Should I bother with this amp?

Kellan · Post by **Kellan** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:14 am

Looking on my local craigslist there's a guy selling a Marshall Valvestate (tube preamp, solid state power) 100w 1x12 combo for $250 obo.
I currently play through a Fender 60w all tube 4x10 combo, which is basically too loud to play in my room before it sounds good.
I know the MG series (yuck) replaced these amps (Valvestates), but if I can throw 200 bucks at the dude and have this for a second amp for eventually gigging small venues/good practice amp; can I really go wrong? Anyone own one of these?

BassPhemy · Post by **BassPhemy** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:10 pm

Are you sure it has tubes in it? I thought the whole deal with Valvestate was that it was a solid state amp. I have a 65 watt Valvestate combo that I bought like 7 years ago and the dude at Guitar Center said it had tubes in it. Well he lied.

The Doctor · Post by **The Doctor** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:21 pm

My advice - Don't buy ANY cheap Marshall. EVER. If you want a Solid State amp get a Randall. They're reasonably priced. If you want a Marshall, invest the money and get a real one.

From what I understand, the Valvestate is a "tube emulating" Solid State Amp. If you already have a true tube amp, I really wouldn't bother with it.

EDIT - They're hocking the new versions of the Valvestate heads for over 700 bucks now. And I was right about what Valvestate is... no tubes.

"Quite simply Valvestate technology emulates the superb tone of a cranked to the max all-valve power stage with uncanny accuracy. The result is a highly versatile range of amps which couple the cost cutting advantages of solid state technology"

CFH Eternal · Post by **CFH Eternal** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:38 pm

The best tube mixed with solidstate I ever heard and would even consider buying would be Vox Valvetronix. Otherwise, go get a randall, they have been improving on their SS designs.

Kellan · Post by **Kellan** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:09 pm

I'm really not even interested in getting another amp, it was just kind of a "should I impulse buy this" thing.
But now that I'm on this train of though, what might be a good, single 12 all tube combo for practice/small gigging/recording?

Kellan · Post by **Kellan** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:23 pm

This Vox Valvetronics thing looks awesome and the reviews all sound like it's a great amp.
I've played through one Vox combo and I loved it, honestly. Great tone.

croninburg · Post by **croninburg** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:42 pm

Kellan wrote:I'm really not even interested in getting another amp, it was just kind of a "should I impulse buy this" thing.
But now that I'm on this train of though, what might be a good, single 12 all tube combo for practice/small gigging/recording?

Vox do an AC15 and I think a 1 x 12 AC30.. they sound fucking excellent for any clean or classic rock/blues tones, I have myself an AC30

Muffin · Post by **Muffin** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:50 pm

croninburg wrote:
Kellan wrote:I'm really not even interested in getting another amp, it was just kind of a "should I impulse buy this" thing.
But now that I'm on this train of though, what might be a good, single 12 all tube combo for practice/small gigging/recording?
Vox do an AC15 and I think a 1 x 12 AC30.. they sound fucking excellent for any clean or classic rock/blues tones, I have myself an AC30

My neighbor had one, I used to sneak over there all the time and dick around on it before he moved. Quality amps.

Wrona · Post by **Wrona** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 4:17 pm

I've never cared for the valvestate line personally... and 250 sounds pretty pricey for that. I'd check out some pawnshops for a combo before ebay or craigslist.

Muffin · Post by **Muffin** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 4:49 pm

I may be incorrect, but I'm pretty sure Chuck Schuldiner used Marshall Valvestates. If you're into Death's tone, I'd go for it. From what I've heard though, the amps can sound kind of "dry", if that makes any sense to you.

JesseJames · Post by **JesseJames** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 5:55 pm

I had a marshall valvestate, it sounded okay. Paid 125$ for it.
By the way, no tubes, hence why they took the effort to say valvestate.

hippy · Post by **hippy** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:16 pm

get a hot plate and your amp won't be so loud

CFH Eternal · Post by **CFH Eternal** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:43 pm

JesseJames wrote:I had a marshall valvestate, it sounded okay. Paid 125$ for it.
By the way, no tubes, hence why they took the effort to say valvestate.

Actually they were called valvestate because they had 12AX7 tube in the pre-amp but used solid-state for where the power-tubes would be. That is why it is called Valvestate.