Anybody tried a Marshall VS100R?

Mulac · 3rd April 2008, 8:55am

I've been wanting a valve amp for a while and can get one of these in "mint" condition for £250 off a guy from work. Says it's never gigged and been gathering dust in the garage. Ebay has a used one with starting price of £225.

So... good deal or not? Good amp or not? It's either this or I save up and get a tiny terror with a 1x12. Tiny terror appeals because I could use the lower power setting and crank it in my flat. However the price of this marshall also appeals.

What do you gear enthusiasts reckon?

**Kenny Everett** · 3rd April 2008, 12:52pm

The VS series isn't a valve amp, it's a transistor amp with a single preamp valve. If you're serious about getting a good valve amp, then don't even consider this one.

The Tiny Terror is a great option, if you can deal with the fact that it's only got one channel

Mulac · 3rd April 2008, 1:23pm

Yeah I realised that after an initial googling. Is the preamp valve not supposed to contribute to a more valvey sound? Price is the only thing that is stopping me from getting a Tiny terror. If I get this for £250 and keep it in good nick (doubt I'll be gigging with it much if at all) I could probably punt it a wee bit down the line for £150-200 and upgrade then. It'd still be a decent step up from the one I've got now which is a marshall solid state which they made with park components I think.

Mulac · 3rd April 2008, 2:04pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulac

It'd still be a decent step up from the one I've got now which is a marshall solid state which they made with park components I think.

Or would it? Maybe I'm being blinded becasue I've got a bee in my bonnet about a new amp now.

TheFallenAngel · 3rd April 2008, 2:04pm

VS100R is an OLD tech Valvestate, I wouldn't bother.
£250 can get you something new and better.
Tiny Terror or maybe even one of those Peavey Valveking combos.

Mulac · 3rd April 2008, 2:21pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFallenAngel

VS100R is an OLD tech Valvestate, I wouldn't bother.
£250 can get you something new and better.
Tiny Terror or maybe even one of those Peavey Valveking combos.

Don't think i could get a TT with a speaker for £250? I'll have a look at the peaveys.

**Kenny Everett** · 3rd April 2008, 5:29pm

I sold a VS100 for £100 a few years ago, £250 is a brutal price for one of those.

Look at a second hand Marshall JCM900 or DSL combo for your budget

Mulac · 3rd April 2008, 7:35pm

Went and had a shot of it earlier, it is a nice amp and appears to be in excellent nick. Why did you sell yours? Upgrade? Guy won't negotiate price though and I do really fancy a tiny terror. Need to go and try one. Heard nothing but good things but y'know how it is.

**Kenny Everett** · 4th April 2008, 2:29pm

I sold it cause it sounded shite and wasn't reliable. It was just a wee amp for kicking about the house, but it wasn't particularly good even when it was working.

£250 is waaaay over what it should cost, there have been two generations of valvestate amps since then (I think). The tiny Terror is amazing and you'll love it, but if it's too much look at a PROPER valve Marshall secondhand.

Mulac · 4th April 2008, 5:23pm

That bad huh? Most of the reviews I can find say it's OK and pretty robust. Not going for it anyway. I had a definite rush of blood to the head yesterday morning!

TheFallenAngel · 4th April 2008, 5:40pm

That amp was about £300 new, guys having a laugh...

Mulac · 4th April 2008, 6:49pm

What a dobber. He said it was 450 new.

J.M · 6th April 2008, 4:51pm

valvestate was the grandfather of the AVT range! after some serious coaxing it was possible to get a usable sound! that just isnt good enough! lol like mr everett said keep yer een peeled for a nice dsl combo!

Elite · 8th April 2008, 4:35pm

marshalls totally get their tone from the poweramp section anyway so its pretty much a marshall without the marshall tone.

You could say that its a turd without the smell in that case.

Id go for the valveking. Get one of those and a good boost pedal (keely TS or bluesdriver or something good) and youl have massivly better results that that peice of shit could provide.

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