A Marshall Amp Delivering Tones & Feel That Simulators Cannot

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

It's surprising about this amp review that at the time of writing it had just 4800 views. This was not 'any old' piece of gear and I really did expect that it might have done better - its a great amp. It does show IMO the state of the music business re current trends and tube amps I guess. Personally may Marshall live on much longer, but that change of buying will pull down most makers of tube amps as we move forward. Are the alternatives 'better' of course not, its just that many have never even played a decent tube amp. Thanks for visiting...

[@DRCRANKNSTEIN]

Brilliant Tony, I have 2 of these, with master mods, one is a 1998, and one I bought brand new in 2020 from gear4 music- they sound really identical, I run them through 2- 2 x 12 line 6 vintage cabs, that have made in England Celestin spks, and now I use those plexi glass barriers to block the cutting sound, so can PLAY LOUD :-) yes, I give them a 10 out of 10 also, and you too.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

A very interesting amp. I have owned TWO newer ones than this one and both were 'standard' no master etc. and both were EL34's if I remember correctly. Loud but very good amps - classics. Keep them! and thanks for watching.

[@kerrykurschinsky2451]

A great video Tony,... I bought my 1987x plexi from Veneman Music in Rockville Maryland back in 1994,... when they were still in business,... I'll never forget the day I recieved it,... the thing was (and still is) just beautiful,... it cost me (your going to cry)... $699.95..(I should have bought a truckload of them),...this amp is fitted with Svetlana EL-34's..(before they became scarce),... and ECC-83's which say Marshall on them,... the amp is extremely loud,... and I play it through a 1979 slant 800 cab with 65 watt Rola Celestion speaker's,... it's the most "touch sensitive" amp I've ever played on,... must be why the Pro's like them...(if you mess up... you'll hear it) ,... hard to believe.. I've had it for 30 year's,... it still look's new,... the amp has been flawless,... and when their working... they SMELL great,... like time's gone by,... going price on them now,... in the USA,...is about $2100.00,... like I said,... I wish I could have bought a truck load them,... when Robin Trower say's their loud,... their probobly loud,..... thank's for the video,.... I watch a lot of your stuff,... I have a 65 Bassman also,... I watched your video on that also,... keep doin' what your doin' my friend,... and take care yourself,... it's all good,... 'till next time,.... "NOW GET OUT OF HERE",...... right..... see ya......

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Hi - what a great post :) and you have the beast right there :) Well I need not try and convince you - you already know the amp well. This one has the MV mod (or one of the 4 types!) and that helps a lot. Some say the tone changes but I don't hear that, it sounds good to me even with the 5881 tubes (little difference I guess). Ha at $699 buy the factory! Thanks for that great post appreciated and thanks for watching... I'm going now ;-)

[@aipsong]

Nice amp!! And your video shows us all the details as usual. Lots of clarity and weight in your playing demo!!! Thanks again for your videos.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Ha I turned it up :0 and I was inspired by the amp to play better than when demoing some other less inspiring stuff. That's always the case with me. But I have been inspired even by the 'odd' simulator, but that's few and far between. Thanks for watching and I hope you liked the amp... it certainly can do it...

[@rickycompton2610]

Great video Tony ,Marshall’s 1987x is one hell of an Amp, Marshall has and will to me always be the sound of Rock and Roll and Heavy Metal!Great score on your 1987x Tony!

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Thanks Ricky... and thanks for watching too.

[@Twobarpsi]

I was waiting for you to play, and instantly I knew this was a great tone, and great sounding amp! That is the Marshall sound. I gave up on modelers back in 2003. Had a Line6, and even 20 years later those companies are still pushing the same marketing scams. There is no comparison to a good quality tube head! Cheers Tony 🤘!!

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Glad you liked it. Ha I guess you heard the hum before I played :) I could have stopped it, but preferred to include it in the video just to show that the amp can hum when cranked up a bit, but I put some down to the lights etc. I still review modelers/simulators and still don't find the 'perfect' pedal from any company. Kemper player was interesting but the 'feel' on all seems missing. I am just reviewing a simulator with AI EQ among other stuff and that is something I have never seen before, but it IS interesting. It however still is not like this amp. I like the Studio amps too which are great value for the money. Thanks for watching.

