Am I alone on this? Re: JCM800's

[ke2]

My JCM800 2203 sounds killer. Do I boost it? Sure. Who cares.

There are tons of guys on here that boost amps that have waaaay more gain (Mesa, ENGL, Framus, etc....) and way less gain (Fenders, Dr. Z's, etc....).

The magic is in the core tone. It cannot be duplicated.

I used to have one. It was sick.
I usually used it with a preamp, like a power amp, but I boosted it with a TS-10 a couple of times. Holy shit what a sound!

 

[Badronald]

My JCM800 2203 sounds killer. Do I boost it? Sure. Who cares.

There are tons of guys on here that boost amps that have waaaay more gain (Mesa, ENGL, Framus, etc....) and way less gain (Fenders, Dr. Z's, etc....).

The magic is in the core tone. It cannot be duplicated.

I used to have one. It was sick.
I usually used it with a preamp, like a power amp, but I boosted it with a TS-10 a couple of times. Holy shit what a sound!

I boost mine with an SD-1, TS-808, Fulldrive II Mosfet, Zendrive or Keeley modded Baked TS-9. Sounds killer with all of them. Think I like the TS-808 the best. Classic.

 

[stratotone]

I just had some guy offer me his Soldano HR50 (I used to own one years ago) for my JCM800.

Told me it was the "ultimate 800". I said, uh, no. My JCM800 is the ultimate 800. Thanks anyway.

Last week I had another guy offer me a Budda SD30 2x12 with road case for my 800. He came over and we plugged them in side by side. I plugged in my Les Paul Custom, and fired them both up. I was extremely disappointed in that Budda. Small, boxy and generic sounding. The JCM800 smoked the Budda up and down. Sounded huge and fat in comparison. Better high end tickle.

I had to tell him no to the trade. Cool kid. He was disappointed. CSB.

Was your JCM800 a 2x12 also, or were you comparing a Budda 2x12 combo vs a head and 4x12 sealed cab? That's usually an instant fail for the combo amp if you're comparing gain tones.

Pete

 

[Badronald]

I just had some guy offer me his Soldano HR50 (I used to own one years ago) for my JCM800.

Told me it was the "ultimate 800". I said, uh, no. My JCM800 is the ultimate 800. Thanks anyway.

Last week I had another guy offer me a Budda SD30 2x12 with road case for my 800. He came over and we plugged them in side by side. I plugged in my Les Paul Custom, and fired them both up. I was extremely disappointed in that Budda. Small, boxy and generic sounding. The JCM800 smoked the Budda up and down. Sounded huge and fat in comparison. Better high end tickle.

I had to tell him no to the trade. Cool kid. He was disappointed. CSB.

Was your JCM800 a 2x12 also, or were you comparing a Budda 2x12 combo vs a head and 4x12 sealed cab? That's usually an instant fail for the combo amp if you're comparing gain tones.

Pete

The Budda was an open back 2x12 combo and yes I ran my head into my closed back Avatar traditional 2x12 cab. I've been playing for 26 years so I know what you are saying. However the Budda did not compare on any level. It was boxy and very generic sounding. I played that amp first so I would have fresh ears. Regardless of low end response created by the cabinet, the gain structure and clean tone of the Marshall was much more pleasing to myself and the Budda owner. He wanted the 800 BAD.

 

[stratotone]

I just had some guy offer me his Soldano HR50 (I used to own one years ago) for my JCM800.

Told me it was the "ultimate 800". I said, uh, no. My JCM800 is the ultimate 800. Thanks anyway.

Last week I had another guy offer me a Budda SD30 2x12 with road case for my 800. He came over and we plugged them in side by side. I plugged in my Les Paul Custom, and fired them both up. I was extremely disappointed in that Budda. Small, boxy and generic sounding. The JCM800 smoked the Budda up and down. Sounded huge and fat in comparison. Better high end tickle.

I had to tell him no to the trade. Cool kid. He was disappointed. CSB.

Was your JCM800 a 2x12 also, or were you comparing a Budda 2x12 combo vs a head and 4x12 sealed cab? That's usually an instant fail for the combo amp if you're comparing gain tones.

Pete

The Budda was an open back 2x12 combo and yes I ran my head into my closed back Avatar traditional 2x12 cab. I've been playing for 26 years so I know what you are saying. However the Budda did not compare on any level. It was boxy and very generic sounding. I played that amp first so I would have fresh ears. Regardless of low end response created by the cabinet, the gain structure and clean tone of the Marshall was much more pleasing to myself and the Budda owner. He wanted the 800 BAD.

You should have plugged the 800 into the budda combo speakers and budda into the sealed 2x12, I think you would have found it interesting. Which model JCM800?

Pete

 

[Badronald]

I just had some guy offer me his Soldano HR50 (I used to own one years ago) for my JCM800.

Told me it was the "ultimate 800". I said, uh, no. My JCM800 is the ultimate 800. Thanks anyway.

Last week I had another guy offer me a Budda SD30 2x12 with road case for my 800. He came over and we plugged them in side by side. I plugged in my Les Paul Custom, and fired them both up. I was extremely disappointed in that Budda. Small, boxy and generic sounding. The JCM800 smoked the Budda up and down. Sounded huge and fat in comparison. Better high end tickle.

I had to tell him no to the trade. Cool kid. He was disappointed. CSB.

Was your JCM800 a 2x12 also, or were you comparing a Budda 2x12 combo vs a head and 4x12 sealed cab? That's usually an instant fail for the combo amp if you're comparing gain tones.

Pete

The Budda was an open back 2x12 combo and yes I ran my head into my closed back Avatar traditional 2x12 cab. I've been playing for 26 years so I know what you are saying. However the Budda did not compare on any level. It was boxy and very generic sounding. I played that amp first so I would have fresh ears. Regardless of low end response created by the cabinet, the gain structure and clean tone of the Marshall was much more pleasing to myself and the Budda owner. He wanted the 800 BAD.

You should have plugged the 800 into the budda combo speakers and budda into the sealed 2x12, I think you would have found it interesting. Which model JCM800?

Pete

We did plug the Budda into the cab. Unplugged the Budda speakers. Better but no likey.

 

[symbolic253]

only playing death metal this amp is not for me but i sure love its tone always wanted one with a mad gain boost

 

[Jimmie]

I love JCM800s. Especially my 2204. It's MY sound. It always cracks me up when guys say they don't have enough gain. You can actually have too much gain fellas.

I feel like getting butthurt and defensive.

I made it clear in the OP that I hate modern high gain amps.

Judging Amps is a lot like judging what we each like in our idea of the perfect women and we're never ever going to agree on that point either. Just remember, the Amp almost always, has a flat top on its head to place yer beverage of choice and its yer call as to when you want to turn her on, or go to another amp for a weekend fling.

 

[CaseyCor]

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 agree with this man's E-pinion

 

[jlbaxe]

Marshall made amps after the JMP100 2203 Really???

Luv my '81 JMP 100. Has great clean tone on Low input. Definitely needs a boost for overdive. My Bogner 20th A XTC red channel is more Marshall to me then my Marshall on high output with the Preamp cranked. But I like my JMP for what it is.

 

[JTyson]

There are times that I love stk 800's, like for adding pure balls to a recorded track. Then, there are times when I hate them. Then again, there are times when I think everything I have sounds terrible