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Marshall Bass Amp ?

#61
8 months later I have played a few gigs with the VBA400 and VBC810 and like it very much.
The passive EQ took a little to get used to at first, but now I see how it works, where one EQ band gain adjustment can impact on the other frequencies.
I use the Deep and Bright options all the time, and change the mid voicing to suit the occasion.
The tone is kind of old school i suppose, not scooped like some modern tones.
This thing has got power too, sort of likening the response to a big block V8 with a soft accelerator pedal spring.

Last gig i thought i would try both the VBA400+VBC810 and the MB450H+MBC410+MBC115 (because i could),
i have a Roland GR-55 and pluged the Left out to the VBA400 and Right out to the MB450H.
Quite a very different tone from both, and seemed to compliment each other very well with a rich and full tone.
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#62
I use two MB450H heads into 4x 4x10 cabs I used to use a 4x10 and a 1x15 but someone blew my 1x15 up at a gig some time back. I prefer the 4x10s anyway. Listen here if you want to know what they sound like (the mix is live DI from the back of the amp post pre and a mic mixed into)



13422193_1106042729468955_4314217879281376010_o.jpg
 
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#63
Ethan Trembath said:
I use two MB450H heads into 4x 4x10 cabs I used to use a 4x10 and a 1x15 but someone blew my 1x15 up at a gig some time back. I prefer the 4x10s anyway. Listen here if you want to know what they sound like (the mix is live DI from the back of the amp post pre and a mic mixed into)



View attachment 952632
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Good to see someone post from close to home, I'm based in Whangarei (Stone Blue band).
no loss on the 15" blowing, mine doesn't seem to add that much to the mix.
Your stack looks mean with the 4 x 410's
 
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#65
taffae said:
Has anyone tried the larger Marshall bass amps? Just wondering how they stack up to something like SWR or even just the bigger Fender amps.

No one here stocks anything other than the little practice amp.

Thanks
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Marshall guitar amps are notorious for being serviced quite often. I had a DSL 401 that was in the shop quite often. I take care of my equipment too. There's an old saying (as far as Marshall guitar amps are concerned)... "If you're going to buy a Marshall, buy 2 of them because one is always going to be in the shop". Not sure what there bass amps are like but I don't think I would be in a hurry to get one.
 
#66
I think when Tom Araya plays the VBA heads since forever on long and extensive tours...the reliability and sound speaks for itself.

I played a DBS 7400 and it's belonging 4x12 cab for may years. The cab, being 75 kilo's had a tough life. But it managed...the head just about. It needed service a couple of times because of leaking end stage caps, blown out opamps in preamp, knobs falling off. Not the best quality, but tons of Mojo. But again, expensive upkeep. Can't say I was gentle to it (beer, falling, replace tube etc etc).

The headroom of this 7400 is epic. Never ever I have heard another amp sounding this proper and self confident running maximum power. It just never gives up. It sounded more 'stable' then the QSC gx5 I am using nowadays.
 
#68
I think the VBA is the only bass amp Marshall still make, and even then that's only to special order.

There's still room for them in the world of bass, they just need to get the product right, which, arguably, they haven't done since the DBS range. The MB range were notoriously unreliable and their little bass combos were woeful.

Some co-branded Marshall/Eden stuff could go down well, say a lightweight head with a valve preamp and built-in compression and distortion. And cabs. Nothing says rock'n'roll like a Marshall cab.
 
#70
AFAIK Marshall has ceased making any bass gear. They bought Eden a couple or few years ago and dropped bass amps and cabs from their products.

The all tube amps get lots of love but cost an awful lot. The solid state ones have fewer fans, but some really like them.

Mine are quite simply man-cave decor, but aren't the worst sounding amps I've used. Only 30 watts each, so kinda useless for much anyway. If the tone these have is the same as their bigger solid state brothers, I personally wouldn't want one.

WP_20150826_22_05_12_Pro.jpg
 
#71
basscooker said:
AFAIK Marshall has ceased making any bass gear. They bought Eden a couple or few years ago and dropped bass amps and cabs from their products.
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Like I said, I believe they still make the VBA 400 on a special order basis, but nothing for the general public.

Eden have always made great bass gear, but they don't have the same pedigree as Marshall, and I doubt that those people who would have bought Marshall bass gear in the past are buying Eden gear now. They'll have moved to another manufacturer with more rock'n'roll pedigree, like Ampeg, Mesa, or maybe Ashdown. Eden amps are obviously played by players of all genres, but seem to be most loved by funk and fusion players.

Blackstar have decided there's room for them to experiment with bass gear, and I'd love to see Marshall dip their toes back in the water.
 
#73
Ten years latter......
I sold the MB-450 stack, still have the VBA-400 and 8x10 fridge but prefer lugging a small combo to gigs and letting the PA do the work.

My VBA-400 needs a bit of repair, a couple of tone section ( 2 of the 3 contour positions) caps start breaking down after being switching for a few minutes.
a bit of a chore to find capacitors in the high voltage range required.

gumtown said:
8 months later I have played a few gigs with the VBA400 and VBC810 and like it very much.
The passive EQ took a little to get used to at first, but now I see how it works, where one EQ band gain adjustment can impact on the other frequencies.
I use the Deep and Bright options all the time, and change the mid voicing to suit the occasion.
The tone is kind of old school i suppose, not scooped like some modern tones.
This thing has got power too, sort of likening the response to a big block V8 with a soft accelerator pedal spring.

Last gig i thought i would try both the VBA400+VBC810 and the MB450H+MBC410+MBC115 (because i could),
i have a Roland GR-55 and pluged the Left out to the VBA400 and Right out to the MB450H.
Quite a very different tone from both, and seemed to compliment each other very well with a rich and full tone.
Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
 
#74
I just sold some time ago VBC810 cab that was not what I wanted in the end. Some mids were different than in other 810 (Ampeg, Hartke HyDrive) I have tried and it was getting annoying. Very well cutting through though.
 

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