I'm sorry I didn't have time to post this Wednesday night! For a very short time, on the MF scratch and dent sale they had 2061x's for $999. I wasn't sure what I was going to get for that, but it arrived today in fine shape: not a scuff on it. I suspect they were returns that Marshall or MF fixed up, but I'd keep my eye open, often the other discount online folks will follow-up with a similar sale (check out Zzounds and American Music Supply).
Anyway, I've not had the chance to play one of these before. I've had my Watkins and a 1974 Clone but this is a whole other animal. First of, as has been mentioned, it's a VERY loud 20w. It buries my other EL84 amps for clean (or nearly clean, with humbuckers it's never quite 100% clean) volume including a recent Matchless Lightening with 12AT7s in the preamp (which I thought was a very loud clean). Pushed harder, especially on the bright channel, it gets a very satisfying crunch, and pushed with a nice overdrive or boost (I tried both a black Eternity and a Voodoo boost set very clean) it gets great pinch harmonics. Thru the Fane ceramic in an open back cab I was using, I was getting pretty solid bass (significantly better than the 1974 copy or the Matchless) by jumpering channels. All in all it's a fun little amp and definitely loud enough to gig in a loud band. In contrast to the Orange Tiny Terror as an example, it's much more flexible in the EQ and amount of drive. I was expecting good, but not as good as any 2XEL84 amp I currently own! Kudos to Marshall. And I haven't even started tube rolling yet, that was with the stock Marshall tubes! Keep your eyes open, there may be a few out there yet...
Oh yeah, I've heard that it likes closed back cabs. Since I'm not going to be buying the 2061cx cab (it's not on sale
) any thoughts about what I should look for cab and speaker wise?
Anyway, I've not had the chance to play one of these before. I've had my Watkins and a 1974 Clone but this is a whole other animal. First of, as has been mentioned, it's a VERY loud 20w. It buries my other EL84 amps for clean (or nearly clean, with humbuckers it's never quite 100% clean) volume including a recent Matchless Lightening with 12AT7s in the preamp (which I thought was a very loud clean). Pushed harder, especially on the bright channel, it gets a very satisfying crunch, and pushed with a nice overdrive or boost (I tried both a black Eternity and a Voodoo boost set very clean) it gets great pinch harmonics. Thru the Fane ceramic in an open back cab I was using, I was getting pretty solid bass (significantly better than the 1974 copy or the Matchless) by jumpering channels. All in all it's a fun little amp and definitely loud enough to gig in a loud band. In contrast to the Orange Tiny Terror as an example, it's much more flexible in the EQ and amount of drive. I was expecting good, but not as good as any 2XEL84 amp I currently own! Kudos to Marshall. And I haven't even started tube rolling yet, that was with the stock Marshall tubes! Keep your eyes open, there may be a few out there yet...
Oh yeah, I've heard that it likes closed back cabs. Since I'm not going to be buying the 2061cx cab (it's not on sale
) any thoughts about what I should look for cab and speaker wise?
