Marshall Vintage Modern - good? - Worth 800?

[Heritage Softail]

Yes! hell yes!

IF! you want a single channel hotrodded JTM style amp. If you don't, move along. it is NOT an 800, or a Plexi... It has a footswitch to change channel Modes, not channels.

if you've played a JTM and liked the slightly squishy, middy, somtimes fizzy, warmth and touch articulation they give, the KT66's are a BIG part of this sound... with way more gain on tap, and a PPIMV voicing...you'll love the VM.
With a clean boost out front, and dialing the gain back to get more of that power tube goodness, this amp is GREAT. Fantastic note articulation, volume knob controllable, and a huge 60's vibe that puts a smile on your face. Best Marshall I've played with single coil guitars. (Except for my AKA)

I do still love em, only sold mine to get the Hot Rod 50+. (That was harder to find)

I have a dream build I'm going to start batting around with Jerry, I'ma basically have him make me a VM style head with footswtichable gain, and some other goodies...

The option to have Jerry do up a Surreal amp that is basically expended version of the VM is definitely an option. Getting the mode buttons on the floor is one of the mods they talk about on the Marshall forum.

I hope you guys get plenty of clips covering a variety of tones. I know Jerry packs in many options.

 

[racerevlon]

The HD cam I used had a lousy mic, but hopefully you'll get the picture. I don't think this amp needs a boost, as in this video I use P-90's and get great sound.

 

[Spaceboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT6KbPPqrt4

 

[ConcreteVampire]

Yes! hell yes!

IF! you want a single channel hotrodded JTM style amp. If you don't, move along. it is NOT an 800, or a Plexi... It has a footswitch to change channel Modes, not channels.

if you've played a JTM and liked the slightly squishy, middy, somtimes fizzy, warmth and touch articulation they give, the KT66's are a BIG part of this sound... with way more gain on tap, and a PPIMV voicing...you'll love the VM.
With a clean boost out front, and dialing the gain back to get more of that power tube goodness, this amp is GREAT. Fantastic note articulation, volume knob controllable, and a huge 60's vibe that puts a smile on your face. Best Marshall I've played with single coil guitars. (Except for my AKA)

I do still love em, only sold mine to get the Hot Rod 50+. (That was harder to find)

I have a dream build I'm going to start batting around with Jerry, I'ma basically have him make me a VM style head with footswtichable gain, and some other goodies...

The option to have Jerry do up a Surreal amp that is basically expended version of the VM is definitely an option. Getting the mode buttons on the floor is one of the mods they talk about on the Marshall forum.

I hope you guys get plenty of clips covering a variety of tones. I know Jerry packs in many options.

The "mode" is adding an enitre tube driven gain stage. On the VM theres' no, level or gain setting for it, it's just jumps up and bites you!
I'd have that controllable, and footswitchable. Jerry P, does mod VM's to do all kinds of shit, but I want a ground up build, wit hother "Non-VM" Goodies... (Power Damping, additional Gain stages, more of a Juiced up JTM...)

I will def get video shot at the show, another reason I'm there!

 

[Riffraff]

They rock nicely if you set them up correctly and it's not rocket science like some people claim. Here's my 2266 & 425A cab. I'm running a stock RG520QSB straight in, no boost. This is what you get in HDR mode.

Just make sure to keep the Detail control about 3 clicks higher than the Body control and you will find happiness. The best method of getting a lead boost with these amps is to use an attenuator with a footswitchable bypass and cut volume slightly for rhythm and hit the bypass for leads. It works perfectly for single channel amps like this.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Sad to say the guy sold it for $600. It was a dire straits, gotta have the cash by Monday or go to jail sale.

I have a $200 1976 SG Deluxe I bought in a similar situation. Missed out on this one.

The VM def sounds like a great amp for the money. But 600$? Wow. I guess when you gotta have money or look forward to prison sex...

Thx for the feedback.

 

[Heritage Softail]

The HD cam I used had a lousy mic, but hopefully you'll get the picture. I don't think this amp needs a boost, as in this video I use P-90's and get great sound.

That was a great demo vid.

I like demos where all the bases get covered. The VM does seem like a pretty solid amp. And the guy sold it before I got back to him, for a whopping $600...

 

[joepete77]

They rock nicely if you set them up correctly and it's not rocket science like some people claim. Here's my 2266 & 425A cab. I'm running a stock RG520QSB straight in, no boost. This is what you get in HDR mode.

