I've had it with my marshall ... looking for new amp advice

[UFORocks]

So I think Im just done with marshall amps for a while, at least until I have the cash to drop on a hand wired.

My first marshall, a 100w valvestate 1x12, was a total pile of shit. After about an hour of use it would start to hum, loudly, unless I turned the reverb off. I never figured out what the problem was with it, three different techs couldn't replicate the problem let alone fix it.

The current amp, a DSL 401 combo, is just as big a pile of shit as the last one. Apparently the DSL combo amps are notorious for overheating problems that destroy the electronics over time, commonly the rectifier diode. I bought it used for $600 +tx and have already dropped $250 into it for repairs related to this problem. I might as well have bought a new one!

With that said, Im selling the DSL and looking for a replacement, but there's just so many options out there.

So far I've been researching the Traynor YCV50, Carvin Nomad, and Crate V32 Palomino. Most of what I play is 70's and 80's hard rock and metal; Zeppelin, AC/DC, UFO, MSG, Cinderella, Ozzy, so Im not really looking for a gain monster.

Any suggestions? I know the best answer is to just go play some amps myself, but Im 45 miles from the nearest GC or Sam Ash, and the local shops carry a very limited selection, mostly marshall. Any ideas or suggestions to help me narrow down the field would be greatly appreciated.

later,

Steve

[emperor_black]

Was just reading about this amp in GW. Seems good for your stuff. No hands on experience with it tho. I am always looking for a "high-gain" amp and have landed on a 5150 myself. but check this out.

http://www.fender.com/products/supersonic/

also how about VOX?

cheers

[thetroy]

What price range

[skorb]

get a used Vetta off ebay.
you'll have every tone you ever want.

[Mordor]

Do you play in a band too?
Anyway, I suggest you to try some real marshall before bashing it. New marshall have quality control issues and they are built like shit but for the kind of music you described a nice boosted plexi or jcm 800 would be great. If you're lucky enough you could score a nice used one. Orange would take you in that territory you, but they are kinda expensive. Check out the Orange Tiny Terror though, 15w class A all tube head.

[CharvelRocker]

If you like Marshall try either an Orange Tiny Terror as suggested above or track a used higher end model down.

[yard dawg]

Dude get the Carvin Nomad and look for one used with the hasserl MOD done to it you wont regret it. You may be able to find one at carvin museum.com... I enjoy my vintage 16 with that MOD.... You can get awesome tones with or without a pedal.

[mjtripper]

Dude get the Carvin Nomad and look for one used with the hasserl MOD done to it you wont regret it. You may be able to find one at carvin museum.com... I enjoy my vintage 16 with that MOD.... You can get awesome tones with or without a pedal.

I've almost pulled the trigger on one of those vintage 16s so many times. How much gain do they have? How much clean headroom does it really have?

[DonP]

Anyway, I suggest you to try some real marshall before bashing it.

+1

You seemed to pick the lemons of the bunch:ROTF:

I have had a DSL100 1/2 stack since 1998 without problems.

I also have quite a few Micro Stacks from the 80's. Other than the crappy pots that are always scratchy with these, these amps are dynamos.

Good luck with whatever you choose, but research it for issues before you buy.

[UFORocks]

If you like Marshall try either an Orange Tiny Terror as suggested above or track a used higher end model down.

Yeah, I've heard about them, but orange amps are just so damn expensive.

-----------

Do you play in a band too?
Anyway, I suggest you to try some real marshall before bashing it. New marshall have quality control issues and they are built like shit but for the kind of music you described a nice boosted plexi or jcm 800 would be great. If you're lucky enough you could score a nice used one. Orange would take you in that territory you, but they are kinda expensive. Check out the Orange Tiny Terror though, 15w class A all tube head.

No, I dont have the time for a band right now. I put in 55+ hours a week at work consistently, plus 6 to 8 hours a week of practice and I take music lessons on the weekends. The time for a band came and went when I was a teenager. Maybe when my wife finishes school I can afford to cut down the OT.

