The hallmark of the Marshall Class5 is simple, no-nonsense, dynamic tube tone. The Class5 pushes 5 true Class A watts through a 10-inch Celestion G10F-15 speaker, via its array of dual 12AX7 preamp tubes and a single EL84 power amp tube. There ain't no hidden push-pull in this tube array--the Marshall Class5 is all about honest-to-goodness pure Class A power. Let's not gloss too quickly over the speaker, either--this Celestion was specially designed to complement the tone and construction of the Class5 combo, serving up equal helpings of tight bottom end and sparkling highs, with plenty of sweet mids to please you bloozehounds. Adhering to the "less is more" design found throughout this beast, the Marshall Class5 uses a Plexi style top-loaded panel with controls for Volume, Treble, Middle, and Bass for no-nonsense, direct analog purity and tone.
Here's how we like to set the Class5: adjust the equalization to suit your playing style and instrument (compensating for bright single coils, a dark mahogany body, etc.) Push the volume on the the Marshall Class5 to break up at the dirtiest level you'd like it to reach, then roll the volume back on your guitar--instant clean-up and pseudo-channel-changing. Alternately, set the Class5 up for a light crunch and use your favorite volume/treble boost pedal to push the amplifier into the stratosphere of smooth, 2nd order harmonics. Speaking of pedals, the Marshall Class5 loves 'em. Try running a wah pedal between your guitar and the front end of the Class5--you'll find yourself instantly transported to a white room, with black curtains, near the station...
Something For Everyone
The Marshall Class5 is equally suited to both stage and practice use. Throw a microphone on the Class5 and you've entered full-on club-worthy juiciness, or plug your favorite extension cabinet into the built-in Extension Speaker Output and you'll shake the loftiest of rafters. Alternately, thanks to the relatively low weight, footprint, and headphone output, the Marshall Class5 is equally at home as an at-home recording amp as it is as a silent practice amp, with a tonal character heads and shoulders above anything you're likely to find in any "practice amp." Finally, with the Marshall Class5, you can have an amplifier that treats your late-night wood-shedding sessions with the level of pride and tonal integrity normally reserved for stage and studio work--yet somehow remaining undeniably affordable.
