Marshall 9001 Tube Guitar Preamp

I bought mine new for $600 from MF. At first I thought it sounded more like what I wanted than my old Marshall JCM 800 amp. Running effects into a med gain amp sounds horrible so I was sure this was ok and I sure coul'nt afford spending more. They wanted around $150 for the footswitch so I never did get it. All analog knobs on front so easy to adjust, just that it does not really sound right no matter how I adjusted knobs. I remember opening up top panel and seeing only 3 tubes and alot of miniature electronics and there was that ridiculously loud hummimg transformer that also vibrated alot.

Using humbuckers in strats at the time the sound was ok. I ended up buying a 9005 amp and feeling cheated out of my money. This is not pro gear, it's mid range gear with many issues. Not enough output, too noisy and dry sounding. I favor the Marshall crunch tone, this unit is just a bad memory with alot of solid state crap ruining it for me. Only a Marshall is even worth modding but this unit is all circuit board and is best "sold down the river" friends.

I bought it new and the transformer always hummed and vibrated what I felt was excessive. Marshall released this inferior model and in a few years issued the jmp-1. They forgot all about this piece and did not even offer a foot switch for it after a year. The company sold these junk units and then left us all hang to dry by not even offering a footswitch a year after it was released.

Marshall stood behind the unit, so far back you could'nt see them,lol!

I like my old Kasha Rockmod alot better than my old 9001 preamp. This 9001 always had this thin undertone in it, turns out when Marshall says all tube preamp I don't believe them anymore than the guy selling new stereos out of the back of his van!

This is a pretty straight forward preamp. No scrolling or parameters. Everything is right out front for fine tuning if you need to. Set the EQ and go. Learn to work balance level and gain between R1 and R2 and the R2 voicing and watch how many crazy tones you can get out of this monster.

Ive have used the same preamp and footswitch for over 15 years. Started with a Mesa 50/50 with a stereo bottom loaded with EV 12L. main axe is a 67 Tele. Nothing could touch this set up as far as classic rock crunch and screamin Marshall lead. For you Fender players, tame the high end with the presense control on the power amp or you will shatter the nieghbors glass. Currently using the Marshall through a Traynor YBA w/6CA7 for power section pushing a 2-10 Celestion piggie back. Big sound for a small package. This preamp can cover everything from David Gilmour to Jimmy Page.

15 years and its never let me down. Go easy on the input and output jacks. They are junk. Set it up in the rack and leave the cord connections in. Change the preamp tubes faithfully once a year and this amp will never let you down. I prefer Boogie 12AX7's but thats a personal preference.

Never needed support. I've always maintianed my own gear.

I have two preamp setups each with footswitch and cord. Good luck finding the footswitches for these though they do pop up now and then on Ebay. Ive used Ampegs, Marshalls, Boogies, Hiwatts, and Fenders and would put this side by side with all of them. Not quite a Fender so if your into the Vibrolux sound this may not be for you. The lead section will stomp all over a Boogie and you dont have to spend months finding that sweet spot. For the money thses amps are going for these days its well worth it. You will not be disappointed.

Easy to get basic sounds out of, tricksy when dialing in your unique tone... The EQ section is a bit lame, seems to suck the volume out of it when it's kicked in - best to use a switchable EQ between this and a poweramp. Other than that I have to say I like it a lot :0)

The clean sound depends on what you're putting through it - My main guitar is a Clapton Strat with a Red Lace Sensor in the bridge - I roll off the red a little but the mid and neck pickus give me no problems at all. I also have an 80's Charvel with a Hetfield set of EMGs which sings through the 9001. The Rhythmn channel sounds great, very old school, 60's/70's Marshall tones - again depending on what you're driving it with depends on what you get out. As far as the Lead channel goes I agree with many of the comments previously posted, ie the drive 2 tends to muddy up the sound somewhat. It can be used to create a mean Lo-Fi grunge sound if you drop drive 1 to about 1, but that sound doesn't really appeal to me.

