M-80 Chorus Review

It has 2 channels, distorted and clean and you can add chorus to either one, and it has channel switching through the footswitch. It has effect's loops jacks and a headphone jack.

Features:	8
Sound:	8
Reliability:	10
Impression:	9
Overall rating:	8.8
Users rating:	8.3
Comments:	2

Featured review by: unregistered, on december 26, 2005

Price paid: $ 162.5

Purchased from: eBay

Features: The amp was made somewhere between the late '80s to early '90s in the USA. It has 2 channels, distorted and clean and you can add chorus to either one, and it has channel switching through the footswitch. It has effect's loops jacks and a headphone jack. I wish it had bass, mid, and treble on the overdrive, I use all the features on the amp being; reverb, chorus and overdrive. I use this amp in my room currently and plan on using it at gigs in the future. It has plenty of power at 80 watts, and sounds bigger than that. It is a solid state amp. // 8

Sound: I use it mainly on the bridge pickup with my Fender stratocaster, playing alot of classic rock and blues. My style, well I don't honestly have a definitive style yet but I play basically everything except metal, and in that case I would not recommend this amp for a metal player. It's only noisy if the overdrive is too high or if you have certain pickup settings on the guitar. It can make many different sounds with a wide variety. The clean channel is great and only gets distorted if the bass or midrange is too high. The distortion is as brutal as you set it, but the more brutal the more likely you are to get feedback. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I believe I could depend on it most certainly, despite being over 10 years old at least, it works great and I can't see that changing anytime soon. To my knowledge the amp has never broken down. Although I would have no choice otherwise, I would use it on a gig with a backup, with confidence. The fact that it has lasted 10 years or more should show that it was built to last and has proven to be reliable and durable. // 10

Impression: I feel this amp could do just about any style although a few effects pedals never hurt to enhance specifically whatever sound you're going for. I have been playing for about three years. I own a vintage Dean Markley amp, a crappy First Act starter amp, A beautiful American Fender Stratocaster, A JS 100 Ibanez, and another Ibanez of which model I forget. If it were stolen or lost, I would definitely buy it again sepecially considering the price I got it for. I love most of it, I am slightly disappointed at the feedback you get on the overdrive when certain pickups are in use on my guitar. I compared it to other Fender amps, Marshall amps, and Vox amps and decided on this. I chose this one because it was in great condition, 80 watts, made by Fender a reliable company, had chorus, reverb and overdrive, a footswtich, and was less than $200 what a steal! I wish had even more effects, but for this price that would almost be robbing. // 9

overall: 8.8

Reviewed by: NothingButRock, on november 30, 2009

Price paid: A$ 400

Purchased from: eBay

Features: I have the first addition model with the grey carpet and I think it was made in the late 80s to early 90s. I've played rock, blues, country and even some metal through the amp and it's been able to take it all. It has 2 channels, clean and distorted. Although I bought mine second hand without the footswitch, it does have the option for one. It also has headphone and effects loop jacks. Both the chorus and reverb features I have found to be very good and I use them both. I use this amp at home and at band practice and intend to gig it. It's 80 watts, but is by far the loudest 80 watt amp I've ever heard. // 8

Sound: I play my Epiphone g400 and my Status (strat replica) through the amp, both guitars perform well with it, although the Status performs best. It suits the blues and rock I play very well and the clean channel is perfect for Johnny Cash-esque country (particulary with single coil pick ups) I have play some metal through it, but I wouldn't recommend as a metal amp. The only time's it has been noisey for me is when I turn the distortion too high. The amps sound is very versatile, but like I said, it doesn't perform to it's beswt with metal. The clean channel is far better than on any other amp I have played and will become distorted if it is set too bassy. // 8

Reliability & Durability: The amps a fair age as it is and seems to be solid and reliable. I would gig it without a backup, no worries. It seems to handle being carted around on the back of a ute through the bush to go to practice and I have never had any problems with it, nor do I expect to in the near future. // 10

Impression: The amp perfectly suits my style of playing, although I might buy a distortion pedal to help out a bit with playing some metal. I've been playing probably 4 years and have only ever owned solid state amps, but this is by far the best. If it was stolen or lost and I could get another cheap I would have no doubts about getting it. I love the way it perfectly suits my Status with single coil pick ups and the only thing I hate is that at times it's hard to get a particulary bassy tone out of it. I compared this amp to a Vox Valvetronix and several Kustom amps. I choose this because of it's beautiful clean channel. I'm very happy with the amp as it is. // 9

Comments

[BGSM]

Tried this amp out at school, it's great. I want one!

[budfan81]

I have the first addition of the amp (the first addition had the grey colored carpeting, the second addition had the black colored carpeting). I bought it back in late 91 and have used it (and abused it) for over 16 years. I play mostly blues and some classic rock and this amp is the best for the money. The clean tone you get from this amp is the best I've ever heared next to the Fender Pro Reverb. I don't use any additional effects except for a wah pedal. The chorus is better than any pedal I have found and can add a very rich feel on the clean channel. It can also be very nice for playing any a lot of late 60's and early 70's tunes such as Pink Floyd. If you come across one of these amps or the M-80 (which is the same except for it is only 40 watts and doesn't have the built in chorus) I would highly recommend picking it up.