Marshall Amplification MG15 User Manual

2 CHANNELS

CLEAN
OVERDRIVE

EQ

BASS
CONTOUR
TREBLE

CD INPUT

EMULATED

LINE OUT

EMULATED

2 CHANNELS

CLEAN
OVERDRIVE

EQ

BASS
CONTOUR
TREBLE

CD INPUT

EMULATED

LINE OUT

EMULATED

SPRING

REVERB

2 CHANNELS

CLEAN
OVERDRIVE

EQ

BASS
CONTOUR
TREBLE

CD INPUT

EMULATED

LINE OUT

EMULATED

DIGITAL FX

MG

SERIES

15

MG

SERIES

15CD

MG

SERIES

MG

15CDR

SERIES

15

DFX

Owners Manual

From Jim Marshall

I would like to thank you personally for selecting
one of our new 15 Watt, MG combos – the
MG15CD, the MG15CDR or the MG15DFX.

As a musician myself I fully understand the
necessity of achieving the right tone and feel to help

ENGLISH

inspire musicians to reach their full creative potential
– be they aspiring beginners or more skilled players.
With this in mind I set my experienced R&D team
the task of designing a new range of affordable MG
amplifiers that truly captured the essence of the
Marshall sound.

Utilising new technologies, some of which were developed for our critically acclaimed AVT range,
the new MG Series raises the standard for what can be expected from a value-for-money range of
guitar amplifiers and defines a new benchmark. For example, the power amp section of your MG15
combo boasts FDD (Frequency Dependant Damping) – a radical new feature that is exclusive to
Marshall Amplification and accurately mimics the way an all-valve amplifier interacts with a
loudspeaker. As a result of FDD, your new MG15 will give you a sound never before thought possible
in such an affordable, non-valve amp.

Two of these three units also feature built-in effects – the MG15CDR boasts a natural sounding
spring reverb, while the MG15DFX houses specially designed Digital Effects (DFX).

The DFX featured in the MG15DFX are custom voiced by our own in-house design team. Each one
of the four effects on offer (Reverb, Delay, Chorus and Flange) have been designed to give you the
true warmth and feel of analogue effects, but in a highly flexible digital format. Furthermore, a wide
range of variations for each effect are literally at your fingertips – merely tweaking the two digital
effects controls on the front panel will give rise to sounds that range from subtle to radical, while
always remaining both natural and musical.

Like all the amplifiers in my new MG range, the MG15 was completely designed and engineered in
the UK and the most rigorous quality control procedures ensure that it meets the standard of build
you have come to expect from all Marshall products.

Whether the MG15 is your first ever Marshall or is the latest addition to your arsenal of amps, the
tone, flexibility and feel of this compact, rugged combo will deliver the goods – from bedroom to
backstage!

I wish you every success with your new Marshall. Welcome to the family…

Yours Sincerely,

1

!

WARNING! - Important safety instructions

WARNING: This apparatus must be earthed!

A. PLEASE read this instruction manual carefully before switching on.
B. ALWAYS use the supplied mains lead, if a replacement is required please contact your

authorised Marshall Dealer.
Note: Closed back equipment with non-detachable mains cord.

When the equipment is not in use or is being transported, the mains
cord should be gathered and retained under the top strap handle to
prevent damage. See diagram.

C. NEVER attempt to by-pass the fuses or fit ones of the incorrect value.
D. DO NOT attempt to remove the amplifier chassis, there are no user serviceable parts.
E. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as when the
power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally
or has been dropped.

F. NEVER use an amplifier in damp or wet conditions.
G. ALWA YS unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
H. PROTECT the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,

convenience receptacles and at the point where they exit from the apparatus.

I. DO NOT switch the amplifier on without the loudspeaker connected.

➲

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the requirements of the EMC

directive (Environments E1, E2 and E3 EN 55103-1/2) and the Low Voltage directive in the E.U.

➲

EUROPE ONLY - Note: The Peak Inrush current for the MG15CD, MG15CDR and MG15DFX is

2.5 amps.

➲

CAUTION: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for

compliance may void the users authority to operate the equipment.

➲

Note: It is recommended that all audio cables used to connect to the MG15CD, MG15CDR and

MG15DFX are of a high quality screened type. These should not exceed 10 metres in length.

➲ WARNING: Always ensure free movement of air around the amplifier!

USA ONLY - DO NOT defeat the purpose of the polarised or grounding type plug. A polarised

plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a
third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. When the
provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

ENGLISH

Follow all instructions and heed all warnings

KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS !

2

MG15CD Front Panel Features

GAIN

010

EQClean Overdrive

VOLUME

010

VOLUME

010

BASS

010

CONTOUR

010

TREBLE

010

EMULATED

HEADPHONES

CD IN &

EMULATED

LINE OUT

OD

SELECT

INPUT POWER

MG

SERIES

15

CD

ReverbEQClean Overdrive

VOLUME

010

GAIN

010

VOLUME

010

BASS

010

CONTOUR

010

TREBLE

010

LEVEL

010

OD

SELECT

INPUT

POWER

EMULATED

HEADPHONES

CD IN &

EMULATED

LINE OUT

MG

SERIES

15

CDR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

MG15CDR Front Panel Features

ENGLISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 13 9 10 11 12

MG15DFX Front Panel Features

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 14 15 9 11 12

1. INPUT jack

Use a good quality (screened) guitar cable to

plug your guitar in here.

2. Clean VOLUME control

When the OD Select switch is ‘out’, this
control adjusts the volume of the Clean
Channel. At low settings the sound will be very
clean with a bell-like ring. Turning this control
above half way will introduce a desirable,
bluesy distortion as the power amplifier is
driven into ‘crunch mode’.

3. OD (Overdrive) SELECT switch

Depressing the Overdrive Select Switch will

engage the Overdrive Channel.

4. Overdrive GAIN control

Turning up the Overdrive Gain Control will
increase the amount of distortion generated in
the Overdrive channel. Low gain settings will
produce classic rock and blues tones. Crank
the Gain for fat and aggressive sounds that are
perfect for soloing or hard rock and nu-metal
riffing.

3

5. Overdrive VOLUME control

Amazingly enough, this control adjusts the
volume of the Overdrive channel! The louder
this channel is set, the ‘looser’ the amplifier will
sound and feel. This behaviour is exactly what
a good all-valve amplifier does and is a result
of our proprietary FDD circuitry.

6. EQ BASS control

This control affects the bass or bottom end of
your sound. Increasing the bass control will add
warmth to your clean and balls to your
overdrive tones.

7. EQ CONTOUR control

This highly effective tone control works by
radically modifying the mid-range (body). The
tone can range from traditional and woody
sounding (setting at 10), to balls-to-the-wall
(setting at midway), to aggressive, ‘scooped’
and modern (setting at 0)…and all points in­between.

8. EQ TREBLE control

This control affects the treble or top end of
your sound. Increasing the amount of treble will
give a glassy edge to your clean sounds and
increase the definition on low gain overdrive or
the amount of aggressive ‘fizz’ and ‘cut’ on high
gain tones.

9. FDD (Frequency Dependant
Damping) Switch

Marshall’s proprietary FDD circuit accurately
mimics the way an all-valve amplifier interacts
with the loudspeaker and adds a width and
depth to your sound which has been
unachievable in an affordable solid-state
amplifier…until now!

10. CD IN & EMULATED LINE OUT
jack

The MG15’s cleverly combine the Line Out
and CD Input functions. If you want to jam to
your favourite CD or tape, merely connect the
headphone output of your CD or tape player
here, adjust the CD / TAPE player’s volume to
match that of your guitar and ‘hey-presto’ –
you’ve got the perfect ‘play-along’ practice
system. Alternatively, you can use this socket
to connect the MG15 to your multi-track
recording machine and you’ll get a great
speaker emulated guitar sound direct to disk or
tape.

HELPFUL HINT: for ‘silent’ recording merely
plug an unconnected jack plug into the
headphone socket and you’ll disconnect the
MG15’s internal speaker.

11. EMULATED HEADPHONES jack

Plug your headphones here for a killer
speaker emulated sound! Doing this mutes
your MG15’s internal speaker for ‘silent’
practice.

12. POWER Switch & LED

The power switch turns your amplifier on and
off. The LED will be lit when your amplifier is on
and will not be lit when the amplifier is switched
off.

Note: Before connecting to the mains
electricity supply, always ensure that your
electricity supply is compatible with your
amplifier, as detailed on the rear panel.

Please ensure the amplifier is switched off
and unplugged from the mains electricity
supply before being moved.

13. Reverb LEVEL control
(MG15CDR only)

Increasing the Reverb Level control will mix
more of the naturally voiced spring reverb
signal into your sound – as you’ll find, you can
go from subtle to surf at the mere twist of this
control!

