Marshall Valvestate 8100 Repair, Demo and Review

In this video I will show you how to repair a common problem with these amplifiers. If you have a heavy static or washy sound coming from the amp than this video may show you how to fix it.
I picked this amp up locally and was really impressed by it's tones! I have a big collection of vintage tube amps and this amp honestly has become a fast favorite. Easy to use and very reliable.

[@tankthebiker]

Great addition to youtube. As an electrical engineering student and resident metal head. This kind of content makes me happy.

[@matthiasronin6036]

instaBlaster

[@CFChristian]

Every time I watch a Valvestate video someone pulls out the "Symbolic" riff! YES!

[@purgasound]

Can't help it. That album is full of so many sick riffs!

[@CFChristian]

@@purgasound Oh I'm not complaining! Lol.

[@tinosuteu6463]

I can literally sit and watch for hours! This is awesome!

[@kaiwenwu1947]

Hi. As an electronics engineer iv seen that op amp blown more than a balloon 🎈 due to static. Lol. A great habit is to clean one of the top screws that hold the chassis in " on top. And touch your guitar lead to that to discharge your thousands of volts to ground before sticking it in your input, as the screw is directly grounded. Sorted. Great collection sir well done. Kaiwen Wu PhD

[@Tinfoil_is_the_new_black]

That was way more entertaining than I thought it was gonna be. Keep em coming!

[@gabrielcarpenter6770]

wow that amp sounds epic still... always wanted one ever since Chuck from Death played one... now i have to find one... new subscriber too...

[@moreguitarplease6199]

Yeah, VALVESTATES are little monsters - I have two to be sure to have this sound forever. To hear these good old DEATH riffs makes me search my old CDs and turn them on now - the loudspeakers shall bleed like in the 90s! GREEZ FROM GERMANY - ROCK ON - COOL VIDEO!

[@TroyPosey]

I've had Marshall Valvestete VS100R amps since the late 90's. My first was a 1996 model VS100R 1x12 combo I got when I was a kid, as my first "real" amp. Still have it, but now it has a WGS Veteran 30 speaker in it, and it sounds amazing. I also bought a used 2000 Valvestate VS100R head on Reverb last year, and it's been a monster running through my Blackstar Series One 412 PRO cab with Celestion V30's. I keep it sitting right on top of my Blackstar S1-100 EL34B tube head, and just swap the speaker cable and input depending on which amp I want to play. 👍🏻 The Valvestate VS100R (and 8100) amps are high-gain monsters, but also have a beautiful clean channel, and they often get overlooked today. The prices of them are starting to go back up on the used market, glad I held onto mine. 🤘🏻

[@REZNAP]

\,,/ HORNS UP! I love my Marshall VS100 head!

[@TroyPosey]

@@REZNAP I have a few videos using them on my channel, if you want to check it out. 👍🏻 You'll have to read the description to see which amps I use. My earlier recordings sucked, but my newer stuff is done with actual real recording equipment (SM57, Audient EVO 4, etc...), so the sound quality has improved greatly. Still learning how to use all this stuff 100%.

[@REZNAP]

@@TroyPosey Awesome I will head to your channel now! Thanks for the heads up!

[@NumbskullAudioProduction]

I've just been repairing the combo version of one of these (Marshall 8080). Turns out one of the electrolytic caps near the output transformer (C62 to be exact!) had some dry joints, creating a lot of buzz throughout the amp. I love these things. I used to have the 8100, such a stupidly aggressive sound, no boost required, just crank it and chug!

[@robbanks1896]

Great job man ! I’m glad I bought the 8100 and matching 4x12 cabinet when I had the chance .. excellent condition for its age 🇳🇿😎👍🏼

[@lesacarl1816]

happy one year anniversary of your channel Brent! Its criminal how underrated this channel is. Better than all the other ones IMO

[@veganskillz]

I came across and picked up the VS265 a few wks ago, love the tone but still find it lacking in distortion so I’m waiting on a boost pedal in the mail. I’m thinking the 8100 is better in that department. Thanks for the demo, I dig your heavy handed finger tone 🤘🏼

[@jacak47410]

Picked one of these up a few months back in southern mass 125$ everything works. Found your video today,and you found a new subscriber. I greatly enjoyed this man. Have a lovely day

[@purgasound]

That's a great deal! I think these amps are awesome!

[@TheBillproject]

DUDE!!!! You just gave me the answer to the wishy washy noise!!! Thanks! 8100 rocks!!!

[@allanquiros6787]

I was going to say…you get that amp, fix it, show it, but not play Death riffs, what a sacrilege!!! Amazing video! Totally subscribed!!!

