Marshall Vintage Modern series--- mildly interesting!

[Blast9]

KT66 power stage! That's quite a departure >>> back to the JTM45 days.

Also they are single channel amps with some sorta switchable additional toob and adjustable tonal palatte.

Sounds like they're going for 60s Non-MV plus 70s MV tones (just a guess)

http://www.marshallamps.com/product....oductCode=2466

[cdog]

Could be interesting although I really feel the tranny they use in the new marshalls cripples the tone.

I bet these amps could sound really good if they didn't cut so many corners on parts.

[Blast9]

Word!

Xformer --- Perhaps that's why I've ben underwhelmed by the DSL series all this time.

THey're not bad.... but

[dtucker]

Originally Posted by cdog

bet these amps could sound really good if they didn't cut so many corners on parts.

And the irony is that they're charging "high end" prices. What would they be charging if they had not cut corners on parts? Twice as much?

Ridiculous.

[Kyle Ashley]

anybody ever see the xformer in a jcm900? it was about the size of a peanut.
i switched to bogners in the mid 90s and life is good...although the older I get the harder they are to lug around

[Jeff16years]

i played one of these amps at GC yesterday, I didn't have a lot of time but it sounded KILLER.
I have a DSL now and I like it but this thing blows the doors off.

anyone else have any experience with them?

[Rripror]

DSL 100 is on craigslist as I type. Bought the 50w vintage/modern head, running through a 4x12 w/greenbacks.
I really dig this amp. I was extremely tired of looking for the perfect amp for my needs. My search is over.

Even the clean mode is nice which isn't what I think a Marshall should be used for.tutt The fact that its so linear and simple in its design is what appealed to me.

Different guitars,pickups and playing style change the response of this amp dramatically. Once you find the right combination its just really cool!

[Blast9]

thumbsup

awesome!

[Suspects]

We have the 50-watt head and matching 4 X 12 cabinet, which is loaded with modified Greenbacks from the Hendrix Tribute stack. The amp sounds WAY better through the matching cab than our Vintage-30 loaded 1960BV or the stock 1960 with the GT75 (no surprise there). The amp seems to be a little touchy about the pick-ups it likes... i would strongly advise taking it for a spin with the guitar you plan to use before plunking down cash (probably a good idea overall).

Dave/Suspect Studios

[matskull]

So anyblody else use on of these?

I'm curious about them, I've got a vintage MKII bass from 1977 which sounds badass but the vintage modern seems to be a different flavour, more gain too.

I like one channel amps and I saw a VM with matching cab for sale at a good price locally, I would have to get rig of my mesa tremoverb for this though but I don't feel like the mesa is giving me what an amp of this price should deliver, I've said it in other thread allready but I feel like even though I really like the mesa, I always find myself looking for something else...

How are the transformers in this thing, how's the build quality of the new marshalls, do they give you a good punch in the chest like the old one used to?

[fakiekid]

I have the 50watt head,

very nice!

Distortion side is very jcm800 like and having the 'body' gain can help add that extreme low many Marshalls can lack although i only use a tiny bit of this as it can get mushy.

The clean is amazing, can grit up very nicely but can also be super chimey clean on lower gain settings.

YouTube - Live Performance

tht was a vid I had to do for a uni project (for ticking a box), please excuse my disgusting singing! tht was a Washburn X50 with Seymour Duncan Custom humbucker, VM on my Red 1960a with Celestion G12h's into an i5 into my Zoom MRS1608.

The thing with this head is that you have to really dial it in! This sounded ludicrous the first time I heard someone say that but you really do have to spend some time getting it just right, when you do, its amazing!

[matskull]

Originally Posted by fakiekid

I have the 50watt head,

very nice!

Distortion side is very jcm800 like and having the 'body' gain can help add that extreme low many Marshalls can lack although i only use a tiny bit of this as it can get mushy.

The clean is amazing, can grit up very nicely but can also be super chimey clean on lower gain settings.

YouTube - Live Performance

tht was a vid I had to do for a uni project (for ticking a box), please excuse my disgusting singing! tht was a Washburn X50 with Seymour Duncan Custom humbucker, VM on my Red 1960a with Celestion G12h's into an i5 into my Zoom MRS1608.

The thing with this head is that you have to really dial it in! This sounded ludicrous the first time I heard someone say that but you really do have to spend some time getting it just right, when you do, its amazing!

Sounds good.
Can you achieve as much distortion (like at the end) without a pedal on it?

[matskull]

BTW, which cab did you use?
Also, why does it require lots of tweaking, those it sound like shit straight out of the box?

Thanks

[fakiekid]

Originally Posted by matskull

Sounds good.
Can you achieve as much distortion (like at the end) without a pedal on it?

the pedal was just the dynamic range switch that comes with the head, that was at just above half on Detail and just below a quarter on Body. Attached pic of settings.

