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MGR/Hal Munby « Marshall MG Series 100DFX »
Published on 12/15/03 at 15:00Joining a band I needed more than my feeble little practice amp to contend with the drums and bass, and to play rock I wanted an explosive overdrive channel. Seeing the amp in my local music store ("Professional Music Technology"-Oxford) for £300, I tried it out and was blown away by its power, tone and simplicity. After laboriously saving up all the cash I was told by the guy at the till that he would sell it for £280! No problem, I just threw in some mean headphones as well. Sorted!
One word springs to mind, flexibility. This amp has a clean channel for blissfully sweet jazz or rolling ballads, and a parallel 'crunch' channel for those driving rock rhythms or a disgustingly dirty punky mess. One tap on the footswitch provided and the tone is sent flying into flaming overdrive or screaming distortion. The best bit being you control the degree of intensity with the gain knobs, and the 'contour' control for the overdrive channel; which allows your own unique modelling of the distortion from good old drive to pure thrash mayhem. Both channels have 3-band E.Q, leaving the possibilities endless. Also provided is Marshall's special F.D.D button (frequency dependant damping) that brilliantly simulates that timeless marshall valve tone without the need to pawn away your family heirlooms. I never even turn it off! The reverb is authentic and adds texture and depth to any of the channels (don't get carried away though!) The CD in jack lets you attempt to play along with those guitar heros you aspire to, and the emulated line out jack is perfect for studio/home recordings and for playing silently away past your neighbours' bedtime (as long as you have some decent headphones).
What more could we ask for? I hear you say. Well, the icing on the cake has to be the parallel digital effects (chorus, flange, dalay, delay + chorus), selected with a knob that also determines the speed of the desired effect. There is an additional 'FX level' control, letting you add either subtle or overpowering layers to your sound, and its still all up to you! The effects loop is another welcome addition (if the three internal effects weren't enough for you demanding guitar players!), I personally use my Crybaby wah pedal through it, but no matter if that doesn't float your boat, just stuff any pedals you want onto it.
Both at home and on stage the amp can cut through the mix, while being light enough for most people to carry on their own.
Overall, however, the tone is what satisfies me the most about this amp, and every time I turn it on I can hardly believe that the thick, rich vibes could possibly be from a solid state amp, but hearing is believing.
I have become quite emotionally attached to the soft whirr of the cooling fan as I turn the amp on, although some might find this irritating at first. One feature I do have complaints about is the way one has to lean over and press the little button in order to swith between crunch and clean instead of being able to use the footswitch mid song. However, I find that lowering the gain on the crunch results in a slightly overdriven clean tone that is now a definite favourite for me. Any devotee to analogue effects and real sizzlin' tubes will not be attracted by the prospect of an amp that simulates these, although I for one am utterly convinced. An addition I would have made would be to include a volume control for the headphone and emulated line out jack, as I find it a bit quiet sometimes, but maybe I'm just going deaf. My last quibble is the lack of a reverb on/off switch on the footswitch, but come to think of it I don't think anyone cares!
Having dropped it on my feet on numerous occasions I can safely say that the moulded plastic cabinet is tough and durable, while remaining surprisingly light. Nothing has broken on my amp yet, and the knobs especially avoid that common affliction of being easily knocked off. The speaker is safe behind the solid mesh which has survived many an onslaught by the odd flying drumstick. The handle feels very secure, and I can only hope it will stay this way. After considerable bashings the amp has kept its Marshall reputation of being a very well put together piece of kit, and I almost wonder whether it shouldn't come with a lifetime guarantee!
The Marshall 100DFX amplifier is the perfect choice for any guitarist seeking a loud, flexible and affordable amplifier that will not require a great deal of additional purchase. For guitarists, especially ones joining a band or looking to start playing at live venues or in the studio, this amp provides ample means to do so, and accomodates for a vast range of musical styles. My technique has greatly improved since I bought the amp, and it has allowed me far more freedom with my instrument. If it sounds like the amp for you, then its time to start saving!
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
One word springs to mind, flexibility. This amp has a clean channel for blissfully sweet jazz or rolling ballads, and a parallel 'crunch' channel for those driving rock rhythms or a disgustingly dirty punky mess. One tap on the footswitch provided and the tone is sent flying into flaming overdrive or screaming distortion. The best bit being you control the degree of intensity with the gain knobs, and the 'contour' control for the overdrive channel; which allows your own unique modelling of the distortion from good old drive to pure thrash mayhem. Both channels have 3-band E.Q, leaving the possibilities endless. Also provided is Marshall's special F.D.D button (frequency dependant damping) that brilliantly simulates that timeless marshall valve tone without the need to pawn away your family heirlooms. I never even turn it off! The reverb is authentic and adds texture and depth to any of the channels (don't get carried away though!) The CD in jack lets you attempt to play along with those guitar heros you aspire to, and the emulated line out jack is perfect for studio/home recordings and for playing silently away past your neighbours' bedtime (as long as you have some decent headphones).
What more could we ask for? I hear you say. Well, the icing on the cake has to be the parallel digital effects (chorus, flange, dalay, delay + chorus), selected with a knob that also determines the speed of the desired effect. There is an additional 'FX level' control, letting you add either subtle or overpowering layers to your sound, and its still all up to you! The effects loop is another welcome addition (if the three internal effects weren't enough for you demanding guitar players!), I personally use my Crybaby wah pedal through it, but no matter if that doesn't float your boat, just stuff any pedals you want onto it.
Both at home and on stage the amp can cut through the mix, while being light enough for most people to carry on their own.
Overall, however, the tone is what satisfies me the most about this amp, and every time I turn it on I can hardly believe that the thick, rich vibes could possibly be from a solid state amp, but hearing is believing.
I have become quite emotionally attached to the soft whirr of the cooling fan as I turn the amp on, although some might find this irritating at first. One feature I do have complaints about is the way one has to lean over and press the little button in order to swith between crunch and clean instead of being able to use the footswitch mid song. However, I find that lowering the gain on the crunch results in a slightly overdriven clean tone that is now a definite favourite for me. Any devotee to analogue effects and real sizzlin' tubes will not be attracted by the prospect of an amp that simulates these, although I for one am utterly convinced. An addition I would have made would be to include a volume control for the headphone and emulated line out jack, as I find it a bit quiet sometimes, but maybe I'm just going deaf. My last quibble is the lack of a reverb on/off switch on the footswitch, but come to think of it I don't think anyone cares!
Having dropped it on my feet on numerous occasions I can safely say that the moulded plastic cabinet is tough and durable, while remaining surprisingly light. Nothing has broken on my amp yet, and the knobs especially avoid that common affliction of being easily knocked off. The speaker is safe behind the solid mesh which has survived many an onslaught by the odd flying drumstick. The handle feels very secure, and I can only hope it will stay this way. After considerable bashings the amp has kept its Marshall reputation of being a very well put together piece of kit, and I almost wonder whether it shouldn't come with a lifetime guarantee!
The Marshall 100DFX amplifier is the perfect choice for any guitarist seeking a loud, flexible and affordable amplifier that will not require a great deal of additional purchase. For guitarists, especially ones joining a band or looking to start playing at live venues or in the studio, this amp provides ample means to do so, and accomodates for a vast range of musical styles. My technique has greatly improved since I bought the amp, and it has allowed me far more freedom with my instrument. If it sounds like the amp for you, then its time to start saving!
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com