Marshall MS15 Micro Stack

[Big Al]

seriously thinking about getting one. (it's only £169)

I currently have a JCM-600 w/ 4x10 cab - i'm still keeping this, but need something that'll not take up as much room.

anyone played through one or have any thoughts on it?

i play mostly hendrix

 

[John Phillips]

That's not an MG15, it's the old 1980s Lead 12.

FAR superior, unless you need the more 'scooped' sound of the new one (guess not then... ) and the digital FX - I think that model has them. The MG is built in China (and not very well).

This one is built in Good Old England (OK, we won't go into that ) out of proper parts and actually has real Celestions in the cabs. If it's only £169, that's quite cheap - they're becoming quite collectable, although the black one is the most common and the least sought-after... they did red and white as well. The black ones typically fetch £200, and the coloured ones £250 or so.

Does it sound like a full stack? No. But not bad, and the speakers are actually the limiting factor, not the amp (they are real G10s, but only G10D-25s, not the best of the series)... try it through your 4x10"! You could possibly replace them with something like Vintage 10s for a much bigger sound.

Billy Gibbons also recorded some pretty well-known tracks in the late 80s using the head, rackmounted and as a preamp for his other stuff...

 

[loverocker]

Yeah the Lead 12 has a bit of a following. Much cheaper in the 1x10 combo format.

Just for fun - take a read of this old thread (shame that hansoloist's MP3 is no longer there). Apart from the high-end sizzle that I heard in the MP3, I thought it sounded pretty good. Lots of other TGPers thought it was a valve amp

 

[Big Al]

woops... it was from this auction.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7331392355&fromMakeTrack=true

i was just trying to find a better picture


so is the micro stack not worth it then?
we're getting an extension done soon, and the guitar room if you remember is quite long and narrow. The end wall is being knocked through turning the room into 'guitar room, living area and dining area' basically three segments in one long room - the kitchen then comes off the dining area - the 3-in-1 room is an L-shape with the kitchen. (got that?)

the result is that my amp is struggling to fit in especially with Kirstens 100year old piano!!

help me john-kinobe.. you're my only hope. i need something that does jimi cleans at half the size on my JCM

 

[John Phillips]

I have a Lead 12 combo I'm looking to sell . But I have to say the stack is cooler.

Funnily enough, I recorded a clip with a Valvestate VS65R that a lot of people here thought was a tube amp too - especially the clean sound, which is the channel that doesn't use the tube .

 

[Big Al]

is that what you've got?

 

[Big Al]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38075&item=7330662306&rd=1&ssPageName=WD2V

is it possible to buy this to work in the uk??? what needs to be done for this to work? [/dumb question]

 

[loverocker]

Maybe. According to the schematic in Doyle that amp has a power transformer with dual primariy windings (i.e. OK for Europe and USA). But it'd need a quick rewire (cheap), and there's no telling whether Marshall changed the PT specs during the production run, rendering everything I've just typed useless.

 

[Big Al]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....ndexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

say i was to buy the above speaker cabs... i take it my jcm head would be too powerful? but would this go with the lead 12 head.

also, how much you looking for for you lead 12 combo?

 

[Big Al]

Originally posted by loverocker


Just for fun - take a read of this old thread (shame that hansoloist's MP3 is no longer there). Apart from the high-end sizzle that I heard in the MP3, I thought it sounded pretty good. Lots of other TGPers thought it was a valve amp

can you post the link mr loverocker.

cheers

 

[John Phillips]

Originally posted by Big Al
woops... it was from this auction.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7331392355&fromMakeTrack=true

i was just trying to find a better picture


so is the micro stack not worth it then?
we're getting an extension done soon, and the guitar room if you remember is quite long and narrow. The end wall is being knocked through turning the room into 'guitar room, living area and dining area' basically three segments in one long room - the kitchen then comes off the dining area - the 3-in-1 room is an L-shape with the kitchen. (got that?)

the result is that my amp is struggling to fit in especially with Kirstens 100year old piano!!

help me john-kinobe.. you're my only hope. i need something that does jimi cleans at half the size on my JCM

Oops... didn't see this post!