The cabinet is an old Marshall 1960a that's been recovered in red and had Celestion G12h's put in, a mix between a V30 and a Greenback.

The amp doesn't sound like crap out of the box, it just has a vast range of tonality and to get the sound you want you have to explore it. I find the Presence to not just add presence but also a nice midrange body to it. Not only that but sometimes I have to use it as a 2 channel amp as you've seen so dialing in a nice clean vs dist tone can also take some time.

The Body control just add's a whole new dimension, fantastic clean low end. To get it, I think you have to try it.

[fakiekid]

YouTube - Marshall Vintage Modern 2266

great demo

[JPeters86]

I had the combo once but sold it. Although it certainly did not sound bad at all, it wasn't the sound I was looking for. I now have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe limited edition which I really like. It also 'accepts' my pedals in a way that I prefer. But whatever cranks your tractor

[matskull]

Originally Posted by fakiekid

the pedal was just the dynamic range switch that comes with the head, that was at just above half on Detail and just below a quarter on Body. Attached pic of settings.

The cabinet is an old Marshall 1960a that's been recovered in red and had Celestion G12h's put in, a mix between a V30 and a Greenback.

The amp doesn't sound like crap out of the box, it just has a vast range of tonality and to get the sound you want you have to explore it. I find the Presence to not just add presence but also a nice midrange body to it. Not only that but sometimes I have to use it as a 2 channel amp as you've seen so dialing in a nice clean vs dist tone can also take some time.

The Body control just add's a whole new dimension, fantastic clean low end. To get it, I think you have to try it.

Ah ok I thought you were using a zoom pedal, well it sounds very good by itself then, that's cool.

I see that wou're maxing the bass on the amp, I listened to a couple of youtube clips and it always seems to sound good but a little bit thin.

Is it the reason why you're maxing the bass?
If you'd have the bass at 12o'clock and the body a little bit higher would it do the same?

I'll go to the store today I think to see if they have it.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by JPeters86

I had the combo once but sold it. Although it certainly did not sound bad at all, it wasn't the sound I was looking for. I now have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe limited edition which I really like. It also 'accepts' my pedals in a way that I prefer. But whatever cranks your tractor

What didn't you like about it?

I'm hesitating between two completely different rig right now.

Either a 5150 with mesa oversized 4x12
or
a Marshall VM with matshing 425A cab

This new rig would be use for its distortion mostly, to play punk, metal, hardcore...anything heavy.

[JPeters86]

Originally Posted by matskull

What didn't you like about it?

I just didn't like the sound for what I do. I was impressed when I demoed it in the store and had some money at the time so I thought what the hell. But after experimenting longer, I couldn't really get the tone I wanted. It sounded a bit too gritty, too... Whitesnake And I mostly play blues. I have some pedals now which get me somewhere near the Marshall sound on a Fender, for the times I need it.

[fakiekid]

Originally Posted by matskull

Ah ok I thought you were using a zoom pedal, well it sounds very good by itself then, that's cool.

I see that wou're maxing the bass on the amp, I listened to a couple of youtube clips and it always seems to sound good but a little bit thin.

Is it the reason why you're maxing the bass?
If you'd have the bass at 12o'clock and the body a little bit higher would it do the same?

I'll go to the store today I think to see if they have it.

I find that the Body can make the amp mushy and vague for palm mutes but the bass doesn't do this. When I've got a Royer 121 right up to the grill its a different story and I end up pulling the mic back and removing bass. I also own a Zakk Wylde Signature that is also the same, I have bass maxed out on that amp, IMO a JCM800 doesn't have massive amounts of low end which I find can help them cut through everything else. If I use the midrange boost I find I use less bass also along with cranking the amp!

This thing won't do 5150/Rectifier IMO. It will just do pure Marshall Vintage amp tones I.e, a good JCM800 dist with a JTM45/Bluesbreaker type clean.

I'd take a look at the TSL if you're looking for depth and thickness. My 50watt TSL head gets preferred by many that use it in the studio but I'm not much of a fan.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by fakiekid

I find that the Body can make the amp mushy and vague for palm mutes but the bass doesn't do this. When I've got a Royer 121 right up to the grill its a different story and I end up pulling the mic back and removing bass. I also own a Zakk Wylde Signature that is also the same, I have bass maxed out on that amp, IMO a JCM800 doesn't have massive amounts of low end which I find can help them cut through everything else. If I use the midrange boost I find I use less bass also along with cranking the amp!

This thing won't do 5150/Rectifier IMO. It will just do pure Marshall Vintage amp tones I.e, a good JCM800 dist with a JTM45/Bluesbreaker type clean.

I'd take a look at the TSL if you're looking for depth and thickness. My 50watt TSL head gets preferred by many that use it in the studio but I'm not much of a fan.

Nah I'm nt a fan of the TSL either.

