All user reviews of 4/5 for the Marshall 8240 ValveState S80 Stereo Chorus

Solid-state amp with one 12AX7 preamp tube
Standard connections.
2x40 watts with two 12" Celestion G12T speakers
Stereo chorus and reverb
Open back


USE

You plug in, turn the knobs and play...

SOUND

To me, this amp is a must for death metal, I have never heard an amp that can put up so well with low frequencies.
It's incredible. I tune to A, with 13/64 strings, and have no muddle, no trembling speakers, nothing, it behaves impeccable.
In terms of distortion, I use the OD2 channel, which is really mind-blowing. It's powerful and relatively light at the same time.
I use Seymour SH-6 SH-8 X2N at the neck and don't have the slightest need to connect a single pedal to have a additional gain.
To give you an idea, when I connect a Metal Muff, I can hear no gain difference whatsoever, except for some extra gain in the high end.
Do note that, like with many Marshalls, the mids and treble controls aren't as good as the bass one.
The pots crackle when you turn them, but that's quite normal for a Marshall.


OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for about 3 years and I had several amps before, including a peavey bandit 112 and a marshall amphead with an 8100 cab.
The bandit 112's speaker vibrates at loud volumes with a standard gauge and the 8100 lacks punch, I had to play with a pedal, but I used EMG 81 and 85 with this amp, it was way less powerful than with the SH8, which may skew my judgment.
I love its punch and its particularly metal sound. The amp responds perfectly to low frequencies and thick string gauges (I use 13/64).
What annoys me a bit is that the reverb sets off at 10 on mine.
I have never really cranked the volume all the way up. The most "extreme" settings I've used have been with both the boost and the master volume at 4, and it already kicks ass.
Then again, it's only 80 watts, so it's not the best to play with a band.
It maybe okay to play soft music, but to play death metal you'll need at least twice that to be heard over a drummer who plays like a real death metal drummer.

Metalheads should go for it, you won't find anything better for the price.
I would eventually like to compare it with a LINE 6 Spider, but I don't think its speakers are of such good quality, even if I know that the latter has a more modern and cleaner distortion than the Marshall.

Do note that my reverb only works when set to 10, which means it sets off at full throttle at 10.

Marshall..

I bought my 8240 from a friend of mine who runs a studio. I needed a bigger amp to cope with gigs and regular studio runs and this marshall was ideal. I payed £200 for it which, for what you get is pretty damn good. I have seen cheaper ones around but i managed to find one in good exceptionaly condition, although it may need a good service.

It's an amazingly heavy duty, its from an older marshall range which means it would be built well. The stereo chorus gives such a warm rotating feel. The reverb is responsive and not too OTT. It has two channels (footswitchable), both channels, clean and overdrive really do give ya a kick in the back when ur standin in front of em. 2 X 12 Eminence speakers which are very versatile, producing everythin from a warm flowing sound to hard hitting roars and screams. They handle all gains/volumes on 10, even most celestions dont manage that.

erm...well when i first got the amp i was concerned about a slight electronic hum (i mean so quiet you had to stick head inside the cab), the amp has been through a few years and needs a service which probly would help quieten it down, its probly nothing, im picky lol. The inputs could have been metal and not plastic, it could have been set on casters (its a bitch the keep picking up and moving with one handle at the top), could have had a few more AUX outputs ect. finally the effects loop in it seems to cut out half the volume of the effects when you put any pedals through it. craazy, didnt bother me as i just run into the input.

As far as quality and construction goes, its a Marshall! not really much else to be said. 98% in my opinion

Great sound, great build, great features great amp! Just find one thats not too old, naturally they become more of a liabilty without servicing.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The amp is a Marshall Valvestate 8240 amp transistor, robust, bnficiant a correct sound but also a Stereo Chorus. It has a faade in between Input and 2 inputs (left-right) to use the power amps directly with a pramp and a multi-purpose. At the rear you will find two outputs between console and for a footswitch (supplied). Fidler Marshall Celestion provides services to speakers.

UTILIZATION

It is relatively easy to OTeN good sound After a few hours of use. However, the button 'contour' canal in saturated normment can change the sound. The crunch in the clean channel is really not bad.

SOUNDS

I no longer use the pramp of Marshall but my GX-700 Nighthawk in Stereo with my Start and my 57 'and I must say I am satisfied with the sound. Simply connecting the outputs Output (left-right) of your multi-effects directly ing the Input (left-right). Doing a lot of back and concerned about the noise Fidler, my config allows me to get any kind of sound.

OVERALL OPINION

I use my Marshall for 10 years and it still sounds as well. Plugger live in the amp is a good but not an equivalent or JCM900 MesaBoogie, however much lighter and above all cheaper.

Amplification hybrid preamp with lamp and then transistors.
80w by two 40-hp GT celestion pa how market
two clear clean crunch, OD1 OD2 two overdrive, reverb, chorus with rate and depth adjustable, one send, out parallel direct out, effects loop-20db.

