Just makes me wonder, how are people getting the amount of dirt out of these that I hear on recordings?
Click to expand...

ever play you rVOX with the gain cranked "live" then plug in your headphones? if not try it...you'll find the "recorded" sound of the headphone/line out will sound like it's got much more gain.
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Plexi's are like fingerprints. Every one of them is different. I would bet it was probably a reissue also which makes a difference
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

JeffB said:
ever play you rVOX with the gain cranked "live" then plug in your headphones? if not try it...you'll find the "recorded" sound of the headphone/line out will sound like it's got much more gain.
Click to expand...

It doesn't sound like it has any more gain, but it does sound more sterile.

I haven't played my vox for months though.

Altho being solid state, when I crank it, it doesn't get the crackling of an actual tube amp. (Or how ever you would put the clean crunch sound.)

My peavey can get the powertube drive ice pick in ear issues too... That's why it's getting new powertubes next week. And why I usually don't enjoy having it cranked to 12.
 
Last edited:
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Part of what needs to be remembered is that Marshall didn´t build their legacy on any of the amps produced today, or even in the last 10-15 years for that matter (save the plexi and JCM800 reissues).

It was built on the tones of teh Original Plexis, JTM 45 and JCM 800... and IMO while the newer ones all sound ok and some of them quite good (Most notably the 6100 30 Anniversary head), none have ever come anywhere near those 3 amps, the main reason why I still use a 2204 ;)
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Marshall overhyped?

Yes, and no. That is a pretty general statement. There are many Marshall's that are good, and many that are bad. If you got a bad one, they are overhyped, if you got a good one, they are the best thing going.

The modern ones aren't made as well as the older ones, and their price is kinda high compared to the stuff coming out of Peavey, Crate, Laney, and Carvin. Companies that make decent modded Marshall voiced amps.

Alot of Marshall's sound shrill to my ears also, and some of them could use a better speaker. I am finding V30's wearing on my ears also. It has to have a smooth top end, IMO, otherwise, "Yeah, could you shut that off ?"

But, there is that occasional Marshall that is smooth that comes along that is a wonderful thing. There is also an occasional Marshall that comes along that is "lit" where the notes and harmonics just jump off the fretboard. Either is worth looking for.
 
Last edited:
Re: Marshall overhyped?

I would like to think they are but NO THEY ARE NOT OVERHYPED

I have come to the conclusion using both my ears and listening, not just playing them - that they truly sound the best. They sit well in the mix, are easy to EQ, and I really think they are a good match for the classic rock vocal style.

Now are they the best R&B or Blues amp? hmmmm who knows? Marvin Gaye's live player had a Marshall MV on stage in the late 70s - so maybe they work well for other styles... hmmmmm

Everyone tells me they can outdo the Marshall tone, and the only ones that have done it for me are Bogners etc.

As far as the Mode Four sounding better - not sure if you heard it against a rockin' band and what the venue was like. SS amps always sound balanced when NOT in a mix. As LEW used to always point out - those ugly spike's and harmonics are meant to make the amp sound great over a band. Hear a Plexi on its own and it won't make sense. That's like listening to a vocal harmony without the lead vocal - hear them together and it's like WOW!
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

There's also a big design difference between that Plexi and the DSL and The Mode 4. There are no diodes in the Plexi. All the distortion comes from overdriving the crap out of not only the preamp tubes but the power amp tubes as well. There's a ton more clean headroom in those things so yes, they are perceived as louder because of that and they are louder.

The DSL/TSL and Mode 4 use diodes in a few spots for additional clipping of the signal for more gain. In those amps, most of the gain is from the preamp itself and less from the power amp.

I agree that the Plexi's can get icepicky at high volumes, ESPECIALLY with a stock Stratocaster.

When the NWOBHM guys were using them back in the day, they used hotter pickups and some sort of overdrive or distortion device hitting the preamp to get more gain and to hopefully warm it up some....can you say Super Distortion? :D

But no, they are not overhyped. Not IMO anyway.
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Not knocking the MIA too much, but who's idea was that???

If you're demoing a bunch of Marshalls, you show up with
A Les Paul Std with PAF's.....duh.
Maybe a PRS or Jackson with higher output humbuckers.
An American or Custom Shop Fender Strat with vintage spec A5 singles.
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Mephis said:
You and me both, but they would sell for $1400 and be made with inferior componets... :smack:
Click to expand...


+1!!! Another reason I will take my 1982 JCM800 2204 to the GRAVE with me!! If Marshall starts making their tube amps in China (which I have a feeling they will after Jim Marshall passes) then it's all over. Those of us with "British" Marshalls will be sitting on a goldmine! I HOPE that never happens, but if there is more money to be made then it probably will.

Cheers,

CJ
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Heh!!
I can remember when those 800's came out....only the "toneless" metalheads of those days liked them;)
I still do not like them much really.
As for the Plexi's.....they are hard amps to play, difficult to control and get a good sound out of, some are like that, others just springs to life at the instant they are turned on.
But big amps requires something of you, it is abit like playing acoustic, it is not something you just do, and they are tempramental beasts as well.
And they are not smooth, nice and refined...not your modern I can play on my own supersmooth amp.
 
Last edited:
Re: Marshall overhyped?

Rid said:
Heh!!
I can remember when those 800's came out....only the "toneless" metalheads of those days liked;)
I still do not like them much really.
As for the Plexi's.....they are hard amps to play, difficult to control and get a good sound out of, some are like that, others just springs to life at the instant they are turned on.
But big amps requires something of you, it is abit like playing acoustic, it is not something you just do, and they are tempramental beasts as well.
And they are not smooth, nice and refined...not your modern I can play on my own supersmooth amp.
Click to expand...

I agree!

I tried a JCM800 2203 Re-Issue, and it sounds cool enough but it just doesent kick one in the nuts.

But I would love to try a Plexi at 10 one day.

I think marshalls a bit overhyped, everyone turns to them today, and when I hear a DSL/TSL it makes me wanna puke.
 
Re: Marshall overhyped?

I agree with Rid on ALL points...

In answer to the question at hand...are Marshall overhyped, I have to say Yes, yes they are...you chould all SELL YOUR MARSHALLS...maybe in a year or 2 the prices will have gotten low enough for a broke bastard like me to have a nice collection of old school Marshall amps...and I don't mean 800's and Jubs!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Could 250k tonepot with humbucker be why sound is so dark in HSS strat
Replies
14
Views
408
Mincer
Mincer
F
Ceriatone 18W Questions
Replies
0
Views
203
fretburner
F
P
I'd like to hear your opinion on the EMG81TW mounting orientation.
Replies
7
Views
476
freefrog
freefrog
Rex_Rocker
What is IYO the best Tune-O-Matic?
2
Replies
22
Views
510
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
xxxplorer
Played a Peavey JSX and XXX cab
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
Fender_Punk
Fender_Punk
Back
Top