Marshall amp recommendations please for home

[TonalEuphoria]

I had trouble getting amp sims to sound all that different from each other

I actually found this in part with the Fractal models. Over the years now of owming a Fractal FM3 and really delving into heavily adjusting all the wide amount of parameters in the modeling and effects, the modelings don't sound that truly different from the modded digital mapping eq response. After all it is just a digital model of the amp and not the actual analog circuit with the true componets providing a real basis for the character of the amp. And once you really get into shaping it and changing parameters, it certainly seems to me that whatever made it more particular in it's character like the particular amp it was trying to model, is removed a bit.

I really have had enough of the modelers from using them over time and the luster of there coolness wearing off. There convenient and while I'm trying to get rid of my FM3, I still have my amp sims in the computer if I want to use some. But the real thing is the real thing. Just like the convenience of throwing a good frozen pizza into the oven to quickly feed the desire for some pizza. But it's still not really good, fresh made NY pizza. Just a convenient frozen, half ass resemblance of some.

 

[G the wildman]

Nora, this is difficult, I am a tone chaser and have done buckets of money buying and selling.

I have a tone king amp, about 3k in the UK, I have a studio SV 20 with 1x 12 speaker cab, its loud and authentic - not good for home without an attenuator. I never use this great amp. I also have a small practice amp, it’s a dsl.

So I cover some good ground with good amps. But What I seem to use mostly is my iridium modeller through a good Frfr.

But and it is a big BUT when I turn one of my tubes amp on it is heaven. So I don’t need them but I like owning them and using them now and again. I think the OP wants a tube amp and will enjoy it. But if money is no problem I would get Friedman.

G

 

[Crikey]

Hi all, long time lurker first time poster. I recently sold my tsl100 head and 412 half stack as I’m a bedroom guitarist whose wife felt I needed an amp that takes up less space. I have a gt1000 to run fx in 4 cable method and of course used an attenuator for the 100w amp so happy to do so again.

I’m a drummer but enjoy learning/playing guitar. Bands I enjoy playing songs from are:

Chili Peppers
Guns n Roses
Foo Fighters
Metallica
Green Day
Nirvana
Pearl Jam
Etc. to give an idea.


Ideally would like some flexibility with tone but obviously still playing in the bedroom and maybe occasionally with a band in garage setting.

My thoughts/options are as follows.
Mini Silver jubilee (head or combo)
Dsl40 combo (not 20 as if I’m sharing controls I’d rather the jubilee)
Studio Jcm800 (head or combo)
Jvm 2 or 4 channel combo

Outside Marshall, given the gt1000 and bedroom playing I thought another option might be Hughes and left we tubemeister or grandmeister deluxe 40’s to give some sound options.

As I live in Tasmania Australia there aren’t options to play these in person so YouTube has been my only option for hearing them. I’d love the thoughts of anyone who has experience with any of the above options whether I could dial in tones close enough to cover most of the bands above or if any would be completely wrong just to help me narrow down my options.

I love Marshall’s but at this point I’m looking for flexibility and no bigger in size than a studio series head on a 212 cab.

Obviously the gt1000 gives lots of flexibility but I don’t want to run that through a speaker I really want an authentic tube sounding amp and in person the gt1000 doesn’t get there on its own but does allow lots of options to tweak the tones of whatever amp I decide on.

Thanks for your advice/wisdom/help

I play a Gibson standard 2005 faded cherry with Alnico 2 Seymour Duncan’s (slash version, only because I liked how they sounded after trying a few different options).

Easy
Jcm 800 2203 full stack
Enjoy

 

[paul-e-mann]

Nora, this is difficult, I am a tone chaser and have done buckets of money buying and selling.

I have a tone king amp, about 3k in the UK, I have a studio SV 20 with 1x 12 speaker cab, its loud and authentic - not good for home without an attenuator. I never use this great amp. I also have a small practice amp, it’s a dsl.

So I cover some good ground with good amps. But What I seem to use mostly is my iridium modeller through a good Frfr.

But and it is a big BUT when I turn one of my tubes amp on it is heaven. So I don’t need them but I like owning them and using them now and again. I think the OP wants a tube amp and will enjoy it. But if money is no problem I would get Friedman.

G

Too bad you dont use your SV20, I use it the most when I need quiet play, it has a volume box in the loop, the tone is really good at low volume, use an OD out front for gainier tones.

 

[colchar]

I actually found this in part with the Fractal models. Over the years now of owming a Fractal FM3 and really delving into heavily adjusting all the wide amount of parameters in the modeling and effects, the modelings don't sound that truly different from the modded digital mapping eq response. After all it is just a digital model of the amp and not the actual analog circuit with the true componets providing a real basis for the character of the amp. And once you really get into shaping it and changing parameters, it certainly seems to me that whatever made it more particular in it's character like the particular amp it was trying to model, is removed a bit.

