Anyone compared a 2203x to an original?

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Bxlxaxkxe

Bxlxaxkxe

Amp ho
Curious how the reissues stack up? I have a bunch of originals here, but have never come across a 2203x in person so I’m curious.
 
I had an '82 2203 at one point and currently own a 2203x. The '82 was modded in the past and then "brought back to stock". I suspect the bright cap was cut because it was much muddier than the 2203x, but I can't confirm b/c I never really checked. Either way, I preferred the 2203x greatly. It was much brighter and tighter than the old 2203. In addition, the master volume had a better taper so that I could actually play it at home volume without an attenuator. This wasn't possible with the '82. It also has an fx loop, which isn't great but it can be replaced with the Headfirst Loop which has zero frequency loss.

I do think the 2203x sounds great, especially when boosted. I can't imagine the old ones sounding any better, just different. However, if you already own an old 2203/2204 and it sounds good to you, then I wouldn't bother getting a reissue.
 
I have a Hopkins Pandora modded 2203X and will disagree that they don't take mods well. Did not have it with an OG 2203 side by side, but it sounds great. Better than the other 2203's I have had.
 
Here's a pretty cool comparison between a few. To me the reissue is too squawky/honky in the mids. His Bad Boy amp is also very mid-rich but it's juicy and fat and not so in your face squawk. 6:45 or so is the comparison.
 
I have an 80. Played a reissue once and thought it was great. Marshall’s do always feel like a good home cooked meal to me.
 
pipboy90 said:
It’s worth noting his Bad Boy has been modded to have more gain and is running 6550s.
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According to this video it is 'stock' but has had a lot of things changed out like both transformers. So at that point it's almost like a clone. But he says specifically that there are no 'gain' mods...stock values. Do you know if he had it modded since this video?


EDIT: Of note, that amp is biased at 65% of 42W per tube which is ~62mA @ 436vdc! He says you can fry an egg on the chassis. BUT it has swapped out transformers so maybe they are suited for that. But generally running the amp like that would do exactly what has happened to that amp...fry lots of things.
 
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SpiderWars said:
According to this video it is 'stock' but has had a lot of things changed out like both transformers. So at that point it's almost like a clone. But he says specifically that there are no 'gain' mods...stock values. Do you know if he had it modded since this video?


EDIT: Of note, that amp is biased at 65% of 42W per tube which is ~62mA @ 436vdc! He says you can fry an egg on the chassis. BUT it has swapped out transformers so maybe they are suited for that. But generally running the amp like that would do exactly what has happened to that amp...fry lots of things.
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I don’t remember the exact details, I just remember him saying in one video that it had slightly more gain than a stock Marshall and was running 6550s.
 
pipboy90 said:
I don’t remember the exact details, I just remember him saying in one video that it had slightly more gain than a stock Marshall and was running 6550s.
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That's true he always says it has more gain/aggression but he has said he doesn't know why because it has stock values (but not exact factory parts). He used to have EL34s in it. In that video the Gain on the Bad Boy is 7 and it is on 10 on all the others.
 
The 2 stock 2203x that I’ve played had a sterile quality that I didn’t care for compared to the earlier versions. Maybe those newer transformers will age well and sound better over time?
But the loop in them is very good…and the very first Cam Marshall I owned was a killer modern modded 2203x.
 
SpiderWars said:
According to this video it is 'stock' but has had a lot of things changed out like both transformers. So at that point it's almost like a clone. But he says specifically that there are no 'gain' mods...stock values. Do you know if he had it modded since this video?


EDIT: Of note, that amp is biased at 65% of 42W per tube which is ~62mA @ 436vdc! He says you can fry an egg on the chassis. BUT it has swapped out transformers so maybe they are suited for that. But generally running the amp like that would do exactly what has happened to that amp...fry lots of things.
Click to expand...

I trust this dude when it comes to amp reviews (especially Marshall 2203 circuits). Excepting the bad boy (which is its own beast), he thinks the 2203x reissues sound as good or better than old ones.
 
SpiderWars said:
According to this video it is 'stock' but has had a lot of things changed out like both transformers. So at that point it's almost like a clone. But he says specifically that there are no 'gain' mods...stock values. Do you know if he had it modded since this video?


EDIT: Of note, that amp is biased at 65% of 42W per tube which is ~62mA @ 436vdc! He says you can fry an egg on the chassis. BUT it has swapped out transformers so maybe they are suited for that. But generally running the amp like that would do exactly what has happened to that amp...fry lots of things.
Click to expand...

He posted up some gut shots in a video, might be that one. Board looks 99% stock surprisingly. Looks like he might have a cap over the 820 on v2. Hard to believe though, surely dosent sound like my 2203.
 
I’ve modded a bunch of reissues and OG 800’s (early 80’s vertical input 2203/2204).

The reissues sound great but the OG 800’s always end up sounding the best in the end. They really do have that little bit of extra mojo.

I just built a 50w 2204 MOAB with Heyboer transformers. It is a really good sounding amp. On par with the older ones. So maybe it’s the transformers.
 
RedPlated said:
I’ve modded a bunch of reissues and OG 800’s (early 80’s vertical input 2203/2204).

The reissues sound great but the OG 800’s always end up sounding the best in the end. They really do have that little bit of extra mojo.

I just built a 50w 2204 MOAB with Heyboer transformers. It is a really good sounding amp. On par with the older ones. So maybe it’s the transformers.
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Is that the black faceplate 800 I saw? That one is so sick looking

I need a 100 watter MOAB if you ever get bored ?
 
RedPlated said:
I’ve modded a bunch of reissues and OG 800’s (early 80’s vertical input 2203/2204).

The reissues sound great but the OG 800’s always end up sounding the best in the end. They really do have that little bit of extra mojo.

I just built a 50w 2204 MOAB with Heyboer transformers. It is a really good sounding amp. On par with the older ones. So maybe it’s the transformers.
Click to expand...
I just built a 2204 with the Heyboer Transformers ...... finished it about 3 or 4 months ago .... I haven't touched any of my other amps since ...

the build quality on the reissue that I had bought finally pushed me over the edge to build one myself ..... couldn't be happier with the results ...
 
Racerxrated said:
The 2 stock 2203x that I’ve played had a sterile quality that I didn’t care for compared to the earlier versions. Maybe those newer transformers will age well and sound better over time?
But the loop in them is very good…and the very first Cam Marshall I owned was a killer modern modded 2203x.
Click to expand...

NAILED it regarding the transformers aging.
Same applies to the caps also.
 
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