Got a Marshall Class 5 Today!

[Elliot Easton]

It's got the new, improved 3-piece back. This little thing sounds so much like a plexi, only smaller! It's really good; this one doesn't seem to rattle like the earlier ones that a lot of the guys complained about. I can't believe the bang for the buck: MF sell it for $399 and yet the Princeton Reverb (which I also own and love) costs $899...but what a great mini a/b amp rig! Here's something interesting (can't vouch for the veracity of the statement) I came across on the interweb today: the difference in volume between 5 watts and 100 watts is only 12db!:bike

 

[bizzwriter]

Hmmm...I might have to hit that.

I have used a '67 Vibrochamp for band practices -- when boosted with an old TS-808, it's loud as HELL.

p.s. Did you keep the stock tubes, or...???

 

[Elliot Easton]

Stock everything, I only just got it today. I'll tell you one thing-it's way louder than any Vibro-King I can remember, or at least it has more perceived volume because it has so much more gain than the Fender. I plugged an SG Special w/Lollars into it and with the volume at around 3 o'clock it really sings w/o having to be super loud. It's a cool little amp!

 

[Red Baron]

I've been wanting to try one of these, are they in any way boxy and small sounding considering the size of the cab?

 

[Elliot Easton]

I don't think so. To me it just has a classic Marshall sound, only smaller. As you can see, they changed the design of the back panel.
This first picture is off a dealer's website and shows the back of a Class 5 with the earlier design:

Now here's my amp with the newer 3 piece back. As you can see the back is more open, which may help avoid that boxiness. They also seem to have cured the rattle that some earlier owners complained about:

 

[SoloDallas]

Elliot, I know you have great records out there, but what about recording yourself with it? Would love to hear/see you use that

 

[Don]

Dang it! You're pushing me beyond my ability to "just say no"!

 

[sixty2strat]

played one at a sam ash to test a guitar and was pretty much stunned by how nice it was, i refused to believe that a cheapo could get so close to my old marshalls tones. for 5 watts it was loud as hell.

 

[Ad_02Std]

I love mine. Had to re-valve it as the valves supplied rattled like broken light bulbs. I use it every day, in fact I used it yesterday to record the guitar parts on this ('scuse the rare Strat moment): Awaiting The Sharks

I prefer it with my Les Paul; clean boost into the amp with the volume on about 4 gives me all the tones I need.

I was surprised how much like a Marshall it sounds, I did not expect them to make as good a job as they did on the sound.

 

[DLHelfand]

I have a 3 piece back one and replaced the back with a custom back I got off of ebay. It is a one piece with a decent size opening on the bottome by the speaker, designed to be used with something like the Dr Z airbrake lite or for the bedroom trick. I also had Mark from lava cable make me a custom cable to replace the stock speaker cable so that I could do the bedroom trick or just plug the cable directly into the external speaker out. It really is a fantastic sounding amp.

Wow...didn't realize I was responding to a thread started by E.E.! It has been awhile since I have been here and forgot you were here. Glad to see even serious pros such as yourself are digging these things.

 

[Beano Geno]

Hi Elliot...These Class 5s are great little amps. I have one of the earlier one piece back versions (luckily without any rattle) and I have been astonished by the tone and volume these little buggers put out. Wait until your speaker gets broken in...it really gets sweet!eace2

 

[bizzwriter]

...so that I could do the bedroom trick...

Okay. I'll bite. WTF is "the bedroom trick"???

 

[Elliot Easton]

Okay. I'll bite. WTF is "the bedroom trick"???

Although I haven't heard that term before I assume that he's referring to installing some kind of attenuator so that you can crank the front end and still have it be very quiet in volume. Sort of a super-master volume that's intended to keep the tone the same but the db's down.

 

[latestarter]

I had one, moved it because it was too loud! Great sound, and that stock speaker is very good (Celestion Tube 10 or something?). I used it once through a 2x12 (Alnico Gold and G12 Anni) and far out, massive Marshall tones. And totally giggable volume!

FWIW I ended up with an AC4 due to the 1/4 watt power scale switch. I use it too for when the kids are asleep and I'm hanging out to play.

 

[Beano Geno]

Okay. I'll bite. WTF is "the bedroom trick"???

I believe the bedroom trick is switching the amp to headphone mode and then plugging in an extension speaker with the plug end only partially pushed in. That gives you mono instead of stereo thru the headphone input and reduced db while keeping tone basically unchanged. Headphone mode disables the amp's own speaker.

 

[Texas Blues]

It's got the new, improved 3-piece back. This little thing sounds so much like a plexi, only smaller! It's really good; this one doesn't seem to rattle like the earlier ones that a lot of the guys complained about. I can't believe the bang for the buck: MF sell it for $399 and yet the Princeton Reverb (which I also own and love) costs $899...but what a great mini a/b amp rig! Here's something interesting (can't vouch for the veracity of the statement) I came across on the interweb today: the difference in volume between 5 watts and 100 watts is only 12db!:bike

Check this out. Not too surprising when you think about it.

http://www.amptone.com/g112.htm


I love small tube amps. Enjoy yours in good health Elliot.

 

[Elliot Easton]

very interesting. that 5 watt amp is loud as hell; somehow marshall watts seem louder than fender watts. to me it's way louder than a champ, although i haven't a/b'd them and do not own a champ. actually, i think it's as loud as a princeton!

 

[Cliff Gress]

very interesting. that 5 watt amp is loud as hell; somehow marshall watts seem louder than fender watts. to me it's way louder than a champ, although i haven't a/b'd them and do not own a champ. actually, i think it's as loud as a princeton!

British use imperial watts!!!

Love my Class 5....

 

[spidey]

Still loving my Class 5 too.

 

[Gene Conrad]

The difference in volume could have a lot to do with the size and efficiency of the speaker as well as the overall packaging in the cabinet.

I plugged my champion600 into a 12" celestion greenback, in an open back 1x12 cab. It sounded huge, and awesome.

I once plugged my epi valve jr (now sold) into a 4x12 marshall with celestions and it was mind-numbingly loud.

That said, I would still love to try out the new Class 5 too. The green ones are really cool.