Marshall Bluesbreaker reissue: opinions please

[SGtone]

I'm growing more and more impatient with this Fender CVR delay, so much so that I'm seriously considering to buy a Marshall Bluesbreaker 1962 reissue instead.
The amps I have are a Marshall JCM800 (100 watts half-stack) which is far too loud for me and a silverface Twin Reverb 135 (my main amp at the moment).
I thought the Vibrolux would be a nice complement but the Bluesbreaker may just as well be the ticket.
So, I'd like to hear from anyone who owns or plays the Bluesbreaker, please. How does it compare to other amps, how versatile is it, overall pros and cons?

 

[EveryMn]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yaGGL9IFR0M

 

[SG Lou]

I played one a few months ago and wasn't overly impressed, considering what they are asking for it !

 

[guitarweasel]

I've had both.....an original and a reissue. The reissue isn't as deep as the original, the tube set up is different and you definitely need to put some kind of booster in front of it.

Have you looked into a Vox AC 30?

 

[SGtone]

Thanks for the responses so far. I friend of mine owns a AC30. It's ok but seems to be rather a one-trick pony, like the Bluesbreaker, I guess. Voxy is more than welcome to convince me otherwise.
My main issue is really versatility. I like the crunch and sustain only the Marshall can give but where will I get that fat clean Fender tone? Back to the Vibrolux? Other makes?
I have plenty of boosters to put in front of a Bluesbreaker, so that's not an issue. Tell me more about the tube set up. On the Net I see all sorts of variations: EL34, 6L6, 5881, KT66... Does the reissue take all of them? What differences in sound are there?

 

[marty1776]

I built one a few years ago. It's an amazing amp. Won't get Fender cleans or anything. More vintage sounding mid-driven cleans and can get pretty nasty but not overly so. It's all Marshall, so you know what you'd be getting. The original takes 2 EL84's.

 

[TNT]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xl2I6d38R0k

 

[Lex Lurid]

Whilst I can completely understand your situation and can equally imagine the frustration that you must be feeling by now I would urge caution. Now there is no way that I am qualified to say that a Bluesbreaker reissue ISN'T the Amp for you. I have only played through one for a matter of hours, so it would be very unfair of me to say a definitive "NO". The one that I tried was completely Stock, sitting on a Shop Floor. I tried it when I was searching for a Combo to compliment my Matamp C7 Head and Cab. I tried 3 specific Combos, each being different and each having their own sound. I demoed the Vox AC30CC (Loaded with Alnico Blues), The Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue and The Bluesbreaker.

I am the FIRST to admit that despite a very "Personal" view on all things Marshall, I was quite impressed by what the Bluesbreaker did. BUT, it really wasn't quite as "Open" Sounding as either of the other two too my ears at least?

I have spoken in great depth with Weas regarding these amps, he as you know has had an original as well as the reissue, I was more than pleased to listen to all he had to say as I admit I am not the greatest Marshall Fan around here. I well remember him saying that he felt that the reissue "lacked" the originals depth and in some degrees it's authentic sound? I am struggling here because this conversation took place a while ago and my memory isn't as good as it could be. I recall that we did agree that for "certain" things there "should" really be no competition, but in reality, there are others around that can offer you more Flexibility soundwise? I hate the term "One Trick Pony" but to a degree felt that it did sum up the Marshall. IF the Gig at that time had been anything other than a Blues Band, I didn't see the Bluesbreaker as THE viable option for me.

I ended up taking the Fender home with me. BUT......A Week later I took that back and swapped over to the AC30CC. The biggest problem that confronts anyone offering suggestions is the subjective nature of the subject. YOU might find that any of the named amps I have spoken about do what you require, I on the other hand, might not.

I wish I could remember exactly the conversations that Weas and I had because I know that he proved to be a mine of information and I well recall saying that I wished I had been able to talk with him before this situation had arisen.

Knowing my adoration of the Vibrolux, you might be surprised that I "Passed" on The Deluxe Reverb? They are two VERY different Amps. Yes they share certain attributes, but to my ears.......... The Vibrolux just has it all and then some! The Deluxe Reverb sounded tremendous with Strats etc, but personally I never was happy with it and Humbuckers. This is almost certainly a "Personal" thing though. Some of the nicest Tones I have heard in ages have come from a Les Paul through an original Deluxe Reverb that had been slightly modded, so Go Figure that one?? There is a Guy on the LPF who regularly posts video clips and his Favourite Setup appears to be a Deluxe Reverb (Silverface...But Modded to Blackface Spec) with a JBL in it. On the occasions that he requires some extra Oomph he uses a Landgraf OD. I know that you have your OD sorted, so imagine that it would work as well in that situation?

It's always the case that "Reissues" tend to differ from the originals in pretty major ways, or at least that has been my experience. I know that my mate "The Major" would tell you that I still have to hear a "REAL" Vibrolux for instance? I can only go on that which he tells me, but I trust his judgement on Fender Gear certainly. It has to be said that perhaps it's a good thing that I loved what the Vibrolux CVR so much? Otherwise I would have spent ridiculous amounts of time and money (no doubt) scouring Ebay.com trying to find a Good One?

None of which has really provided you with an answer has it?

