The Official Marshall Studio Classic Thread Sc20

[TXOldRedRocker]

I have both the head and the combo. Head is connected to a 2x12 with an attenuator in between.

I love the tones I can get at volume, but I can get close to them at bedroom volumes too. For my favorite tones, I simply use a Tone Bender style fuzz and/or a Rangemaster style Treble Booster pedal in front to make the tone sound more authentic at low volumes.

I goof around with a few OD, distortion and preamp pedals as well. But that's just for tonal fun. Above is all I really need.

 

[scozz]

Hi @DirtySteve, I haven’t played a SC20c, and every video I’ve watched the amp sounds great! Really great!

I just don’t seem to be able to get past the fact that this 20 watt “made in England” Marshall, at this price, has a 10” speaker.

And virtually all of Marshalls competitors in this class and price range come with a 12” speaker.

I really cannot buy Marshalls reasoning for using a 10” instead of a 12”, they claimed the 10” V-type speaker was the “best” sounding speaker they tested, including 12” speakers.

I guess I’m old school, but if I’m spending $1949 for a Marshall combo, I expect a 12” speaker!

Just my ,…

 

[Old Punker]

I want one of these combos so bad! On paper it seems ideal, the demos I've been able to find mostly all sound good. Ian's demos I came across in this thread it sounds awesome! I'm just wondering how it's going to sound at low volumes like I have to play at most of the time. I can't try one for myself, there's none around. I want to pull the trigger, but I'm a little scared to without being able to try it first.

Like you, when I first learned about the SC20, I wasn't able to try one beforehand. Covid made stock scarce, and the closest one was about 90 miles away in a big city and I wanted to stay out of there. Anyway, I also checked out all the online videos and reviews I could find and decided to pull the trigger. I'm very happy I did!

I have the SC20H which I play through a couple of 2x12 cabs, including the matching Marshall cab. IDK what your volume constraints are but I can get very nice rock tones from this amp from about 85 dB up to 'no one else at home' volume. The more saturated tones sound great even at lower volumes. You just need to spend some time to dial in the amp to your room. Most of the time now I'm playing at low (TV) volume and use a few tricks to get a nice tone. An OD pedal (SD-1) on boost up front works well. Lowering the signal level in the FX loop allows you to turn the Master up higher and really opens the amp up tone-wise. The 5 watt mode also works well once you learn to dial it in. It plays well through a quality attenuator, and although I own one, I rarely use it with the Marshall.

So if you want the Marshall sound, this amp will deliver. In reality though, no tube amp played in your basement is going to sound exactly like a Marshall half stack played live on a stage in a large venue. That being said, the tones I'm getting from my rig are keeping me very happy!

 

[scozz]

…………IDK what your volume constraints are but I can get very nice rock tones from this amp from about 85 dB up to “NO ONE ELSE AT HOME “. The more saturated tones sound great even at lower volumes…………

Haha, love that line Punker!

Oh and your whole post is right on the money imo, and like you I have an attenuator but the last few months I haven’t been using it at all.

 

[DirtySteve]

Thanks, you all have eased my mind about my low volume concerns and some of your comments have only helped me make up my mind to go ahead get one.

The main reason I want the combo is because it only has a 10" speaker, that's what I want! I've wanted a small grab and go 10" combo for a long time. At home I'll probably run it with my 112 cab along with the internal speaker if I can do that. And if the stock speaker doesn't sound good at low volumes that's not a problem, I have a Scumback 10M75 that sounds great at low volumes, I've been using with my HG plexi. I already figure it'll go in there, I've been wanting to find a good permanent home for it ever since I took it out of my Class 5 when I sold it.

 

[scozz]

………….The main reason I want the combo is because it only has a 10" speaker, that's what I want! I've wanted a small grab and go 10" combo for a long time. ……………..

Ok then, that’s the perfect amp for you bro! If you want a combo with a 10” speaker, the SC20c is a great choice, you’ll love it!

