So, I went to the Sam Ash in Huntington Station today as I am on Long Island recovering from ACL surgery. They only had one Class 5 and it rattled.
Oh well. I will try another location tomorrow and a Guitar Center if that doesn't work.
Aside from the rattling/vibrating/buzzing noise (whatever you want to call it, but it was definitely mechanical), the amp sounded FANTASTIC. Talk about tone!!! Raw rock, smooth blues, and crystal cleans are all achievable just by using the guitar controls. It has some great low end for a little guy. I can't wait to find a good one because it will be perfect in many situations like the studio, basement jams, and smaller gigs. And as a NY apartment dweller, I can finally get some tube distortion at a tolerable level. Don't be fooled by the 5W rating though. It will have very little trouble keeping up.
Nonetheless, I was still pretty bummed it was a rattler. I copied down the serial number hoping some of you may be able to give me some insight as to when in production this was made (before or after the QC corrections): M-2009-41-0369-2.
In all, I have to tip my hat to Steve. You really made a hell of a circuit. Keep up the good work! Marshall is very lucky to have such a talent on board.
Be on the look out for a full review when I get my amp.