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Marshall 3203 Artist review

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  • Marshall 3203 Artist review

    Many of you know what these are but in case you don't. The 3203 Artist was introduced in 1984 and discontinued in 1991. It runs 2 EL34's and one ecc83/12ax7 for the phase inverter. The preamp section is solid state.
    It is a split channel amp which means basically its 2 channel. It has reverb, an effects loop. The reverb and channels are footswitchable.
    I have been through and owned or own a ton of amps. I always lean towards the Marshall tone so I am a little bias'd. My favorite JCM800 is the 2210. To me.. its like a 2203 with 2 channels, reverb and a stomp box in front of it. The only very minor downsides are:

    Its way to friggin loud.
    The clean channel isn't the absolute greatest and it bleeds a little on some amps.
    Its a little light on the bottom end unless you really crank it.
    Besides those minor issues, it kills. Big.
    ENTER THE 3203 ARTIST
    It addresses all the minor issues of the 2210.

    Its the PERFECT amount of power for most home and gigging applications. 30 watts of EL34 power is PERFECT.
    The clean channel is totally useable. Its super clean and a tad on the bright side. It could use a little more warmth and bottom but its good.
    It has a tremendous amount of bottom end chunk at any and all volume levels. It sounds like a 2210 cranked up at an ear splitting volume. Palm mutes, and metal mayhem can all be had with this amp. Dial the gain down to around 7 and you are in AC/DC territory. Dime the gain out and you are shredding big time.
    Here are the minor issues I find with the 3203:
    The reverb is weak.
    The lead (gain) channel only has a tone control. Its basically Volume, Gain, Tone.
    It could use a presence control on the gain channel.
    Thats about it.
    Other great things about the 3203:
    Its only weighs around 20lbs. It weighs about the same as an 8100. It is a little smaller than a JCM800 but it still looks great on a cabinet. Especially a 2 x 12.
    I think it has a ton of bottom because I am using 12" speakers. This amp was designed to be used with 4 x 10" cabinets.
    The clean channel has a full EQ section.
    It is super easy to dial in. Just go with the basic settings and you will be sounding great in no time.
    Now.. to the tone.
    This amp is 100% Marshall. I only had to flick the power switch on and hit 1 chord and I new instantly it was a Marshall. It sounds like a high gain JCM800. It could use a tad more highs on the gain channel. Cabinet selection is critical. I tried it on a 2 x 12 Randall cab with Celestion 75w speakers in it and it sounded outstanding. With my Mesa cabinet it sounded a little to dark.
    Its articulate, great mids and bottom end and super easy to get screaming harmonics and feedback if you hold a note. Lots of guys nowadays ask how an amp reacts to pinch harmonics and Zack Wylde type noises. Well, this one makes all the above simple to achieve. Its also a very forgiving amp to play. This is the type of amp that makes you sound better the second you start playing through it. Thats a good thing IMHO.
    This is a great amp guys. Now I know why they sell for so much used on Ebay. You could score one at a reasonable price. I have seen them for anywhere from $400.00 up to $1000.00 for the stacks or the rare colors.
    This amp would be perfect for the metal head looking for an amp for home, studio or gigging. 30 watts or EL34 power is plenty. To give you an idea, with the master volume on 6-7 and the channel volumes on 5 it is perfect for gigging with a loud drummer. Its awesome to be able to turn a Marshall up that loud!!
    I always wondered what a 3203 Artist sounded like. I have never heard one in person yet every single review I have ever read on one was very positive. It seems that just about everybody gives this amp a great review.
    Me too. I would gig with this amp in a heartbeat.
    Actually, I can't wait to record with it.
    Check one out. You will be very happy you did.

  • #2
    Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

    I've been singing the praises of this model on several threads now...I'm glad you like it.
    Do the C13 mod and you'll like the clean channel even more.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

      $400 and up? I usually see them for $250 to $300.

      Anyway...have you ever met an amp you didn't like? [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

        Why do I have a sinking feeling I'm going to end up with this head! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

        I'm excited to hear it for myself.
        "My G-Major can blow me!" - Bill

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

          Cause it will be for sale next month maybe? [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

            You got it already?
            I want REAL change. I want dead bodies littering the capitol.