[@lukesteverything627]

Hi Tony. Thanks again for a really interesting and educational video. I learn something every time. Wishing you health and happiness from Oxford.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Well thank YOU for watching the stuff because without viewers there would be wasted time and effort. Some of this stuff can be very time consuming and each week (it rolls fast) as I work on one review I'm already getting the stuff for the next one... its a bit like a hamster wheel... it never ends. :) Thanks for watching...

[@crucifixgym]

Nice amp, I have a 1971 Super Lead 100 EL34 and a 1977 50W JMP 6550, both sound classic and very different, would never let them go. The 1971 is point to point and the 77 is PCB, in reality PCB is more reliable so it’s not a negative build spec.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Some do think PCB is less desirable. But to be honest the pre PCB stuff can get mauled by engineers over the years and modded to hell sometimes. I have lots of PCB amps and a few without. I like any that work :) - yes hang on to them, who knows how long amps like that or this one will be made. I sincerely hope Marshall keep that going, although sometimes either investors or take overs can spoil a few things... sadly. Thanks for watching.

[@hkt48man57]

Awesome video, thanks again. Super Awesome playing/sound demo! Definitely a man's amplifier.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

:) Yes plug in, turn up and go :) it's really that simple. Track is 'Lightpipe AI' from an album called 'Eniac' from back in 2006. I also made 'Berner Street' and later 'Gravity Waves' albums with Alan Bruce and loved creating them all. They can be downloaded from almost everywhere - but these days they pay $0.001 of a cent per play or stream (yes really) so there is little point in making more - and some wonder what's wrong with the music business!. Some tell me 'you can't play' and stuff like that - but people on the internet can be like that when you uncover less than perfect gear and show it in a review. So thanks for watching this review... I liked the amp and it allowed me to instantly play Lightpipe AI :) Thanks for watching.

[@MacawAviculture]

Every sound I have ever dreamed of can be found in my Marshall JVM 410 HJS and my Soldano Hot Rod 25 combined with a Boss RV-500 and SD-1, along with a Keeley compressor plus. The seemingly infinite number of guitars and amps can eventually create the sounds we love most. Thank you for all of your amazing videos Tony!

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Oh that HJS is a GREAT amp. I own one too. I don't have a Soldano but I do have a Mezzabarba that is sort of similar though... I doubt you will go far wrong with almost any guitar between those amps... and I'm sure you'll probably keep them for a long time... and thanks for watching these... they do take a bit of making sometimes.

[@deeseen3495]

Great stuff

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Well thanks for watching - it IS appreciated.

[@Saul_HUDSON]

Thanks Tony for this nice video. Marshall has changed supplier for its power transformers and they are not as good as the old ones (you have to watch the video made by an Australian technician on a new JCM 800, it is very informative). I'm not about to sell my old Marshalls for sure !

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

I have seen most of Aussies vids - he's a clever guy :) Notice on this amp they are Dagnall. No don't sell that amp they will increase too. Thanks for watching.

[@patrickmckay6621]

there are unbelievably good young players out there which have NEVER played a decent tube amp in their life. Can you imagine it? And then when plug the guitar into one they are shocked,literally shocked. The dynamics, the instant reaction and the punch. Todays digital technology SOUNDS fantastic but still doesnt feel like the real deal. ....love my 100w plexi.....

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Patrick I think you sum it up beautifully. The difference is there for sure. And thanks for watching.

[@Jumpeyuk]

Hi Tony i like the review how did you learn the tapping technique, this is more for the younger players?

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

I just played a bit - my tapping is unorthodox so a little weird. But it does work :) I have been playing rock a long time. Thanks for watching.

[@jorgemartinpellegrino6940]

A year ago played in a bike festival. I was invited the day before. No PA only for singer. I used my dsl20cr with creamback and my charvel socal. And a chinese ts clone. Sounded better than all other band and cut the mix so well that I had to keep the volume down after every song. That's what I find in modellers. Don't cut well. Like they miss some frequencies live unless U have a professional sound board guy

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

The modelers/simulators do have something missing I agree. I always relate it to the 'feel' when playing, but there is probably more to it than that. At least, anyone that plays a tube amp might not want to 'give it up' anytime soon. Great points in your post and thanks for posting that - and of course for watching.

