What's In A Name?
AVTX (Advanced Valvestate Technology X-tended) are the latest in Marshall's lineup of tube/solid state hybrid amplifiers. At the heart of the AVTX is a genuine 12AX7 (ECC83) tube that is driven at a high plate voltage to add the genuine, warm tube tone that guitarists crave.
The AVT50X, AVT100X, and AVT150X models now feature variable speed fans, enabling them to run hotter, yet cooler, than ever before. As any technician will tell you, adding a cooling fan may cost more initially, but it will pay for itself in the long run. Some say that a cooling fan will double the life of a vacuum tube, since it allows the tube to dissipate more heat.
Marshall introduced its original Valvestate line in the early 1990's. These relatively low-priced amplifiers rapidly captured the ears and hearts of musicians worldwide. Now Marshall engineers have concluded additional years of researching and refining the techniques of tube and solid state amplifier sound properties in order produce the finest combination ever heard. The good news for guitarists the world over: these amps sound awesome!
How'd They Do That?
The secret to the amazing sound of the AVT line is a brilliantly engineered power amp section that emulates the way tube amps breathe and musically compress the sound. They have nailed the classic Marshall tube power amp sound, but without the heat and expense of power output tubes!
Of course, that high voltage 12AX7 (ECC83) tube in the preamp section gets half the credit, too. Especially when you overdrive that valve to bring out the warm overdrive and singing distortion that only tubes can provide. So now you know the secret to the AVT series: the perfect marriage of tube tone and solid state reliability. And all for a price that won't break the bank!
Special FX, Anyone?
With the AVT150HX and AVT100HX, you get two separate digital effects channels for double the control. This allows one set of effects for the two clean channels and a separate bank of effects for the pair of overdrive channels.
Marshall didn't forget the smaller models in the line, either. The AVT20X and AVT50X models feature a very sweet Accutronics reverb tank. Guitar Player magazine liked the reverb so much they said that they'd give these amps an Editor's Pick award based solely on that feature!
What the Pros are Using
But don't take our word for it. Pros like Tony Fredianelli (Third Eye Blind) and Jerry Horton (Papa Roach) are using AVT amplifiers in the studio and on the road to get the tone they need.
"[The AVT20] is the best small combo Išve ever heard. It sounds a lot bigger than it is, in fact we're using it to write our new record."
- Jerry Horton (Papa Roach)
"It's got a really clear, clean, brisk sound that actually simulates an acoustic guitar. The AVT amp is my personal favorite for acoustic simulation in an amplifier."
- Tony Fredianelli (Third Eye Blind)
But Wait, There's More!
New to this line is a closed-back design for the combo amp models. This produces a tone with more bottom end, very much like the 1960A/B 4x12 cabinets that Marshall is famous for. Celestion speakers are standard issue in the combo models. Marshall and Celestion worked hand in hand to design a speaker with added bottom end so that the AVTX combos have the full sound that a "stack" (head and cabinet) setup normally produces: a tight bottom end, punchy midrange, and shimmering highs.
