Marshall 9004 Preamp

The sound is nice and tight, harmonics ring very clear through it and its gain is unbelievable. Basically just set it up, dial in the gain and EQ and BOOM, instant rock/shred.

Oh dear god this amp gave me a burst of adrenaline when playing my ESP through it. The Metal sound of it is amazing, sustain seems pretty average but I look to the guitar wood for that. The clean settings are in my opinion louder because they ring more. The distortion is by far the most notable feature on it.

Well, its a classic 89' so I don't know how many years its got on it. But I will keep it up and running. As for gig-ability, I'de use it, better than my small Crate GFX-20,ROTFL. I run this thing through 2 20" Pro Studio Speaker amps for a low end growl like no other

Haven't needed any

Personally, this will be my baby from now on and I will use it till my last breath. I wouldn't be able to afford another because I got mine through a trade, THE SPEAKERS TOO! 1 tower pc and **** with 2 hard drives for it,good deal. I wish it had more of a sharper, but clearer high end sound, my high notes sound weak.

So easy a caveman could use it! I recently got rid of a Prophesy II because it took forever to get to the meat of the matter. I never gigged with it, but I can just imagine a 3 hour soundcheck to tweak it for each and every room you play. Yeah it is solid state, but I play a whole lot more now, and hardly ever spend more than 2-3 minutes getting a big time sound out of this unit. Turn knobs just like on the plexis', and you are "editing" your rig. No more endless menus for the NASA mission!!!!

It is a little brittle, but a little deflection can do wonders.The noise is kept to a minimum with the settings I like, and I don't need a noise gate or a HUSH even when recording with high quality condensers. I have never tried to use it as a direct box to the board, but maybe I will try and do that some day when the situation presents itself. Without deflection, one notices slight clips in the sustain. For under a $100, I won't complain. Dialing down the guitar volume on the gain channel produces tremendous results on a good guitar. I play straight rock electric with a Van Halen/Schenker style, and I blow this through a Mesa Strategy 400 with either old Marshall cabs with original Greenbacks, or 4 ADA split stacks with newer Celestions (the cab setups almost sound alike, but not quite!!)with a little reverb or phase in the effects loop, and it sounds almost like my '71 100w Marshall lead. Then again, NOTHING sounds like THAT Amp!!!!!! I get the sounds that I like (close enough for skiffle?), and it doesn't take me all afternoon to do it, and that is why I love this thing!!!

Have not had any problems, so far, anyway!

Never had to call Marshall on any of their amps I have owned. Whenever anything went wrong, a qualified tech was always able to repair whatever the problem, and that has always worked for me.

I play straight rock, R&R, electric blues, psychedelic stuff, etc. I have been at it for about 35 years. I use this with the Mesa strategy 400,sometimes I'll switch on my ADA Quad Tube and play pitch transposed parts with the main rig. I play Ibanez and flying V guitars with humbuckers, as well as a couple of heavy strats with schecter and Dimarzio stuff in them. Since my Marshall 100W head transformer melted, I have been in search of a surrogate rig, hence the Prophesy II, a rather expensive gamble that left me feeling quite violated wallet-wise. I did unload the turkey, and bought this ebay cheap, and man am I glad I did!! I'll be on the lookout for a backup. "My Favorite Feature"? Turn it on, tune it up, and play!! That is it, and that's about all I want it to do. So much of this new gear has so many adjustments onboard, a player might forget that he has two hands to manipulate his tone just by using finesse, savvy, and style. Never mind all that other junk, just give me an amp and a guitar, that is my opinion, anyway!!

Very easy to use, just plug in and dial up your tone. separate eq's for both lead and rthym channels are a great feature. effects loop with mix pot is handy when using efx.

Have only been playing for a couple of years, but im definately someone who looks for quality over quantity. This was my first preamp and i must admit was a little disapointed at the begining. i use it for direct to disk recording - no cabinet, it sounded very weak, thin and buzzy, kinda like a very cheap n nasty distortion pedal. but have since been running it through an ADA microcab - wow, massive difference, the bottom end is really tight. i can dial out the mids and add some top/bottom end and get a great crunching tone, old school new school, this thing can do it as long as the other equipment around it can help it along the way.

Hasn't caused me any trouble so far, its racked up at the mo, so its not on the road playing gigs. took the cover off and it seems very sturdy.

Never dealt with them. im using it with a stock power supply from an electronics shop. it seems that this thing can run on any power supply as long as the voltage is the same, so prob wont need to call customer support.

