Marshall SV20H & SV212 - Turn It Up!

marshall.com/m...
marshall.com/m...
www.music-man....
Few things in life are more satisfying or exciting for an electric guitarist than the opportunity to play at battle speed through a cranked Marshall SLP. Fortunately the SV20H will let you do that and still retain your favourable standing with the neighbours (to some extent). Let's take it for a ride with the EBMM Axis.
Today's tools:
Guitar: Ernie Ball Music Man Axis - 2009
Amp: Marshall SV20H Studio & SV212 cab-
Power Supply: Strymon Zuma
Mic: Samson Airline77 (me); Shure SM57 (Marshall)
Camera: Canon 60D
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum (tracking) & Fractal Audio Systems Axe-FX III (mixing and bouncing).
Monitors: Blue Sky Media Desk 2.1
Computer: Apple iMac 27" i7 3.4 GHz 16 GB RAM
Software: Logic Pro X, Waves Plugins, Apple Final Cut Pro X (video editing and KZbin compression).

[@jamesfrisa2043]

This guy alway's has the best sounding true to life sounding gear demo's.And I've been playing for over 40 yrs. kudos

[@_MetaL]

what about Andy Martin?

[@duncancartledge1667]

The grin at 12 seconds in says it all.... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@SirVicc]

I was about to post the same thing. The quick smile when rolling up the volume said everything I need to know.

[@jd426]

Yeah that was cool

[@Joe-mz6dc]

When the solid tones hit you just right in the groin area.

[@cheesefrogsnail]

The face you do at the beginning says it all...killer amp!

[@koonsickgreen6272]

your demos are always awesome and informative

[@FreemanLIVE]

I love my studio vintage amp, definitely delivers that authentic plexi tone and roar.

[@jens8014]

0:34 yes! i was hoping for that :D

[@dariusmolotokas9302]

What's that song, seems like I know it and it's incredibly popular, but can't remember. Wanna rock this with my guitar :D.

[@knutSchevik]

First time ive seen someone patching the channel 1 and 2 and using the guitar in the inout 2. Wow, it sounds nice

[@LookingForEntertainment112]

Absolutely love my SV20H and SC20H..... they're killer amps.

[@richfiryn]

These and the 2525 Silver Jubilee would make one hell of a trio of heads to own and use thru that 2x12 cab.

[@montag4516]

You've got'em both, the SV20 and the SC20?!! You're a madman! 👺

[@adamfiedorczuk5969]

Which do you find more versatile or which one do you use more often? I have the sv20 myself and still have the itch for the studio classic.

[@stevem5428]

Anyone else gettin amp hissing on the high treble channel

[@LookingForEntertainment112]

@@adamfiedorczuk5969 It depends on my mood I guess. Old school thrash needs the SC20H, the SV20H is great for Blues through to Doom with the right pedals. They're different beasts, but good fun.

[@timpetherick3365]

Imo You make the best reviews on gear on KZbin... I actually bought this amp after this seeing this review.

[@blizzbee]

How is it? This amp sounds very good but it has to play LOUD!!!

[@richard66754]

I love my SV20! I run min into a 1960b loaded with greenbacks. Add an SD-1 and it’s enough gain to do metal. I run various boost pedals with a Charvel tuned to D and get instant Dr. Feelgood tone.

[@richard66754]

I have one that I run through a 1960b with greenbacks. Tune down a whole step, and add an SD-1 in front or some other boost, and it’s instant Mötley Crüe tone.

[@MrScrofulous]

Just bought one of these today, coming inna post, can't wait ! :)

[@MrScrofulous]

You must be bored, Brett, going through your old stuff to love this comment. I still have the SV20, still love it. I run a Saturn Works volume knob in the effects loop to act as a PPI master volume, which makes it really nice to use. I think it's 100K.

