Marshall CODE 100 - The Final Verdict (Time Stamps in Description Box)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ย. 2024
- Thank you all very much for watching and I hope you like this vid. : )
Intro Jam - 0:02
Introduction - 2:43
Clean, Overdrive, Lead and Chorus tones - 15:49
John Frusciante tone + DS2 & WH10 - 25:11
Pedal Board Tones - 34:17
Sighs Vibe & Machine Gun tone - 39:52
Jimi and Rory's Blues - 42:45
Jimi LIVE - 49:25
SRV esc Tone - 51:52
Mr Green - 54:42
Dave's Final Thought - 58:42
I've had mine for 3 weeks now and, although I was VERY frustrated at first, I am SO GLAD I did not send it back!!! To make a great tone, the user just needs to go through EVERY parameter and tweak until it sounds right. Yes, it's a little work up front, but the beauty is, once you save your work, it's always there (even if little kids happen to invade your practice room and start turning all the knobs for you!!!!) It took a few tweaking sessions, but I was able to get some really nice amp tones using the "Plexi", the "JTM45", and "JCM800" models. I later went back and A/B'd these tones to see how they compared to other heads I have (like a Marshall DSL100) and, to my surprise, the CODE sounded really great. I'm using it and the matching 4 x 12 cab with my band now and it sounds really good. It has great mid-range to help cut through the mix. Two friendly tips for any new owners/users: 1) I tried this head with a non-Marshall cabinet that had 4 x 12" Celestions and it did not sound as good as it does with the matching CODE 4 x 12 speaker cabinet. In other words, choice of speaker cabinet matters here, A LOT! 2) try to avoid the urge to peg the "Gain" control when you are creating your tones. The tone is going to sound much more authentic if you keep it dialed back some. It's okay to peg the gain when you're just noodling around with it at home, but within the context of a band, you'll hear your guitar better and like your resulting tone when you leave a little headroom to spare on the gain setting. Too much Gain on this amp can cause some kind of weird high pitch fizzle sound when you strike a chord. 3) Also, when adjusting the low end, don't just rely on the "BASS" knob to do it all. You'll need to also adjust the "Resonance", "Presence", "CAB", "Mid" and "Treble" controls as well. It all works together, apparently. I wanted to prefer my other amp rigs better, but I honestly like this CODE rig the most right now. (I could possibly want something else later but, for now, it's giving me some great tones! For cheap $$$ too!!!) Rock on!!!
Couldnt say it better myself, thank you Marshall for giving us the great sounds of Marshall without spending 1K+
This is completely wrong, don't buy into this if you're reading. This amp is all marketing no performance. All of the presets can be edited but they have built in effects and settings you can't change so the JTM45 for example is the clean channel of that amp only. So if you edit it it will always sound like some weird blend of a clean JTM thats then been distorted afterwards and not in a good way. You can make from scratch patches/prests but you HAVE TO PLUG IT INTO YOUR LAPTOP AND MAKE A WEBSITE ACCOUNT!!!!
Brilliant idea, terrible execution. Probably because Marshal didn't want to do a good job of putting a load of their classic amps onto one digital amps because everyone would just buy that amp making all their others obsolete.
@@Bikeadelic The amp and app are excellent. You don't need the app but it certainly makes it easier to adjust settings. The amp sounds great and the options are endless. I simply took 14 or so amps and made them presets with all efects & cabinet turned off, set all the eq to 12:00, set the volumes to 3:00 and turned off the noise gate. From there I tweaked each one to my liking. Everything from clean to rock to metal. Took a long time and I'm still messing with it but it works great.
@user-os3ko9fw3c if you buy a katana and tell me you still think the code is better you're a stuburn liar or you have hearing damage/bad taste 😂
For the money the code is rubbish. If it was half the price I could forgive it.
I don't really know how to thank you enough, for your videos , gear reviews, opinions , passion , and most of all - music. The world needs more people like you desperately. You are an inspirational musical genius Dave Simpson . never doubt yourself
Thank you very much. : )
I honestly dont know why this amp gets hate. It's a masterpiece, the only thing is, the presets are junk and it takes a while to dial in. But once you've dialled in a sound you can get almost anything. Remember it's like less than 300 £/€/$
if you like harsh and digital/artificial sounding tones, I agree
Tried this amp couple days ago (100W 212 combo) And it's awful. Especially speakers. They are not enough FRFR to use cab sim, and too wide range to not use cab sim. It has no tubescreamer or other proper booster model to boost input. I've just bought Peavey XXX 212 combo for $380 and it IS awesome and masterpiece ) There are zillion solid state and digital amps better than CODE. (Katana, Bandit, Vypyr, Spider V. One thing can save this amp - proper speakers or cab. And in my country CODE is priced almost $600
Haven't found an amp where the presets aren't shit lol.
Yar righ' body
A priceless gear means a greatness soOund
LMAO at the instruction manual. "THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING THE MARSHALL CODE 100!!! GOOD LUCK!!! "
You had me checking lol. Peavey said something funny about he input jack in one of their modeller manuals.