I play experiemnetal rock, and this can give me a great tight tone that cuts through the mix well, as long as your other gear is up to it - see ADA above. The only bad point to this preamp would be the sustain of long notes. it cuts a lot quicker than my hughes and kettner cream machine, even when the gain is high. prob becuase of the unit being solid state. The cream machine is a tube preamp, and has a different tone to the marshall, but tonal quality wise, i would say that they are not too far off each other. you can still tell its a solid state, has that distintive sound, but a very good one at that.

The Marshall MPG9004 (9000series) Preamp. Simple to get great Marshall tones at a super resonable price. No editing. Turn the knobs and walla...You are a creating tone. Solidstate. But just an amazing unit. Two channels...Lead and clean. With option to run stereo, and has an effects loop. Seperate EQ's is a plus. And a wet dry knob to bring in or take out whatever effects you are running if any! Just so much in a great preamp for so little.
No manual! I have two of the preamps. They are like new and I never needed a manual to work them. They are simple like an amp head. Just turning knobs. Easy to setup and work with. Plus a headPhones jack for those times you want to play in your room and have to keep it down.
No upgrades for this preamp is available that I am aware of. Bone stock!

I am running my setup as follows.
Power Conditioner
Tuner (Out of the loop)
Marshall 9004 preamp
Marshall 9200 power amp (All Tube)
Two Mesa Boogie Cabinets...(Until I can get two Marshall cabs with Celestions)

I have a BOSS Delay Pedal and a DOD EQ Boost Pedal in the effects loop. I use the boost for leads..And the delay on occassions. Otherwise I play dry for the most part.

Guitars are a Les Paul Classic and a PRS GoldTop Custom, and a Homeade Strat.

After playing with this setup. I have found that it does have it's own distinctive tone. But it still sounds Marshall too. I would not say it is the HolyGrail of tone. But it sounds extremely good. I have pulled off tones in the realm of AC/DC to ZZTOP. All and everything in between. The cleans are nice too. I can get a great classic rock tone..Or a modern tone...I even nailed BigHair 80's stuff. (Is that consider classic rock?) That is just sad. Or I am to old!

The 9004 Preamp responds well with pedals. I have not used a effects processor. I am not much of a digital effects guy. But I would think that a processor would be just as compatible with this preamp.
I still am buying them when I find em. The just are really great sounding and easy to use preamps. And are very easy on the wallet.

I have played for 13 years or more now. Live and studio. This unit has never failed me. Or let me down. Built well. Very Solid. I have a backup for it. Because well the whole "Murphys Law" thing. But I would and have gigged several years without a backup. No troubles at all.
I wish that Marshall still built these. But I guess times change. And lucky for guys like me who do not have alot of cash to blow on a original 69 plexi fullstack. I never had to deal with Marshall. But I am sure they would do their best to help me if I needed repairs or advice on a product. The rating I gave is 9. But that is based on how reliable the unit is. Not Marshall! Because I never had to deal with them.

Never had to talk to anyone from Marshall. So I cannot give a honest opinion.

I play Rock and Blues. Funk as well! I write originals in my band. We play all the time. This preamp is a great match for what I play. 70's 80's and original ROCK to HardRock to Blues.
I have been playing 13 years or more. Live and studio. I have a mesa Boogie Mark IV. But have gone through several amps and gadgets in my life as a musician.
If this preamp was stolen. I would buy another. They are cheap enough...But are hard to find now.
I love everything about this preamp. There is no wrong or downside to it. I hate the fact that it is solidstate. But I cannot complain with the results I am getting and have gotten with this preamp. And still get.
I think my favorite thing about this unit is the fact that it is as easy to use as a single channel amp head. No digital buttons or LED display. That stuff would and does take forever to tweak on the fly. The Marshall 9004 preamp takes a second. I turn in the middle of playing. Twist a knob a little. BAM. I am in the zone for tone. That is the beauty of this unit. It is just simple to use, sounds killer, and is cheap. You cannot go wrong.
This unit I have compared with newer and older stuff. Like a Rocktron Progap and Chameleon....Or a Triaxis....and all the line6 stuff. In all honesty. This unit out shines the other preamps in tone, ease of use, and reliability.
It has helped me write music and inpired new sounds. It makes me want to play guitar all the time.
Marshall MGP9004 preamp. SolidState, and killer tone.

Extremely easy to use. Standard two channel amp setup. Gain channel features gain, volume, treble, middle, bass.....clean channel features volume, treble, middle, bass. Also features master volume, channel switch and an FX mix. As others have said, that's a great feature to have on the front as it allows you to adjust your fx level mix without having to do so on your effects unit itself.

