Marsha vs. Quickrod

[Chubtone]

that's not even a price question
I believe the splawn is just well built as the marsha
splawns have that particular dry and focused feel (like a peavey or mesa mark) instead of a big 3D tone cause Scott Splawn modelled his signature sound by adding extra gain stage to marshalls without adding a tube, so he had to remove the cathode follower, which makes a ton of difference in those aspects (specially for the player), although the amps don't lose the british character
otherwise it would sound more like an even more satured and mid heavy Soldano or some modern Marshall-made amp
they can't be compared cause they're not in the exact same ballpark, although they both do most of the 80's hard rock tones and a lot other stuff
it's like comparing an ENGL to a Mesa Recto
they feel completely different, although they cover the same styles

Very interesting take.

 

[supersonic]

Woah, what's with the Marsha phobia? Sounds like a fair comparison, this comparison is often asked for. I don't think it's a price issue. I figured this would be the difference judging from clips I've heard.

 

[glip22]

I think its more like comparing the GT500 to the 911 Turbo...both will pin you back in your seat but one is a bit more expensive and refined than the other.

I was hoping the QR would hang with it so I could buy all those extra goodies...but it doesn't. Close, but not quite. That said, this particular Marsha has the Cantrell mod so its not a straight up BE/HBE....not sure how different it is.

I hear you..... and your GT500 to 911 Turbo comparison makes a lot of sense. In most things like this or other hobbies, that extra 10% always costs way more than just 10% more. When I was racing cars, I oftentimes got beat by better drivers in less expensive cars based on that whole they had more driving talent than me thing And one of my best friends always beat me when our cars were equal, so I outspent him, pounded the crap out of him at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in 2007 and haven't raced since. I blame it on the economy, but it's more like the Seinfeld where Jerry won't race the kid he beat in high school again and keeps saying " I choose not to run". It's killing my buddy though......

So where were we? Oh yeah... I choose not to play the Friedman!!!

He's still your friend? How long are you gonna wallow in it before giving him a shot.
The QR was definitely built well. I prefer a more spatial tone(3D). The amp just didn't do it for me. I really should have played it for a couple of weeks. There was no Wow factor when I plugged it in.

 

[BIGKAHUNA]

I loved my QR but wasnt in love with it. I loved all the Marsha and Mod'd Marshall tones i was hearing from Friedman so what to do? I sent my QR to Dave! Problema solved. Will be getting my Fortin VM in towards the end of this week and Dave shold be starting my QR any day now.

 

[Vrad]

that's not even a price question
I believe the splawn is just well built as the marsha
splawns have that particular dry and focused feel (like a peavey or mesa mark) instead of a big 3D tone cause Scott Splawn modelled his signature sound by adding extra gain stage to marshalls without adding a tube, so he had to remove the cathode follower, which makes a ton of difference in those aspects (specially for the player), although the amps don't lose the british character
otherwise it would sound more like an even more satured and mid heavy Soldano or some modern Marshall-made amp
they can't be compared cause they're not in the exact same ballpark, although they both do most of the 80's hard rock tones and a lot other stuff
it's like comparing an ENGL to a Mesa Recto
they feel completely different, although they cover the same styles

Yup. That's basically what you see when you look inside a QR.
2203 without a CF. 1st gain-stages is tweaked for as much gain as you can get but still the basic 2203 V1a/V1b configuration. The tone-stack has some different values for the caps and there's more filtering in the power section to make the amp tighter.

When I look inside that amp, it's about as close as you can get to a 2203. 2203 TWEAKED! Not a different amp entirely inside a Marshall head-shell. I think that's Scott's niche. Most guys seem to start with a hot-rodded Plexi. Scott seems to have went with a hot-rodded 2203 as a foundation.

I ended up with a QR because I was looking for a 2203 and to me, spending $1500 on a 2203/2203 RI was silly. I could have a better built, hot-rodded 2203 for a bit more. The QR delivers that.

But that's neither here nor there. The Marsha sound terrific as well in the videos that I've seen. I'd love to hear a recorded clip because videos don't do any amp justice.

 

[Lord Toneking]

Id love to have any Friedman, Fortin, Cameron etc. Great to hear different flavors of tone

with that said, I just couldnt justify spending twice as much money for those amps amp...but then again I'm poor, so I guess I should just be thankful for what I have and keep my mouth shut

It just rubs me the wrong way to see these amps cost so much money for what they are, really?