[@doublej.171]

Great demo Brett!! Hi from Italy!!🎶🤟🎸🔥

[@Andy_Yates]

This thing sounds killer. Thank you for properly turning it up in a video. I really hope they sell a lot in this series. My 50 watt lead is stupid loud without attenuation in the 2x12 combo cabinet. With volume on 2, it's pushing 115db's without the hot plate. 20 watts, or less even, would make more sense for my needs, but I can't see myself selling the Marshall I have now to fund a modern one haha

[@donharrold1375]

Rumy 73 I’ve found the same with mine. It’s very loud. I use a JHS little black amp box attenuator which effectively gives me a master volume.

[@Andy_Yates]

@@donharrold1375 Nice, I'll look into it. Depending on my mood, I'll run mine squeaky clean on 2 or 3 and use my pedals, or I'll go straight in and make my attenuator earn its keep. :) This week I assembled a BYOC treble boost (germanium boost kit) and have been playing with that. Johan Segeborn's recent video showcases it, and it's awesome. Mine doesn't seem to need the buffer in front like Johan mentions. If you've never heard of him, his channel is great, except it makes you want everything

[@donharrold1375]

Andy Yates Your amp will need an effects loop to use the little black amp box. It sits between the pre-amp and power amp.

[@Andy_Yates]

@@donharrold1375 Ah right, that makes sense. No effects loop on my old Marshall. Seems like a good option when you have a loop though (especially for fine tuning some Fender's with that on/off quality in their volumes)

[@shinjial]

That is the Marshall sound I want. Sounds terrific.

[@Banditsalive]

Have the combo. It's inspiring to play. Need to play with decent volume - point where it starts to break up. Beyond there is bliss. But loud. The 5w mode doesn't really drop the volume much. It wants to play loud. I shove a large pillow in front to tame the volume. Or your ears will ring. Takes pedals really well also. Re the channel jumping - will gain it up at lower volumes. If you run the normal ch above half way the tone brightens up and comes alive. Don't even need to jump the channels. Highly recommended!

[@roaldyboy]

That little grin when you crank it up!

[@zandig666]

So u dialed that in great sir it does have some mid gain rattle !!

[@hootowl6354]

I'm still kicking myself for not buying a white one when Marshall was selling them. I'll take a hand-wired SV20H in white, please. Brett, you're not Guthrie Govan (who is?), but if I could play like you, I wouldn't want to play like anyone else. So natural and so tasty. BTW, I recently ran across a guy in California who was converting SV20H's to hand-wired. But it cost something like $1,800 just for the conversion!

[@williamsimmons4678]

Of all the studios id buy this 4 holer !!!! Nothn sounds like a plexi !! Damn its got that midrange grind !!

[@capitanvonchickenpants8492]

Sounds heavenly

[@tonypaulus]

SOUNDS GREAT! Loud,,,,and Fun!!!! GREAT DEMO!!!!!!!!!

[@timidater4803]

Smokin HOT!!!!!! Burgs ROCKS!!!

[@DominickAlan]

This amp can do it all and IMO is only second to the unfortunately discontinued 2061x

[@koesheryantokoes8423]

Brett always plays great.. TONe....

[@omfg4545]

This is the review I wanted. I'm looking for a good bedroom amp and I'm torn between this, the Blackstar HT20, and the EVH Lunchbox. Not sure which one I want yet it's a really tough decision. I love VH tones, but also classic rock and blues tones so I'm pretty confused haha. The more I listen to this amp the more I love it.

[@tanshaomala]

Not sure if you've made your decision already, but the mini plexi can do it all. The legendary EVH brown sound is a boosted plexi after all.

[@prd004]

Great review! I wanted one already

[@rickoleary]

great demo Brett! love this amp!

[@mihali9655]

Just to be clear mate when I crank my Origin 50 (on the lowest setting of course) my across the road neighbour texts me that she's loving my playing! My only next door neighbour is an AirBNB thankfully... Definitely wouldn't mind one of these though, want one so badly. My Tele would sound killer through it.