Input jack "If you are having trouble figuring out what this is then please put the amp back in the box and get some drumsticks.*"
"*No drummers were harmed in the making of this manual"
Michael Walters .... That's pretty funny.
Thats exactly it. :)
I've been watching for 2 minutes and I'm already inspired to pick up my guitar! You always inspire me to play! Nice intro!!
Your honesty is worth so much to us
Chief, nobody likes the Marshall Code.
ciaran fay I like mine just fine.
@Mario That's probably a joke but speak for yourself asshole.
ciaran fay I’ve played through Marshall Amps since my first 2204 Mark II my Dad bought me in 1975. Currently I own a 1987x modified by David Bray, a 1969 100 💯 watt Clone, a 1958x which I dearly love and I just purchased a code 100H.
I have played through them and for me they are not that hard to set up and get a killer tone… I figure it’s a much bbetter option to drag around for impromptu small gigs than my tube amps.
Now if I had been using tube amps since 1975 I obviously love the sound of tube amps but, tone is all in ones technique and I can get killer tones from this incredible modeling amp!
Just because it doesn’t have tubes doesn’t mean it’s not a viable option and that it doesn’t sound good… I’ll actually do a video and post it here on TH-cam going back-and-forth from my 100, 50 W tube amps and this new modeling amp and I can guarantee you that both tones will be very viable and very sweet. As far as I am concerned this sounds much better than my rack mount Marshall I oownedback in the 80s.
Totally agree with you, putting some time into this amp and you can get it to sound great.
I know you're not thrilled with this amp and will be returning it, but you're making it sound great through the strength of your playing. Remarkable!
Everyone has different ears and expectations as well as different applications. I have the Code 50. I spent 3 consecutive day's dialing in my settings and overwriting channel 23 "Virus". Now that one channel is my go to sound for Jazz and the blues and even Rock. For me it's the best Jazz amp that I have ever heard. Not only does it sound the way I expect for Jazz but it is smallish, light weight and loud enough fro almost any venue.
Just now I ordered one of the few remaining used Marshall Code 100 watt, 212 amps for $209 American. I did so because with the 100 watts and (2) 12 speakers I shall now be able to play as loud as I wish. Also it has an 8 ohm speaker out so I can play that 100 watts through any available 8/16 ohm speaker cabs. Providing that I have the skills to set this new amp up to sound the same as my Code 50. Which remains to be seen.
I don't use my Code amp for anything else but my special set up channel 23, again the Jazz tone is what I crave and truthfully a 100 watt, 2 12 speaker Jazz amp for $209 is a fantastic value. So for me the Code series is a success! My new Code 100 212 should be about as loud as the $1,000 Roland JC120 Jazz Chorus. I can set my Marshall's to have reverb, chorus and tremolo set to my hearts content. I can control every aspect of these FX's because that's how good the software is in the Code amps. Also, since I shall have 2 such amps I can run them is a properly spaced room separation in Stereo. I'm saying I am doing better with my Marshall Code amps than others are with the Roland JC120 Jazz Chorus amp.
Of course if I feel like it I can select another channel on my Code amps and get many different Marshall Amp signature tones and volume.
Sorry Dave did not keep his Code amp long enough to dial in a sound that he loves. But everyone is different and he has every right to live without these amps. Not me, life is fuller with the Marshall Code amplifiers in my studio.
-Peter
I agree with you. I didn't spend enough time with the amp and I am looking to get the amp again and really sit down with it and see what it can do.
I feel I have kind of done the amp an injustice and need to know if thats true or not.
Thank you very much for watching. :)
@@thedavesimpson I'd be absolutely thrilled if you could get hold of a code for a second time. Its really great to get you 98% of a Frusciante Sound and switch to e.g. a SRV tone in a single click at a ridiculous price!
After having spend some days dialing in a John Frusciante Setting my experience so far tells me the following:
1) Use the Cab Sim! (..and probably also the fitting Marshall Code Cab. I assume it is EQ'ed in fitting manner)
2) Dont go 10 on the bass. With bass settings >9, the dead notes become too vivid and "chimey".
3) Be gentle with gain. I feel like everything >0.9 gets you too much drive on lower strings, e.g. on the E, A and D string in Dani California.
My current best guess is sth like:
Silver Jubilee, Classic Marshall 100W Power-Amp, 1960 as CabSim
Gain: 0.5 - 0.8
Bass: 8.0
Middle: 6.5
Treble: 0.0
Gate: 0.9 (probably does not matter, even though i felt it sometimes affected the EQ a bit)
Volume: 10.0 --> I assume this gives you "valve compression" (Master is around 1 for my Neighbours)
Presence: 2.0
Resonance: 2.0
The last tiny bit I still miss is the following two things:
1. High notes (of thin strings) could have both, a tiny bit more attack/"twang" and more assertiveness towards bassy strings.
