Give me a reason not to sell all of my Marshalls and buy an SC20

[scozz]

I've got the stock Celestion in it. The seller gave me the choice and I decided to go with stock. I'm quite happy with it. My brother built me a closed back Cabinet with a single Eminence Legend GB12 that I tried for a while and it sounds amazing, but it's massively louder. The stock speaker is nice for 90% of applications because it's not too loud.

To me, the SC20 sounds great even at whisper volumes (sometimes I just strum chords and enjoy the tone), but it gets fuller and richer and gainier as the master volume goes up. Since I don't have many applications where I find the SC20C too quiet, I want the speaker to be as quiet as possible so I can turn up the amp as much as possible. The stock speaker is good for that.

Great, glad it’s working out for you!

If I’m not mistaken, a Celestion V-Type sensitivity is 98db so yeah it’s not quite as loud as many other speakers.

I’m using two 1-12 cabs with my SC20h, one is a Greenback, 98db and the other is a Creamback, 97db.

They work well together and they’re nowhere near as loud as say Vintage 30s or Ruby’s, or any 100 db sensitivity speaker.

 

[Seven]

I currently have a 2266c Vintage Modern Combo and a DSL50 head. I love these amps.
However, they are big, and no fun to carry around. They are loud. Rarely in my life have I played in a situation where more than 20 watts was necessary or helpful.

I have never played a JCM800, but I know many of my favorite guitar tones were created on one. Sometimes I wish I could nail that tone a little better on my two Marshall amps.

I like a simple setup. I don't use many effects. I have a couple OD pedals, a Wah, and some clean boosts. I have a Holy Grail Reverb in case I ever find myself missing onboard reverb. I pretty much never change channels in the middle of a song. It seems like a smallish 1-channel amp that has Classic rock and metal in it is tailor made for me. I'd probably opt for the combo for a better grab-and-go option, but the head looks cool as all get out, so who knows...

Tones I'd like to be able to approximate:
AC/DC on the "Highway to Hell" album
Def Leppard on the "High and Dry" album
Thin Lizzy on "Fighting" and "Jailbreak"
Iron Maiden's 1st 5 albums
Richie Blackmore on "Mistreated" (love how thick that is!), Rainbow, etc.
Rory Gallagher on "Stage Struck" - check out "Moonchild" on that album..

I know many of these were not on JCM800s (some Plexis in there) or even Marshalls, but that gives you an idea of my sonic territory. I use a Stratocaster with Single Coils and a Les Paul and Ibanez Artist with passive humbuckers.

Am I likely to miss anything that my current amps offer?

I know the best answer is to go try one, but it's pretty hard where I live. There's one Marshall dealer about 4 hours away and another about 6 hours, and I can't ever seem to catch one of these in stock.

As much as I'd like to keep all of my current amps AND get the SC20,

It sounds like you get most of your preferred tone from the amp with a few pedals to add some flavors and spices. I'm in that same camp as well. I have a VM Combo and they are unique amps in the Marshall pantheon and sound great for what they do, but they are not voiced to sound like a JCM800. The VM is too smooth for that tone. Not enough bite like an 800.

The used VM prices continue to increase and I've seen heads on Reverb as high at $1,800 so keep that in mind. Also, most everything on Reverb has inflated pricing and it appears more like a museum with prices than an actual market place. Personally, I think a used mint condition, non-smokey VM head is probably worth $1,000 or thereabouts, but in 10 years they will be considered vintage amps, so keep that in mind. Combo's don't increase in value as fast as a head, but the VM amps are still on the upward trend.

More directly, a 50 watt Marshall tube/valve head is excessive for home use or even band rehearsal and most would agree you would need an attenuator. I used my VMc at rehearsal and on small to medium stages and it was never too loud, but the band itself managed it's stage volume really well. I play louder at home than on stage and I'm not a quiet or clean player by any stretch of the imagination.

The choice between a SC20h and cabinet or the SC20c comes down to flexibility. Having a Studio Series head is convenient and it will allow you to experiment with different cabinets, matching or otherwise. With a combo, all you can really do is change the speaker. Combo's are handy for simple home practice or for a grab and go jam somewhere.

To qualify some of the above, I lived the 80's hard rock scene (real time) and cut some of my guitar chops in that world so I know and love the JCM800 tones. I also have one foot in the hard blues-rock of the 70's, which is why I land on the Plexi type tones. My SV20h and SV212 gets me close to old school Plexi tones, and I can hit the front end with drive pedals to push me into 800 territory. The biggest difference (in my view) is non-master volume VS master volume. NMV amps have always been a beast to wrangle and still get natural amp distortion.

