Fender vs. Marshall! Classic Tone Shootout! Super-Sonic 22 vs JVM

#marshallamps #fenderamps #fender #marshall ‪@fender‬ ‪@marshallamps‬
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Supersonic: sweetwater.sjv... (Affiliate)
JVM: sweetwater.sjv...
Welcome to this guitar amp shootout between the Fender Super Sonic 22 and the Marshall JVM! But think of it as a broader comparison between two classic guitar tones. Which do you prefer? Let us know! Using a Fender Stratocaster and a Gibson Les Paul, as well as a Wampler Metaverse.
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[@ryantandy307]

Supersonic has that weedy afternoon backlot / sunny highway tone that, although not nearly as "pro" or polished or brassy as the Marshall, is musical and highly evocative.

[@Tstdycgyr]

Agreed 100%

[@andrewslads]

you have to be joking man . I used to use one and it stood up to my marshall YJM in every sense

[@billsmith6962]

wth??

[@mikeb5372]

Lol.. You should be a news paper music critic

[@BladeDoomer86]

Both are simply different flavors of awesome... Were i to put out an album, I wouldn't limit myself to one brand or another... Diversity adds richness. A lot of people think their favorite band uses one guitar or one amp etc... When in reality, in the studio, they usually play multiple guitars and amps.

[@bradleyshuppert3393]

True…. And as with amps… I use a telecaster for dirty rhythm against a humbucker guitar and blend the sound in the mix as both guitars throw harmonics and artifacts differently but when blended makes a track pop…. Like running two different amps with an ABY switcher…

[@BladeDoomer86]

@@bradleyshuppert3393 True, a Tele really shines in a mix. It elevates a whole track

[@graemero5532]

Great shoot out Jack. I preferred the Marshall both clean & driven. The LP clean was very nice.

[@GodWentPunk1]

I have both amps and do love both.. however, the Marshall is a little more coverband friendly because it has 6 channels (well, 5 + master 2) to choose from... The Sonic, with only 2, I have to turn knobs after songs to get the tones I need... but I do love the Sonic tones over the Marshall.

[@keithcarter9396]

Great playing again Jack, you showcased these two superb amps to perfection. I own a number of both Fender and Marshall amps, in general, I find the Fenders (Deluxe Reverb and Hot Rod Deville give me a variety of useful tones in a volume-controllable situation whereas My Marshalls ( 1987X and JCM 900 give good sound but uncontrollably loud which is difficult to rationalize these days of small venues and very little work. Generally, I choose the Deville with a pedal board and enjoy life. It is no longer the 70s.

[@benwilson4834]

great and thorough review as always. Two great amps. That Marshall is killer, but it is too chunky on the drive for my ear...I know that's what most people love about it, but I feel the Fender lets the individual notes ring through better and allows for more dynamics in your play. IMO the Fender SS 60 is a better clean amp that the SS 22, since it has 6L6 instead of 6V6 tubes.

[@erikhartley2494]

Definitely prefer the Fender for the creamy lead tones but prefer the Marshall for crunchy rhythm tones.

[@pietromanno8916]

They both win!!👍👍🎼🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵👍✌️❤️🥁🎸🎻🪘🪕🪗✨👍❤️✌️🇺🇲

[@JackFossett]

👆

[@drad8266]

Liked the Fender better all around, shockingly good

[@KM-me2lm]

Owned and gigged both. The supersonic was the noisiest amp I've ever owned and poorly made just looking at it. Had potential but fell short ultimately. The Marshall was and still is a well built, dependable rock.

[@chrisb8193]

That LP sounds incredible.

[@JoelDubay]

What??

[@chrisb8193]

@@JoelDubay The Les Paul, it sounds amazing.

[@podespault]

Killer riffs and a great comparison of amazing amps. The 22 wins my heart but I think combined they would sound very complimentary

[@friedrudibega6384]

I’ve owned some good Marshalls but have sold every one, accept this 1 watt dsl, (not my fav) but I’ve held on to my twin for decades. Fender all the way unless you’re playing scooped out death metal. Those days are long gone for me. Now I use an Orange OR15, edge of breakup mostly. The clean on the Marshall seems to have some different mids that do make it better for cleans. Seems to be the same on the high gain as well. Good stuff!

