Trade a 5150 iii head for a Marshall Vintage Modern stack?

[mysticaxe]

I haven't spent much time around either amp, so I can't comment there.

To think about the value of a VM - I saw one used at a GC for $750 a few weeks ago. Given that cabs generally sell for $400-$500 on the used market around here, I'd say the value is $1100-$1200. That sounds reasonable to slightly low for a 5153...

 

[The Luke]

The VM does decently well at low volumes due to the PPMIV, but of course it sounds better cranked.

There is a massive volume jump between the the Low and High Dynamic Ranges, but they aren't designed to be clean and dirty channels. It is a one channel amp with two modes. I don't know why they bothered to make the modes foot-switchable, because you can't really use it that way. Either mode does clean up well with your guitar volume.

I really like my 2466. I just wish it had a switchable second master as you can't boost in the effects loop - the return level is already jacked up as high as it can go internally in order to give the power amp the biggest signal like an old plexi.
I play in a hard rock band with two guitars, and drive the High Dynamic Range pretty hard, so a boost in front doesn't provide adequate volume for solos. You need to put a cut in the loop, leave it on for rhythms, and disengage the cut for solos.

The 425B I have is the best Marshall cab I have played - the speakers are an excellent 25w green back.

Doug Aldrich used the head and cab on record and the head live with Whitesnake for a while - he apparently set the preamp gains detail at 6 and body at 3, master at 4, then used and overdrive and a clean boost to take it in to heavier territory. That method works well.

 

[yngzaklynch]

Like Luke said the VM is good at low volume but sounds sooooooo damn sweet with some healthy volume. I use mine with a Baber Direct Drive. I keep the Volume high and the Drive low on the pedal. Works great. I have the 425A cab and like it a lot.I have owned many many amps and this has been the one that is most ideal for me tonewise.

Jim

 

[renegade5150]

From all the clips I have heard and from your guys talks about the amp makes me want to trade for it but I simply need to be able to go from a tone like Shinedown's Sound of Madness to No Doubt's Don't Speak by just rolling back the guitars volume knob. Can it do this?

 

[yngzaklynch]

From all the clips I have heard and from your guys talks about the amp makes me want to trade for it but I simply need to be able to go from a tone like Shinedown's Sound of Madness to No Doubt's Don't Speak by just rolling back the guitars volume knob. Can it do this?

I highly recommend you get to your local Marshall dealer and try one first. Make sure you have access to a decent od/boost pedal and pm me for settings.

 

[Riffraff]

The VM is really great sounding amp, probably one of the best Marshall has produced in years. It does clean up well when you roll down your guitar's volume control even in HDR mode. It's the most dynamic amp I've ever owned and is incredibly reactive to your guitar's controls. Here's a little clip of mine to help show you what I mean. I'm Using an Ibanez RG520QSB. I start with the neck position pick up in a split coil setting then switch to the bridge and roll the volume up. This is a lead tone clip. It al;most sounds like I'm stepping on a pedals but it's just the 5-way switch on a stock guitar.

As far as gain goes it's got gain o'plenty straight in with no pedals.

As far as volume level goes between LDR and HDR, you are correct, it's a substantial change. HDR mode adds an additional 12AX7 gain stage so it's a big jump. You need to keep in mind the Vintage Modern is a single channel amp. It's basically a hot rodded JTM45. LDR is more of a vintage tone and HDR is heavier like a modded amp. If you are used to a channel switcher this may not be for you. You need to be comfortable with using your guitar's controls with this amp. It's an old school vibe. You can get a lead boost by using a voume cut approach. The best way is to run the amp with an attenuator that has a foot switchable bypass. You run the rhythm with slight attenuation then stomp on the bypass for a lead boost. It works perfectly. The thing that throws most people when trying one are the Detail and Body gain controls. The best approach with them is to think of them as the low and high volume controls on a jumpered 4-holer. As long as you keep your Detail setting 2 or 3 clicks higher than your Body setting you will be happy.

 

[renegade5150]

The VM is really great sounding amp, probably one of the best Marshall has produced in years. It does clean up well when you roll down your guitar's volume control even in HDR mode. It's the most dynamic amp I've ever owned and is incredibly reactive to your guitar's controls. Here's a little clip of mine to help show you what I mean. I'm Using an Ibanez RG520QSB. I start with the neck position pick up in a split coil setting then switch to the bridge and roll the volume up. This is a lead tone clip. It al;most sounds like I'm stepping on a pedals but it's just the 5-way switch on a stock guitar.

As far as gain goes it's got gain o'plenty straight in with no pedals.

gothcha. I am pretty familiar with my guitar controlls. I almost never run the guitar dimed.
As far as volume level goes between LDR and HDR, you are correct, it's a substantial change. HDR mode adds an additional 12AX7 gain stage so it's a big jump. You need to keep in mind the Vintage Modern is a single channel amp. It's basically a hot rodded JTM45. LDR is more of a vintage tone and HDR is heavier like a modded amp. If you are used to a channel switcher this may not be for you. You need to be comfortable with using your guitar's controls with this amp. It's an old school vibe. You can get a lead boost by using a voume cut approach. The best way is to run the amp with an attenuator that has a foot switchable bypass. You run the rhythm with slight attenuation then stomp on the bypass for a lead boost. It works perfectly. The thing that throws most people when trying one are the Detail and Body gain controls. The best approach with them is to think of them as the low and high volume controls on a jumpered 4-holer. As long as you keep your Detail setting 2 or 3 clicks higher than your Body setting you will be happy.

 

[yngzaklynch]

???

