Marshall Haze 40 combo review

[Meathead]

I gigged with the Haze 40 tonight and had a lot of fun playing through it. Cranked it up and really put it through it's paces.
The delay sounded OK to me, but I didn't like the rest of the effects at all.
Has excellent cleans for a Marshall. The gain channel sounds really nice.

I pushed in the 'boost' switches for both channels.
gain on the gain channel was cranked
gain channel volume 12:00 (clean channel volume was 9:00)
treble 3:00
mid 12:00
bass 12:00
presence 1:00

Let her rip, really sounded good to me! This is a great gigging amp. I had no problem keeping a clean tone with a loud drummer.
For a 1x12, easy to lug around combo, it sounds really big and full.
Not a metal type distortion, more of a 70's-80's JMP/800 type of gain.

As long as it's reliable, Marshall has a winner here.

Quick loud clip:
Preamp full - master volume 8
http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=27411

 

[Mudder]

How much are they? $800 or so? That's not too bad I guess.

 

[Digital Jams]

Thanks Adam, sounds like a great amp.

 

[sixstrings]

I played one a few times since they came out at Guitar Center. I agree that the reliability NEEDS to be there. They do sound pretty good for cheap amps. However, I think the DSL's sound better. For the price and extra FX though, the Haze seems to be a contender in a sea of budget amps.

 

[Meathead]

Well I borrowed it and didn't return it which is rare.

It withstood being cranked a whole night, I'm thinking I didn't get a lemon. Best sounding little combo I've played yet.
If something does go wrong, the store will take it back no problem, they're very good with me seeing as I'm a frequent buyer.

If you test the Haze 40 out at a store, push in the boost switch, set all the EQ knobs to noon (except for the treble set it to 3:00) It has a singing Timmons type tone, really nice smooth crunch. It roars when you turn it up past half.

 

[Meathead]

I played one a few times since they came out at Guitar Center. I agree that the reliability NEEDS to be there. They do sound pretty good for cheap amps. However, I think the DSL's sound better. For the price and extra FX though, the Haze seems to be a contender in a sea of budget amps.

I prefer the Haze 40 voicing over the DSL, it's smoother and has more of a warm mid growl, which is what I'm after.
I'll post any problems I have...I'm hoping there won't be any.

 

[tweed]

Thanks for the review. My other guitarist is looking for a new amp, this might be right up his alley.

 

[Meathead]

Thanks for the review. My other guitarist is looking for a new amp, this might be right up his alley.

It has the option to be a bright, more modern type voicing. If you push in the bright switch it brightens both the clean and gain channels.
That button is evil to me though...I'll crazy glue that sucker on 'off'

The shared EQ between the clean and gain channel is not a problem, they are voiced very well to each other.
I don't think I would change a thing about this amp...maybe tap delay would be nice?

 

[sixstrings]

I played one a few times since they came out at Guitar Center. I agree that the reliability NEEDS to be there. They do sound pretty good for cheap amps. However, I think the DSL's sound better. For the price and extra FX though, the Haze seems to be a contender in a sea of budget amps.

I prefer the Haze 40 voicing over the DSL, it's smoother and has more of a warm mid growl, which is what I'm after.
I'll post any problems I have...I'm hoping there won't be any.

Well I think that depends on how loud you crank the DSL. From experimenting with the Haze 40 at low and high volumes, I think it gets the tone at lower volumes than the DSL; however, the DSL cranked almost cannot be beat. My opinion of course, but I can understand your infatuation with the Haze. It's a pretty good sounding amp for the money.

 

[Meathead]

I played one a few times since they came out at Guitar Center. I agree that the reliability NEEDS to be there. They do sound pretty good for cheap amps. However, I think the DSL's sound better. For the price and extra FX though, the Haze seems to be a contender in a sea of budget amps.

I prefer the Haze 40 voicing over the DSL, it's smoother and has more of a warm mid growl, which is what I'm after.
I'll post any problems I have...I'm hoping there won't be any.

Well I think that depends on how loud you crank the DSL. From experimenting with the Haze 40 at low and high volumes, I think it gets the tone at lower volumes than the DSL; however, the DSL cranked almost cannot be beat. My opinion of course, but I can understand your infatuation with the Haze. It's a pretty good sounding amp for the money.