2. The sweet spot in gain is hard to find. With lower settings the general crunch tone character becomes nicer, but the DS2 needs more drive to truley shine.
Maybe both these things could be fixed with sth like a CE-1 Preamp Crunch or some OD-Pedal in general.
Anyways, thanks for your truly inspiring work as a guitar mentor!
Cheers
Christian
I’ve always had tube amps until recently when I got a boss katana artist, and now this Digital Marshall Code 100 and vertical 2-12 cab I absolutely love the sound that I have dialed into it like some of the other comments you need to take the time to dial it in if you don’t you will not like it
THis was 5 years ago. Wow. Pat yourself on the back Dave. No kidding your playing on this demo is virtuoso level . Atmospheric, funky, Hendrix and Trower tones. String and mind bending playing that lifted me out of my work daze and moved me to hopes sun shining down on me. I knew you were good but you really impressed me here. If you wonder if you're hitting the mark. wonder no more.Pat yourself on the back. Really made my day. And on gear your not really comfy with. I must get better. To Past and present Dave, Thank you. Rock on!
Ignore the factory presets - on ALL modelers, not just this one.
Start from a clean slate and then build up your signal chain.
And, my 2 cents: the tremolo in VLV setting is the best tremolo I ever heard from a solid state amplifier, and by a BIG margin.
The American Crunch model + the valve tremolo alone is worth it.. imho
One thing to note about this amp is that there is an extreme difference between having the cab emulation on or off. Code speakers are constructed to be fairly flat/neutral sounding in order to accommodate the cab emulation coming out of the head. I think your “bass” issues would’ve been lessened by turning the cab emulation off and re-EQing to accommodate your cab.
He already tried that and it sounded like garbage (in the first impressions vid)
It's ok to be honest. I totally agree with you on the over complicated. give me a bandit any day.
It's not over complicated, I'm almost 60 and found this a piece of piss to handle. The main issue here was not connecting to the amp with a bluetooth device, where you can edit your settings on a tablet. Technology moves forward and so should we. Those who do not keep up with technology will be eventually left behind.
I have the Marshall Code 100 Combo and I think it's awesome. You need to roll up your sleeves and tweak the settings to your preference, that's the whole idea. I have a 100 watt Marshall for less than £350, where you can pay anything from £1000 and upwards (£2.5k?) for a valve amp that is easily damaged, needs constant maintenance and regular re-tubing.
Fuck that for a game of cricket.
Right out of the box I was disappointed with the pre loaded patches, however.... once I downloaded the Gateway app and tried the additional patches I found they sounded FAR superior.
I’m very pleased with the amp so far, the fact I can stream backing tracks to play and practice along to is also a great feature.
Using the Code amp in conjunction with the Gateway App and My Marshall website is a MUST to get the best from these amps, I think Marshall designed it this way TBH
P.S.
The amp also sounds great with no FX or modelling selected, I run a Behringer Vintage Tube Monster pedal through the effects loop and it sounds superb
I realize this is four years later but the online owners manual is 13 pages and seems pretty comprehensive
I love the honesty.
You clearly are confused here. The owners manual has 12 pages. You must have been looking at the quick start guide?
I have a Code 100 combo. I had no problems dialing in a set’s worth of tones in an afternoon.
You really need to learn how to use the amp and take a little time tweaking the included amps. Some of the factory patches are junk, but there’s a lot of good general amp setups to use as a starting point.
I'm thinking of buying the code 100 head and 4x12 cab, you use this, what's your in depth view.
though i agree that this amp is more complex than most amps im really in love with it, i got to be in some studios with some classic marshall heads and never managed to satisfy me as the code did, but yeah, its a time investment for the good sound, contrary of your case, the plexi is the amp that i use the most in my code hahaha i love it, but tbh i have never played a real plei, i mean maybe it doesnt sound that much alike, but i love the code version
Cool review. I can feel your pain! Best video on the code was from someone who basically said TURN EVERY EFFECT OFF. That includes Cab simulation, tube power, etc. Sounds way more like an actual amp, instead of a buzzy toy set that way.
I liked your tone after 15:49. Cool clean, great crunch. Sounded fine to me - killer playing too. And, you can get those tones at whisper levels. Not a bad practice amp.
I could soooo see him, by the end of an hour, talking himself into liking this thing....
I'm here from your future (why I don't do negative reviews). Regarding the lack of a manual with the amp. Had a look online and there is a really good manual for this amp on the Marshall product site. No use to you now I guess but always worth checking. This is a trend, many things only have a download manual these days.
Thanks,....I was waiting for this. Friday dose of Dave.
Man your playing is such a breath of fresh air. For me the more knobs and options the worse the sound. I get some really good sound out of a class 5 because I don't have too many choices.
Kudos for trying to unlock the quality. I think this amp was made for players with amateur expectations who want a new Marshall offering.
I headbanged as soons as you played Jimi hendrix !
Nice, honest review. I'm grateful for the code series. Because the negative reaction inspired Marshall to create the Origin.