[@doomguy10011]

Beautiful amp, thanks for the demo! On a side note, the Axis is becoming pretty hard to find these days, at least online.

[@VanHalenIsolated]

I have the head and wanted the 212 cab but not willing to pay that much for crappy V type speakers. Like, what was Marshall thinking, except for cost of course, when putting those speakers in a cab meant for an amp that goes best with a couple of or quad of greenbacks? At that price you’d expect at least a couple of the 20 watt g12M version of greenbacks. The V type speakers that come with that cab suck the greatness that is the Plexi tone.

[@BrettKingman]

I have to agree. I don't use the cabinet other than to hold the head up. I run Celestion, OwnHammer, York Audio, Fractal Audio or one of the other good IR versions of a pre-Rola greenback cabinet via a Fractal Audio X-LOAD. That works a treat in my studio.

[@Honkey_Tonker]

Killer tone!

[@echoTVat]

I purchased the combo i Played also it with a 4 x 12 greenback cab absolute Killing

[@montag4516]

Very cool. Ive got the setup shown in this video, but the combo may have been equaly as satisfying, particularly with an additional cabinet when desired. Keep those tubes dampened with rubber rings or rubber gasket sealant. Combo amp vibrations are notorious for causing premature tube rattle and microphonics. Cheers.

[@GuyHarrison-nm1xt]

Great guitar the only thing with the music man they never conture the edge where ya fore arm rest. But year great amp good playing good video

[@dunboozin]

Neighbours Neighbours, I wish I was a neighbour.

[@glisteningkabana8154]

Very nice!!

[@JackFossett]

Brett. I love you. Did I just make things weird? It got weird didn’t it...

[@KelsterVonShredster]

I love him too....and I'm not into the "D" LOL

[@doublej.171]

Hi Brett did you push it with any overdrive/distortion pedal or it's just the amp?

[@user-lb8xf4bm7o]

Please, help . Where, to which connector do you need to connect the audio cable in the rear panel of the Marshall SV20H when connecting one Marshall SV212? When we connect two Marshall SV212s to a Marshall SV20H, which connectors on the back panel of the SV20H do you need to connect the audio cables to?

[@diegodandrea6091]

I have a question: SV20H, plus SV212, plus attenuator (tone king Ironman II mini). Can this combination also work at home? (I have a small dedicated room). Or is the 1x12 cabinet better?

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

Great classic Judas priest tone from that bad boy!

[@freeriderfrank6411]

savage amp whole lotta want

[@TheFleckening]

I’d normally think the bottom end would get flabby at lower wattage, with potentially increased sag. This, on the other hand, seems to tighten up and behave itself. I’m interested in finding if they put any sort of tone compensation into the circuit that would keep it all together at the lower wattage setting.

[@samuelray1777]

I think the el34’s have a lot to do with it.

[@Fandao19]

The gut shots aren’t pritty, very CHEAPLY made unfortunately

[@maxrockatansky8399]

@@Fandao19 Could you elaborate? Cheaply made how? Tubes mounted on board or bad solder points?

[@anonymoususer3496]

@@Fandao19 Not true. Its better made than all the 20W Friedmans.

[@cragginshred]

How do these compare to the Friedman PT or other?

[@nickbenjamin6527]

Do you know how the power reduction works Brett, is it switching to triode on the output tubes or is it voltage reduction based?

[@tbeard5458]

Do you find any difference plugging into the low vs high sensitivity and swapping over the jumper cable? Got my eye one one of these, and like others have said that bit at 00:12 was excellent!

[@mickl2793]

Has the cab got the g12 v speakers ?

[@samturner8177]

anybody know that if i use this at home with an attenuator, would it be a decent level for home playing? and then also would it be ok for gigging?

[@cragginshred]

What about the MV? You have to crank it for the gain?

[@montag4516]

@cragginshred... The SV20 does not have a master volume control, just a single volume control for each of the two separate channels (normal and bright). It takes overdrive and distortion pedals very well though, if you choose to do that for more gain and just turn the amp's volume down. But yeah, even in 5w mode it's way too powerful to turn up without disturbing others in the home.

