Marshall VS2000 AVT50 112 Combo

Hello All mine is a 2002 avt50 combo. It works well for practice and recording. Can plug into a bigger cab if needed (4)16 ohm. I've owned this amp for 4 years and it is perfect. I play more than the JCM 900 4100 head that is switched at 50watt and the sound is not very different. What is different is the price. My combo used was $250.00 and worth every penny. My JCM900 was $750.00 with shipping and I sold it within a year. Not needed in fact I'm getting a 50 watt head for my Eminence Cab. Flat out this is the steal of the Century for Marshall Overdrive .

Dirty Clean is Good, not a Fender.
Overdrive is great add pedals even better.

Never had a problem.
Footswitch is tempermental but works.

Never needed them.

Been playing since 1975 or 32years. Own Gibson Guitars and junker PRS. I would replace it if stolen. If you read the book and mess with the right stuff it's a machine, if you are stupid, it will suck.
This unit is SIMPLE to Use.

I purchased my amp in 2005 to replace a very sterile-sounding Crate combo. This is my primary practice amp now and I love it. The main feature of the amp is the simplicity of getting great tone. For lighter playing just put the amp on the clean channel and twist the gain knob to your preference. Tap the footswitch and you're into the heavy stuff. The CD input works great with my MP3 player, and I like having the option to plug headphones in when I don't want to subject my family to me learning a new song. The effect this amp has is reverb, and that's really all you need in a practice amp.

Tone. The only thing that really matters in an amp--right? Most practice amps or modeling amps seem to put you into an "either/or" situation. Either you have a very clean sound, or you have distortion. The real beauty of this amp is how you can dial that gain knob up to the sweat-spot where when you play softly, the tone is clean, but when you attack the guitar the tone starts to crunch and drip with personality. This is the result of the tube pre-amp. You just can't get this kind of tone without those good-old vacuum tubes. The volume knob also has some simulated overdrive circuitry built in which is supposed to the emulate the effect of a tube power amp being overdriven. Honestly, by the time to get to that level, you're beyond the typical practice volume. This 50 watt amp is plenty loud to piss your neighbors off.

Closed-cabinet design and HEAVY. I've used this amp nearly every day for 2 years and don't have any complaints.

I couldn't tell you anything about Marshall's customer support because I've never had to call them.

I've been playing for about 20 years and this is the bomb when it comes to practice amps. Resist the urge to buy an all solid-state amp with lots of effects for your practice amp. Buy an amp like the AVT50 with lots of tone and you won't regret it. If this amp were stolen, I'd replace it in a heart-beat. My other "practice" amp is a Roland Micro-Cube for those quick trips outside or to a buddy's place. The AVT50 is portable enough but it is heavy.

Cool amp...if you are reading this you probably know what it does. 2 chanels...I like the Gain on Rythm channel!!! The 12 AX7 gives it a nice warm tone, I really like the tone of this little beast!!!

TONE is awsome!!! I have always been a Marshall fan. I have owned a '66 Fender Super Reverb for ever and a day, and THAT is an amp, but it is heavy, and not really practical for what I do now (those forty some watts kill everything else in ANY room...they will NEVER make them like that again...but back to the Marshall...I replaced the tube with a JJ Tesla 12AX7, made a little bit of difference, but nothing spectacular...it does have BEAUTIFUL tone, but won't cut through melted butter.

Fan is LOUD for the first few minutes, sounds like it is going to fly apart at any second,,til it gets going...but after that i guess it is alright...still...if you are going to put your name on something...

I don't know what to say...it is a great practice amp...I have a KUSTOM TUBE 12 that will cut right through it side by side...and that has kind of dampened my enthusiasm for this amp. I got it to be an easy amp the pack around for jamming...but it has NO HEADROOM. Beautiful tone, but NO HEADROOM...I don't know what to say...I always wanted a Marshall...now I am going to move on, trade it in on a Traynor YCV-20 or 40 I think...who knows...always searching for that ideal tone...at least one I can haul around without breaking my back!!!!