I would be happy with a SC20 or SV20 or even the Jubilee version. The SC20 will be a little more manageable than a Plexi type amp and the Jubilee is a further evolution of a more modern Marshall sound without going full grinding metal.

I would even encourage you to look at the the Jubilee in this Studio line of amps. It's probably closer in tone to the late 80's/early 90's. (Having a small head and cab is really the bee's knees, plus they look cool). Combo's are a little handier, but not really that much more handy. DSL amps are fine, but they are kind of ubiquitous at this point.

If you can hang on to the VM, you will thank me later. DSL's are still plentiful. Marshall has a history with stopping the production of upper end popular amps and my guess is they will do this with with the Studio series, if they haven't already. I really don't follow industry trends all that much anymore. YMMV

Have fun and good luck amp hunting !

 

[purpleplexi]

The best reason not to sell all your amps and buy an SC20 is that they make an SV20.....

 

[50 watt CJ]

I currently have a 2266c Vintage Modern Combo and a DSL50 head. I love these amps.
However, they are big, and no fun to carry around. They are loud. Rarely in my life have I played in a situation where more than 20 watts was necessary or helpful.

I have never played a JCM800, but I know many of my favorite guitar tones were created on one. Sometimes I wish I could nail that tone a little better on my two Marshall amps.

I like a simple setup. I don't use many effects. I have a couple OD pedals, a Wah, and some clean boosts. I have a Holy Grail Reverb in case I ever find myself missing onboard reverb. I pretty much never change channels in the middle of a song. It seems like a smallish 1-channel amp that has Classic rock and metal in it is tailor made for me. I'd probably opt for the combo for a better grab-and-go option, but the head looks cool as all get out, so who knows...

Tones I'd like to be able to approximate:
AC/DC on the "Highway to Hell" album
Def Leppard on the "High and Dry" album
Thin Lizzy on "Fighting" and "Jailbreak"
Iron Maiden's 1st 5 albums
Richie Blackmore on "Mistreated" (love how thick that is!), Rainbow, etc.
Rory Gallagher on "Stage Struck" - check out "Moonchild" on that album..

I know many of these were not on JCM800s (some Plexis in there) or even Marshalls, but that gives you an idea of my sonic territory. I use a Stratocaster with Single Coils and a Les Paul and Ibanez Artist with passive humbuckers.

Am I likely to miss anything that my current amps offer?

I know the best answer is to go try one, but it's pretty hard where I live. There's one Marshall dealer about 4 hours away and another about 6 hours, and I can't ever seem to catch one of these in stock.

As much as I'd like to keep all of my current amps AND get the SC20,

I recently sold a SC20, didn’t like much about it at all unfortunately. Zero low end unless the gain is maxed, which isn’t always where I want it, and the most brittle, piercing harsh high end I’ve ever heard from a Marshall. I also found it didn’t take pedals well, in front or in the loop. My go to forever has been my DSL 50. I don’t even use the lead channel on it, only the crunch with boosts and ODs. I’ve owned a 50 watt vintage modern and one of the split channel 2205 800s as well, didn’t like either of those. I play the same guitars and covers by the bands you listed. People love the SC20, I’ve heard it sound nice on demos but wasn’t for me. I retubed it, tried boosts with eq, but no help. I too would love to scale down amp size for gigs but I’ve tried to beat my old DSL with many amps for years with no luck. I never owned an 800-2204 but played an old one and remembered how super bright it was. My MKIII 50 watt 900, which I still use, blew the SC20 away for what I want as well. I’m wanting to try the mini jubilee now because I have heard it’s warmer and darker. Higher gain and more compression but maybe it’s a better fit after all. So, try the SC first if possible or buy where you have time to feel it out like from Musicians friend or Sweetwater.

 

[Rufuskyote]

Poor replacement for a good amp? The 20 watts is more than enough for most applications and they sound great.
Is it a 4x12? No. Doesn't have to be.

But it CAN be!

 

[mike58]

Please try a mini jubilee 2525c , they are so versatile and don’t take too long to dial in great not just good tones.

 

[Wildeman]

Because, a pile of Marshalls looks way more badass than a single one.