Agreed. The Haze and the DSL are two different animals, it'll be a matter of preference.
Just letting others know to give it a try, they may be pleasantly surprised for the money how this amp sounds.

 

[Meathead]

How does that Haze compare to that glowing review you gave about the blue Traynor 50W combo years ago?

That Blue Traynor was a cool little combo for the money....never expected that thread to get over 500 comments. Are you bustin' my balls?

Try the Haze 40 out, it blew me away.

 

[Meathead]

That Blue Traynor was a cool little combo for the money....never expected that thread to get over 500 comments. Are you bustin' my balls?

No, not busting your balls though I'd like to. I bought that blue Traynor because of your review, that thing got me back into tubes after a long struggle within the digital modeling world. I ended up selling it to get a JCM800 4104 combo.

I went through a Pod 1, Pod 2.0, Pod XT, (Tonelab LE which I still use) phase. Nothing sounds like a nice tube amp at your feet. But going direct has it's place when needed.
I bought a Carvin Legacy 2x12 closed back combo, which sounded bigger, so I sold the Traynor Blue...but that thread kept on going for at least another year...page 21...."Hey Randy, how are you setting your Blue up?"

 

[Digital Jams]

That Blue Traynor was a cool little combo for the money....never expected that thread to get over 500 comments. Are you bustin' my balls?

No, not busting your balls though I'd like to. I bought that blue Traynor because of your review, that thing got me back into tubes after a long struggle within the digital modeling world. I ended up selling it to get a JCM800 4104 combo.

I always thought of going into the priesthood.

 

[Meathead]

That Blue Traynor was a cool little combo for the money....never expected that thread to get over 500 comments. Are you bustin' my balls?

No, not busting your balls though I'd like to. I bought that blue Traynor because of your review, that thing got me back into tubes after a long struggle within the digital modeling world. I ended up selling it to get a JCM800 4104 combo.

I always thought of going into the priesthood.

Why? You can just lure people to you with You Tube videos in your undies.

 

[Meathead]

I always thought of going into the priesthood.

get your quotes straight.

I've often thought of entering the priesthood

Tony D'Annunzio: [carrying Czervik's golf bag] What do you got in here, rocks?
Al Czervik: Are you kiddin'? When I was your age, I would lug fifty pounds of ice up five, six flights of stairs!
Tony D'Annunzio: [puts down Czervik's bag, exasperated] So what?
Al Czervik: So what?
[opens compartment in golf bag, revealing radio]
Al Czervik: So let's dance!
[turns on Journey's "Any Way You Want It," high volume]

 

[Meathead]

Tony D'Annunzio: [carrying Czervik's golf bag] What do you got in here, rocks?
Al Czervik: Are you kiddin'? When I was your age, I would lug fifty pounds of ice up five, six flights of stairs!
Tony D'Annunzio: [puts down Czervik's bag, exasperated] So what?
Al Czervik: So what?
[opens compartment in golf bag, revealing radio]
Al Czervik: So let's dance!
[clicks youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLNeYGcR9O4

quote fixed

refixed

 

[Digital Jams]

Rabbit season!

 

[Meathead]

Tony D'Annunzio: [carrying Czervik's golf bag] What do you got in here, rocks?
Al Czervik: Are you kiddin'? When I was your age, I would lug fifty pounds of ice up five, six flights of stairs!
Tony D'Annunzio: [puts down Czervik's bag, exasperated] So what?
Al Czervik: So what?
[opens compartment in golf bag, revealing radio]
Al Czervik: So let's dance!
[clicks youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMsqRRMdrNU

quote fixed

refixed

fixed again

You win.

 

[Meathead]

Tony D'Annunzio: [carrying Czervik's golf bag] What do you got in here, rocks?
Al Czervik: Are you kiddin'? When I was your age, I would lug fifty pounds of ice up five, six flights of stairs!
Tony D'Annunzio: [puts down Czervik's bag, exasperated] So what?
Al Czervik: So what?
[opens compartment in golf bag, revealing radio]
Al Czervik: So let's dance!
[clicks youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMsqRRMdrNU

quote fixed

refixed

fixed again

You win.

it does have a very Silence of the Lambs-ish feel to it, I thought I saw some moths flying around.

It rubs the nut sauce on it's nut. It rubs the nut sauce on it's nut!

 

[blackba]

This is the first really positive review of the Haze 40 combo I have seen. I hope I get a chance to check one out soon.