Read the features in other reviews... I can only say it's a simple amp with clean, overdrive and reverb

The cleanchannel is the best thing about this amp and that is why i bought it, i use a Gibson Les Paul Studio and a Boss gt-8 through it and it sounds like heaven, a real full warm clean sound at any volume level.
The distortion is pretty cool but it sounds really marshall i personally dont really like the marshall sound, but if you play crunch, blues or other oldstyle kind of music its great, but for metal/punk its too oldskool. Thats why im using my gt-8 for the overdrive. That's also the reason why i bought it, i cant get a fuller, better leadsound with any other amp, even not more expensive Marshalls. This amp really gives a lot of bass and a real full solo sound. So if you have multi-effect processors or if you use a lot of pedals this amp is perfect for you, unless you dont like full, warm sounds.

Just got it one month, looks pretty steady though...

Never dealt with

A great simple cheap amp which is great for use in the house, you might also use it in small places and to gig with. It can go pretty loud.

This amp can produce in combination with the boss gt-8 the fullest, warmest leadsounds compaired to other amps. And this might be the same for other multi-effect processors. Try it out i'd say.

The overdrive is not meant for metal or punk, its too sharp, but for other styles of music it might just be right...Its a typical marshall distortion though.

The clean channel is perfect allthough full tube amps will sound fuller and warmer. But when you don't have a lot of money this is a great alternative...In combination with my GT-8 i can get a fuller clean sound.

My amp is 2005 model with the Marshall cover.
I like the straight ahead simple 2-channel layout.
It is easy to dial in the tone you want in either channel.
The headphone jack is cool but I'll probably never use it as I already have a practice amp.After all,It is 50 watts RMS.
It would be neat to have a XLR line out on the rear panel.Of course I'll solve this with a Shure 57/58.
I wish the footswitch had a 2nd button for reverb off/on.This would be the best upgrade that Marshall could do to this amp.

After playing the amp at a jam session I replaced the stock speaker with a Celestion G12T-60 @ 4 Ohms.This has a large magnet and gives the amp more clean headroom before breakup.I recommend an upgraded speaker[be sure of 4 Ohms]for proper amp output.
I play Texas Roadhouse Music[ Blues-Country-Rock-Surf-Gospel]and this amp covers the range very well.I like the big-fat clean tone and a little grit on the O/D channel.The amp responds well to volume and tone setting changes on the guitar.I play a P-90 guitar semi-hollow body and a Strat which works well with this amp.

Do not know at this point as I've only owned the amp for a couple of months.This is only my second Marshall amp in 35 years of playing so I'm taking a leap of faith in putting down the bucks.My "other" amp is a 1970 Super Reverb which has been "old faithful".
I bought the 1x12 combo for more portability and LESS weight.

I've been playing for 35 years and I think the AVT50 1x12 Combo is a great value for tone/bucks ratio.I thought about the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe until I tried this amp.[FHRD more expensive also]
In my opinion the weak link in this amp is the single function footswitch with no reverb control.