[@Allguitarinfo]

Right on. Our ears mature with our age don't they man...

[@yiranimal]

Yup, I prefer the Marshall for the clean and the Fender for the drive.

[@Screaming-Trees]

Great comparison video. I wonder if the cleans extend to the rest of the JVM line up. Like the 50 watt versions (the 1x12 combos and such). There is a 50w 2x12 version which I noticed is cheaper if you're buying used on Reverb and such. Probably because it's louder but I wonder if that isn't the best kind of middle ground between headroom, price, availability etc. Again great demos.

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: That was the competition clear back in the 70's. The choice was usually seen by the players music preference. Rock and roll, rockabilly, traditional blues and Jazz was usually a Fender. I also think Fenders onboard reverb was a big factor. Music like Steppenwolf, the Stones, Thin Lizzy, Zeppilen, right into heavy metal was Marshall territory. I am glad you showed that the Marshall amps can play clean pretty well. Just like the SG guitars, they can play very clean and sweet, even if you seldom see them used that way.

[@gazzie12000]

Preferred the Fender for everything, just has a "sparkle" that Marshall doesn't. Marshall sounds muffled in comparison! LIke it's got a blanket over it. And too mushy when overdriven, so lacked definition compared to the Fender.

[@stratplayr6997]

I’ve tried so many amps over the years. What has always worked best for me is a Fender amp with pedals. But the JVM was surprisingly good with its clean tones. Guess it depends if you want your OD coming from the amp, or if you prefer an amp to be a great clean pedal platform.

[@Allguitarinfo]

MANNNNN ....What else do we need to hear besides THAT intro......those sounds prove you don't need anything else.. these amps sound great ..awesome .great playing

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Between you and Buddy Blues, you may have just sold me on the Super Sonic. I thought I was going to be deciding between two seemingly diametrically-opposed solutions-a Princeton or an EVH Iconic 40 combo. Maybe the Super Sonic bridges that gap? Oh, and my Les Paul looks exactly like yours. Is it a Wildwood?

[@phoenixtone79overland69]

Incredible comparison Jack. I own and really enjoy both of these amplifiers. However, I’ve been in love with my Supersonic since I bought it in 2006. It was my primary gigging amp for over 10 years. I’m primarily a lead player and I just feel like the Supersonic allows me to express myself a bit more. On another note, there is just something so special about the growling rock tones a Marshall will give you. The tones these amps produce is probably the reason many of us wanted to become guitar players in the first place. You can’t go wrong with either IMO.

[@crankshaft383]

Always wanted a supersonic. Could do everything my twin reverb does. Now want a JVM. Could do everything my Traynor yba-1 and marshall lead 12 does. Both super versatile. Marshall cleans definitely underrated. Fender distortion underrated-when they get it right. Supersonic (Rivera/zinky era on a budget) does everything a prosonic or concert, and a few others, could do (always wanted one of them) for half the price. I do really want a fender hand wired tonemaster too. It's a disease...

[@sashasavisha146]

Love both. As a classic hard rock fan Marshall is my tone of choice especially for rhythm. I’ve had 3 over the years. For my purposes I prefer Fender because it’s a super quality, versatile and yet simple amp. Bought 2. I enjoy the Fender so much I’m putting off buying a Marshall stack. Fender is high quality (for the price too) and doesn’t get the respect it deserves, especially dirty and effects. But if it comes down to tone I’m not going to argue with someone who prefers Marshall. I agree with your comments from my experience. I had a couple Blackstar amps and they did not stand up to either imo.

[@HooksBill]

For clean I'm surprisingly favoring the Marshall, which is uncommon for me. I love a good American Fender clean. Maybe it has something to do with the 6V6's? For pushed classic rock tone I've always favored Marshall and definitely do here.

[@JackFossett]

Right? The clean tone of the Marshall is the biggest surprise for me. I used it live recently with my 335 and dialed in one of the best clean tones I’ve ever played.

