NAD: Marshall SV20H

LPMojoGL

LPMojoGL

Well-known member
A Marshall SV20h popped up locally for $1g.
I've been increasingly curious about it after recently seeing a couple of live bands using it, and the Headfirst/Monomyth mod video.
So I picked it up.

First impression:
Pretty convincing without attenuation.
Not as articulate, open or punchy as a 50w. Seems trickier to dial in.
Boxy. Especially with an attenuator, moreso than a 50w.
Can be used as a pedal platform, plugged into the low inputs, with careful tweaking. Runs out of headroom fast.
I appreciate the effects loop, for the ability to patch into the power amp.
It would benefit from the bright switches and master volume implemented on the Friedman Plex.

This is in the room thru a 2x12. It may sound better thru a 4x12.
The differences may be beneficial in a mix, kind of how a Rat pedal sounds meh in the room, but pokes thru perfect in a mix.
 
LPMojoGL said:
A Marshall SV20h popped up locally for $1g.
I've been increasingly curious about it after recently seeing a couple of live bands using it, and the Headfirst/Monomyth mod video.
So I picked it up.

First impression:
Pretty convincing without attenuation.
Not as articulate, open or punchy as a 50w. Seems trickier to dial in.
Boxy. Especially with an attenuator, moreso than a 50w.
Can be used as a pedal platform, plugged into the low inputs, with careful tweaking. Runs out of headroom fast.
I appreciate the effects loop, for the ability to patch into the power amp.
It would benefit from the bright switches and master volume implemented on the Friedman Plex.

This is in the room thru a 2x12. It may sound better thru a 4x12.
The differences may be beneficial in a mix, kind of how a Rat pedal sounds meh in the room, but pokes thru perfect in a mix.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the thorough review! I'm not surprised that you felt that the amp runs out of headroom fast. Sounds like about how I hear things, the amp sounds great it just misses the headroom and punch of a 50/100 watter.

I appreciate my lower wattage amps but when I want headroom and punch I prefer 50 and 100 watters.
 
I hated mine. Sold it pretty quick. Too loud too quick, and farts out. Even tried it with a PS-2, and they didn't get along at all. Never got a tone that did anything for me.
 
I am patiently waiting for the used market price on an sc20h to come down to around $800 (which is where it should be based on the new reduced prices). 1K is a step in the right direction as I haven't seen any of the studio series amps around here used for lower than 1200 which is insane....or they want to package them with the matching 112 or 212 which I have no need for.

That being said, I've enjoyed the SV20s Ive tried. I feel like it was made to just do the jumper thing and it does that real well.
 
Leroymyman said:
I am patiently waiting for the used market price on an sc20h to come down to around $800 (which is where it should be based on the new reduced prices). 1K is a step in the right direction as I haven't seen any of the studio series amps around here used for lower than 1200 which is insane....or they want to package them with the matching 112 or 212 which I have no need for.

That being said, I've enjoyed the SV20s Ive tried. I feel like it was made to just do the jumper thing and it does that real well.
Click to expand...
I had a SC20c $900 used before prices went up. It sounded good, much more manageable volume.
 
I like my Origin 50; I have the head and combo. Combo doesn't sound too boxy; and the power scaling works really well; I can definitely get my JTM-45/100 and Plexi fix at low volumes vs my 1959x full stack.
 
The Studio series cost is due to being made in the UK; vs the Origin and DSL being made in Vietnam. I recall Headfirst did a comparison of the Origin 20 and one of the Studio heads, similar parts and build IIRC. the headshell of the Studio was better too.

Marshall should have targeted $1000 US for the studio series heads and they would have sold many more IMO. The SC head is £759.00 which is $992.77 today.
 
LPMojoGL said:
A Marshall SV20h popped up locally for $1g.
I've been increasingly curious about it after recently seeing a couple of live bands using it, and the Headfirst/Monomyth mod video.
So I picked it up.

First impression:
Pretty convincing without attenuation.
Not as articulate, open or punchy as a 50w. Seems trickier to dial in.
Boxy. Especially with an attenuator, moreso than a 50w.
Can be used as a pedal platform, plugged into the low inputs, with careful tweaking. Runs out of headroom fast.
I appreciate the effects loop, for the ability to patch into the power amp.
It would benefit from the bright switches and master volume implemented on the Friedman Plex.

This is in the room thru a 2x12. It may sound better thru a 4x12.
The differences may be beneficial in a mix, kind of how a Rat pedal sounds meh in the room, but pokes thru perfect in a mix.
Click to expand...
Tried the Plexi and 800 20-watters and yeah pretty much the same thing. Not surprising - small, lightweight transformers and cathode biased with low plate voltages. Really hard to get thunderous Marshall tones without the key ingredients.
 
For the same price range the EVH 50 watt Stealth with the resonance knob on the back interests me more and it punches like a 50 watter. I keep on eye on my local CL's to scoop one up just to try it out.

I appreciate the SV20 and like the fact that they used full sized EL34 power tubes and from the clips they sound fantastic as long as you know going in it isn't going to hit like a 50 or 100 watt amp.

