XTC v Marsha v SLO

[supersonic]

I'm torn between these two amps so I've been doing some recording to hear the differences. Thought I'd post up a couple of clips for anyone who's interested.
Both clips here are identical other than one has a Marsha playing the rhythm and the other a 100B XTC. The lead line is the XTC.
I'm using a Marshall AHX quad with GB H30s' (55Hz) with the XTC and GB 25w RIs' with the Marsha. MIc is a 906.
Ulimately I think tone is in the fingers and I'm really splitting hairs here. But it's all in the name of tone chasing I guess.

Marsha- https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12054233 2010 build, Full clean ch, 2nd master volume and gain. - BE ch, EQ 12:00, gain 2:00

XTC- https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12047580 '93 100B, Blue ch, boost on, EQ 12:00, gain nearly max.

SLO- https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12054463 '88 build. OD ch, EQ- B6-M5-T4-P4, Depth-0, gain -5 (12:00)

EDIT: Just put a SLO track up. GB 25w RI ( same cab as the Marsha)

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I like them both but prefer the darker tone of the Ecstasy just a bit more. I may be a bit biased as I owe a 101B

 

[supersonic]

I like them both but prefer the darker tone of the Ecstasy just a bit more. I may be a bit biased as I owe a 101B

With all of the Brown Eye hype it just goes to show that other amps are equally as good, my XTC is 19 years old. Not to take anything away from either, I love them equally.

 

[LP Freak]

Yep, both sound a little different and both sound good.

 

[The Traveller]

If I had to choose one it would be the XTC. It's a little darker (I like dark sounding amps) and it's a little more full sounding imo. But they both sound great.

 

[supersonic]

If I had to choose one it would be the XTC. It's a little darker (I like dark sounding amps) and it's a little more full sounding imo. But they both sound great.

The XTC sounds the biggest in the room also.

 

[ibenhad]

I second what The Traveller said. I too have an Ecstasy Classic and a Friedman HBE (in a Randall module) and the XTC is def a bit warmer but the HBE has a bit more bite/grit to me. Great playing sounds cool.

 

[LP Freak]

You need to swap cabinets and make another clip.

 

[supersonic]

You need to swap cabinets and make another clip.

These are my prefered cabs. I did a comparison ages ago with GB 25w RIs' and the XTC just sounded too dark. The XTC really shines with the H30s', the different speakers get all amps into the same ballpark. I may look into other shootouts though.

 

[Shark Diver]

You need to swap cabinets and make another clip.

These are my prefered cabs. I did a comparison ages ago with GB 25w RIs' and the XTC just sounded too dark. The XTC really shines with the H30s', the different speakers get all amps into the same ballpark. I may look into other shootouts though.

Well, I of course like the SLO. It sounds like a mix of the XTC and Marsha to me. But you have to match the cabs to the amps. I mean you can't just say that's my preferred cabs and expect every amp to work with it.

 

[supersonic]

You need to swap cabinets and make another clip.

These are my prefered cabs. I did a comparison ages ago with GB 25w RIs' and the XTC just sounded too dark. The XTC really shines with the H30s', the different speakers get all amps into the same ballpark. I may look into other shootouts though.

Well, I of course like the SLO. It sounds like a mix of the XTC and Marsha to me. But you have to match the cabs to the amps. I mean you can't just say that's my preferred cabs and expect every amp to work with it.

That's what I'm saying, I have matched the cabs to the amps here. I used H30s' with the XTC as the M25s' are too dark. I used M25s' with the Marsha and SLO.

 

[stratotone]

XTC also has as good or better fx loop than those other two amps, three useable channels, etc. Seems pretty obvious to me.

 

[Shark Diver]

You need to swap cabinets and make another clip.

These are my prefered cabs. I did a comparison ages ago with GB 25w RIs' and the XTC just sounded too dark. The XTC really shines with the H30s', the different speakers get all amps into the same ballpark. I may look into other shootouts though.

Well, I of course like the SLO. It sounds like a mix of the XTC and Marsha to me. But you have to match the cabs to the amps. I mean you can't just say that's my preferred cabs and expect every amp to work with it.

That's what I'm saying, I have matched the cabs to the amps here. I used H30s' with the XTC as the M25s' are too dark. I used M25s' with the Marsha and SLO.

I get that, but maybe a different speaker would work better than those? But I hear ya, not always worth buying specific cabs for each amp. Probably why I don't own multiple amps anymore. My Bogner always sounded best through a Bogner OS. My Diezel through a Diezel cab. Maybe it's all in my head who knows?

 

[blackie13]

It's hard for me to decide between the marsha and the SLO...
Probably the SLO...
XTC was way too dark for my taste...
The speaker choise is critical...I tried my avenger with vintage 30 and the sound was spikey and shrill...
Love it through my 25 GB RI...

 

[supersonic]

XTC also has as good or better fx loop than those other two amps, three useable channels, etc. Seems pretty obvious to me.

The Marsha loop is very good also. The Marsha has a full clean and footswichable 2nd master and gain, which is like a 3 ch amp. Tones aside the footswitchable loop and boost in the XTC is almost a dealbreaker for live use.

 

[supersonic]

It's hard for me to decide between the marsha and the SLO...
Probably the SLO...
XTC was way too dark for my taste...
The speaker choise is critical...I tried my avenger with vintage 30 and the sound was spikey and shrill...
Love it through my 25 GB RI...

Yes the GB M25s' sound great with Soldano.

 

[gbsmusic]

SLO is KING!!!!!

 

[1923ford]

SLO is KING!!!!! +1
They definitely all sound good, but for me the SLO sits in the mix the best. Also, they are very picky about the speakers you use them with. Greenies sound good in the right cabinet, V30 can also sound "ok", but in my experience the Eminence Legends fit the tone of the SLO the best.

Thanks for posting the sound clips...its always fun to hear amp comparisons!!!

 

[sjk]

Awesome thread, I liked the Marsha the best, same with your Panama clip comparison.

 

[se7en]

I like the Marsha the best here. Nice and juicy. Seems to respond well when you dig in.