[@benallmark9671]

@@JackFossett Jack , do have 9 or 10’s on your les Paul’s ?

[@JackFossett]

10s right now. I use a combination of 9s and 10s on various guitars. I did a big video a while back on switching to 9s, but not long after I also started tuning to Eb more frequently and found 9s a little too slinky for that tuning.

[@HooksBill]

@@JackFossett crazy part is I have a Friedman SmallBox for my Plexi esque tones, but after watching your video I just ordered a Fender Supersonic 22 head to accompany my Friedman. Now I feel I can cover a larger scale of classic rock tones.

[@ShawnShipstad]

Wow, that sounds fantastic. Great playing and the amps & pedals are dialed in perfect. If you get a chance try to listen to Carlos Santana, "Love is a Lady" it is on the "Inner Secrets" album. Some of the tones you are getting are similar. I do not know what type of gear he was using then. Your set-up & playing are real close. Thank you. I may have to extend my Mesa amps & get some of the new fender stuff.

[@chetmanley610]

Another factor to consider is the price. The JVM is over $1,000 more! Fender wins hands down if you take that into consideration.

[@sirvidia]

Only in the US. Marshalls are much cheaper in Europe and these amps are the same price

[@rca3rd]

I LOVE my blonde Supersonic 22 head!So versatile!

[@normanjohnson712]

I like a Strat on a Marshall and a Les Paul on a Fender but my tone that I am working on is Les Paul thru a 65 Fender Deluxe Reverb. To me you just cannot get any better

[@surfrby8876]

Another great comparison Jack , I'm really thinking I want a super sonic 22 the more I hear them , very versatile amp , and I'm a Vox guy, and great playing as always

[@ace-rob71]

I've always been interested to the JVM205C as it seems the definitive allround machine for my needs, but alway suspected that even in the jvm, the clean has that too much sparkle tone with too much top end. In this video I can barely hear this aspect, against the fender clean. However you're right. The Marshall clean seams awesome in the jvm you tested. I got a DSL100H and a Hot Rod Deluxe III and I still prefer this last for the clean... thanks!

[@robertprice5039]

For my band, I am basically looking for vintage guitar tones. Tweed, Vintage Vox, Vintage Marshall are the sounds that I am seeking so my various 65 AMPS and my Shaw can cover them.

[@dcmichosgaming7662]

Hey, what finish, model & year is your Les Paul? I've been looking for a top that color with a red back for a while now & can't quite find what I'm looking for. I thought of getting a LP Standard 60's Unburst or a LemonBurst from Sweetwater & replacing the Grover tuning machine heads with the vintage yellow tulip ones but I'm still unsure if either of those finishes are exactly what I'm looking for. Your Les Paul is gorgeous!! Thanks!

[@JackFossett]

Thanks! It’s a 2016 Les Paul Traditional

[@prw9]

Hi Jack, excellent comparison video. Most people don’t realise that Marshall cleans are way better than fender which can sound scooped and nasally. Currently thinking about buying the JTM studio 20 combo instead of a blues deluxe or a Princeton. Any opinions ? 🤔

[@mikeb5372]

I preferred the Fender for each gain level you used

[@ericirwin4901]

Great comparison and great playing. My preference pretty much fell where most probably expected: Fender for the cleans, Marshall for the gains. Thought the Fender was a little warmer and less bright than the Marshall. But damn, the gain channel on the Marshall was pretty epic. Don’t know if it’s $1300+ more epic though. Great video though.

[@thomasd9237]

Actually love that little fender. When you get bored with it can I have it ?? ☺️

[@rodolpheponthus2948]

I've always passed on Marshall because thought the cleans where sub par, and made for 80 hair metal. Your video shows another story.

[@JackFossett]

Not all, but there are more than a few Marshalls Ive played where I thought the clean tone was actually the selling feature. JCM2000, DSL40, Vintage/Modern and the Haze all come to mind.

