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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Marshall Class 5 Amplifier
Hey guys ive been looking into getting a marshall class 5 tube amp. This would be my first tube amp and im not sure if i should get it or save up more and get something else. Has anyone tested out the amp or have any comments about it? i have a gibson les paul traditional goldtop that would be running through it with a ts-9 tube screamer. Any info on the amp would be grealy appreciated! thanks! 
I have one and am bringing it back. That's by no means a knock on the amp, it's just not what I need right now. It's a really great sounding amp - like an old Plexi in a very small package. However, it does not clean up too well (at least not to me - I'm used to Fender cleans) and it's not really practical for gigging applications. If it's your first foray into the tube amp world, you'll be very happy. Plus, you can always but a 1x12 cabinet to fatten the sound up some. Good luck.
I would definately recommend this amp to anyone lookinf for a small vintage marshall type sound at a good price. There are a few topics around this forum about this amp so have a look around.
I play only at home at the minute and have been able to get some great tones out of this amp using it at around 2 on the volume and using various pedals for overdrive. My favourite at the minute is pairing usign a fulltone OCD for the overdrive then a fulltone fulldrive 2 in vintage mode to lift the mids for lead work.
Be warned for home use this little amp is very loud!
GREAT amp if you can find one that doesn't have the rattle issue. Mine rattles and I am patiently waiting for a replacement from a local store. I still play it everyday, I just play it at around 1-2 volume and fiddle with the volume knob on the guitar. The tone is magic coming out of it, and the thing only rattles when I have a muted or bass-heavy tone with a bit more volume...for a great demo of this amp at low volume check out Joe's Tour Bus interview on the RAH DVD. Now if I just had the tone Joe's FINGERS supply then I'd be in business...he could play through a 9v battery and a styrofoam cup and STILL get his tone
I played one quite a bit, a family member has one.
This might sound harsh, but it is a one-trick pony. It gets that marshall plexi sort of sound and that's it. It can so (some) clean too by rolling off your guitar vol. control. I didn't like the clean with the master vol on the map set low.
I mean if you want something that says Marshall and you want it to be a tube amp for cheap, I say go for it. There's nothing wrong with the amp and it does have a killer tone. I guess I'm just saying it's not all that versatile.
I put it up against my Fender Blues Jr. (the only Fender thing I'll ever own) and the Fender had a more ballsy clean. Although to get it to sound like a the marshall, it needed a pedal. However the Blues jr had more tones overall and more tube wattage. Food for thought. Plus Blues Jr.'s are highly customizable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CZOJ9-N … r_embedded
I played one quite a bit, a family member has one.
This might sound harsh, but it is a one-trick pony. It gets that marshall plexi sort of sound and that's it. It can so (some) clean too by rolling off your guitar vol. control. I didn't like the clean with the master vol on the map set low.
I mean if you want something that says Marshall and you want it to be a tube amp for cheap, I say go for it. There's nothing wrong with the amp and it does have a killer tone. I guess I'm just saying it's not all that versatile.
I put it up against my Fender Blues Jr. (the only Fender thing I'll ever own) and the Fender had a more ballsy clean. Although to get it to sound like a the marshall, it needed a pedal. However the Blues jr had more tones overall and more tube wattage. Food for thought. Plus Blues Jr.'s are highly customizable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CZOJ9-N … r_embedded
You state a good one trick pony and killer tone for an amp that only cost $399.00, what more can you ask for at that price?? Marshall and Fender are different beasts IMO, but these two amps would be great in tandem together IMO.
I think calling the class 5 a one trick pony a fair assumption. But what is does it does very very well. it nails a vintage marshall tone in a small compact low power package for not too much cash. I have been loving the class 5 lately and hope to do so for a long time to come.
Hey Fuzz are you one of the lucky ones to get a "rattle free" Class 5?
Hey Fuzz are you one of the lucky ones to get a "rattle free" Class 5?
I'm afraid not. The little bugger rattles like hell. I had a 1x12 extension cab that I plug into so rattle gone. I have read around other forums and have heard that those who have returned their rattlers for a non rattler either had the same problem or they felt the tone was different. Others said they had no issues. I like the way mine sounds through the 1x12 so am sticking with it. I have thought about getting another and having a go at some modding.
