Guitar Reviews Blog

The all-valve JCM800 2203 is one of the most highly respected 100W Marshall heads in the company's long history. Evolving from the legendary Plexi head, it was one of the first Marshall amps to feature a master volume control. The essence of simplicity, the JCM800 is a one-channel, all-valve amp with no reverb or effects. Its easy control panel, distinctive roar, and larger-than-life edge immediately set the standard by which all other rock amps were judged and it remained the industry benchmark throughout the entire 16 years of its production life. Now it's back by popular demand and just like the 1959SLP and 1987X it has a Series Effects Loop with true bypass that takes the loop completely out of the circuit ensuring the original tone isn't compromised in any shape or form.

Designed for ultimate flexibility, this revolutionary fully loaded 100-watt modular tube combo provides easy mobility without sacrificing the punchy tone of a closed back cabinet. Because it's an MTS series amp and can be loaded with any number of tube preamps, it had to be a cabinet that would work well for both rock and metal, as well as spankin' country and blues.To do this, Randall designed the guitar amplifier with a dual back option. The amp comes from the factory basically sealed giving you the punch and tightness of a closed 2 x 12, but it also includes a 1/3 removable top panel to achieve the looser, more boomy low end found in traditional semi-open back combos.The RM100 features a unique Palomino covering (RM100CP2) with tweed grille cloth, and comes preloaded with 3 modules! Blackace, Plexi, and XTC.Blackface - (Based on the preamp circuit of a Fender® Blackface Twin™. Legendary clean tone with cutting mid-range and sparking highs. The standard for a wide-range of cleans.)Plexi - (Based on the preamp circuit of a classic Marshall® Plexi. Anywhere from Page, to Angus, to Gibbons. The amp that defines 70's rock and punk tone. )XTC - (Based on the preamp circuit of a Bogner® Ecstasy red channel. An all around great hi-gain tone with tight low end and cutting mid-range. It will cover any rock to metal tone. This one screams!)The all tube series of amps, preamps, and combos offers incredible flexibility. The swappable MTS modular preamp components allow you to customize your set-up for a sound that's all yours.With fourteen modules to choose from and more in the works, having an amp is as simple as plugging in a new module. Start with as few as one, or as many as you like and have all your favorite tones right at your fingertips. All modules can be used for the RM4 preamp, RM combos and RM heads. All modules utilize the same panel layout, which includes Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble and Master controls.A bright switch is included directly under each Bass control. Each preamp module houses two 12AX7 tubes which can be easily changed or replaced. Use the thumbscrewa to remove or secure each module to the front panel of every MTS amplifier.

This Line 6 full stack includes the Spider Valve HD100 100W Guitar Amp Head and 2 Spider Valve 412VS 240W 4x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinets, one slanted, one straight.Spider Valve HD100 100W Guitar Amp Head The Spider Valve amp head delivers 12 channels of amp modeling - combined with several flavors of built-in modulation, delay and reverb driven by an all tube, all Bogner amplification design boasting 6L6 power tubes, 12AX7 preamp tubes and premium Celestion® Vintage 30 speakers.Spider Valve™ is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between Line 6 and Reinhold Bogner fusing the versatility of modeling with the performance and feel of a world-class tube amplifier.Just as Line 6 revolutionized the world of guitar amps through pioneering modeling technology, Spider Valve shatters the boundaries of tube amp performance by applying that same tonal range to Bogner's all-tube amp design, boutique component selection and stellar voicing.Combining the performance, response and feel of a well crafted tube amp with the inspiring capabilities of amp and effect modeling - the Spider Valve amplifier delivers the best of both worlds.Modeling + Tubes The Spider Valve design combines 12AX7 preamp tubes with Line 6's signature modeling front-end, a marriage that allows each part of the sonic equation to deliver what it does best: creamy, cascading distortion and enriched harmonics from the tubes, and 12 of the world's finest amp models and seven stunning effects from the modeling front end. And, of course, perfectly matched 6L6 power tubes driving Celestion® Vintage 30 speakers to deliver unprecedented sonic impact and spatial imaging.With the simple front-end controls and display, programmable patches and presets are instantly within reach. Tweak your tone even further with the front panel Presence, Drive, Bass, Mid and Treble controls: this is a true-blue tube amp, and it acts like one, responding and delivering all the analog detail, performance and warmth of every amp model and effect.Unleash your effects arsenal. From the DL4™ stompbox to the Echo Farm™ plug-in, Line 6 effects have achieved cult status in top studios and stage rigs of discerning guitarists. With Spider Valve, Line 6 delivers a palette of top grade integrated effects - easily accessed and tweaked from the front panel using the SmartControl FX knobs.Modulation A choice of phaser, chorus or tremolo lets you tweak your tone from rich luscious modulations to dramatic orbital gyrations.Delay From the swirling feedback of the sweep echo to the organic decay of the tape echo, Spider Valve delays provide an unmatched level of dimension and depth.Reverb The Spider Valve effects arsenal is complete with a dedicated reverb control allowing you to dial in anything from subtle ambiences to cavernous spaces.The Bogner Story Reinhold Bogner, the principal designer at Bogner Amplification, had been designing and building amplifiers long before leaving Germany in 1989.

