The Dawn of the Age of Marshall....

Ax · 06-25-2006, 09:07 PM

Is it possible that we arse seeing the end of the age of Marshall? It's occurred to me that very few people now are drooling over Marshall Amplifiers. Back in the 80's and early 90's it was hard to find a stage without a Marshall amp. But now it's occurred to me with all the new waves of amplifiers that offer much cheaper solutions at arguably the same quality of Marshall's it's becomeing harder and harder to find a band that tours with Marshall amps... I really don't know why i'm posting this, but it's a thought... Many bands that used to exclusively use Marshall are moving to other brands, one such band, though not huge i would say, but still an example is Dead Poetic, their lead guitarist just recently used myspace to sell his amp in favor of a different amp. Underoath's first album was full of that marshall tone, but now they use Orange amplifiers. Aerosmith now tours with exclusively Orange amps, as well as switchfoot who is featured on the front page of the Orange website. What are your thoughts on this?

**Only Alive** · 06-25-2006, 09:33 PM

I don't think "dawn" is the word you're looking for...

-Nick

Ax · 06-25-2006, 09:42 PM

yeah, i think you may be right... maybe dusk? idk... if a mod were to rename this it would be good, but am i right?

Casey · 06-25-2006, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

Is it possible that we arse seeing the end of the age of Marshall? It's occurred to me that very few people now are drooling over Marshall Amplifiers. Back in the 80's and early 90's it was hard to find a stage without a Marshall amp. But now it's occurred to me with all the new waves of amplifiers that offer much cheaper solutions at arguably the same quality of Marshall's it's becomeing harder and harder to find a band that tours with Marshall amps... I really don't know why i'm posting this, but it's a thought... Many bands that used to exclusively use Marshall are moving to other brands, one such band, though not huge i would say, but still an example is Dead Poetic, their lead guitarist just recently used myspace to sell his amp in favor of a different amp. Underoath's first album was full of that marshall tone, but now they use Orange amplifiers. Aerosmith now tours with exclusively Orange amps, as well as switchfoot who is featured on the front page of the Orange website. What are your thoughts on this?

honestly?

I think that your whole post nothing but a bunch of speculation on your part, much like your anti-Vox post I just read in another thread. Marshall is still in business and last I checked, are doing pretty well.

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

Ax · 06-25-2006, 10:39 PM

I'm 19.. and have been to many many many concerts... i'm not saying marshall's are bad amps, but i think that what used to be the industry standard is not as sought after as what it used to be... there are only 2 brands of amps taht i absolutely hate, and that is Crate and Vox... I could get a nearly brand new vox for increadibly cheap right now from a friend, but i just don't like the tone, and neither does he, he paid over a thousand for it and now can't get 500, i think he's considering selling it back to the Guitar Center for about 400... is there a defect in the amp? no it sounds exactly like the ones at the GC and the local shop down the road, i just can't stand the sound of the thing... and the reason i hate Crate is because i own a crate practice amp and it sucks majorly, mostly because it's solid state, but also because it's a 15 Watt piece of crap... yeah, that's about it... I was considering a DSL but i think that when you are buying a Marshall you are paying more for the name than for the amp, it's a good amp but in my opinion it's not worth the pricetag...

**Rainer.** · 06-25-2006, 10:43 PM

I still see a lot of Marshalls around. Though Mesa Boogie has really stolen the spotlight recently, Mershall still has a large intense following. I know when I started playing, I really wanted a Marshall amp.

Ax · 06-25-2006, 10:50 PM

Exactly... i never said they were bad amps, i just said that they are not as popular as they once were and are losing popularity, the only reason i can speculate is taht people want cheaper amps or if they are gonna pay that much they want what is arguably a better amp, such as orange... the only reason i mentioned all the orang stuff is because i saw the artists page on the orange website, it's a decent list, and i have to say, one day i'd like to make that list, but it'll probably never happen, though i feel led to something in music, i'm just not sure what yet...

**Rainer.** · 06-25-2006, 10:59 PM

Perhaps not as popular as 20 years ago, but I'd hardly call it a "dusk". They're gonna be popular for a long while.

Ax · 06-25-2006, 11:05 PM

i'm not saying an end to the brand, just and end to their status as the industry standard...

Casey · 06-27-2006, 04:14 PM

AX, do you realize that everything you've stated in 100% unsubstantiated? I think that if I read any more posts like this, I'll go insane and totally lose hope for my generation of guitarists.

Ax · 06-27-2006, 10:00 PM

dude, i've been to a whole lot of concerts and i've noticed this in just maybe even the past few years, it used to be that all the stages had a marshall on them, but here lately it's all oranges and mesa's or peaveys, i never said that mashall was bad, i wouldn't mind owning one if i had the money to drop on one, but if i do spend that much money i'd rather have the orange but would be content owning a DSL or a 800 head they are both great amps... i was talking to my friend at the GC and said that they hardly ever have to order them anymore because they don't sell as well as the mesa's or solid state line 6 amps... but still i once drooled over the DSL but i've slept since then...

Hopeful · 06-27-2006, 10:58 PM

Dude, it's called "Welcome to the business of the music world." Do you think an established, successsful band would ever have to buy their own equipment? A lot of times they're playing house amps or amps given to them by the amp companies. Why? So that they gain visibility at a relatively cheap cost of advertising. That way, folks like you think that Orange amps or what-have-you has replaced some of the old established names like Marshall, Fender, Roland, etc.

I can tell you that every year I go to a large festival like Creation West, their stage amps will be a couple of mic'd Fender Twins and a couple of mic'd Vox AC30's. That's all they ever need, well, those amps and a good house sound system. In smaller venues, you might see a boutique amp like Speedster which donates display models for the concerts. Again, they do this to gain exposure and sell amps. Once you get these amps cranked, they all sound good.

It's plain and simple marketing. If you want to sell a product, it has to be seen. How many pairs of basketball shoes do you think Nike sold when they paid Michael Jordan to wear them and advertise for them? And, remember seeing the wall of Marshall's stacked up high? Most of them were empty cabs that were used for show only. Marshall will keep selling amps because they are good amps and they have a good history.

Ax · 06-28-2006, 09:00 PM

I agree with most of that, but you'd be surprised at how little these bands actually get... now some of the BIG names get free equipment but those are names like Aerosmith and Carlos Santana... also most musicians will only play with their own amps because it's what they like and what they are accustomed to, the amps may be given to them, but when they tour they take the amps with them, i'm not saying that the amps aren't given to them as a marketing tool so that they will be seen on stage, but a band usually endorses equipment that they like and use...

spyrotheleo · 06-28-2006, 10:29 PM

there is no way a band would use amps that are at the venues and stuff, BEcause they would already have everything dialed in into their amps, so if they didn't use their stuff it would take tons of tweaking to get their sound.

Hopeful · 06-28-2006, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyrotheleo

there is no way a band would use amps that are at the venues and stuff, BEcause they would already have everything dialed in into their amps, so if they didn't use their stuff it would take tons of tweaking to get their sound.

The sound guys do the tweaking and they do it mostly on the board. I have a friend who has mixed some big names. A good sound man is often as important as a good guitar player. Ask any big band. You say no way, but I see it very often. I've only been around music for over 30 years.