[@saddle8bag]

Kinda went as expected with one surprise. While the LP didn't sound bad thru the Marshall, I preferred the Fender considerably. On the Strat though, that Marshall brought the chime. Fender can deep six their gain knobs. If I want gain, I'll put a Plexi pedal in front of my clean Deluxe Reverb.

[@terrydaugherty2216]

Marshal has a crisp bright sound while the fender has a thick warm sound, I’ll take both thank you !

[@robschaller9061]

They are completely different tools with different places where they shine. I am a big marshall guy am looking to reward my self with a JVM 205C for Year end!!

[@surfrby8876]

Another great comparison Jack , I'm really thinking I want a super sonic 22 the more I hear them , very versatile amp , and I'm a Vox guy

[@bill.clifford.59]

The Marshall DSL40 to me has a great clean and classic rock tones, great amp, l also have the supersonic 22 which I love to!

[@JackFossett]

The DSL40 has a really fun classic channel. I haven't tried the DSL40c but I hear thats even better and more usable

[@steveeckert8396]

The Gibson cleans/edge surprised me. The vintage Gibson guys will tell you Les Paul through a Fender. I disagree. Nothing compares to a Les Paul through a Marshall. It just hast that girth I look for with a humbucker. As for the Fender, Leo got it right, right out of the box, single Fender through a Fender.

[@youngmangrand9331]

I use them both just depends on what mood Im in

[@chester999777]

curious why the 100w and not 50? i'm just an at-home player and figure the 100w would be way too much but you seem to thrive with it in a home environment?

[@MrCircumflexus]

To all the Fender ss 22 owners... Add the marshall 2x12, jvm, open back, heritage and vintage speaker to this amp and you'll be amazed!!!! One amp, 3 different speakers, best sound ever.

[@drain9993]

ive had this JVM and a bunch of other famous Marshalls but always find them too bright and shrill to my ears other my Current Plexi style Studio Vintage 20.

[@fadlyhans82]

Is it kinda home friendly for the JVM? I think I’m gonna sell off my SC20H mini stack to get the JVM 215C.

[@cblizard6850]

I’m an ENGL and Orange player but this made me just purchase a JVM

[@TheOlmecindian]

Hey great video , does your fender bassman have a leather handle ?

[@danceswithbadgers]

The cleans alone were enough to settle it in favour of the Fender. A much more natural and present sound from each guitar. I've never liked the driven sound of ANY amp I've ever played through and always, since I gave up on high gain amps 35 years ago, got (my stuff's sadly in storage) my driven sound from a pedal. My amp since 1990 is a JTM45 Bluesbreaker reissue. Just about the most Fender-sounding Marshall I've heard, using 6L6's in its power section. Sounds like a Bassman and nothing like what you'd expect a Marshall to sound like.

[@danceswithbadgers]

I should add that since 1988 I've played nothing but Les Pauls - a Junior, Studio, and Standard. All great with a big, clean, sparkling natural sounding amp and with drive pedals chosen/combined for a particular 'voice' or simply to suit a particular venue, in lieu of an equaliser. High gain amps lock you in to one voice, by and large. I did consider Seymour Duncan amps (I think) back then, with swappable front end modules but the cost precluded that option.

[@LGuitarB]

It would be the Fender for me, both clean and overdriven.

[@robertprice5039]

Early 100 watt Marshalls have some fantastic clean tones.

[@Da_Publick]

The Five Hundred Pound Gorilla in the room is that Marshall is infinitely more successful at doing Cleans than Fender is at doing High Gain tones. It doesn't matter whether it's the Super-Sonic or the Hot Rod Deluxe, two amps that were designed to tackle this issue, they just haven't developed the means to pull it off. Rick Hines looked frustrated when explaining this once, when talking about the Hot Rod Deluxe. I just get a feeling that I don't need an OD pedal with a Marshall, but I do with a Fender.

[@JackFossett]

I don't disagree. I think the Supersonic can get some usable overdriven tones, but anytime Ive owned a Fender I've run an overdrive pedal into it. Which luckily they take beautifully, but the best Fenders have always been non master volume clean amps IMO.

