2203/2204 with pedal vs hot-rodded Marshalls

[zz666]

I've done both having boosted my 800 for years (the best I got was with an EQ and SD1), but I much prefer it modded, and use a Detox for cleans. I have a great loop which I can turn down and still get the same tone at a lower level. When modded right it works IMO.

 

[SpiderWars]

FWIW, that 4104 for $650? He said it had some issues and lowered it to $500. So I had to check it out. He said it had a squeal and it was oscillation with Treble dimed. Non-stock speakers (don't really care) but the bass control was so stiff you could barely turn it and the knob had come loose because of that. Presence control didn't do anything. But the main issue was that it sounded like crap. No gain whatsoever, like a plexi circuit with a pre-PI MV (hi input with pre gain dimed). Harsh as hell. If it were a vertical input or sounded decent I would have snagged it but I just didn't want another project that might never end well.

 

[SpiderWars]

This 2204 is allegedly a 1980 model but it has a DI out next to the speaker jacks, the script on the back is different, and the preamp cap can is in a different location relative to preamp tubes. All others I've seen have the tubes towards the back of the amp and can next to choke. Is that normal? Maybe 1980 model was during a transitional time?

 

[Racerxrated]

This 2204 is allegedly a 1980 model but it has a DI out next to the speaker jacks, the script on the back is different, and the preamp cap can is in a different location relative to preamp tubes. All others I've seen have the tubes towards the back of the amp and can next to choke. Is that normal? Maybe 1980 model was during a transitional time?

That's an 86. The date is on the tag in the pic. 29/9/86. Brits put the day/month/year. Vertical inputs up to and including 84, horizontal after. Circuit wise the 2204 remained unchanged but the 2203 lost some filtering, some say for the worse with horizontal inputs. I've heard some horizontal 2204s that sound killer. Crap shoot anyway as all 800s are different tone wise. Gotta play a bunch, they all rip but some are just special. That one from Reverb is waay overpriced. Easily find one for under or around a grand. Here in the classifieds or guitar center.com.

 

[SpiderWars]

Thanks Racerxrated. I wasn't planning on buying it at that price. I just figured I better get some learning done now so I can be more prepared when a deal shows up. So I'm watching every 2203/2204 (most non-reissues) on Reverb and trying to sort out the differences. There's one in the classifieds here (that I was already watching on Reverb) that is a good price and I love the bright cap switch (which I would changing to a 3-way). But it's a reissue and I read on the inter web (must be true) that the reissues are brighter/more harsh than good old ones. But they are allegedly infinitely more consistent.

 

[Racerxrated]

Thanks Racerxrated. I wasn't planning on buying it at that price. I just figured I better get some learning done now so I can be more prepared when a deal shows up. So I'm watching every 2203/2204 (most non-reissues) on Reverb and trying to sort out the differences. There's one in the classifieds here (that I was already watching on Reverb) that is a good price and I love the bright cap switch (which I would changing to a 3-way). But it's a reissue and I read on the inter web (must be true) that the reissues are brighter/more harsh than good old ones. But they are allegedly infinitely more consistent.

No problem. Art(232cap) has had almost every amp imaginable pass through his hands, so if he says it's a good one you can trust him. If that's the one you're referring to in the classifieds. The late 70s JMPs seemed a bit warmer and less aggressive than the 800 series in my experience. 800s had higher plate voltages and the 70s JMPs used more mustard caps, which started to give way to the lego caps in the late 70s and through the 800 series.

 

[cardinal]

I have an '82 2204 that I love. I've also played a '90 2204 that absolutely ripped. It seemed to have more gain and aggression. I like them both.

 

[petejt]

I thought the point of most hot-rodded Marshalls was to install an overdrive circuit into a 2203 or 2204 and add an effects loop, to save using outboard gear.

 

[SpiderWars]

I thought the point of most hot-rodded Marshalls was to install an overdrive circuit into a 2203 or 2204 and add an effects loop, to save using outboard gear.

I believe that to be true as well. But the point I was trying to make was that, even with hot-rodded Marshalls or even other high-gain amps, people often still use a boost or Tubescreamer or whatever. And very often, the hot-rodded or other still doesn't sound better than the boosted 800. So I was taking the approach that, if I'm using a boost anyway then I can just use a JCM800 and I'm there. Except for the loop as you pointed out.

After further thought and the facts that old ones seem to be sooooo variable AND I really want a loop; maybe I should scoop a used reissue. Then I'll have a sort of benchmark that, when I do find old ones, I'll have a reasonably high standard to hold them to. Instead of just settling for an old one I can get cheap.

 

[paulyc]

The problem with that is any stock Marshall really doesn't have enough gain on tap for modern rock playing, so unless you use 2 boosts (one for rhythm and a second either alone or in conjunction with the first for lead), you're kind of stuck. I like the added tube stage and back down the pre-gain knob to 5,6, or 7 depending on how heavy you want the rhythm sound to be, then step on a boost for soloing to get that liquid lead tone.

The loop is a really great addition as well, and also an added line out if you ever go W/D/W...

 

[thiswaythatway]

A stock JCM800 is useless at low volumes, at least any JCM800 I've played. Low volumes means it won't wake up my kids 3 rooms away. I thought that was the main purpose to mod the stock amps, to get the volume under control? But yes a stock JCM800 WITH volume and a good OD pedal sounds as good as any modded one, IMHO.

 

[paulyc]

In my experience, stock Marshalls don't have enough gain for anything more than, say, AC/DC, which some people are cool with. My Egnater added gain stage has MORE than enough gain for low (or high) volume playing, but at high volume with all that gain (say if the gain is dimed) the amp just feeds back like a mother the second you stop playing, so you either ride the volume knob all night, gate the shit out of it, or turn the gain back and get the rhythm sound under control and step on something to juice it up for solos. For bedroom level playing it's MORE than enough, and it sounds great, very open and not compressed all to hell.

 

[krueger]

I have several matched pairs of Tesla El34's if anyone is looking