I know this thing isn't gonna do the 5150 tone, that's for sure, I just cant decide what I want, I allready have a marshall MKII 1977 so....

Today I went to the store and tried the Vintage Modern 100 watt with its matching 425A Cab.
I didn't push it though.

It really is a good amp for what it does IMO.
Its the softest marshal I have heard up to now.
The clean is really good and soft, I really liked that.
The distortion is also soft and for metal or really heavy stuff it seems to lack balls and punch, the bass on palm mute seems to choke and get muddy instead of getting powerful like my mesa tremoverb dual rectifier (which I'm selling for the new rig) for example.

So basically, the clip you posted was the perfect example of how this amp was intended to be used, pop punk and stuff like that.

My MKII sounds really more "agressive" and punchy compared to the VM but it doesn't go into high gain, the cleans are really different on both amp and I like both.

I'll try to see if I can try the 5150 mesa combo this week to see what I like the best.

I also tried a Hughes & Kettner Statesman which was pretty cool too but maybe a little bit too much like my mesa.
I tried a JCM800 kerry edittion and a handwired aniversary edition, they were powerfull and punchy but I didn't fall in love with them.

[matskull]

I forgot to ask, how does the VM sounds onve cranked (master at 12 o'clock or so)?
Does it really onpen up and get more punchy?

thanks

[Chrislpp]

Originally Posted by matskull

I forgot to ask, how does the VM sounds onve cranked (master at 12 o'clock or so)?
Does it really onpen up and get more punchy?

thanks

From what I've heard on A/B tests it isn't great.

I wouldn't buy the 4 channel version....do you really need that many?

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Chrislpp

From what I've heard on A/B tests it isn't great.

I wouldn't buy the 4 channel version....do you really need that many?

I'm talking about the VM (vintage modern) it's a one channel amp, well two channel but they share the same controls.

[rwhitney]

I took the 50-watt 2x12 combo home for a test drive and thought it sounded a little too garbled, unclear, unfocused for the pop rock stuff I record. Maybe it had bad tubes or some other problem. It sounded best through a 2x12 cab with Celestion Blues, but still no cigar.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by rwhitney

I took the 50-watt 2x12 combo home for a test drive and thought it sounded a little too garbled, unclear, unfocused for the pop rock stuff I record. Maybe it had bad tubes or some other problem. It sounded best through a 2x12 cab with Celestion Blues, but still no cigar.

Did you find an amp that fully satisfied your needs, if so, which one was it?
thanks

[fakiekid]

Originally Posted by matskull

The clean is really good and soft, I really liked that.
The distortion is also soft and for metal or really heavy stuff it seems to lack balls and punch, the bass on palm mute seems to choke and get muddy instead of getting powerful like my mesa tremoverb dual rectifier (which I'm selling for the new rig) for example.

So basically, the clip you posted was the perfect example of how this amp was intended to be used, pop punk and stuff like that.

This is what I mean with the body! It can just get mushy and saturated! That's why I don't use much.

With the Detail all the way up and Body at 3/4's I think you can get a pretty usable metal tone (that my be quite fuzzy though) but it won't clean up well at those settings. The VM is GREAT with single coils for that vintage Marshall clean.

I don't think the amp is right for you, take a look at some ENGL's or some Randalls maybe!?

[rwhitney]

Originally Posted by matskull

Did you find an amp that fully satisfied your needs, if so, which one was it?
thanks

I'm still looking for the right Marshall. Maybe something like the JT45 for the vintage Marshall sound, and stick with Mesa (maybe a Road King) for heavier stuff, or keep searching for a good modern Marshall sound.

No one amp is perfect or can do it all. I'm happy with my Vox AC30cc head with 2x12 Celestion Blue cab, Fender 59 Bassmann LTD RI, and my Mesa Rocket 44 for the things they do well. I still would like the Marshall sound--both vintage and modern, so I'm disappointed that particular Vintage Modern model wasn't it.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by fakiekid

This is what I mean with the body! It can just get mushy and saturated! That's why I don't use much.

With the Detail all the way up and Body at 3/4's I think you can get a pretty usable metal tone (that my be quite fuzzy though) but it won't clean up well at those settings. The VM is GREAT with single coils for that vintage Marshall clean.

I don't think the amp is right for you, take a look at some ENGL's or some Randalls maybe!?

Well I liked what it did, I really enjoyed playing some of the stuff I like on it.
My actuall marshall is cool too but it doesn't do high gain unless I boost it and I don't have a boost at the moment.

So basically I like it but I don't know if I'd like a punk/metal amp better, I'll have to try.
Do you have any other clips of some recordings done with the vintage modern?
That'd be really nice.

I wonder if it can do the "fat wreck chord" kind of tone.

[fakiekid]

yeah man, i want an amp that does fender deluxe clean and boogie dual rec dist. just have to buy the 2! lol