What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

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shogunlegend

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i could never really afford a good marshall tube amp until they recently discontinued the dsl/tsl series. after having one for a while, i was hooked by the marshall tone. it's hard to put my finger on what particularly it is about the tone that i like, but there's something special. what do you guys think? what about the marshall sound do you love?
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

I like the mid voicing of the classic 60's and early 70's Marshall tones. I also like their quick response, and the top end snap which is more in the treble control than the presence. There is a certain rudeness to a good Marshall which can seem nasty on its own, but put into the context of a full band onstage, it just pokes its face out in all the right places. They tend to make more complex amps sound like they are trying too hard!



Cheers..........................wahwah
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

I've always like how they can bite but still be warm. How they can sound distorted but yet clean. And I LOVE that depth that you can get from a 4X12. I'm not talking bass response but rather that illusive "3-D" character that sounds like you could walk right into it. Some of my favorite Marshall tones are:

Jimmy Pages tone on "How The West Was Won."
Eddie Van Halens tone on "Van Halen II." ("Beautiful Girls" in particular)
Judas Priest tone on "Living After Midnight."
Billy Gibbons tone on "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers."

Great tones, all of them.
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

I'm glad you posted this thread with exactly that title. I often wondered what's the big deal. Now I'll find out. :scratchch
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

I'm not good with the technical stuff like "the mids at so and so frequency make the presence of the guitar in the mix....." I just judge with me ears. I'm also not going to beat my chest screaming "Marshalls rule! Nothing's better!" That's all a matter of opinion.

What I love about certain models of Marshall amps is that they are the perfect sound and attitude for a lot of the music I love. There are other amps built now that would sound just as good, but way back when.....not so much. It's pretty hard to plug a good guitar into a pro level Marshall and get a bad sound. And usually the sound just makes you smile--IF that's the kind of sound you're into. For me, there's not too much better than the sound of my 73 50 watt (PC board by the way) turned up around 8 with the channels jumped. It's just the sound I love best. However, my strat through my Bassman is pure blues bliss. My Mesa patches on my Vetta provide metal crunch the Marshalls could never provide etc..... But when I want the sound that's nearest and dearest to me, it's a cranked non-master Marshall.
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

I Love the fact that they are raising their prices by 10% as of Sept 1. I can't wait until I can pay as much for a Marshall as I would a Dumble.........NOT!

Marshalls have almost outstripped Gibson in their price hikes over the last 5 years. It couldn't have been more than 6 years ago when I payed around 650 for a DLS 401, and 1000 for a TSL 601. They are DOUBLE THAT now with the new price hike. Just wish I had kept that 401. I thought the gain channel on it was crap, so I sold it. I could have made back more than I blew on it if I had waited 4 years.

I really don't get it. My salary has DEFINATELY NOT doubled over the last 5 years. The people working at Marshall have not seen their salary double in the last 5 years either I would bet.

In contrast, I bought an American Fender Deluxe strat for about 1050 when I bought those amps. It now goes for 150 dollars more. Thats reasonable, and I understand that manufacturing costs have risen. However, WE ARE BEING TAKEN FOR A RIDE by some companies.

Marshalls are supposed to be the working man's amp, not boutique amps that no one but Wall Street investors can afford. I love my Marshalls, but at that price I think I will go for a Mesa Stiletto Ace and have a much more versatile amp. At these prices, the only thing most of us can afford to love about Marshalls are the Marshall models on our cheap Vox modeling amps. :disappoin
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

What I like about the Marshalls is the way Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, EVH, and Eric Johnson sound playing through a cranked plexi. I don't much care for the way I sound playing through one though...they're to bright and shrill sometimes...and to loud. I've owned lots of Marshalls including late 60's/early 70's plexi 50 and 100 watters and early 80's JCM-800's. Great amps but to loud for the way I play these days. Lew
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

Hard hitting, tight bottom end, face melting power chord producing.......simply wicked!
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

I like it for the fact that I got my JCM602 for $200 at a pawnshop!
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

The way they look. Nothing makes me feel like rocking as much as seeing my half stack just sat there in the corner, with no lights on.

But sound wise, a Marshall beingpushed by a Les Paul and a dirt pedal is just so utterly satisfying sonically. My JMP is so touch sensitive, dynamic and huge sounding that it has made me play better.
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

i never liked a tube Marshall until the JVM came my way. i play aggressive music, the extreme drive in this one is what aggression is all about.
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

You know, I always wished they had made a 50 watt DSL in a combo form. I tried the DSL 201 (had a lot of issues) then traded it for the DSL 401, but without the EL34 tubes, it just didn't sound like a real marshall, and the gain was EXTREMELY buzzy, even after retubing and a speaker change. I think the DSL 50 watt Head sounds better than a TSL 60 watt, but I didn't want a 4x12 cabinet sitting in my living room.
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

i don' really care for anything after the first jcm900, but i like the mid voicing, and how the bass knob doesn't really affect low end, just the fullness of the sound
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

shogunlegend said:
i could never really afford a good marshall tube amp until they recently discontinued the dsl/tsl series.
Click to expand...

I would go for an 800 series or a plexi before any of the DSL/TSL line too, but they are pricey when in good condition, and I can't do my own repairs, which many used ones need.

Have they really discontinued the DSL/TSL line?? I didn't think the new Marshalls were a replacement for the 2000 series.
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

I agree 100% with every one of those links JeffB posted.

For me, Marshall = rock and roll. I've wanted one ever since I started playing. It wasn't until the mid-90's that I got my first one, a 1990 JCM900 MkIII head. Sure, it's no Plexi or early JMP, but it sounds incredible and is, IMO, one of the best amps they've made in the last 20 years. Their sound is so big and full. There's no chance of getting lost in the mix with a Marshall unless the soundman is an idiot. Even with my Vox AD50, I'm using the JCM800 model as my main tone.

Now, if I could just score me a 50 watt Vintage Modern head. Man, that thing is sweet.
 
Re: What Do You Love About Marshall Amps?

ErikH said:
a 1990 JCM900 MkIII head. Sure, it's no Plexi or early JMP, but it sounds incredible and is, IMO, one of the best amps they've made in the last 20 years.
Click to expand...

Nah, at least 30 years.
 
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