[@liberty5565]

Does it have a bass knob?

[@GUYMFF]

Hello. I'm very sorry for the stupid question... does the SV212 have a stereo or mono input? Thank you very much and sorry again!

[@NicD5150]

Sounds killer ! Quick question: how extensively did you test the FX loop ? I really need to use some kind of clean boost or EQ pedal in the loop (to get a volume boost for leads) and am concerned that it might not work as expected. Also need to have my Eventide TimeFactor sound right while using settings similar to the ones you're using in this video. Thanks in advance !

[@BrettKingman]

Hi and thanks for watching. I would only ever use the loop for modulation/time effects and I haven't tested it with a boost or EQ, sorry. The only way to satisfy yourself in that regard is to try it yourself. If there's shopfront near you that carries these, take your boost in and give it a shot. Cheers.

[@tjallingdejong9645]

You could give it a go , maybe importotant to notice the better Quality your booster , the better tone you'll find at lower volume level , I've tried the same with an Xotic RC booster (perfect pedal for this )

[@NicD5150]

@@tjallingdejong9645 well tbh I have quite a large of pedals to choose from (in part because I'm building my own pedals as a hobby), so I'll definitely give it a go with a bunch of different circuits as soon as stores in my area get them in stock, which is about a month from now seemingly.

[@tjallingdejong9645]

@@NicD5150 , good luck with finding the right 1

[@NicD5150]

@@BrettKingman thanks for the answer Brett, will definitely do that ! Though if modulations and delays work properly, an EQ probably will as well. Now to find one at a shop near me...

[@thekitowl]

Great tone. Does the SV20 have a good amount of bottom end on the normal channel. It’s a bit difficult to tell even with headphones.

[@montag4516]

Yes, certainly with Humbuckers. I have the same stack as shown. It's so full sounding that I plug into the bright channel and jump over to the normal channel, but keep the bright channel higher, as well as from the bass control back a bit. With single coils the results will vary a bit, but at it's core there's ample bass and fullness.

[@go4384]

I had a MM Axis for a while that I bought used online but hated the feel of it, much prefer a Strat.

[@guitarexpert2245]

How can you use this amp without an attenuator. I have a Mini Jub and my band says it's too loud. Thx.

[@MrScrofulous]

I also have the Mini Jubilee, just got the PLexi. Put a volume control in the effects loop. Either something like an EB Jnr volume pedal, or a JHS Black Box or a St=aturn Works volume pot. It acts like a PPIMV. My Job is for sale now, the SV20 blows it away for tone.

[@guitarexpert2245]

@@MrScrofulous I just picked up a used SC20H. The tone blows away the Jub. But I'm going to keep the Jub to used for cleans cause it's amazing and has headroom. I'm sure that SV20 sounds so awsome too.

[@MrScrofulous]

@@guitarexpert2245 Yeah, I'm selling cos I bought some sailing gear and need to find some cash. I've really only used the Job for cleans, which it excels at, never really liked the OD, don't really like diode clipping in pedals either, except for the Klon.

[@guitarexpert2245]

@@MrScrofulous Sailing sound like fun 👍

[@MrScrofulous]

@@guitarexpert2245 It's a new wing foil rig actually, which I'm very excited about.

[@ineluki79]

My SV20h has a huge amount of (white) noise in the treble channel. In your demo (as in all others on KZbin) it's dead quiet. Do you use a noise gate in the loop or post-edit the recordings? Otherwise I'm wondering if there might be some kind of damage to mine...

[@yijiehe3966]

you are not alone

[@baabaabaa2293]

My mate was having similar strife with his old Marshall (dunno wot model, but it has KT66s in the power amp) anyway the hissing or white noise was the first valve (tube) in the preamp. He 'found' an old Mullard 12ax7 & it works brilliantly now.. hope that helps (a yr late etc).

