Awesome NAD! Kerry King Prototype amp!

[JerEvil]

So...

On another forum I frequent, someone posted a CL ad with this listing and low and behold... turns out it is a pretty cool amp with an interesting history.

The story is (as best I can tell
Kerry King approached Marshall about a sig JCM800 around the time some of the ones like the ZW and others were coming out. Marshall apparently did not see the value in a Kerry sig at the time. Kerry ended up with with Tony at Krank (I believe based on some input from Dimebag) and Tony built out 3 of these prototypes. Kerry kept #1 and took #2 and 3 out on tour in 2005/2006. It seems Marshall became aware that Kerry did in fact find another amp company to work with and caved. They then used the concept of what Kerry came up with with Krank and developed what became the JCM800 KK.

The biggest differences on paper between the 2 amps are the Krank has a built in BOSS GE-10 (fully bypass-able)which Kerry had been using for years and it also has an effects loop. The Marshall took Kerry's signature EQ curve and applied that via the "Beast" switch. The Marshall has no effects loop. Both are 4x KT88 power section.

Seller had 2 of these. This one he got at a pawn shop in CA and he found the other on a music forum. This one, all the EQ sliders have the little plastic nub on the fronts broken off. EQ still works but I need to get that fixed. Have not had a chance to fire it up yet but will this evening for sure.

Needless to say, I am pretty geeked as I have never played, let alone OWNED any type of JCM800. Based on shots of the 800 Chassis and this it all looks the same outside of proximity of preamp tube layout. Clips to follow.

Side note, one of the KT88's got loosed from its socket in shipping so I will pull the other outside one and test it at half power.

Now, let me tell you about how cool some forums can be. Not only did my inter-buddy go and test this amp, he also PAID for it in advanced and let me send him a check to cover it and the shipping. It gets even better though. Talked with another forumite and he has a full set of KT88's he has no need for and is going to show me how to bias this bitch! I offered him cash, he said, "no" but we DID agree on a nice lunch and a beer!

Fucking Interwebz FTMFW.

 

[cecilbag]

Awesome grab Jeremy. Time to get that bad boy profiled

 

[Mailman1971]

Dude that is so cool.
Would love to check this out.
I owned the Marshall KK and it was such a monster.

 

[JackBootedThug]

fuckin epic....

 

[Oblivion DC]

Badass!! Can't wait to hear some clips.

 

[Hung Huy Tran]

I love some forums!

HNAD!

 

[Racerxrated]

HNAD! Very cool, KK SIG 800 was a great amp that I had 2 years ago. Very nice, could hang with any modded Marshall I've had.

Gotta ask though....

How in the HELL have you never even played an 800???? And this one, while its a similar/identical circuit, ain't a Marshall.

For shits sake brother TRY one!! With a pedal or 2!!! Its the sound of the 80s and beyond!!!

Just saying. Anyway grats again on the amp!

 

[JerEvil]

Thanks y'all. It really started as the listing got posted as the seller had spelled Kerry's name wrong and was generally one of those CL ads people like to poke fun at. Then we were all like... WHY THE HELL HASN'T SOMEONE BOUGHT THIS YET???

Should have mentioned, guy only wanted...


$500!!! Sold 3 pedals in less than 2 hours and covered it!

HNAD! Very cool, KK SIG 800 was a great amp that I had 2 years ago. Very nice, could hang with any modded Marshall I've had.

Gotta ask though....

How in the HELL have you never even played an 800???? And this one, while its a similar/identical circuit, ain't a Marshall.

For shits sake brother TRY one!! With a pedal or 2!!! Its the sound of the 80s and beyond!!!

Just saying. Anyway grats again on the amp!

I know right???? I have tried the 8100/DSL/TSL/Class 5 and old Lead 12 combo. That's it. Nope, not a real Marshall but I think it'll be close enough for govt. work!

 

[Racerxrated]

Thanks y'all. It really started as the listing got posted as the seller had spelled Kerry's name wrong and was generally one of those CL ads people like to poke fun at. Then we were all like... WHY THE HELL HASN'T SOMEONE BOUGHT THIS YET???

Should have mentioned, guy only wanted...


$500!!! Sold 3 pedals in less than 2 hours and covered it!

HNAD! Very cool, KK SIG 800 was a great amp that I had 2 years ago. Very nice, could hang with any modded Marshall I've had.