 

[shreder75]

why would I order a marsha? I married one..that's why I bought a Quickrod

 

[daver101]

Just picked up a Friedman modded JCA20H from Jet City. Well worth checking out, because it nails the brown eye and saturation mod of my Kitchen Sink Friedman Marshall.....

For $900 (with an effects loop), it's a steal....

 

[mixohoytian]

I don't doubt the marsha sounds great, but I think the splawn sound cool. In comparison on youtube, the splawn sounds more unique and has more attitude

If you want a marshall sound w/ high gain and tight bottom end, the splawn has that and with the right fingers and engineer, I bet everyone could be fooled as to which is which

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Splawn police and weird mids!

 

[Gitfiddler]

Is Scott Splawn still a nice guy?

 

[LP Freak]

Is Scott Splawn still a nice guy?

Definately. I ordered a white headshell and it showed up black. I emailed him about it and he called on the phone within literally two minutes. He was willing to do whatever it takes to make it right.

 

[romanianreaper]

splawns have that particular dry and focused feel

Dry and focused is actually a great way to describe the tone of a Splawn. That is always why I use the Van Halen tone analogy comparing Van Halen I tone to "1984" tone. The early Van Halen tone was more dry and focused and the later tone had a bit more muscle to it.

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

Is Scott Splawn still a nice guy?

def is a nice guy, went out of his way to help me when i converted my super comp into a 100 watt.... cool guy and he builds a great amp all around, nice quality for sure...

thanks again Scott!

 

[Rev]

I got the great fortune to play a Marsha today when I picked up my capistan delay. I was more interested in hearing the delay features but I was demoing it through the Marsha into a scumback cab using a Suhr Modern. So everything was spectacular! I must say that I love my Splawn and will always love it. The Marsha had an amazing feel, response, and tone to it. It really inspires you musically; very warm and buttery. I had a buddy with me and he even mentioned that it didn't squeal out in the high registered frets, and he isn't even a musician. No ice pick frequencies. Just perfect from the 1st fret throughout the neck. I wish I had some more time with it and with my guitar and cab that I use with my QR. I did leave the store vacillating on how I could afford owning one grinning from ear to ear. The tone actually reminds me a lot of Queensrÿche's "Empire".

The Splawn is more dry and focus amp which has that punch that makes them what they are. The Marsha does have more saturation. Splawn has that PMS Marshall voicing and the Marsha has its own thing going. Each have a fantastic approach to the Marshall-esque tone. Each would fit into the same band. I'm a Marshall guy and I could easily justify owning both because there definitely is a unique thing about each one. I wouldn't pick one over the other but would find a way to own both, if possible. Both are a lot of fun and inspiring to play.

 

[shredguitar]

interesting,looks like there is some competition out there for the british style amps

 

[shreder75]

Is Scott Splawn still a nice guy?

by matt

 

[glassjaw7]

I got the great fortune to play a Marsha today when I picked up my capistan delay. I was more interested in hearing the delay features but I was demoing it through the Marsha into a scumback cab using a Suhr Modern. So everything was spectacular! I must say that I love my Splawn and will always love it. The Marsha had an amazing feel, response, and tone to it. It really inspires you musically; very warm and buttery. I had a buddy with me and he even mentioned that it didn't squeal out in the high registered frets, and he isn't even a musician. No ice pick frequencies. Just perfect from the 1st fret throughout the neck. I wish I had some more time with it and with my guitar and cab that I use with my QR. I did leave the store vacillating on how I could afford owning one grinning from ear to ear. The tone actually reminds me a lot of Queensrÿche's "Empire".

The Splawn is more dry and focus amp which has that punch that makes them what they are. The Marsha does have more saturation. Splawn has that PMS Marshall voicing and the Marsha has its own thing going. Each have a fantastic approach to the Marshall-esque tone. Each would fit into the same band. I'm a Marshall guy and I could easily justify owning both because there definitely is a unique thing about each one. I wouldn't pick one over the other but would find a way to own both, if possible. Both are a lot of fun and inspiring to play.

That sentence alone just made my Marsha gas come back.

 

[AndyK]

Splawn QR = 2203 modded
Friedman = Plexi modded

I wonder what a Friedman modded 2203 would sound like!?

 

[se7en]

I loved my QR but wasnt in love with it.

Sounds like this girl I used to see. I loved her, bit wasn't IN LOVE with her.