Marshall Code50 1x12 Combo

FEBRUARY 2017 TOTAL GUITAR
101
FINaL VeRdICt
Picking the top mod for you…
W
hile all four amps are a ordable,
there’s quite a range of prices
here – although it’s worth
noting each model comes in a
range of sizes to suit your needs.
Blackstar’s ID:Core Stereo 40 is less than half
the cost of the Vox, yet for home use it’s
quicker to get working, as well as taking up
less space. It’s perfect for the home recording
enthusiast who wants to get authentic tone
onto a track with minimal hassle. Vox’s
VT100X is an ideal weekend warrior’s amp:
suited to smaller gigs with 100 watts of punch
and authority to get your point across. The
sounds are great, but they’re in danger of
being eclipsed by Boss’s Katana, which has an
organic warmth and dynamic response that
some valve amps would fi nd hard to better.
Add the optional GA-FC foot controller and
an expression pedal or two, and the Katana
transforms from budget modeller to serious
performance tool – it’s perfect for the
working player who wants reliably consistent
great tone on stage and in the studio, with the
option to customise your sounds and presets
through the Tone Editor app. Marshall’s
Code50 is almost identical in performance,
with ample power to handle smaller gigs,
but sonically a little more limiting. However,
if you want the Marshall sound combined
with modelling amp convenience it’s a
no-brainer. Whichever one you go for, you
won’t be disappointed – it’s astonishing how
far digital modelling technology has come,
particularly in the past 10 years, and equally
astonishing how a ordable it has become.
TH
E G
AS
S
T
A
T
I
O
N
BLACKSTAR ID:CORE STEREO 40 V2 COMBO
BOSS KATANA 100
MARSHALL CODE50 1X12 COMBO
VOX VALVETRONIX VT100X
best
all-rounDer
best For
home anD
stuDio
best For
liVe gigs
best For rocK
anD metal
Features
sounD Quality
Value For money
builD Quality
usability
oVerall rating
SUMMARY
Features
sounD Quality
Value For money
builD Quality
usability
oVerall rating
SUMMARY
Features
sounD Quality
Value For money
builD Quality
usability
oVerall rating
SUMMARY
Features
sounD Quality
Value For money
builD Quality
usability
oVerall rating
SUMMARY
best buy
aWarD
TGR289.gear_test.indd 101 20/12/2016 12:27