[@sellsn01]

I smell new Hand Wired Reissues coming down the pipe. Pricing in the states went way down (to a more normal price) which I believe brings them right in line with other manufactures pricing structures. My theory is they will have hand wired reissues of the current main Line up (1987x/jtm45), or new ones at specific years. If they aren't doing this, they are missing the boat, in my opinion.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Well I have not heard anything about that here. Of course it could be true, but it's seemingly quiet here. There was talk about simulators that I did hear (not directly from Marshall though.) Thanks for the info and for watching.

[@Barbarapape]

Nothing beats a good valve amp, with the reissues it gives them a chance to correct what they got wrong with the original. I still have all the valve amps that i have bought over the years except the Marshall JTM 30 it was horrible with clean tones so it was shown the door. The only modelling amp i have is a Vox VT40X and the included amps are ok but no match for the original ones. You can beat that full warm smooth tone that only a valve amp can give.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Oh I agree. I have played with simulators etc. over and over but they are not the same (at ANY price) I think. That JTM Studio 20 is not bad... Thanks for watching.

[@jonahlmoore]

Hello Tony, is Marshall still selling amps? There are no sign of any new Marshall’s in the USA for quite some time.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

They are still selling amps from what I see. The last new amp I saw was a JTM Studio 20 and I did review it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3uyqKeciclqgacsi=NLaawvyk8W1T7eeB Thanks for watching.

[@scottnoricsson2023]

The best amp ever. All Yngwie Malmsteens albums (almost) were recorded on that monster.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

I think he used 50 Watt heads? At the time of the YJM100 I reviewed, there was much talk about the 50 Watt heads. This is basically similar as you say. Yng was/is a brilliant musician and even this morning driving I was listening to that 'Marching Out' album. The 'Marching Out' track is a brilliant piece of music that sadly Yngwie does not typically play more of that style... long sustain and fantastic tones - just incredible even now. Thanks for watching.

[@scottnoricsson2023]

@@tonymckenzieofficial yeah he used 1987 50 watters until 2000s, agree with you - Marching.. is one of his best instrumentals

[@johnwebb2562]

Hi Tony . I never understood why Marshall would not put corner protectors on a gigging amp ,and why they made the cabinet much longer than the chassis. Unless it's an image thing. Transportation knows many doors jambs and unpredictable objects. "O my back" think 😂 I've just slipped my 💿 📀 disks.😅

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Slipped a disk huh :) Hope it was my 'Eniac' album :) and the old cases as shown I guess were created way back 60's and who knows why but they did wake up to the thicker build with the corners. I like the old style of cab actually. I do think the larger head cab as in this amp IS (or was) probably so they looked similar size. Great point you mentioned about that. Anyway, the trick is, if you have a bad back etc. then get someone else to carry it all for you :) I would! And trust you're doing OK. Thanks for watching.

[@johnwebb2562]

@@tonymckenzieofficial Hi Tony thanks for you reply. I must admit I'm a big fan of your 👍 thumb over playing technique 😺, something I haven't conquered. The ENIAC project was FAb. My back is fine I don't use the big amps 😁 I'm a PA direct in man. Best Regards 😃. John.

[@harryanderson7282]

When it comes to sim tones, it's not so much the preamps, but the cabinet responses (IRs) themselves that just can't successfully mimic the real thing. The Universal Audio OX stuff seems to have come the closet in terms of mimic'ing the sound of an actual cab, but I still don't think the technology is quite there yet to begin competing w/ an actual cab.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Good point and likely that is the case... I have seen other stuff just like AI on the EQ... thanks for watching.

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

Impulse Responses are just regular audio files. Meaning they're just replicating the sound of that miked setup. You can even create your own quite easily. You can always run your modellers into an amp cab and that solves "the issue."

[@motokev2727]

6L6 tubes, interesting. Very nice amp

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

5881 named also... in a time when EL34 became legends of rocking horses :). Many say that the 5881/6L6 tube driven Marshall amps don't sound the same as the EL34, and that's true but hard to tell really, the essence of the Marshall amp still remains in the amp IMO. Thanks for watching.