[@markhalen1410]

00:12

[@frankie.d1127]

Does it have more gain than the old plexis??

[@chrisact9601]

Sounds bloody good for a tiddler.

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

Has anyone tried this with a Tube screamer or other up front for a clean boost?

[@holeshot1982]

I use a Maxon 808 on the front and love it. Tend to use it with drive around 9 and volume around 3. After watching this though, I may experiment some more!! It’s a killer amp/cab

[@MrBighairyass]

I got the Jubilee...should have gotten the Plexi...

[@klanggrenze3905]

I don't know. I recently discovered that the Mini Jubilee can do pretty much all that the Mini Plexi does, but not vice versa...

[@blizzbee]

They both excel in different area!!! Both are right choices.

[@jalaskabtu]

Hehehehe great

[@tomaszblazejowski735]

what cables are you using ?

[@dr.stevenpennym.d.3241]

Why is the red light flickering?

[@maxrockatansky8399]

The indicator light is getting pulses of electrons from the power source as part of it's normal function. Your eye does not detect this in person, but a video camera with a fixed shutter speed detects this. It's an artifact of video recording, and completely normal. LED and (I believe) fluorescent lights all do this.

[@tigerhunter8878]

How loud is this amp when pretty cranked on the 20 watt mode? You have the 2 speaker cab, how would the 1 speaker cab compare? Still ridiculously loud? Thanks

[@TheSterlingSound]

Yes ridiculously loud

[@tigerhunter8878]

TheSterlingSound thanks for the response

[@montag4516]

It's plenty loud. I almost always play mine in the 5w mode and there's plenty-o-volume. Not much clean headroom in the amp by design, but other than that it pumps it out. My friend had a newer handwired Marshall combo that couldn't really keep up with a moderately played drumkit, but the SV20 through a good single 12" would have no problem, and with power to spare.

[@BrettKingman]

Yes. Crazy loud.

[@Bcwilderness]

enough bott to give the bass space, yip sir

[@joedabron4846]

Would you say the SV20 has enough headroom to run clean as a pedal platform on stage, Brett? Eg if you’re running reverbs and what not into the front end. Or does it break up a bit earlier than that? Cheers for the great reviews!

[@BrettKingman]

If you're talking blackface clean with no breakup and you're using humbuckers or a hot Tele, I'd say no, you need something with more power. This is after all, a 'Studio' amp and it's designed to work at its best in middle to high gain territory.

[@joedabron4846]

Brett Kingman Ah cool, thanks. I’ve been using my 1987x set clean with a Strat - BUT by the time I get that amp loud enough for a bit of life and sparkle it’s already way too loud imo! Maybe the 20W’d work for a strat? I’ll have to try one in person. Great sounds.

[@joedabron4846]

Logan 5 Awesome thanks guys. Exactly what I needed to hear - although not sure I wanted to as far as downsizing goes haha!

[@montag4516]

Most of the lineup fromHiwatt and Hi-Tone are prime choices for loud, clean, classic British tube tone. Beautiful sounds. These are handwired gems, no pc's. A 50w Hi-tone would sound glorious and give you high levels of clean headroom. Effects loop, if desired or needed, are rarely found on Hiwatts, but they are an order option with Hi-Tones'. Brett had several videos showcasing his Hiwatt Custom 50 combo.

[@anonymoususer3496]

Bottom end sounds bloated to me.... either too much gain or bass

[@montag4516]

I have this same SV20/SV212 stack. I play through it primarily with humbuckers and always with the channels jumped on the head which allows for great tonal balancing. For my tastes the bottom end is not tight or cramped, nor is it flabby or over inflated. Sounds pretty much like Brett's setup in this video which gives a good example of what to expect. When the channel volumes are cranked it gets pretty dirty, hot and razzy (but not necessarily fizzy).

[@duncancartledge1667]

The grin at 12 seconds in says it all.... 🤣🤣🤣🤣