Product: MXR 4203 Artist
Price Paid: US Like $300 used
Submitted
04/06/2001
at
06:34am
by
J.A. de Vries
Ease of Use
:
8
How easy can it get. There's two channels, switchable by a footswitch or by just plugging in a cord + jack-plug. The controls all speak for themselves. I have no manual and I don't need one as well.
Sound Quality
:
9
I play a customized Fender USA Telecaster (ash body, 2 x Seymour Duncan S, 2 x DiMarzio H) through it. I'm very much into stompboxes which I use between the guitar & amp (there's an effect loop, I don't use it). The amp can get noisy at high volumes. So it's suitable when playing PA. I would not use it when there's no PA (it's only 30W). The clean channel is nice, especially with the gain up high and the master volume low. The lead channel can give a nice edge like I like it. It can roar as well but I'm not into that.
Cutting one of the feet of C13 at the biggest PCB (every fool can do that, please disconnect the power cord and wait for one hour before starting) is the best yip I ever had on the internet. You get rid of the Marshall ear-killing highs and remain with a nice and warm tube sound. Thanks all for that advice. I can get all sounds that I need. I myself am my favorite artist and I can get my sound out of this setup.
Reliability
:
6
I would not lend this amp to Pete Townsend of The Who. I had it open and it all looks good but there's quite some electronics in it and I had some minor problems (like one connection that was tripped too much so it hit another part which made the sound level go down).
Let's just say I have owned amps that appear more decent to me.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I support myself. I would give myself an 8. I don't know what guys work at Marshall or your local store... No opinion.
Overall Rating
:
8
A fun amp. Shoul be bought if it can be found. When you play blues(-rock) you should have one (with the modification) when possible. It's loud enough but when you end up in some blues jam sessions you can run into someone that has more power...
