Marshall amp - build, buy or what?

[Kiwiaxe]

So I'm thinking about getting a nice sounding low power Marshall to fill a tonal gap in what I have at home. I'm presently getting by with a pedal to capture the Marshall sound but that's not necessarily the best option.

I thought about the quite cheap DSL20 heads, which seem to get good reviews even though they are PCB and made in Vietnam. Or maybe spending more and get something like the JCM800 or Silver Jubilee studio heads (probably from Andertons). And that got me thinking about maybe considering whether there are any clones, or getting something built etc.

Any advice/recommendations (including from any of our esteemed builders)?

[NippleWrestler]

Build a smaller wattage jcm800. Simple to build and you can avoid Marshalls cheapy components and questionable build quality. You really don't get value for money with Marshall.

There's also a great number of Marshall-like amps like Friedman, Jet City JCA, Mesa Stiletto, Peavey Butcher etc. it's a well trodden path.

I've got a 20w handmade jcm800 clone here that fits in a 10x7" chassis and runs a pair of 6L6 tubes. It's a beautiful thing.

Edit to show a gutshot. It's a terrible photo I know but that's a whole 800 with a custom FX loop module. Apologies to the builder for the photo.

1000031699 (1).jpg (418.56 KiB) Viewed 2064 times

[jeremyb]

Ceriatone make some cool stuff, e.g. https://ceriatone.com/ceriatone-son-of-yeti/ or https://ceriatone.com/british-style-2525/

[sizzlingbadger]

I sometimes think about selling my Astoria Custom because I don't really do it justice, but then I think it's so rare I would probably never get the chance to buy another one even if I wanted to.

[robthemac]

https://gdsamps.com/amps/

I have the classic 18W combo kit from this guy. Love, love, love it. I'd love a crack at the 18W single-channel head one day.

[Molly]

Buy a Friedman Smallbox 50 and call it job done.

[Kiwiaxe]

Buy a Friedman Smallbox 50 and call it job done.

Not the budget point I had in mind

[Slowy]

Buy a Friedman Smallbox 50 and call it job done.

Not the budget point I had in mind

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace ... 4752989128

Perhaps this is the droid you seek?

[robthemac]

Think there was a Runt 20 head on TradeMe last week.

[Slowy]

Build a smaller wattage jcm800. Simple to build and you can avoid Marshalls cheapy components and questionable build quality. You really don't get value for money with Marshall.

There's also a great number of Marshall-like amps like Friedman, Jet City JCA, Mesa Stiletto, Peavey Butcher etc. it's a well trodden path.

I've got a 20w handmade jcm800 clone here that fits in a 10x7" chassis and runs a pair of 6L6 tubes. It's a beautiful thing.

Edit to show a gutshot. It's a terrible photo I know but that's a whole 800 with a custom FX loop module. Apologies to the builder for the photo.
1000031699 (1).jpg

That build is worthy of a vintage Hiwatt.

[NZTone.e]

I could have a rebuilt 1974x up for grabs soon, unless I love it, which is quite possible these days, I love everything, but will keep you posted….

[NZTone.e]

What’s your budget?

I know a man who has a Ceriatone Jubilee he’d probably part with…

[robthemac]

I could have a rebuilt 1974x up for grabs soon, unless I love it, which is quite possible these days, I love everything, but will keep you posted….

Turn everything to 2 o'clock, plug in a Gibson, and bury that thought of selling.

[Kiwiaxe]

Budget is 1-1.5k unless something particularly spectacular or special.

You tube clips of the runt sounded more like my Mesa IV or V than what I think of as Marshall

[NZTone.e]

I could have a rebuilt 1974x up for grabs soon, unless I love it, which is quite possible these days, I love everything, but will keep you posted….

Turn everything to 2 o'clock, plug in a Gibson, and bury that thought of selling.

Lol, I know mate, they sound killer!

It’ll probably be a couple months before it’s done but even in it’s wounded state the normal channel was epic, so chances of selling are slim, but you just never know what’s around the corner…