How do you rate the Marshall Vintage Modern?

Stratavarious · March 2020

Looking for a old plexi / JMP character amp with an fx loop.

Is the in built boost balanced enough to use it as two channels at a gig or will I be riding the guitar control (not a problem - but I’d like it stay bright like my JMP.)

Lodious · June 2020

I thought they were awful. They don't sound vintage, they don't have modern features. Avoid IMHO.

sweepy · June 2020

Lodious said:

I thought they were awful. They don't sound vintage, they don't have modern features. Avoid IMHO.

100% agree, struggled to get a decent sound out of mine

monquixote · June 2020

The Origin is pretty nice if you don't need much drive.

bananaman · June 2020

I completely disagree with the above. They are criminally underrated, and therefore an absolute steal to buy. They are a guaranteed future classic for sure. The problem with them is that because the body and detail knobs are such powerful tone shapers it's really easy to get a bad sound out of them. The trick is to run the body control much lower than the detail. Think of it as a jumpered 4 holer. LDR pretty much is a JTM45 and HDR gets you a hot rodded version of that.

bananaman · June 2020

Stratavarious said:

Looking for a old plexi / JMP character amp with an fx loop.

Is the in built boost balanced enough to use it as two channels at a gig or will I be riding the guitar control (not a problem - but I’d like it stay bright like my JMP.)

No, it's definitely a single channel amp with 2 voicings. Engaging HDR causes the volume to jump noticeably.

adamino · June 2020

Go for a Marshall Origin and use pedals.

Nerine · November 2020

They are 77w of naff.

Stratavarious · November 2020

Nerine said:

They are 77w of naff.

Thanks

Dave8 · November 2020

There are a lot of options from the current Marshall catalog.

Sv20h
sc20h
2525h
1987x
2555x

all would do a classic Marshall sound with the right tweeking and have fx loops. I guess it depends if you need 2 channels and if a master volume is needed.

Stratavarious · November 2020

I have a new DSL now and very impressed with the 4 voices, crunch channel is just perfect and two master volumes.

John_A · November 2020

bananaman said:

Stratavarious said:

Looking for a old plexi / JMP character amp with an fx loop.

Is the in built boost balanced enough to use it as two channels at a gig or will I be riding the guitar control (not a problem - but I’d like it stay bright like my JMP.)

No, it's definitely a single channel amp with 2 voicings. Engaging HDR causes the volume to jump noticeably.

The HDR does cause a big volume jump when the amp is quiet, but at big gig volume it doesn't

I think they can sound great, but so can a JVM and it doesn't come with the issues of a vintage modern

machinated · February 2022

I have lots of Marshalls, vintage and newer ones too. Vintage Modern more than punches with the best of them but it takes a bit of learning.

The master volume isn’t the best design and sucks a fair bit of tone, you really need it at 8 or above to get the best out of it otherwise it sounds a little starved.

Detail+body are your treble and normal channel volumes. The circuit on LDR is pretty much exactly a JTM45. HDR kicks in an extra gain stage and on this mode you can get away with the master a bit lower (around 5 is the sweet spot).

Its really a single channel amp with various modes, and I think that’s something else people get wrong about the amp.

I’ve played it side by side with my JMP era super bass and 1959HW and it absolutely does the plexi thing. Absolutely destroys the Origin (which I also have). I’d genuinely pick one over a JTM45 purely for the fact it already has mods done for more tonal options. Hunt around and find a deal on these while you can.

Aidanspaghetti · July 2022

Look for an slx and keep the gain down. Great amps.

robmac5150 · January 2023

I had one. Only amp I ever bought new. Loved the sound but it kept breaking down

BGG · January 2023

I think the Vintage Modern needs to be cranked right up, then it sounds killer.

Stratavarious · January 2023

I am still after something to act as a spare for my late 70’s 2x12 JMP which is getting heavily gigged. The DSL is great for small venues but lacks the depth and girth of the JMP. Looking for a solid 50-100w

Classic · March 2023

I had the lower watt version at the same time as a 1987X and, for a single channel amp it went toe to toe. The 1987X had a little more depth to the sound but not much. I sold the 1987X because the VM met my needs better but eventually sold the VM as I needed a volume boost for solos, which it couldn’t do due to the design of the FX loop.

Teyeplayer · March 2023

I had a great time with my VM, I’d get another in a heartbeat if I needed the higher wattage. Life’s got quieter and an 18watter is plenty loud enough now, so I guess it’d gather dust but it was a lovely thing. Sounded awesome and recorded really well, never had a complaint.

robmac5150 · October 2023

Only amp I ever bought new. Sounded good, I thought, but kept breaking down.

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How do you rate the Marshall Vintage Modern?

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