Anybody like to hear others use a Marshall but can't use one themselves?

[sixty2strat]

wow were are some of you guys playing the OLD FOLKS HOME. I use a 76 0r a 74 50 watt marshall with 1 cab of G12H , or one with Greenback Ri or a 8x10 marshall cab depending on my whim and play at a around 6-8 with a Y chord and don't ever get shit about my level. I crank my head but ride my volume.
my Rules of Playing loud
ride the volume 10 is for screaming solos
never point it at the bar
start out on the low side, when the crowds wasted last set it's on 10
if they have a sound man, blast(11) it then "ask it that a bit loud" then they think I am giving in lowering, seems like what ever volume you use they want it lower
have a 1x12 w fuzz for a low volume/acoustic gig

 

[cool hand luc]

I agree that I LOVE marshall tones done "right" but I never could use one myself and feel 100% satisfied. I ended up on the clean channel of a Mark I and that is Fender-land. So I guess I am a Fender kinda guy even though I love other people rockin' out on Marshalls. I LOVE Live At Fillmore tone but when I have had marshalls with that much midrange in my tone I hated it. I've always disliked the presence control on a Marshall as well.

Now yes I have gotten to know all my Marshalls and owned them for years at a time trying to be happy with them. I just didn't like them in the end for me.

 

[Minibucker]

wow were are some of you guys playing the OLD FOLKS HOME. I use a 76 0r a 74 50 watt marshall with 1 cab of G12H , or one with Greenback Ri or a 8x10 marshall cab depending on my whim and play at a around 6-8 with a Y chord and don't ever get shit about my level. I crank my head but ride my volume.
my Rules of Playing loud
ride the volume 10 is for screaming solos
never point it at the bar
start out on the low side, when the crowds wasted last set it's on 10
if they have a sound man, blast(11) it then "ask it that a bit loud" then they think I am giving in lowering, seems like what ever volume you use they want it lower
have a 1x12 w fuzz for a low volume/acoustic gig

Or just learn that you don't have to be loud to sound good.

 

[les strat]

seems like what ever volume you use they want it lower

You got that right man.

Soundmen

 

[roycaster]

Over the years I've tried to use a Marshall, but it just doesn't work for me. I like to hear others use them, just not myself. Anybody else feel this way?

Well, I’m on the other side of the fence looking over. I love Fender’s, when someone else plays them. Blackface, Tweed, you name it. I’ve tried, but I always go back to Marshalls. The attack, the sustain, even if they were based on Fenders, they are a different animal. I accept it, and I still enjoy trying Fenders, I just don’t set my hopes up anymore.

 

[Mike M.]

I LOVE the Marshall sound. Always have and always will. But my ears cannot deal with that kind of volume anymore. Got a permanent ring that's tolerable for the most part, but goes absolutley crazy when I get around something that's even fairly loud.

But damn......what a sound!!!!

 

[LookerBob]

They have this new technology called 'earplugs'.

They do wonders!

 

[Minibucker]

They have this new technology called 'earplugs'.

They do wonders!

That's like wearing shades if your TV's picture is too bright. Earplugs work well, but it's kinda' hard to get all the people at the bar/front of small club to wear'em.

 

[spidey]

A JTM45 isn't that loud in a large room. From 2 or 3 upwards all you're adding is gain, not volume.

I can't imagine a blues/pop/rock band where a JTM45 is too loud for the average drummer. I'm having a JTM45/100 built as I need more volume in my AC/DC band.

I'd agree. I've always used Marshall. Used a JTM45 for awhile in a pub band but the drummer used to drown it out. Great tone though!

 

[CLAYPOOL]

:jim :jim :jim

 

[cool hand luc]

:jim :jim :jim

I played like that 5 or 6 years ago and my ears are still ringing from it! :wail

 

[Red Baron]

I was a Marshall user for years, although I tried many other brands along the way I always went back to Marshall (but I don't own a Marshall now).
Something I found was that many rock bands with Marshall stacks playing with huge amounts of gain usually sucked hairy balls... while the players who knew how to get the best out of their Marshall's usually played with much less gain, and with more style and their music was usually much better... overall more professional.

Like others have mentioned, you have to know how to use Marshall amps properly if you want to get the best out of them, or else they sure can sound pretty shitty.

 

[LookerBob]

That's like wearing shades if your TV's picture is too bright. Earplugs work well, but it's kinda' hard to get all the people at the bar/front of small club to wear'em.

That's their decision... I'll worry about my own hearing.

 

[soldano16]

I don't have the space, nor the type/size of venues when I gig in which I could even use a JTM45 or 50W plexi into a 4x12 cab at high volume settings....which is the only Marshall sound/feel that I've ever been interested in. A cranked 18W 1x12 combo is pretty cool, but again, I'd probably want another amp as well for the clean and other stuff that I use....so still, I'd be hauling quite a rig around.

There are a lot of stunningly good pedals out there today. I use my 68 50 watter for clean and pedals add the dirt. I also have a 2X12 cab as an option instead of my 4X12. True it's not a fully cranked, wide open plexi but with the great pedals I have, I can get pretty close at lower volumes. I'm sure it sounds as good as any cranked 18 watter plus I have cleans.

 

[soldano16]

I think with any amp you need to play with it for a while to craft the tone. Not just e.q. and gain settings, but even pick attack and palm muting technique, etc. Sometimes your ear needs to adjust a bit, too.

Tell me about it. After playing Fenders for decades, I moved to vintage Marshall and Vox 2 years ago. I'm JUST starting to learn these amps and have years to go.

 

[Minibucker]

That's their decision... I'll worry about my own hearing.

Why not use an amp that's not so loud and play with ears open?

 

[j45]

The Marshall line of amps is so varied over the years and covers so much ground that saying the name Marshall is really as broad as saying amplifier itself - as in "I like to hear others play on amplifiers but can't use one myself". Don't forget the first models were nearly exact clones of a 4x10 Fender Bassman using US origin transformers and 5881's. Some of my plexis have had no more gain than a Bassman. Even late 60's plexi 50 watt Marshalls are relatively dark amps... very fat, and no more gain than any blackface Fender. It may be that some of you are referring to certain models from later eras or reissues. You could try an early 50w with a 2x12 open back cab with a good tube reverb or echo and you may be able to get one of the best "Fender" sounds you've ever heard. Also, when someone mentions a JTM45 are they talking about a real JTM45 or reissue? These are two very different sounding amps. To me, an original 50w plexi is not near as loud as a 30w AC30, especially if you use a 2x12 cab. It may be that many just haven't played the right models. Even an early 200 watt plexi will sound as sweet if not sweeter than the smoothest blackface Princeton Reverb at bedroom level when played clean at low volumes with a tube reverb unit. Another possibility is that many aren't used to the feel of a 4x12 closed back cabinet and could be the speakers more than the amplifier. I think because Marshalls have been through such extreme changes in sound over the years they can be easily misunderstood.

 

[Minibucker]

Some folks don't like Fender guitars because they sound 'too thin'.

 

[stealth69]

That's like wearing shades if your TV's picture is too bright. Earplugs work well, but it's kinda' hard to get all the people at the bar/front of small club to wear'em.[/QUOTE


If you love your music and playing live buying the right sort of ear plugs is essential ,I really cant see the point of fucking your hearing up,after all why screw up your hearing when you know you love playing guitar . Every time you get that whooshing sound after a gig or practice you are doing damage ,still it's everyone choice.

 

[LookerBob]

Why not use an amp that's not so loud and play with ears open?

Because I'm not in the Lawrence Welk Band?

Also, you would only hear drums.