Lead channel, High output pickups on a decent bit of wood = :0p

PS I've loaded it with Harma Cryo valves so it's QUIET on the noise front.

NEver a problem, 200 gigs and counting

N/A

Look, it's a Marshall, very importantly, it's several Marshall's in a box. Use it with a valve power amp or run it into a clean valve amp and you will not go wrong. I've had it straight into a Hiwatt DR201 with a pair of JCM800 cabs and it shook the world. Similiarly through a 9005 poweramp, out to a Boogie cab with greenbacks it really ripped - fantastic tones, clean and dirty. Currently it's going through the 9005 with KT77's for clarity and out to an old Musicman 150 2x12 cab - again going for clarity but it still retains enough of it's own character and warmth that made me interested in the first place. I was after a Jubilee head when I realised that this is basically a Jubilee, Plexi and JCM800 in a box. Nuff Said, does the trick and I won't be getting shot of it.

PS I also have a Mesa Quad, which is difficult to setup, destroys preamp valves if not biased properly and is generally too many things in one box and not flexible enough on the switching front. Yes it's nice, but it's a pain. I'm keeping the Marshall, dropping the quad and getting a 50 Cal+ to keep it simple - and the sound of Boogie IIc+ and Marshall side by side is just Freakin' Awesome!!!

- Controls are pretty straightforward.
- I was able to get very usable tones out of the unit relatively quickly.
- The manual is helpful.

- I use a Jackson Fusion Pro and Les Paul guitars, and a Carvin XV212 tube amp with this preamp.
- The unit is very quiet, even when the Lead channel is used.
- Rhythm channel 1 is too bright for my tastes, and there is no voice (i.e. tone) control for this channel.
- Rhythm channel 2 can provide very good clean or overdriven tones, and has its own voice control.
- The Lead channel combines two different types of overdrives (one rather nasty, the other "brown"), has its own voice and level controls, and can get good AC/DC or Led Zeppelin type sounds, although I find that some EQ is required to tighten low end flab.
- In order to get higher gain type tones (e.g. Gary Moore, Joe Satriani), I found running an overdrive pedal (with tone shaping) in front of the preamp (lead channel) was necessary. With a good overdrive pedal in front of the 9001, I would rate the tone as a 9.
- The 5 band EQ and FX loop work very well. The FX loop can be used as a volume boost by inserting a patch cable from the effects SEND to the RETURN, and then adjusting the SEND/RETURN level controls.
- The cabinet simulator feature is mediocre imho, sounding rather dull, yet buzzy when used as a direct input to a mixer.

- From about 1990 to 1994, I used this unit to play small clubs/bars 1-2 times a month and never had a problem. Since 1994, I've used the unit on and off for recording, and the only issue I've had is that a few of the potentiometers make noise when you turn them (which is not uncommon when pots get old).

- When I was playing clubs, our band played mostly classic rock, so the 9001 was a very good match. It is also a good match for some of the more progressive music I've recorded (again, as long as a good OD pedal is used out in front).
- I've been playing guitar since 1980. Along with the 9001, I have a Tube Screamer with boutique mods, an Alesis Quadraverb GT, a Cry Baby wah, and a Yamaha digital effects processor in my guitar rig.
- If the 9001 were lost or stolen, I'd consider purchasing another if the condition was very good and the price was under $250. Otherwise I'd probably purchase a Crunch Box or OCD pedal.

Its easy to get a sound out of if you follow the manual, or if you just wing it! if you are looking for specific sounds the manual points you in the right direction and after a bit, you can throw it away, it gets pretty intuitive.
manual is pretty good, has all schematics etc....actually it's GREAT!