You know, even before I plugged this unit in, I expected to hate it. I've become a bit of a solid state snob. I think that's because I've heard so many horrible Crate solid state amps. I own a Marshall Valvestate amp (Tube preamp, solid state power amp). I was extremely amazed at how tubish this preamp sounds compared to my Valvestate. It has a very similar tone but a bit more gain is possible from it. It's also a bit smoother sounding. No tube crackle/fizz. It also responds well to picking dynamics. Out of curiousity, I opened it up. It employs two red led's in the input stage to vary the signal. This is the same thing being done by a lot of the boutique effects pedals. The problem with most solid state units is that the signal in is always 100% so the distortion tone is always the same. These little led's are a way of simulating that same effect created in a tube amp.

Overall, this preamp gets some great rock/heavy metal tones. Oh yeah, the solid state is great.

I had noticed a buzzing noise at one point that was intermittent. Tracked it down to a cold solder joint on one of the capacitors. All is good. I can tell you from having opened it up that it's built pretty solid.

I had to call Korg about the power supply. Got a tech right away and he was more than helpful.

I wouldn't say it sounds like a tube amp....but I would say that it sounds better than a solid state amp. I ran it into a Epiphone Galaxy 10 watt tube amp with a 10" Celestion open back cabinet. It sounded fantastic. With the right power amp and speaker combo, this thing could kick some serious butt.

very simple to get a great sound! just basic knobs, twist em and see!!!

using with a marshall 9000 series power amp and a marshall 2x12 cab.
great gary moore crunch!! no really!!1 especially if you give it a kick with an overdrive pedal!!!( i use a keeley boss overdrive)
good raunchy sound
i have a marshall jcm 800 and a mesa boogie quad preamp and i'm seriously thinking about using this solid state preamp!!(the effects loop with the wet dry control is really very nice)
the clean channel is also good but unfortunatly the preamp has no reverb so its a bit dry but a very usable tone none the less!!!

solid state? i'm sure its good! the thing is weightless if you dropped it it would float down!!!!

great preamp, surprising well kitted out, easy on the pocket and the back!!!and sounds well like a marshall!! i'm playing 20 years or so and i know what i like and this is it!!!
great for thin lizzy gary moore zz top etc

Good old knobs!! If you can turn an amp on and tweek the eq, then you can use this thing. I bought mine used so it did not have a manual. You don't need one anyway.

I run a Ernie Ball Axis and a Peavey wolfgang into a homemade pedal board consisting in this order of; a Boss TU-2 tuner, a DOD YJM 308 pre-amp pedal, a Morley Little Alligator volume pedal, then to the 9004. I run a Behringer 1024p effects unit in the effects loop of the 9004. the 9004 has a mix knob for effects so I set the mix in the Behringer at 100% and adjust the overall mix in the 9004, a very nice feature! The main outputs of the 9004 run into a BBE sonic maximizer and the outputs of the BBE feed a Carvin Legacy 100 watt head effects return and then a Marshall 4x12 cab. For me, this set-up is the closest I've come to tonal nirvana! The Legacy is a great amp but it is a bit to loud for my current situation. The 9004 sounds great at lower volumes as well as high ones. I set the overdrive channel to get a nice warm crunch for my rhythm sound with the volume pedal about 3/4 open, I kick it 100% open for leads and if I need a bit more dirt, I kick in my DOD YJM 308. The BBE kind of cleans everything up a bit and this rig has very little noise.

I've had no problems with this set-up yet.

N/A

I play classic rock with my current band Southbound, and I play an 80's style of melodic rock on my own recordings. I've played music in one form or another all my life. If my rig had to be replaced tomorrow, I would gravitate toward Marshall amps and cabs. Im a tube guy but there is some SS stuff that is great, the 9004 is noe of those things! I would replace it with another 9004.

The Marshall 9004 is a no-frills preamp with all your controls right up front. Both the lead and rhythm channels have EQ controls (which is a serious PLUS) and the effects mix is also controled on the front of the unit. A standard Marshall style footswitch (latching on/off) can change from lead to rhythm channels. No manual is needed because this preamp is very simple to use.

The rhythm channel is a nice clean channel as most solid state preamps are. The lead channel is a VERY NICE modern high gain sound. It's very hard to realize that its a solid state amp with all the gain and tone you get from the lead channel. What's really cool about this preamp however is that it has a distinctive VOICE or tonal quality to it. Nothing sounds like it and if you want a preamp which sounds distinctive, this is it. I use mine with a all tube poweramp and a 4x12 cabinet. It has more saturation than my Mesa Boogie studio preamp and the bottom end is a little loose, kinda like the old Plexi's. This amp isn't a Rockman type sound if that's what you're looking for.

