Am I alone on this? Re: JCM800's

[zz666]

Have you tried the 2 channel JCM800's or the Jubilee?

I actually have never plugged into a JCM800, maybe that is why I still like my Jubilee so much

Kind of apples an oranges as the Jubilee has some diode clipping built in.

Agreed, the 2 channel 800's sound horrible to me. Modded or boosted 2203's sound glorious

 

[bravedude2]

 

[guitarslinger]

gene there's gotta be a jcmo 800 in ur eggy stuff somewhere right?
What's the seminar head based from? Are none of ur modules 800 clones of some kind?

Seminar head is pretty much a darkened 800, but with a LOT more gain.

The SL channel B is kind of 800'ey, but it still seems gainier to me.

 

[.homewrecker.]

I love my 2203, but they aren't for everyone.

And saying it doesn't have enough gain

I honestly would put it in the "high gain camp" I almost never run my gain full bore on it, even though I use fuzzes pretty regularly but there's a few songs where I just play straight in and it always sounds great and has just the right amount of gain for me.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I felt like this FOREVER!! Until last weekend, when I got to play TheFYNs 212 combo. That thing was fucking ridiculous. It sounded awesome on its own. I will say that it sounded better with the eq and tube screamer up front, but those werent necessary.

 

[blackba]

Have you tried the 2 channel JCM800's or the Jubilee?

I actually have never plugged into a JCM800, maybe that is why I still like my Jubilee so much

Kind of apples an oranges as the Jubilee has some diode clipping built in.

The 2 channel JCM800's also have Diode clipping, but they are still technically JCM800's. My main point is that if you haven't tried the 2 channel JCM800's, than can you really bash the whole series. I realize that when most people talk about JCM800's they are referring to the single channel versions, but the 2 channel ones have their fans. I have never quite known where to put the silver jubilees, not really a JCM800, but not a JCM900 either. Same with the 6100's, not a JCM900, but then what is it.

There seem to be 2 main type of Marshall people, those that think the JCM800 single channels were Marshall's last amp, and those who still like and consider Marshall amps after the single channel JCM800.

 

[Badronald]

I've played plenty of two channel 800's and don't like them at all. They're useable for the most part, but IME most of them are weak. Clean channel is below average.
My buddy still has a 50 watt from the early 80's. Sounds ok.

I guess I'm in the former category. I use a 2203 and JTM45. I've owned newer Marshalls, DSL series, and they don't compare. IMO.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I haven't really played one I liked.

Even at roaring volumes, they still don't have enough gain. (and that's coming from a guy who HATES modern gain monster amps)

It seems the jcm800 amp tones people like are usually hot-rodded/modded in some way, or they used a boost/od/tubescreamer/etc.. (this might not be true, but it's my presumption)

End of rant.

I like all kinds of amps, but I just have zero gas for a jcm800. They just aren't my bag.

Nothing wrong with that, who cares what other people think.

 

[pioneerprogress]

I've played plenty of two channel 800's and don't like them at all. They're useable for the most part, but IME most of them are weak. Clean channel is below average.
My buddy still has a 50 watt from the early 80's. Sounds ok.

I guess I'm in the former category. I use a 2203 and JTM45. I've owned newer Marshalls, DSL series, and they don't compare. IMO.

I haven't gotten to play a 2 channel 800, but I get the feeling I'd probably like it. I'm not big on the super-clean cleans.

 

[Badronald]

I've played plenty of two channel 800's and don't like them at all. They're useable for the most part, but IME most of them are weak. Clean channel is below average.
My buddy still has a 50 watt from the early 80's. Sounds ok.

I guess I'm in the former category. I use a 2203 and JTM45. I've owned newer Marshalls, DSL series, and they don't compare. IMO.

I haven't gotten to play a 2 channel 800, but I get the feeling I'd probably like it. I'm not big on the super-clean cleans.

I'm not either. I prefer the hairy cleans on my JTM45.

It's the gain on the dual channels that sound weak. They were pretty inconsistent though. One might sounds great, and five might suck.

 

[marvcus]

Different strokes...

I've had three JCM 800 2205s (the 50 watt, 2 channel version). The 1983 had nowhere near enough gain, but the 1986 and 1988 had ample amounts, the 1988 having the most.

