Haze

[halfajob_charlie]

On first hearing about a new, affordable, 15w, all valve Marshall amp, I thought woo hoo! At last. :dance
Though after reading the full descriptions of the amps I have the following issues and wonder what other people think.
1; 15w head and 40w combo, huh! Surely this is the wrong way round! A 15w combo would be much better or maybe one with the ability to switch between 2 different power levels.
2; Congrats are due for the 4 way foot controller (I think this type should have been issued with the VM) but why only for the combo?
3; Shared EQ for both channels! I don't understand the point of 2 foot switchable channels if you then have to adjust the EQ on the amp when you switch between them!
4; I like the automatic storing of the effect setting per channel but why bother with 3 effects if you can only use one at a time?
Why not just have a good quality reverb and make do with that.

I know you can't please everyone but for my money a 15w, all valve, one channel combo, built on the VM design where you turn down the guitars volume to clean up would have been much better.
The Haze 40w combo isn't different enough from my 2266C to make it worth buying.

What do you think?

[Sean Coughlon]

The Haze 40w combo isn't different enough from my 2266C to make it worth buying.

I really hope the Haze 40 is, as you imply, not too different from the 2266C. If that is the case I think they will sell a ton of Haze amps. And I'll be very happy with my purchase - just have to wait for it to arrive now.

[MKB]

From all I've seen and heard so far, the Haze 40 is more of a classic preamp switching amp with a clean and distorted channel (maybe more like a DSL combo). This is different from a VM, which is one channel with boost. But you'd have to see the schematic to be sure. I'd LOVE to see the Haze schematics.

FWIW, I bought my VM without ever trying one out as I was able to get a look at the schematic first, and it looked like such a sweet design I had to have one. I knew it would probably sound great. After you work on amps for awhile you can tell a lot about what an amp sounds like by looking at the circuit arrangement.

[Spotted Dog]

After you work on amps for awhile you can tell a lot about what an amp sounds like by looking at the circuit arrangement.

Cool, into the "Matrix", Vintage Modern style.

[StratLover]

I really like these Haze things. Although I'm only 15, I am pretty much a vintage tone purist. I LOVE cranking a tube amp, and the Haze is perfect. Just leave it on the clean channel, put it on 10, and you have vintage Marshall breakup. This is far from "THE" amp, but for 700 dollars, it kicks the shit out of the comparable Fender Deluxe. A cool thing about the effects is that when you turn the effect to 0, it actually turns it "off," and removes the effects from the circuit completely. So, with the effects off, on the clean channel, you have a 40 watt, non-master volume el34 powered marshall for 700 bucks. Sounds like a deal to me :dance

[StratLover]

Forgot to mention, one of the screwier things about the amps is the vast differences between the two models. The wattage, which was already mentioned. The combo has an effects loop, where as the head does not. And, the biggest of all, the head holds 6V6 power tubes. They are pretty different beasts for carrying the same monicker! I tend to prefer the combo, it's a little less brittle/bright. Both sound screamin' for the money though

[Green Manalishi]

So I tested out a Haze 40 today, and I was underwhelmed by it. The clean channel was kinda flat, needed the bright on, but was ok. Not nearly as nice as the clean on my DSL50.
The overdrive channel was mud. I couldn't get a tone I liked out of it. Interestingly enough the amp was at ear level too.

I guess I am spoiled by the VM.

I wish there would be a 15W version of the VM.

[TonyC]

Here's one more video with the Haze in the hands of Doug Aldrich:



I think it sounds thick and fat. I actually like it.

[spikei]

Haze 40 combo and 4 way switch - after getting a replacement amp, cos the first one was popping when changing channels, I'm pleased to say i like what i hear. at home i wasn't that impressed, sound was a bit dark, but after having a bash with it in the hall its a different sound all together, good clean, good crunch, good overdrive and boost for lead, add a bit of the on-board delay fx and its there, and it doesn't weigh a ton either, at nearly 50 i don't want to be lugging heavy gear around. its all i want in one amp. well done Marshall.

i just hope its reliable, time will tell

BTW this amp is totally different to the V M combo, different sounds from different beast. i love them both.