Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I use an old master volume head Howard. Not sure on the age...early '80's I think. My sloping cab is an old bass 4x12 & my straight cab is one of the newer stereo gtr 4X12's. The bass cab sounds better & I am on the look out for an older straight bass cab.



There are a lot of Marshall options now, but from what I can tell, there's only one Valve head & cab series that are worth having, all the rest seem to be cheaper versions. Get the 100w...you'll only regret getting something smaller!

Tony: I will set my sights on a 100w. Is there any point to considering a fairly new Marshall? Have you tried any?

The new Marshalls are offered in a twin & triple channel format Peter. I have used the twin in direct comparison to mine & was able to duplicate my sound very closely, but with the added advantage of a boost for solos. The triple is supposed to be exactly the same as the twin, but with yet an extra channel switch....however, I have never got on with these when I have come across them & in my experience, they don't sound quite the same. I am very happy with my old Marshall & I feel that it does give a slightly different sound to the new ones. Being honest though, I probably wouldn't worry a great deal if I was 'issued' with a new twin channel, as I think that the sound is pretty similar.

My beef with the newer Marshalls, is that they give you too many options, meaning you can make a mess pretty easily & may have to 'search' for THAT sound, while with amps like mine, you just plug in & that's it...instant Marshall!

Tony: While I suspect I know your answer, to what extent can a Marshall Combo approach the sound of the head and cabinet? There reaches a point, in which cost effectiveness and practicality comes into play.

A combo, by it's sheer construction, will never sound the same as a stack Peter....they are just two totaly different concepts. I would liken it to comparing a solid body gtr to a semi acoustic.

As you know, I am not a combo man, but a sealed back 2x12 combo sounds a little better IMO. This is because the bottom end has no where to escape, so it is forced out the front. Two speakers always add some extra frequencies (not least, because the cabinet is bigger) & punch over a single speaker design.

A 2x12 sealed back cab will have a little of both combo & stack characteristics.

Thanks Tony. So what you're saying in essence, is that Marshall IS all that it's stacked up to be.

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Sorry 'bout that. I was playing with formatting.

Hey, remember Steppenwolf's "Hippo Stomp"? Towards the end of the song John Kay uses exactly the same sound for his solo. Maybe he had the same idea? Breaking with tradition I mean.

You mean like this, Dave?

Ooooooh.... post number 4567!!