Marshall Solid-State Combo Guitar Amps

I bought this at a local music store, Hyde Music (MIddletown, RI), I traded my MG30DFX in exchange for this with a 300 dollar difference. Basically, I payed 300 dollars. I debated whether I should've gotten the 50 watt or 100 watt, so I tried both and the 50 watt barely made a difference for 100 bucks more than the 30 watt. The 100 watt is much louder, works like it should and I can hear myself playing when drums play with me, when the 50 watt has to work harder than it should to become louder, as well as put up on a chair or something to make it easier to hear, when the 100 watt does not need that. My favorite part is the price. There is a 100 dollar difference between the MG30DFX and the MG50DFX, but only a 20 watt difference, but there is only a 75 dollar difference between the MG50DFX and the MG100DFX, with an amazing 50 watt difference! 100 watts from a marshall with many effects and only 425 bucks is a deal. I like how this amp is so loud, I barely have to turn up the master volume to 2 when I'm practicing. When I'm jamming with drums and other guitars and bass, I won't go past 8 on the master volume to hear myself! When on the 50 watt I have to crank it to 10 and there's all that buzz and I've gotta use a chair to stand it and all. This amp has great channel features. I can go from clean to distortion with the click of the footswitch, or go from slightly crunched to distortion with the crunch on the clean channel feature. Then there is also OD1/OD2, which is basically regular amp distortion to heavy metal distortion, which you cannot use the footswitch on, but you don't need that anyways. This amp has a seperate reverb level from the effects loop control, which is handy because I always have at reverb up to about 1 for anything I play, and I leave it that way, then I can seperately put, say, chorus on with the footswitch, which is handy. The master volume is also nice, because I can set the gain of the clean to whatever I want, then I can set the volume of OD channel, which is basically just setting the difference between the volume of the the OD and clean. Then I can set the master volume to about 2 when im practicing, or crank up to 8 when I'm gigging without moving any knobs and changing settings of the clean or OD, which is awesome. This is a very nice amp, and I love every feature on it, but the best part is how loud it can get and stay so clean! Really, there is nothing I don't like about the amp, but I would change some things on my guitar if I could. My guitar is only a Squire Affinity, which, if you didn't already know, sucks. The pickups buzz like hell, and they aren't that loud, so i use the bridge pickup and the middle pickup together to elimate the buzz, which gives me a nice, very clean sound, but not exactly the best sound, because it doesn't really sound like a real strat, which I'm aiming for. But the Marshall makes a huge difference, which is why I don't really even need a new guitar. I'm just going to save up for a Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB, and put that in the bridge, about 70 bucks for that. Those pickups are very clean, trebly, and loud, without the buzz. That will make me have to practice under the master volume of 1! I would say one thing about the amp that I don't exactly like is the fan, which can be kind of annoying when practicing under low volumes at night or something. But you wouldn't hear it when jamming or gigging at all, but without it the damn amp would probly light on fire! So I can't exactly complain. This is very nicely built, in the U.S. of course. Marshall is the best, no question, but the prices can be high, thats why I always wonder why the MG100DFX is so low priced, but I'm grateful anyways. I don't have anything against the construction, it's very well built and the wood is nice and hard and everything and the knobs are nice and simple, good looking too. I would say that it's pretty heavy, but thats ok, big amps are always heavy. Very nicely built though, but I hear about people whose amps of this model have broken down on them repeatidly, but that will not happen often, you can trust me. This amp is really just an improvement amp of the MG30DFX or MG50DFX, but if you have a 30 and are debating whether you should get a 100 watt or 50 watt, get the 100 watt. If you got the 50, you would upgrade to 100 very quickly. It's the best decision, no question. Also, the MG250DFX and MG100DFX, barely have a difference, 2 speakers does not make it louder, it just makes it bigger, and the clean channel is cleaner, but I've tried one and it's very buzzy on the OD channel, and there are only the features of the MG50DFX on that amp, when the 100 has many more than any other Marshall amp made. This is a very, very nice amp, very clean and loud. I suggest it to anyone who wants a fully giggable amp. The 100 watts can be fitted into a 12 inch speaker (MG100DFX) just as well as 50 watts into two seperate 12 inch speakers, which is in the MG250DFX. By the way, 250 doesn't mean it has 250 watts, it only has 100. Email me if you have questions please. Thanks This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