First off! Everyone complaining about hum or no bottom end...it is your AMP! This one is dead quiet with PLENTY of bottom end and it looks like its been dragged through a ditch for hours.
Don't exactly know why these were a short run (prob. as it's a rack unit...they almost always a shorties...look at the mp1 tube pre, another goody) as they get THE marshall sound if you are after angus, townsend, hendrix....lots of the classics but the clean is VERY good. I play jazz, punk and classic? and it nails them all. I really REALLY liked my mp1 tube pre with a sansamp gt1 through various 4 and single speaker cabs....but this thing just seems to be more real? sounding....more tubey!
Almost like that old special fender champ tubeyness with option of distortion.
My fav. artists aren't the ones listed above...i like sonny sharrock and john mclaughlin...and it does fine getting the majority or their sounds...pretty much better than most any other combination I have tried...PERFEct!

As stated, it has been through hell and still sounds great. Only problem is the main pot is sticky...or slightly difficult to turn when compared to the others, but i never really notice it as it is set and stays there

dunno, never needed it, its pretty cool and all the schematics are free online though

play everything but cannibal corpse? not really, but am amazed at the closeness you can get to srv, evh, zappa and everything in between. WIll not get the death metal sound very well and generally doesn't get a huge variety of clean sounds, but I like and play clean a lot and it does do clean very well.
If you are stuck in the modeling rut, try on of these pups out, really gets back to the roots of rock and crazy jazz....i wish i had the pedal but....doesnt really need it. have owned arion to zoom effects with the best being the sansamp (imho) and an old ibanez tubeking, blues driver was ok, mp1 ok but this thing just kicks it. Have always owned fender, crate,vox and a couple-a ss marshalls but this beats all.

Easy to get clean to 80s metal sounds!

I play 20 years, i own a 1993 MIJ 1954 fender stratocaster reissue; a 1978 greco LesPaul; a handmade Strat with SD SHR-1N&B; a charvel predator 1989; the guitars go to racktuner/9001/tc electronic g-sharp/blues deluxe 1993 model (which goes away for a marshall head).
also i play through a handmade AX84 high octane with a 10k instead of the 820r.

great TRUE SOUND. NOTHING DIGITAL LIKE NOWDAYS LINE6 AND REST OF CRAP!
MARSHALL SOUND, MARSHALL FEEL, MARSHALL ALL OVER EVEN THROUGH A FENDER AMP!

I had another one which I ruing it's traffo one day so I bought a second one.
build like tank to last forever!

good english support!

i play from blues to ballads and then up to doom like metal.. it covers the whole thing!

This pre-amp is very easy to get a very good sound out of it. In the users guide of this pre-amp you can find four sound settings, so it is very easy to get a good sound of it. And also this amp is great for tweaking. You have a lot of possibilities, so you can get many different sounds with this amp. Microsoft Windows is more complexe than this amp ;-) .

I use this amp in combination with Stratocasters (with humbuckers at the bridge position) and Ibanez RG guitars and a Marshall 8008 poweramp and a 4 x 12 inch Marshall cabinet. This gives a extreme good rock sound.
The clean and crunch channel are very quiet. And the lead channel makes very little noise, but that is minimal.
When you put a chorus, flanger or phaser floor pedals (also with the so called expensive vintage floor pedals) between the guitar and this amp I was not impressed by the sound, but when you put a boss half 19 inch chorus flanger or phaser in the effect loop of this amp, the sounds you get are great. And with a 19 inch multi effect processor in the effects loop the sounds you can get are awesome. I use it in combination with a Digitech multi effect processor that has effects like chorus flanger phaser and pitch shifter, so I get the crunch and overdrive sounds out of this Marshall amp(of course ;-) ). Then it is easy to get the sounds of your favorite guitar player.

It is a tank among amps. It never let me down.

I never had contact with Marshall but with their import company and they helped my excellent by giving me a electric scheme so I was able to build a footswitch for this amp myself..