In a nutshell, the Marshall all-valve, 4-channel JVM410C 100-Watt, 2x12" combo is the most versatile Marshall amplifier ever made. It also boasts more Gain than any other Marshall to date and that's really saying something!!Each of its 4-channels Clean, Crunch, OD1 & OD2 are not only completely independent of each other, they all boast three Modes, all 12 of which are footswitchable and feature their own unique gain structure. It makes the JVM 4-channel effectively 12 Marshalls in one!The JVM410C has built-in, studio-quality digital reverb with a level control for each channel. This is also footswitchable, as are the amp's two Master Volume controls and the Series/Parallel effects loop. Resonance and Presence are equipped with master controls.Even though the head and combo both house 28 controls and 8 LED switches on their front panels, they're incredibly simple to understand because of the extremely logical layout. Each of the 4 channels has the usual suspects when it comes to controls Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble & Gain accounting for 20 of the 28 controls right away. Take away the 4 reverb controls and you're only left with 4 Master controls 2 master volumes plus Resonance and Presence.Add to this an ingenious footswitch (UK patent pending) and the fact all the amp's switching (channel/modes, Reverb, Master Volume selection, FX loop) can be done via MIDI and you're looking at an incredibly flexible amp! The 6-way footswitch boasts 7 LEDs and memory, plus it connects to the amp via a regular guitar cable.From the cleanest clean to the filthiest distortion ever found in a Marshall and all points in-between, the JVM410C all-valve combo amp will give you whatever tone you need right when you need it.

In a nutshell, the Marshall all-valve, 2-channel JVM205C 50-Watt tube combo amp is a 2-channel version of the most versatile Marshall amplifier ever made. Each of this combo amp's 2 channels are completely independent of each other, and they boast 3 Modes, all 6 of which are footswitchable and feature their own unique gain structure. It makes the JVM 2-channel effectively 6 Marshalls in one!The JVM205C has studio-quality digital reverb with a level control for each channel. This is also footswitchable, as are the amp's two Master Volume controls and the Series/Parallel effects loop. Resonance and Presence are equipped with master controls.An ingenious footswitch (UK patent pending) and the fact all the amp's switching (channel/modes, Reverb, Master Volume selection, FX loop) can be done via MIDI and you're looking at an incredibly flexible amp! The 4-way footswitch boasts LEDs and memory, plus it connects to the amp via a regular guitar cable.From the cleanest clean to the filthiest distortion ever found in a Marshall and all points in-between, the JVM205C all-valve combo amp will give you whatever tone you need right when you need it.

The VOX Heritage Collection AC30H2 30W combo amplifier features 2 channels of classic VOX tone. Channel 1 is an EF86 tube-based channel and channel 2 is VOX's famed 12AX7 based top-boost channel. The AC30H2 hand-wired amp is loaded with 2x12" VOX/Celestion Alnico "Blue" Speakers. Other premium appointments include genuine leather handles and vintage cream covering.

Since his birth in 1923, Jim Marshall has changed the world of guitar music forever by listening to the needs of guitarists, incorporating them into amplifier designs, and developing some of the most cutting-edge and familiar tones ever recorded.The 1923 85th anniversary amp head commemorates Dr. Marshall's 85th birthday celebration. Based on the legendary JCM 2000 Dual Super Lead platform, the 1923 head features 50 watts of EL34 power and that distinctive Marshall tone. The front panel is finished with a custom color print design incorporating both the 85th Celebration logo and Union Jack flag. Every guitar amp head is constructed using high-grade Baltic birch plywood for superior sonic performance and durability.

