Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
- Thread starter A Skater
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JeffB
Let it B
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
Disclaimer: I am a Marshall Tube amp Freak
I never cared for the original Valvestates, and I've played a couple of the new ones and still am not really impressed. It just sounds like a lot of loud pre-amp only distortion. Cleans were decent though. effects, eh..
I've also played several of the MG series amps. IMO they sound a bit better than the Valvestates, in that they are designed to sound like pre-amp AND power-amp distortion. Clean sounds are not as nice as valvestates. Effects, eh.
IMO, with $300 max to spend, I'd go with the Behringer V-Tone analog modeler. GMX212. 100 watts, 2x12, lots of effects. Better Marshall sounds than the valvestates and the MGs in my experience, plus good fender and boogie sounds, too. Nice cab emulators. $279 @ Guitar center and most catalogs.
You may also look at the Vox Valvetronix 30 watter if you don't mind a 10" speaker (personally not my cup of tea) The Modern Marshall & 800 series emulations are quite good. I have the 50 watter and am very impressed with it overall.
Lotta folks like the Spider II 1x12 as well, but personally I didn't care for it much.
Disclaimer: I am a Marshall Tube amp Freak
I never cared for the original Valvestates, and I've played a couple of the new ones and still am not really impressed. It just sounds like a lot of loud pre-amp only distortion. Cleans were decent though. effects, eh..
I've also played several of the MG series amps. IMO they sound a bit better than the Valvestates, in that they are designed to sound like pre-amp AND power-amp distortion. Clean sounds are not as nice as valvestates. Effects, eh.
IMO, with $300 max to spend, I'd go with the Behringer V-Tone analog modeler. GMX212. 100 watts, 2x12, lots of effects. Better Marshall sounds than the valvestates and the MGs in my experience, plus good fender and boogie sounds, too. Nice cab emulators. $279 @ Guitar center and most catalogs.
You may also look at the Vox Valvetronix 30 watter if you don't mind a 10" speaker (personally not my cup of tea) The Modern Marshall & 800 series emulations are quite good. I have the 50 watter and am very impressed with it overall.
Lotta folks like the Spider II 1x12 as well, but personally I didn't care for it much.
bryvincent
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
i like the series II Valvestates( VS series) than the current MG. my VS15R sounds way better than my MG50DFX. it can't get that loud though.
i like the series II Valvestates( VS series) than the current MG. my VS15R sounds way better than my MG50DFX. it can't get that loud though.
Jag513
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
The Valvestates aren't that bad...they're a heaven sent when compared to the MG's though. I hate MG's with a burning passion...along with Fender Frontman's...and Spider II's...they're just so overpriced and worthless...but I digress.
But yeah, look into something else, like a modeler. There are some really good ones, like the Vox AD30VT (as mentioned by JeffB) and the Roland Cube 30. Both are excellent for the price. In my experience, the Vox sounds better overall, but the Cube has more good-sounding distortions. Depends on whether you're looking for tone or versatility; but both are excellent amps.
The Valvestates aren't that bad...they're a heaven sent when compared to the MG's though. I hate MG's with a burning passion...along with Fender Frontman's...and Spider II's...they're just so overpriced and worthless...but I digress.
But yeah, look into something else, like a modeler. There are some really good ones, like the Vox AD30VT (as mentioned by JeffB) and the Roland Cube 30. Both are excellent for the price. In my experience, the Vox sounds better overall, but the Cube has more good-sounding distortions. Depends on whether you're looking for tone or versatility; but both are excellent amps.
muttonchopsrule
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
keep saving up man. for about $200 more, you could get a nice all-tube amp used.
making $200 sounds like it would be impossible without a job...just find some lawns to mow (or sidewalks to shovel, depending on where you live) or some chores to do for people that are willing to give up a little cash.
seriously, if you continue saving and go for something all tube, you won't regret it at all. a few years back, i kept blowing all the money i had on crap gear, when i could have saved up for another month and bought something decent. once you realize that, you'll never go back to buying entry-level gear.
keep saving up man. for about $200 more, you could get a nice all-tube amp used.
making $200 sounds like it would be impossible without a job...just find some lawns to mow (or sidewalks to shovel, depending on where you live) or some chores to do for people that are willing to give up a little cash.
seriously, if you continue saving and go for something all tube, you won't regret it at all. a few years back, i kept blowing all the money i had on crap gear, when i could have saved up for another month and bought something decent. once you realize that, you'll never go back to buying entry-level gear.