Miss that 1986, though...

 

[marvcus]

I've played plenty of two channel 800's and don't like them at all. They're useable for the most part, but IME most of them are weak. Clean channel is below average.
My buddy still has a 50 watt from the early 80's. Sounds ok.

I guess I'm in the former category. I use a 2203 and JTM45. I've owned newer Marshalls, DSL series, and they don't compare. IMO.

I haven't gotten to play a 2 channel 800, but I get the feeling I'd probably like it. I'm not big on the super-clean cleans.

I'm not either. I prefer the hairy cleans on my JTM45.

It's the gain on the dual channels that sound weak. They were pretty inconsistent though. One might sounds great, and five might suck.

There are several incarnations of the 2205, so that might attribute to some of the weak gain experiences.

 

[stratotone]

Later 2 channel JCM800s had more gain. I have an '88 2205 and a silver jubilee, both are dreaded diode clipping amps, but I believe some of our most highly esteemed Marshall modders has some diode clipping in his amps.

...plus if you run a tube screamer or most overdrives in front of your vintage marshall, you're putting Demon Diodes in your pristine tube signal path.

Pete

 

[Chubtone]

I owned an '81 JCM800 2204 all through my band years that I ran in stereo with a 1979 JMP 2204. They both needed to be boosted to get them where I wanted them. I had my 800 modded once in LA, not by one of the well known guys. I disliked it so much I took it back to him a week later with my baggie full of original parts he gave me and begged him to please return it to how it was. Thankfully he did and it sounded great again.

I always boosted them with a Boss SD-1 early on and then in 1985 I got my first Furman PQ-3 on the advice of Amir from Rough Cutt and then my rig became a saturation monster.

These days I have a 1983 2204 and I still fire it up on occasion with the Boss SD-1 and it sounds really cool. Still though for "that" sound, my Quick Rod is way more what I'm looking for.

 

[Chubtone]

Later 2 channel JCM800s had more gain. I have an '88 2205 and a silver jubilee, both are dreaded diode clipping amps, but I believe some of our most highly esteemed Marshall modders has some diode clipping in his amps.

...plus if you run a tube screamer or most overdrives in front of your vintage marshall, you're putting Demon Diodes in your pristine tube signal path.

Pete

I'd trademark that name really quick Pete! Sounds like a great name for an OD pedal. Demon Diodes.

I always diode up my pristine Marshall signal paths.

 

[Anonymous]

Still though for "that" sound, my Quick Rod is way more what I'm looking for.

I'm a big believer in the Quick Rod after playing the one you had at the shop. If I wasn't building my own amp, I'd go after one. For $1200 used, they are a steal...

Steve

 

[Rogue]

Not tons of gain, but cranking them to 8 or above helps that out somewhat.

That said, it depends on what you want...gain or tone.

http://www.divshare.com/download/2895304-742

Brothers in Arms track.

That's serious tone (coupled with a fantastic player) and I doubt you can get it with higher gain amps.

 

[Chubtone]

Still though for "that" sound, my Quick Rod is way more what I'm looking for.

I'm a big believer in the Quick Rod after playing the one you had at the shop. If I wasn't building my own amp, I'd go after one. For $1200 used, they are a steal...

Steve

For $1850 new they're a great deal too. Especially compared to everything else that's out there. Seriously though the newest ones with the volume knob on the loop are very cool. I wish my 2007 had that feature because it really helps for low volume playing.

But back to the JCM800..... I'm going to fire mine up tonight. JMR is always bugging me about mine saying it's the best JCM800 he's ever heard. I offered to sell it to him once and he didn't have the money. Then some guy from a local band came in and bought it. I regretted it the next day. He came back in about 2 months later saying that it didn't have enough gain and would I be willing to trade it for a JCM900 we had in. "OK, I can do that for you" as I was jumping up and down in my brain but keeping a straight face because I was so happy to be getting my amp back. And that guy still loves that 900 so it's all good.

 

[Anonymous]

Not tons of gain, but cranking them to 8 or above helps that out somewhat.

Would certainly help you and anyone within a football field's distance get deaf somewhat.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Seriously though the newest ones with the volume knob on the loop are very cool. I wish my 2007 had that feature because it really helps for low volume playing.

I could easily put one in for you if you want...

Steve