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I found a Marshall VS100 going for $200, and another for $150. The cheaper one doesn't have a working reverb. I was wondering, how are these heads, and would it be worth the buy? Also, what would be a good tube to replace the stock one with? Thanks.

Bump

I used to own one for 6 years and I recommend it to everyone playing metal,rock/hard rock and heavy stuff like that...its a very good amp giving marshall sound...I got great tones out of it...I sold it for 450$ last year and it was purchased 1998...the guy bought it was astonished by its tones...now I own a 79'twin reverb...although its clean sounds are much better but I really miss my marshalls distortion tones...I say you could buy it with confident...good luck...

Hey Tele

I'm a big fan of those. If you run them with full volume you may lose definition (it's all up to your contour/mid settings) and it is easy to set them reeeel bad but if once you have found the tone you may be pleased.

As it has been said, it was made for metal.

Those are quite simple and the spring reverb they use is even more simple and indestructible so prolly the $150 purchase was battered badly, don't go for it. $50 is worth for a trouble-free future.

BTW future: after the purchase as a first step, don't forget to check ALL the jack sockets, ALL the solderings that can take mechanical abuse and al the pots.

The sockets have a habit of falling apart (change to Neutrik sockets), in the case of some unlucky VS heads that were made during night-shift I guess the soldering is really bad (do re-inforcing soldering where it's thin or bring it to a tech - $50 work maximum) and the pots LOVE to crack (contact spray). If you're lucky, you won't have many problems. My 8080 combo travelled prolly over 10.000 miles in the trunk of my car (13 years of shaking, bumps and chrashingbangs) as my primary amp in the early years and later when I got my foirst tube amp it became a rehearsal amp - and I've never had a problem that wasn't solved in 2 minutes. Oh, the handle fell apart and it's still so

Considering tubes, JJ 12AX7 tubes sound pretty good in them because they make it slightly smoother and it's a good thing with this amp. If you have some spare bucks, you may try a TAD 7025 tube there that is completely compatible with the 12AX7. Basically it sounds like a 12AX7 but it has more gain.

I have a VS100 Combo, bought it new years ago, still have it and love it, you can get so many tones out of it. I got caught up in the tube craze and bought a DSL401 used and don't care for it, I keep going back to the Valvestate.

I upgraded the tube to a Groove Tube, don't know which one- it smoothed out the tone. Also upgraded the speaker to a Vintage 30 Celestion.

It's great for metal, try putting a BBE Sonic Maximizer through the effects loop- instant Megadeth. Put a tube screamer in front of it, scoop the mids, crank bass and treble, hit the power dimension, and very Pantera/Metallica tone

The OD1 channel I didn't care for

Is there a big difference between the old VS line, like the VS100 we're talking about, and the new AVT series? As far as I know the AVT has only one preamp tube. Is this true for the original VS?

You say the VS was made for metal. I haven't been able to get any great high-gain tone out the AVT that didn't qualify as a slightly overdriven crunch. This is why I question their resemblance.


Originally Posted by WatrobaIs there a big difference between the old VS line, like the VS100 we're talking about, and the new AVT series? As far as I know the AVT has only one preamp tube. Is this true for the original VS?

You say the VS was made for metal. I haven't been able to get any great high-gain tone out the AVT that didn't qualify as a slightly overdriven crunch. This is why I question their resemblance.

The VS's were the 2nd generation of the Valvestate line and IMO far superior to the AVT bullsh*t Marshall's been feeding people for the past 5 years or so.

I owned a VS265r and a VS100r before I went to a JCM800 and those VS's were pretty decent amps. I never failed to get good cleans and satisfying distortion tones out of them, but the distortion that resulted from mixing sounds with a good pedal was better. BTW these amps LOVED to take pedals. They just accepted the sounds of pedals very nicely. The stereo chorus on the VS265r was really damn good, too. I wouldnt hesitate to use one as a backup amp.

Chuck loved em, too . These amps are pretty *****in, better than alot of tube amps out there IMO. I actually might take one over a DSL.

If only I knew more about amplifiers when I bought my AVT.. After reviewing the specs, the new Valvestates are a joke. They have only one preamp tube, and almost all of the preamp signal comes from the transistor board anyway. It is basically a solid-state amplifier with a mask on.

1,350 for the half stack new?

My tastes have gone High-Gain, and I'm just not getting it here. I've been brainstorming ideas on how to get that sound out of this amp, like changing the preamp tube or throwing a metal distortion pedal in front, but it would just be like putting a V8 in a Dodge Neon. The notion of picking up a used 5150 somewhere and putting this thing in storage sounds better everyday.

