Would you vintage stock Marshall or something like a Metroplex?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mikeyboyeee
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Original. Maybe something like a Metroplex if you are planning on going in tour and are afraid to take a 50 year old amp on the road.
 
thegame said:
That's the thing. What if that IT factor is highly inconsistent? Some days it's just not there? If the clone is close and always delivers the tone, then the clone may be a more attractive choice. Not to mention, if the vintage amp's IT factor is partly due to unobtanium tubes and/or voltages never exceeding 110V, if those things go away or cannot be replicated, then "IT" may turn to something that rhymes.
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The last 12 years of playing gigs I used vintage Marshalls...stock, modded 2204/3s and Jubilees; some modded NMV metal panels as well. Not once did I have an issue at any 4 hour show. The one and only time I did was when I had a Vintage Modern, for a 2 week period. That was a Sovtek pre tube. Yes, I do remember the tone sometimes changing over the course of the 4 hours but I just adjusted the EQ a bit. That's over 2000 hours of gig time not including practice time at home and with the band. I think though, after learning that the 60s-early 70s Marshall PTs liked to see 110v if I were to start up again playing out I'd bring my variac.
Like others said, if you need versatility I'd go with the Metro. But as good as they are, there's no way I'd trade my 72 Supertremolo for any clone, or even another stock Marshall. To my ears it's that good.
I also have to agree with Sam in that I've played/owned more than 60 Marshalls, stock and modded and some sounded better than others, but they all sounded good to great. This is 1990 and older models.
 
Racerxrated said:
The last 12 years of playing gigs I used vintage Marshalls...stock, modded 2204/3s and Jubilees; some modded NMV metal panels as well. Not once did I have an issue at any 4 hour show. The one and only time I did was when I had a Vintage Modern, for a 2 week period. That was a Sovtek pre tube. Yes, I do remember the tone sometimes changing over the course of the 4 hours but I just adjusted the EQ a bit. That's over 2000 hours of gig time not including practice time at home and with the band. I think though, after learning that the 60s-early 70s Marshall PTs liked to see 110v if I were to start up again playing out I'd bring my variac.
Like others said, if you need versatility I'd go with the Metro. But as good as they are, there's no way I'd trade my 72 Supertremolo for any clone, or even another stock Marshall. To my ears it's that good.
I also have to agree with Sam in that I've played/owned more than 60 Marshalls, stock and modded and some sounded better than others, but they all sounded good to great. This is 1990 and older models.
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I have been gigging with old Marshall's since the late 1990's. The only time one got squirrly on me was when a tube was blowing out. We do not push our amps hard enough and long enough when gigging to have them start acting weird. If you start cranking your amp up to full blast and beyond at a gig, that will be the last time you will play that gig. With modern pa's you do not need to do that, nor does anyone (other than you) want to hear it that loud.
 
Original. I don't really want or need a bunch of switches and options on a plexi type nor a loop so all of those features on the Metropoulus don't really add much value for me. They're cool amps but still Partshalls and I already have that (with a few of those switches preset and built-in).
 
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SpiderWars said:
Original. I don't really want or need a bunch of switches and options on a plexi type nor a loop so all of those features on the Metropoulus don't really add much value for me. They're cool amps but still Partshalls and I already have that (with a few of those switches preset and built-in).
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I disagree. I’ve reverse engineered the original metroplex and it’s nothing like a plexi circuit copy, He compared the plexi against this design on a spectrum analyzer and designed it to sound the same with all of the modern features.

The metroplex can also do more than 68 original tones. It can do 67, 68, and modded Marshall all with a high voltage nfet boost build in that can still take boost pedals.

Also consider price. You’d rather have an original but you’re not going to get one anymore for under 4 grand.

Even if I had the cash I’d still choose a metroplex. The parts are repairable with what’s available today and no value reduction as components wear out.

All factors that matter in todays world. Many people want a vintage Marshall without the baggage and need to file it under their home owners insurance. Even the reissues out today don’t sound as close as a metroplex gets with many more capabilities and gig friendly features.
 
glpg80 said:
I disagree. I’ve reverse engineered the original metroplex and it’s nothing like a plexi circuit copy, He compared the plexi against this design on a spectrum analyzer and designed it to sound the same with all of the modern features.

The metroplex can also do more than 68 original tones. It can do 67, 68, and modded Marshall all with a high voltage nfet boost build in that can still take boost pedals.

Also consider price. You’d rather have an original but you’re not going to get one anymore for under 4 grand.

Even if I had the cash I’d still choose a metroplex. The parts are repairable with what’s available today and no value reduction as components wear out.

All factors that matter in todays world. Many people want a vintage Marshall without the baggage and need to file it under their home owners insurance. Even the reissues out today don’t sound as close as a metroplex gets with many more capabilities and gig friendly features.
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The whole premise of the op was "if price were similar" so I wasn't factoring money in at all. And I get that some people might like the '67/'68/rodded options; but I only need the basic circuit with a few tweaks hard wired in. I'd set the switches and leave them. And I don't want a boost in the amp, I'll choose my boost. I do think its cool the level he took it. You know I'm an amp geek and Marshall lover and the Metro is the pinnacle of Partshalls.

