NAD: Valvestate for the Win!

[dayl]

Been looking for simple straight forward practice gear that doesn't cost the earth and (as stated in my wtb post) was reminded of how much I wanted a gig sized valvestate when I was a teen. I was looking for a 2x12 8080 etc but couldn't believe my luck when this thing showed up.

Mid 90's Marshall Valvestate VS100H

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Been jamming on it since Friday and really dig it. It's not the best amp I owned but it just works, and me being distortion guy looking for more of the toit sort of toans, it takes high gain pedals really well.

3 Channels: Clean/OD1/OD2

Clean channel is very clean as you would expect. Not quite the SS sterile that I know but still clean. Fortunately the EQ is good enough to take the edge off.

OD 1 is just a gain and vol setting but is void of either the clean or OD2 eq. Not really usable with the gain past 2 but crunches up nice until then

OD2 I dont know, should I have been surprised that Marshall would put a really good sounding OD on their amp? It sounds very usable and shapes well with the EQ. Also switches to a Distortion channel which sounds a bit thick and scooped for my liking but still good.

Verdict. Best bang for buck I've found in a long time and wknt be beaten anytime soon I'd imagine. I paid $220 for this and am happy enough with I'm happy to pay to give it a good service and freshen up. It's nothing flash, we all know this, but its useable for me and a good vibe to boot.

3 channels and FX loop aside.... we really know Im probably just going to ram the clean channel with distortion. It's a simple and peaceful existence.

Heres to ticking off another "I wish I had the chance to try" item from the list of life...

[Reg18]

Awesome find! It was anyways a good gig at my high school when my older brother let me borrow his 80watt Valvestate (think it was a single 12”) good memory’s of these amps!
Big upgrade from my Rage 158!

[JoeBlow]

Reminds me of my first amp (vs230). Which was a lot more basic than your one. Looks like you've got plenty of options there.

Congrats

[NippleWrestler]

Is that the Static X and Chuck Schuldiner amp?

[dayl]

Is that the Static X and Chuck Schuldiner amp?

Yep! Didnt think anyone would care about that part on here.

Chuck used the 8100, this replaced it. Exact same circuit though. Fx loop moved to the back as 8100 had it on the front and a couple other tweaks apparently.

[griff]

Also J from White Zombie used an 8100 mixed with Randall's and Dual recs. He has one of the best heavy tones of all time imo
Good score man!

[NippleWrestler]

Wayne Static and Chuck are 2 players I like for totally different reasons. One really overthought his parts, the other stripped it right back.

There's a video on YouTube where warren Huart does a deep dive into the static x recording of Wisconsin Death Trip with the producer from the album. It's quite cool. That's the VS100 all the way cos tubes couldn't react quick enough (so Wayne said).

[hamo]

If I knew more about amps when I had my Valvestate I'm not sure I would have moved it on.

[dayl]

Wayne Static and Chuck are 2 players I like for totally different reasons. One really overthought his parts, the other stripped it right back.

There's a video on YouTube where warren Huart does a deep dive into the static x recording of Wisconsin Death Trip with the producer from the album. It's quite cool. That's the VS100 all the way cos tubes couldn't react quick enough (so Wayne said).

Nice one! the guitars on WDT are tight.

[griff]

Wayne Static and Chuck are 2 players I like for totally different reasons. One really overthought his parts, the other stripped it right back.

There's a video on YouTube where warren Huart does a deep dive into the static x recording of Wisconsin Death Trip with the producer from the album. It's quite cool. That's the VS100 all the way cos tubes couldn't react quick enough (so Wayne said).

I've always loved Wayne's sound, It's an amazing album

[Danger Mouse]

If I knew more about amps when I had my Valvestate I'm not sure I would have moved it on.

You wouldn't have. The band my band in the UK befriended used them, they had crushing tone. We were their default support for any gig, we had a pair of block letter 5150s and didn't show them up.

[Kris]

good score mate,and killer price!

[matman]

I had a valvestate 2020 for years. My first amp was this truly hideous sounding boss mg 10 that had a distorted sound that sounded like flatulent squirrels. I went to Danny's music world in the Tron to buy a Yamaha budokan instead but a combination of a salesman with a black belt in up-sell and the good old student loan saw me walk out with the valvestate instead.
I was perfectly happy with it until a combination of not realising that it needed a new pre-amp tube plus my first gearfest filled me with GAS and FOMO for a tube amp and led to me flicking it to buy a Blackheart lil giant that also got flicked to fund the Ryan built custom I have today. I don't regret it at all but in hindsight recognise that I could have stuck with the valvestate and it would have still been sweet as for where and how I play.

Cool to see them getting some love

[dayl]

They definitely seem worthy. The optimist in me likes to think I've learned a little about the subjective art of good sounding gat over the years, much of which comes from reading through the threads in this place too.

Its definitely a worthy piece of kit. I enjoy distortion etc so it definitely holds it own without question.

[hamo]

I was perfectly happy with it until a combination of not realising that it needed a new pre-amp tube plus my first gearfest filled me with GAS and FOMO for a tube amp and led to me flicking it to buy a Blackheart lil giant that also got flicked to fund the Ryan built custom I have today. I don't regret it at all but in hindsight recognise that I could have stuck with the valvestate and it would have still been sweet as for where and how I play.

Cool to see them getting some love

Apart from my VS being an 80 and me not getting a Ryan monster, that's my exact story too, pretty much.