Gotta ask though....

How in the HELL have you never even played an 800???? And this one, while its a similar/identical circuit, ain't a Marshall.

For shits sake brother TRY one!! With a pedal or 2!!! Its the sound of the 80s and beyond!!!

Just saying. Anyway grats again on the amp!

I know right???? I have tried the 8100/DSL/TSL/Class 5 and old Lead 12 combo. That's it. Nope, not a real Marshall but I think it'll be close enough for govt. work![/quote
Ha ha they're all Marshalls man, gotta give ya some grief. If you find a good one they can be life transforming. OK maybe not but they're fun to play.

 

[Michi]

Awesome Jeremy!

TEH interwbz is bitzhin'!

 

[JerEvil]

Awesome Jeremy!

TEH interwbz is bitzhin'!

Yeah man. A gag thread turned into killer (potentially) gear find.

 

[the4thlast1]

Whats the other forum ?

 

[sg guy]

-cool story, gives ya hope in people-

-i have a 2203KK, bought it brand new, I have tried to get rid of it by A/B-ing it against a bunch of amp's-(some if not all are very, very highly regarded as the best of the high Gainer's,... and every single one of them lost to the KK.

-GOLD LION KT88's- nuff said

 

[JerEvil]

Whats the other forum ?

www.guitarampboard.com

My home away from home!

 

[JerEvil]

-cool story, gives ya hope in people-

-i have a 2203KK, bought it brand new, I have tried to get rid of it by A/B-ing it against a bunch of amp's-(some if not all are very, very highly regarded as the best of the high Gainer's,... and every single one of them lost to the KK.

-GOLD LION KT88's- nuff said

I'll look into those Gold Lion's.

Any chance you could take some guy shots? Would love to compare to the insides of this guy.

 

[sg guy]

-i'll try to get some pics for ya, I'm in the process of putting a choke in it, but I've had terrible luck posting pic's here,..

-cool story, gives ya hope in people-

-i have a 2203KK, bought it brand new, I have tried to get rid of it by A/B-ing it against a bunch of amp's-(some if not all are very, very highly regarded as the best of the high Gainer's,... and every single one of them lost to the KK.

-GOLD LION KT88's- nuff said

I'll look into those Gold Lion's.

Any chance you could take some guy shots? Would love to compare to the insides of this guy.

 

[JerEvil]

-i'll try to get some pics for ya, I'm in the process of putting a choke in it, but I've had terrible luck posting pic's here,..

-cool story, gives ya hope in people-

-i have a 2203KK, bought it brand new, I have tried to get rid of it by A/B-ing it against a bunch of amp's-(some if not all are very, very highly regarded as the best of the high Gainer's,... and every single one of them lost to the KK.

-GOLD LION KT88's- nuff said

I'll look into those Gold Lion's.

Any chance you could take some guy shots? Would love to compare to the insides of this guy.

Does yours not have a choke? I am pretty uneducated when it comes to amps but I THINK this Krank has one.

 

[SandyRavage]

Super jealous you got this!!! Literally one of the most balls to the wall JCM tones I have ever played through when I got to mess around with one of them at the Krank studio years ago.

Congratulations I remember it being super pissed off sounding!!!

 

[sg guy]

-no-

-the MARSHALL 2203KK has a 470 ohm resistor-






quote="JerEvil"]

-i'll try to get some pics for ya, I'm in the process of putting a choke in it, but I've had terrible luck posting pic's here,..

-cool story, gives ya hope in people-

-i have a 2203KK, bought it brand new, I have tried to get rid of it by A/B-ing it against a bunch of amp's-(some if not all are very, very highly regarded as the best of the high Gainer's,... and every single one of them lost to the KK.

-GOLD LION KT88's- nuff said

I'll look into those Gold Lion's.

Any chance you could take some guy shots? Would love to compare to the insides of this guy.

Does yours not have a choke? I am pretty uneducated when it comes to amps but I THINK this Krank has one.[/quote]

 

[rottingcorpse]

Total score! Way jealous. Me wantee.

I have a JCM800KK that Kerry borrowed from me to play the Dime tribute at Ozzfest. Total keeper. My favorite Marshall for sentimental reasons.

I betcha that's the best Krank Tony ever made. I'd love to have something like that in my collection.