If you’re looking for some of the best Marshall amps suitable for rock and metal music, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s article, we’re going to highlight 10 of the coolest combos made by this legendary manufacturer. Surely, their gear is very popular, but is it actually good?
The truth is that Marshall makes one of the best amplifiers in the world. Their tone is absolutely iconic! The company offeres both cheap amps for beginners and high quality amps suitable for the most demanding guitarists.
That’s why I decided to create a list of their finest pieces of gear – feel free to check it out below. I had the pleasure to use all of these combos throughout my musical journey, so I feel like I’m in a good space to recommend all of them.
1. Marshall MG15GR
The MG15GR is one of the most popular mid-level Marshall amplifiers suitable for both beginners and more advanced guitarists. It’s not too expensive and it offers a very punchy sound, so it’s perfect for rock and metal.
This model offers a 15-Watt power, a 3-Band EQ and a built-in digital reverb. These features significantly improve the overall playing experience, especially if you’re practicing at home. Although it may not be the best choice for live performances and studio recordings, it’s still one of the best Marshall amps out there.
What’s important, the MG15GR model takes the pedals very well. Of course, it sounds good without the pedals anyway, but you can be sure that it will work very well with all of the effects in your pedalboard.
The main disadvantage of this amp is the fact that it’s not a tube amp. Nevertheless, Marshall MG15GR will be an excellent choice for guitarists who want to mainly play rock and metal. Whether you’re looking for a nice and clean tone or a more distorted sound, this amp has got you covered.
Here’s the sound demo.
2. Marshall MG10
In comparison with previous amp, Marshall MG10 is smaller and a bit more basic. Still, I personally own that amp and I often use it for home practice, so I can totally confirm that it’s one of the best budget practice amps out there.
The manufacturer decided to equip this combo with 10 Watts of power, two separate channels (clean & overdrive) and a contour knob, which basically adjusts the high frequencies. Although this is a basic setting and there is no built-in reverb, this amp is more than enough for playing rock and metal music.
Who is it for? Well, I think that it will be an ideal choice if you’re searching for your first guitar amp. Nevertheless, I think that even more advanced players will benefit from using it for their practice. This amp is cheap, compact and it actually sounds pretty good. Who needs anything else?
I recently reviewed Marshall MG10 amp on my YouTube channel – feel free to check it out below. If you think that this video is helpful, consider subscribing to my channel – it will help my channel grow!
3. Marshall Code 25
Marshall Code 25 is a really cool and versatile mid-level combo suitable for a lot of genres of music, including rock and metal. This is a modeling amp, so it’s built a bit differently than the two previous solid-state amps.
The amp features 14 MST preamps, 4 MST power amps and eight various speaker cabinets. These settings offer a lot of versatility, so if you decide to get it, you won’t have to worry about getting extra guitar pedals. In addition, you can easily connect this amp with your phone via BlueTooth or your DAW via USB.
Considering the amount of tones that you can achieve on that thing, honestly – there is nothing to complain about. Of course, it’s not a tube amp, but it’s still an excellent choice for the vast majority of guitar players.
Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out.
4. Marshall Origin 20
Marshall Origin 20 is a high-quality guitar amp suitable for the most demanding guitarists who want to play rock and metal music. Although it’s not cheap, it features an exceptionally high level of quality.
This is a tube amp, so it features that iconic vintage tone. Marshall decided to equip this amp with three ECC83 preamp tubes and two EL34 power tubes. In addition, there’s a 10 inch speaker, three-band EQ and separate gain/master controls.
This particular model will be an excellent choice for the most demanding guitarists who are looking for a reliable piece of gear for their home or studio. In addition, it’s perfect for live performances as well.
Here’s the sound demo. Sounds pretty good, right?
5. Marshall SV20C Studio Vintage
The SV20C is an absolute beast! This is not a cheap combo, but it features an exceptional quality which fulfills the needs of the most demanding guitar players.
The Studio Vintage amp offers a really interesting vintage vibe. In fact, this particular amp is a low-watt version of the legendary Marshall 1959 Super Lead. For those who don’t know, this iconic amp significantly contributed to the growth of rock music back in the ’60s and ’70s.
Marshall decided to equip this amp with the 10″ Celestion V-Type speaker that offers a classic British tone. To be honest, it’s tough not to fall in love with that thing. It’s expensive, but it’s totally worth it!
Here’s the sound demo.
6. Marshall SC20C
Marshall SC20C is an another high-level tube amp suitable for the most demanding professional guitarists. This model comes from Marshall’s Studio Classic Series, which is designed specifically for studio recordings.