My preamp has endured many gigs, rack replacements, periods of use, non-use, and use again. Through it all, it never let me down. During my college days I depended 100% on this preamp and I never had to anything to it. Of course, potentiometers get scratchy over time & use but its nothing a little contact cleaner cannot fix.

Never had to deal with them. I can repair my own gear if I need to but I never had to repair my Marshall 9004

I play many styles of music but my guitar sound usually lives in the realm of the modern high gain amplifier area. I play a Van Halen Ernie Ball model guitar (Wolfgang for the newer folks) and chopped up Kramers & Stratocasters, all of which love this preamp. If it were stolen I would certainly want another 9004 to replace it but they're a little harder to find right now. There's a tube version out there in the Marshall 9000 series but frankly its solid state too because the tube is running at a low voltage. In the 1980's all the guitar companies went the cheap route with tubes and figured rather than running the optimium 600V through the tubes they'd run the bare minimum (12 - 24V). This does NOTHING to get that TUBE SOUND and thus if you're torn between a Marshall 9004 or 9001(tube), you might as well get the Marshall 9001. I've played for 15 years now and I can tell you , its a nice preamp.

the clean channel sound good but SS amps usually have no problem with clean tones... the lead(distorted channel) bleeping blows i've had many many amps (marshall jcm900, peavey duece, traynor tube head, line 6 fextone2 hd, fender tube combos, and rack units} so i know my way around getting a tone, and the only tone you can get with the lead channel on this sounds like they came out of a dogs rear end... it has no sparks whatsoever and the bottom end is really loose, usually asolid state pream can atleast get some 80's crunch but not this is kinda sounds like someone took your amp and put it the closet then closed the door, and yes i tried cleaning the pots and connections but there isn't much to do since its just one little pcb
i play a dean evo select with zakk wylde emg's (81 & 85) and a les paul classic but i prefer the dean cause the pickups in it smoke and its much lighter for long gigs ... the only way to get a good dist. tone is to use pedals so i hooked up a fabtone i had laying around and a boss metal zone, they give me decent sounds when i use them with the clean channel... i give it a 3 just cause the clean channel is adequit and there is no hum at all

not sure on th year i think early 90's - 2 channel rythem/lead with seperate tone knobs, effects loop, footswitch, headphone jack - solid state crap... i bought it on ebay not relizing that the 900 seriers preamp came in a solid state version, man was i pissed off

solid state must i say more

never dealt with 'em

never again... i might use it for a mic preamp if i had to jimmy rig a pa for someones basement...

i use a 7 string ibanez with emg active pick ups ,i play experimental hard rock with very fast licks unlike the 80's neo-classical fad,and detail is my target,think maxim vengerov playing waxman version of carmen fantasy and you will all understand the definition at that speed is crucial,it is not a noisy unit but i use a noise gate in the beguining of the chain and before the m-one so i get a tale at the end of each note,the sound i describe grainy fine and white,for those who see color in sound ,sweet with sustain,but not as stand alone unit,it has to be overdriven to achive this clarity...i set all the nobs to 10 even the master and 0 on the efx loop which i found out it adds noise to the unit,i highly recomend it for hard rock in which lead detail is essential

this is a solid state preamp that emulates randalls distortion at its best,very high definition if playing fast passages,although the clean channel is not much,i by pass it and i use the distorted channel instead,i own a variety of rack pre-amps including the jmp-1 which has more low end but lacks deffinition in the lower strings for lead,so i combined the two of them,to maximise the gain i use a line 6 dist modeler,through a tc m-one and it works beautifully,uli or -vai on cross roads,the sound is awsome i give it an 8 for versatility but 11 on definition when driving up the distortion,i which the jmp-1 included this wonderfull piece in its preset(now it does)the 2004 though the effect loop,so i can choose between the solid or tube distortion and clean tube only

i am a tech so when i got this unit used ,it made noise on the two main nobs of the lead channel ,but i removed the back of the pots and cleaned them up with alcohol solution and they are back to life,no problems with solid states

i e-mail the company for the spects .still no aswer

i have been playing for 25 years,and i owned just about every guitar preamp that was ever made ,i like this unit a lot, second to the engl530 with is the other unit that makes me happy(yes,when you find the sound you are looking for is like your sound soulmate),i also have the pro pod line6 but for recording demos only,as i use this set up through a marshall 9100 power amp and that combination is perfect. if i was stolen i would def,get another one

an EQ per Channel ensures you can dial whatever you need into play in about 3 seconds. this alone ensures her as the standard to which all preamps are judged.

Master volume, efx loop, stereo capability, direct outs.