Again Dave, well done. Your honestly is appreciated.
Dave,your cool,, and entertaining,great player also,, you make the code 100 sing,, Im gonna get one in morning. And to all you tube snobs, eat your hearts out. Every one knows that modeling amps wernt ment to replace professional equipment on stage.but many do. And sound great.
Thank you very much. :)
I bought the 100 watt combo and i'm happy with it so far. I like the design and the clean ton. i don't care about all the effects either. I basically turn off all the effects, only the amp button is on that's it. i don't know but if i start playing the scar tissue Riff it sounds good in my ears.
You have a "Natural" mode on this amp that turn it a single power stage (even for the more simple setting you must read some of the instructions manual).
Lovely playing dude! .. I love the honest review.
You are amazing guitar player! I really like what you do with your fingers!🙂👍
Instructions as bad as my internet set up - "Insert cable and phone jack"
I phoned Jack and he was no help at all.
I'll stick with my jcm 800 I bought new 34 yrs ago ..no efx needed just skills and attitude
Daniel Thomas How much did it cost you new?
Ehh I have a jcm 800 and a high Gain jcm 900 and both have to be loud as hell to get the best tone out of them . Now days they are to big for most gigs .
Daniel, you're right. The JCM 800 or 900 are the best way to go for all that tone and punch we look for...period. However these Code 100's are great for the studio due to their digital integration, but still nothing beats a JCM on stage. Just good to have a variety of tools for multiple jobs.
Your JCM and a big pedal board, I'll bet. For those of us who aren't playing at stadiums and arenas, the CODE 100 fills a useful niche. For those of us who do recording, it fills another useful niche.
My hot rodded JCM 900 Mkiii never needed a pedal! Best amp I ever owned. I sold it when I suffered a serious injury and could no longer even hold a guitar. My deepest regret! As after 5 yeas and pain med's I can play guitar again (sitting down w/o a strap).
edit: I'm off the pain med's now. My wife asked me to take Tetra-Boron 3 mg tablets. I laughed at her but I tired them. It took 5 months but now I no longer suffer neck pain. I suffered with neck pain since age 6 when I was pushed of a 12 foot high embankment and landed on my feet-but my body compressed and my jaw hit my right knee which then sent my head back so hard that it actually made contact with my back. Degenerative disk disease set in. Now because of Tetra-Boron I am almost completely pain free. I can now use a guitar strap again.
I am getting a Marshall JTM 45 tomorrow October 3rd., 2019 and this is my replacement amp for my 100 watt JCM 900 Mkiii. The JTM45 has 30 watts and a tube rectifier and yes it is a real Marshall Plexi! I'll be running her through a Celestion G12M -65 Creamback and a Seventy-Eighty both are 16 ohms.
I also have a Code 100 watt 212 combo amp and it makes me jump up and down and I am 69 years old, so I'm keeping my Code 100 212. Only one thin wrong with my code 100 121 is that it almost always sounds fizzy at low volumes. I wanted to use it as a Jazz amp because my Code 50 is adjusted so that it is a great Jazz amp-no fizz. Either the 212 speakers are trashed (I got it second hand) or the amp has a problem. OR it's a 100 watt High Gain amp that is not designed to play at low volume. I am going with that! Because when really cranked it's so good-it inspires me. That's what makes an amp a good amp in my opinion. I love it's violin like high gain sustain because I also play violin. Best used with mt Strat!
Peter
Hello Dave! Nice review.
Went and picked up a BOSS Katana 50w mk2 in my lunch break today. The quality was immediately noticeable over the code, so much more responsive and flexible and so much easier to use! And for only £35 more than the code it's a no brainer
Translation. Dave was trying to say "It turns out I am an analog guy and unlimited digital controls are annoying".
and confusing to a fool like me as well. :)
Exactly. This Dave guy is ignorant AF with modeling amps.
Introduction from A to A! 😂 Made me smile!
Thank you for this Demo! Weil done!
Thank you very much. : )
Got mine! When u getting yours! Koolio head! Sweet sweet sounds of whatever u need! Just takes time to learn, but once you know! All good mis amigos! 🤟🎶✌️ sorry your disappointed ! Go buy a plexi!lol!
I think this amp is absolutely awesome all you need is the app and the additional footswitch or else you gonna be lost, totally lost!
Amazing, always amazed to see great people getting the best of an amp. This Code series makes a difficult decision between the GT200 and the Katana Artist.
I would recommend the Katana myself. Thank you for watching. : )
Dave Simpson thanks Dave, how do you compare the Katana Artist with the Marshall Code 100H?
a stunning intro
Cheers for the review Dave. I got the 25w combo. Tweaking is a bit easier with the app as is renaming etc. Also, the cab sims are designed for use with a full range flat response speaker so some of the frequency response issues you've had may be in part due to how the cab sin is interacting with the frquency response of the speakers you're using. All that said, great playing as usual and I too prefer my MG50 or Orange Micro's.
