• From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Topic: I have a dumb question.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but anyway here it goes..

I've been wanting to buy a Marshall class 5 for some time now, and I think I'm going to do so next month.  I would want to use a reverb pedal and or delay with it but since it has no loop obviously they will need to go in front.  We all know using a reverb in front sounds better if the amp is clean and an Overdrive pedal is placed before the reverb.  But if I were to crank the class 5 up for more volume, it's going to distort.  So if I now have a reverb out in front, will it sound bad??

If I were to keep the volume to where it isn't distorting and hit it with an OD and reverb out front, will I have enough volume to be heard?

Thanks.

2 Reply by lvbluesboy (edited by lvbluesboy 2011-05-09 07:31:17)

  • Registered: 2006-05-31
  • Posts: 184

Re: I have a dumb question.

Well, I think that depends upon what your are trying to be heard over. The Class 5 can be suprising loud for a "5 watt" amp.

I sure wish the webmaster or whomever would fix that bot issue that "edits" the posts.  mad

Anyway, I run effects pedals in front of my Class 5 with no issues and it cleans up nicely by rolling back the guitar's volume just a touch.

In a smaller room, I think it will do just fine although since I have never owned an amp with an effects loop, I can't speak to that scenario.

But, in any case, enjoy!

Nothin' but the Blues
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: I have a dumb question.

lvbluesboy wrote:

Well, I think that depends upon what your are trying to be heard over. The Class 5 can be suprising loud for

I've gathered that from what everyone says.  I'm just wondering if I would have to sacrifice volume by keeping it low in order to run a reverb out front and drive it with an OD.

  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 175

Re: I have a dumb question.

In fairness your not going to have anything like the clean headroom you would need for a practice with other instruments from a 5W amp.

You may be better served by an alternative amp with an effects loop if delay / reverb are a must.

Failing that learn to live with no effects for practice and crank the amp. It's likely the practice room will be small enough to generate it's own reverb type effect anyway.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: I have a dumb question.

Are you using this in a band setting? If not, cool... if SO, invest in a good mic because you'll need to put it through the PA.

I found a DD3 sounds better than a reverb, if you dial it back enough to it's barely a delay.


It's true what the others have said, crank it up all the way and use your vol control to control the gain you want.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2011-04-16
  • Posts: 10

Re: I have a dumb question.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say there's a bunch of different amps in the low watt arena that might be a better choice than a class 5.Just  sayin..I've found delay sounds completely different for me in the front end than effects loop.Reverb comes from my amp so I cant comment on your situation. Good luck.Have a look at the Ibanez tube screamer amp.

  • From: Canterbury
  • Registered: 2010-05-27
  • Posts: 310

Re: I have a dumb question.

I vote for the newer Jet City 20's with an fx loop.

  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: I have a dumb question.

For the Money you CAN NOT beat the Jet City 20 watt combo.  Its like 350 bucks... Musicians Friend was blowing them out for 300 bucks a few months ago.  They sound great and have an effects loop.  You will be disappointed with the Class 5 if you are going to crank it and you need reverb or delay.  I always had a 100 watt amp and drive it with pedals so I never understood why people needed effects loops.  Then I got into lower watt amps and discovered what it means to not have clean head room. 

If you like nice delays and reverb get an amp with an effects loop or get a higher powered amp.  The Jet city is usually cheaper than the Class 5.  And Soldano is a master of tone.

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: I have a dumb question.

Thanks guys.  Look here's the deal:

My current set up is a Vintage Modern head and DSL head and 2 Marshall 1936 cabs.  I have a reverb and delay on a rack tray that go into the loop of VM and a Vox delay on my board that goes into the DSL's loop.  The usual Overdrives take up the rest of the board.  I always mic my cabinets and do the typical spread hard left and right sides of PA.  I was actually thinking about picking up 2 of the CLass 5 heads when they come out to run through those cabinets and my concern was if I cranked the heads I'd be layering OD from my board, into an effect and then into a dirty amp.. Yeah basically the head room was what I was unsure about, if I'd have to keep them quieter.

Currently for small gigs I use my Egnater Tweaker and 2x12 mic'd.  It's 15 watts and through a 4x12 at practice it's very loud.  I'm always within about 6ft of my rig so I don't really have a problem hearing myself..and also I'm always the loudest.

My current gigging rig is a bit overkill, so I was trying to emulate the same thing with smaller heads, and yeah I wanted to keep it all marshall..

