Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

[Securb]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

I don't feel that the term "bad" really applies... I mean...compared to what exactly? I have certainly played far far worse sounding amps than the dfx or MG...

I am so with you on this. There is nothing "bad" sounding about the amp. When I think of a bad amp I think of something defective or faulty. It is not as if the amp delivers an offending tone. The tone is simply not as good as a Marshall DSL40 or a Mesa/Boogie Express. With that in mind a Toyota Yaris is far less expensive than a Lexus E class, you would not call the Yaris a bad car. Both provide a function and have a target market.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

"Snobbery" refers to the condescending attitude of some players in their mistaken attempts at superiority.

I play an expensive guitar 90% of the time. I have a boutique amp that gets far too little play.

I know people with inexpensive gear that produce unbelievably good tones from their gear.

I know people with exceptionally elite and/or expensive gear who sound no better than the average teenager with a Peavey Rage.

So what? Snobbery is claiming that somehow everyone else is wrong because they don't embrace your tonal beliefs. :yeah:, there are plenty of snobs in the forum.

 

[Securb]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

I know people with exceptionally elite and/or expensive gear who sound no better than the average teenager with a Peavey Rage.

Desperately chasing sub-par tone with expensive gear when the problem lies in their technique.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

I know Judas Priest has used a variety of MGs in the studio.

I don't know about that. Here's Glenn Tipton's rig: http://www.glenntipton.co.uk/equipment.asp

I'd assume KK Downing's rig isn't that much different, but there's no definite info on his studio recording gear, just this:

http://www.guitargeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/judas_priest_kk_downing_2004.jpg

I doubt they've used the MG amps on anything that's been recorded and released.

 

[Securb]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

I doubt they've used the MG amps on anything that's been recorded and released.

There's a Guitar World interview where Glenn talks about using the solid state amps on Angels of Retribution

 

[Securb]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

Here is a video of Glenn playing a MG

 

[aleclee]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

In my experience, they just plain don't sound that good.

Ditto. I'm no tube snob, though. I haven't had a tube in my main rig since 2009.

 

[chadd]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

Once you learn them, you can dial in usable tones for most types of music. In that aspect, they are pretty versatile. However, there are other, often more expensive and/or tube, amps that do specific tones better. In that aspect, they aren't so great. Unfortunately, people tend to pick a side and not want to admit that the other side has a legitimate argument. I recorded with a valvestate when I had one and it didn't sound bad at all, but I would never pick one over any of the full tube Marshalls that I have owned.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

Here is a video of Glenn playing a MG

I'll be damned...(Here comes your ghost again...)

It still sounds like Glenn, but I'm having trouble finding the article that says Glenn or KK used an MG on Angel of Retribution. Was the interview an article or video?

 

[Securb]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

I'll be damned...(Here comes your ghost again...)

It still sounds like Glenn, but I'm having trouble finding the article that says Glenn or KK used an MG on Angel of Retribution. Was the interview an article or video?

An article years ago.

 

[symptom]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

I had a MG DFX30. At first, I kinda liked it, but within time it started to get into my nerves. I sold it and got a Vox Pathfinder 15R. I think if I hear the Marshall today it would be horrible, specially the clean channel, which was just blargh.

 

[Nacho8807]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

My friend uses an MG100 stack or something in his band and raves about it. He actually sounds pretty good live, but I've tried to play through it with my guitar and I hated every minute. I'm not sure what it is, maybe I care more about the nuances when I'm playing, and when listening, I'm less critical. He is also the same guy who loves the Boss Metal Zone and Mega Distortion pedals, and uses them all the time. I'm not sure whether he's more talented at making gear sound good or what.

 

[jamesdrainer]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

for those of us who have been playing a long time and cant f---ing afford a minimum of 2000 dollars for a dsl 100 all tube amp that Adrian smith from IRON MAIDEN plays on, we have no choice sometimes but to budget. maybe one day ill get a jcm 900 but for right now I picked up a marshall MG 100 HCFX great amp awesome sound but I have to admit ive done a little cheating. FOR STARTERS I DONT EVEN USE CRUNCH, OR THE OD'S AT ALL... I run everything through an RP 360 digitech routed through my steve vai wah peddle, im not shi--ing you when i say this thing is loud as hell and ive got the settings to sound almost spot on to a tube amp. noticed I did say ALMOST. The guys in the band are pretty impressed as well as me, so if theres anybody else out there that loves to shred and doesn't have the money, you cant go wrong. I guess that's why foot pedals were made and theres a ton of them out there to make that ole MG of yours sound pretty Fu--in sweet, God bless every one out there and keep on playin...

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

With the Marshall solid-state amps of recent memory, I usually find myself caught between fizzy higher-gain tones and cleaner sounds that are harder and more brittle than I'd like.

On the other hand, I got some nice old-school thrash out of an AVT half-stack when I was trying out the Gibson Faded V and Mustaine's LTD DV8R. The Marshall did a nice job with those tones.

 

[Diego]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

I've always wanted to try an MG head through a really nice cab, V30s and everything.
I think I'd be surprised.

 

[omg81]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

Here is a video of Glenn playing a MG

Sounds awful to me though... of course you have to be careful to judge an amp's sound from a 240p video, but it sounds just as fuzzy and tinny as I know them. I'm not trying to be elitist or anything, they just make my ears bleed.

Personally--even though I'm a diehard Marshall (valve) fan--to me a Line 6 SS amp sounds much better than an MG. Even better are hybrid amps, a good compromise if you're on a budget. I have a Vox Valvestate, and I think it's pretty good. And very affordable.

But still, after I got used to valve amps, I'd take any valve amp over any SS or hybrid amp. For example, I'm not a Randall fan, but they make affordable, solid valve amps, and I'd clearly take them for the money. Of course, affordable here means still much more expensive than SS or hybrid.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Why are Marshall DFX/solid state "bad"?

ill chime in i guess.. listened to a small amount of the clip.. what i sorta expected.. thin and chainsawwy.. never tried the MG series but from what ive read and heard.. they are lacking as there are way better SS amps out there

my randalls RH200 has way better distorted tones and I hate it..same reason.. to fizzy Now.. this sunday.. I ran a rat in front of it through the clean and thought it sounded better .. more natural.. or just something .. I also compared the sounds of the RH200 to a RG100es.. LOL yea.. RH was more versatile but the RG sounded very natural,warmer and overall better. just loud as hell and the distortion.. suffered from a lack of gain at bedroom volumes.. I could use the sustain boost but thankfully I broke that 20+ years ago.. should call it the chainsaw mode.. lol I did however run the rat in front and sounded very passable

IMO.. cheap SS amps give all other higher quality SS amps a bad rap.. even in head form.. I havent used a cheap SS practice amp since '89 or so.. a fender champ or something.. then I saved my money for like 4 months and bought a real amp.. the RG100. seriously.. To this day.. Its still the best SS amp I have heard and almost tube like.. Im sure there are others out now that might sound pretty good I guess..
I rodied for a band in the 90's and one of the guitarist had a 100watt CRATE head with a chorus.. and I seriously hated it..sounded cheap and very much like an SS amp.. even when I new very little about amps and tone,.. i knew i did NOT want to play through that amp..