[@97warlock]

IMO you can get a used Peavey XXX or JSX or Ultra or 6505 & they will all do what that Marshall will do ,imo. Marshalls great but for Metal & hard rock, Peavey has the market covered imo. Thats why Eddie loved them & hundreds of bands use Peavey. I had a Major back in the mid 80s. Spilled a beer into the top of it,went up in smoke. decade later dude wanted to trade me a marshall combo for my peavey combo. ... I did it,because it was a "marshall" ..... I was so let down. But Granted, there are a few Marhsalls out there good for metal ,but not many. Jcm800 was the best imo. But in the 2000s theyve gottten better imo. not familiar with the model u have here, but Im sure youd be an OD for it to play metal.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

This is a 1987x 1996 that design originated back end of 60's I believe. The HJS satch amp can do metal no problem. Today there are so many brands of amps out there. The MT-15 costs little and can do all the metal stuff and louder than the 15 watts suggests :). This one IS played at the end of the video and it sounds OK to me. I did use a boost pedal though and also the master vol that was a secondary install. I used the SL drive pedal. Thanks for the info and for watching.

[@rocker8692]

Why do old ones sound better?

[@oyvey8526]

Because of better transformers and lack of safety/enviromental regulations, mine is from '92 and it is a 1959x superlead reissue (which were right before the 1959slp debut in '93) and it has original english made Dagnalls and a Drake choke. Oh and no fx loop which suck the tone a bit.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

In the case of this one notice that the tubes are NOT EL34's either. That also has an effect on the overall tone. Only made for a while and @oyvey8526 covers most other stuff.... thanks for watching.

[@didamnesia3575]

Modelers are the chicken nuggets of fried chicken.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

I like fried chicken! And are you SURE they are nuggets and not some other part of the male anatomy? :) Thanks for watching.

[@didamnesia3575]

@tonymckenziecom lol, I just mean that modeling amps, while decent, are a mediocre version of the real thing. I like nuggets, and fried. But fried chicken is better than the avg nugget imo

[@soapboxearth2]

It's absolutely true. And it's scary that people don't know this. I build some amazing amps, and I jam with a guy that has a line 6 helix. The difference is so painfully obvious that it is AWKWARD.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

Indeed, I have a Helix rack also and while they do have a place, they are really not my idea of 'real' tube amp equivalents. Many might/will disagree, but honestly I have used and tested and reviewed almost all of them. In fact I have another one coming up pretty soon - which for what it is its OK, but it is NOT a tube amp even though it has AI EQ on board! Thanks for watching.

[@soapboxearth2]

@tonymckenziecom your content helps a lit of people. Always entertaining! You've got some great gear. As far as the digital gear goes, I really feel people are cheating themselves. My buddy asked what I thought of the fender tone master deluxe. I said it's the vegetarian hamburger of guitar amps lol

[@didamnesia3575]

Modelers sound like tube amps in the way a chicken nugget tastes like high quality chicken parm

[@matteomidas638]

Marketing want us to believe that the digital domain is able to simulate how the analog world behaves. But that a "fraud". Digital sounds good, really good and it's perfect for a lot of applications. But if you're looking for a real feeling you can't use nothing but a tube amp. It's got its limitations indeed but we should start to stop listening to the same old story that digital is able to imitate analog in a perfect way.... so perfect that you can't hear the difference. If you listen through a PA system probably the difference is so small that no one can tell which one is which but... playing is primarily a subjective thing and the difference between a tube amp and a digital modeler (or a capture) is nigh and day under the fingers. And that's it.

[@tonymckenzieofficial]

I agree with you. The feel is so different and at least for me it sort of inspires you to play differently and while even noodling often it can inspire creative music. That at least for me is harder with the sort of clinical (often) clean sounds and the less than perfect distorted tone and feel from simulators. The tube stuff just does it. However, today there are many guys happy with the sims etc. and sometimes it makes me wonder if they have EVER played through a decent tube amp that's turned up and using those little couple of pedals. It is an entirely different experience. Thanks for the points in your post and for watching.

[@matteomidas638]

@@tonymckenzieofficial Thank you too for the kind words. I always appreciate your videos. They are true to reality. I wish you the best.

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

"This is not your dad's digital." - Frank Gambale.