Marshall Archives - The Best Guitar Amp

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Marshall MG100HCFX Head w/ MG412CF Cab

The Marshall MG100HCFX 100W Head with MG412CF 4×12 Cab integrates the powerful Marshall MG412CF4X12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet and the ultra-glossy Marshall MG100HCFX 100W Guitar Amplifier Head. For a full-on event, the amp will let you perform like a pro while going easy on your wallet. This elaborate head is the summit of the MG range.

This amp offers pure analog Marshall tone. With the state-of-the-art internal design and approach, this new MG series delivers outstanding digital features, but with a high-quality and programmable analog sound at its core.

MG100HCFX’s front panel features are similar to the MGs from the MG50HCFX upwards, incorporating a proven tonal circuitry with awesome digital FX.

MG412CF 4×2” Cab. Designed to be used with the MG100HCFX head. It’s a 120Watt, 4×12” angled cabinet that’s loaded with custom Celestion G-12 speakers.

Positive Aspects

MG100HCFX panel layout is amazingly easy to use. The 3-band EQ, Volume, Gain, and Master volume are well positioned for quick access. Push-button channel switching provides for smooth and uninterruptible transitions. Integrating the FDD technology and analog tone circuitry, the amp gives authentic Marshall sound and feel. The damping technology mimics the dynamic interaction between an amplifier and its speaker, giving you a feel and tone characteristics that you would only find in very expensive tube amps.

Has four programmable analog channels for you to choose from including, crunch, clean, OD1 and OD2. These program channels give you a broad tonal range, from scream and mean to pretty and clean. To create a killer tone rigs you’ve always imagined, you can mix them with digital effects and speaker damping function.

One of the outstanding features in this amp is how the power stage combines with speakers, making their behavior to vary depending on the frequency being played. Most power stages don’t do this and feel ‘stiff’ to the player. All the MG range successfully imitate this advantageous valve amp qualities utilizing the Frequency Dependent Dampening technology by Marshall.

The FX loop ensures you don’t run through extra cabling, jacks, and circuitry when you’re not using the pedal. If no single loop is engaged, it goes from the switcher to the amp, most likely with buffer in between, to ensure your tone makes it from the board to the amplifier in good shape. A good FX loop runs effect in line as though everything is in a row.

Other attractive features are; the stompware pedal friendly and programmable Speaker Damping (PSD)

Negative Aspects

The amp is perfect for classic rock kind of stuff. If you plan on playing Metallica or Megadeth, it’s not the amp for you. It does not have much gain, but the clean channel, on the other hand, is excellent. If you feel like playing heavy metal, you might have to rethink it.

Mixed reaction concerning the manufacturer support. It takes long to get your amp repaired and shipped back to you. You’ll have to put a noise gate pedal on the amp when using OD2 channel to minimize the buzz. M ixed reaction to sound quality. It has some slight delays on the adjustments

Conclusion

Despite the downsides especially concerning the manufacturer support, the amp rocks, it’s sound is super, especially for an amp that’s not tube. It’s got killer sound effects. You can crank Marshall MG100HCFX 100W Head with MG412CF 4×12 Cab up and click on dampening for a warm tube sound.

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Marshall Code 25 Amplifier

The Marshall Code 25 – 25W 1×10″ Digital Combo Amp shows what you can do with a broad library of all valve amps and an excellent team of software designers. Marshall, together with the Softube Team have created the Code 25 lightweight combo, filled with four power amps, 14 modeled preamps and eight speaker cabinets on top of 24 effects. It’s the smallest in the family, and with its 25 watts of power, it’s ideal for home use.

Marshall Code range integrates the Marshall legacy with the latest technology, to offer the peak of their most impressive and versatile digital product ever. The range provides options of power amps, digital amp models, cabinet simulation, and FX, enabling you to key in every tonal possibility you require.

Positive Aspects

Code’s MST preamps produce the best and one of the most acclaimed Marshall tones, 1962 Bluesbreaker, JTM45 2245, 1959SLP Plexi, JCM2555 Silver Jubilee, JCM 2203, JCM2000 DSL 100, JVM410H and more.