I play mostly rock and hard rock, but also top 40 music.
In combination with a multi effect processor in the effect loop the clean channel gives great sounds. My other amp is a Fender with the famous clean channel o I can compare, but the clean channel of this amp (but in combination with a mfx in the fx-loop) gives very warm and bright sounds.
This amp is really great for rock and hard rock (what did you expect...it's a Marshall)

This pre-amp is very easy to get a very good sound out of it. In the users guide of this pre-amp you can find four sound settings, so it is very easy to get a good sound of it. And also this amp is great for tweaking. You have a lot of possibilities, so you can get many different sounds with this amp. Microsoft Windows is more complexe than this amp ;-) .

I use this amp in combination with Stratocasters (with humbuckers at the bridge position) and Ibanez RG guitars and a Marshall 8008 poweramp and a 4 x 12 inch Marshall cabinet. This gives a extreme good rock sound.
The clean and crunch channel are very quiet. And the lead channel makes very little noise, but that is minimal.
When you put a chorus, flanger or phaser floor pedals (also with the so called expensive vintage floor pedals) between the guitar and this amp I was not impressed by the sound, but when you put a boss half 19 inch chorus flanger or phaser in the effect loop of this amp, the sounds you get are great. And with a 19 inch multi effect processor in the effects loop the sounds you can get are awesome. I use it in combination with a Digitech multi effect processor that has effects like chorus flanger phaser and pitch shifter, so I get the crunch and overdrive sounds out of this Marshall amp(of course ;-) ). Then it is easy to get the sounds of your favorite guitar player.

It is a tank among amps. It never let me down.

I never had contact with Marshall but with their import company and they helped my excellent by giving me a electric scheme so I was able to build a footswitch for this amp myself..

I play mostly rock and hard rock, but also top 40 music.
In combination with a multi effect processor in the effect loop the clean channel gives great sounds. My other amp is a Fender with the famous clean channel o I can compare, but the clean channel of this amp (but in combination with a mfx in the fx-loop) gives very warm and bright sounds.
This amp is really great for rock and hard rock (what did you expect...it's a Marshall)

this is a killer pre amp. if you cant get at least several good sounds out of it,either you cant play,or you have junk to work with.i am SO tired of reading reviews from morons.this is a very simple,easy to use tube pre amp. it is a marshall,and sounds like one.if you want it to sound like "my uncle pee wee's zoom " or a line 6 or any other digital unit you are not going to like it. this pre amp actually sounds great. the cleans are clean and clear, the dirty stuff covers everything from mild to wild.i have read that the bottom end is muddy,well..i dont know what they are doing,but with my 9001,the bottom end it awesome and tight. i use many different guitars with this unit(charvel model 6,gibson sg,ibanez rg760,ibanez rgt42,ect.) i run it into a bgw amp,and 2 marshall 4x12's(i use an art sgx2000 express for any effects ) i have owned many rack units over the years,and this is my favorite .

well,i think i answered all of these questions in the previous box. but to sum it up....this is a great sounding,easy to use pre amp. any guitarist worth his salt should be able to dial in great clean and dirty sounds with very little effort.

my 9001 has never let me down (none of my marshall stuff has ever let me down) i always have a back up EVERYTHING for a gig.its far too easy to plan ahead a bit,and save a ton of trouble.

i have never needed any customer support,but the web site has been helpful

i am a metal/hard rock player that dabbles in jazz,blues,and classical. i have been playing for 20+ years,and have owned tons of guitars and amps/effects. the main point to always remember is that NO guitar,amp,or effect unit will do EVERYTHING for all people. every piece of equiptment has a purpose and limits. pick your stuff because it works for you...not because you hero uses it. and the MOST important piece of equiptment that affects your sound is your hands !

very easy if you know what you want and lean a little how tube amps / preamps are working.

I am mainly boogie player, but still got to say that this is a very good pre amp. you need good tubes and knowing how to make a good guitar sound.
Don't be fooled by some here that don't know how to play or make a good sound. It's good enough for a today guitar player. If you want you can just use effects for more setups. For bottom end you need good amp. and box - it's not the preamps fault.

i have to change the input, but it might been damaged by bad working by the pre-owner...

professional player