I find a 50 or 100 watter into an attenuator just shaving off the ludicrous volumes like -8DB maybe -12 DB max sound and even attenuated MOVE AIR/punch better than a low wattage amp totally cranked, the low wattage amps are still loud DB wise but they won't move air like the big boys.
 
ZEN Amps said:
Tried the Plexi and 800 20-watters and yeah pretty much the same thing. Not surprising - small, lightweight transformers and cathode biased with low plate voltages. Really hard to get thunderous Marshall tones without the key ingredients.
Click to expand...
For sure. Tried and eq in the effects loop. Helped, but still not great. I imagine I'll flip pretty quick.
harddriver said:
For the same price range the EVH 50 watt Stealth with the resonance knob on the back interests me more and it punches like a 50 watter. I keep on eye on my local CL's to scoop one up just to try it out.

I appreciate the SV20 and like the fact that they used full sized EL34 power tubes and from the clips they sound fantastic as long as you know going in it isn't going to hit like a 50 or 100 watt amp.

I find a 50 or 100 watter into an attenuator just shaving off the ludicrous volumes like -8DB maybe -12 DB max sound and even attenuated MOVE AIR/punch better than a low wattage amp totally cranked, the low wattage amps are still loud DB wise but they won't move air like the big boys.
Click to expand...
The EVH 50s was great when I had one. The blue and red channels have plenty of gain, sound pretty modern. The clean channel benefits from a pedal like a Klone or Lightspeed to give it some life, and takes pedals like an Okko Diablo well for old school crunch. The resonance does provide plenty of low end. Another one to watch for is the PRS Archon 50. They can be had for a great price. Really dig mine.

Agreed, a 50w with ppimv or attenuated is much girthier and punchy than the SV20.

There's a Mezzabarba 100 Z for sale locally. Mezza told me:
"Hello Bobby, the 101 is in between of Marshall plexi and Hiwatt DR103, a sort of vintage amp with Mezzabarba sound. No too much distortion but punch, dynamic and tone for days"
I can only imagine how brutally loud that would be.
Maybe the seller would trade for an SV20. :)
 
LPMojoGL said:
A Marshall SV20h popped up locally for $1g.
I've been increasingly curious about it after recently seeing a couple of live bands using it, and the Headfirst/Monomyth mod video.
So I picked it up.

First impression:
Pretty convincing without attenuation.
Not as articulate, open or punchy as a 50w. Seems trickier to dial in.
Boxy. Especially with an attenuator, moreso than a 50w.
Can be used as a pedal platform, plugged into the low inputs, with careful tweaking. Runs out of headroom fast.
I appreciate the effects loop, for the ability to patch into the power amp.
It would benefit from the bright switches and master volume implemented on the Friedman Plex.

This is in the room thru a 2x12. It may sound better thru a 4x12.
The differences may be beneficial in a mix, kind of how a Rat pedal sounds meh in the room, but pokes thru perfect in a mix.
Click to expand...
Sounds decent here but maybe its the OX attenuator hes using??

 
311splawndude said:
Congrats @LPMojoGL :cheers:



Oh wow, I thought you liked that amp :dunno:
Click to expand...
Nope.
rsm said:
The Studio series cost is due to being made in the UK; vs the Origin and DSL being made in Vietnam. I recall Headfirst did a comparison of the Origin 20 and one of the Studio heads, similar parts and build IIRC. the headshell of the Studio was better too.

Marshall should have targeted $1000 US for the studio series heads and they would have sold many more IMO. The SC head is £759.00 which is $992.77 today.
Click to expand...
They did, at first.. When they came out, I got the SV20H for $1199, which I felt was reasonable, (and pre-covid). They later went up to $1299, then I believe $1549, before landing at $1799. Now they're back to $1299, (and hard to get). I'm not sure if they skimped on Vietnamese transformers on all the Marshalls of today with the huge price drop across the board. I know they shifted around distribution to lower the cost, but what's inside now?

This all said, I've owned all 3 Studio Series amps. The Mini Jubilee is still my favorite. But an SC20H with a Hot Mod sounds pretty good as well. Just throw an EQ in the loop for bigger low end.
 
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napalmdeath said:
Nope.

They did, at first.. When they came out, I got the SV20H for $1199, which I felt was reasonable, (and pre-covid). They later went up to $1299, then I believe $1549, before landing at $1799. Now they're back to $1299, (and hard to get). I'm not sure if they skimped on Vietnamese transformers on all the Marshalls of today with the huge price drop across the board. I know they shifted around distribution to lower the cost, but what's inside now?

This all said, I've owned all 3 Studio Series amps. The Mini Jubilee is still my favorite. But an SC20H with a Hot Mod sounds pretty good as well. Just throw an EQ in the loop for bigger low end.
Click to expand...
Ive heard great things about the Mini Jubilee. It never seemed to be in stock at any big box store...a at least not since the SV20 and SC20 came out.

Out of curiosity, what is the Hot Mod?
 
SonVolt said:
Will someone once and for all explain what "boxy" means?
Click to expand...

Generally in my IRL guitar friend group we use boxy to describe the lack of low lows and high highs that is associated with smaller iron.

But I've heard a bunch of definitions on RT and the internet in general
 
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