If you say it sounds just like a plexi I'll believe you but I still want the original 'for similar money'.
 
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peterc52 said:
Birth year or why? My favorite 2203 I’ve had is a 80
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72 is my birth year and that's what I'm working on.

There's no gigging going on unfortunately. Well, just for my wife in our living room.

It's something she will sell after I die (like my 2 Monomyth Superleads- man are they special).

Hoping to wrap up this 72 up this weekend and have in my hands next week.
 
Ya know, if I could get a brand new 68-72 point to point this would be an easy choice. But unless I get a Delorean and hit 88mph that aint gonna happen. Nowadays you really have to demo each individual head cause there are some of those old Marshalls that just dont sound good. If you change caps and tube roll that can be costly and then again, you are "hoping" the amp is one of the good ones. At least with something like a Metro you have a warranty and they will pretty much sound much more consistent than a vintage amp that the values have more than likely drifted over time.

All that being said if I could pick and choose a vintage amp without the headache of buying and then flipping if I dont like it I would absolutely go that way. If I was touring and money was tight.. Metro in a heartbeat as it would probably be more reliable. If money wasnt a factor... I would have more Marshalls than Yngwie! Oh, add Diezels... Mesa.. ect. LOL Oh.. and throw in a Metro just because....
 
Shit, 72 fell thru ?.
Now in mkt for a the Metroplex. Prob move my 83 2203 for it.
 
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I just bought this mid ‘73 (point to point) JMP50 with 6550’s....and I’m beyond happy! It’s aggressive and punchy and actually reminds me of an SLO. There are no mods to the circuit and pretty much all original. I’m still blown away how much GAIN this thing has when jumping the channels. I’m sold on Vintage Marshall’s!
 

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Nice. I'm still in on a 72ish if I can find one reasonably.
 
SLOgriff said:
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I just bought this mid ‘73 (point to point) JMP50 with 6550’s....and I’m beyond happy! It’s aggressive and punchy and actually reminds me of an SLO. There are no mods to the circuit and pretty much all original. I’m still blown away how much GAIN this thing has when jumping the channels. I’m sold on Vintage Marshall’s!
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That’s awesome! I’ve got a ‘72 Superlead 100 and ‘89 SLO myself and I agree. It’s amps like these that make me wonder how some think we’re in the golden age of amps today. Worse sounding amps made now, but a ton of them = better?? I think not
 
Honestly, I'd go for the Metro because it's got more options and is still going to sound 99% the same which is good enough for me.
 
Ive got a Metro-Plex and a four holer JCM 800 50 watt Marshall that was modded by Rockstah. The Metro-Plex just sounds better and has more variety. I like them both but if I had to sell one it would be the Marshall.
 
This is a little apples to oranges, feels like.

The core tone of the Metroplex is…a plexi (ie late 60s Marshall Superlead)

Metal panels, JCMs, etc aren’t the core tone of the MP…there are similarities but they aren’t going to have the same warmth, sag, etc as an actual plexi.

So, to me it really boils down to how badly and uncompromisingly you want that core plexi tone. If you do, it HAS to be the MP (unless you are willing to pay over double what you could probably get an MP for).

If THAT plexi tone isn’t an absolute priority I would absolutely go vintage Marshall JMP
 
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i respect everyone’s opinions here and I agree with most.
I have a few old stock original 100w Superleads dating back to a 1967 JTM45/100w Plexi …
Would I trade an original stock ‘68 100w Plexi for a Metro? No.

But I would definitely gig with my Metro DVL-1 wayyy ahead of any of the old Marshalls I own.

The Tone / Feel is right up there with the best of the best, amazing transparent loop, more gain / switchable tones / gain levels / boosts and all at ‘reasonable’ (or LOUD) volumes.

My friend brought his ‘69 Marshall over a month back and the DVL was superior, he was surprised, I wasn’t. He said It must be the tubes are old, So, I popped in the exact same tubes I have in my DVL, NOS Siemens 34’s (tuned the bias) and Tungsram AX7’s in preamp… It was a bit better, but it still didn’t top the DVL, he agreed.
I have played some Marshalls that weren’t great, but in fairness, most can be tuned to sound at least good. The biggest variables being tubes and then parts and then of course if the transformers are original.

They threw them together with whatever parts / tubes were available at the time. Clapton, Page, Beck, Hendrix weren’t A/B ing them all on YouTube, dissecting which one had more punch / kerrannng / bloom / tightness etc ?

I remember Eddie saying his was a bit quieter than most plexi’s he tried.

…Of course, it’s all subjective.

If I owned a Fryette Powerstation 100, I ‘might’ try one of my old Marshalls if I was gigging.

One thing to also remember, a lot of those classic albums we know and love, most of them were played with pretty much new Amplifiers…?

All that being said, I F’n LOVE old Marshalls??
 
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