I really have had enough of the modelers from using them over time and the luster of there coolness wearing off. There convenient and while I'm trying to get rid of my FM3, I still have my amp sims in the computer if I want to use some. But the real thing is the real thing. Just like the convenience of throwing a good frozen pizza into the oven to quickly feed the desire for some pizza. But it's still not really good, fresh made NY pizza. Just a convenient frozen, half ass resemblance of some.

They are also confusing to the uninitiated, or those who are not technologically inclined. I only just discovered what IRs actually are in a discussion going on right now over at TGP, despite people having tried to explain them to me in the past.

They are just cab sims, ffs. Had they called them that, or cab models, they would have made sense and not been something that turned me off because I thought they were complicated computery stuff.

 

[purpleplexi]

DSL40CR can't be a bad choice. And it might just be the best. If you can't find a sound close to what you want in that amp you're just not looking hard enough.

 

[Crikey]

seeing dal 40s , which is a great sounding Marshall, for $400 on CList

 

[Matthews Guitars]

Best amp for home use? Well...maybe my two full stacks and four 100 watt Marshall heads is a bit excessive, but I don't really mind. Who cares what the neighbors think? They're not complaining to me. But they may be deaf or maybe just afraid to approach the house. Don't know.

 

[Crikey]

Guys my stock reply yo OP questions like this
“ whats best Marshall for…my apartment, bedroom, Ny refrigerator size apt?”
Stock answer

2203 full stack

 

[Guitardrummerdownunder]

Hi all,

I really appreciate those who offered some serious considerations to me, it really helps to narrow down my options.

To clarify, my wife is a professional violinist and our music room is a small bedroom in a small house. It has a large home gym in it already and a Roland td50 drum kit with full size bass drum and extra pads. I have a Hercules 5 guitar stand and my sons Marshall code 50 and boss me80 pedal. My old stack (100w head and 4x12 cab) was too large (not too loud) in the tiny room, so as much as I blame the wife it’s also my decision to reduce the footprint.

I’m surprised more people haven’t suggested the mini silver jubilee which is what I was originally leaning towards so I’m guessing there are good reasons for that.

It seems there are 3 main suggestions that pop up a lot.

DSL40c
SC20 (combo or head and 212 vertical cab)
Utilising my boss and getting a good frfr powered speaker

I also liked the suggestion of a jvm215c however width wise I’m not sure how much space that gets me back so will need to check dimensions against the 412 cabs.

Regarding the modeller suggestion is there a good forum to help find the right solution to pair with my gt1000? In the long-run it may be a good option as the right system may cover both the guitar and Roland drums.

Thanks again so much for the helpful suggestions and information from your own personal experiences.

I’m still not convinced a modeller alone can match a tube sound, and most of the pros who do it when interviewed seem to imply it’s more a convenience and simplicity decision long-term than a completely musical choice alone I am willing to explore this option as it could solve two issues for me (drums and guitar).

 

[Matthews Guitars]

The best modellers are absolutely capable of matching tube amps for tone, if you take the time to tweak them out to the fullest extent. There may be people who would argue otherwise, but there's plenty of evidence to show that I'm speaking truth. But having a good modeller has not kept me from buying more tube amps! I've bought more tube amps since I got my Fractal than I had before I got my Fractal.

 

[G the wildman]

Hi all,

I really appreciate those who offered some serious considerations to me, it really helps to narrow down my options.

To clarify, my wife is a professional violinist and our music room is a small bedroom in a small house. It has a large home gym in it already and a Roland td50 drum kit with full size bass drum and extra pads. I have a Hercules 5 guitar stand and my sons Marshall code 50 and boss me80 pedal. My old stack (100w head and 4x12 cab) was too large (not too loud) in the tiny room, so as much as I blame the wife it’s also my decision to reduce the footprint.

I’m surprised more people haven’t suggested the mini silver jubilee which is what I was originally leaning towards so I’m guessing there are good reasons for that.

It seems there are 3 main suggestions that pop up a lot.

DSL40c
SC20 (combo or head and 212 vertical cab)
Utilising my boss and getting a good frfr powered speaker

I also liked the suggestion of a jvm215c however width wise I’m not sure how much space that gets me back so will need to check dimensions against the 412 cabs.

Regarding the modeller suggestion is there a good forum to help find the right solution to pair with my gt1000? In the long-run it may be a good option as the right system may cover both the guitar and Roland drums.

Thanks again so much for the helpful suggestions and information from your own personal experiences.

I’m still not convinced a modeller alone can match a tube sound, and most of the pros who do it when interviewed seem to imply it’s more a convenience and simplicity decision long-term than a completely musical choice alone I am willing to explore this option as it could solve two issues for me (drums and guitar).

I should have said I had a jvm 215. The double speaker combo. It was awsome, it blew me away when I first got it. But I am not sure it was as good as my SV20. Different of course. One thing to note, I bought it new and sold it almost new for a third of its value. On aggregate no one seems to want big amps. Sorry boys I know you guys love them. But . . .

G

 

[fitz]

I also liked the suggestion of a jvm215c however width wise I’m not sure how much space that gets me back so will need to check dimensions against the 412 cabs.

