Marshall MB series?

aussiebasshero · #1 01-30-2012, 10:37 PM

Hi guys,

Tried to do a search for these amps but yielded no results. Thinking about upgrading from my Fender Rumble 75 to something a little more modular. At the moment the new(ish?) Marshall MB450H has caught my eye. Looks pretty cool. I like the fact that you can switch between classic and modern channels, and that you get a tube pre in the classic channel. Also digging the included footswitch. I'd pair it initially with a 4 Ohm cab, at this stage, the Fender Rumble 410 (500W - $450 at my local music store). That should give me sufficient headroom to prevent cab farting (the amp needs another cab to unlock the 450W)

Has anyone tried these amps before? If yes, what did you like about them? What did you hate? Any notable QC issues? The Rumble is a solid amp but only really does the modern tone, which is fine, but having a P and a T-Bird in the stable would really benefit from something with a more vintage vibe.

Here's a link to the Marshall site for those interested: Marshall Amps - MB450H

craig.p · #2 01-31-2012, 04:28 AM

Here.

aussiebasshero · #3 01-31-2012, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig.p

Here.

Thanks Craig. Seems there were a few QC issues with them, though. Hope they've rectified this with the latest batches! Still keen to try them out!

greencow · #4 01-31-2012, 05:36 AM

Having owned a MB4210 I will say that the QC issues might just be quality issues. I was happy for about 2 years and had no problems but then the combo started falling apart. I fixed one issue and soon there was something else wrong.

Once it moved to a semi private(2 other people using it) rehersal room it started having even more issues(I can only guess that one of the other bass players tried to get too much out of my litle friend)

Also the compressor is useless and after a couple of DI problems I opted for an external DI unit.

You get what you pay for. If I was looking for an amp in that price range now, I would go with something that has no tubes/compressors/other gimmics but features a decent 1-channel preamp and a DI.

tom once dead · #5 01-31-2012, 06:56 AM

I used to have the MB450H and MBC410. I thought that rig sounded great, especially for the money you pay for one. You could get a huge amount of different tones out of that thing with blending the two preamps.

As far as quality issues go, for me the tube stopped working about a week after I got the head. I took it back to the shop and they repaired it and I had it back in about 2 weeks. Never had any other problems with it.

I lent it to a friend who lived in another city who was gigging where I lived. He ended up calling me up the next day and offering to buy it from me, I gladly accepted as I already had another complete setup.

Faijex · #6 03-28-2012, 10:06 AM

I've been happy with my 4410, baring in mind I had to send the first one back because apparently the couriers had dropped it or something. The grill was bent and there were dents in the tolex.

The replacement has been brilliant though. I was also at a show for a band touring europe recently and the bassist had the MB450 Head and the 410 and 115 cabs, sounded good, was kinda sweet to see someone using that rig to tour. I've heard rumors it gets similar to ampeg tone. Not really sure I could comment on it, other than saying you can get some pretty sweet sounds out of it. I especially like having the two channels and being able to blend them at the press of a foot switch. I got mine for 330(~$500) at the time, but I think they have gone up in price now.

sebamurgui · #7 04-01-2012, 01:22 PM

i have a problem, i am using my amp (MB450H - MBC410), and after 30 minutes of use more or less, it stops working, it kinda mutes itself, but it is on, and in a few seconds it starts working, like if nothing had happened, and this, happens over and over again.
Sombody help me pleace!!!!! HELP!

kaputsport · #8 04-01-2012, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebamurgui

i have a problem, i am using my amp (MB450H - MBC410), and after 30 minutes of use more or less, it stops working, it kinda mutes itself, but it is on, and in a few seconds it starts working, like if nothing had happened, and this, happens over and over again.
Sombody help me pleace!!!!! HELP!

Plug a cable into the effects loop out and in, connecting them. I have to do this on my DBS series. No idea why, but it works.

sebamurgui · #9 04-01-2012, 02:15 PM

thanks, but i have already tried that and it it stills happens, somebody else know what to do in this case? HELP PLEACE!!!

Z -Bar · #10 04-01-2012, 02:41 PM

I have a MB4210 combo, a MB450 head and MB1x15. I had to replace the preamp tubes on both amps after a few months. When the pre-amp tubes went the sound would just drop off. Sometimes it would comeback for a minute but then drop of again. Eventually, it would only work for a few moments when it was first powered up - then nothing.
The first round was Sovtek tubes installed by a repair tech. They were OK. I got adventurous and tried The Tubes Stores' Preferred Series - They sounded good - maybe a little better than the stock Marshall tubes, but I went with vintage - late 50s/ early 60s - GE long gray plate 12AX7 tubes from Steve at The Tube Shop. I think they really improved the tone.
My rig doesn't see too much travel so I can't speak to their ruggedness, though I wouldn't say they were as rugged as my last amp - a Peavey Mark4 but that was years ago.
I have a Lehle splitter so I can run both amps. This configuration gives me a lot of flexibility.

sebamurgui · #11 04-01-2012, 05:32 PM

thanks, but i have already tried that and it it stills happens, somebody else know what to do in this case? HELP PLEACE!!!

Luhtis · #12 04-09-2012, 11:22 AM

I've had my MB450H for about 2,5 years. I like the amp, because I can get just about any sound I want out of it, and it's powerful. I use it with a DIY four-speaker cab that I divided into four separate sealed cabs, and it has 2x10" and 2x12" Eminence Beta-elements @ 2 ohms. So kind of a four-in-one cab. That thing weighs about 80kg, I tried to make a roadie-frendly cab but ended up having a tank. But it sounds just right and how I wanted it =)

For the first 2 years I never had any problems with the amp. Lately it occasionally "farts" in the low end, and it does that in both classic and modern channels. I play mostly on the modern channel. When it does that, I do the same that I do with everything that doesn't work: give it a nice fast whack! It usually helps, so I think there is some sort of cold solder or other bad contact somewhere.