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
I used to own both a VS265R and a VS100R head... both of these were series II valvestates and I liked them a lot. The distortion tones out of them weren't very good compared to my boogie but they were useable... i opted for pedals. However the clean sounds on the amps were very good and they just LOVED having pedals crammed in their face. Volume was never in short supply. I always managed to get very good useable tones out of those. It's a real good amp if you're on a budget but again, not worth more than $300.
The AVT's and MG's just suck horrible ass IMO. Thin, weak, fizzy, and unreliable as all hell.
I used to own both a VS265R and a VS100R head... both of these were series II valvestates and I liked them a lot. The distortion tones out of them weren't very good compared to my boogie but they were useable... i opted for pedals. However the clean sounds on the amps were very good and they just LOVED having pedals crammed in their face. Volume was never in short supply. I always managed to get very good useable tones out of those. It's a real good amp if you're on a budget but again, not worth more than $300.
The AVT's and MG's just suck horrible ass IMO. Thin, weak, fizzy, and unreliable as all hell.
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
Disclaimer : I'm a Fender tube amp freak ! :laugh2:
BUT ! I do own 1 Marshall ! And it's a 8080 valvestate. The cleans are a
Lil' strerile to me ( Remember... I'm a Fender guy) but it's not bad amp.
I've done plenty of gigs with it even letting the other guitarist in the band
use my Fender tube amp ( cuz' i wanted the Les Paul/Marshall sound) And
it fit the bill.On a budget it's not a bad amp.
Disclaimer : I'm a Fender tube amp freak ! :laugh2:
BUT ! I do own 1 Marshall ! And it's a 8080 valvestate. The cleans are a
Lil' strerile to me ( Remember... I'm a Fender guy) but it's not bad amp.
I've done plenty of gigs with it even letting the other guitarist in the band
use my Fender tube amp ( cuz' i wanted the Les Paul/Marshall sound) And
it fit the bill.On a budget it's not a bad amp.
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
The only amp I've ever used is a Marshall VS102R combo amp. I think it's pretty damn good myself and it's perfectly adequate for my needs. And I play everything from Jazz to Metal. When I jammed with my friend who had a JCM2000, for some reason, my distortion tone was much more rich and saturated than his. He had the edge with clean sounds, though. FYI he had an SG and I had a Strat.
The only amp I've ever used is a Marshall VS102R combo amp. I think it's pretty damn good myself and it's perfectly adequate for my needs. And I play everything from Jazz to Metal. When I jammed with my friend who had a JCM2000, for some reason, my distortion tone was much more rich and saturated than his. He had the edge with clean sounds, though. FYI he had an SG and I had a Strat.
rocksoldier
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
I tried the old ones, and they sound like crap.
You will be be better off saving up or go for a modeler IMO.
I tried the old ones, and they sound like crap.
You will be be better off saving up or go for a modeler IMO.
The Owl
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
I ditto that. I tried one myself, the distortion was decent the clean channel was WEAK (as in no oomph or power). The 40-watt Traynor I now own blew it out of the water. There just ain't no substitute for a full tube amp like a Marshall JCM, JMT, Mesa Boogie, Traynor etc.
HolyDirt said:
I ditto that. I tried one myself, the distortion was decent the clean channel was WEAK (as in no oomph or power). The 40-watt Traynor I now own blew it out of the water. There just ain't no substitute for a full tube amp like a Marshall JCM, JMT, Mesa Boogie, Traynor etc.
Mkf411
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
If you're going to play at home, I second the suggestion to go with a modeler. If you are going to practice with a band and play out, save a bit more and get something like a Peavey Classic 30, Traynor YCV-20 or 40, or save a little longer get a used Marshall JCM800. A modeler is good for home use, whereas a tube amp will usually get the cops to show up. You'll probably have to buy pedals, too, if using a tube amp at home.
If you're going to play at home, I second the suggestion to go with a modeler. If you are going to practice with a band and play out, save a bit more and get something like a Peavey Classic 30, Traynor YCV-20 or 40, or save a little longer get a used Marshall JCM800. A modeler is good for home use, whereas a tube amp will usually get the cops to show up. You'll probably have to buy pedals, too, if using a tube amp at home.
A Skater
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
Well, I don't really care about the distortion on these, but I do care about the clean channel. I'm going to be using a fat strat w/a duncan invader, so I want to know what will give me the best clean tone. I got enough distortion with my pedals.
