Marshall SV20H Studio Vintage 20-Watt Amp Head

This is a great re-creation of an already known fact, that the plexi is the foundation that built the rock ‘n’ roll tone.This unit has all the dynamic features of its predecessor the 1959 SLP. It’s ability to blend its channels to give you that dynamic plexi tone that is unmistakable and unmatched if you’re looking for that vintage rock ‘n’ roll tone that forged the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy page and the likes of some of the greatest guitar gods in rock ‘n’ roll history.This plexi 20 watt head is no slouch, and can get loud fast just like it’s Pappa, But with this unit you get that same tone and sound just A little more tamed.I’ve owned plexi‘s and JCM‘s alike and Marshall has done an exceptional job on this faithful recreation both inside and out and you ... MoreThis is a great re-creation of an already known fact, that the plexi is the foundation that built the rock ‘n’ roll tone.This unit has all the dynamic features of its predecessor the 1959 SLP. It’s ability to blend its channels to give you that dynamic plexi tone that is unmistakable and unmatched if you’re looking for that vintage rock ‘n’ roll tone that forged the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy page and the likes of some of the greatest guitar gods in rock ‘n’ roll history.This plexi 20 watt head is no slouch, and can get loud fast just like it’s Pappa, But with this unit you get that same tone and sound just A little more tamed.I’ve owned plexi‘s and JCM‘s alike and Marshall has done an exceptional job on this faithful recreation both inside and out and you can’t go wrong with this unit.There are a few OHM inputs for plenty of cab options along with an effects loop with on off button if you choose to run your pedals through the circuit.This unit sounds amazing!American musical supply and it’s 0% finance options have made purchasing a breeze and I would recommending them and this head to anyone.

What can I say about this little demon. It's 20w 2 el34 made in England. What is not to love. 5w mode is loud but manageable in the home. 20w mode will shake the house. Definitely will keep up with a loud drummer in a rock band setting. Playing through a lopoline 2/12 with et65 and reaper 30 it's thick and punchy. If you want that live Angus tone it's there. Zzrop it's there. Grab a strat and it's Jimi and Stevie all day. Roll the volume down for bell like cleans for an Albert Lee or Mark knopfler tone. Spike the high treble and cut the mid and it's Vanhalen 1. This little monster straight delivers. Mix the bass chanel and high treble get a thick southern rock tone think black foot. There is not a bad tone in this little terror. Will do clean to early 60's to early ... MoreWhat can I say about this little demon. It's 20w 2 el34 made in England. What is not to love. 5w mode is loud but manageable in the home. 20w mode will shake the house. Definitely will keep up with a loud drummer in a rock band setting. Playing through a lopoline 2/12 with et65 and reaper 30 it's thick and punchy. If you want that live Angus tone it's there. Zzrop it's there. Grab a strat and it's Jimi and Stevie all day. Roll the volume down for bell like cleans for an Albert Lee or Mark knopfler tone. Spike the high treble and cut the mid and it's Vanhalen 1. This little monster straight delivers. Mix the bass chanel and high treble get a thick southern rock tone think black foot. There is not a bad tone in this little terror. Will do clean to early 60's to early 80s Judas priest. It's the tone of generations in a manageable package. Simple lay out. Effects loop is great. I had a issue with a cracked tube when I first took delivery. American musical supply were awesome and hooked up with a credit on my bill and went above and beyond talking to a real person who cared. This is an awesome a.p from and awesome company. Will always do business with this place. No one better.

Marshall have hit the tube amplifier clone industry with a missile. Finally Marshall are making amps that sound like Marshall old school amps guitarists are searching for. You want a lower power tube amp that sounds like a 100 Watt Marshall Plexi Super Lead? Then buy this Marshall and forget the clones! Word of warning, these amps are not designed for a clean tone. You want cranked Marshall sound, you've got it!My suggestion is install some NOS preamp tubes and experiment with types. I found a Philips JAN 5751 in V1 works great to reduce the brightness and allow for the treble channel to be cranked up high enough to defeat the brightness cap in the circuit, without the volume ripping your head off. Chose a lower gain NOS with balanced sections for V3 also manages ... MoreMarshall have hit the tube amplifier clone industry with a missile. Finally Marshall are making amps that sound like Marshall old school amps guitarists are searching for. You want a lower power tube amp that sounds like a 100 Watt Marshall Plexi Super Lead? Then buy this Marshall and forget the clones! Word of warning, these amps are not designed for a clean tone. You want cranked Marshall sound, you've got it!My suggestion is install some NOS preamp tubes and experiment with types. I found a Philips JAN 5751 in V1 works great to reduce the brightness and allow for the treble channel to be cranked up high enough to defeat the brightness cap in the circuit, without the volume ripping your head off. Chose a lower gain NOS with balanced sections for V3 also manages the volume when on high power. Power tubes I'm using are EH EL34's. Not a fan of JJ tubes but they will do the job. Try with both inputs jumpered and have normal channel set to 6 and treble on 9. Warn your neighbours and enjoy. A noise gate in EFX loop works great to reduce hiss and noise when cranked.

Amazing amp!

