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Marshall has been a hive of activity of late, with a string of high-profile releases including the new solid-state MG series, the low-cost Haze series and the Class 5 combo. Marshall's historical lifeblood is its 50- and 100-watt models, however, a market that's been attacked in the mid-price range from all fronts.

It's a good time then for Marshall to release its new bread-and-butter amp range – the MA series. We spoke with Marshall's head of R&D, Laurent Veignal, to learn more.

"We were losing share in the low-end valve market," he says frankly, "and we wanted to have something to compete in that segment. That was our first and most important decision, because we know we can really compete – we've already got a range of successful OEM [Original Equipment Manufacturer] products with the MG series." He continues: "However, so far we haven't entered the all-valve OEM market and we didn't want to be seen to be left behind."

Before MA, Marshall's least expensive all-valve, 100-watt head and 50-watt combo was the Vintage Modern series VM2266H head (£845) and the VM2266C combo (£894). So, who is the new range aimed at specifically? "The series runs between 50- and 100-watt head and combo variations and so really it's aimed towards people who are actually gigging – in pubs and other such places," says Veignal.

MA50C

Hear it in action: