Has anyone out there played an MA yet? Well, besides Steve D.,obviously.

Opinions? How does it stack up against, say a DSL? I'm wondering which Marshall it most closely resembles.

I have yet to see one anywhere around here, that or a Class 5. How is the DSL holding up for you?

Ha ! holding up is the right term! That DSL has been the touchiest amp I've ever dealt with. I just got it out of the shop again. IT's had so much work, you would probably not even recognize it. The new MMOT, totally retubed with JJ EL34l's. A few new parts here and there. It sounds bad ass though. I guess the tweakyness of dealing with this DSL design kind of has me nosing around some of the newer Marshall's though. I wouldn't mind having a new one with the warranty that goes with it. But your old DSL, despite it's quirks which I think I finally have ironed out,  does sound amazing. So I'm still not going to get rid of it, unless I know I'm getting something I like just as well. Especially since I'm on a budget, and my choices are limited.

I guess the fact that Steve D. designed the MA has me intrigued about it!

I will probably be staying away from the JMD:1 though! No modeling for me.

Cheers SurfNorthWest! Merry Xmas too!

Well, I've tested the amp and - Sorry, Steve D - I think it's crap. Sounds totally flat, no dynamics, harsh high end ... my boss at the music store has the same opinion.

By the way ... in the video you posted, the guitarist says (yes I'm german :D) that he does not like the amp much (but it's good for the price...bla bla) and something like "it's character is Marshall, like the cheap solid state Marshalls, too ... sounds like Marshall, but has not the quality of the real Marshalls" ... and he wants to SELL this amp, guys   .

Actually I own a Vintage Modern, so nothing against your work, Steve     ... I just don't think the MA is worth buying it if you want to have a "tube amp". For shure it's a beginners amp at a very low price, so I understand that it can't have the quality of real Marshall tube amps. It just doesn't have the characteristic you'd expect from a tube amp. And thats something the Haze really has.

Hey no problem toxx. As always sound and tone is subjective and the MA was not particularly aimed at vintage tone hounds. There are actually many players who really like it and some of those are experienced pros. Personal style, instrument, speakers, etc. etc all play their usual part.

That's what I was wondering Steve.. Since I haven't seen one around to actually play through, I was wondering just for some beginning reference, if like the VM, you had the early 60's Marshall's as your inspiration. Was there any certain Marshall that was a template to start from for the MA?
Of all the clips and video's I've seen so far, the amp seems to sound pretty good. I'd like to hear one through the 425A cab, as that cab makes every amp I put through it sound good!

There is no specific Marshall amp the MA is based on but like all Marshalls it has that familiar roar and character people expect and love them for.

I bought a MA50H and replaced the power tubes with some NOS RFT's and V1 with a TungSol 12ax7. I am running it through the MC412 instead of the MA412. The MC412 uses Celestions instead of Eminence speakers. Other than that they are the same cab I believe.... I know they cost the same.

Anyway.... I love the MA! It was pretty dull and lifeless until I swapped tubes but I could tell the tone was in there. I love the clean channel with a MXR GT-OD for vintage crunch and the Dirty side for Modern Crunch. I have been playing for over 30 years and have owned plenty of Marshalls and I really like the dynamics of this head. The Resonance can really pull from the bottom hard if you want it too.


It may not be top of the line but for me..... It's a winner.

Welcome to the forum Vince.

For the price the MA is a very usable and decent sounding amp in the gigging environment. Unfortunately a lot of players are judging it at 'shop volume' alone which is not what it is meant for.

Thanks for the welcome Steve!

Yeah... Logically, I really don't know why people are resisting the amp.... the thing absolutely rocks. I attribute it to the low price and the resistance of people who do not want to like a lower priced Marshall build in a country other than the UK.

"Well, I've tested the amp and - Sorry, Steve D - I think it's crap. Sounds totally flat, no dynamics, harsh high end ... my boss at the music store has the same opinion."



"Anyway.... I love the MA! It was pretty dull and lifeless until I swapped tubes but I could tell the tone was in there."


Well I guess this could be the problem!! Stock valves are always a bit crap on less expensive amps. My Tiny terror sounded way harsh until i took out all the stock tubes and put in JJs.

i personally like the idea of valve amps that are affordable for more people!

Ok , here it comes, my first MA video  Recorded with camera mic so sound is not as it should be, but I hope you like it, sloppy playing included,lol.
Here is my setup without other effects, Epiphone Prophecy SG->Boss SD-1 -> Vox Satchurator->MA.

Nice one!

I'm surprised you need the distortion pedals as the MA has a lot of gain in boosted OD.