Author Topic: Marshall (Read 1477 times)

Hellbilly1969 · « **on:** February 14, 2008, 04:14:57 PM »

There’s nothing I like doing better every Saturday than jamming with my band. I wait all week to finally be able to hook up my 5150 into my Mode 4 cab, turn up the volume, kick some ass and listen to that warm tone come flooding out of the speakers.

Whilst taking a beer break the studio guy stuck his head round the corner and said, “Hey mate, wanna try this”, in his hand he had this tiny amp head which turned out to be a Marshall VS100 (Valvestate) Head. I sighed and since I was taking five I said ok. To my surprise when he turned it on this amp truly ripped, I couldn’t believe how much grunt this thing had. Now it certainly ain’t a 5150, but it held its own and I was totally amazed.

The studio guy told me that you can pick these things up for £100-£150 second hand off eBay!! The upshot is I’m gonna track one down and use it as an optional tone for to my 5150. Great tone from a small amp, thought I’d pass on the news.

Mr Ed · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2008, 04:18:03 PM »

I found them to be absolutely awful, the cleans such, the overdrive is flat and lifeless and the only redeeming quality is the acoustic simulator is usable.

MDV · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2008, 05:30:16 PM »

The VS100R was the best SS (hybrid if you believe the adverts, but I dont think the valve was wired to clip, so its basically SS) amp that marshall have ever made

Bar the 8080. Those were a bit better still.

Henk · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2008, 01:26:03 PM »

Mosfet distortion is great for death metal, and anyway, death metal is supposed to sound dark and lifeless, you can push 10x as much lowend trough a solid state power amp without your sound getting muddy. If you play death metal, you should not really care about warm tuby sounding cleans i think.

Prefer a good true Mosfet over the VS or 8080 though......