Marshall 8100 Valvestate is easily one of the most underrated Solid State amplifiers ever to be built. The 8100 Valvestate incorporates a ECC83 (12AX7) hybride tube technology, which helps push this behemoth amplifier into overdrive, delivering its raw power and shear tone. Not only does the 8100 produce thick low end power chord distortion, the 8100 can also deliver rich and vibrant cleans to British gritty crunch.
Notable bands that use or have used the Marshall 8100 Valvestate include:
- Prong (click here to hear Prong use the Marshall 8100 live in concert)
- Death (Chuck Schuldiner)
- Rob Zombie (Hillbilly Deluxe album)
- Here is a amateur video-tone sample that display the raw power from the 8100 Valvestate
From Marshall’s official website:
What is Valvestate?
The vast majority of rock’s most celebrated guitar tones have been made with the help of all-valve amplification. As a result over the years many manufacturers have tried to emulate that sought after all-valve sound using solid state technology. All such attempts failed miserably up until now. Enter Marshall’s groundbreaking Valvestate technology.
As the world’s most respected manufacturers of valve amplifiers, our vastly experienced guitar playing Design Engineers understand the magical feel and harmonic response created by driving an all-valve power amp section hard. It’s not only down to the desirable compression and harmonic distortion produced by valves, but also the unique way in which the power amp interacts with the speakers. Our design team used this knowledge to the full and by successfully combining painstaking research and new technology with countless hours of playing and listening, Valvestate was born.
Quite simply Valvestate technology emulates the superb tone of a cranked to the max all-valve power stage with uncanny accuracy. The result is a highly versatile range of amps which couple the cost cutting advantages of solid state technology with the all-valve sound every guitarist lusts after – a winning combination that has been welcomed with open arms by axemen (and axewomen!) all over the globe. An Amp for Every Occasion
Marshall Valvestate 8100 Original Price
Based on the archives that we can find online, the Marshall 8100 Valvestate 100-watt retailed MRSP around $349 to $449. Marshall discontinued these amplifiers because they weren’t selling good at retail price. They were ultimately replaced with the the less desirable MG – Series that is known for it’s terrible Solid State sound.
Marshall 8100 Valvestate had in their lineup; six different combo amplifiers, two heads and two extension cabinets in the range. As you’re about to discover, regardless of whether you are practicing in your bedroom or headlining at a football stadium, there’s a Valvestate amp for you. And I will add, the Marshall 8100 Valvestate could be added to a very underrated Metal Amplifier to hone your own unique chug-a-thor sound.
So true. The Marshall Valvestates are under rated. My main gigging rig used to contain a Fender Twin Re-issue, but it was not quite right for the gig and was way to fragile for the rough venues we used to play. So I got the Valvestates bigger brother AVT150H and matching cab. That thing survived a full schooner of beer going into her. These things are tanks.
Still have mine, great metal sound with TRI-OD in front.
Yeah they are are amazing amps for metal. I can also get a really nice brown sound out of mine. The trick is learning how to EQ it. Once you accept the controls are very sensitive, you can achieve amazing sounds. Very underrated amps.
I have been using the 2000avt model since 99. The 2000avt model also has4 channels: acoustic sim, clean, and both low and high gain dist. I will never use anther amp.
The link of the amp in the vid is mine! HA! THanks yall for all the comments and views! Chad/A1335 \m/
Anyone know the correct footswitch for this amp? Simply switching between the channels. I have the PEDL-90010 though does not work properly. Cheers!
I think it’s a basic 2-button switch. Ring Murphy’s Music in Melville, NY, United States and ask them. They have one for sale right now.
I got mine with a single 8ohm 8412 cab which sounds good, but I am wondering about getting a stack. I am just going through the complete scooped mids phase coz this is the first real osdm amp that sounds utterly sick I have owned.
But I am thinking I might get a bit more bass response from something else.
I have read a few things googling but most are pretty old so would love some recommendations from people here.
Cheers and thanks in advance.