Good to see a constructive, unbiased review. The good and the bad. Even though you got some pretty good sounds out of it, I don't think that it is suitable for what I want. If I was to go into the realms of modelling, I think the Boss is the way to go, however I'm more than satisfied with what I already have at the moment.
on my day one with my Code 50, i felt the same. after 2 days i found out that the cab sim is hurting the quality of the sound, so i just turn it off and now i use it everyday. dsl cl, jtm 45 and the natural amp with guvrnor with cab sim off is my sound.
Did anyone notice how much he was inspired by some of the presets in the first video? A guitar player has a rush of creativity when the guitar sounds good. I have the 50, the 4-way footswitch and the app and every time I play this amp I find myself getting lost for hours in an atmosphere of awesome sounds. Takes a little tweaking, but that's a small price to pay for inspiration.
dude, dave yor playing makes me feel, not any particular way but it speaks to me like good conversation
That’s a darn shame. I love my little 50 watt combo Code. Don’t blame you for returning though. I do agree its convoluted to programme but I used the phone App to edit mine. Damn shame. Great playing as ever though.
I like the amp because it gives me a Plexi on a budget. But yes you have to sit down with the internet and learn how to use the thing.
I like simple amps and simple pedals. No modeling monsters and no complicated multi effects.
I feel the same way. Guitar (Fender Strat in my case)->dist box->delay box->valve amp with no master volume and three tone pots. The latter is a Fender Twin in my case (allthough a good old 70s Marshall isn't to be sneezed at either). Anything more complicated than that just... well... complicates things.
sleepy55 don’t underestimate modern technology. But any valve amp would definitely be preferred over this
I do not underestimate modern technology, but the fat is, that I can't handle it well. I find myself overloaded and do not concentrate on the music but do struggle with the damned ting.
sleepy55 I’d be lying if I said I’ve never spent hours playing with my katana’s tone studio, when I could’ve just plugged into a vox and just played with no worries about tone
Hi Dave chin up good honest review thank very much most helpful cheers
The name is the draw for new players, it's a shiny new toy until they realize it's sub par. Bought it for my son because he HAD to have a Marshall and after a year I see him mainly going clean using my pedal board when he gigs
If I remember correctly Marshall designed this amp with plugin company Softube for the amp modelling. My experience of the Softube amp modelling plugins was that they sounded so bad I thought they must be laughing at their customers. Indeed this amp sounds like a plugin to me.
I prefer Amplitube which I use all the time in my Daw and headphone jamming. Marshall could have partnered with them instead but Code will make more money right?
I've not really tried Amplitube, but I know guys who use it. I used to have an Eleven Rack, which I actually liked quite a lot, but then I started playing live regularly again after a few years of just studio work and I went back to a straight-forward amp. The last 4 years I've been using a Quilter (first a Toneblock 200 and now a Micro Block 45) with a 1x12 cab and I love those. They work great as a platform for pedals.
I never took any notice of the Marshall Code before because of the Softube connection, as for modelling amps, the Boss Katana appeals to me as a studio tool (I do a lot of recording) and as a possible gigging amp too. However the Micro Block plus the 1x12 really performs for me.
This amp is great, even though what dave said about it not being dail and go is true to extent but you can easily find a tone you like out of the 100 options and then edit and branch off that tone and find a nice sound just like you would with an un-digital head. Then you can easily save your settings so it's great, convenient and can sound really cool. I easily branched and made a nice tone off of the plexi settings and the J-----. It even has some wierd effects that are just fun to mess on with and stuff. It's a mint versatile head with anyone can find a tone they are happy with with a little patience.
Hello Dave from Spain, what guitar are you using?
Great video.
The look of the Code head is pretty.
Mine arrived Friday and I dug in this weekend. I'm also a plug & play tube guy so I can understand your frustration but with some tweaking I got some decent tones. Your univibe Hendrix tone is killer by the way. I will say this, of all the modelers I've played over the years this has the WORST SOUNDING, WORST NAMED presets ever. Love your channel. Keep up the good work brother.
Man, I'm sorry you don't like it. I have a boss Artist. And a Boss 100 head and cab. I still like my Code 4x12 half stack better. For many reasons. But the end sounds I created after having it a while makes it's my favorite. I do play nothing but heavy metal/thrash metal. It works great for me. I understand that it takes a long time to catch on. Ask me in the beginning, the Boss's won.
Just got a Code 100 for Christmas, I agree with the so called manual ...not one. Some say only a humbucker pickup sounds good, but my Tele sound fine. The first two dozen presets all need to be adjusted , to me it seems they tried to add to much to them. A few of the higher numbered ones are useless to me or anyone that I can think of. You definitely need to tweak them it seems, but that to me is the reason to have a modulations amp. You need to spend some time with this amp, should it be plug and play, I don’t know. There are lot that sound fine as is and work just fine. Playing this in my room it’s very loud, at times the bass sounds to heavy that will be on my list to adjust on some presets. All in all I’m happy with it but it’s going to take time to adjust and play around with it...