It is a solida state amp eith a wk7 tube, i guess that is the same as a 12ax7 tube. Two channels. Model made on 2002. 5owatts. Made for rock metal you name it. comes with one channel stomp swicht, effect loop, headphone jack and Cd input, and reverb knob. It is a great practice, lots of volume and cool sound at lowest volume also. I am a proud owner of a 100 watt Tsl Marshall which is been check out by technichian since one tube was not glowing or functioning. i bought both these amps after reading many reviews here. I had to return the favor and give an honest review. I pplay live ina band, and have 4 independent records made by my band so AFTER many years of enjoying playing music i am thankfull to these GREAT HARMONYCENTRAL WEBSITE for ALL THE INFO THAT IT PROVIDES THIS AMP HAS ENOUGH VOLUME MORE THAN THE 100DFX AT THE STORE. I COMPARE THEM BOTH WITH SAME GUITAR CONNECTED DIRECTLY (NO EFFECT PEDALS) AND I USE SAME EQ ON BOTH AMPS. I placed all eq knobs at the middle. THE AVT 50 WON at all fronts: BETTER TONE, MORE VOLUME , LESS NOISE AND MORE HEADROOM BASS, MID AND HIGHS. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. THE 100DFX HAD THE EFFECTS TURN OFF.WHO NEEDS ALL THE EFFECTS (THAT ARE NOT PROFESSIONALLY SOUNDING) IN THE 100DFX, WHEN you can buy or use better pedals with the AVT50. BY THE WAY I ALSO FEEL THAT M CHORUS PEDAL IS SOUNDING BETTER THAN EVER WITH THIS AMP.. SO FOR RECORDING PURPOSES I MIGHT EVEN USE THIS SET UP. THE OVERDRIVE IS CRUNCHY AS HELL .. OK TIME TO MOVE ON.

First the CLEAN CHANNEL: I also OWN a 100WATT TSL MARSHALL All Tube combo, and I get good tones out of it, BUT I had to sweat in the past many times to achieve a good acoustic sound such as this amp has.
For my other amp (the 100 watt TSL)I have had to buy an Exciter Pedal (aphex) which I use in the loop section, I had to change the preamp tubes... plus I use at the end of my chain an Optical Compressor. Guess what... I dont need those pedals to get a great sound out of this little warrior(AVT50).
The clean sounds are inspirational IMHO, I am getting great tones just by dialing the Gain knob at the middle and equalizating at my taste... ( I am using a Les Paul Custom which is not the best acoustic in the world )I HAVE PUT TO REST MY PEDALS.. I DONT NEED THEM TO ACHIEVE THE SOUNDS I AM GETTING IN THIS CHANNEL OR IN THE DISTORTION CHANNEL.

THis channel doesnt have the same amount of Volume as the Dist. Channel but I guess that by turning the Gain up it can compete just fine... but I dont want to loose this great tone.. I rather keep it medium vol... maybe in practice have to yield sometimes.. but I can truly see myself recording using this clean channel.

THE DISTORTED CHANNEL:I am guitar player that loves distortion...I live for "crunch", but with clarity and good frequencies. I hate mosquito guitar sounds or muddy sounds. That is why I bought the expensive big brother to this little fellow (the TSL100 WATTS COMBO)
And let me tell you guys , it is not easy for me at least to achieve the sounds in my head with the 100WATT Amp, I need to use overdrives and compressor, exciter, one boost pedal(very expensive one call BURRISS BOOSTER which i truly recommend since it is so natural sounding with lots of headroom and does not change your tone only if you want it to..) and in summary I DONT FEEL I AM GOING TO NEED TO USE ALL THIS PEDALS WITH THE AVT5O for band practice.

TAKE IT EASY WITH THE GAIN I PERSONALLY USE THE GAIN AT 9 OR 8.7 AND WHEN I TURN THE VOLUME UP I AM HEARING A CRUNCHY, TIGHT AND ROUND FULLER TONE THAN BY DIALING ALL THE GAIN TO MAXIMUM.

ALSO I DONT USE ALL THE BASS TO THE WALL... JUST EQUILIBRATE YOUR FRECUENCIES... USE A GOOD GUITAR CORD.. I AM PLANNIG ON GETTING THE EVIDENCE MELODY SERIES WHICH I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SEEM THAT BEST FOR METAL AND CLARITY, DYNAMICS ETC.

THE SOUND CHECK YOU MUST REMEMBER TO HAVE YOUR EARS ALIGNED AT HTE SAME HEIGHT AS THE SPEAKER. AND DO YOUR TEST AT MODERATE HIGH VOLUME AND DO TAKE 5 MINUTES BREAKS TO LET YOUR EARS REST IN ORDER TO AVOID MISLEADING TEST RESULTS.
I DONT USE THE REVERB... NOT FOR ME AND MY SOUND.. BUT IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE.. REALLLY NO OPINION ABOUT IT.. REMEMBER I AM LOOKING FOR TIGHT CLEAR CRUNCH.