The Fender '57 Deluxe Combo Amp is a 12W hand-wired tube amplifier with a 12" speaker. Super cool and timeless, the lower settings of the "chicken head" volume control result in harmonically rich clean sound perfect for authentic vintage rock, blues, and country playing; when cranked up, the Deluxe amp's fat, compressed, wildly distorted tone is not only inspiring, but just plain fun. It also records easily, thanks to all that natural compression. American design, American made!Guitarists who want a moderately powered tube amp for home, studio, or small gigs will fall in love with the '57 Deluxe; tube amp enthusiasts who appreciate the unique qualities of hand-wired, hand-built models and Fender fans & collectors will consider the '57 Deluxe a must-have!The original Fender Deluxe amp of the 1950s was a medium-powered unit designed to let guitarists "hold their own" in a small group. As blues, Western, and rockabilly bands began getting louder and wilder, the overdriven tone of a cranked-up Deluxe found its way onto countless smokin' hot live and recorded performances. Over the past five decades, from Memphis to Liverpool to Texas, players of every conceivable style have employed this awesome tone machine for its unmistakable warm, rich tube tone.Original late '50s hand-wired 12W 5E3 circuit is one of the most touch-sensitive, dynamic amp sounds of all time; manageable volume level for studio or small venue; natural compression adds sustain, even at clean settings.Solid pine cabinet gives the tone a warm, natural wood resonance.Groove Tubes 12AX7 preamp tubes provide sensitive, higher-gain tone; user may install a 12AY7 for the original lower-gain sound, if desired.Jensen P-12Q Alnico-magnet speaker is the same model as used in many of the originals; sounds nice and sparkly clean, then "barks" when you hit it hard.

The all-valve Kerry King Signature JCM800 2203KK is the essence of simplicity-a single-channel tube amp with no reverb or effects. It's easy control panel, distinctive roar, and larger than life edge has set the standard by which many rock amps are judged.This Kerry King model features a switchable Kerry King signature sound section called "The Beast" that has two adjustable controls -"Assault" & "Gate." "Assault" intensity controls the extent of Kerry's signature EQ boost, and "Gate" is an adjustable, studio-quality, ultra-fast noise reduction unit. The 3-band EQ gives you plenty of control, but the base tone of this amp is patterned after the reverse-shape EQ setting used by Kerry himself! Eye-catching tribal graphics blaze from the front panel and baffle. Jim Marshall and Kerry King's signature's on the control panel identify its pedigree.One of the nicest surprises: Marshall has added functionality to the amp, while lowering the price!

In a nutshell, the Marshall all-valve, 2-channel JVM210H 100-Watt tube head is a 2-channel version of the most versatile Marshall amplifier ever made. It also boasts more gain than any other Marshall to date-and that's really saying something!Each of its 2 channels are completely independent of each other, and they boast 3 Modes, all 6 of which are footswitchable and feature their own unique gain structure. It makes the JVM 2-channel effectively 6 Marshalls in one!The JVM210H has studio-quality digital reverb with a level control for each channel. This is also footswitchable, as are the amp's two Master Volume controls and the Series/Parallel effects loop. Resonance and Presence are equipped with master controls.An ingenious footswitch (UK patent pending) and the fact all the amp's switching (channel/modes, Reverb, Master Volume selection, FX loop) can be done via MIDI and you're looking at an incredibly flexible amp! The 4-way footswitch boasts LEDs and memory, plus it connects to the amp via a regular guitar cable.From the cleanest clean to the filthiest distortion ever found in a Marshall and all points in-between, the JVM210H all-valve amp head will give you whatever tone you need right when you need it.

In a nutshell, the Marshall all-valve, 2-channel JVM215C is a 2-channel, 50W version of the most versatile Marshall amplifier ever made, the JVM410C. Each of its 2 channels are completely independent of each other, and they boast 3 Modes, all 6 of which are footswitchable and feature their own unique gain structure. It makes the JVM 2-channel effectively 6 Marshalls in one!The JVM215C has studio-quality digital reverb with a level control for each channel. This is also footswitchable, as are the amp's two Master Volume controls and the Series/Parallel effects loop. Resonance and Presence are equipped with master controls.An ingenious footswitch (UK patent pending) and the fact all the amp's switching (channel/modes, Reverb, Master Volume selection, FX loop) can be done via MIDI and you're looking at an incredibly flexible amp! The 4-way footswitch boasts LEDs and memory, plus it connects to the amp via a regular guitar cable.From the cleanest clean to the filthiest distortion ever found in a Marshall and all points in-between, the JVM215C all-valve combo will give you whatever tone you need right when you need it.

Dual monobloc power amp delivers the goods with 100W per side of stereo slam! Switchable voicing from classic to modern on each channel makes this amp a must for serious pros. 8 EL34 tubes provide awesome power.