I do agree with you that the Code sounds much better with the humbucking pickups. I have the Code 50 with a Les Paul and a Strat. The Strat sounds too thin, you have to work hard to get a good tone out of it. But the LP sounds incredible through the Code. The JTM-45 is my favorite overall preset.
I appreciate this pretty long review. I actually ordered the Code 100 a couple of days ago before I found your review. I think you have lowered my expectations a little bit. It might not be a bad thing, it just sounds like getting the right sound may take lots of work.
I just LOVE this guy! He's so fucking REAL LIFE! Keep up the good work Dave! \m/
Thank you very much and I shall do my best. : )
The cab button is on which mean it’s running a cab sim through a cab which is probably a big part of the issue. I think they did that for running head phones or recording but that was not a well thought out idea. They should have put it as a switch in back or something
My heart made a jump of happiness when Rise Against was played
Search for a Marshall amp review in combination with John Frusciante and Dave Simpson always shows up. That's awesome
I tried to bond with my Marshall Code 100 212. Sounded to “fizzy”, which I believed I could have fixed with a speaker swap, but maybe not. I have kept my two Boss Katana’s, though, and am considering either the Boss Katana Artist or the head. I do think that Marshall’s mobile app is necessary to make your tone and if you didn’t use that or were not willing to use that then this amp is useless. I only wish that Boss would make tone studio available for iPad/Android. Thanks for the review, Dave. For the record I think you would have liked the tones better had you used the app as it is super intuitive. I hope the next Code model is stellar.
Rluce75 a Guitarist friend of mine always have an android device with him at practice where he got the boss tonestudio on for Katana.
So I know its an option
I will check it out. Thank you!
First time hearing you play stone cold bush and dosed. Keep up the good work!
You might want to try turning off the cabinet simulation, it will clear up the sound alot (honestly I don't see the point of having a cabinet simulation on top of an actual guitar cabinet, its only necessary for direct recording)
Even tho you dont like code, I just ordered 100 combo because you sound fantastic on this amp. Thank you bro
Thank you very much. : )
turn off the cab sim and it gets some good sounds, if your going through a normal Marshall cab you don't need the cab on...… hope this helps.
Thank you for the info. : )
Option paralysis.
Hi Dave ;-) Definitively, digital and modelling amps are not your ideal ones, as you recognize: you are a classic plug&play guitarrist (and a so good one); you wanna play and you have no patient for enginering the sound or even read a digital unit manual of instructions (for instance, the manual says clearly how to manage tap tempo: you have several ways to do it, by pressing or choosing exactly time measure parameters... and in no one of them you have to press two bottons simultaneously, as you affirm here about a so simple thing like this, friend: it's only the impression you get if you take a simply look at its front...). For example, one thing everyone knows about cab/mic modelling: forget it (disconnect it) if you are going throw a real one: it's only useful for earphones listening, for recording in a DAW or to go directly to a mixer alive.
Anyway, your analisis is useful, as all yours, having in mind your guitar player character, but I think you'd must not do a closed judgement about this kind of digital tweaking gears (well, I think you didn't in the video as you advertised it is not made for you, but you know there is a lot of people listening to you as a Bible). Sorry for my English and thank you very much for all your very useful and pleasure-listening videos, dude ;-) Best greetings!
an honest opinion ...thanks for the share...and rock on..
I've just read ALL coments on here. It's clear one thing: digital multieffects pedalboards, amps and other devices have three decades of existence in the common music players market, but there are lots of guitar players that never take time to understand them and they preffer to remain in plug & play traditional equipments. It explains why somepeople is very satisfied with this amp (not so many people can be wrong) and those who have no practise managing digital effects and don't read about it think that it is a bad amp; in fact, they didn't probe it (before push the On button on a digital device, you always have to read the instructions user manual, even to know how you can sound).
When you use a traditional amp, you only need to plug and play (and decide if you like it or not); if it's a modeling one, you should have read at least some multieffects modeling pedalboard manual, and it will be better if you have used some in the past.
I think it was the problem with this video test. You can't expect any good result with preset effects made not for your equipment, firstly your instrument and your way of playing; they are only basic examples you can use as a initial point as much. And less, with a standard pedalboard and, obviously if you are using modelyzed amps and cabs, you can't test it with a cab that is not flat in frecuences, plain, neutral (as a FRFR PA speaker monitoring an alive concert).
Modelling gears require YOU to get the sound you're looking for.The last thing you must do to try a modelling amp, pedalboard or rack is begin to with the factory presets (maybe some of them works ok for you, but it will be only fortuity). It is the reason why the a digital patch that works for a musician in his equipment probably will not be ok for another musician with another equipment, and the reason why the patch offer of the companies for pedalboards and modeling amps is just a scam for those who don't know how to handle them. Naive are those who request «a patch that sounds like...», which will never «sound like...» if you don't have the same equipment in its entirety (and if you don't play like him): the same instrument, with the same configuration, its speakers, etc. You can (nearly) sound like... if you study how to manage sound parameters on your digital device and adjust it to your own equipment.
