NAD: Wangs 2204HW (handwired JCM 800 clone from China)

[Deleted member 27494]

Hey all,

I got a new amp recently so I thought I'd share my thoughts.

So I got the 2204HW which is basically a handwired 50w tube amp based on the old 2204s from the seventies. If you're not familiar with Wangs, they're a small family run company from China and they build all of their amps with high quality components by hand. Since the amps are from China the prices are really good, especially when you take into consideration how much love and care went into making them. I already have the HD-15 which is more of a high gain amp (Soldano meets Shiva) and that one is really cool and unique, but this time I wanted something with a more classic sound and more class.

I chose the white model with the brown cloth as that looks really classy to me. The amp is pretty simple and basic, no fx loop for example but it's all about the tone. This 50w amp (2 EL34s) has plenty of headroom so the clean tones can be very clean. In fact, it's not easy to push the clean channel (low sensitivity input) into overdrive. To do so you must push the amp very hard.

The high sensitivity input is where the magic is at for those classic crunch tones. Just as my Marshall SC20H (JCM 800 Studio) this amp doesn't have a lot of gain but it has plenty for crunchy tones and it fills up the room very nicely. With a boost you can get plenty of extra gain out of the amp so it can even be used for metal. Obviously since there isn't a channel switch or anything like that, it's probably best suited for a basic rock amp or pedal platform. However you would use an old Marshall 2204 I guess

Anyway, I made a little video with some tones so you can hear the amp in action:



Has anyone else ever tried this model or perhaps one of the other Wangs amps? I'd love to know your thoughts....

 

[SoooRad]

I've occasionally thought about picking up one of their 1987s... And your demo doesn't make me not want to take the leap! The 2204 sounds great in what you've captured.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

2204 circuit in any clone always sounds great. Best circuit ever. (Plexi close second but the volume disadvantage bumps it down a notch)

 

[SpiderWars]

Very well done as usual. Sounds pretty good to me. There was one of these on CL near me for <$500 and I considered it but have too much stuff as it is.

 

[Deleted member 27494]

Very well done as usual. Sounds pretty good to me. There was one of these on CL near me for <$500 and I considered it but have too much stuff as it is.

Ahh too much stuff, I know what you mean... It never ends here haha!

 

[Racerxrated]

2204 circuit in any clone always sounds great. Best circuit ever. (Plexi close second but the volume disadvantage bumps it down a notch)

Have to disagree. There’s a reason all the major players used NMV Marshall’s instead of the 2203/4 circuits. As great as they are the MV takes away some tone...I’ve never heard a Marshall sound as good as my 72. I sold a nice 83 2203 because, as good as it was when I fired up the 72 it just layed waste to the 2203. But it does have only one volume...LOUD.

 

[dirtyfunkg]

Have to disagree. There’s a reason all the major players used NMV Marshall’s instead of the 2203/4 circuits. As great as they are the MV takes away some tone...I’ve never heard a Marshall sound as good as my 72. I sold a nice 83 2203 because, as good as it was when I fired up the 72 it just layed waste to the 2203. But it does have only one volume...LOUD.

Define "major players" here because there are plenty who used 2203/2204's.

 

[Racerxrated]

Define "major players" here because there are plenty who used 2203/2204's.

I’m going back to the 80s when Marshall’s were mostly used; Lynch, DeMartini, Jake et al used/recorded mostly with NMV Marshall’s..EVH of course. Not to take away from 2203/4s they are great. Just not quite as great as the NMV Marshall’s. IMO.

 

[controlled_voltage]

sounds great the ceriatone wrecker
better get in before war with china over taiwan breaks out
go ahead .....
support the enemy !

 

[panhead]

If it were free Id sell it

 

[panhead]

Define "major players" here because there are plenty who used 2203/2204's.

Sure isnt anybody lately that`s for sure.

 

[napalmdeath]

Those Chinese are famous for their smaller wangs.

 

[John4021]

Those Chinese are famous for their smaller wangs.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Have to disagree. There’s a reason all the major players used NMV Marshall’s instead of the 2203/4 circuits. As great as they are the MV takes away some tone...I’ve never heard a Marshall sound as good as my 72. I sold a nice 83 2203 because, as good as it was when I fired up the 72 it just layed waste to the 2203. But it does have only one volume...LOUD.

Agree to disagree... first off, I too prefer that raw crunch of a plexi. BUT there is a reason a lot of top guys ended up going the MV route. Angus Young has all of his heads converted to MV and essentially 2203/04 specs. Once you add the boost on the floor or by other means, you forget about how superior the NMV tone is and you can further shape it. In short, it is splitting hairs I think. At volume, both are very satisfying. Let's squash this guitar nerd beef by just saying, both circuits are great at what they do and in my opinion are the two best out there.

 

[Donnie B.]

Ya have to wonder if they went with "WANG" as their brand knowing full well it would be made fun of here in the States?
I've had my eye of their amps for a while now. Great clip.

 

[Racerxrated]

Agree to disagree... first off, I too prefer that raw crunch of a plexi. BUT there is a reason a lot of top guys ended up going the MV route. Angus Young has all of his heads converted to MV and essentially 2203/04 specs. Once you add the boost on the floor or by other means, you forget about how superior the NMV tone is and you can further shape it. In short, it is splitting hairs I think. At volume, both are very satisfying. Let's squash this guitar nerd beef by just saying, both circuits are great at what they do and in my opinion are the two best out there.

Yeah it is a small difference but it’s there. I actually didn’t care for the NMV Marshall’s because they all sounded ‘flat’ to me. But, they all had MV mods. That was the reason they didn’t sound that great; my first totally stock NMV is my 72...blows me away every time I fire it up. Now I’m second guessing all the earlier JMPs I owned, and sold/returned...had I restored them to stock I might have stopped chasing THE Marshall tone long ago. I couldn’t believe how much better my 72 sounded vs the 83 2203...and the 83 was a really good one. But 2203/4 are great amps and a staple for a reason.

 

[311boogieman]

Sounded amazballs...


Thanks for posting that

 

[Filter500]

The boosted tones at the end sound great to me.