 

[glpg80]

From all the clips I have heard and from your guys talks about the amp makes me want to trade for it but I simply need to be able to go from a tone like Shinedown's Sound of Madness to No Doubt's Don't Speak by just rolling back the guitars volume knob. Can it do this?

I highly recommend you get to your local Marshall dealer and try one first. Make sure you have access to a decent od/boost pedal and pm me for settings.

hell everyone is telling him (including you) to go play one first and yet he is still keen on doing it blind

 

[yngzaklynch]

From all the clips I have heard and from your guys talks about the amp makes me want to trade for it but I simply need to be able to go from a tone like Shinedown's Sound of Madness to No Doubt's Don't Speak by just rolling back the guitars volume knob. Can it do this?

I highly recommend you get to your local Marshall dealer and try one first. Make sure you have access to a decent od/boost pedal and pm me for settings.

hell everyone is telling him (including you) to go play one first and yet he is still keen on doing it blind

I've been there. We PMd each other and I've given him so suggestions as to how to set the amp up.

 

[mrkmas]

I played the VM when they first came out. I thought it was a great amp and did what it was supposed to do well. It had a specific almost "glassy" kind of sound (in a good way). Not sure if it was the tubes or not but the amp just sounded great and the nuances of the amp just complemented the tone in a great way. Its definitely not a plexi but it does have a nice plexi vibe to it ( if i remember correctly). The volume and gain controls allowed for some great variety in tones. If I remember correctly it didnt sound half bad either at lower volumes.
It however is not going to cover those more modern tones the 5150 III will. If you want a more vintage vibe then the VM is great. If you want a metal sound, get it modded or stick with the 5150 III.

 

[yngzaklynch]

I played the VM when they first came out. I thought it was a great amp and did what it was supposed to do well. It had a specific almost "glassy" kind of sound (in a good way). Not sure if it was the tubes or not but the amp just sounded great and the nuances of the amp just complemented the tone in a great way. Its definitely not a plexi but it does have a nice plexi vibe to it ( if i remember correctly). The volume and gain controls allowed for some great variety in tones. If I remember correctly it didnt sound half bad either at lower volumes.
It however is not going to cover those more modern tones the 5150 III will. If you want a more vintage vibe then the VM is great. If you want a metal sound, get it modded or stick with the 5150 III.

Or like any Marshall boost it. It is never going to be a scooped amp but what it does it does very well.

 

[joepete77]

when i first read about the vm it sounded great on paper, but after playing it I was not blown away. I found that I couldnt get decent tone at low volumes, although it definatly improved at higher levels. It does have a plexi type tone that u can hear in its voicing. If you are used to the massive gain on tap in the evh I think u will be dissapointed with the vm as it gets about half the gain as the evh at best. Its definatly a more classic toned amp at heart. I have seen them go used for as low as 525 to 600 bucks in like new condition. I also liked the cabs as the speakers they came with were great.

 

[madrigal77]

Keep the 5153. It's not even a contest.

 

[Riffraff]

It however is not going to cover those more modern tones the 5150 III will. If you want a more vintage vibe then the VM is great. If you want a metal sound, get it modded or stick with the 5150 III.

I agree. If that is the tone you are after look for an SLX, 6100, DSL or a JVM. You can get plenty heavy with a DSL and they are very easy to find used in the $500 range. The vintage Modern is great for classic rock, '70s metal, '80s hair band stuff and blues but not numetal type stuff. KT66 tubes have too much sag to them for that. A boost will tighten things up but there are definitely better choices available for that.

 

[RockNRun]

I've never played a VM so it wouldn't be right to comment on that...but one of the big things I LOVE about my 5150 III is how well it belnds with other amps. Really, in mixes, tracking, etc, it's one of my mainstays, simply can't record a tune without it in there somewhere, from channel 1's clean to semi dirty, to the open, raw crunchity crunch of channel 2, I luv it. Throw a boost on channel two and theres a chewy, singing lead tone, etc. Not much a fan of the third channel, it's not bad, just not as good as the first two, and those, combined with another amp or two gimmie plenty of tone options. Too bad you can't swing nabbing the VM AND retain the 5150 III, I've seen a used VM here and there for a pretty affordable $ tag.

 

[renegade5150]

From all the clips I have heard and from your guys talks about the amp makes me want to trade for it but I simply need to be able to go from a tone like Shinedown's Sound of Madness to No Doubt's Don't Speak by just rolling back the guitars volume knob. Can it do this?

I highly recommend you get to your local Marshall dealer and try one first. Make sure you have access to a decent od/boost pedal and pm me for settings.

hell everyone is telling him (including you) to go play one first and yet he is still keen on doing it blind

I can't test the amp untill Friday. I am just trying to get as much info about the amp (settings, pros-cons) before I go test it out.

 

[LedZep77]

Had some friends over to jam this last weekend and they changed my settings , but I'm pretty sure I was running my 2466 like this (actual, NOT o'clock

High Dynamic Range
Reverb: Off
Mid Boost: Off
MV: 5 (or louder)
Presence: 3
Bass: 5
Mid: 4
Treble: 5.5
Body: 4
Detail: 7

I've had it set this way for a while now and love it with my Les Paul and Tele. It will basically give you a bit of a higher-gain classic rock tone. I also will boost with a Barber DD on occasion and I think it sounds great. As far as the Mid Boost goes, I used to always have it on, but over the last few years, I've really come to prefer the Mid Boost off. In fact, I don't use it at all anymore. Anyways, just thought I'd post these in case you want to give them a shot on Friday

 

[yngzaklynch]

Yeah I hardly ever use the mid boost. Also I only use the HDR. I personally have no use for LDR.