You can connect with Bluetooth to control Code 25 and stream audios from you Android or iOS device utilizing the Gateway App. When you have your friends come over, you don’t have to struggle to get a playlist; you can just stream from your device and listen to the songs on speakers. Additionally, you can connect through USB to utilize Code as a DAW interface to record, and to stream music from your laptop. Lastly, you can connect your MP3 player through Code’s audio input to queue along with your favorite tracks.

The amp has different effects that you may find useful; Distortions, Compressor, Auto Wah, Chorus, Pitch Shifter, Phaser, Tremolo and Flanger on top of the studio quality Reverbs and tap tempo Delays. You can access all these on the amp using the Marshall’s Gateway app or with a programmable controller, which you’ll buy separately.

The smartphone app enables you to control parameters remotely, and you don’t have to bend down to switch the knobs. Moreover, the amp’s tone is amazing especially for its price and comes with many effects

Negative Aspects

Marshall app looks like a fantastic idea and would make customizing the sound much simpler. But there are exceptions. There are mixed reactions to being able to connect to it with Android devices. The amp won’t read them. Similarly, it gives horrible sound when a fixed to a MacBook through its built-in USB port (with Logic Pro and DAW). It removes a consistent static buzz making it impossible to record.

The tuner works fine, but it doesn’t provide enough information on how to tune half step.

It does not feel very sturdy.

Pretty hard to adjust the settings on the presets to get a decent tone

Conclusion

Marshall Code 25 – 25W 1×10″ Digital Combo Amp is fitted with a 10” driver is a small combo but can push out some serious volume with excellent quality. With the Gateway App and connectivity, you can fly change your setting, manage the amp, create presets and even stream music directly to the amp through Bluetooth. Despite the negative aspects, it’s worthwhile.

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Marshall Compact Fridge

The Marshall Compact Fridge utilizes authentic Marshall parts and control knobs including a black fret cloth, iconic Marshall logos, engraved Jim Marshall signature and a brass-finished faceplate. These ultimate combinations of features make the refrigerator ideal for rock & roll.

It’s a distinctive and innovative product that brings the rock and roll style from the stage into the houses of fans anywhere in the world. Marshall Fridge combines the practicality of a club fridge with the iconic appearance of the Marshall guitar amplifier and maintains the similar commitment to dedication & quality that the founding father established half a century ago.

Positive aspects

Adjustable tempered glass shelf to accommodate a variety of packages. The shelves are attractive, easy to clean and can be pulled out for accessibility to items that are on the back. Moreover, the glasses are sealed to make cleanup easier and to contain spills.

Reversible door enables you to switch the hinges from one side of the fridge to the other, allowing the door to open from the left or the right side. Ability to change the door is important especially in limited spaces; you won’t have to move the fridge to another place.

Adjustable front leg, a great feature and comes in handy when the freezer door pops open, and can’t shut by itself. Similarly, if both doors swing open by themselves instead of staying put, this feature can help. Extendable legs allow the front of the unit to be raised causing the fridge to slope a little bit towards the back.

4 cu. Ft. freezer cabinet to preserve food or beverages at very low temperatures. It allows you to make ice cubes which come in handy when you want to chill or dilute your drinks. The 4 cu. Ft. refrigerator has can storage space and plenty of room for extra storage, which is ideal for easy organization and greater accommodation of your stuff.

Low decibel compressor ensures the fridge produces lesser noise, rendering the fridge living room friendly.

Perfectly regulates temperature in comparison to other mini fridges, and it keeps everything cold.

Other attractive features include the flush back design, Marshall logo and signature and is has a one-year warranty.

Negative Aspects

In case the compressor fails, replacing it costs a lot. It would be cheaper to buy a new fridge.

Mixed reaction concerning its efficiency. After a long time of usage, it gets noisier and noisier, which causes lots of discomforts.

Poor quality control as the doors can become loose, so users have to tighten the brackets or adjust the front leg.

The switch on the front of the fridge doesn’t light up.

Conclusion

Marshall Compact Fridge is a state-of-the-art cooling and an excellent piece of rock and roll history. It works exceptionally well and looks good too. For music enthusiasts, Marshall Compact Fridge is an ideal storage place for their cold drinks and will be proud to display it in their dens, homes, caves, garages and any other place they like to relax with a cold drink.