Gallery
Description
Specs
Reviews
Q&A
Marshall

Description

The Marshall Studio Vintage 20W Tube Guitar Amp Head delivers the distinctive tone shaping and harmonics of the legendary 1959SLP in a compact format. Perfect for any guitarist looking to achieve saturated blues tones, biting leads, and everything in between, this 20-watt tube head provides four separate inputs to blend your sound. With distinctive EQ settings including presence control, a DI output, and power reduction, you'll have full control over your tone. Now guitarists of all levels can experience the iconic Plexi tone that has inspired generations.

Four Separate Inputs for Tonal Blending

The Studio Vintage provides four separate inputs for you to blend your sound and find the perfect tone. Plug into Input 1 for a clean tone, or plug into Input 2 for a slightly distorted tone. For more overdrive, plug into Input 3. Input 4 provides the most distortion for searing lead tones. Blend the inputs to create a balanced sound with just the right amount of breakup. With four inputs at your disposal, your tone options are virtually endless.

Distinctive EQ for Complete Tonal Control

Shape your tone with the Studio Vintage's distinctive EQ section, which provides Bass, Middle, Treble, and Presence controls. Turn up the Bass and Treble for a scooped tone, increase the Mids for a punchy sound, or keep all the controls at 12 o'clock for a balanced tone. The Presence control adjusts the high-frequency response to add shimmer and definition. With this classic EQ layout, you'll have complete control over your tone.

Built to Inspire

The Studio Vintage is built to the same standards of quality and reliability that have made Marshall amplifiers iconic. Based on the legendary 1959SLP "Plexi" amplifier that helped define the sound of rock music, the Studio Vintage delivers that same tone and inspiration in a portable format. Raw, overdriven tube tone and dynamic response help bring out the very best in your playing.

Portable Format, Vintage Vibe

Although the Studio Vintage weighs in at just over 18 pounds, it is built to vintage Marshall standards and styled with a classic look. The portable size, vintage-inspired control panel, and gold piping deliver vintage Marshall vibe that looks as good as it sounds. A leather strap handle makes the amp easy to transport to gigs and recording sessions.

Open Box Marshall Studio Vintage 20W Tube Guitar Amp Head Level 2 Black and Gold 197881462727
Open Box Marshall Studio Vintage 20W Tube Guitar Amp Head Level 2 Black and Gold 197881462727
Open Box Marshall Studio Vintage 20W Tube Guitar Amp Head Level 2 Black and Gold 197881462727

Specs

  • Power: 20W (tube)
  • Power switching from 20W to 5W
  • Tubes: two 12AX7 (preamp); one 12AX7 (phase splitter); two EL34 (power amp)
  • Single channel
  • Four inputs
  • Controls: 3-band EQ, presence, volume
  • DI output
  • Speaker outputs: 4, 8, 16 ohm

Featured Articles

Reviews

4.76

17 Reviews

93%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Tonal nirvana - just buy it
Classic Plexi Tone
Classic Plexi Tone
Marahall rocks!
Just Get One! You WON'T send it back!

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Perfection; worth every penny.

The spirit of the classic Mk II Super Lead is here in spades. The tone, the touch sensitivity, all of it. A few words of warning for those that haven't experienced a non-master volume Marshall before: if you aren't in a free-standing house by yourself or a properly insulated isolation booth, I can almost guarantee that you WILL need an attenuator still. Fortunately, a Weber Mini-Mass is like $161 right now. Sounds great out of the box, but come to fine out, it sounds almost as miraculous as a vintage unit when you put in better tubes. I found the magic combo to be Tung-Sol V1, V2, EHX V3, and a pair of the production Mullard EL34 in the power section. Doing so allows for more note separation during high gain arpeggios (think "Growing On Me" intro), more clarity and top end retained when rolling back the guitar's volume, and a more "3D" texture with some nice top end "sizzle." The tiniest errors you make WILL be placed under a magnifying glass by this amp. It's expressive, and that's part of its value and charm, but if you're not used to it, you're about to find out how much you actually suck. Neon lights? You'll hear 'em. AC at the wall is dirty? You'll hear it too if you don't get a Furman. A double-edged sword for sure, but with enough time you'll master it, and be better for it. Effects Loop functions perfectly, but if you're expecting to put time-based, ambient effects (delay, reverb) in and use the amp's overdrive, get ready for a balancing act. It can be done, but you'll need to know your gear intimately. A lot of this amp's crunch and grind comes after the effects loop still (in the phase inverter and power tubes), so if you're expecting the loop to allow you to treat the amp's color like an OD pedal, you'll still need something like a Fryette Power Station or BOSS Waza Tube Amp Expander. Beautifully well made, and weighs next to nothing. More than a week in and it's easily my favorite.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

3

Amazing sound, but high noise floor.