50 W solid-state marshall, very reliable, UNLIKE THE MARSHALLS BEFORE 1985/86 2 channels: The distortion channel is very good but not as versatile as the clean in terms of settings. UTILIZATION Good sound: Taken from the JCM 800 SOLID and easy to use! SOUNDS I don't have it anymore! And even if it surprises some people, I regret having sold it!! It used to bear with me without complaining no matter how hard the task, always providing me a recognizable marshall sound. Sine I only play with bands now, I only have all-tube amps: A Fender hot rod USA (1999) and a Mesa Boogie/Marshall stack, which is awesome, obviously! But I miss the 5210 for dirty jobs.... OVERALL OPINION I don't have it anymore! I've had a bit of everything (Marshall JCM, Orange, Ibanez, Yamaha Peavy classic 30, Fenders ...and now Mesa Boogie) And I regret a bit not having kept the 5210 as a complement to my tube amps, for jam sessions, for example.

Originally written by Nicolas.I on Audiofanzine FR. 15-watt solid-state amp, 3-band EQ, clean and overdrive channels with their own volume setting, phones out, boost switch, reverb, etc. UTILIZATION Very easy to use, no need for the manual. Light weight for easy carrying, not bulky. SOUNDS Typical Marshall sound. Good clean and distortion sounds, except at high volumes. Not very versatile. Almost impossible to get a crunch sound. OVERALL OPINION Good for beginners and for practicing without making too much noise, but don't expect to reach sound nirvana ^^ No problems after two years of use. Average value for money (I guess you pay the Marshall logo). You can find a small tube amp for the same price... But this one does the job!

Features — 9 1990 model, purchased used from a musician. Still own it. It was my third ever amplifier. I use a Gibson guitar with it and manage to play most styles of music. The product build is solid and feels high quality. It is a solid state amp with 12W of power, 10" Celestion speaker, two inputs, and a headphone/line output. Apparently featured on ZZ Top's recording of "My Head's In Mississippi." Mine has a reverb function as well. It's the ultimate blues-rock practice amp and I will not get rid of it unless I have to. Works for practice, recording and live playing. Sound — 9 Suits my blues and classic rock style great, the sound is so full and unmistakeable. I don't use any effects with it and just crank up the gain a little when playing AC/DC, Hendrix, etc. It's not a noisy amp at all. You can get a wide variety of sounds. You get plexi-JMP-JCM800 tones from this tiny amplifier, it's insane. Everything from jazz to metal on this thing. I haven't heard anything it can't do. The headphone sound is amazing too, much better than some similar amps. If you like Marshall tones, go for it! Reliability & Durability — 8 I would 100% use this as a main live amplifier, and for rehearsals and home practice. Reason being the sound quality is amazing (see previous comments). Durability is fine. It's dependable and looks very cool, a classic look. Portability is a huge plus, the amp is quite lightweight so you can carry it around easily. It's a standard rehearsal / practice amp that will last you a good couple of years when you first start playing, especially if you like classic rock, and much more down the line if you are looking to play with more experienced people. Overall Impression — 9 The Marshall Lead Combo feels much more expensive that it is. Armed with that signature Marshall sound, it’s incredibly loud, so you will find yourself often turning it down when practicing at home. It’s the perfect rehearsal amp, and you could even play small gigs with it. The headphone plug and line out are very useful. There isn’t much more to the amp other than it absolutely delivers that tone most rockers will be looking for, at an affordable price. It small size is also a plus. With a reliable build and great tones, it’s in many ways a perfect Swiss army knife and a huge step above the cheaper MG range from Marshall.

Been playing for over 50 years and have owned at least as many amps. As a repair tech I've used just about everything made at one time or another. This amp is fine for what it is, and inexpensive entry model. It gives you typical clean and driven Marshall tones and your basic tone settings which are rather mild compared to its big brothers. I also have a VS 100 so I know the product line well. This is only a 15W SS amp so its not going to do well gigging unless its miced. I've done a couple of rehearsals with it but I was really pushing its limits. 15W solid state is not the same thing as 15W tube. A Tube amp is rated in clean watts and they usually have additional driven gain. The two gain knobs on the amp appear to be identical in nature. Its like they put to pots in series that produce the same kind of drive and tone. They are additive. if you gain one up half way cranking the second up half way is like cranking the first to max. The speaker could be better on the amp. good 8's are hard to find so I haven't bothered to upgrade it. I did add a speaker extension jack which was very easy. I used it to drive a talk box for awhile, worked very well. I could plug into another cab if I wanted but I mostly use this amp for practice in the living room. I have all the big stuff I need for gigging in the studio. I have tried recording with the amp close miced. It was a little fizzy and sterile recording. Not sure why because it actually sounds pretty good live. If I had to gig with it I have several other small amps I run with it. There's something about the tone of several small amps together you cant get from one larger amp. This one handles the mid tones very well. I normally run it clean with a little hair and use pedals for my effects and drive tones. It does well for what it is. If you can pick one up for under $100 its a good buy. Anything more you could probably do better.

