What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

[drpietrzak]

Re: What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

Here is another option tha tis a bit off center. The Epi Valve Jr. Head ($99), a CCcab 1x12 ($89) and a Emmy Texas Heat ($59) with your pedal(s) of choice will do this darn well.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

I agree with the Traynors as well

Also consider some used amps that might go for $600 or so like the Rivera Knucklehead, and some of their other models I have seen on fire sale. they can get an 80s Marshall tone and give a great clean.

Marshall DSLs can go pretty cheap esp if well worn.

Marshall Plexi RI's go as low as $700, and they sound really nice, but you will need a cab.

Mesa made some now defunct models incl the Heartbreaker that sometimes go cheap.

All in all, consider that some of the better choices mentioned here such as Marshalls themselves are MORE COST EFFECTIVE than others in that the RETAIN RESALE VALUE esp when purchased used to begin with!

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

I will never buy new. Well, maybe not never. But damn close! I hate spending $xxx on something, when 5 seconds after I purchase it the value PLUMMETS to 1/2 of what I paid.

That said, I also love the feeling of buying equipment (like my Vintage Club 20), and reselling it for more money! I just made $40 on my VC20 for 1 month of 'work' (i.e. rocking my socks off with an awesome amp!).

 

[IceAak]

Re: What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

There should be plenty of used Randall RG's from the mid-late 80's around in your area. You can pick one up for under 300 bucks. They're solid state, but sound really good. They sound quite tubey and can get LOUD I just got one today from the U.K (Rg 80 Deluxe combo) and it sounds a LOT like my Marshall 4203 (great sounding marshall JCM 800 era amp with ss preamp and all tube poweramp). The Randall will have more gain than any JCM 800ish amp but will sound a little buzzier. It is like a JCM 800 on roids, more aggressive and tighter, although a little buzzier/fizzier like I said. Palm mutes, slides and haromnics sound crazy on these cheap ss amps :bowdown: Check out the local pawnshops and ads! Edit: The sounds the Randalls do best is 80's metal, like Whitesnake/Dokken/Tesla. You can scoop them with an external EQ and get a more modern metal sound as well, Dimebag used the RG100 for quite a while.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

Thanks for that extensive post Ice Aak! I'm serously leaning towards the DSL401. Looks like a really good mix. We'll see though, like I said, I've got plenty of time!

Keep the comments coming if you guys want.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

Get yerself one of these (although this one is priced about $100-200 too high)

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-60s-UNI...8QQihZ003QQcategoryZ38076QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

One of these for early Marshall crunch OR JCM800 crunch and scream

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carl-Martin-Ple...ryZ41416QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And a good 2X12 or 4X12 with your choice of Celestion speakers (I prefer the G12H30 and V30 mix, which you can get really cheap as Hellatone 60s and 30s on ebay or through Avatar Speakers.) and you've got a Marshall brotha!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

I like the DSL 401--I think it is a pretty cool little amp. The JTM 45 is a great amp, and another way to go would be a JCM 900. These don't get quite the respect they deserve IMHO. You need to get the bias warmed up a bit, and they will rock!

And they can be had pretty cheap!

Bill

 

[IceAak]

Re: What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

I did a soundclip of my RG80 in action. The recording was done with an mp3 player lying on the floor about 3 feet away from the amp, and I can't play for **** so bear that in mind. Just in case you're interested in what the old Randalls sort of sound like in the room at TV level volume :banana:

http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=21827

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What's the most cost effective way to get awesome classic Marshall sound?

+1 to getting an old Traynor . . . they are really fantastic Marshall type heads.