[@subjectt.change6599]

This explains the FET front-end in the Orange CR120. Great video!

[@tylerisagirl1]

Thanks for the video man! I own one of these amps as well. I snagged it from a pawn shop last year for $240. That is some awesome geetar playing and tone! Gwar!

[@kristenkelley8285]

As a KZbin junkie, you've just made my KZbin feed way hotter ❤ Love, GwarChk 👹❤

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

Kristen Kelley - Hail GWAR! 🤘👹

[@jorge0358]

I swear this amp can sound epic. The lead guitar tone from The Jester Race is so other worldly, it’s crazy to think it fame from this amp.

[@USALeonHeart]

From my understanding it was just an HM-2 plugged into the effects loop (in other words, basically bypassing the actual amp,) but there's definitely, DEFINITELY some valvestate happening on Colony and Clayman.

[@christianboddum8783]

Change the jacks, they oxidize over time and raises resistance, sometimes up til full shutoff. They are cheap, and cleaning will only last temporarily. Especially the ones in the loop that don't get used. FWIW p.s. a patch cable in the loop can work in the meantime.

[@akaboo69]

Killer amp for an SS. Love the tone on Symbolic but I know he used it on the last 3 death records

[@santiagomoreno696]

Do you know which ones?

[@akaboo69]

@@santiagomoreno696 individual thought patterns symbolic sound of perserverence

[@divebomb99]

Dude will rock your face off GWAR style *and* fix your IC. Badass.

[@PapaWheelie1]

Definitely a rare breed

[@oliverstefan]

I like that Guinness Sign in the Background, cheers. I' am on the way to restore my ~15 years nonplayed 8100. Some of the potimeters scratches and the surface looks like she can need a little bit love.

[@DropB]

In Finland you can buy these amps for 150-200€ now. Also really popular in 90's death metal and black metal and stuff in here too. People could not afford tube amps like the Peavey 5150 or the JCM900, but you could get one of these!

[@squigglesly]

Loved the Valvestate, but am super stoked for a feature on your Laney.

[@nicolasaraistrujak208]

I got rid of that 60hz hum with a wireless transmiter, it seems like sorcery, but no hum from not grounding your guitar with your hands

[@danielluna1818]

I love mine ! Lots of cool sounds from 8100 Can do it all I think , Metallica, Prong, Death , youse name it , it will do it . The clean sounds are really great too , it’s got an accutronics reverb tank , gets a little fendery. Putting a sonic maximizer thru effects helps a lot too , that’s my secret weapon for an otherwise crappy tone , to epic gain sounds .

[@jannevaatainen]

It's much easier and usually cheaper to find a 8080 combo. It is exactly the same thing but with a great Celestion speaker in it! I converted my 8080 to an head + 1x12" cab.

[@DropB]

I have the 8080, love it. Paid 100 euros for it. Full working condition. The speaker is awesome old G12T-75, but not the same as nowadays. Much better.

[@dougsmith8107]

Still got mine from 1991. I'll say the only weakness is it doesn't seem to push a cab well at gig-able or band practice volumes. It likes to rumble. but if you have a good mic and sound guy, it's really awesome. I might go for this mod and tube swap. :)

[@dougward9188]

Ramzi told me that you own over 60 cabinets!

[@tomosborne5949]

Very cool! Sounds like a full tube amp.

[@chrissumaya5055]

Nice! I got same actual 8100 head amp too! Got it from someone in my place in the Philippines with matching 2 speaker cab for $300. Thanks for the fixing idea if something happens with it! And also thanks for the desoldering tool you mentioned, that's cool.

[@Jediroller]

sickest riff ever 14:47

[@ajfreeman564]

This is a brilliant video, very engaging and insightful!

[@thertrainband]

This is great. Fantastic presentation. Awesome job. Love it. I have the amp and you made me understand it. You have a great video channel here. I'm subscribed.

[@dougward9188]

That head belonged to my buddy, Kenny Beasley. He regretted selling it soon after he sold it.

[@sergi_lou]

man just subbed, you are super chill! The tones are super good man, gonna make myself pick up one of these :)

[@REZNAP]

New Sub here, thanks for posting about this Marshall 8100 amp head! Tommy Victor from PRONG used these heads in the past... listen to the "Cleansing" album, that tone is unmatched! "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck!" I have the VS100 head which is similar to the 8100... My favorite solid state Marshall head however is the LEAD 100 MOSFET! *Where are you located? I noticed your seatshirt... I know it's getting chilly here in the Northeast!

[@girolamo5637]

Kickass!!!

[@robertparker3580]

awesome video man,and great repair and playing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@97warlock]

De soldering gun amazing.

[@Chingu-nm6wp]

Cool video I have an AVT 2000 I love the sound of

[@podhditalia]

great video. been GASing for an 8100 for decades by now haha. would you be willing to do an in-depth review of the channels? ofc with a focus on the dirty ones. i'd listen to those chugs for days...

[@jasonsapp792]

Ever try the Marshall 3315 150w solid state? Came out during JCM800 era .... I have one , pretty neat amp also

[@JoseyStranded]

Great tones. I had one. Sold it when I bought the blue 30th Anniversary half stack. Beautiful Tokai. Is that a Peavey VTM in the back? It's another great amp of the yesteryear. The amp on the left looks like the Laney that John Christ of Danzig used for solos in Danzig's first (and best) album. He used it live too.

[@ryliefranco3910]

I own two of these heads and just got the vs100 combo yesterday. the heads have some noise and some snapped pots. took it apart and I ended up ordering the wrong pots to replace. should have got the straight pins and not the hooked loops. first time doing this stuff. love the cannibal corpse at 1550 mark.

[@erichearrell3224]

llove it you did great on this 1st vide keep it coming im subed

[@flyboymcgee8059]

The 8100 is a great head

[@jamieryan_mass]

Just bought one with cab, same year too. Fucking happy. Pots needed a bit of a clean but apart from that all cool.

[@nickroberts8011]

Judging by how much empty space there is in the chassis, Marshall could have started the lunchbox head craze back in 91

[@jamdalf4343]

Swapping out that Groove Tube might have been what fixed it.

[@badtonestudio]

Love shit like this! Keep it coming 🤘

[@azzazelo]

I need to find one of these already

[@koalasprinter]

Greetings Purgasound. Sorry for my English, I'm French, I'll still try to be clear. I would like to know what the problem may be with my Valvestate 8100. I just found it today used and at a low price, a few km from my home. After checking the knobs, welds, and others, everything works ... but the symptom that bothers me is that the effects loop is not functional. No sound on Send and Return. Do you have an idea to solve the problem? Thanks a lot. Sincerely, Laurent H.

[@dannys_rockmetal4865]

Awesome video 🤘

[@aegisraven1284]

Death and in flames used this amp extensively, also old meshuggah

[@jaysherman8871]

We need more videos bro!

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

Hi when using the line out, should the speaker be bypassed or not if I want to record silently?

[@FraJa1980]

Jorge Masvidal is making amp repair video’s now?! Lol jk man. I enjoyed the video very much! That desoldering gun looks like a life saver, ill have to get me one of those some day. I’m gearing up to replace the little B+ transformer for the 12Ax7 on one of these, no desoldering gun in my toolbox yet so it’s probably going to be a bitch (i hate soldering pcb’s) but it has to be done. Wish me luck and again, geest video man.

[@ilikepotatoes1345]

This sounds absolutely monstrous, what was your guitar tuned to?

[@purgasound]

Down a half step

[@ilikepotatoes1345]

@@purgasound Thanks man :), it's nice to see you don't have to down-tune to drop XYZ to sound really heavy.

[@PURADieTischler]

Aaaawwww That Laney AOR 😍

[@rudiwinkelspecht4930]

Thx for the Video!

[@97warlock]

Do they make some sort of voltage regulater, limiter, something to make electricity from the wall outlet Consistant ?? we hav periodic spikes or surges occasionally, I dont think a surge protector will work good enough because Tube amps can be extremely sensitive to any voltage fluctuations. Would be nice to have a wall thing that makes sure the electricity stays around 110 atleast within a few volts up or down.

[@mattburchett8506]

Dude you’re fucking awesome! Much love from Troutdale Oregon!

[@christianboddum8783]

Keep the loop jacks clean or better, insert a patch cable permanently if you don't use the loop. Those jacks get corroded over time and build up resistance so the volume drops. FWIW. If it gets in for repair, just get those replaced they are so cheap there's no reason not to ;-)

[@NoQuadsNoMasters]

Ever think about running something solid state like this and a tube guy at the same time?

[@raw_pc]

🤘

[@SomberlainTx]

What brand is that LP?

[@PapaWheelie1]

Subscribed - good stuff brother

[@aegisraven1284]

Bortowed s buddy's 8100 unused since early 2000'z...all pots crackle, clean channel is muggy, distortion channel is wuiet and takes a long time to warm up....gonna do a clean and tube swap and see what happens hopefully this vid helps me out

[@MustangStevie7]

I have a combo valvestate that has that rain sound for about 10 to 15 seconds when start up even when zero on volume and then disappears, changed tube, same thing, could it be same problem.

[@LycheeCamp]

hey dudeee so i had my head since like 08/09 and when i switch to 2nd channel its superrrr quiet. you think its the tube??