 

[DirtySteve]

Just pulled the trigger on a used one from Reverb for what "I think" is a great price. I'll soon be back in the Marshall fold!

Marshall Studio Classic SC20C "JCM 800 Lead Series" 20-Watt 1x10" Guitar Combo | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

 

[mahoney]

Hi there, I have decided I will change the speaker for a Greenback.

Do you think is better option a 12´´ than a 10 ´´?

Please, comment your experiences with GB.

Thanks.

 

[scozz]

Hi there, I have decided I will change the speaker for a Greenback.

Do you think is better option a 12´´ than a 10 ´´?

Please, comment your experiences with GB.

Thanks.

You’re talking about the combo right? I think there is room to put a 12” speaker in, but I don’t know if you should.

The cabinet is designed for a 10” speaker, putting a 12” may not be very beneficial, but I don’t know, maybe it would be better.

I don’t recall any members here doing that to an SC20 combo.

When an amp has only one single speaker, my suggestion would be a Creamback over a Greenback.

 

[mahoney]

You’re talking about the combo right? I think there is room to put a 12” speaker in, but I don’t know if you should.

The cabinet is designed for a 10” speaker, putting a 12” may not be very beneficial, but I don’t know, maybe it would be better.

I don’t recall any members here doing that to an SC20 combo.

When an amp has only one single speaker, my suggestion would be a Creamback over a Greenback.

Thank you. I think I will put an 10´´ Greenback speaker. i have installed it in my previous amps and it is the "tone" for me. Can i put a 8 ohm changing the socket or must be only 16 ohm. On the back there are 1x8 ohm and 2x16 ohm sockets.

 

[BlueX]

Can i put a 8 ohm changing the socket or must be only 16 ohm. On the back there are 1x8 ohm and 2x16 ohm sockets.

Is this an SC20C? That combo should have all combinations as speaker out: 1x4, 2x8, 1x8, 2x16, and 1x16. One 8 Ohm speaker goes into one of the sockets marked with 1x8/2x16.

Make sure your speaker is properly connected before turning on the amp. I recommend to use a DMM and measure resistance on that end of speaker cable that goes into the amp. An 8 Ohm impedance speaker should have resistance of 6-7 Ohm.

 

[mahoney]

Is this an SC20C? That combo should have all combinations as speaker out: 1x4, 2x8, 1x8, 2x16, and 1x16. One 8 Ohm speaker goes into one of the sockets marked with 1x8/2x16.

Make sure your speaker is properly connected before turning on the amp. I recommend to use a DMM and measure resistance on that end of speaker cable that goes into the amp. An 8 Ohm impedance speaker should have resistance of 6-7 Ohm.

Yes, It´s a SC20C. I´ll do it so. Thanks.

 

[scozz]

Yes, It´s a SC20C. I´ll do it so. Thanks.

Make sure to use speaker cables not instrument cables. The SC20 combos internal speaker is 16 ohm, it would be best imo, to get a 16 ohm cabinet to use with the combos speaker.

There are 5 different speaker options in an SC20,.. 1-16, 1-4, 1-8, 2-8, 2-16. If you buy a 16 ohm cabinet to use with the amps 16 ohm internal speaker, they would both be plugged into the 2-16 ohm spk jacks.

There is a way to safely mismatch speaker ohms with the Marshalls that have the 5 speaker jack options, including the SC20.

To use the internal 16 ohm speaker with an 8 ohm speaker or cab, you would remove the internal 16 ohm spk from the 1-16 ohm jack, and put it in the 1-8 ohm jack, and put your new 8 ohm speaker in the 1-4 ohm jack.

That will be a safe match.

If it was me though I think I would just just buy another 16 ohm speaker and use the 2-16 ohm jacks.

Here’s the back panel of a SC20 showing the 5 speaker jack options,…

 

[junk notes]

If it was me though I think I would just just buy another 16 ohm speaker and use the 2-16 ohm jacks.

