A Boosted 2204... (Fryette content)

  • Thread starter Thread starter FourT6and2
  • Start date Start date
Here’s the 2 last ones I had
IMG_4605.jpeg
IMG_4606.jpeg
IMG_4608.jpeg
IMG_4607.jpeg
 
Agree, a good old 2204 (or 2203) pushed in a thing of beauty; a classic on its own!
 
FourT6and2 said:
Are these vertical input models you're talking about? I've only ever seen reports of these having very low voltages. The '81 2204 I just looked at has the 1202-342/1 PT and has a Vp of 398v. The 2203 I have on my bench (early model as well) has ~400v too. I though they got higher voltages as the years went on?
Click to expand...
Yep. Only the 82/83s that I've had, have the higher voltage PTs.
 
RedPlated said:
Not my experience. Maybe 1 out of 15 or 20 have high voltages from the ones I’ve had here.

I have two 2204’s of my own. 82/83. One is a high voltage amp. I think it’s a 3 series PT.

The 1 and 2 series PT are much more common. Usually around 390vdc.

I actually like the low voltage amps. They sound killer. Sometimes even better. Some of the best 2204’s I’ve heard are lower PV.
Click to expand...
I must've been lucky I guess, the last 3-4 82/83 2204s I've had, had unloaded PV of 500v. I never measured the PV of amps I had prior to 2015. I have also noticed the late 70s 2204s to have LOW unloaded PV of 350-380.
Really big differences between the low voltage and high voltage amps...they are different enough to own one of each imo.
 
7704A said:
From what I've read, it seems the voltage changed partway through '82. @RedPlated and @FourT6and2, do you happen to know what part of the year the ones you looked at were from? My 4104 is a lower (little over 400V at idle) one, from February '82 if I recall. People with later '82 specimens seem to mostly report higher voltages, at least on the forum threads I've seen.

Edit: @Racerxrated do you know the dates on yours? Think I might have asked that a while ago already.
Click to expand...
They also lasted into 83, or were sporadic during that year. Each and every 83 I've owned had higher PV. 2204s anyway.
 
Bxlxaxkxe said:
Both my 83 2204’s are around 480 with tubes. I’ve always understood it to be high PV starting sometime in 82 for the 2204.

These amps don’t have monstrous low end, nor do they have much gain. But they are the perfect middle ground between vintage and modern to my ear. Can push them in either direction depending on settings and pedals etc. And holy shit do they sit perfectly in a live mix. Just raw attitude
Click to expand...
Both of these fit my experience....loaded PV at 480 indicates the same 500v PTs that I've experienced(or damn close to 500v).
 
Bet it sounds good. When you find a good one they sound great.
 
FourT6and2 said:
Is that first one a Canadian market amp? They usually had metal toggle switches though. But they also had that fused board inside and only two impedance taps, not all three. I read they had lower voltage PTs though. Werid.

That second one also has a different PT. It's a laydown version. And it's a later horizontal input, not vertical.
Click to expand...
First one is Scandinavian version JMP 83 I believe.

Other one was maybe 87.

Also thought they only changed the filtering on the 2203 versions?
 
FourT6and2 said:
Is that first one a Canadian market amp? They usually had metal toggle switches though. But they also had that fused board inside and only two impedance taps, not all three. I read they had lower voltage PTs though. Werid.

That second one also has a different PT. It's a laydown version. And it's a later horizontal input, not vertical.
Click to expand...
The non USA/British market Marshalls are an interesting study. In addition to the additional fusing, and no 16 ohm tap(Canadian) there are other strange things....I saw (and should have bought) a 1978 Canadian Super Lead. But, it had a laydown PT(High voltage too, over 550 unloaded), was handwired and was a small logo HS, chassis had the older version toggles. It looked exactly like a 1973 or earlier SL. But, the date code indicated K for 1978. Thought it was rebuilt but the chassis tag also said 1978, and the red dye was throughout the circuit, original solder joints. It was 1400 at a Music Go Round in Georgia, maybe 7 yrs ago.
Then, I bought a 2104 JMP combo, also Canadian...good price, had a laydown PT as well...I assumed it was a 78/79 based on the Blackbacks in the combo box but when I got it, it was a P serial...1982. But, a JMP on the chassis......It seems the non USA/British markets continued the JMP line into the JCM 800 years, and the mid to late 70s Marshalls were hardwired far longer than the other markets. Northern Eu amps like Peter above also continued the earlier style/parts while the other markets got the newer styling.
 
Racerxrated said:
They also lasted into 83, or were sporadic during that year. Each and every 83 I've owned had higher PV. 2204s anyway.
Click to expand...

Looks like I must get all the low voltage ones. So weird. But based on the posts here, it does appear there are a lot of higher voltage 2204’s…
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top