AHH ONE LAST AND MAYBE MOST IMPORTANT THING!! THIS AMP REACTS VERY SIMILAR TO A TUBE AMP IN REGARDS THAT WHEN YOU STRIKE A CHORD OR NOTE HARDER THE AMP REACTS ACCORDINGLY.. IT IS NOT 100% EXACTLY (BUT WHAT IS 100% PERFERCT? NOTHING) THEREFORE THIS THIRED GENERATION AMPLIFIER GOES WHERE NO OTHER SOLIDSTATE AMP HAS GONE BEFORE. DYNAMICS!!! IS THE WORD!!! ROCKS ON HARD! LIKE A TUBE AMP IN MY BOOK.

THERE IS SOME NOISE IN THIS DIST. CHANNEL, HOWEEVER IT IS NOT NOTIVEABLE WHEN YOUR ARE PLAYING.. SINCE IT GOES AWAY WHEN YOU PLAY OR ARE PALM MUTING YOUR INSTRUMENT. THE LOUDER THE MORE NOISIER JUST LIKE A TUBE AMP.

It is a solid state.. I open to see the one tube inside and all the electronic board looks profesionally and inmaculate clean. I swap tubes just to see if it could sound better and came back to the tube Marshall uses... I could not imagine it.. this time they chose correctly. The fan seems to work fine and makes no noise. I have this amp for over 5 months and no trouble at all. Plus I use all my ampp with a UPS VOTLAGE REGULATOR AND A ELECTRIC PEAK CONTROLLER.. SO IT EXTRA SAFE.

No opinion, have not dealt with them.. THANKFULLY.

I just want to give back an honest review. I have been playing for more than 10 years,hey I started slowy buying gear since 1991!.. (I am younger looking than most younger players since I only live to play not to drink.. plus I am happily married..and still rocking!!!)

My gear is a collection of (12)pedals SO FAR..but definetely I am happy, most my pedals are expensive. "cheaper becomes more expensice later on". I DONT USE ANY DIGITAL RACK PROCESSORS, SINCE BY USING PEDALS WE CAN BEAT ANY GUITAR PLAYER THAT USES THEM.. BELIEVE ME I?VE BEEN THERE.. IT SO MUCH RICHER TO USE PEDALS EVENTHOUGH YOU MUST READ MORE ABOUT THEM(orde placement etc.).

I own A Gibson LEs Paul Custom Guitar, which I adore to play eventhough it is heavy as lumber jack. I am a tone searcher and continue to be research for better tone options every year, however BEING HAPPY WITH YOUR TONE AND PLAYING BETTER ARE MOSTLY EVERYONES GOALS.. PLUS MAKING BETTER MELODIC AND HEAVIER SONGS.

In case someone stole it, I would definetly buy it again.. I will research on the 50 watt head or the MG 100 watt but only after trying them... another tube amp might be a choice also but it is so easier to sound crunchy and good with this medium-little amp!!! ..

ALSO I STRONGLY ADVICE THAT EVERY GUITAR PLAYER SHOULD buy A SOLIDSTATE WORKHORSE AMPLIFIER(SINCE SOLID STATE AMPS DON?T NEED MUCH MAINTAINENCE)AND EVERY GUITAR PLAYER SHOULD TRY TO OWN A GOOD 100 WATT TUBE AMP FOR RECORDING OR PLAYING LIVE.. I MYSELF HAVE BEEN THINKING OF EXPERIMENTING AND USING BOTH TUBE AND SOLIDSTATE JUST BY CONNECTINHG THEM THROUGH A SMALL A/B/Y PEDAL, THIS WAY YOU GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
IMAGINE...BY USING TWO OR MORE AMPS YOUR SOUND BECOMES MORE COMPLEX RICH IN DYANMICS AND FRECUENCIES.. THIS WAS THE WAY DIME BAGG DARRELL ACHIEVE HIS MASSIVE CRUNCH AND MOST OF OUR GUITAR HEROES USE THIS METHOD AT THEIR RECORDING STUDIOS.

