What Marshall amp sounds like a Marshall?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MadAsAHatter
  • Start date Start date
MadAsAHatter

MadAsAHatter

Well-known member
I know that sounds like a dumbass question. By default a Marshall amp would sound like a Marshall, but hear me out...

We all know each era of Marshall amps sound a little bit different and each amp in that era has a bit of a unique tone as well. So when someone says "The Marshall Sound" what specifically comes to your mind?

I associate a Marshall sound with 80's thrash metal. So for me The Marshall sound is a JCM800 2203/2204 with a tube screamer out front going through a 412 loaded with either old style G12-T75 or Vintage 30's.
 
There's a bunch of different "marshall sounds" but the most common ones are the JTM/black flag sound of clapton/acdc, the plexi sound, and the 800 sound - but because of the music I listen to and when I grew up, I associate it with thrash metal, boost pedals, 75s, like you @MadAsAHatter

I totally get associated it with any of the other common marshall sounds though, it all depends on the music you came up on
 
In my opinion my JTM45 sounds more Marshally than a Plexi or DSL.
 
I've only owned a few...several stock late 70s JMP 2204s, a Gower Rockmonster 2203x, 2555x, and VS8100. The most Marshall of those for what I expected a classic Marshall to sound like was the VS8100, but that's in a metal context. For classic rock the JMPs. The Gower was sick but more modern tones and the 2555x was cool too but also more modern tone.
 
Any of the Marshalls that have that good "kerrang" sound.. What's funny is I never heard that term until many years after buying a Marshall and so described it as "clang". Ehen I saw that it was described as kerrang I was amused because that's exactly the sound. Any Marshall that can do that contains the classic essence of Marshall tone IMO. Good morning brothers.
 
I think of classic rock from the late 60's and 70's, the era where it's mostly a guitar straight into a NMV Marshall head, with effects like fuzz mostly use here and there and pretty obvious. (It seems like solo boosts were more treble boosters then, rather than OD's that we started using when I was young.)

I grew with metal too, but since we were boosting and starting to get some other sounds mixed in, I think it more as a hybrid sound built on a solid Marshall base, if that makes any sense.
 
This was always what I tried to get with a Strat and Marshall. The neck pu tone, straight in (no fuzz) He later turns on an Octavia, but his Fuzz wasn't used in this tune. It took years to understand, it takes pretty good volume to get some of this.

 
Most Marshall would depend. I mean you've had alot of era's then the modded stuff.

I've owned MKII NMV Super Leads, Combo's, JMP 2203, 2204's, 800's 2203, 2204's, JMP-1, SLX, HJS and JVM's.

My favorites were the JMP 2204 and my current JVM's. They all get the Marshall sound to me as the DNA is there in all of them.
 
I love this question because I’ve asked it myself before. Different for everybody in the end. Honestly the DSL’s sound so new era Marshally to me in a good way. Kind of unmistakable mids. Of course all the old Marshalls do their thing too but in various ways.

You can buy a Plexi hoping to sound like acdc but then you realize what you loved wasn’t the amp, but the amp in the context of those recordings. Fuckin turns into a dog chasing its tail real quick.
 
Was strikes me, is, when I was thinking of classic Marshall sounds they were all from the eras of the particular amps, 60’s-80’s. Even though those amps have been and, are still well used since then, I can’t think of many recordings in the last 20 plus years that have what I consider to be a great Marshall sound. Makes me wonder if the recording environs and equipment used contributed as much as the amps and players themselves. There’s still some rockin’ recordings for sure but not like the 70’s and 80’s.
 
Last edited:
I have always separated the Marshall tones into an AC/DC less gainy tone and then the rest which are those bands we loved in the 80s like Kix, Ratt, etc. Basically a Marshall with a boost.
 
For me, the Marshall sound is a good guitar directly into a good Marshall amp. Hendrix and '70s Kiss define the Marshall sound for me. Classic hard rock = humbuckers into a Marshall.

Current fav is an Ibanez PS 10 directly into one of my Marshall amps (1959x, SL-X, DSL40CR, Origin 50, JVM410)...or Engl Artist Edition E651. No attenuator, just earplugs. Each is different, but sounds like Marshall to me.
 
rsm said:
Current fav is an Ibanez PS 10 directly into one of my Marshall amps (1959x, SL-X, DSL40CR, Origin 50, JVM410)...or Engl Artist Edition E651. No attenuator, just earplugs. Each is different, but sounds like Marshall to me.
Click to expand...
A humbucker guitar straight into Marshall tone is really hard to beat cause it just sounds dang good. Add a boost and it is still a great tone. I love a simplistic, straightforward rig best. I think the most classic tones fit that description whether we are talking Marshall or Fender.
 
Just saw this on the book of faces:


Screen Shot 2024-10-11 at 10.23.04 AM.jpg
 
VonBonfire said:
A humbucker guitar straight into Marshall tone is really hard to beat cause it just sounds dang good. Add a boost and it is still a great tone. I love a simplistic, straightforward rig best. I think the most classic tones fit that description whether we are talking Marshall or Fender.
Click to expand...
100%
I don't knock anyone if they want to run a large pedalboard. Though for me, nothing is more pure than guitar straight into the amp; possibly a boost out front for an extra push if needed. That goes for almost any type of amp. Marshall, Fender, Vox, Mesa, et. all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top