Contrary to most Marshall amp lovers I do love the classic Plexi amps for their clean (Normal) tones. Thanks to the 5/20 Watt SV20H release I now also have come to appreciate the high gain tones of the Plexi amp. I played my first Marshall (1987x) in about 1980 thanks to a loaner from a good friend. But the insane loudness of even the 50 Watt Plexies never made me commit to finally purchase one for myself. The SV20H is still very loud, but a bit more manageable. As some mentioned before, the Bright Gain channel indeed is very bright, but only at low volumes. Once the volume is set to 12 o'clock and beyond, the brightness goes away and the amp delivers the gritty, well defined and balanced distortion that the Plexi is loved for by many. Even for the 5/20 Watt version ... MoreContrary to most Marshall amp lovers I do love the classic Plexi amps for their clean (Normal) tones. Thanks to the 5/20 Watt SV20H release I now also have come to appreciate the high gain tones of the Plexi amp. I played my first Marshall (1987x) in about 1980 thanks to a loaner from a good friend. But the insane loudness of even the 50 Watt Plexies never made me commit to finally purchase one for myself. The SV20H is still very loud, but a bit more manageable. As some mentioned before, the Bright Gain channel indeed is very bright, but only at low volumes. Once the volume is set to 12 o'clock and beyond, the brightness goes away and the amp delivers the gritty, well defined and balanced distortion that the Plexi is loved for by many. Even for the 5/20 Watt version I find it's true that Marshalls sound best when played loud. (Also consider that most Celestion speakers put out 100db at 1Wm.) To tame the beast one might still want to employ a speaker attenuator, or an attenuating effect in the effects loop. Yet, I always find that the classic, traditional non-master amps sound at their best without any of this. Guitar-cable-amp still delivers the tones that I love most.

Amazing sound, but high noise floor.

At it's core, this amp is amazing. It is the first amp that I have ever used that is truly completely controllable from your guitar. Jumper the channels, dime mostly everything, and you've got--in my view--the true archetype for poweramp distortion. Roll the volume back, and it cleans up really beautifully. Not crystal clear, obviously, but a beautiful, organic, mostly-clean sound.Or, set it to the edge of breakup, start with that "organic, mostly-clean sound," and use pedals to push it over the top. This is what I use it for, most of the time.At its core, I don't think you can beat this sound. I have not encountered any amp that I've liked better, with respect to its fundamental tone. So why not 5 stars? Because the high-treble channel, which is where the magic ... MoreAt it's core, this amp is amazing. It is the first amp that I have ever used that is truly completely controllable from your guitar. Jumper the channels, dime mostly everything, and you've got--in my view--the true archetype for poweramp distortion. Roll the volume back, and it cleans up really beautifully. Not crystal clear, obviously, but a beautiful, organic, mostly-clean sound.Or, set it to the edge of breakup, start with that "organic, mostly-clean sound," and use pedals to push it over the top. This is what I use it for, most of the time.At its core, I don't think you can beat this sound. I have not encountered any amp that I've liked better, with respect to its fundamental tone. So why not 5 stars? Because the high-treble channel, which is where the magic really is, is extremely noisy. There is significant hum at ANY volume, that is exacerbated by the presence knob. It's not unusably noisy, but it's very, very close. This can be mostly solved by putting a noise gate in the effects loop, but that means that you are going to sacrifice some level of dynamics, and hear that gating of the noise as your signal fades. So, that's a workaround, but I don't really want to be doing a "workaround" on a brand new amp. The noise was significant enough that I assumed it was an issue with my particular amp, and sent it back. The second one came in, and it's the same. Then I finally did some internet research to see if anyone else was having the same problem, and sure enough, quite a few people are. If you're thinking, "That's just a tube amp, you idiot, they make noise," you're wrong. First of all, the normal channel doesn't have any noise. It's dead quiet, even when it's cranked up. Second of all, my other amp is a 1960's Gibson Mercury, which is also dead quiet. It is just the high treble channel, and it's been the same on two different units that I've used.I'm still on the fence about whether I exchange it for another, return it, or deal with it.

Great product.

I've waited and purchased many products throughout the decades looking for manageable Classic Marshal Plexi tone at reasonable volumes.Marshall finally answered everyone's prayers with this head.I only wish it was handwired at this price point and not built to class 5 standards again for the price I felt it could have been built better.Great sound.

Little fire breathing monster

To my ears at least, this amp delivers a plethora of classic Marshall tones. There seem to be a fair few guides out there for achieving specific sounds by playing with input and tone options. It cleans up nicely too. You can get that edge of breakup sound which is very sweet with single coils. I have not tried the amp with effects pedals yet. The effects loop is pretty much permanently home to a JHS little black box. That brings me to one potential deal breaker... this thing is loud. Even at 5 watts it's capable of melting faces. This may, or may not be a concern to you, but an attenuator, or a similar solution should allow you to achieve those smile inducing Marshall tones without aggravating your neighbours.