Here is a link to the rattle repair - I will attempt this weekend and post the results.
http://upload.dazurn.com/Marshall%20Cla … tement.pdf
kevman13 wrote:Hey Fuzz are you one of the lucky ones to get a "rattle free" Class 5?
I'm afraid not. The little bugger rattles like hell. I had a 1x12 extension cab that I plug into so rattle gone. I have read around other forums and have heard that those who have returned their rattlers for a non rattler either had the same problem or they felt the tone was different. Others said they had no issues. I like the way mine sounds through the 1x12 so am sticking with it. I have thought about getting another and having a go at some modding.
I have one also. I agree it gets a great vintage Marshall sound. Also agree that it does not clean up very well. That is why I have a fender amp for the clean signal. I need an a/b switch though. Right now I have to switch back and forth. It's a great amp for the price, but would be even greater when paired with another amp that is clean.
But, I say, go for it!! Get the Class 5 and the Fender Blues Jr. That would be a great combo!
I think its over priced. I personally would like at a Orange Tiny Terror or a Vox Night Train. Both of those amps KILL and are 15 watts. They are not $399 but for about $100 to $150 more you get more amp with more versital sound. All I've read about was this Class 5 sounds like a Marshall Plexi which is a great sound but then you hear them say pair it up with another amp a clean amp. I know Joe's opinion is buy a amp and stick to one thing it does well and then buy another one to do the other thing you want to do well. If you wanna sound more like Joe Bonamassa the theory of using 2 amps together works perfectly. But me I'm not Joe Bonamassa and never will be as good as he is so I tend to stick with what works for me which is a good versital amp that can clean up easy with the roll of my volume knob and can blister your ears when you turn that knob the other way. Thats what the Night Train or the Tiny Terror is to me. Oh if volume is a problem the standby switch is a whole power or half power switch on both amps so you can run either 15 watts or 7 watts. Its not a combo so you'll have to find a speaker cab but maybe you've got a solid state amp with a decent speaker that you can unplug and use for one of these. That or just buy one. Even the Fender Blues Jr is a better deal to me I have one of those and its got tons of tone. Unless you want that classic Marshall sound with a little extra buzz I think money wise you can do better.
I think its over priced.....for about $100 to $150 more you get more amp with more versital sound....
That's cool man, it's just not an amp that meets all of your needs. But it's far from overpriced IMO. People (including myself) use to look at a 100w SLP Marshall and think, "why would someone want to spend $2500+ on an amp that makes essentially one sound?" Problem is, there is nothing out there but a 100w Superlead that sounds like that. Though more versatile, many boutique amps like the Bogner Ecstasy will never give you that 100% Marshall sound. A lot of guys would take the Bogner in a second over a typical Plexi! It's all about personal preferences and tastes. All single channel amps will have shortcomings but for some that one trick pony can be totally worth it.
StratPual: +1. Geez, $399.00, before you barter it down for cool 1-trick pony tone....sorry, can't understand how someone could put this down, accept for if they're getting rattling problems associated with this amp. I'm going to get one and combo it with my Tweed Blues Jr. for the fun of it.
Well I was going to do the repair but I ended up swapping mine for a new one and all I can say is WOW! No rattle whatsoever and an absolute blast to play through. Now for a Blues/Pro Jr to pair it with....
Here is a link to the rattle repair - I will attempt this weekend and post the results.
http://upload.dazurn.com/Marshall%20Cla … tement.pdf
Fuzzblues wrote:kevman13 wrote:Hey Fuzz are you one of the lucky ones to get a "rattle free" Class 5?
I'm afraid not. The little bugger rattles like hell. I had a 1x12 extension cab that I plug into so rattle gone. I have read around other forums and have heard that those who have returned their rattlers for a non rattler either had the same problem or they felt the tone was different. Others said they had no issues. I like the way mine sounds through the 1x12 so am sticking with it. I have thought about getting another and having a go at some modding.
I spoke to the shop where i bought mine and they are going to check with marshall to see if its one of the first that can be swapped for a newer one.
anyone having any problems with theirs losing some of the volume? I think mine is losing some volume, maybe it's just me. I've never had a tube amp, so I'm not sure how they act.
Explain "losing volume.." dropping off while you are playing? Or it doesn't seem as loud as before?
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