Best "plexi" sound that's not Marshall

  • Thread starter Thread starter ewill52
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The Fargen will get you more into 80's territory than a Plexi type tone. I hear Greg Germino does a great with people who are looking for plexi and JMP tones and he has been informative and knowledgeable when I have communicated with him. Have a guitar buddy who swears by his Emplexador through a 2x12 and does not play really loud, which leads me to believe it probably has a good MV. I have not played one, but it is enough to make me want to, even though I have enough as it is. As Steve stated, if you cannot dime the volumes like a standard plexi/JMP model or do not prefer the other methods (some costly) for controlling volume with the NMV amps, you are looking at a good master volume amp. In the Suhr camp the only plexi-like amp that would meet that criteria that I know of (having not played the Hedgehog) is the SL68. The Brays' amps are good amps if you are looking for a MV modded plexi or more modern style tone amps, in general. Dave Brays's output level control knob while not linear, I found to be really effective, certainly better than the power scaling I played on a Suhr Badger. Good luck!
 
Metropoulos? Pedal.. Plexitone beats them all. The new one beating the old one IMO.
 
rlord1974":1y8v02vz said:
Fargen? They make a few models that could work for you (one of which is for sale in the Classifieds right now - the Olde 800 MKII).
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^this. Have never been happier with an amp. Does jtm 45-JMP-JCM 800 and does them all well.
 
True, I just sold a Traynor (YBA-1) that I lightly modded and it had the goods by the time i dialed it in in the preamp section. Unfortunately I wanted to do oak on the stairs to my studio so she went bye bye but these are good sounding amps for sure. I still think an 800 used combo for 800$ would be your best bet though.
 
ericsabbath":1hasi9md said:
Superdrives are nothing like a super lead
they have the "same" preamp section as the Friedman Naked, so hardly a plexi

I think the most authentic sounding vintage marshall based amps I've heard are Brays
and they are not too overpriced like some of the other high end stuff (still very expensive)
https://www.youtube.com/user/DavidBrayAmps/videos
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Actually, they are "Plexi inspired" so very much in realm of what he OP wants.
 
Yep, Fargen, or one of my favs I wish I still had, Soultone
 
lespaul6":37yl542k said:
ok, gotcha I have found after trying just about every clone out there that all are made really well but have something about them that is different than a Marshall. Either too smooth or not enough highs or too much lows etc etc... I think what makes a marshall sound so great is that is has that harshness and high end that when cranked is the sound of rock... its not a produced sound, its really raw and maybe offensive to some. So the boutique guys take out the "offensive" elements to appeal to certain players and something is lost in the process. The metro reproductions sound good but so does a 70's JMP. My wizard modern classic is about as close as you can get to my brothers 69 Marshall SL...its crazy good. I also like the marshall reissues, with a good set of tubes and good guitar the sound is there. I would definitely try before you buy if possible whatever you decide... good luck
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Excellent post from obvious experience. I, too, wanted a plexi amp without getting a plexi and came to similar conclusions after a string of "almost there, but not close enough" amps. Then, as good fortune would have it, I stumbled across '69 Super Lead in great shape and took it.

Now all my comparisons are backwards: The Plexi sounds close to my JCM 800 2205 but the clean is so much chimier and the tone is thicker. It sounds close to my old Egnater SL module, except the plexi's tone as a whole is a bit wider and the top end is nicer/glassier.

The only down side is the sheer wall of volume that wallops you. No wonder everyone wants masters on these things.

To sum it up: Go for a Marshall if you want a Marshall sound.
 
Suprised no one mentioned Blankenship.
Mine is the Plexiest plexi Ive ever heard. but like a "real" one you have to crank it to get into the sweet spot.
 
carlygtr":1jp1whmp said:
Yep, Fargen, or one of my favs I wish I still had, Soultone
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Curious where does the Landry you had fall comparitively speaking with these amps in this area?
 
///MK":p3ie2vy7 said:
Suprised no one mentioned Blankenship.
Mine is the Plexiest plexi Ive ever heard. but like a "real" one you have to crank it to get into the sweet spot.
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Nice call.
 
50MkII":2dmj2mmd said:
carlygtr":2dmj2mmd said:
Yep, Fargen, or one of my favs I wish I still had, Soultone
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Curious where does the Landry you had fall comparitively speaking with these amps in this area?
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:lol: :LOL: I forgot to mention one of my own! The Landry is like an 800 Marshall, but not a direct clone.
 
Best sounding "Marshall" I ever heard is a THD Series One Plexi - Andy Marshall voiced it after Dave Friedman's - The amp Dave uses for a reference when building his amps. It is basically a JMP. It is my favorite amp - It sounds perfect in a mix. Good luck finding one. Not a lot were built in the mid 90's. I have only seen two for sale since 2000 & I bought one of them.
 
I'm gonna get some funny looks on this one, but here goes: The Peavey Penta I owned had some wicked Plexi tones hiding in it. But the bottom line: Wizard Modern Classic is best sounding Marshall I have played.
 
I recently heard a 50 watt Germino that sounded fantastic!!! That being said , it didnt sound any better than my '74 Superlead and you can get a 70s Marshall for significantly less than a new Germino
 
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