Marshall SV20

[Conway]

Did someone on here from ChCh buy the SV20 head that was on Trademe?

Thoughts on this amp??? After avoiding Marshalls for many many years, I'm thinking this might be the amp for me to try. Advise please...

And is anyone selling one (head or combo, I don't mind either way)?

[rickenbackerkid]

I forget - is the SV20 the the JCM800, or the Plexi?

I have the plexi Combo. It is a fantastic, fantastic amp. Beautiful cleans and beautiful overdrive. The cabinet/speaker design is very nice too; it's a very big cabinet for a very piddly 10 inch speaker, but nothing about it sounds boxy or small.

Downsides would be that the EQ is fiddly and very interactive and that to get distortion, it's LOUD, even in 5 watt mode.
Positives would be that it really sounds like (and is) a Marshall Plexi. I have used so many pedals and amps that claim to provide a 'plexi' tone and none of them really do, but this amp does, in a manageable format. Guys in my band like one so much our lead singer is talking about getting the JCM800 version

[Conway]

Cool, thanks Ben. It is the Plexi I'm looking at.

[HackSaw]

Cool, thanks Ben. It is the Plexi I'm looking at.

I assume in the LE navy blue tolex?

[FuzzMonkey]

I forget - is the SV20 the the JCM800, or the Plexi?

I have the plexi Combo. It is a fantastic, fantastic amp. Beautiful cleans and beautiful overdrive. The cabinet/speaker design is very nice too; it's a very big cabinet for a very piddly 10 inch speaker, but nothing about it sounds boxy or small.

Downsides would be that the EQ is fiddly and very interactive and that to get distortion, it's LOUD, even in 5 watt mode.
Positives would be that it really sounds like (and is) a Marshall Plexi. I have used so many pedals and amps that claim to provide a 'plexi' tone and none of them really do, but this amp does, in a manageable format. Guys in my band like one so much our lead singer is talking about getting the JCM800 version

Good to know. I've been very tempted by these amps since they have come out. I wonder what the reasoning behind the 10" speaker was? Why not a 12"? I assume there is an output for an external speaker cabinet?

[Conway]

Cool, thanks Ben. It is the Plexi I'm looking at.

I assume in the LE navy blue tolex?

That would, of course, be ideal. Unfortunately, all Rockshop has in stock is 2 combos - one in not very appealing white, and one in absolutely hideous red and black faux snakeskin.

[Conway]

I forget - is the SV20 the the JCM800, or the Plexi?

I have the plexi Combo. It is a fantastic, fantastic amp. Beautiful cleans and beautiful overdrive. The cabinet/speaker design is very nice too; it's a very big cabinet for a very piddly 10 inch speaker, but nothing about it sounds boxy or small.

Downsides would be that the EQ is fiddly and very interactive and that to get distortion, it's LOUD, even in 5 watt mode.
Positives would be that it really sounds like (and is) a Marshall Plexi. I have used so many pedals and amps that claim to provide a 'plexi' tone and none of them really do, but this amp does, in a manageable format. Guys in my band like one so much our lead singer is talking about getting the JCM800 version

Good to know. I've been very tempted by these amps since they have come out. I wonder what the reasoning behind the 10" speaker was? Why not a 12"? I assume there is an output for an external speaker cabinet?

Yes, you can plug in an external cab. And Marshall has a matching cab for the head version which is a 1x12...

[olegmcnoleg]

After avoiding Marshalls for many many years, I'm thinking this might be the amp for me to try. Advise please...

Can't believe I'm reading this...

[FuzzMonkey]

Yes, you can plug in an external cab. And Marshall has a matching cab for the head version which is a 1x12...

The head appeals to me more as I've got a 4x12 loaded with Greenbacks but the versatility of the combo might be handy.

[Conway]

After avoiding Marshalls for many many years, I'm thinking this might be the amp for me to try. Advise please...

Can't believe I'm reading this...

Well, I had a Marshall class 5 many years ago, which I just didn't like. I've always much preferred Vox and Fender blackface tones, so I've stuck with various flavours of them.

[robthemac]

Coincidentally I was looking at SV20 heads online last night. Bit disappointed to hear that they have to run loud to get distortion, even at 5W. Is that true for bluesy crunch tones as well?

[Conway]

Bit disappointed to hear that they have to run loud to get distortion, even at 5W.

Luckily, I have a Waza Tube Amp Expander.

[Conway]

But a boost going into the pre-amp should get you there.

[rickenbackerkid]

Well, I had a Marshall class 5 many years ago, which I just didn't like. I've always much preferred Vox and Fender blackface tones, so I've stuck with various flavours of them.

Those little 5watt amps are almost always a bit lame. Something about that SE el84 design just doesn't sound BIG

[rickenbackerkid]

Coincidentally I was looking at SV20 heads online last night. Bit disappointed to hear that they have to run loud to get distortion, even at 5W. Is that true for bluesy crunch tones as well?

These are pretty loud, dry and bitey to be fair. I'll try to do some sound samples soon.