Review

Godfather of Loud, Jim Marshall, could just build stacks for rock’s glitterati, but he hasn’t forgotten the little man, envisaging the MA Series as “simple, roadworthy, all-valve amps for budget-conscious guitarists." The MA50C combo is built in Vietnam to save costs, while retaining the classic dual-channel format.

You can always tell a great valve amp: it has zilch features. Aside from boost, reverb and resonance/presence dials, the MA50C is stripped of fripperies and trades off its tone. Tested clean with a humbucker guitar, it has a punchy, full-body sparkle.

But the overdrive channel is where it excels; the pairing of ECC83/EL34 valves gives a classic roar that’s warm and ragged, and maintains searing clarity for solos, especially with the boost. The key difference between valve and solid-state is that here, the tone comes from your hands, with the MA50C bringing mood to your playing.

Next: Marshall MA50C verdict