As far as "Marshall" the brand goes, no I haven't written them off or bashed their entire product line. But you said it yourself, they're built like shit, and IMO they have more than a few QC "issues". That said I'd like a plexi or JCM800, but you need to crank them to really get that sweet marshall tone, and thats just not an option where I live.

I may take a drive to GC tomorrow and check out the palomino V32, I really liked the V8 I had for a while; if I'd known better I would have kept that and bought a 12" extension cab for it.

My max price is around $700. But I dont NEED to spend all $700

[CharvelRocker]

The Tiny Terror is about $600 IIRC.

EDIT: Might want to give a Peavey Windsor a spin too.

[Robert Burns]

So I think Im just done with marshall amps for a while, at least until I have the cash to drop on a hand wired.

My first marshall, a 100w valvestate 1x12, was a total pile of shit. After about an hour of use it would start to hum, loudly, unless I turned the reverb off. I never figured out what the problem was with it, three different techs couldn't replicate the problem let alone fix it.

The current amp, a DSL 401 combo, is just as big a pile of shit as the last one. Apparently the DSL combo amps are notorious for overheating problems that destroy the electronics over time, commonly the rectifier diode. I bought it used for $600 +tx and have already dropped $250 into it for repairs related to this problem. I might as well have bought a new one!

With that said, Im selling the DSL and looking for a replacement, but there's just so many options out there.

So far I've been researching the Traynor YCV50, Carvin Nomad, and Crate V32 Palomino. Most of what I play is 70's and 80's hard rock and metal; Zeppelin, AC/DC, UFO, MSG, Cinderella, Ozzy, so Im not really looking for a gain monster.

Any suggestions? I know the best answer is to just go play some amps myself, but Im 45 miles from the nearest GC or Sam Ash, and the local shops carry a very limited selection, mostly marshall. Any ideas or suggestions to help me narrow down the field would be greatly appreciated.

later,

Steve

****************************
You seem to like Combo amps...so please DO check out Fenders white
limited addition Twin. I think its the twin? Snow white tolex... only 800
made total production. Pure tube amp $700.00 Its near perfect and sound like Stevie
Ray is playing next to you cranked! Shimmering clean, and great blues
bark. All around outstanding tone imo

[thetroy]

I used to have a Soldano Astroverb 1x12 combo and it sounded great for those kinds of tones. Picked it up for $600 used in totally mint condition. It uses 2x EL84's for power (~20 watts) so it CAN get sort of loud but it doesn't have to be very loud to sound good. I'd have kept it if I weren't poor.

Right now I'm looking at buying myself a Peavey Valveking 1x12 because it's cheaper and more versatile.

[hippietim]

I got my Tiny Terror for under $500. It's kick ass.

[UFORocks]

****************************
You seem to like Combo amps...so please DO check out Fenders white
limited addition Twin. I think its the twin? Snow white tolex... only 800
made total production. Pure tube amp $700.00 Its near perfect and sound like Stevie
Ray is playing next to you cranked! Shimmering clean, and great blues
bark. All around outstanding tone imo

Cool, I'll be sure to check it out

I used to have a Soldano Astroverb 1x12 combo and it sounded great for those kinds of tones. Picked it up for $600 used in totally mint condition. It uses 2x EL84's for power (~20 watts) so it CAN get sort of loud but it doesn't have to be very loud to sound good. I'd have kept it if I weren't poor.

Right now I'm looking at buying myself a Peavey Valveking 1x12 because it's cheaper and more versatile.

I've heard good and bad about the PVK, but most people that have 'em like 'em. The sound clips I found are pretty good too, i'll have to look at that a little more.

I got my Tiny Terror for under $500. It's kick ass.

Im trying to stay away from single channel amps, not that there's anything wrong with them, I just need a little more versatility since it will be my only amp.