[@garybrady9531]

how do you avoid static issues on these amps

[@brpadington]

Every Valvestate I have seen for sale seems to have a broken reverb. Must be a faulty design.

[@rebelfountain85]

Yup mines is too.

[@marcelcourchesne9519]

what tube was in there. i'm looking to change mine

[@KKcesarin666]

Just bought one like 3 days ago, the dude who I bought it told me the volume drops down after a few minutes, I hadn't the chance to test it very well, gonna buy the cabinet in a few months and a good guitar the next year, so, he also told me perhaps could be the same valve, is that true? I'd like to take it to my local guitar store cuz I dont have the skill plus tools to repair it by myself

[@MucicuTzu]

Hi there! Just bought myself one at 340$ made in 1995 based on the serial number along with a 1x12 Marshall cab (AVT 112 100W). Considering it's my first head (and Marshall anything) I like it, even though I'm not a good guitar player. Of course, reverb doesn't work, the knob just adds some weird noise. Wouldn't be a good idea to actually solder a socket for that IC to make replacing easier just in case it breaks again ? Cheers! Edit: a 2x12 Harley Benton Vintage should arrive next week, curious how those Vintage Celestions would sound on this

[@purgasound]

An IC socket would absolutely make future changes easier but hopefully the repair won't be needed for another 30 years.

[@Ikillintel1]

Awesome! I am super interested in amp repairs and building my own. Sub'd

[@ultimatemetalguitartones]

It sounds really good! Especially for the price! Which cab is this one?

[@mdelahoussaye25]

Hey @Purgasound I am going crzy trying to figure out the issues with my 8100. Would it be possible to have a private chat with you to pick your brain?

[@purgasound]

You can email me [e-mail]

[@pigdick2233]

How’s it take fuzz pedals?

[@CKY155]

I just bought a marshall avt 50h and the volume drops to about half id say after i play it for about a 1 minute. Just ordered a new GT tube hopefully that fixes it. Cleaned the knobs too btw im not a tech at all. Maybe i can get aome advice from you. Guy in my area only works on tube amps.

[@purgasound]

Unfortunately it will take more info to diagnose the problem. Swapping a preamp tube is easy to try but it may not solve the issue. A volume drop can occur for various reasons. Loss of power or loss of signal.

[@CKY155]

I got this fixed about 2 weeks ago. Turns out it was a heatsink issue something to do with the IC. Shits killer now!

[@purgasound]

@@CKY155 good to know. Glad you got it straight.

[@fredproper7531]

Could you recommend a good parts source?

[@purgasound]

Mouser.com has most of what I need and Antique Electronic Supply has stuff more geared towards tube amps. Those are my main two.

[@doom3380]

Amprepairparts is also another good site

[@InDecemberOfficial]

Converted one of my 8080's to a head the other day to connect to an Engl 2x12 cab, and I noticed a huge lack of low end, you'd agree these amps don't have enough bass (on the od channel), or is it just mine? Great content btw.

[@purgasound]

At loud volumes the low end does start to lose a lot of impact. This is typically why you see most solid state power amps with a much higher output wattage. The added headroom helps maintain the dynamics of the tone. Since it takes more energy to push low end signal it's usually the first thing to disappear as the volume rises to it's upper limits.

[@ianedmonds9191]

This one goes up to 20. That's 10 more. Luv and Peace.

[@Roseb4058]

I have the same head but my clean channel sounds like an 8 but processor. I haven’t changed the tube. Suggestions?

[@purgasound]

Preamp tubes last a lot longer than people think but it's not a bad idea to swap it out. Always try the easy things first. Bad DC filtering can cause a "motorboating" effect so it could be dried out capacitors. Could also be a bad transistor somewhere.

[@prodsunss]

That cab sounds amazing what speakers are in it?

[@purgasound]

Celestion G12-65's

[@divebomb99]

Is the op amp still susceptible to static discharge even if the amp is fully powred off?

[@purgasound]

Yes, the static discharge can come from the instrument cable itself, for instance if it drags along a carpet before it's plugged in.

[@KaymanDZN]

Found a Vs100 here by $1.450, is it a good deal?

[@purgasound]

What type of currency are you referring to? I'd say around $200 to $400 USD is what they'd be worth here in the U.S.

[@gabrielraphaelofficial]

i prefer the 8040 , at home anyway

[@zbaby82]

Wouldn't a solder wick protect the traces better than a desoldering gun?

[@derezzler]

🐴🔥

[@1peanut]

seems ridiculous that a little static discharge could blow your Marshall up.

[@10000rambos]

C O R P S E

[@xxxpaps]

what happened at fuck piss ?