Just make sure to keep the Detail control about 3 clicks higher than the Body control and you will find happiness. The best method of getting a lead boost with these amps is to use an attenuator with a footswitchable bypass and cut volume slightly for rhythm and hit the bypass for leads. It works perfectly for single channel amps like this.

Wow, this sounds really good. Has a bit of vh tone in there

 

[Heritage Softail]

They rock nicely if you set them up correctly and it's not rocket science like some people claim. Here's my 2266 & 425A cab. I'm running a stock RG520QSB straight in, no boost. This is what you get in HDR mode.

Just make sure to keep the Detail control about 3 clicks higher than the Body control and you will find happiness. The best method of getting a lead boost with these amps is to use an attenuator with a footswitchable bypass and cut volume slightly for rhythm and hit the bypass for leads. It works perfectly for single channel amps like this.

That is money

 

[Riffraff]

I'm selling selling mine tomorrow. The gear journey never ends you know.

 

[polaris20]

I really dig them. I don't care about versatility since i already have the Mesa DC, but I've played the VM through a 2x12 with Lynchbacks, and holy balls, it's a fun amp. Definitely keeping an eye out for a used one as soon as I have the coin.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I really dig them. I don't care about versatility since i already have the Mesa DC, but I've played the VM through a 2x12 with Lynchbacks, and holy balls, it's a fun amp. Definitely keeping an eye out for a used one as soon as I have the coin.

With the guitar center $200 off coupon, you will have to call in and get the deal on a sale item. It ends up $999.

 

[IceMan]

I love my VM! Such a great amp. It does tend to get a little flubby/sputtery in the bottom end though - and I'm not trying to go for death-metal, chugga chugga at all. Have any of you other VM owners experienced this? Is there a particular tube swap that tames this down a bit and tightens up the bottom end??

 

[yngzaklynch]

I love my VM! Such a great amp. It does tend to get a little flubby/sputtery in the bottom end though - and I'm not trying to go for death-metal, chugga chugga at all. Have any of you other VM owners experienced this? Is there a particular tube swap that tames this down a bit and tightens up the bottom end??

I recommend keeping the Body knob below 10:00 and using the Bass knob to dial in the low end. Remember that the amp has a natural midscoop to it. The Mid Boost simply brings the mids up to a flat EQ level. The amp is faily easily biased and tube choice does make a difference. Just some tips.

Jim

 

[IceMan]

I love my VM! Such a great amp. It does tend to get a little flubby/sputtery in the bottom end though - and I'm not trying to go for death-metal, chugga chugga at all. Have any of you other VM owners experienced this? Is there a particular tube swap that tames this down a bit and tightens up the bottom end??

I recommend keeping the Body knob below 10:00 and using the Bass knob to dial in the low end. Remember that the amp has a natural midscoop to it. The Mid Boost simply brings the mids up to a flat EQ level. The amp is faily easily biased and tube choice does make a difference. Just some tips.

Jim

Thanks, those are good tips. Are there any tubes you'd recommend and in what positions?

 

[Aidanspaghetti]

paul Gilbert recorded all of "Fuzz Universe" with a VM combo. Some cool tones on that record for sure...i think to get it deep into heavy-ville you will need to push it with a pedal

He used it live too (a small combo) and it sounded great.

 

[yngzaklynch]

I love my VM! Such a great amp. It does tend to get a little flubby/sputtery in the bottom end though - and I'm not trying to go for death-metal, chugga chugga at all. Have any of you other VM owners experienced this? Is there a particular tube swap that tames this down a bit and tightens up the bottom end??

I recommend keeping the Body knob below 10:00 and using the Bass knob to dial in the low end. Remember that the amp has a natural midscoop to it. The Mid Boost simply brings the mids up to a flat EQ level. The amp is faily easily biased and tube choice does make a difference. Just some tips.

Jim

Thanks, those are good tips. Are there any tubes you'd recommend and in what positions?

I think the stock KT66s are Shuguang. I would just plug and play and see what does it for you. I threw some JJs and Sovtek LPS in mine and they seem pretty good.

 

[Michi]

I used to have a 2266 and our other guitarist had the 2466 for a while.

While I loved how they both sounded (a bit different due to the KT66 and KT88 of course, among a few other things) and the versatile tones that could be found from them, and the fact how they eat pedals we both grew tired of how hard it is to boost solos (a few more dBs that is).

To me it's a very good rock/hard rock/metal amp for a one guitar band, but takes a lot of tweaking, work and possible modding to achieve a good setup in a two guitar band.

Just my 0.015€