 

[Ufoscorpion]

I currently have a 2266c Vintage Modern Combo and a DSL50 head. I love these amps.
However, they are big, and no fun to carry around. They are loud. Rarely in my life have I played in a situation where more than 20 watts was necessary or helpful.

I have never played a JCM800, but I know many of my favorite guitar tones were created on one. Sometimes I wish I could nail that tone a little better on my two Marshall amps.

I like a simple setup. I don't use many effects. I have a couple OD pedals, a Wah, and some clean boosts. I have a Holy Grail Reverb in case I ever find myself missing onboard reverb. I pretty much never change channels in the middle of a song. It seems like a smallish 1-channel amp that has Classic rock and metal in it is tailor made for me. I'd probably opt for the combo for a better grab-and-go option, but the head looks cool as all get out, so who knows...

Tones I'd like to be able to approximate:
AC/DC on the "Highway to Hell" album
Def Leppard on the "High and Dry" album
Thin Lizzy on "Fighting" and "Jailbreak"
Iron Maiden's 1st 5 albums
Richie Blackmore on "Mistreated" (love how thick that is!), Rainbow, etc.
Rory Gallagher on "Stage Struck" - check out "Moonchild" on that album..

I know many of these were not on JCM800s (some Plexis in there) or even Marshalls, but that gives you an idea of my sonic territory. I use a Stratocaster with Single Coils and a Les Paul and Ibanez Artist with passive humbuckers.

Am I likely to miss anything that my current amps offer?

I know the best answer is to go try one, but it's pretty hard where I live. There's one Marshall dealer about 4 hours away and another about 6 hours, and I can't ever seem to catch one of these in stock.

As much as I'd like to keep all of my current amps AND get the SC20,

Don’t sell up to get a Marshall studio , for a Friedman a definite yes .

 

[Trelwheen]

1) wait til Nov 9 to buy anything. No reason, just a thought. But wait anyway. You might need the scratch

2) if you can't get suitable sounds from the VM I don't think you're gonna love the SC20.

 

[abkeller1]

I am actually considering a trade for the mini JCM 800 as well. I have a JCM 900 SLX 2100 and an EVH 5150 6L6 50w. I love the tone of the SLX that I am unsure of trading because Im thinking it will cover the same territory as the 800. Sorry, dont mean to hijack any threads here. Im planning on trading the EVH for the SC20 JCM800
.

don't do it. I have both. they are a little different. SL-X it just a killer amp and kinda hard to find. There are 4 SC20 available on G.C website right now they are always available used.

 

[abkeller1]

The best reason not to sell all your amps and buy an SC20 is that they make an SV20.....

this is a dumb comment

 

[purpleplexi]

Jeez if you're going to post everytime I say something stupid we're never going to get anything done....

this is a dumb comment

 

[abkeller1]

I recently sold a SC20, didn’t like much about it at all unfortunately. Zero low end unless the gain is maxed, which isn’t always where I want it, and the most brittle, piercing harsh high end I’ve ever heard from a Marshall. I also found it didn’t take pedals well, in front or in the loop. My go to forever has been my DSL 50. I don’t even use the lead channel on it, only the crunch with boosts and ODs. I’ve owned a 50 watt vintage modern and one of the split channel 2205 800s as well, didn’t like either of those. I play the same guitars and covers by the bands you listed. People love the SC20, I’ve heard it sound nice on demos but wasn’t for me. I retubed it, tried boosts with eq, but no help. I too would love to scale down amp size for gigs but I’ve tried to beat my old DSL with many amps for years with no luck. I never owned an 800-2204 but played an old one and remembered how super bright it was. My MKIII 50 watt 900, which I still use, blew the SC20 away for what I want as well. I’m wanting to try the mini jubilee now because I have heard it’s warmer and darker. Higher gain and more compression but maybe it’s a better fit after all. So, try the SC first if possible or buy where you have time to feel it out like from Musicians friend or Sweetwater.

I completely disagree. I have both. 800's even the big ones NEVER had much low end like the DSL. That's their tone very midrange focus & bright amps. However , in a band mix it doesn't matter. That's what a BASS player is for! If you read that bands he's trying to chase their tone, non of those have much low end. However, the SC20 still has plenty low end though. I don't get where you come up with has No low end that's just NOT true. Maybe you don't have the right speaker cabinets. I play it through a Marshall 1936 & a 1960BV. And for the tones he's chasing the 800 will do it better than the DSL. DSL too modern sounding. The green channel DSL without a boost is dull feeling, & lifeless unless your cranking it at ear piercing levels and it's still lifeless. It's suppose to immitate an 800, so why not get an 800. If you add a boost to your DSL, it's NOT doing AC/DC tones it's too high gain. Red channel is thin and way to modern distortion. The little one is so so much easier to carry too and delivers big tones especially for the bands he mentioned it's much closer to a Plexi than a DSL.

