Product: Dean Markley CD 40 112 Combo
Price Paid: US $240 used
Submitted
04/17/2004
at
07:48pm
by
Robert Mossack
Email: evisphoto<at>classicnet dot net
Features
:
10
I'm not sure exactly when this amp was made, but I do remember Dean Markley amps at my local store arond the mid to late 80's. I believe it's a 40 watter, from the model number of this amp. One thing's for sure, It's LOUD!!! This ones all tube. :) It's very beautiful, having a black grill cover and hardware,with a nice Butterscotch Tolex covering and lettering. It has two channels, but is set up so that it's extra versatile, because besides both channels having volume controls, you have a master level control that controls the overall loudness of both channels. You can have one channel clean, the othere overdriven, or you can even set it up where channel 1 has a crunch rhythm, and kick in channel 2 for leads. This is a very good amp for many styles. It also has an effects loop, and a line in/out.
Sound Quality
:
10
The cleans really ring when you set volume one on it's lowest settings, and get an increasingly nice rhythm crunch as you turn it up. Channel 2 has a cascading gain setup, that gives you all the overdriven, creamy distortion that you will ever need. This amp would sound great in anything from country, to jazz, to blues, to hard rock, to metal. The overall tone is very nice, I can get very close to that rockin' singin', Mesa Boogie tone with this little jewel. This amp eally has tone, tone, and more tone. I just cant say enough about it, it's that damned good.
Reliability
:
10
I have no idea how this amp was treated and what it went through before it got to me, but it's still working like a champ, so I have confidence that it will stand up to whatever I put it through.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I have never dealt with Dean Markley personally.
Overall Rating
:
10
This amp is everything I have been looking for, a combination of looks, tone, and ruggedness, all at a great price. I have to say, the only amp I have owned that sounded better was a Mesa Boogie S.O.B., and the Dean Markley does a pretty darn good approximation of it. If it got stolen, I would try my best to find another one, which is very difficult seeing as they are no longer in production.