I was actually looking for the Roland Cube 20XL, living in S. Korea sometimes choices are limited , so the salesman directed me towards this amp (Marshall MG15CFR). Since it was a Marshall I said why not, but I was always of the philosophy that I gotta break the bank to get a good Marshall product, and given that I'm reintroducing myself to the guitar that would have been far beyond my needs. I basically use this amp for practice, practice and more practice. The clean sound with humbucking pickups tends to distort (not in the desirable way) once you pass 6 on the volume knob, I am using an Ibanez GRG170DX model guitar with this and sometimes if I use the neck humbucker p/u on it, it gets a little distorted, but the OD channel with the gain up to 7 or 8 and volume at 10 it produces a great crunchy sound great for hard rock or metal with the bridge p/u on my Ibanez. The reverb I have to say leaves a lot to be desired, anything after "4", it doesn't seem to be doing its job. Pros: Great crunch, gain doesn't have to be at 10, 7 or 8 = the sweet spot. Cons: Clean sound distortd at higher volumes, and reverb not so great. Now I was able to get the Roland Cube 20XL amp, I hardly use this, even though I think the crunch sound is better on the Marshall than the Roland, so now I'm using the Roland almost exclusively because I want to practice using the clean sound...

This is transistor amp that sounds very much like tube amp. It is very power and is good for taking to gigs in beer gardens and outside parties and small concerts. The controls are many and good and all range that is normal. You have treble, bass, mid and a very smoothly reverberazion. Delay and choruz and flanger and phazer are very good also. Best feature is four channels with nice switch by foot. Perfekt !!! UTILIZATION Sound is best for rock and for many many types. The manual is not too good. Sound is very easy if you have experience. SOUNDS My band buy this amp because we have Vox AC30 and that is too big and much heavy and when we knock in van tubes get broked. So leave Vox in Studio and travel with Marshall. Guitars are Lag and Hagstrom. Our music is heavy metal like Anthrax and Opus. OVERALL OPINION Love it all. Very nice and will buy again if somebody steals.