  • Nairbr
  • Nairbr
  • Silver Member
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  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • Registered: 2009-10-25
  • Posts: 53

Re: I have a dumb question.

I did a lunchtime gig a my work about 2 years ago with a Blackstar HT5 Head & Fender 2x12 cab.
It was a small outdoor BBQ gig with vocal PA.
It sounded great until you get the usual situation where everybody starts turning their gear up.
The poor thing just ran out of headroom and sounded like crap after about 5 songs.
If it had 5 more watts, it would of been the ultimate small venue amp.

GUITARS - Les Paul R9 VOS Cherryburst, Les Paul Traditional, Fender Rory Gallagher Tribute Strat, Fender CS 40th Anniversary Strat.
AMPS - Ceriatone 50w ODS HRM, Ceriatone 30w Stray Cat
EFFECTS - TC Electronics GMajor, T Rex Spin Doctor, Univibe
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: I have a dumb question.

Nairbr wrote:

I did a lunchtime gig a my work about 2 years ago with a Blackstar HT5 Head & Fender 2x12 cab.
It was a small outdoor BBQ gig with vocal PA.
It sounded great until you get the usual situation where everybody starts turning their gear up.
The poor thing just ran out of headroom and sounded like crap after about 5 songs.
If it had 5 more watts, it would of been the ultimate small venue amp.

Yeah once the volume war begins, it's all down hill!  Everybody says how loud these amps are, so I figured if I had 2 of them along with some 2x12s I'd have a loud yet manageable rig.

  • From: Canterbury
  • Registered: 2010-05-27
  • Posts: 310

Re: I have a dumb question.

Umm, why not get another big amp and attenuator?

  • sted
  • sted
  • Platinum
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2011-03-20
  • Posts: 333

Re: I have a dumb question.

You might be ok if you are the only guitar and dont want any clean headroom at all, I think you will limit yourself quite a lot though in a band situation, the other guitar player was between gigging amps for a week or so and brought his HT5, it just got mullered by the rest of the band at practice, he could barely hear himself through a 2x12, bear in mind I only use a 35w head.
If you want to keep it all Marshall sound then have a look at the 20 watt mini plexi re-issues, the handwired ones. They might work out expensive but you will get a bit more definition with the extra power, theres a raft of makers out there who do (Very) good clones as well with luxuries such as an effects loop.
I run delay in front of my matchless and you have to be very subtle with it or it just runs away, especially if you go from clean to mean fairly rapid, as for reverbs in front, well, you will get some interestign results! I ran a TC nova system in front of my amp for one gig thinking it would do everything I needed, I couldnt wait to get rid of it!

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: I have a dumb question.

AndreS wrote:

Umm, why not get another big amp and attenuator?

Why would I do that when I already have 2 big amps?

Well thanks guys maybe I'll just get a class 5 combo just to have for the heck of it sice I've been wanting one anyway. I hate to spend the money on 2 of the heads if they won't get the job done.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: I have a dumb question.

I guess you can try it and always get rid of it if it's not doing the job... amps come and go  wink
Marshall Class 5's are pretty popular, so you wouldn't have problems getting rid of it. Although if you get it at GC I think they have a 30 day return policy, so  you can try it right away, and if it's no good, take it back.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: I have a dumb question.

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I guess you can try it and always get rid of it if it's not doing the job... amps come and go  wink
Marshall Class 5's are pretty popular, so you wouldn't have problems getting rid of it. Although if you get it at GC I think they have a 30 day return policy, so  you can try it right away, and if it's no good, take it back.

True.  I've never played one so maybe I'll go there and try one out.  I was waiting to see (before buying) if they decided to put a 12" speaker in the new ones, but all hope is gone on that so I guess I'll see whats what and test one out.

  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 175

Re: I have a dumb question.

This what you need. Class 5 with more headroom and an fx loop smile

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RAT-HOTROD-MARSHA … 51992d46a8

If I had the cash spare I'd be seriously tempted ..but I'm waiting on a JBLP Studio at the moment

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: I have a dumb question.

helrazr84 wrote:

True.  I've never played one so maybe I'll go there and try one out.  I was waiting to see (before buying) if they decided to put a 12" speaker in the new ones, but all hope is gone on that so I guess I'll see whats what and test one out.

If you end up getting a Class 5 with the 10" speaker, it really pays to have a 4x12 around... as the amp does sound a LOT better through a 12" or four of them. My brother rarely plays through the 10"

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool