82 JCM 800, 100% original....mod? or not?

82 JCM 800, 100% original....mod? or not?

  • Mod - make it exactly as I'd like it?

    Votes: 4 15.4%

  • Keep it original and preserve a classic?

    Votes: 22 84.6%
  • Total voters
    26
BIGKAHUNA

BIGKAHUNA

Well-known member
I've wanted a JCM 800 for a long time. For whatever reason the right deal was never there when I was ready to buy. Well, a while back I finally scored a 1 owner 82 800 in great condition for its age. She's not a studio queen...its got normal wear, but it's not beat up by any means. I really love it as it is. Love it more with a boost...but feeling like I would love it even more with an effects loop and without needing a boost get me there. Was pondering having it modded. I'd like to still be able set it to sound stock but have enough gain on tap to get that 80's high gain with the heavy chain saw grind as well as add a quality effects loop. I'd like to maintain the value but that's not really why I have it but resale value is hit or miss on mod'd amps as far as I've seen. Seen many with lofty price tags that stay listed for long periods of time.

So...mod it to my liking? or keep it as is and just boost it?
 
Since you love it as it, use a Powerstation with it and that will give you a loop. Mix and match boost pedals to get modded tones. Getting it modded will change what you love about it as is. Not to mention an unmodded 1982 JCM800 is not easy, or cheap, to come by.
 
agree with fek, I wouldn't mess with it if you love it already. When it inevitably needs something serviced, then I would decide on mods. Those things are an awesome boost platform, you get a lot of flavors that way.
 
Stack an SD1 and TS in front of it with everything on noon on the pedals and you’ll have your modded Marshall.
 
I agree with everyone. Stack pedals if you want more gain or even grab a Mr. Scary to throw in there to get more power.. But leave it stock. There are a ton of modded Marshalls and clones out there. You hardly see any unmolested ones. It would probably be worth more bone stock, since not everyone wants the same mods.

Although, I always wanted to mod one and only use push/pull pots to keep everything clean and looking original.
 
fek said:
Since you love it as it, use a Powerstation with it and that will give you a loop. Mix and match boost pedals to get modded tones. Getting it modded will change what you love about it as is. Not to mention an unmodded 1982 JCM800 is not easy, or cheap, to come by.
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Makes sense...thought about exactly that as I have a PS2. Was actually going sell to help fund another gear rabbit hole I am standing on the edge of. About to expand my rack and add a Syn2 maybe a 2/90/2 or a 2/50/2.
 
I wouldn’t be against a decent loop and if you could work a switchable gain boost where the toggle replaces the low input jack ie. reversable, go for it. There are some mods where they can come on a little PCB or tag strip of their own are pretty non invasive for the main board. If you’re not drilling and adding a tube I’d say your OK to make changes because it can always be put back. Just keep any original caps and resistors around to go back in (testing good of course).

….but..I agree with most that pedals are the best choice and the variety of boosts/drives available now is insane. I’d say talk to Wayne (Griffin Analog) on the board here about what you’re going for and he’ll have a pedal that will kick ass.
 
vultures said:
I agree with everyone. Stack pedals if you want more gain or even grab a Mr. Scary to throw in there to get more power.. But leave it stock. There are a ton of modded Marshalls and clones out there. You hardly see any unmolested ones. It would probably be worth more bone stock, since not everyone wants the same mods.

Although, I always wanted to mod one and only use push/pull pots to keep everything clean and looking original.
Click to expand...
I've actually got a Mr. Scary mod thing in a drawer somewhere but man the noise floor...like it better with the SD1 - might be that ground clamp on the device...never felt it was solid.
 



I heard all the corny forum cliche's "never drill holes on a Marshall" yada.
I researched for 3 years and finally Dave Friedman made me the amp of my dreams.
Santiago Alverez knows Dave and highly endorsed him. I took his advice and never looked back.
Choose wisely not all amp mods are the same.
 
shar-vell Dan said:



I heard all the corny forum cliche's "never drill holes on a Marshall" yada.
I researched for 3 years and finally Dave Friedman made me the amp of my dreams.
Santiago Alverez knows Dave and highly endorsed him. I took his advice and never looked back.
Choose wisely not all amp mods are the same.
Click to expand...
If I ever do have it mod'd Dave is in the top tier for sure. Not going to just anyone. Like Ground Zero a lot too.
 
BIGKAHUNA said:
Makes sense...thought about exactly that as I have a PS2. Was actually going sell to help fund another gear rabbit hole I am standing on the edge of. About to expand my rack and add a Syn2 maybe a 2/90/2 or a 2/50/2.
Click to expand...
I really like devices like the PS2 that have the fx loop after the poweramp. I think you'll like it compared to regular loops for mod fx.
 
I agree with @fek to get a Powerstation or equal so you can crank that Master Volume and get a loop. That’s really the only way to get the most out of the MV Marshalls imo. Even tho they have Master Volumes you still need to crank them to brutally loud volumes to really get most out of them.
 
shar-vell Dan said:



I heard all the corny forum cliche's "never drill holes on a Marshall" yada.
I researched for 3 years and finally Dave Friedman made me the amp of my dreams.
Santiago Alverez knows Dave and highly endorsed him. I took his advice and never looked back.
Choose wisely not all amp mods are the same.
Click to expand...

Any way to get him to mod something without him putting that big stupid FRIEDMAN plate in the corner?
 
Cannot go wrong here. A nice buffered loop with a level control and an 'in/out' is always such a functional and useful mod. One flip of a switch and it is completely out of the circuit. Maybe try a Legendary Tones Hot Mod (several variants) if you like the core tone of the amp and and don't want to mod it - beyond a loop? I would never be self-conscious about a great boost in front of the amp - lets you have that tight rhythm crunch when its off and searing leads when engaged.
 
Keep it stock, use pedals….and, find another already modded, or not and mod it. If you don’t mind combos you can find vertical input 81-83s for 1600 or so.
 
My amp has reversible mods. The PPIMV uses one of the speaker out jack holes, so no extra holes in my chasis.
 
Racerxrated said:
Keep it stock, use pedals….and, find another already modded, or not and mod it. If you don’t mind combos you can find vertical input 81-83s for 1600 or so.
Click to expand...

I've been to several of a buddies shows. One guy uses an 800 thru an 80s Marshall 4x12.. The other guy uses an 800 2x12 combo loaded with greenbacks. The combo sounds so ridiculously good. I usually hate combos, so it fucked my opinions up. I've got my eyes peeled for a cheap one.
 
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