This particular model features a preamp based on the legendary JCM 800 2203. In addition, there’s a 10″ Celestion speaker and 20 Watts of power which guarantee the classic Marshall tone.
Marshall equipped this combo with two ECC83 tubes, one ECC83 (phase splitter) tube and 2x EL34 tubes. You have to agree that its a really impressive setup! Surely, it’s one of the best tube amps for rock and metal genres.
Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out.
7. Marshall MG30GFX
The MG30GFX is an another really cool and affordable amp manufactured by this legendary brand. High versatility, low cost and a great tone – who needs anything else?
Additionally, it features a wide range of different effects. You can easily switch between the reverb, phaser, flanger, delay and chorus presets. So that means that you won’t have to search for additional effects for your pedalboard!
When it comes to pricing, it’s not too expensive. In fact, considering its versatility, it’s actually pretty cheap! Surely, it really stands out from the competitive amps offered by such brands like Fender, VOX or Orange.
Here’s the sound demo. Sounds really good, right?
8. Marshall MS2
In comparison with previous amps, Marshall MS2 is way different. This is a battery-powered micro amp, which is compact and extremely useful. Although it offers only 1 Watt of power, it actually sounds pretty good.
I think that the MS2 model is a great alternative for anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much money on a practice amp. You don’t need the high-quality gear for your regular lessons, so choosing this cheap and tiny amp can also be a great solution.
Although it’s not for everyone, it’s definitely worth checking out. What I like about the Marshall MS2 is the fact that you can take it with you literally anywhere. This is absolutely game-changing!
Here’s the sound demo. You’ll see that is sounds good in rock and metal genres!
9. Marshall MG15
Marshal MG15 is a larger version of the Marshall MG10 mentioned earlier in today’s article. It’s a bit more expensive, but it’s even more versatile and powerful.
In comparison with MG10, this model features 15-Watts of power, a 8″ speaker and a 3-band EQ which offers a lot of versatility when it comes to shaping your final tone. Just like in the smaller version, there are two channels available – clean and overdrive.
The MG15 will be ideal for home use and rehearsals with your band. It can get really loud, so it should be fine for rehearsing with a drummer and bassist.
Here’s the sound demo.
10. Marshall Origin ORI50H
The ORI50H is a top quality all valve head which offers an absolutely amazing quality. Surely, anyone who’s looking for the classic vintage tone will be really happy with that piece of gear.
I think that it will be an ideal choice for professional musicians who are looking for a reliable piece of gear that is suitable for live gigs and studio sessions.
The main disadvantage of that amp head is the price – it’s not that cheap. However, considering how good it is, it may be a really good investment. Out of my experience, if you decide to get it for yourself, you’ll probably never have to buy any other tube head again!
Here’s the demo.
FAQ
How good are the amplifiers by this brand?
The vast majority of Marshall amps are really good choice for all-level guitarists. Whether you decide to choose one of their budget solid-state amps or more expensive tube amps, you can be sure that their gear won’t let you down.
Where does Marshall manufacture their gear?
The cheaper Marshall models are made in Vietnam and China, but the more expensive high-end models are manufactured in the UK.
Are these combos good for blues?
Of course, Marshall amps are also a great choice for playing blues music. Their amps are very versatile, so they can be used in a wide range of genres – not only in rock and metal.
In fact, I participated in a lot of jam sessions all around Europe and quite often I played on the Marshall’s. This gear never fails, even for blues!
Some people say that they’re overrated. Is that true?
It is tough to say that Marshall amps overrated, especially when their quality is so good! Of course, it all depends on your preferences. Some guitarists prefer the VOX tone and some other players prefer the sound of Fenders. And that’s totally fine!
In my opinion, Marshall amps aren’t either overrated or overpriced. Some people may complain about the prices of their high end models, but it’s totally understandable that gear from the highest shelf costs a lot.
What exactly makes these amps so good?
Marshall amps feature the iconic ‘Marshall tone’ and the legendary design. Their gear significantly impacted the shape of today’s music industry. Some of the biggest guitar legends played on Marshall’s gear on their recordings and during their live shows. That’s why so many people love that brand!
Summary
Undoubtedly, Marshall is a truly iconic amp manufacturer. All of the amps listed above feature a great quality, so they will be a good and reliable choice for the vast majority of guitarists. Whether you’re an amateur or a more intermediate player, you won’t be disappointed with their quality.
How about you? Which combo would you choose? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think, we’re really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s article. Hopefully it was helpful! If you enjoyed this review, you may also like:
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