4

ENGLISH

14. Digital FX PRESET / ADJUST control (MG15DFX only)

This control serves a dual purpose. Not only does it allow you to select one of the four types of
effects on offer (Reverb (RVB), Delay (DLY), Chorus (CHR) or Flange (FLG)), it also allows you to
change a parameter as you sweep it through each of the four effect segments. The parameter you
can adjust for each of the four effects is shown below:

Effect Description

Reverb (RVB)

Delay (DLY)

ENGLISH

Chorus (CHR)

Flange (FLG)

*as you turn the control clockwise through the segment dedicated to that effect

Parameter

(adjustment*)

Reverb Decay Time

(from short to long)

Delay Time

(from short to long)

Speed

(from slow to fast)

Speed

(from slow to fast)

A natural sounding Reverb that never sounds
harsh or grainy. Short Reverb times produce a
plate type effect while longer Reverb times
produce much larger sounding hall-type effects.

Short Delay Times will automatically have less
repeats for groovy surf tones. Increasing the Delay
Time automatically increases the number of
repeats for a much more atmospheric effect.

At slow Speeds a mellow phase-like sweep
occurs. As the Speed is increased a more
traditional chorus effect is heard. At maximum
Speed, a psychedelic vibrato results.

At slow Speed settings the amount of
regeneration is automatically increased for huge
‘jet engine-like’ sweeps. As the speed is increased
the regeneration decreases to produce a lush,
natural sounding flange effect. When the Speed is
maxed out, a fast vibrato results.

15. Digital FX LEVEL control (MG15DFX only)

This controls how much of the chosen effect gets mixed in with your unaffected (dry) guitar tone.

Want to hear more of the DFX you’ve just dialled in? Then simply turn this up!

5

Technical Specification
Especificaciones técnicas
Technische Daten
Caractéristiques techniques

MG

MG

SERIES

15

15

Power Output 15W RMS into 8Ω

Potencia de salida 15W RMS sobre 8Ω
Ausgangsleistung 15W RMS an 8Ω
Puissance de sortie 15W RMS sous 8 ohms

15W RMS / 8Ω

Main Guitar • Input Impedance 1MΩ

Impedancia de entrada principal de guitarra 1MΩ
Guitar • Input Eingangsimpedanz 1MΩ
Impédance d'entrée 1MΩ

1MΩ

CD Input • Input impedance

Impedancia de entrada de CD 3.3kΩ
CD Input • Eingangsimpedanz 3.3kΩ
Impédance d'entrée CD 3.3kΩ

Emulated Output • Level

Nivel de salida de línea simulada -10dBV
Emulated Output • Ausgangspegel -10dBV
Niveau de sortie -10dBV

Weight

Peso 7.2kg
Gewicht 7.2kg
Poids 7.2kg

Size (mm)

Tamaño (mm) 350mm x 350mm x 185mm
Maße (mm) 350mm x 350mm x 185mm
Taille (mm) 350mm x 350mm x 185mm

350mm x 350mm x 185mm

350mm x 350mm x 185mm

3.3kΩ

3.3kΩ

-10dBV

-10dBV

7.2kg

7.2kg

Technical Técnicas

Technische

Techniques

26

Suggested Settings

GAIN

010

EQClean Overdrive

VOLUME

010

VOLUME

010

BASS

010

CONTOUR

010

TREBLE

010

OD

SELECT

INPUT

GAIN

010

EQClean Overdrive

VOLUME

010

VOLUME

010

BASS

010

CONTOUR

010

TREBLE

010

OD

SELECT

INPUT

GAIN

010

EQClean Overdrive

VOLUME

010

VOLUME

010

BASS

010

CONTOUR

010

TREBLE

010

OD

SELECT

INPUT

GAIN

010

EQClean Overdrive

VOLUME

010

VOLUME

010

BASS

010

CONTOUR

010

TREBLE

010

OD

SELECT

INPUT

Configuraciones que sugerimos
Soundvorschläge

Exemples de Réglages

Bright CleanWarm CleanBlues / CrunchMetal

Out

Out

Here follows four sample settings to act as starting

points from which to develop your own sounds.

N.B. Volume should be adjusted to taste.

In

In

Marshall Amplification plc

Denbigh Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK1 1DQ, England

Tel : [01908] 375411 Fax : [01908] 376118

www.marshallamps.com

Whilst the information contained herein is correct at the time of publication, due to our policy of constant improvement

and development, Marshall Amplification plc reserve the right to alter specifications without prior notice.

230V