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Average Price: $313
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$801+
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Description
Experience the iconic Marshall sound with the Marshall MA50H 50-watt valve head, crafted for musicians who demand authentic all-tube tone without breaking the bank. This amplifier head is a testament to Marshall's legacy, offering a blend of tradition and innovation for guitarists at any level. With its 50 watts of raw tube power, the MA50H delivers everything from clean, crisp tones to gritty, overdriven roars, ensuring your sound is as versatile as your playing style.
The MA50H features separate EQ controls for both its clean and overdrive channels, letting you fine-tune each to perfection. An additional gain knob and a boost switch on the overdrive channel give you that classic Marshall crunch, perfect for solos or heavy riffs. The intuitive Crunch Balance knob allows you to set the level difference between overdrive and boost, effectively giving you triple-channel functionality. Built with practicality in mind, it comes with a 2-button footswitch for seamless transitions between settings during performances.
Designed to stand out, the MA50H sports a unique aesthetic with two orange LEDs that illuminate the interior, visible through a transparent Perspex panel. Its robust build is complemented by features like a spring reverb for added depth and a serial effects loop for integrating your favorite effects pedals. Whether in the studio or on stage, the Marshall MA50H is your gateway to legendary sound.
Key Features:
- 50 watts of all-tube power
- 2-channel design with separate EQs
- Overdrive boost and Crunch Balance control
- 3 x ECC83 and 2 x EL34 tubes
- Built-in spring reverb
- Serial effects loop
- 2-way footswitch included
Product specs
| Brand | Marshall |
| Model | MA50H 2-Channel 50-Watt Guitar Amp Head |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 2010 - 2013 |
| Made In | United Kingdom |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Built-In Effects | Built-In Effects |
| Color Family | Black |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 16 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 2 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 1 Input |
| Output Power (Watts) | 50 |
| Power Tube Type | EL34 |
| Reverb | Spring Reverb |
FAQs
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What kind of tones can I expect from the Marshall MA50H for rock music?
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The Marshall MA50H delivers classic Marshall tones with a rich, warm tube sound, thanks to its EL34 power tubes. It's particularly well-suited for rock music, providing powerful, crunchy overdrive on the OD channel and clear, articulate cleans on the clean channel.
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Is the Marshall MA50H loud enough for live performances?
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Yes, the Marshall MA50H's 50-watt all-tube design provides ample volume for live performances in small to medium venues, especially when paired with an appropriate speaker cabinet.
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Does the Marshall MA50H include built-in effects?
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The Marshall MA50H features built-in spring reverb, allowing you to add depth and ambiance to your sound. It also includes a serial effects loop for integrating additional effects pedals.
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Can I switch channels on the Marshall MA50H using a footswitch?
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Yes, the Marshall MA50H comes with a footswitch that allows you to switch between the clean and overdrive channels seamlessly during performances.
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What kind of power tubes does the Marshall MA50H use?
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The Marshall MA50H uses two EL34 power tubes, which contribute to its signature warm and dynamic tube-driven sound.
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How does the Marshall MA50H handle external effects pedals?
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The Marshall MA50H includes a serial effects loop, which is ideal for integrating external effects pedals without compromising the amp's natural tone.
Videos
Rob Chapman
Marshall MA series (MA50H & MA50C) demo
Reviews
PROS
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Great clean channel, excellent with pedals
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Visually appealing with classic Marshall design
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Spring reverb adds depth to clean tones
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Loud enough for live performances and touring
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Can achieve good tones when cranked with overdrive
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Effective as a pedal platform due to its clean channel
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More bass-heavy EQ curve for a distinct sound
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Can get close to JCM800 tone with specific settings
CONS
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Overdrive channel sounds fizzy and harsh
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Stock tubes need replacement for better tone
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Requires significant volume to achieve best tones
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Poor channel switching response with foot switch
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Reliability issues, especially with overdrive channel cutting out
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Brightness can be too brittle, even with treble and presence at zero
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Finding a usable tone can be time-consuming and difficult
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Not ideal for "plug and play" guitarists without external pedals
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Marshall MA50H 50 watt valve head.
Features and functionality
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The MA50H provides typical Marshall cleans but lacks impressive crunch, making it ideal for pairing with external distortion pedals for enhanced sound.
Source
Mods and upgrades
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Owners recommend using a Friedman BE-OD pedal through the MA50H's clean channel to vastly improve its distortion capabilities.
Source
Comparisons
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The MA50H's price of around $300 leaves room in the budget for additional pedals, unlike some pricier Marshall models.
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Use cases and applications
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Ideal for users seeking a budget-friendly Marshall setup with customization potential via external effects.
Source
Critic Reviews
4.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 5 Ratings
265
Get something else
The Marshall MA50H is a very low cost Marshall all-tube head. When you play through this amp you get an understanding of why Marshall have a diminishing reputation when it comes to the budget end of amps.
The look of the head is great, with white piping, the classic logo and gold plate. Additionally, behind the fabric on the front is clear acrylic so you can see the tubes and the orange LEDs that light up the cavity. However, this amp has a very fizzy sound when playing through the overdrive channel even when using the boost function. This can be alleviated with a boost or overdrive pedal; I’ve found that a tube screamer works well, but the amp shouldn’t be unusable without this.
The inclusion of an effects loop is a good choice when the amp itself doesn’t sound very good. The spring reverb is a great addition and sounds good with the excellent clean channel. On the subject of the clean channel, it is one of the best clean channels of an all-valve amp in this price range and makes an excellent pedal platform. One of the most irritating features is the large delay when switching channels using the foot switch making it almost impossible to switch channels on time during a song. The last issue with this head is the reliability issues. Even after a fresh set of pre and power amp tubes, there are frequently issues with the overdrive channel either being very quiet and super fuzzy or just cutting out entirely.
If you can find this at a very cheap price, it would make a nice decoration or use for stage volume when coming from a modeller or pedals, otherwise it’s not worth it.
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