Here’s the back panel of a SC20 showing the 5 speaker jack options,…

 

[solarburn]

Yeah just plug your speaker Jack into the amps 8 0hm tap. Easy peasy.

When I get a new speaker I multimeter it for ohm's. Make sure it is what it's suppose to be. It will prolly read a little bit under. I've had quite a few of my 8 ohms read 6 ohms. My 16's read 13.5 or 14 ohms. I test the speaker tabs first and the speaker wire to make sure it's all working. Mismatched impedance can blow OT's. Been there. Sux!!!

 

[mahoney]

Yeah just plug your speaker Jack into the amps 8 0hm tap. Easy peasy.

When I get a new speaker I multimeter it for ohm's. Make sure it is what it's suppose to be. It will prolly read a little bit under. I've had quite a few of my 8 ohms read 6 ohms. My 16's read 13.5 or 14 ohms. I test the speaker tabs first and the speaker wire to make sure it's all working. Mismatched impedance can blow OT's. Been there. Sux!!!

Thank you. I had thought to do that, just plug it into the 8 ohm socket. Very explanatory the picture!

 

[scozz]

Thank you. I had thought to do that, just plug it into the 8 ohm socket. Very explanatory the picture!

For some strange reason I completely misunderstood what you wanted to do! Lol.

I thought you wanted to add another speaker cab, (8 ohm speaker to use with the amps internal 16 ohm speaker).

I finally got it in my head that all you want to do is change out the existing 16 ohm speaker in the SC20c, to a 8 ohm Greenback. Which @solarburn kindly corrected me on.

While I’m on the subject though, some new Marshall owners don’t realize that Marshalls with the 5 speaker jacks on the back panel, one can use an 8 ohm speaker or cab, with a 16 ohm speaker or cab with no issue or mismatch.

Just plug the 16 ohm spk. into the 8 ohm out, and the 8 ohm spk. into the 4 ohm out. It’s a perfect match,… not according to me, but from Santiago.

 

[mahoney]

For some strange reason I completely misunderstood what you wanted to do! Lol.

I thought you wanted to add another speaker cab, (8 ohm speaker to use with the amps internal 16 ohm speaker).

I finally got it in my head that all you want to do is change out the existing 16 ohm speaker in the SC20c, to a 8 ohm Greenback. Which @solarburn kindly corrected me on.

While I’m on the subject though, some new Marshall owners don’t realize that Marshalls with the 5 speaker jacks on the back panel, one can use an 8 ohm speaker or cab, with a 16 ohm speaker or cab with no issue or mismatch.

Just plug the 16 ohm spk. into the 8 ohm out, and the 8 ohm spk. into the 4 ohm out. It’s a perfect match,… not according to me, but from Santiago.

Well, I am from Spain and maybe I didn´t explain it properly..LOL..Thank you again!

 

[mahoney]

I also would like to share my experiences with a pedal for the SC20C if It could be helpful.

I have a Caline Orange Burst, a cheap, extraordinary and versatile pedal, that can make this combo sound bigger and fatter. Just turn up the bass to 3/4 in the pedal and you can feel like if it had a 12¨ speaker and not the 10. It increases the bass frecuencies more naturally than the amp itself.

 

[mahoney]

And...I am going to try in my SC20C with a Mooer Black Secret (the same basically pedal than this Eno Myomorpha) and will tell you.



This guy says that the pedal can act as an underdrive pedal and clean better the tone than the volume knob. Quite strange because it´s not even in the loop, it´s in the front!

I had a Mooer Black Secret (RAT clone) and remember that It can act like this, can decrease your gain if needed without losing volume.

I will borrow it from a friend and share my experiences. Maybe it will not sound like SC20 low input, but a clean tone so easily could be great. Sometimes it´s quite difficult to do it so accurate with volume knob and it´s a very cheap pedal.

Has anybody tried this in the SC20 with this or another pedal? I know this amp works with the two inputs with gain stages in cascades, differents volume levels and it´s not possible to get 2 "footswitcheable" channels but any other solution that works could be great..