JVM215

marshall.com

 

[Sir Don]

Mate, I'd go with the DSL40CR.

I have one and use it with my GT1000, 4CM and use the midi switching. I need four channels of differing sounds so it suits me for smaller gigs.

Also, I think it's more readily available in Australia right now, some Marshalls are very hard to get here.

Cheers.

 

[Guitardrummerdownunder]

T

Mate, I'd go with the DSL40CR.

I have one and use it with my GT1000, 4CM and use the midi switching. I need four channels of differing sounds so it suits me for smaller gigs.

Also, I think it's more readily available in Australia right now, some Marshalls are very hard to get here.

Cheers.

Thanks, yep very hard to find a variety here at the moment. The amps from my list were representative of ones in stock somewhere in Australia. I have locally in stock Sv20h, Sc20h, Hughes and Kettner tubemeister deluxe 40. Sc20 seemed more my taste than Sv20 based on reviews and comparisons. Hughes and Kettner seemed to offer multiple channels that I thought might work in conjunction with eq etc from my boss but wasn’t sure what they were like in person in comparison.

There is currently a dsl40c in vintage finish on marketplace for $850 AUD otherwise dsl seem hard to come by in stock too. There is one 2525c in stock in Australia but not locally so can’t hear it in person however there seems to be a clear view by replies that this is not the amp to choose.

I settled on an electronic drum kit as it was more practical but no matter how good they are, they still don’t sound like an acoustic. In a band setting the differences reduce significantly as sound engineers mix an acoustic and change how it sounds anyway.

As a classically trained musician who spent years playing in an orchestra I tend to listen to nuances in sound. Even though I’m plugging in an electric guitar to an electric speaker I can hear distinct differences in tone and response between a high end modeller and a good tube amp. It’s not necessarily better or worse just different. It comes down to whether the difference bothers me enough in the long term or whether I really need some form of nice sounding tube amp to satisfy my ears. It’s always personal so that’s just how it is to my ear. If others find no discernible difference then good for them, that’s great. I’m sure if I mic a cab and compared through studio monitors I would have difficulty hearing the same difference but in my situation I’m sitting in front of the amp live and the difference is noticible.

 

[TonalEuphoria]

Regarding the modeller suggestion is there a good forum to help find the right solution to pair with my gt1000? In the long-run it may be a good option as the right system may cover both the guitar and Roland drums.

Many players using AXE FX-III's and some of the II's and so on, are using the Matrix series power amps. As many see them as giving the best representation when used in combo with modelers to make them more like a tube amp and running them into their cabs of choice. I had considered going this route myself a couple years back when I still considered modeling a reasonable substitute for real tubes amps at the time. Which I don't anymore. Plenty of player have their opinion on modelers and how they compare to tube amps. But that's all it is. Is opinion. A player uses what they prefer though. As they should.

Matrix Amplification GT800FX Power Amplifier – MusicPlayers.com

Thousands of guitar players are using amp modelers to get their sound, whether in the studio or on stage. There are certainly plenty of reasons to favor use of a modeler, but just try to convince a tube amp purist—it’s an exercise in futility for the majority. For those of you who have embraced...

musicplayers.com

XT 1U Series

Powerful, lightweight amplifers for PA and monitoring

matrixproaudio.com

 

[TonalEuphoria]

They are also confusing to the uninitiated, or those who are not technologically inclined. I only just discovered what IRs actually are in a discussion going on right now over at TGP, despite people having tried to explain them to me in the past.

They are just cab sims, ffs. Had they called them that, or cab models, they would have made sense and not been something that turned me off because I thought they were complicated computery stuff.

All modelers are not the same. Programming a Helix and setting up your presets, trying to get you're perfect tone is different for instance than doing the same thing with a Fractal unit. Or a Kemper or Quad Cortex. IR's captor and model not just the cab, but the speakers and microphone used. And some IR software gives you more control over your impulse response than others. Depending on how indepth they went in the capturing with so many microphones in so many positions and same cabs but different speakers and so on. It really can be overwhelming in having too many choices too.

 

[colchar]

seeing dal 40s , which is a great sounding Marshall, for $400 on CList

The OP is in Tasmania.

 

[colchar]

Too bad you dont use your SV20, I use it the most when I need quiet play, it has a volume box in the loop, the tone is really good at low volume, use an OD out front for gainier tones.

By volume box, I assume you mean the JHS? I have a Jettenuator for my SV20 and AD30, but just ordered a used JHS today to try it out. For $38 I can't go wrong. Hell, I spend about half that just on coffee each week.

 

[paul-e-mann]

By volume box, I assume you mean the JHS? I have a Jettenuator for my SV20 and AD30, but just ordered a used JHS today to try it out. For $38 I can't go wrong. Hell, I spend about half that just on coffee each week.

JHS yup! Dime the amp volume gets you a low gain edge of breakup tone ACDC Zep all day long! Put an OD pedal out front for anything gainier. The JHS in the loop lets you get that tone at any volume!