            - Newc

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            • #7
              Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

              [ QUOTE ]
              Cause it will be for sale next month maybe? [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

              [/ QUOTE ]

              or sooner. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
              "My G-Major can blow me!" - Bill

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

                I put a pair of Groove tube 928PR's in mine last week and it tamed the volume down to a very useable home/studio level w/o changing the tonal character of the amp to a drastic perceivable amount. Its still very useable with any band situation and has headroom to spare...now I can run the master on 7-8 no problem. its still loud but comfortable. I've often said the single tone in the lead channel is its biggest drawback,only because I feel it limits the amp somewhat from a std 3-4 band... but outside of that, run a EQ on it and it opens up nicely. i forget how the effects loops was on this, but I seem to recall it was pretty user friendly.. it didn't seem to be a tone sucker extreme.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

                  I just got one of these myself on Friday. I am running my Pod XT Live into the effects return and loving it.

                  I agree that it is a forgiving rig. It also looks great sitting on top of my standard-issue 1960A Marshall 4x12 cab. I was afraid it would look odd, since the head is not full-width, but I think it looks great. I haven't really done much with running the guitar straight into it, as I can't crank it at all at my house (and this thing is plenty loud). I will work with that when I can crank it up, but for now, I am just loving what it does for the Pod XT Live.

                  Overall, I'm quite happy with this amp.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

                    [ QUOTE ]
                    $400 and up? I usually see them for $250 to $300.

                    Anyway...have you ever met an amp you didn't like? [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

                    [/ QUOTE ]

                    Check Ebay. They don't sell for $250-$300 anymore. $400.00 shipped is on the low side and the last few have sold much higher. Thanks Chuck.
                    Regarding amps I don't like:
                    I don't like most JCM900's although I tried an SLX that was pretty good. I don't like the Mesa Boogie Nomad series, I don't like most of the newer Fender amps and I had a few Ampegs that sounded like can ass.
                    Chuck, most likely the reason I like most of the amps I review is because I do a ton of research before I buy one. I never walk into a store or look at a picture of a pretty amp and buy it. I do the homework first. My rule of thumb if I have never heard an amp in person is this:
                    I check Harmony Central. It an amp has a ton of reviews and gets a 9+ on sound and everything else, and its an amp that will suit what I am playing, I will check it out. I would say that at least 85% of the time I will like it. I also don't post bash sessions on the amps that "I" don't like because others here might really dig them.
                    BTW.. let me know about the next few $250.00 3203's you see. I'll take them. I could use some positive cash flow lately. This storm has really fugged up my house.
                    [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

                      So...what your sayin is I should have grabbed this one?

                      http://cgi.ebay.com/Marshall-30-watt-Amp...1QQcmdZViewItem

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                      • #12
                        Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

                        I saw that Chuck. It sold for a total of $325.00 including shipping with 13 bids. You should have also posted the one that just sold for $438.00 shipped and the one with the BLOWN TRANSFORMER that just sold for $287.99 shipped or the one that was completely fried inside that sold for $237.50 with $25.00 for shipping. I paid $295.00 for mine shipped and it needed a little work. I watched a few others end on Ebay for the mid 4's and a few in the mid 5's. Occassionally you will see one go cheap but its like that with most gear. It seems that some items slip by on Ebay.
                        Bottom line bro.. the cheaper you could get one the better of course but I think if most players paid around $400.00 for a 3203 they would be happy with their purchase.
                        I still love ya bro. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

                          Where you gettin $325 from? $50 shipping? It was 30 miles up the road from me, so shipping would have been free. I was trying to backdoor it for $250, but he wouldn't budge. Musta been a friend of yours. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] It would have been $290 to me if I had sniped it, but there's no way in hell I'm paying more than $250 for one of these. Not when you can still snag Laney Protubes for that.

                          Whatever John...I'm just sayin...whatever floats your basement.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

                            BTW, you don't love me. You don't send me flowers, take me for long walks on the beach in the moonlight, or even remember my damn birthday! Bitch. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Marshall 3203 Artist review

                              I just paid $400 for the 3203 I received on Friday (an eBay purchase).

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