Those AVT's have always been seriously lacking in the tonal integrity department. They just sound WEAK. At least your tastes have developed enough to recognize this.

you wanna get a 5150 sound from an avt150

OD2 max gain
Max preamp volume

Bass 30%
Middle 100%
Treble 100%
Presence 70%

now i have both a 5150 and an AVT150 and i really love them both, these are the closest settings i can get to my 5150, using my Squier Strat with JB jr bridge pickup.

i really like my avt150, theres more gain than i need available on it and it sounds better for metal than any other amp ive tried in the price range, it does metal better than a TSL, though when its turned right up it loses all its real good qualities.

though if you can afford a 5150 then go for it, their lovely amps, they dont take pedals well though.


Originally Posted by NecroPoloAs it has been said, it was made for metal.

I guess this is where things boil down to personal taste. The guy I jam with uses a Valvestate100 that he bought in the early 90's. He's always used his 1994 40th Anniversary Strat plugged into it until just recently when he upgraded to an AM DLX 50th Strat. While the 50th is a tone monster compared to the 40th, he still gets some of the most annoying, clangy, ching-a-ling tones I've ever heard from an amp. And in terms of gain, it definitely cannot get anywhere near the high gain metal territory. The clean channel is anything but clean and the gain is really uninspiring. A pedal is a must to bring this amp anyplace near hi-gain metal territory.

Could someone make some suggestions for some High-Gain pedals for me to look at? I don't ride too many chunky fifths, so I'm not looking for an all rhythymn distortion stomp. I like the distortion to be quot;searing,quot; with great harmonics and a good cut. Thickness is neccessary, but not so bassy and thick that I can't pop a lead. Well balanced may be the term I'm looking for. But nevertheless, it should be High-Gain.

I'll be playing through a PRS CE 22 loaded with Custom/Jazz.

well if it was me i would just use your amp, you are using an avt150, my avt150 sounds bloody marvelous, ive nailed Malmsteens tone on record when i did a cover of quot;far beyond the sunquot; (with the above settings and a single coil strat), also i can get identical to Steve Vai's quot;for the love of godquot; tone using my jem, different settings though, i find my amp to be a lovely versatile amp when using in the bedroom, im not really impressed with its tightness for heavy metal rhythm, but theres certainly more than enough gain, the only thing the amp doesnt shine with is when you turn up the volume much past half at gigging levels. though mine is a 2000 model Avt150, maybe they changed a few things with the way they make the amp since then.

I´m thinking about buying a VS2000 ? i guess coz i dont remember the actual model but its a valvestate for sure.... its a combo though... when i have the money i will i guess it sounds great...
JJ


Originally Posted by BigBazzyou wanna get a 5150 sound from an avt150

OD2 max gain
Max preamp volume

Bass 30%
Middle 100%
Treble 100%
Presence 70%

now i have both a 5150 and an AVT150 and i really love them both, these are the closest settings i can get to my 5150, using my Squier Strat with JB jr bridge pickup.

i really like my avt150, theres more gain than i need available on it and it sounds better for metal than any other amp ive tried in the price range, it does metal better than a TSL, though when its turned right up it loses all its real good qualities.

though if you can afford a 5150 then go for it, their lovely amps, they dont take pedals well though.

It could be my cab. I do notice a huge difference when I test at GC through a 1960. I've got the condensed AVT cab, and while it says quot;Celestionquot; on the speakers and reads quot;Marshallquot; on the front, it's miles below the 1960 RI line.

if you wanna hear my avt with those settings, go listen to my cover of Malmsteens quot;far beyond the sunquot; in quot;tips and clipsquot; i absolutely love the tone on the avt150, it needs no pedals, i dont know how yours sounds but it should sound like that.


Originally Posted by WatrobaIt could be my cab. I do notice a huge difference when I test at GC through a 1960. I've got the condensed AVT cab, and while it says quot;Celestionquot; on the speakers and reads quot;Marshallquot; on the front, it's miles below the 1960 RI line.

You could just upgrage the speakers instead of dropping $400 (used) or $800(new) on a 1960. Go to avitar and get some of the Eminence V12's, which are V30 clones. Drop 2 of them in to start, and see if it makes a difference. If it does, go with annother 2 when your budget allows. I think they're $60 or something new...can't remember, but cheaper than the Celestions, and I like the tone better.

As for a distortion pedal, something like the Fulltone Fulldrive II should help you out greatly. With the comp cut/boost, you can fiddle with it to match the sound of your amp best. It's also cool because it has a solo boost button as well, giving you essentially a 3 channel amp.

in his case a 5 channel amp. the avt150 already has 4 channels