Marshall MF280 4x12: Good?

[Junk Yard Dog]

I’m seeing one used. Really good price. Anyone had one of these Mode Four 4x12s?

Cheers!

 

[godgrinder]

The MF series are the only full-ply modern Marshall cabs apart from the HW series. I'd say pick it up.

 

[Rex Rocker]

The MF series are the only full-ply modern Marshall cabs apart from the HW series. I'd say pick it up.

They've made even the standard 1960's out of all-ply for a few years now. My 1960A has a plywood back.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Cool. Thanks, guys. What’s the advantage of the plywood?

 

[Rex Rocker]

Cool. Thanks, guys. What’s the advantage of the plywood?

It's lighter, it's more resistant, and arguably sounds better.

The Mode Four cabs were great. The "Vintage 30 MF's" that came in those cabs were really unique-sounding. Like a darker, cleaner version of the standard V30 tone.

 

[Racerxrated]

Cool. Thanks, guys. What’s the advantage of the plywood?

It's lighter, it's more resistant, and arguably sounds better.

The Mode Four cabs were great. The "Vintage 30 MF's" that came in those cabs were really unique-sounding. Like a darker, cleaner version of the standard V30 tone.

This is a good description; I found that it sounded very close to the 800 cab with G12 65s I had at the time. But don't think its a light weight cab; they are as tall or taller than a Recto cab and weigh close to 80lbs. Great cab though, for twice the price that they go for.

 

[napalmdeath]

Somebody's had a clean one on local CL for $350 for over a year. If I had the need, I would have snagged it!

 

[mnemonic]

I got one very cheap recently, great cab. They are oversized, similar dimentions to the Mesa Recto 4x12.

Great cab, very solid and very heavy. Not sure why they aren’t more popular, they go for peanuts.

I think mine is an early one (dated 2002) since the speakers have the ‘Marshall Vintage’ sticker on the back and are made in U.K., however the T-number on the side of the magnet corresponds with the V30 MF speakers.

Celestion must have made way more of those Vintage 30 MF speaker’s than marshall needed since Avatar ended up with a ton of them, and sold them as Hellatone 60L.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

All very encouraging guys, thank you. I'm playing Friedman amps, so I'm looking for something that will crush a bit when my band plays outdoor and larger indoor stages.

So for those that have played the MF280, will it cut in the mix with a JJ100 or other Marshall variant, or would I perhaps want to do a speaker mix?

Cheers.

 

[Bad.Seed]

I currently own 2 of the MF400 cabs with K100's, and had a MF280 straight for a few years. They are among my favorite cabs. Marshall's attempt at competing with the mesa rectifier cabs in the early 2000's.

The Marshall V30's in those cabs sound very close to the Mesa v30's. Not as bright or crazy mid spike as a normal v30, but still very forward sounding. These speakers will cut with a JJ no problem, and the cba will sound big and full.

These cabs are massively under rated.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I currently own 2 of the MF400 cabs with K100's, and had a MF280 straight for a few years. They are among my favorite cabs. Marshall's attempt at competing with the mesa rectifier cabs in the early 2000's.

The Marshall V30's in those cabs sound very close to the Mesa v30's. Not as bright or crazy mid spike as a normal v30, but still very forward sounding. These speakers will cut with a JJ no problem, and the cba will sound big and full.

These cabs are massively under rated.

Sweet! I'm pretty stoked to read all of this. Thanks for chiming in, brother.

 

[Racerxrated]

Through my Marshall and C+ the MF 280 was killer. Another cab I should have kept. Cuts well with a softer top end.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Celestion must have made way more of those Vintage 30 MF speaker’s than marshall needed since Avatar ended up with a ton of them, and sold them as Hellatone 60L.

They also sold them direct through Guitar Center as "Relic 30's" (https://reverb.com/item/2564425-celestion-relic-30-speaker-16-ohm-60-watts). I hava a pair of UK-made ones in my 1960A mixed with Creamback H-75's. They're great. Way darker and smoother as well as tighter and cleaner than the Chinese V30's they replaced.

 

[RyeDaddy]

MF280 cabs are great, I have one and prefer it over my 2551BV cab which is much brighter with less bass response. The description above of their unique speakers is dead on, closer to a Mesa V30 sound, but darker. They have a large dustcap which is unlike any other V30 out there while still maintaining the core tone. To me they kinda sound like a Mesa V30 and a K-100 had a baby.

They go for so cheap it’s crazy. The one I have is a slant with some wear on the outside and I got it for $250, the speakers alone were worth at least that much.

One thing to note is the Mode Four cabs are single input 16 ohm with a recessed jack, not the usual 4/16 mono, 8 ohm stereo plate of other Marshall cabs if that matters to you.

 

[japetus]

I think people shyed away from these cabs because the amp licked butt. They are nice cabs though.

 

[_actual time_]

The "Vintage 30 MF's" that came in those cabs were really unique-sounding. Like a darker, cleaner version of the standard V30 tone.

I dug those speakers a lot, in a Bogner OS 2x12.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Thanks everybody. Are these MF280 cabs punchy or more woods? I’m looking for something that spreads sound well ala rear-loaded, but isn’t too wooly. I read a lot of threads saying the Mesa Standard/OS cabs can be quite woofy in an unpleasant way.

So what’s the go with these on the punch vs woof side?

Thx!

 

[Racerxrated]

Thanks everybody. Are these MF280 cabs punchy or more woods? I’m looking for something that spreads sound well ala rear-loaded, but isn’t too wooly. I read a lot of threads saying the Mesa Standard/OS cabs can be quite woofy in an unpleasant way.

So what’s the go with these on the punch vs woof side?

Thx!

When I had mine, I was playing a Jubilee 2555 with it and I found it tight like any 1960 but able to hold and push more tight low end than I could with my 79 1960 with 65s. The Jubilee has a ton more low end than a typical 800, and with my 65 cab I couldn't turn the bass up past 6 or so before it got a little mushy. The 280 could take more bass and still sound really good.

 

[scottosan]

Haha, I was looking at the same cab. I think it's a good deal

 

[magh8]

Great cabs my only complaint is the hardware. Those handled suck