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MGR/Anonymous « Marshall Valvestate V230 »
Published on 04/20/03 at 15:00I bought this guitar in a shop in Singapore in 1998 for about 300 USD.
I have used this amp now for gigging/home/recording for five years now, and it has not let me down once. The amp was released under Marshall's 'Valvestate II' techlonology range. Although it can not by any means emulate tube amp warmth and feeling in a side-to-side comparison, it has been the most reliable gigging amp I have used in the last 5 years. Although I seldom run its built-in distorted channel (I employ a rack of several pre-amps for my desired sound), the Marshall Valvestate clean channel is among the best I have encountered in a very long time. and use only it along with a noise-gate for recordings.
The distortion / channel with the Marshall Valvestate V230 is no longer competitive by todays standards of modeling amps (ie: Line 6) and pedals (ie: Digitech). However, the built in Chorus and Reverb are top-notch quality. I have forgone my chorus and reverb pedals (of brands I have trusted for years) for those built into my Marshall VS230 (Boss CH-1 Super Chorus / Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb).
Construction is top quality. What else can you expect from Marshall Amplification? I do not know the spesifics of the woods and plastics used in construction, but this combo has held its own. There are the expected nicks and scratches from in/out bus use, and on-stage banter. But the internals of the VS work as new. The italicised logo has only had to be glued back into position once after heavy touring. (We are a large band - the average 500+ gig/night will not encounter these problems).
The first few years that I owned my VS230 were used for recording and home/studio practice. At the time I utilized a Boogie Subway-Rocket for gigging until i descoverd that the tone you obtain from such an amp is not projected to the audience via house speakers / PA. In the last year or so though, I have re-discovered the valvestate tone and relyability.
If you are able to get your hands on a VS230, snap it up immediately. There may be some corners of the world where this amp may still be purchased brand new, but I highly doubt it.
Last week I (my band and myself) supported US punk rockers Strung Out in a 1000+ capacity with a full setup switch between acts. My VS230 mic'd to the house PA delieverd on que.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
I have used this amp now for gigging/home/recording for five years now, and it has not let me down once. The amp was released under Marshall's 'Valvestate II' techlonology range. Although it can not by any means emulate tube amp warmth and feeling in a side-to-side comparison, it has been the most reliable gigging amp I have used in the last 5 years. Although I seldom run its built-in distorted channel (I employ a rack of several pre-amps for my desired sound), the Marshall Valvestate clean channel is among the best I have encountered in a very long time. and use only it along with a noise-gate for recordings.
The distortion / channel with the Marshall Valvestate V230 is no longer competitive by todays standards of modeling amps (ie: Line 6) and pedals (ie: Digitech). However, the built in Chorus and Reverb are top-notch quality. I have forgone my chorus and reverb pedals (of brands I have trusted for years) for those built into my Marshall VS230 (Boss CH-1 Super Chorus / Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb).
Construction is top quality. What else can you expect from Marshall Amplification? I do not know the spesifics of the woods and plastics used in construction, but this combo has held its own. There are the expected nicks and scratches from in/out bus use, and on-stage banter. But the internals of the VS work as new. The italicised logo has only had to be glued back into position once after heavy touring. (We are a large band - the average 500+ gig/night will not encounter these problems).
The first few years that I owned my VS230 were used for recording and home/studio practice. At the time I utilized a Boogie Subway-Rocket for gigging until i descoverd that the tone you obtain from such an amp is not projected to the audience via house speakers / PA. In the last year or so though, I have re-discovered the valvestate tone and relyability.
If you are able to get your hands on a VS230, snap it up immediately. There may be some corners of the world where this amp may still be purchased brand new, but I highly doubt it.
Last week I (my band and myself) supported US punk rockers Strung Out in a 1000+ capacity with a full setup switch between acts. My VS230 mic'd to the house PA delieverd on que.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com