At it's core, this amp is amazing. It is the first amp that I have ever used that is truly completely controllable from your guitar. Jumper the channels, dime mostly everything, and you've got--in my view--the true archetype for poweramp distortion. Roll the volume back, and it cleans up really beautifully. Not crystal clear, obviously, but a beautiful, organic, mostly-clean sound. Or, set it to the edge of breakup, start with that "organic, mostly-clean sound," and use pedals to push it over the top. This is what I use it for, most of the time. At its core, I don't think you can beat this sound. I have not encountered any amp that I've liked better, with respect to its fundamental tone. So why not 5 stars? Because the high-treble channel, which is where the magic really is, is extremely noisy. There is significant hum at ANY volume, that is exacerbated by the presence knob. It's not unusably noisy, but it's very, very close. This can be mostly solved by putting a noise gate in the effects loop, but that means that you are going to sacrifice some level of dynamics, and hear that gating of the noise as your signal fades. So, that's a workaround, but I don't really want to be doing a "workaround" on a brand new amp. The noise was significant enough that I assumed it was an issue with my particular amp, and sent it back. The second one came in, and it's the same. Then I finally did some internet research to see if anyone else was having the same problem, and sure enough, quite a few people are. If you're thinking, "That's just a tube amp, you idiot, they make noise," you're wrong. First of all, the normal channel doesn't have any noise. It's dead quiet, even when it's cranked up. Second of all, my other amp is a 1960's Gibson Mercury, which is also dead quiet. It is just the high treble channel, and it's been the same on two different units that I've used. I'm still on the fence about whether I exchange it for another, return it, or deal with it.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Performances14
  2. Home Studio13
  3. Amateur Recording9
  4. Professional Recording7
  5. Outdoor Events / Games6
Cons
  1. Difficult To Use1
  2. Limited Functions1
  3. Poor Sound Quality1
  4. Still Very Loud1
  5. Weak1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced12
  2. Professional Musician4
Pros
  1. Excellent Sound14
  2. Good Power Output13
  3. Portable12
  4. Easy To Use10
  5. Warm / Comfy8

Reviewed by 17 customers

  • Tonal nirvana - just buy it

    5

    submitted2 years ago

    byRob

    fromNJ

    I never in my life thought I'd be able to afford tone like this. It was a huge investment for me, but well worth it. Makes all the time I've put into my craft sound that much cooler. If this blows up I'm buying another, no joke.

  • Great product.

    5

    Verified Buyer

    submitted3 years ago

    byBryan

    fromBellaire, Texas

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    I've waited and purchased many products throughout the decades looking for manageable Classic Marshal Plexi tone at reasonable volumes. Marshall finally answered everyone's prayers with this head. I only wish it was handwired at this price point and not built to class 5 standards again for the price I felt it could have been built better. Great sound.

  • Classic Plexi Tone

    5

    Verified Buyer

    submitted4 years ago

    byFrank

    fromNew York

    Classic Marshall Plexi tone in a small low wattage package. Although it sounded good out of the box, I changed the tubes. I put Mullards in the power section. Sovtek 12ax7lps in the phase inverter. 12ax7wb in the bright channel and a 12ax7wa in the normal. Jumping the channels, this absolutely screams and is a total monster. I also have the DSL 20, and although it's a great sounding amp, the Studio Vintage out classes it. This is the classic Marshall vintage tone. Totally happy.

  • A great Marshall amp in a manageable size.

    5

    Verified Buyer

    submitted4 years ago

    byTJ

    fromNJ

    This is the answer when I do not need to bring my 1959 SLP 100 Watt (1993 Reissue) Head and JCM 800 Model 1982 4x12 Cabinet. Still powerful enough in conjunction with my 1x12 Cabinet.

  • Marshall tone at its best!!

    5

    Verified Buyer

    submitted5 years ago

    byDaniel S

    fromNapa, CA

    This amp sounds great on its own! It is capable of many different sounds from cleans to crunch, to Maiden type gain with a boost pedal in front of the amp. These amps don't have a master volume, and it is quite loud even at the 5 watt setting.

  • Fantastic!!

    5

    submitted5 years ago

    byMark M.

    fromMacon, GA

    Simplicity at it's best. Set the volume on 8 and plug in a guitar. nothing else is needed. With so many distortion/overdrive/gain/boost pedals on the market, playing through this is refreshing. This is what tube distortion is supposed to sound like. When the 1959SL was introduced, distortion pedals weren't considered because they didn't exist for the most part. The sole purpose was volume and in the process we got the wonderful pure tube distortion that the amp is known for. This amp does the same thing but at a manageable volume level.

  • Previous
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next

Q&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitted2 years ago

    asked byDavid

    fromundisclosed

    Will this work with a Marshall 1960A 300w 4x12 cab?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    Yes, it will.

  • submitted2 years ago

    asked byParker

    fromSeattle,WA

    Will this work with the 140W studio vintage cab? If so, will there be any tonal or volume differences?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    Yes it will. Volume/tonal difference in regards to what?

  • submitted3 years ago

    asked byHarrison

    fromMinneapolis, Minnesota

    Are your studio vintage heads the 120v versions or the 230v versions?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    120v

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byPATRICK

    fromAnchorage, AK

    When will this be in stock?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    Please give us a call for product availability 855-770-3373

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byHarley

    fromSacramento CA

    Where is the studio vintage head made?

    Open Reply - Ronald
    This is made in Vietnam.

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byPJ23

    fromKeller Texas

    Will this pair well with the Marshall 40 watt DSL CR???

    Open Reply - Kenneth
    We recommend that the watts match up from speaker to head

  • submitted7 years ago

    asked byKevin

    fromNY

    Do you have one of these in stock now for me to pick up and are there any kind of discounts available, I am a senior citizen

    Open Reply - Beau
    This should be in stock at your nearest Guitar Center store but you may want to call the store directly to confirm availability.