Marshall Bass Amp ?

[hailet]

Originally Posted by parapentep70

I had the combo version (MB4410). The amp section is exactly the same. I posted a couple of comments about it. Good. Very versatile. Powerful. And very, very good for the price.

Cons? Heavy (the combo was 52 Kg!). Check how much the MBC810 weighs, it might be a lot.

Thanks for the response. I wasn't even aware that Marshall made bass amps until two days ago and now I think I'm going to end up buying one eventually. I'm still unsure of which cab I want but tens seem to be the way to go now days. I'm not too concerned about the weight as I'm old and will get someone younger to do the moving, plus if they are like the Ampeg cabs they have built in dollys. Thanks again for your info.

[4001]

I've never played through a Marshall bass amp but Chris Squire has used one for like, forever, and has produced some very memorable tones from it. I'd love to try one but there aren't any around my area.

[hailet]

Originally Posted by 4001

I've never played through a Marshall bass amp but Chris Squire has used one for like, forever, and has produced some very memorable tones from it. I'd love to try one but there aren't any around my area.

There aren't any around here either. Our local GC or Sam Ash really only stock the brands they are pushing. I'll have to do some research to find some place that actually carries them and likely do some traveling to check one out.

[oddgrowth]

for those that doubt the ferosity a Marshall bass amp can deliver:

(Rob Wright of NOMEANSNO thru a 3530 Silver Jubilee 300w/4x12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gtK_4gyf0M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z59HKfeooAk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p49qhscXgAs

[Joedog]

I haven't played the newer stuff, so I won't (and shouldn't) give an opinion, LOL. But I'd try some if I was in the market. My favorite cab of ALL time was an old 2X15 Marshall that looked much like a 4X12 guitar cab: speakers were mounted diagonally. It was an 8 ohm cab only rated for 150 watts (two 75 watt Celestion Sidewinders). It was a friend's cab that I borrowed a few times. INCREDIBLY LOUD, LOW and SWEET! I can still hear that tone in my head! 2 of those cabs would be orgasmic!

[Clammy]

Originally Posted by Joedog

I haven't played the newer stuff, so I won't (and shouldn't) give an opinion, LOL. But I'd try some if I was in the market. My favorite cab of ALL time was an old 2X15 Marshall that looked much like a 4X12 guitar cab: speakers were mounted diagonally. It was an 8 ohm cab only rated for 150 watts (two 75 watt Celestion Sidewinders). It was a friend's cab that I borrowed a few times. INCREDIBLY LOUD, LOW and SWEET! I can still hear that tone in my head! 2 of those cabs would be orgasmic!

Never heard of 75W Sidewinders. The only 2x15 cab that looked like a regular 4x12 (but about 3" deeper) with Sidewinders was the model 1552. Part of the Integrated Bass System line, and badged "JCM 800 Bass Series". That cab was 8 ohms and handled 500W (the Sidewinders are rated at 250W each). You are correct about it being LOUD, low and sweet. I know, because I have one and it's in my main rig.

Cheers!

[bggeezer]

My current back line is Marshall mb4210 450w combo, marshall mbc115 cab.

The 2x10 combo, though quite heavy, is v portable and has LOADS of headroom. It has a foot switch which switches between 2 channels or a blend, plus the best overdrive (gain) I've ever heard. Shove in the extension cab and you can fill the Albert Hall. Plus all the usual stuff. All for under £700.

Sweeeeet.

[Ferdugan]

I recently purchased a vba 400. Right now I'm waiting for my mesa 8x10 powerhouse vintage to arrive from the factory so I can finally try it out!

[TheRealKong]

Six years ago my beloved SWR Redhead died - up in smoke, not possible to fix, my other amps locked in in rehearshall rooms in a 100 km circle..... Either I could get me an amp, or I was f*cked.

I was, because we had a prestige gig in my hometown, and as the SWR blew up on Thursday, I had to get me a new amp until Saturday. Because I always have been a big combo-fan, but changed my mind totally the last few years, I looked around in the local stores, but there was no "good" combo at all. Some practising-amps, some beginner amps, nothing with an helpful amount of power.

So I found a Marshall MB 4410 in the last store, checked it out - and digged it! The amp is not compareable with the SWR Redhead, because it colours the sound in a heavy rocking, warm way.

You find two pre-channels, one solid state, one with a ECC83-Tube in the circuit and a blend-channel which mixes both pres.

The solid state section has a bass control semi-parametric mids an a knob for the high end. The comporessor is not the real deal, I don't use it. The tube-section comes with bass, 3-way-mid - selector and a 15 dB cut or boost-knob, and a high control. And a mixing-channel, where you can mix up the sound of the two pres, with its own volume knob. The mix-channel only has a panorama and a volume pot . Its enough to dial in every sound you like.

The solid-state pre is able to create fine clear, warm and punchy sounds, the tube pre is able to have lots of grid. Although there is a "drive".knob, there is no need to use it. The poweramp fires the combos 410'' cab @ 4 Ohms with 300 Watt. Adding another 4 @ cab will give you the full 450 Watt. The amp is 2-Ohm - stable. I use a Peavey TVX 410 for extension, the cab comes fine together with the Marshall cab.

Mostly I mix up both pre's, giving me a beautiful warm and clear sound with a good ammount of grid I can control with my picking. I am used to own and play much "better" amps GenzBenz GBE 1200, Markbass LM II or an Ampeg SVP Pro plus a poweramp. But the MB 4410 is a keeper. It stays in one of my three rehearshallrooms and does its job.

I thought about buying another MB 410''-cab, but I like the sound mixing up the 410''-combo with either a Peavey TVX 410 or a SWT Workingpro 212''.

Next one is a VBA 400. Short price-overview, prices in Germany:

Ampeg SVT Heritage CL = € 2.500,-- / SVT VR = € 2.160,-- / SVT CL = € 1.850,--

Marshall VBA 400 = € 1.800,-- / MB 450 head = € 399,--, a MBC 410''-cab is another € 399,--. My combo MB 4410 = € 740,--

The Marshall VBA is a rock-solid all valve-amp, and it is in the same league as all those others all-valve-amps are. They are different animals as, lets say, the Ampeg.line. But they are fine amps.

The budget-line Marshall MB is fine, versatile and a good bang for the buck. Versatile sound-shaping options, roadworthy and cheap. If a beginner is looking for an amp and all the others throw in Hartke LH 500 or HA 3500, maybe some lightweight amps, I am the man that waves the flag for the Marshall MBE-Series.

The much smaller MB 60 is a fine amp for rehearshall and small bar gigs. It blows my old GallienKrueger 200 MB out of the water, having the same pre section as the big brother MB 450h. I checked out some Fender Precision basses over the little cutie, stunning because of the massive sound it produces with one 12'' speaker.

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by skychaserhigh

a Marshall VBA will blow away many other amps and that includes Ampeg, Trace and SWR.

The Marshall VBA400 all tube amp kicks major buttocks! I had one about ten years ago when I was in a YES tribute band.

I have also owned an Ampeg SVT-CL and an Ampeg SVT-VR. In my opinion, the VBA sounded better than the CL, and the VR sounded better than the other two.

All IMO/IME.

[mournblade]

Originally Posted by Ferdugan

I recently purchased a vba 400. Right now I'm waiting for my mesa 8x10 powerhouse vintage to arrive from the factory so I can finally try it out!

I just picked up a VBA 400 from GC (arrives in store tomorrow), so I am very interested in how you like it paired with the PH8x10 vintage. I have the PH2x15.and 4x12's and will run both cab's off the VBA.

[bassvi]

Zombie thread back to life? Ha, I finally got a VBA400, and it is my favorite amp ever. Bought mine used on the bay a couple of years ago, still rocks like a champ, no issues. Helluva bass amp

[Ferdugan]

Originally Posted by mournblade

I just picked up a VBA 400 from GC (arrives in store tomorrow), so I am very interested in how you like it paired with the PH8x10 vintage. I have the PH2x15.and 4x12's and will run both cab's off the VBA.

Yeah ill let you know as soon as as it comes in... I'm kind of bummed how long its taking it to come. The guy at my local store told me 4 to 6 weeks initially. On the 5th week of waiting I went in for a sitrep. He told me mesa called him and told him it will be another 4 to 6 weeks! What's up with that? Anyway... I hope you enjoy it! Let me know how it sounds with the 2x15 and 4x12. Will you be running 8 ohms then?

[mournblade]

2 ohms, both cabs are 4 ohms.

[bassmachine2112]

Forgot to say I run 2 2x10 peavey cabs 4 ohm giving a total of 2 ohm and it runs perfect
and sounds huge=blistering loud after I got proper good cables.
never need to go above 3

[mournblade]

Well I got the VBA home today. Sounded really good in the store @ 4ohms, when I got home I hooked it up to my two, 4 ohm cabinets, switched the ohm setting to 2, let it warm up for 2 + minutes and then switched it on. The tone was pretty good, but there was a lot of hum and the tone sounded static-y (not to be confused with overdriven). Guessing that pre-amp tubes might be going out? Or, since I did not notice this in 4 ohm operation, is this more indicative of power tubes going out? I am going to disconnect one cab, switch the impedance selector back to 4 ohm and see if the hum and tube crackle is still there. If it is present, any guess as to what this entails? If it isn't? If I have to replace tubes, does the amp need to be re-biased?

Either way I can't complain, the amp looks brand new and I got it for $1150. There is an amp shop in Arlington (not too far from me) that is an authorized Marshall repair shop, so I am going to try and get it down there and have him test the tubes.
And give it a good servicing.

If I have to replace the tubes, Clammy recommends the Tung Sol's, anyone know where to pick those up here in the States? I would like to get an idea of how much they cost to shop/compare them against the repair facility.

Thanks in advance, overall I am pleased, can't wait to get it all sorted out.

[tooley]

Try www.tubedepot.com theres another site that sells them. but cant remember that right now.

[tooley]

Www.tubesandmore.com

[mournblade]

Thanks!

[gumtownbassman]

My latest amp addition to the collection

The one on the left is my latest addition to my bass amp collection,
Marshall VBA400 all tube 400watt bass amp which uses 8 x 6550 output tubes and a VBC810 fridge style cab.

The one on the right is a Marshall MB450 (450 watt hybrid) with the MBC410 and MBC115 cabs.

Can't wait to try the VBA at a gig tommorrow night.