My Marshall Amp Shootout - 9 amps

[gtrman]

My new home recording setup is finally up and running so I figured it would be a good idea to make a recording using all my 9 Marshall amps.
I recorded all amps the exactly same way through my 1936 cabinet (Vintage 30 speakers). The volume was fairly high as I wanted the output tubes to get a good workout.
All eq's on the amps was set at 12 o clock. The Gain was mostly used at about 60-70% on most amps.
I ran everything through the iZotope Ozone 4 which added a little compressor/Eq/reverb - using the same amount on all tracks.

I was surprised as to how similar the amps sounded on the recording as that was not the case when playing through the amps during the recordings.

[youtube][/youtube]

[surfnorthwest]

The dynamics are clearly different.

What you have here is proof positive just how much speakers play into your overall sound. Since these clips were all recorded using the same mic and cabinet it will sound very close. Another thing you are proving here is tone is also in your hands.

[Vinny]

The VM,The Slash sign and the JMP sounds just great to me!!!!

[slowpokerhino]

Nice job. I actually think I'm most impressed with how well the micro stacks did. Pretty respectable considering the big guns they followed.

[Lordakamai]

Wow the JMP sounds awesome I think I actually Place the vintage modern on 2nd place

[TonyC]

Thanks!! It confirms why I still love my VM. What a great amp! The JMP sounds fantastic too.

[LivewireBlanco]

Nice work gtrman! I think the amp tones are very similar for all the tube amps but demonstrates how much the amp, mic, guitar, and player are huge in displaying tone and that it's not all just about the amp. I think that the KK JCM800 and JMP were on the opposite sides of the spectrum as far as the tube amps go.

[sugarkane]

Found this fascinating - I thought the differences were quite pronounced (though all conformed to the Marshall family sound). Many top players use the DSL (Iron Maiden, Gary Moore off the top of my head) but of those currently available in shops and on the demo I preferred the VM - there's an appealing airy-ness. Hell, I preferred it to any of the above from any era but I liked the Jubilee a lot.

Help me out - as the VM (2 pre-amp settings) is not like other amps how did you position Body and Detail to get a 70% distortion effect? Sounds good.

[Wildone]

Thought the Vintage Modern cut through the best, but thought the JCM800KK had the most hot rythem for that lick.

[SteveD]

Found this fascinating - I thought the differences were quite pronounced (though all conformed to the Marshall family sound). Many top players use the DSL (Iron Maiden, Gary Moore off the top of my head) but of those currently available in shops and on the demo I preferred the VM - there's an appealing airy-ness. Hell, I preferred it to any of the above from any era but I liked the Jubilee a lot.

Help me out - as the VM (2 pre-amp settings) is not like other amps how did you position Body and Detail to get a 70% distortion effect? Sounds good.

Maiden = JMP1 + 100/100 power amps
Gary Moore = 1959HW

[sugarkane]

I think Iron Maiden has changed over - I know they used the JMPs for a long time but I guess now they are pretty venerable (and discontinued).

According to this month's Guitar World (Dec 2010) "What did you use on the record (Final Frontier)?"

Adrian Smith, "Same as I use live, just simplified. I had my signature Jackson and my Les Paul Goldtop and I ran them through a Marshall DSL100. I also had an Ibanez Tube Screamer and an old Yamaha flanger that I used for leads".

Janick Gers, "For me, my live set-up as well. My Strat into a Marshall head, no pedals".

So I guess they've recently changed. I can't see why anyone would flat-out lie (no, cancel that - it does happen for endorsement and macho considerations) but I think these live appearances can easily be confirmed.

According to April 2007 Guitar Buyer, Gary Moore was using a x2 stock DSL100s into V30 cabs on his then tour. Although I've heard they were modded to some extent. His guitar tech then listed the tracks from the album of the time which entirely used the DSL and those entirely on a Plexi re-issue.

I'm not some rabid devotee of the songs or sound of either acts above but I recognise their abilities.

[SteveD]

Up to you whether you believe me or not.

[sugarkane]

Well, I'm not contradicting you - just supplying the info here that's out in the public. Please elaborate if you detect a mixed message from well-known Marshall players.

FWIW - When I saw Jeff Beck live a couple of weeks back he appeared to have Plexi re-issues on stage. Yeah?

[SteveD]

BTW Welcome to the forum sugarkane.

Correct, Jeff is currently playing the JTM45/100 40th anniversary.

http://www.marshallamps.com/product.asp ... =JTM45-100

I'm currently working on an amp for Gary and know his current rig.

I was chatting to Janick about six weeks ago and he told me what he uses.

[gtrman]

BTW Welcome to the forum sugarkane.

Correct, Jeff is currently playing the JTM45/100 40th anniversary.

http://www.marshallamps.com/product.asp ... =JTM45-100

I'm currently working on an amp for Gary and know his current rig.

I was chatting to Janick about six weeks ago and he told me what he uses.

I saw Jeff last week and from the looks of it that was the amp he used. He only had one amp visible on stage.
The amp sounded awesome .. but then again Jeff probably would make any amp sound great