Not everybody have the same equipment, firtly the instrument and the way of playing it; so you must to set up your own sounds always, configured for your device. The patche that works for one musician, instrument or equipment may (...or for sure) not work with another instrument or equipment. It's no plug&play, like traditional amps.
Modelling gear (amps, pedalboards... now instruments too) are like mini recordings studios: all the sound is digitally processed (as you know, two bands with the same equipment don't sound the same in each one recordings). Obviously, it is a more complex process than with traditional plug&play equipments, where the sound is provided basically by hardware pieces, but the compensation is you have a total control of your sound.
Digital devices for guitar with factory presets NEVER are plug and play. The compensation, I said, is that you take control of your whole sound chain.
By the way: I'm not agree about the «complexity» of the Marshall Code series. It is really very intuitive: if you have some experience with digital multieffects you can configure it watchting at a picture of the frontal of the amp as its controls are mainly physical, not LCD displayed (if you don't understand easily its possiblities and how it works, maybe you'll go crazy first time you'll turn on a multieffects modelling pedalboard or rack).
I love your videos, Dave; I learn a lot of things with you, and I love the way you play and the way you explain all. But this time I think you have been unfair, as you have suggested in one of the comments.
Anyway, thank you a lot for your videos. Greetings!
I agree. I didn't try hard enough with it and I am going to revisit this amp and spend more time with it trying to wrap my head around it.
Thank you for watching. : )
Absolutely phenomenal Dave. just one thing, can i request you teach us dosed? That was beautiful. If not ll be trying to play it by ear and this video LOL
For quick sounds: download pre-made patches users have uploaded, others have already done the tweaking!
Great sounding Amps..but ill stay with my Marshall MG 100FX Amps
I had the same head, and it shit out on me, I just couldn't figure out what was going on with it, nor could I find a technician that did either. So, I called my losses and bought the 100, and damn... I miss my MG 100 FX.
90% of my playing is with headphones... Just the way it is. I allready have a Fender tube amp head with a cabinet I can only use once a week. So what I am looking for in my practice amp : a good headphone sound, no extra cables, no pedals needed, speaker output, built-in effects, silent practice, small-ish, cheapish, not a floorboard amp (like zoom g5n), no builtin speaker, tuner is a plus, looper builtin, aux input for backing tracks.
Only option : code 100 head. I see no other option that is affordable.
Katana head is way more expensive (at least 25% more) and I hate the katana sound.
So I just bought the code... See if it works the way I want.
Yep, used it for 3 weeks now....amazing amp. Does everything I need except looping. Great buy, use it even with my cabinet. I can get the fender model very close to my real one, so I haven't used my fender tube amp since.
It does have a learning curve, but now I can dial in a sound as fast as with a traditional amp. Very happy with the code!
Good honest review! I have a code 25 combo, and when i first got it I was put off by the over-complexity of it....but as i got no other amp I stuck with it, got used to it and now actually really like about 25 patches that i have made/copied....i agree with the factory presets being completley wank though, never spent more than 2 mins on any of them...but for me this is cool bedroom practise amp with more tonal options than say a MG25 etc
From watching a lot of Andertons TV, I could tell you'd hate this amp. Like somebody said in the comment section before me, this is not an amp but a gadget. I love your playing and tone Dave because it is so organic, and this amp is the exact opposite of what you transpire, so don't be so apologetic, I think we all knew where you were going to with that. Keep up the good work lad !
Remember these days the manuals can be online (sometimes)...But no comparison to the tube or solid state amps that you have.
i agree with Rob L and Guitar Bonedo you have to cut the cab sim off to make the amp come Alive, also sometimes even the power amp sim as well.why would you sim a 410 cab when you are using a 410 cab? this amp needs to be tweaked to get the sounds you want. I have added a Peavey/Audio Music Research Tube Sweetener in the effects loop and it gives this amp a whole new dimension. It gives the compression and warmth the digital amp is missing. sometimes i use it over the power amp sims depending on the sound i'm creating. well worth searching one out. its' a great partner for the code 100 head, the sweetener has 2- 12ax7 tubes on input and 1- 12at7 tube on the output. now go find one!!!!!!!!
As you age you will see things differently. 5 or 6 or 7 hours is nothing when you are 68 years old. Keep working on the Tone you want.... I spent so many hours with the 100, but I'm ok with that.... Don't be in such a hurry.... If yer ever in So Cal, look me up....
I TOTALLY appreciate your honesty....I actually kinda hated mine when I first got it....I AGREE it IS or WAS stressful
when I got it....I however DO like it now BUT yes it does work on your nerves.......I STILL REALLY hate the Katana amps ....cheers mate......