I've been playing guitar for roughly 10 years, in and out of various bands. we mostly play metal, nothing really heavy but not light either. I purchased it at a local music store in town for $750 Canadian a couple years back. Its nice because its a medium size amp but has all kinds of power. I found the effects to be quite nice especially the delay, its very clean, and of course it has the good old marshall distortion when you want it. I've braught it to many jam sessions and it keeps up with ease and is very durable. My fan occasionaly makes a bit of noise but once its warmed up it quiets right down and its done this for about a year and a half. the bearings are fine. Overall I love this amp and would buy another one in a heartbeat if something happened to it. Noisy fan occasionaly very durable, built as good as any other Marshall product Great price, lots of power, nice Marshall sound even though its solidstate, effects are great. Other then a noisy fan its a great amp for someone who just wants to jam with some friends or to do shows with. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I have been a muso for a little over 20 years. I started playing drums in high school, which lead to playing in a band. I found drums a lot of work with setting up for practice at home, pack up and load them in the car for practice with the band, pack em and take em home to do more practice, pack em and load em up for gigs etc etc, so when I got a job involving shift work, it all got too hard, and I stopped playing drums. But I couldn't give up alltogether, so one day it was down to the music store and bought a bass guitar. I knew nothing about bass, and I bought a black one just because it was black. It turned out to be a Profile Silouette, a very good P Bass copy, and it has served me very well. A couple of years ago I picked up a Rickenbacker 4004L (review to follow soon...) and I am currently playing bass in a band. I have picked up a couple of 6 strings (elect and accoustic) along the way, but bass is my thing these days. I picked up this amp off ebay for AU$40. I was looking for a little amp for my 6 strings, and my kids are getting old enough to start guitar lessons, so I was also after something small and cheap for them to use as well. It's small and very light. It's loud enough for practice and making a racket in the bedroom, but not loud enough to lift the roof or upset the nieghbors. It also has a headphone jack for those times when you can't make any noise at all. It has 3 knobs: gain, contour and volume, and a boost button. I was pleasantly suprised by the clean sound. It's very clean. It sounds very nice with an acoustic, maybe a bit trebley through the small speaker, but thats easily fixed if you have an eq on your guitar, or by fidling with the countour knob-a kind of midrange eq. Hit the boost button and turn up the gain and you're in heavy metal heaven. The kids will love it! I first thought it sounded kind of trashy, but it's realy growing on me now. Turn the boost off, and crank up the gain and you get a very nice 'crunchy' sound with your electric guitar. Just by mucking around with the gain and contour (with or without the boost), you're bound to find a sound that suits. It's pretty hissy with the boost button on and the gain turned up. But then again, hit that first power chord, and you can't hear the hiss any more! And to be fair, it's very quiet when playing clean. It seems to be well made. It's very light, but I treat my gear with respect, so I can't see any problems in the construction area. If you don't want to front a band with this amp, it's great. It's small, portable, and a great sound for what it is. Plenty loud enough for the bedroom Eddie Van Halen, yet nice and clean and quiet if that's what you're after. You want to play in a band, buy a bigger amp. Want a good cheap practice amp for you or the kids, buy this one. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I spent a good couple of months searching for my first amplifier, and came around to narrowing my field down to a Roland Cube 30, Line 6 Spider 30 or the Marshall MG 30DFX. It ended up costing around $420 Australian Dollars from Turramurra Music in Sydney, around $50 more than the other two amplifiers. (The parentals had a small thing about me getting a bigger amp) The MG 30 DFX has brilliant tone on the clean channel. Playing an ESP Ltd EC-300 with EMG-HZ passives through the amp, I can gain a wide range of tones from a bluesy sound to a near perfect acoustic tone. The four effects: reverb, chorus, flange and delay, work well considering the MG 30DFX is nothing more than a small practice amp. But, if you're serious buy some decent pedals - they'll sound a whole lot better. For a thirty-watter the MG 30DFX delivers fair volume, but unfortunately it still won't get you over a drumkit. I occassionally get a rattling noise if I've been playing for too long. The overdrive can sometimes, also, be too "gainy". That is, the distortion compromises the various notes you want to hear. Great if you want to practice heavier Nu-Metal tunes (eg Slipknot, Mudvayne, etc), but I tend to turn the gain right down to "3" for Metallica, Velvet Revolver and the such. The amp doesn't come with a footswitch either, even though it has the plug. Means leaning over to press teh channel button every time, which can get irritating. The body of the amplifier is built to take a fair beating, as are the controls and plugs. However, if you to really kick around your amp I'd go a roland cube, just because they're so much heavier duty. Good practice amp for someone playing harder rock to all-out metal. Nice, bodied, clean sound too; which is good for a blues or jazz sound, or even for rock. A great practice amp for electric beginners, but not for those with more experience. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this amp at Guitar Center last year for about $90. My previous Marshall amp had been stolen. It's small and portable. The reverb function is useful. My previous amp had also been a Marshall 15W (I remember it was called a "VT15", though I've since searched for the name and never found it), and it had sounded good whether it's just clean or with the Drive controls up. I was able to get a substantial amount of crunch by just turning it up, and my favourite way to use it became just natural distortion, especially for rhythm work. This MG15 doesn't even come close. It sounds "artificial", somewhat dead, without the dynamics and complexity of the previous amp. I'm pretty sure the difference is that the old amp was a valve amp (it had cost at least $170 in New York), and solid state just doesn't crank it, especially at this wattage. Typical Marshall quality -- build quality is not the problem here. I suppose the double whammy of "solid-state technology" and the 15-watt output just means that this is not a good-sounding amp. I love Marshall amps, but this ain't a winner. If you're gonna get an amp, get a better one (the AVT series looks far more promising). I've had this MG15CDR replacement for about six months and only played it maybe 10 times -- its poor sound just doesn't cut it. I'd rather deal with an extra cable and headphones and plug into my Line 6 Pod instead. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Mupo Music; Zwaag: The Netherlands Great Shop! Euro 375,- Looks great, sounds great. The fan is terrible. Normally you have bad luck when something breaks down. With this amp you can be surprised and feel lucky if the fan will keep on working. Good (fan excluded!) Don't buy this amp!!!! I was lucky that the fan started to make funny noises after 1 day. I could return it. A lot of reviews on line talk about the fan. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com