[@Da_Publick]

​@@JackFossettAnd, as usual, since your reply was informative and actually fun to read, I don't get to see it for four weeks. 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@JackFossett]

@@Da_Publick better late than never!

[@claytontaplin77]

Hey ho. Thanks for demo.All guitarist. Yeah ive owned both amps. Still have fender supersonic.. Both killer. But i found marshall to be such a distinct tone. Because of that i just couldn't stop plugging into my fender amp. Pedals on a flatter tone work awesome. There both there own thing. Just try both . Cant rgo wrong.. . Never be put off by this or thats better.Rubbish. Rip it uo 5 what amp. Mess it up tired 100w. Its not the gear. Do you think stevie ray vaughn would be crap on eithier amp. Haa. What do yo want from your tone /expression? Anyway, H happy with my fender supersonicMaybe buy a marshall down track for its thing. . Fender has everything i need for now and more. Marshall too probally. Fender,Clasic tones plus dirty channel. Two gains. Takes pedals. Its wicked fun. Cheers. Remember just mix it all up. Play what you want. In your enviroment does it sound good. Cheers

[@NisseOhlsen]

I like you playing, and I'm sticking to it. Marshalls have no soul. Fender all the way.

[@markhill9275]

I prefer the Supro Statesman!

[@sirvidia]

I actually don't think the cleans on the Supersonic are that great, and I currently own two of them. They're perfectly ok, just. not on a par with Fender's greatest. They lack the very top end sheen that you get off a nice BF or SF. The quite nasal overdrive sound in the Super Sonic's burn channel is basically its sound - there's not a lot of diversity. You have a lot more variety of tones in a JVM. Also worth noting that in the UK the Supersonic and the JVM are the same price. However, the Super Sonic looks cooler.

[@HamzaJamzaFamza]

I put a 12AY7 tube in v1 of the SuperSonic and threw a Jensen Neo speaker in there and it totally transformed the amp into a vastly more versatile amplifier. Stock it was a terrific Swiss Army Knife already, but now it’s unbelievable. There are drawbacks and trade offs to everything, of course.

[@michaelorton9887]

You look just like a police officer in Huntsville Alabama he was the nicest guy

[@keupe]

sorry but to me it is always Fender especially with a Fender guitar..

[@spider5001]

I kinda liked the fender all the way

[@user-wl7ok6pb9s]

Dude! Why so many mids?

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

Marshall are always superior, I'd even take a good Vox over a Fender.

[@Allguitarinfo]

We all have different ears ..but curious...have you ever spent time playing thru a fender

[@adamwatson6916]

Hiwatts and Laney too .

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

@Allguitarinfo Yes I've had Deluxe Reverbs, Vibro Champs, Princetons and many more, originals not reissues and they are God awful. They only are acceptable for cleans imho, the Punk Tones like Never Mind the B' don't sound good.

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

@@adamwatson6916 Agreed 👍 also boutiques not included, some Orange.

[@gimmeagig]

The Fender sounds a lot better

[@demydus6634]

Marshall 👑

[@brucehayes7251]

Why discriminate,run one of each and be doubly happy

[@jhs8496]

Comparing these is like comparing rebar to doughnuts. Come on, man. They're different animals altogether.

[@JackFossett]

😐

[@wesleyc.4937]

Can't finish that conversation without cussing.

[@giambu]

Fender, Fender, Fender….

[@flamex4real]

Ive always been more of a Vox kinda guy

[@JoelDubay]

Let me guess, this is just another Canadian who loves to listen to himself talk

[@chrisb8193]

Lol, Jack’s from the Northeast US I believe. Are you low-key throwing shade at Darrel Braun and Landon Bailey?😂

[@sebastiangomez5068]

Supro!

[@stringdoc]

Marshall all the way. I greatly prefer Marshall cleans as well as distortion over Fenders. Played the Super Sonic and was flatly unimpressed. Fir starters, they should have used EL34Ss. For another thing, beige? Marshall!

[@danedgar1539]

At volume there is nothing...nothing that can compare to the roar of a marshall, not vox, mesa, peavy ect and definitely not fender

[@douglaslounsbury8898]

Talk way too much!!!!