Thank you. :)
thanks for the vid man. it bothers me more what you said about the actual tone & volume than it does the "techy" part. i love tech/gadgets as much as i do pure guitar/amps. to each his/her own ya dig... some may consider pedals in general to be "techy", lol. anyways... ive never seen any of your vids & i totally love your honesty, humor and approach. gave ya a like + a subscribe mate! - JB
edit: ps, i dont think we could expect much (more) for all that (head + tech stuff + cabinet) for 600$'ish.
Thank you very much indeed. : )
I think I’m cut from the same cloth as you Dave (and not just for the love of John!) I have been so excited at times realising what potential is in this amp but the complexity frustrates the hell out of me, I can’t be bothered tweaking continuously to get usable tones.. The frustration kills my vibe and inspiration and your despondency resonates exactly with me!
My attention span is maximum 5 minuets, of an Amp comes with a book I'm out lol
Last time I read a book was reading ace frehleys while sitting in the Caribbean (not sitting on the Caribbean 😂) the mg i had was hard enough to figure out lol
Well I fiddled with my Code 50 and now have preset no.23 "Virus" reprogrammed into my best sounding amp out of the 15 I currently own. It's a killer Jazz amp now! I paid $250 new, what a tremendous value. I have complete control of every aspect of my reverb, tremolo, chorus, flanger, delay etc.etc.etc.
Of course I can also play old school rock using the other channels. but at age 69 I am more into Jazz and the Blues. With a short daily blast into the past and play the JCM800 and Marshall Plexi. Wow, blows the windows out!
Amazing skills!!
Thank you very much. : )
It sounds awesome!!!!! What a shame you have to mess about for ages to get a good sound! You can't do that live! You will get away with that sort of problem in the studio, or the bedroom, or in a music shop ( they Will tell you you're wrong) but not on the stage!!! I've spent half my life on stage. All my Thursday, Friday, Saturdays and Sundays, live, live, live and more live. Year in, and year out. It will never end!!! I've learned my stage craft the hard way. You are so right. Plug and play. The code range are not. They are good, but not built for stage. If you want to go down well, don't get a code amp. It's all been done before. Folk are just sick of the old ways. Jtm45s etc! It's the only way I'm afraid.practice and more practice!!!!!!!
Didn't like the amp but loved the playing.........especially 'What's Going On'
Are the instructions not downloadable from Marshall in pdf, a lot of other companies seem to have adopted that money saving practice? Agree 100% with your verdict though, and first class playing Dave.
Amazing! You always make my day!
Dave, I do not think you kept it long enough to learn how get the sounds you wanted. Because this amp has so many parameters and ways to set it up, it takes a good while to get your tone. Once you so then you realize it's a very good amp that you only paid $399 for.
LIke you, I sent my first Marshall Code (50) back. I thought it was damaged. The second one sounded exactly the same. So I set to learn how to learn all the different parameters/settings. I'm 68 BTW. It took a while, but eventually I got exactly the tone I wanted.
The thing is I can always go and make changes and save those changes. The Code 50 is a computer with a power amp and a speaker. It has every kind of control in the electronic music business. So again, it takes a while to learn to set it up to get your sound. I advise you to get another one.
Ive been interested in guitar for decades, im only NOW realising that its not MORE gear i need, its practice 🤦🎸
Hi there Dave, I'm loving your playing! Bold as love sounds so beautiful!! I'm curious if you would recommend this over a BOSS Katana? I own a boss katana and i love it! It's so easy to use an d I can dial some fanastic tones. i'm concerned by how much difficulty you've had with the Marshall CODE !
WOW !! You totally nailed the Frusciante lead tones. Anyway, this was really helpful! :) rock on
I love when you played Stone cold bush!! That was actually mind blowing for me personally . I feel incredibly inspired while watching and listening to you play Dave! :).
From one guitarist to another, wishing you all the best !
Holy moly you even got the Dosed tone .. I'm a metal player but Frusciante is also one of my favourite too!
Nick from Australia 🎸🎸🎸
I wouldn’t recomend this over the katana no.
For what I paid for this amp, I wouldn't trade it!
The manual is available on the Marshall website, what are you on about? lol
Great option for gigs imo- 100 factory presets all editable and 100 user? Come on! 🤟🏻
Hi Dave, being honest, the Ambient sound of the beginning, is it just the Code Amp ? Or any external pedal FX involved ?? It sounds amazing 😮😮😮
I honestly don’t remember. Sorry.
That Les Paul is NICE! (^_^)
Marshall can't even produce a decent sounding demo of this amp (most of their demos are crap, but that's another peave). Thank you for your honesty, Dave!
Good honest review dave,dunno if you've tried the old mustangs but I use the 100w combo and it's great(not tried the head)it's really intuitive and easy to edit the sounds,just pick your amp model and edit from the top panel,you may have tried them though with working in a store.one of your better videos dave, at least the shite products keep you honest 👍
Intuitive and easy to edit, yep after about 6 months of getting used to it (I own that Fender Mustang).
First! Please release this!
Dave, hoping you will do another cd with this intro and your Untitled series of track.....please🤞