Marshall Studio Vintage Plexi 20

Overall:Just picked up a 2019 Marshall SV 20 used. It looks brand new, functioned and sounded ok.First thing I installed all new tubes. JJ ECC83S and Tung Sol. A BIG improvement over stock. This amp is self biasing, like Mesa. I am pushing 60 and have owned and played nearly everything there is. This is one sweetheart of a amp. It is a touch sensitive amp that is warm and full bodied with good headroom, yet very articulate, with excellent dynamics. Probably the best Marshall clean tone ever made by the boys across the pond. Chords have a breath and bloom quality. Sounds fantastic with my Gibson Les Paul Classic P-90. Its is the loudest 20 watts ever made. The 5 watt mode allows a little more drive on volume and is used at home, but it can get very loud with a lot ... MoreOverall:Just picked up a 2019 Marshall SV 20 used. It looks brand new, functioned and sounded ok.First thing I installed all new tubes. JJ ECC83S and Tung Sol. A BIG improvement over stock. This amp is self biasing, like Mesa. I am pushing 60 and have owned and played nearly everything there is. This is one sweetheart of a amp. It is a touch sensitive amp that is warm and full bodied with good headroom, yet very articulate, with excellent dynamics. Probably the best Marshall clean tone ever made by the boys across the pond. Chords have a breath and bloom quality. Sounds fantastic with my Gibson Les Paul Classic P-90. Its is the loudest 20 watts ever made. The 5 watt mode allows a little more drive on volume and is used at home, but it can get very loud with a lot of headroom if needed. I use the normal input on low gain and the EQ is around 12:00 on the knobs at home. If you rely on gain and distortion to play guitar, this is the wrong amp for you. At moderate levels it has almost none. You can play play fast on this amp straight in, hammers, pulls, etc, yet it is not even a overdriven sound. A quality overdrive in front and your in classic rock heaven. This where the amp shines and belongs. Only drawback to this entire amp is channel 1 is voiced too bright, not nice for sure, with all eq and presence down to 9:00 or less and bass up it can be done, but really....stay out of channel 1, PROBLEM SOLVED. Its a 1 channel amp anyway there is no footswith option. I never use effect loops on any amp because it ruins the amp tone, no comment on that. Forget all that jumping the channels BS, it's totally not needed and kills the tone. If playing in normal channel and jump it to the bright channel, it just gets brighter and louder, not better. it actually gets worse. Too much monkey see internet crap on that subject. BOTTOM LINE : This is a really nice sounding and playing amp that a professional will really enjoy owning. I am very happy with the SV 20 and this one is a keeper in my collection.

Review of Marshall SV20H Studio Vintage Plexi 20W Valve Amp Head

The traditional sound I wanted. Make no mistake this amp is LOUD. Using mine with a Toneking Ironman attenuator through a Marshall 2 x 12 cabinet. Other than that I have a Rat pedal to tone in a small amount of distortion (when needed) and, a Wampler Tumnus for overdrive boost on solos.

Very , Good Job Marshall

This amp is addictive. And that is the clean sounds. The 1st few days playing , I concentrated on trying to get the best clean tones possible, since I knew the Plexi was going to easily cover all of the overdrive colors it is famous for having. Plug into the bottom # 1Treble input , patch the channels , and by keeping the Normal volume high and bringing up to taste the High treble volume , there is plenty of head room for amazingly touch sensitive clean tonesThe 2 early 70's era Plexi's I've owned, the clean sound was mesmerizing, but tough to turn more than ¾ way up, too loud . But on this 20 watt Plexi , plugging into the top # 1 channel and patching low 1 into top 2 ( this seems to be every ones go to setting ), place both volumes on 2 ½ , and there is your ... MoreThis amp is addictive. And that is the clean sounds. The 1st few days playing , I concentrated on trying to get the best clean tones possible, since I knew the Plexi was going to easily cover all of the overdrive colors it is famous for having. Plug into the bottom # 1Treble input , patch the channels , and by keeping the Normal volume high and bringing up to taste the High treble volume , there is plenty of head room for amazingly touch sensitive clean tonesThe 2 early 70's era Plexi's I've owned, the clean sound was mesmerizing, but tough to turn more than ¾ way up, too loud . But on this 20 watt Plexi , plugging into the top # 1 channel and patching low 1 into top 2 ( this seems to be every ones go to setting ), place both volumes on 2 ½ , and there is your crunch , for days.. The 4 input 2 channel has so many more possibilities. After playing a while, time will begin to fly by, and you'll find the amp is so loud and consuming with a big presence. Then you realize, it was set to the 5 watt selection. Yea, it is LOUD . You can sit on your sofa and play clean all night long while watching the Lightning in the NHL playoffs, but you will be rattling some walls if you induce some Plexi heat. On the overdriven tones, it is so nice to be able to record and play overdrive with the volume at a manageable level and still sound just like a 100 watt SLP. 5 and 20 watts sound the same to me, once you've had time for your hearing to adjust. The effects loop runs reverb and delays very well. So if you are thinking that at $1200 less than the 50 & 100 Plexi's , there is no way the Studio MKII will not sound as good or as authentic , it does , it will. My theory is that Marshall is willing to keep their profits lower on this production, because every amp manufacturer out there is and has been making bank on their low watt Plexi design, and they , for years have just watched the $$$ green go to someone else. Best amp since my TSL in mid 90's.