I honestly suggest that you drop Weas a PM and get him to explain in more depth about The Bluesbreakers as STOCK items. If Modding is your thing then TNT and Voxy to mention a couple of names would be your Chaps.

Then just to add to the merriment, I'll get The Major to add his 2 cents as well.

Have Fun
Pip Pip
Lexie :)

 

[vic108]

I have heard some GREAT tone from MARSHALL amps but alas,
I just don't get the tone I want out of them either. I've tried
dozens of them since the early 1970's and they're not for me.

One of the best sounds there are anywhere is a Les Paul thru
a Deluxe Reverb. For some reason, it's a perfect match. And
running two of them together outside is a scream.

My old Traynor YGL-3 was a good "poor man's Deluxe Reverb"
with Fender type cleans and an ALMOST a MARSHALL type crunch.

Some of the small MESA Boogie combos are great for clean/crunch too.

One thing I can say: I've never played enough VOX amps in my life.
NO ONE I knew growing up had one in my area. Sure, I heard them on
recordings and TV, but that was about it.

One of the best sounding amps I ever heard was a VOX lavender hand-wired
cranked at the Philly guitar show a few years back. If you want a combo,
try one of those!

But, of course, my true love is the BASSMAN. Running ANYTHING thru it
sounds SWEET - Tele's, SG's, LP's, Strats, etc..... the original Marshall
Bluesbreakers were fashioned after the BASSMAN.

 

[Fendermon]

Well...

Lex has it right in that I too am not a Marshall fan at all- and therefore can't give an objective view here. I haven't played through one of these, but have a 1976 MKII 2-12 combo that I never could tame or make musical (at least not at a volume level that did not cause pain)...

Having been a Fender guy most of my life (Vic is dead on about the Bassman- a Blackface version for guitar is killer, and reasonable in price), I am tonally probably on a different page than you. Additionally, having been so kindly given the opportunity to play Lexie's single ended Matamp C7, I'm likely never to drift too far from it. I've got lots of fenders, a Boogie MK IV and others, but this Matamp is just so responsive and smooth it's definitely #1 here...

The Major..

 

[Voxman]

Just a short woid ... My JTM45 and 50 plexi have the best clean sound, to my ears, and the bestest breakup and sustain but there originals. The JMI AC30's seem to cover almost any base but their also originals, as well as the tweeds ... of course one has to know how to work the amps in relation to their Volume and Tone controls to make them versatile and most importantly How to lean into them as you play them. They all have extreme touch sensitivity ... Metal and shred players might as well use solid state BUT that's just what I hear in relation to me

 

[Melj]

I had a BB for a year or two, and thought it was an OK amp...What I found is that the amo got really muddy and flabby if driven too hard. You get a decent crunchy / breaking up kind of sound but it's totally at a sweet spot which may not suit your band. If you buy one, you'd want to swap out the valves for a set of KT66s (and contrary to an earlier post, the originals were not EL84s - that was the 1974), possibly swap trannies to allow for biasing up to KT66S, and maybe (definitely) replace the speakers, with either blues or the new heritage greenbacks. There are a lot of mods listed on the web to make these amps better.

If it's cleans you want, I always found it a bit bland. if it's OD, personally I think the handwired 20 watt head / cab or the 1974x 18 watt combo are better, if a tad less welly.

I can heartily recommend Denis Cornell's Plexi reissues too - I have a 45/50 which is hands down the best marshall type amp i've ever played, and in full power / 45 mode, it has some nice warm JTM45 style cleans.

The AC30CC gets good reviews, and with the blues and the added features, makes for a much more versatile amp than any of the others mentioned.

So er...i wouldn't recommend a BB combo. Unless you've tried it and liked it, in which case my opinion is worthless  

 

[SGtone]

Thanks everyone for your detailed and very knowledgeable responses. I really appreciate that.
Well, it does not look good for the Bluesbreaker. Being a "one trick pony" is the main issue I have. Lexie, as I told you, I heard my friend's original very early 60s (1962?) Vibrolux -- what can I say without sounding too hyperbolical: the best guitar tone ever. Period. How well the CVR fares in comparison remains to be seen (if I ever get one delivered in, say, 2-3 years?)
I'll try another friend's AC30 this coming weekend. I'm not quite sure which model it is, definitely some reissue (made-in-China?) thing. But I may be pleasantly surprised.
Bassman is another possibility. I think Charlie has some old treasures. I want Reverb though, but certainly an option for the future.

 

[Lex Lurid]

Well in conclusion, Don't overlook the AC30............despite it being now made in China. The AC30CC I had was one heck of a machine. They are slightly more complicated than the originals as you can actually DO an awful lot with them. I found it quite simple (after getting accustomed to it) to produce anything from that Beatles Jangle, through to Rory Gallagher and then on to Brian May (within reason).

2 Things to watch. Weight! AC30s are Heavy. Also.....watch the Tremolo. When working "properly" it is a Good Un, but there used to be a problem with the switching system and it could lead to the amp becoming fairly noisey at Lower Volumes.

With regards to the BB, make sure that the Transformer Problems that dogged them when the Reissue was first launched has been addressed.

I still think........................................Vibrolux from what you have described to me.

Keep Us Posted.
Lexie

 

[Voxman]

VOX lavender? Vic ... it's called Fawn! Or Vox Blond