I WISH I CAN GET TO USE TWO OF THESE AMPS AND TWO MORE TUBE AMPS ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

ONE LAST ADVICE: ALWAYS BEGIN YOUR SOUND CHECK OF A NEW AMP BY
PLACING ALL THE KNOBS AT THE CENTER OR MIDDLE FRECUENCY RANGE AND DONT USE ALL THE GAIN..... LEAVE ROOM FOR THE NOTE TO SOUND ALONG WITH YOUR GAIN, AVOID TOO MUCH BASS OR EXCESSIVE HIGHS, I TRULY HAVE FOUND A GREAT WORKHORSE AMP TO RECORD MY PRE-STUDIO SESSIONS AND GEAT PRACTIVE BUDDY THAT HELPS IN KEEEPING HIS BIGGER BROTHER (100 WATT BROTHER RESTING ON THE BENCH) IN THE MEANTIME this mighty metal youngster gives some hell to all that stand infront of it. TRY IT... AND TRY IT ALONG WITH THE 1OODHFX , AND YOU WILL PROBABLY NOTICE THAT THIS SMALL AMPS BEATS THE OTHER ONE .. WITHOUT ANY DOUBTS. ROCK ON!! THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HONEST REVIEWS THEY MAKE OUR LIFES EASIER AND TONEFULLY BETTER!!!!HOPE MY OPINIONS HELP YOU IN DECIDING.

2 Channels with a tube preamps. Effects send, cd input, direct out, and headphone jack. Comes with footswitch. All of the bells and whistles that you need.

Clean channel is nice. You can even crank the gain to add some grit. The gain channel is where this fails for me. First off, the closed back does not emulate a cabinet, it just makes the sound "boxy" and contained. The distortion sounds fake and shrill if you go above 6, with little definition on any chords, unless you are playing power chords. I tried several guitars, Les Pauls, Ibanez EX series, PRS, Tele, and nothing resembled a tube like Marshall tone. I really wanted to like this amp, but its going back. This is nothing more than a really loud solid state amp with a medicore gain channel.

Don't know and I don't care to find out.

Don't know and I don't care to find out. It's going back

I have always wanted a Marshall, and could never afford one. After reading the reviews here and on Musiciansfriend, I figured this would get me in the ball park. It does not. I even had a few other professional players try this out, and they came to the same conclusion. I have come to realize that if you want tube tone, you need a tube amp. Line 6 modelers seem to come the closet. I could dial up a better Marshall tone on Line 6 flextone. That's sad.

Amp was ordered new last year, thought the design was changed slightly recently. It's probably exactly the same but with a different paintjob on the control plate.
1 12-inch Celestion speaker, 2 channels with volume and tone controls for each including gain and spring reverb. Comes with a channel foot-switch.Has no on-board effects but I'm not a big effects freak, so I don't really care. 50 watts makes this amp plenty loud. Nice.

Sound is brilliant. One of my mates has a Marshall 100-watt solid-state amp, which is comparable to this for volume. this canes it for tone. It just has a really nice, vintage sound that you just don't get from modern solid-states. You can turn it up all the way and the sound will remain clear and defined, even on the overdrive channel.
On the subject of channels, the clean channel is lovely, crisp highs, spongy lows, great for a jazz or blues tone with the gain up. Overdrive can be quite powerful, I usually turn the gain up to about six, which is great a classic rock sound. Reverb is a lot nicer than the shoddy digital one you get on most amps now, though don't go mad, unless you really like the early eighties guitar sound.