Yes, the stack in that auction is the new Chinese one - nowhere near the same thing. It does have reverb, but the tone is much worse IMO, and the build quality is really poor by comparison. It's pretty good as a bedroom amp, but the old Lead 12 version is just about a 'real' amp.

The Lead 12 head with a pair of 1912 cabs will definitely sound a lot better.

To be 100% honest (and I know you're a bit short of cash, so this is not going to help), what you really need is a Marshall 20W head and a couple of 1x12" cabs with G12H-30s... that will unquestionably give you Jimi cleans (or as close as you'll get at low volume) in a small, narrow format. But at a price.

Let me do a little hunting and I'll see if I can find any less expensive alternatives .

 

[loverocker]

Originally posted by Big Al
can you post the link mr loverocker.

cheers

Huh - thought I did... D'oh!

Here it is: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/45926

Hansoloist is still around I think - he may still have the sound clip from the opening comment.

 

[Big Al]

Originally posted by John Phillips
To be 100% honest (and I know you're a bit short of cash, so this is not going to help), what you really need is a Marshall 20W head and a couple of 1x12" cabs with G12H-30s... that will unquestionably give you Jimi cleans (or as close as you'll get at low volume) in a small, narrow format. But at a price.

Let me do a little hunting and I'll see if I can find any less expensive alternatives .

update: i'm gonna sell my jcm600 - it makes sense! i'm not realisticly gonna need to gig for teh next 5 years.

if you could keep your ears/eyes peeled john, i'd appreciate it.

how much are ye talking with the 20w head...and two 1x12s?

 

[John Phillips]

Yikes... about a grand, for an old one (just the head, that is). I can't remember how much the Hand-Wired reissues are, but they're in the same ballpark.

Cabs - 1912s would be £75-£150 each depending on exactly which variety of Celestions you want in them (old ones are more expensive of course).

Another option... Sound City 50. Don't laugh, you probably know that Jimi actually used Sound City amps (mostly around Axis I think), and they're good-sounding, or at least some of them are - and I know which ones, haha . More importantly, the 50W heads aren't too big - and pretty cheap by vintage-amp standards.

Either of these (yes, even the 20-watt Marshall) is giggable if you ever need to BTW - they're louder than you might think in a modern pub-gig context.

I do think you want a valve amp, if you can - the cleans are just much nicer on them, and although you won't be able to get a decent overdrive at child-friendly volumes, they make a better platform for your POD or any other form of pedal or amp simulator than a solid-state amp does (IMO).

 

[Big Al]

yikes indeed.

just taking pictures to put onto ebay... last time i didn't get a bite with a £300 starting price - no reserve!

think i do want a valve - the clean's the channel i need to be jimi-esque (i've got a fulltone 70 to do the fuzz)

 

[hasserl]

Is that the amp the kid was playing thru in the closing credits of School Of Rock? They don't show much of a view of the amp, but you can see it is a small Marshall stack like the Lead 12, and it sounds pretty darn good.

 

[Big Al]

i'm seriously gassing for a Zinky 25w - think i'm gonna have to go with it. for the past year or so... i keep getting blue velvet pangs!!

£795 though

 

[Cheebatone]

Further to my e-mail...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10171&item=7330285431&rd=1

 

[Big Al]

i was looking at the cornell plexis a while ago.

definately interested in the 20watt... how often do these babies come up?


cheers Charly.

Al

 

[Big Al]

i've lost yer email address John... but just wondering what you think i should do with the JCM?

should i put it on ebay together, split the head and cab into two auctions... or ring round all the geetar shops in edinburger?

i had it on last time at £300 no reserve - no bidders. should i drop to £200-£250??

i'll send your cheque in the post.