 

[Filipe Soares]

my two cents, keep the old ones, buy a SC20, also buy the SV20, also buy some friedman.

buy all amps, amps makes you happier.

at least, they make me happier. my neighbours may disagree but a dimed marshall moving so much air that you can feels your balls bouncing inside your pants really makes any guitar player happier.

 

[ken361]

Some places like my old house with a tile floor, a 1960 built house my amps seemed more bright and thinner to my condo. Maybe it has a higher voltage which would cause it. I have a voltage regulator but would like to get be a Brown Box voltage attunator but kinda pricey at 350.00. Yeah I heard that the 800 bigger iron are not that fat sounding but my SC and SV can shake the cement slab at times 😆

 

[abkeller1]

my two cents, keep the old ones, buy a SC20, also buy the SV20, also buy some friedman.

buy all amps, amps makes you happier.

at least, they make me happier. my neighbours may disagree but a dimed marshall moving so much air that you can feels your balls bouncing inside your pants really makes any guitar player happier.

Or you can take Prozac to make you happier too!

 

[Filipe Soares]

Or you can take Prozac to make you happier too!

I consider myself a bupropion person.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I recently sold a SC20, didn’t like much about it at all unfortunately. Zero low end unless the gain is maxed, which isn’t always where I want it, and the most brittle, piercing harsh high end I’ve ever heard from a Marshall. I also found it didn’t take pedals well, in front or in the loop. My go to forever has been my DSL 50. I don’t even use the lead channel on it, only the crunch with boosts and ODs. I’ve owned a 50 watt vintage modern and one of the split channel 2205 800s as well, didn’t like either of those. I play the same guitars and covers by the bands you listed. People love the SC20, I’ve heard it sound nice on demos but wasn’t for me. I retubed it, tried boosts with eq, but no help. I too would love to scale down amp size for gigs but I’ve tried to beat my old DSL with many amps for years with no luck. I never owned an 800-2204 but played an old one and remembered how super bright it was. My MKIII 50 watt 900, which I still use, blew the SC20 away for what I want as well. I’m wanting to try the mini jubilee now because I have heard it’s warmer and darker. Higher gain and more compression but maybe it’s a better fit after all. So, try the SC first if possible or buy where you have time to feel it out like from Musicians friend or Sweetwater.

Don’t sell up to get a Marshall studio , for a Friedman a definite yes .

1) wait til Nov 9 to buy anything. No reason, just a thought. But wait anyway. You might need the scratch

2) if you can't get suitable sounds from the VM I don't think you're gonna love the SC20.

don't do it. I have both. they are a little different. SL-X it just a killer amp and kinda hard to find. There are 4 SC20 available on G.C website right now they are always available used.

my two cents, keep the old ones, buy a SC20, also buy the SV20, also buy some friedman.

buy all amps, amps makes you happier.

at least, they make me happier. my neighbours may disagree but a dimed marshall moving so much air that you can feels your balls bouncing inside your pants really makes any guitar player happier.

Just a note. OP bought the SC20 in April of 2021 and is happy with it. Feel free to advise him but kinda falling on deaf ears now....

 

[Filipe Soares]

Just a note. OP bought the SC20 in April of 2021 and is happy with it. Feel free to advise him but kinda falling on deaf ears now....

my comment was more to repeat one of my favorite phrases: to move enough air to feel your balls bouncing. self indulgent, I know. but , what a great plasure it is.

 

[Cossack]

Just a note. OP bought the SC20 in April of 2021 and is happy with it. Feel free to advise him but kinda falling on deaf ears now....

Thanks Jethro. To all the rest, I appreciate the advice. Over six months in, I don’t regret getting the SC20c. I realize the VMs have gone up in price, and I miss mine, but if I was left with the choice of one amp, it would be the SC20c. Convenient size and portability, plus the tone I was looking for. I don’t feel like the low end is lacking; rather, it sounds like a lead guitar should sound to me.

And I think Friedmans are great amps, but I wanted a Marshall.

If anything, I’d love a little more gain, but it sounds like a JCM800, so I can live with it and add a boost. That doesn’t mean that I am not going to buy more Marshalls....