Marshall MB450H 450 Watt Hybrid Bass Amp Head

2 channels - "modern", with on/offcompressor,and "classic" with ECC83 pre-amp valve, and on/off booster for gain. Takes 2 speaker cabs, at 4 ohms each. Both need to be plugged in to get the full 450 watts, otherwise its 300 watts. Switchable between channels, and, both can be used together, and blended as desired.
I play in a punk covers band (and previously played in a heavy rock band.
I use this weekly for rehearsals, and for gigs, with just the one cab, the Marshall MBC 410. I do have the MBC 115 but never needed it, to date.

I use a Fender Standard US Precision, with Badass bridge, strung with Rotosound heavy gauge strings. As mentioned, am in a punk covers band (Pistols/Clash/Ramones) where most of the time, there`s only one guitarist. As such, I need to keep the drive going, rather than be twiddly. This amp is perfect fo what I use it for. To expand, I use the classic channel, and, when playing Motorheads Ace Of Spades, engage the gain boost. I just put all eq`s/gain on 5, and adjust volume to suit (with the one cab, never needed more than 4). As mentioned, use it with the matching MBC 410 cab, which is also very good for my needs.

I do gig without a backup, as can`t afford a spare amp to carry about. Will be adding either a Sansamp Bass Driver, or MXR M80 at some point to my set-up, for those "just in case" times. The amp has only ever caused concern once, where I had to use the modern channel (which after a bit of fiddling worked well) and this was due to the pre-amp valve coming loose - established by someone who knows about these things. I`ve had the amp for 9 months now, and gigged just about every other weekend since having it, and rehearsed every week. No real problems here. Knocking it to 9 for the one-off situation described.

I`ve dealt with Marshall many a time, though never over faulty equipment. They`re only 25 miles from me,so easy to take amps to. When I bough the amp, there was a hiccup with the store I bought it from, where my amp was never delivered to the shop. The shop, Coda Music, Stevenage, arrange for me to collect direct from Marshall. As I had a gig that eve, and this was when we had full snow, they stayed at work, on a Friday evening, til I got there. Can`t rate them any higher.

I`ve been playing 28 years. Am a Precision man, and this amp does exactly what I need, in conjunction with a Precision.
What do I love about it - everything , it sounds great, and, with both 4x10 and 1x15 cab, the whole lot cost me about ??700. Yes, ??700 for a 450 watt amp, with two cabs, with Marshall written on all 3 items. I used to have a Hartke set-up, but as was in a heavy rock band, sold it to get this set-up. The Hartke was very good, and probably more versatile, but for what I need, the Marshall edges it. It also looks right for rock/punk. I definately recommend both this, and its associated products. If lost or stolen, I wuld buy the exact same again.

Superficially, the features are great, until you realise that the sounds make some of them redundant.

Instead of the pointless channel footswitch (see 'sounds'), how about one to toggle the 'boost' on and off!

I got this amp to replace a Peavey Mk VI head that I'd had for 15 yrs and was starting to not be so reliable. That amp cost me ??400 then, while this cost me ??260, so I knew the sound wasn't gonna be as good, but was I disappointed!

The 2 channels sound ABSOLUTELY different, with the 'Classic' channel being a hell of a lot lower in volume. This almost completely makes any mid-song channel changing via the footswitch pointless - unless you want it to sound like you've instantly swapped bass players!! I guess this is why they had to fit the 'Blend' control - so you can add just a touch of the other channel.

The EQ knobs on the classic channel do very little. The bass knob is noticable on 1-4, but after that, pretty much nothing. I had to use the 'Modern' channel for the bottom end and blend it in.

The compressor isn't subtle enough - you can hear it suckin in and out. Either have it full on or off all together.

It hasn't broke down yet! Bit disappointed that when you eye down the amp, not all the knobs are in line with each other!

Have dealt with Marshall before, and they've always been good.

I struggled to get a good sound through this amp (and I'm not using crap gear - Ricky 4001, 8 x 10 cab), I play in a punk rock 3 piece, and found it hard to find my place in the mix!

2 channels, one with OVD, the other with a compressor. Each channel has seperate EQ. 2 speaker outs. Puts out 450 at 2 ohms, 300 at 4 ohms. It has a tube preamp (!). There's more stuff, I just don't have time to put it here.

The classic channel sounds amazing if you're looking for a distorted sound. The modern channel sounds ok, but you have to mess with the EQ a bit though. It has a bit too much in the mid-range for my taste (or maybe it was just the cab). I ran it through the matching 4x10 and 1x15 with my MIM P-Bass and my Jackson CMG. It sounded great with both cabinets and both basses.

Pretty versitile as far as sounds go.

I've only had it a couple of days. It hasn't broken yet. Lets hope it stays that way.

Haven't had to deal with Marshall yet, but I think they'd treat me ok.

I've been playing for about 5 years, and this is a great deal on a first bass head. I have an old Sound City head and a Crate BT-350 head. If this was stolen, I would definately be very upset and I would most likely buy a new one, or the 1x15 combo version of this amp. Overall, this amp owns the competition. This is one of the best heads you can buy new for the money. The only thing you could get for cheaper is a BT-350 on ebay (good luck finding one of those!)

The amount of features of this amp are fantastic (see marshall site)
many possibilties, you really can choose your own sound. Also nice: compression (channel modern) and a pre-blend. On top of that, also a footswitch is included (switch between mordern or classic channel, and on/off pre-blend.

Looking at the average price of the amp, the sound is okay. Please do not think the amp's sound is comparable with the marshall dbs series. But looking at the difference in price, it just isn't fair. You do have an overwelming high volume. Also a nice feature: the ventilator is attached to a heat sensor. So if you play at low volume, the ven doesn't blow your ears off...

Don't know its reliability, I just have the amp half a year. So far no complications...

Don't know it either...

I think you have good sound looking at the price, however you have many feature to choose of... very nice :-)

The Marshall MB450H is a powerhouse amp head for your bass. It wallops a massive 450W of total bass power when connected to 2 extension cabinets. All that's left to do now is to choose your preferred choice of cabinets so you can plug in and rock!

Both channels-Modern and Classic-have separate EQ. The Modern channel features bass, treble, parametric mid and a compressor. The Classic channel with its ECC83 preamp valve includes a Boost switch, and it has a 3-band passive tone network with 3 different voices. Like the high-wattage Marshall combo amps, the MB450 bass head has the option of blending the 2 channels either from the front panel or via a supplied 2-way footswitch.

Marshall MB450H 450W Hybrid Bass Amp Head Features:
Superb, versatile two channel Bass Amp head with a monstrous 450 watt power output
300 watts Output @ 4 Ohms
450 watts Output @ 2 Ohms
Speakon connectors x 2
1/4 inch jack speaker connectors x 2
Built-in limiter
DI Line out: XLR (Pre and Post)
FX Loop
Footswitch: 2 Way (included)
2 channels, Modern and Classic
Blend control
Built-in compressor (switchable Modern channel)
ECC83 pre-amp valve (Classic channel)
Boost Switch (Classic channel)
3 x Mid Voices
Master Volume
CD input (1/4 inch jack)
Headphone output
Dimensions: 630 x 220 x 235 mm
Weight: 15 Kg

This is a new product offered by Marshall. Does anyone own this amp and can they tell me about it, good, bad, or indifferent.

This is a new product offered by Marshall. Does anyone own this amp and can they tell me about it, good, bad, or indifferent.

This is a new product offered by Marshall. Does anyone own this amp and can they tell me about it, good, bad, or indifferent.

This is a new product offered by Marshall. Does anyone own this amp and can they tell me about it, good, bad, or indifferent.