I have used this amp to gig without a backup. And I'd do it again.
This amp has only had one thing wrong with it, where the reverb spring broke, and I was left echoless. To be honest, I went two weeks without noticing, but I got it fixed none the less. I think this was because I was carting it to and from local gigs on a porter's trolley, and it got kind of rattled.
I also get some channel skipping sometimes, which I think is because of the button on the foot-switch sticking. Oh well.

Sent it back to Marshall to get the reverb fixed. Got it back within a week, good as new. Good communication throughout. I'm glad that Marshall are based in Britain.

Love it to bits. Prefer it to any of my mates' amps, which include a Marshall 100 DFX and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (nice amp, but too expensive, and goes from naught to insanely loud with the slightest touch of the volume knob). This amp has them both licked, at least I think so. The DFX has all the effects, but it doesn't have the tone. The Hot Rod has the tone, but it doesn't have the simplicity. Hence, mine comes out on top. I think...

Purchased for #250 [sterling]all the specs have been listed a hundred times before on this site. So I won`t bore you, I have tried all features and they work well.

This is where this amp is truly amazing especially at this price level. It just sings on both clean and distortion channels straight out of the box. The guys at Marshall got this baby dead on and should be congratulated. It apparently is voiced differently from its bigger buddies in the AVT range and guitarists should know this.
Marshall should give this voicing a name, so guitarists can trade up to bigger future amps without losing this class tone. The clean channel is beautiful and open with vibrant harmonics. Only equalled by tube Fender amps costing twice the money. But when you compare the lead tones this amp is in a class of its own. Its dam hard to get a bad tone out of it at any distortion setting. The amp is so responsive to vibrato and any nuance in playing style it almost feels as if its playing the lead break with you and loving every minute of it! This amp is a tone classic and no mistake, it may lack a hundred knobs or effects but it honestly does not need them. You begin to realise that you`ve been buying distortion pedals and effects for years to make up for poor amp design or even buying two amps for lead and clean seperately when gigging. The bottom end is amazing just like a 4x12 cab, and this from a combo costing #250 and is produced at reasonable volume levels circa 20 watts. The lead distortion tones are superb and this amp will drive a cab if you need more air moved at bigger venues.

After three years of jamming for hours on end and the odd party gig in medium sized halls not one major glitch. one small glitch with channel skipping, may be caused by dirty jack? Not re-occured.

My mate uses a stereo Marshall amp [acoustic type] and blows tweeter
Marshall always help him out and are helpful.

If you want a great sounding amp both clean and dirty without paying a mortgage you must try one. Remember most of us cannot gig or jam at 100 valve watts flat out! And its at these high power valve levels that all valve amps really sing and come into their own. This amp gives you that non fizzy creamy distortion tone at 20 watts and has a huge bottom end for a portable combo. I`ve owned many valve amps over the years Boogie,Roland Bolt30,Laney,Fender,Engl and crap SS amps like Wem40, H&H. So it was a shock when after reading a 5* review in Guitarist Mag I tried one out and those lads were right. Do the same before Marshall change its specs which could balls it up!

Everyone knows the features by now

I upgraded the speaker to an Eminence Swamp Thang and i took off the closed back (the new speaker needed more air to move better, it was sounding squishy if i didnt remove the back) and i upgraded the tube to a Groove Tube Mullard copy type tube. It inproved the sound a lot and made the volume no joke about twice as loud. I play a lot of blues, some pop unk stuff, and occasional metal, and it does all of those styles nicely. Overall I think the average guitar player will be extremely pleased with the sound, no matter what you dial in with the knobs it sounds really sweet and very tubelike.

It has been two years and still no problem at all. I know some people have concerns with the fan inside, if you happen to be unlucky and get a noisy fan or broken fan, it is easily replaceable. Once my warranty runs out I am going to put a better more efficient fan inside to keep the amp extra cool in there. If u take care of this amp, it should last you many many years.

never had to deal with them

A great buy for a sweet amp. If you dont want to spend gobs of money on a real overpriced tube amp, this is a great alternative that will make you just as happy.