Suggestions for marshall tones

[cdc3jj]

Anyone have a pedal that really sounds like (or pretty close to) a jtm45 or a plexi or a jcm800? I know the zvex is supposed to cop the jtm45 sound but haven't really heard it. I mostly play through a vox ac30 and a DRRI with either a 335 or a tele. Thanks

[Ivan]

I've been on this search for a long time.

The Marshall Guv'nor and the Tonebone Hot British/Plexitube are the two best Marshall sounding pedals I have. (the video of the Guv'nor isn't exactly great).






Because they are pedals and you're using it through an amp with its own characteristics, you will never get a pedal that mimics a Marshall amp. The best you can get is "something similar but still not quite there" - which isn't really a bad thing either.

There are other pedals like the Rat, Menatone King Of Britain or the Crunch Box you should check out too. But I didn't think they were as good as the Guv'nor or Tonebone.

I'll also come back to this topic soon as I just bought a Super Plextortion (which is a tighter version of the Plextortion) based on the youtube demo...

[tjalla]

Very pleased with my Menatone Workinman's Blue. Mine's the 5-knob model. And its dark/thick enough that it should work well even with the bright preamps in your AC30/DRRI.

[Bernie]

Zvex Box of Rock demo (I want one of these, BTW)

Click

[Flashback]

MI Audio Crunch Box

[tjalla]

Should clarify a few things here...

The Menatone I suggested cops the JTM45 very well. Won't do plexi/JCM...
The ZVex and MI Audio are more modern JCM800 sounding but don't get that vintage JTM sound.

Given how much I like Menatones (I own 3, have tried more) perhaps try a King Of The Britains. I haven't tried it myself, but the latest version has a switch for Plexi and JTM voicings. Here's one with a tele demo.

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by tjalla

Should clarify a few things here...

The Menatone I suggested cops the JTM45 very well. Won't do plexi/JCM...
The ZVex and MI Audio are more modern JCM800 sounding but don't get that vintage JTM sound.

Given how much I like Menatones (I own 3, have tried more) perhaps try a King Of The Britains. I haven't tried it myself, but the latest version has a switch for Plexi and JTM voicings. Here's one with a tele demo.

Ok, that freaked me out. I was just listening to that song about a minute before I clicked on the link. And I'm thinking WTF? How did that switch on the cd?

Anywho, not sure I liked the pedal from that clip.

But I'm not a pedal guy - I keep telling myself.

Cheers,
Geoff

[chisa]

[Ivan]

people recommending the Crunch Box...
I like that pedal but have you tried the Marshall Guv'nor?

My feeling has always been that the Guv'nor is just as good as the Crunch Box while being cheaper and more versatile.

[Steve McGinnis]

I have several Menatone pedals and I recommend them highly. The KOB (King of the Britains) is a very good 'Marshall in a box'. I have the older 5 knob version and I like it alot.

[dalandan]

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret

Tech 21 Sansamp Character Series British

those are top of my head things.

[Flashback]

NO. The guvnor does not have the same clipping setup as the crunch box.

[Brad J]

Give the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret a look:

[rockinhorse]

Blackstone Appliance Overdrive....

check out the youtube vids and the website....same spectrum as a 50watt marshall.....the only effects pedal i use (sparingly)

[imsilly]

You could always buy a Marshall reissue or a Marshall kit. The best pedals tend to be so expensive that you would be better just saving a little more getting the real thing. Though of late I have been loving those Dano Cool Cats CHEAP! that is what stomp boxes should be!

I have a similar problem trying to find the sound of some vintage peice of equipement wether it be an amp, guitar or effect. I usually just end up getting it, or a clone in the end.

[DblStop]

Check out the Flexdrive made by Rockett Pedals.I love mine it is the stuff!!!!Brian Wampler just merged with these guys and this pedal kicks some serious butt!!This is one of the best pedals out there in my honest opinion.Mark Moree akaDblStop

[Ben Harmless]

I loved (LOVED) my Marshall Gov'nor (the modern version). It got liberated by an ex-bandmember, and now that I have two JCM800s, I don't really need to buy another one, but I'm still tempted. No need to buy a fancy boutique pedal. The Gov'nor comes nearly as close to the sound in my head as my Marshall amps do.

Oh, and whatever you do, keep the "deep" knob down. I don't know why Marshall felt like players needed that much extra low end before their input, but it's easy to make mud.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by rockinhorse

Blackstone Appliance Overdrive....

check out the youtube vids and the website....same spectrum as a 50watt marshall.....the only effects pedal i use (sparingly)

Oh yeah, I love that pedal! The only pedals I use (I own two of them). I don't have a Marshall though, so I can't comment on how much it sounds like one.

Right, so how come I commented on this thread?

I have no idea.

[Rybass]

I picked up a 90's Marshall drivemaster for around $70. It gets a convincing jcm800 tone and it pretty responsive to pick attack. I use a DS-1 with seeing eye mod for a more vintage marshall tone, $35 for pedal and parts to mod it. EHX english muff'n does a pretty good job at both depending on what tubes are in it.

[blowtorch]

marshall jackhammer is pretty cool.

[JayDee]

Wampler Plexidrive for the 45 thing. I use a Wampler Super Plextortion thru a DRRI when I need a Marshall sound. He constantly changes his designs, but mine has a 3way drive switch. To my ears and for my uses, Down=barely there almost clean boost-ish with just a hint of Marshall, Middle= 70s rock and Keith Urban-type country, Up= Heavy 80s rock. Hope that helps.

[Jim Sams]

The Menatone Ms. Foxy Brown is supposed to sound like a cranked 18Watt Marshall.
To me it is pretty much Billy Gibbons in a box. Great cranked tones with tons of gain.

[stxrus]

Originally Posted by Ivan

Because they are pedals and you're using it through an amp with its own characteristics, you will never get a pedal that mimics a Marshall amp.

the truth

get a marshall or a clone or roll your own. no pedal will give you what you are looking for

steve

[gmann]

Nothing does Marshall like the Lovepedal Amp 50. One knob and only $99. If you need a little more versatility try the Catalinbread DLS. I like both of these much more than my Box Of Rock.

[cdc3jj]

Dude that lovepedal looks awesome. Can't be much to it. I saw a china COT 50 on ebay with the guts showing. Doesn't look like a though build. I'd love to bet the real deal but funds you know... Not to mention one more thing to haul. I'd be interested in a low wattage clone though.

[rangercaster]

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by Ivan

My feeling has always been that the Guv'nor is just as good as the Crunch Box while being cheaper and more versatile.

The Crunch Box is essentially a Guv'nor clone with a single tone control. Same LED clipping. Same gainstaging. MI Audio does deserve kudos for collapsing the Guv's T/M/B tone controls into a single tone knob. A high gain pedal kinda needs that caveman attitude, IMO.