UTILIZATION

Simple config, settings and boorish Bourin, no finesse in this amp, using rudimentary.
Clean ugly.
crunch either.
body = 0
I cros that obtaining "good" sound comes from the famous button "contour" digging mediums and coupled with the gain knob 2 overdrive overdrive provides a rare stamp enjoyable.
basically this amp I think everything is disposable ke sof the famous OD2, which destroyed everything.
a medium and a very flashy high dynamic response. For this, the contour must be pushed just a quarter and half the gain.
note that the abscence of body and trunk of this amp is strong enough.
the gain knob and contour pressed his death gives a Nazi V-ugly metalheads, no interest for a guy that makes me come hardcore.

I put 8 just for the two overdrive makes the rest are sensitive tape. tfaçon jOperation not come clear that at least c set.

SOUNDS

Jadore then the sound of this amp with daut I sound really typical and original that I have never found elsewhere (or on my JCM2000, if on my mesa) the User's why I live for some transition good rock n roll.
I'm just in time with this amp and with a lag and now I roxanne by the User intermittent with my telecaster.

OVERALL OPINION

This amp is a third hand ke I think the first guy who is served sen used it the first time 20 years ago now it is not always impeccable Balls
the lamp is fucked and I think that it c fé ke my regal sound puiske loverdrive severe smashes. amp indestructible he underwent more than one hundred times of great and beautiful little car trips without any protection, I lay down fer once, nothing broken, jai typed in about 300 times, no prob it work Impeks, c come the tank bestiot, there's beer and sweat all over the track, the dust about 5cm depaisseur deriere enclosures, son are almost grilled nref land with it and make it sound a treat c believe me.
I have nicknamed "the Warshall".

money is worthless aujdui, if you want to play with overdrive ....

Feature: cf. existing records
For power, this amp works well for small concerts, and amateur players.

UTILIZATION

I bought the amp used there for quite some time. I had no manual, but it's still a good amp easy to use. It is easily the sound you want (especially in his clear, but the issue, we'll see below).

SOUNDS

Well there a lot to say. Everything depends of course on the desired starting ... So my opinion is not shared by everyone.

I use this amp with a Start Plus and Micro Lace Sensor Gold. I play more 70s rock (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd), or funk, and a lot of stuff done (but I rarely use heavy distorted sounds).

In the light or light / crunch is a real treat! Using the neck pickup, you get a get a super hot, with a good seed ... short of happiness.

Its distortion, it depends on the settings, but by not gain too much (or too much reverb), we come to have a fairly dynamic, with a nice grain. By pushing the gain, the sound tends rapidly to the Marshall distortion ... (On these amps, it is horrible! Why buying a Marshall you tell me ... because it was cheap!) ...

Mode distortion, regardless of the gain is not really top (or not at all), and as I said earlier, in the style of song that I play (I think for an American rock, it must be pretty ...?).

OVERALL OPINION

In short, I hesitated a lot of time to sell the amp. I did not because I think the clean sound is really good, and I will have to willingly separate myself from the disto.
So here's a nice compromise: I bought a blower tube (Jacques, nickel for the 70s rock sound). I used the chorus during the solo to spin more potato ... and it works pretty well ...

The positives are (for me):
- The clear sound
- The chorus that can potentially be used to "boost" (ouch ouch ouch ... sorry for the purists)
- The stereo effects loop does not work too badly
- Power

negative:
- The distortion
- The amp is heavy!! (Be careful if you must wear it at arm's length of 3km .. lool)
- Amp a bit outdated, but the principal is there.

The quality / price ratio for an occasion (200 euros now, see below), is very reasonable. But according to the style of zic you do, expect side effects (mostly distortion).

Already described

UTILIZATION

I use this amp only at home (for now) so I'm not bothered by not being able to clean switcher crunch or to OD1 OD2. Besides, I have no footswitch. However, he could have put a 3-way footswitch (channel / mode / Chorus).

For the record, the guy who gave me my first yard scraper 14-15 years ago used this amp I thought was a "powerhouse" ...



SOUNDS

I've played with my SG and my Les Paul, and bin it blew me away the devil.
Besides, I'm not at all agree with the previous opinion (maybe the model he has tried messing) the OD1 is perfect bright / crunch to the guitar volume pot and OD2 to the crunch / big overdrive / distortion at tjs knob.

Personally I do not use the OD1, I do everything on OD2, which has more body. I find this amp sounds much better than the VS65R of my youth (if I had known). After it is no exaggeration is not the whole dynamics of a lamp but it is really very good with excellent spatial sound with 2 speakers and more when it starts the chorus.

Details:
The clean channel of my copy does not work.
My impressions are given for volume rather low.


OVERALL OPINION

It is perfect for the fact that I use CAD at home not strong.

I recommend it to anyone looking for an amp and house models who hesitate between type Micro-cube MG2FX (the little I know of no vox). To have these little amps at home, there's no picture.

I play on a Marshall Vintage / Modern 2266h on 4 / 12 Marshall (V30 + G12T75)
I played on JCM 800, JCM 2000, Peavey Classic Rack PA 50/50 + Tubefex, Mesa Dual Rectifier JMP-1 + PA Peavey, Mesa 395 + PA rack Triaxis simulclass; Engl Screamer 50.

The value for money of mine is incredible, say up to 150 € it is worth the cost. At this price, it must be in perfect working condition especially the knobs.