The Ups And Downs of Marshall Amps
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 апр 2023
- Baxter and Jonathan talk Marshall Amps, and why they don't seem to be the hot item like they used to be. Are big loud amps a thing of the past or is Marshall ready for a rebirth!
115 NE Broad St, Southern Pines, NC 28387
910-725-0807
Shop@Casinoguitars.com
SHOP HOURS : MON - SAT 11AM - 5PM, SUN 12-4PM
I’ve played Marshall’s for over 40 years, I still have my original JCM 800, a newer one and I recently bought a DSL 40 for practice, lots of people still use them, but the venues don’t really accommodate a full stack anymore so I use the half stack. **edit, I was speaking of the USA, kids in the UK still listen to rock, hard and LOUD, I haven’t played there in a few years but I would be bringing both full stacks when I do, america has gotten soft, they listen to DJs
I played a fender mustang for years while I saved to buy a Marshall. I had a Marshall plexi pre set on there I genuinely thought might be better than the real Marshall when I got it. I was so nervous the Marshall wouldn’t be as good as my modelling setting. Dawg I plugged in and within 30 seconds realized they were incomparable, I love the Marshall tone so much!!
The best part of every Casino video is usually after Baxter says "We're done at this point..." then carries on for another five minutes. Love that
Marshalls do one thing. They do that one thing really well--arguably better than anyone else. But most musicians in 2023 A) can't crank a Marshall to make it do the one thing it's good at, and B) play in cover bands that require more features than a Marshall can provide (you know, like reverb, which comes standard on just about every other amp except a $3500 Marshall head).
The price of a Marshall JVM 410H is $3200,- in the US. In Europe I buy the same amp for 1300 Euro ($1430,-) and that is including 21% Taxes (VAT)!!!
I think Marshall has fallen behind because brands like Friedman are making amps that can do the Marshall sound but sound even better and can do even more. And they work much better at lower volumes
Marshall is the "coupe sports car" of amps: a luxury good that provides very little utility to the average person.
When you forgot your core business and make fridges and BT-amps... Don't get me wrong, I like Marshall, Fender, Roland (!) and basicly all sims do one or more Marshall... Instead of looking to the past (like Roland with its Jupiter/Juno synths) we need new stuff.
Marshall built its brand and reputation on big, loud, glorious amps. Those amps still sound amazing, but the market has moved on to smaller, more versatile, and usable amps. Marshall has tried to move with that market, but got squeezed out by lots of other boutique makers. Marshall's history as the loud, glorious amp may have been its own enemy.
It is likely that fewer people in the US are playing Marshalls as you rightly said because in the US they are simply too expensive and you have more domestic options available to you at more reasonable price. It is a totally different scenario here in the UK where, for example, a brand new 1960ax 4x12 cabinet costs about £750, which is $940. The exact same cabinet in Sweetwater is $1900!!! However, spin it around and look at how in the US you can get a Friedman 4x12 vintage for $1500 (which would be considered higher end) so the choice is easy. However, the Friedman here is £1700, which is closer to $2150, so you don't see many of them here. Marshall stuff is still relatively reasonable in price, especially on the second hand market. You can pick up JTM45 and 1987x reissues for under £1000, and cabinets range anywhere from £200-£500 unless you are into the reall late 60s / early 70s vintage cabs for collectors.
I've never cared for Marshall until lately, which is ironic. Always been a Fender and Mesa guy. Recently I picked up a DSL 20H. It's honestly an unreal amp with full sized tubes at 20 watts. But after playing a lot of vintage Fender amps and Mesa, I really like the versatility of the Boss Katana; it's incredibly versatile too. Play what works for you ✔️
Their fairly recent sv20h and mini jubilee are incredibly awesome.
The Marshall DSL-40CR with the dual master volumes has blown me away. I can fill the warehouse and I can play in my bedroom. It sounds great throughout the volume range. It just took Marshall tool long to get here.
As an audio guy who's done thousands of shows, I don't believe Marshall is dead. It is however losing market share due to the reasons you came up with. As an old sound guy, I can tell you there was a time when in any given venue the amps had to fill the room (P.A. systems just weren't up to the job yet). Hence big, stupid loud amps like Marshall and Ampeg. As PA's became better and hearing loss became more public knowledge, amps started to shrink. Up until I retired (2019) there ere still many groups who requested a Marshall Stack. These were however older "British invasion" era groups. Most of the newer players don't want to go deaf (there are always exceptions ;). That said, I love the sound of overdriven tubes. There was a felleo (Dick Dale I believe) who took two Fender twins, put them on 11 and got some of the coolest richest harmonics I remember hearing. The most extreme examples of this aren't easily re-created using solid state or digital modeling so..... get a big amp and put it in another room :). Love your easy going vibe. Cheers
I played my Valvestate half stack from 1997 until a few years ago when I got a Marshall Origin 50 head. I put some Greenbacks in my old 4x12 and it freakin rules! I love Marshall!
Baxter and Jonathan! I live in Milton Keynes the home of Marshall. I have played their amps for over 30 years being a bass player and a guitar player. You cannot say nobody uses them anymore 🙄 That aside, this is the first time I have commented on your videos so I should say having been watching for a while now they are my favourite videos 😊
I recently purchased my first tube amp and I couldn’t be more excited! 1987x 50W
In 1969, when I was 19, I was the very proud owner of a Marshall "Major" (200 watt) Full Stack! LOVED IT!!! But, even back then, there were precious few places to "unleash the beast", to it's full and glorious potential. (I ended up using my Fender Twin Reverb, more often than not.) Sold the Marshall, a few years later, when I stopped playing altogether (for what turned out to be 30 years). Kicking myself, ever since! But, there are (nowadays) too many OTHER "Marshall like" amps (often for less money)! Plus, the BEST Marshall (IMHO), the "Plexi's", fell out of favor, for the more "high gain" Marshalls. And, as you said, the Marshalls now, especially the HW Plexi reissues, are STUPID expensive! I LOVE the Plexi tone, period! But, personally, I cannot justify their expense, for the few times I play out, and the size of the venues doesn't even allow for that! 15-30 watts is ALL that is needed, for what I do, these days! I LOVE, and have always loved Fender amps, as well.
Awesome Guys🎸《☆》Ted Nugents Formula was Gibson Birdland thru a WALL of FENDER AMPS👍🏾😁🤳I think I remember him jumping off the top of the Cabs during a show on his Cat Scratch Fever tour in "77"✌😎☮
You fellas are pure gold gentlemen, thanx for giving the public the “real deal”, when it comes to anything music! Cheers gentlemen