Which Marshall is best for the money?

[darwins_ghost]

Out of the 5 Marshalls listed, which do you think is the best for the money, tonewise?

Also, I am not looking for investment purposes, just the best sound for the price.

 

[MartinSixStringCustoms]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

It depends which sound your looking for. Details?

 

[darwins_ghost]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

I mainly want to play through a single, somewhat clean channel and use pedals for my distortion.

I am hoping to find something that covers alot from classic rock/gainy blues to ZW and heavier tones.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

The VM is pretty sweet, but the 800 beats it by far... So good sounding.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

The Jubilee goes on back to when Jim first put EL34 valves in a JTM 45 and bumped the power from 30 to 50 watts. I don't think they have a master, so if you really need that, I'd go with the JCM800, but from the tone description, the Jubilee is the ticket, DG.

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

i think the 30th has an effects loop, which will be handy for some of your pedal needs-especially getting a solo boos. the others might have one too though

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

My vote goes to the VintageModern !!!


My 2cents

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

I've heard bad things about the VM. Or at least that it isn't all that it was supposed to be.

 

[Broke]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

If you can have only 1, the 30th does everything and very well.

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

The model before the JCM 800. The JMP 2203 and 2204 circuits. Very similar to the JCM 800 circuit wise, but I've found them to be a tad warmer. I own one from 1980, and its my baby! They go for lessthan the JCM 800s in my experience, becuase a lot of the public don't realise its basically the same thing.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

I don't know about "for the money...." Since all the amps you listed sound different, it's hard to quantify something like tonal worth, so I just voted for my favorite. The Jubilee.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

I mainly want to play through a single, somewhat clean channel and use pedals for my distortion.

Marshalls are known for their distortion . . . that's usually what people buy them for. Generally people use Fender type amps for clean sounds with pedals. I'd check out a Fender Bassman or Deluxe RI for what you're talking about . . . just a thought . . .

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

Marshalls are known for their distortion . . . that's usually what people buy them for. Generally people use Fender type amps for clean sounds with pedals. I'd check out a Fender Bassman or Deluxe RI for what you're talking about . . . just a thought . . .

Well, thats kinda true, but he said "somewhat clean". I instantly think vintage Marshall there. Something like the JCM 800 doesn't have much gain, relatively speaking. What it does have in spades is headroom and dynamics. Great for getting the most out of dirt pedals.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

I don't think there's a best Marshall "for the money". On the used market, most of them go for around the same price. It depends on what tone you want, features, how much gain, etc...

 

[ErikH]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

JCM900 MkIII Hi Gain Master Volume, 50 Watter. You won't find a better deal. Even in good shape they can be had for around 5 bills. Throw a SD-1 or ZW-44 overdrive in front of it and you're golden.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

I picked up a beat up 800 head for $500 Canadian... a 2204 from 1982/83 era... 50 watter... mine has been souped up gain wise which i am having removed next week... mine was cheap because of the gain mod and the vinyl had been ripped off.... here in Ontario these old 2204's are going for over $1300 in Toronto..

out of the list above the 800 and 900 series on the used market would be the cheapest and best for the buck!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

Well, thats kinda true, but he said "somewhat clean". I instantly think vintage Marshall there. Something like the JCM 800 doesn't have much gain, relatively speaking. What it does have in spades is headroom and dynamics. Great for getting the most out of dirt pedals.

Yeah, that's why I was recommending the Deluxe and Bassman . . . they're both Fender amps that usually get played a little dirty and take well to pedals. It was just a thought . . .

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

ErikH knows his stuff folks. The MkIII series marshalls are without a doubt the most underrated and undervalued amps I've ever seen. You get all the JCM-800 tone you want and 1/3 of the expense. They are well designed and quite frankly a beautiful sounding amp. I was in the market for one when I stumbled upon the Valvetronix heads that I currently love so much. I still want to get one one day.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

This is all just my opinion and Im sure to get a lot of people disagreeing with what Im about to say....

The 800's are classic amps and IMO some of the last good Marshalls.

The 900's, all of them are not built nearly as well as 800's and earlier amps IMO and many of them just don't sound as good either but there are a lot of guys that really do like 900 series amps.

The 30th Ann amps are VERY over priced on the used market IMO unless you go for one of the black ones. The 30th amps do have a lot of features but the classic Marshall tone is somewhat lost IMO.

Jubs may very wel;l be the most over rated older Marshall amps ever...don't get me wrong I think they sound ok (not as good as an old Plexi or metal front by far IMO, but good) however there is this thing around the jubs and because of it they sell for a large amount more than I feel like they are worth.

On the VM series, I have not tired one yet so I don't yet have an opinion.

Based on what you said you are looking for a 2203/4 should be just fine...Buddy Guy uses them for playing blues sometimes and ZW has been using them for his tone for years...

All the above is simply my 2 cents, good luck and enjoy the hunt!

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Which Marshall is best for the money?

Yeah, that's why I was recommending the Deluxe and Bassman . . . they're both Fender amps that usually get played a little dirty and take well to pedals. It was just a thought . . .

Yeah thats cool, sorry, not much of an expert on Fenders, so I'm sure you are right!