Well, I don't really care about the distortion on these, but I do care about the clean channel. I'm going to be using a fat strat w/a duncan invader, so I want to know what will give me the best clean tone. I got enough distortion with my pedals.
Chi3f
Member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
had a valvestate avt150h with 2 avt 4-12 cabs... Junk, junk and more junk.... but if you like a digital sound get one. That's all it sounded like to me anyways. No nice analog sounding waveforms. Just a horrible bad a/d converted type sound is all i heard. After i stopped thinking oh it's a marshall it must be good anyways. Took me a couple months. However that was a couple years ago and i've smartened up since.
had a valvestate avt150h with 2 avt 4-12 cabs... Junk, junk and more junk.... but if you like a digital sound get one. That's all it sounded like to me anyways. No nice analog sounding waveforms. Just a horrible bad a/d converted type sound is all i heard. After i stopped thinking oh it's a marshall it must be good anyways. Took me a couple months. However that was a couple years ago and i've smartened up since.
JimiHWannaBe
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
ive played the avt half stack and it sounded alright nothing really impressive though also played the mg series fullstack and it sounded like ass
ive played the avt half stack and it sounded alright nothing really impressive though also played the mg series fullstack and it sounded like ass
mr breaker
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
I agree with the above posts...just wait and save another $200 and you'll be able to find a nice used tube amp...JCM900 maybe?
When I got my first "big" amp I got a used marshall vsh100...and at the time I thought it sounded good, listening to recordings now makes me want to cringe.
I had that thing for two or three years before I finally decided to save up and get a nice tube amp. Do yourself a favor and go straight for the tubes!
I agree with the above posts...just wait and save another $200 and you'll be able to find a nice used tube amp...JCM900 maybe?
When I got my first "big" amp I got a used marshall vsh100...and at the time I thought it sounded good, listening to recordings now makes me want to cringe.
I had that thing for two or three years before I finally decided to save up and get a nice tube amp. Do yourself a favor and go straight for the tubes!
NecroPolo
New member
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
With a double tube half-stack behind my back, I still didn't quit loving my old trusty 8080. Okay, it is not vintage in any means, not "nice" sounding at all (it's rather aggressive or modern sounding stuff) and it's easy to set really bad etc etc but with good settings and some patience you can get good tones. The clean channel is just a plain sold state clean that can be harsh, for pedal use I'd suggest using the boost channel with OD1 and the gain level kept below 10 o'clock (dirty threshold)
Anyway, I'd suggest as it's been suggested: spare a littlebit more and buy a tube amp.
With a double tube half-stack behind my back, I still didn't quit loving my old trusty 8080. Okay, it is not vintage in any means, not "nice" sounding at all (it's rather aggressive or modern sounding stuff) and it's easy to set really bad etc etc but with good settings and some patience you can get good tones. The clean channel is just a plain sold state clean that can be harsh, for pedal use I'd suggest using the boost channel with OD1 and the gain level kept below 10 o'clock (dirty threshold)
Anyway, I'd suggest as it's been suggested: spare a littlebit more and buy a tube amp.
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joelap
Red&Goldologist
Re: Marshall Valvestate, yay or nay?
Most people will say to save a little more and buy a tube amp, but they dont realize that most young people (and I'm assuming you are young like me) dont have the income to save anymore. If A Skater doesn't work, how is he going to save more money? By telling him to wait, he's just gunna end up waiting forever to get the money for a tube amp.
I use an AVT50Head and AVT412 Cabinet. The cleans suck, and I have to crank the volume to be even heard on stage. If you go valvestate, make sure you get 100 watts.
However, I recommend you don't go valvestate. I say go for the Behringer or Line 6 Spider or something of that sort. If you can't afford a tube amp (hey, neither can I), I'd get a great modeling amp. I regret buying my AVT... and I doubt you want to be regretting a purchase either.
My .02 cents.
Most people will say to save a little more and buy a tube amp, but they dont realize that most young people (and I'm assuming you are young like me) dont have the income to save anymore. If A Skater doesn't work, how is he going to save more money? By telling him to wait, he's just gunna end up waiting forever to get the money for a tube amp.
I use an AVT50Head and AVT412 Cabinet. The cleans suck, and I have to crank the volume to be even heard on stage. If you go valvestate, make sure you get 100 watts.
However, I recommend you don't go valvestate. I say go for the Behringer or Line 6 Spider or something of that sort. If you can't afford a tube amp (hey, neither can I), I'd get a great modeling amp. I regret buying my AVT... and I doubt you want to be regretting a purchase either.
My .02 cents.
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