The ability to have a seperate EQ for EACH channel is still the professionals first choice. Great gain to crystal clear, the channel switching is instantaneous.

Noiseless, great for studio work as well as live wild gigging.

The 9004 can acchieve anything from Marilyn Manson and Rage against the Machine to Steely Dan and The Beatles is acchieved with the flip of a switch! If you can read and turn a knob - you too will quickly become a tone guru to amaze your peers, inspire your friends and confound you enemies.

Incredible versatility this is an archive of TONE!

Played with a 40 watt Marshall ValveState Power amp and a 528 watt Decca Power Amp by Peavey.

One or two (of the now obscure, stackable angled) 2X12's Marshall Cabs with 35 watt Greenback Celestian.

Anything from a John Lennon Casino to a 22lb 1979 Charvel - this baby will deliver!

I've dribbled my rack with it's precious cargo across a parking lot or too, seen her mishandled by drunken roadies and she is bullet proof - Always fire and inspire.

Playing in Copy band - and I mean a CONVINCING cover band requires tone versatility and on the business side of the things - reliability.

These are qualities this little jewel has in abundance! Playing one since Christmas '91 when I bought her new, she's has logged nearly two thousands gigs and probably three times that number in rehearsel and recording sessions - she is most likely the most played 9004 on Earth.

Never a problem.

Marshall doesn't like to acknpwledge, even less admit or correspond about analog tubless preamps.

The 9004 Valvestate Preamp has always been consistently versatile in diverse gigging environs. Her twin EQ is still being emulated by competitive designs even today.

Peavey released the RockMaster Preamp about this time with twin EQ's and an AX7 tube.

Gallien Kruger unveiled a twin EQ, analog Guitar preamp with chorus also. Protracted comparision shows the Marshall 9004 smokes them both.

It's the easiest thing on earth to use! Two channels, one pushbutton, different eq per channel... Great!

IT REAPS!!! Seriously. I've had lots of preamps, and I work in a music shop, so I've been able to try almost ANY preamp. It is, by far, the best sounding preamp in it's price range. What if it is solid state? It sounds ten times better than the JMP 1. I had a Triaxis for some time, I sold it and bought back the 9004. It is incredible how easy it is to make it sound good.

I've had three. The first one fell from my table (1 meter high) four or five times. It didn't fail at all! I've been using them for years, It's the most reliable piece of gear in my rack.

I never had to talk to the company, but I have often been temptated to call them and ask why did they stop producing it.

If you have one and want to sell it, please e-mail me!!!! They don't make this preamp anymore, and it's a shame, because it's the best preamp I have tried and only costs 1/10th of the Triaxis (you can buy a car with the money you save). If you happen to find one, buy it. You won't regret it.

Plug 'n play. Made for the techno dork in all of us. Just knobs. Manual? Why? It's solid state.

Depends on the situation. You can get a pretty reasonable Marshall like tone. No, not a sweaty, blistering Plexie, but an improvement over what you probably got. The key: but it cheap. Then it sounds *terrific* for the money. BTW it's a noisey unit. (hey, it's a Marshall, remember?)

solid state. It's seems solid enough. Just got it, but I expect no surprises.

huh?

Whadaya want? It's solid state. Will it change your life? No, but if your sound currently sucks, it will help. Buy it cheap and it's a great unit!! For my immediate needs, it's very cool. Nothing fancy, just the great Marshall tone (singular).

Solid state cheapo preamp. 2 channels. discrete eq. Lacks bottom end. Dirt channel will only get so "undistorted" when you reduce the gain so if you want to switch from a clean tone to a lightly distorted tone forget it . I process it to shit with a quad gt but it still has no life about it. ease of use -10. it's easy to use, It just has no tone

suckola

solid state. Shipped it from uk to us in a rack. No probs

cheap, entry level rack gear.

The Marshall 9004 is a solid state rackmount preamp with a clean and a distortion channel. It is very easy to get a good sound out of it, plug in, and play. Since I bought this used, there was no manual.

The clean channel is very good. It doesn't sound like a tube preamp, but then again, it isn't one. The clean channel is very warm and fat. The distortion is also very warm and fat. Again it doesn't sound like a tube but it does sound very good. It is hard to get a warm bluesy breakup, but metal and hard rock sounds are easily had.

I just got it so I can't say for sure, but I've never had a problem with any Marshall product I've owned.

Have never dealt with Marshall, never had to.

I probably would buy it again. It has a great distortion sound, a great clean sound, and also a headphone jack for silent practicing. I put it up against my Hafler T3 tube preamp, and it sounds almost as good. I wish it had a third bluesy breakup channel in addition to the clean and heavy distorto channels.