Product: Marshall 5510 IBS 115 Bass Combo
Price Paid: US $350.00 used
Submitted
10/03/2003
at
02:44pm
by
Dolan R McMullen Jr
Features
:
10
This amp was made in the 80s and is part of Marshalls now extinct Integrated Bass Systems line. It has about six different EQ knos, input, sensitivity and volume. Two speaker outs, preamp out and effects loop. The only thing I wish it had was more power. Not very big on features but it is big on tone. But than again, who needs thousands of knobs anyway?
Sound Quality
:
10
I use a Fender USA Jazz bas with the stock pups and play mostly classic/new rock type stuff as well as anything else that strikes my fancy. Though I'm mainly a guitarist, I've played for years in different bands and know what a good bass tone sounds like. Its does old school rock well and with a tweak of a knob or two you can get some great slap sounds. Roll back to the Jazz bridge pup and this amp growls with the best of 'em. Very quiet, hardly any hiss and its hard to tell its on until you hit a note or two. I havent played this in a band situation but suspect it wouldnt be loud enough with a full tilt drummer. I think it would be good for coffee house gigs or worship things like church.
Reliability
:
10
I'm sure this thing will last for quite a while. I bought it off of eBay and was looking for this model or its bigger brother the 5522 for quite some time than spotted it and of course won. It looked good in the pics but when I got it, it looked like it had been in storage for quite some time and was never played much. The pots were very scratchy from non use but a little contact cleaner and prayer and its just like new.
Customer Support
:
10
Marshall U.K. is the best. I have had nothing but bad luck with Korg and so have many other people I have talked to including techs. Marshall U.K. gets a 10 and Korg gets 0.
Overall Rating
:
10
Been playing 20+ years and hopefully will play 20+ more. I originally wanted to play bass as a teenager but couldnt afford a bass on a paper route salary so had to buy a cheap 19.00 used Kay guitar. I have tons of other Marshall stuff but mostly guitar amps. I honestly believe Marshall made some of the best amps on the planet for years until the mid 80s and its gone downhill from there. I dont blame that entirely on Marshall. People can only afford so much and rising wages forced Marshall to cut costs as much as they could. I've owned a ton a bass gear as well and this combo rates up with them all in terms of tone. If you can find one, buy it.
