Bob Zaod
Rock Star
- Messages
- 2,872
Reverb score for 400 bucks. Seller said he never played through it and I believe him. Thing came exactly as new and even still smells brand new. Have only had it a couple hours and it showed up while a band rehearsal was winding down, so had to wait a bit to jump on it. I did own one a few years ago BUT didn't really give it a chance. At the time I preferred my DSL20HR so I sold it after only having it a couple weeks. If my memory serves me right, I spent maybe 3 hours on that one total.
My 2nd go round I am definitely going to run some pedals into it but people make it out that this thing doesn't break up at all and I disagree. With the gain knob cranked and pulled out and all other knobs at noon it was early AC/DC heaven with my 490 loaded SG. Kiss licks also sounded great but just in general a tremendous Marshall bark to it and it's nice how it cleans up so well with just guitar knob adjustments even with the gain knob cranked. Running it into a Jet City horizontal 2x12 of English V30's.
Like most Marshalls it only got better as I turned it up louder. It's a must. Cranking the master and using the gain knob for overall volume just blew my mind but I cant see using that live ever, even with the power scaling because the power scaling sucked the tone in that configuration. I have seen folks compare these to 1987x and other Plexis and I can hear some of that character in there but if you are expecting this thing to sound just like a Plexi you wont be happy. It certainly sounds like a Marshall though. I'd say closer to a 2203 with it's gain knob below noon would be a better comparison (tone-wise) if you must compare it to another Marshall. I can only speak to Marshalls I have owned or played extensively. This amps feels really good too. Notes jump out of it with spank and authority. The bass knob brings flub but turning it down doesn't really take away from the punch if you compensate with volume and the tilt knob.
I'd say I'm pretty happy and can't wait to start throwing some of my OD's at it to see which one makes it the happiest. Most likely try my Sparkle Drive first but I have a bunch more so that will be for tomorrow as I have date night with wifey in a couple hours here.
My 2nd go round I am definitely going to run some pedals into it but people make it out that this thing doesn't break up at all and I disagree. With the gain knob cranked and pulled out and all other knobs at noon it was early AC/DC heaven with my 490 loaded SG. Kiss licks also sounded great but just in general a tremendous Marshall bark to it and it's nice how it cleans up so well with just guitar knob adjustments even with the gain knob cranked. Running it into a Jet City horizontal 2x12 of English V30's.
Like most Marshalls it only got better as I turned it up louder. It's a must. Cranking the master and using the gain knob for overall volume just blew my mind but I cant see using that live ever, even with the power scaling because the power scaling sucked the tone in that configuration. I have seen folks compare these to 1987x and other Plexis and I can hear some of that character in there but if you are expecting this thing to sound just like a Plexi you wont be happy. It certainly sounds like a Marshall though. I'd say closer to a 2203 with it's gain knob below noon would be a better comparison (tone-wise) if you must compare it to another Marshall. I can only speak to Marshalls I have owned or played extensively. This amps feels really good too. Notes jump out of it with spank and authority. The bass knob brings flub but turning it down doesn't really take away from the punch if you compensate with volume and the tilt knob.
I'd say I'm pretty happy and can't wait to start throwing some of my OD's at it to see which one makes it the happiest. Most likely try my Sparkle Drive first but I have a bunch more so that will be for tomorrow as I have date night with wifey in a couple hours here.
