Better Build Quality Mark V or JVM410?

[MistaGuitah]

Which amp has better build quality/reliability: JVM410 or Mark V? I know what the cursory responses will be, but I am asking the people who know amp circuitry why they think either might be better.

 

[JMP2203]

the mark v have a bit better build quality BUT still is a very complicated unit with lots of switching that can fail, from the mark series is the one that fail the most, having said that, i like the jvm more specialy after a couple of easy mods

 

[NewWorldMan]

Mark V, hands down. If you get a JVM, stay away from the first-ish year models. They have these "floating" pots, and it freaked me out every time I turned a knob.

 

[311boogieman]

Mark

 

[MistaGuitah]

Mark V, hands down. If you get a JVM, stay away from the first-ish year models. They have these "floating" pots, and it freaked me out every time I turned a knob.

Thanks. That's the first I've heard of this. I think the JVM sounds incredible but I have always wondered about the build quality. Have the newer built ones been improved? I always thought that turning the knobs felt like they had a little too much give, but didn't know the pots weren't mounted stably. I thought it was just the knobs.

 

[NewWorldMan]

Thanks. That's the first I've heard of this. I think the JVM sounds incredible but I have always wondered about the build quality. Have the newer built ones been improved? I always thought that turning the knobs felt like they had a little too much give, but didn't know the pots weren't mounted stably. I thought it was just the knobs.

I had one when they first came out, 2007 or so (you'll have to double check the release year). The pots weren't mounted to the front at all. You could grab the knob and literally wiggle the shaft all around with a little effort. I had another around 2009-2010, and it was more solid than the first year model. Pots were secure on that one. They apparently started securing them after the first year or so of production.

 

[MistaGuitah]

Thanks. That's the first I've heard of this. I think the JVM sounds incredible but I have always wondered about the build quality. Have the newer built ones been improved? I always thought that turning the knobs felt like they had a little too much give, but didn't know the pots weren't mounted stably. I thought it was just the knobs.

I had one when they first came out, 2007 or so (you'll have to double check the release year). The pots weren't mounted to the front at all. You could grab the knob and literally wiggle the shaft all around with a little effort. I had another around 2009-2010, and it was more solid than the first year model. Pots were secure on that one. They apparently started securing them after the first year or so of production.

That seems like such a fundamental oversight that you have to wonder how it ended up in production that way.

 

[311boogieman]

It was more than just the pots though (which are pretty well documented on the web).

I know plenty of dude who love their JVMs and really dig the tone. I just happen to be in the other camp. I always felt like there were little quality issues - like of like with a DSL or TSL. It just doesn't live up to what it is supposed to be. Looking at the gut shots does not give me a good feeling. Never really dug the overdrive tones either but that is just me. I know there will be people here that disagree with this but that's OK.

Edit: I've played 5 or 6 different ones now and played them loud. Cleans and OD1 green and such are nice, I'll give 'em that.

If I were to buy a JVM, it would have to be a 205 and it would have to be used.

 

[D-Rock]

Thanks. That's the first I've heard of this. I think the JVM sounds incredible but I have always wondered about the build quality. Have the newer built ones been improved? I always thought that turning the knobs felt like they had a little too much give, but didn't know the pots weren't mounted stably. I thought it was just the knobs.

I had one when they first came out, 2007 or so (you'll have to double check the release year). The pots weren't mounted to the front at all. You could grab the knob and literally wiggle the shaft all around with a little effort. I had another around 2009-2010, and it was more solid than the first year model. Pots were secure on that one. They apparently started securing them after the first year or so of production.

That seems like such a fundamental oversight that you have to wonder how it ended up in production that way.

My 2203KK was the same. I didn't like the flimsy dials or the amps tone so I sold it.

My 210H pots are fine and has always sounded great. Key is proper master and channel volume level settings. (High master, low channel) This doesn't just affect the volume, but changes how the overdrive/gain sounds/feels.

 

[JimAnsell]

i know i'm a boogie fan boy, but isn't it safe to say that literally any mesa product is built with higher quality everything than any current production marshall product?

 

[napalmdeath]

I had no issues with the JVM205H, (owned 3). Quality was fine. FX loop was terrible, not sure how the 410 is, but for multi FX in the loop to work right, I had to run 100% wet, and when you do that, it sucks the life out of the amp. Took away low end, and punch. HATE that loop. And, it was BY FAR, the noisiest amp I ever owned. Noise gate would be mandatory. White noise, and MAJOR hiss.

My opinion is, if you want great Marshall tones and don't need a gazillion channels, there's better amps. If you do want multiple channels, look at the Satriani 410.

 

[fretout]

i know i'm a boogie fan boy, but isn't it safe to say that literally any mesa product is built with higher quality everything than any current production marshall product?

+1

 

[D-Rock]

I had no issues with the JVM205H, (owned 3). Quality was fine. FX loop was terrible, not sure how the 410 is, but for multi FX in the loop to work right, I had to run 100% wet, and when you do that, it sucks the life out of the amp. Took away low end, and punch. HATE that loop. And, it was BY FAR, the noisiest amp I ever owned. Noise gate would be mandatory. White noise, and MAJOR hiss.

My opinion is, if you want great Marshall tones and don't need a gazillion channels, there's better amps. If you do want multiple channels, look at the Satriani 410.

Did you have issues with both the parallel and serial loop settings?

I honestly only used my JVMs loop few times. When I was playing that amp a lot more prior, I wasn't using any pedals. Just a gate and a tuner up front.

The past 6 months+ I've got the pedal bug again but I've been using my 5153 and JSX loops predominantly. Which are both working out great so far.

 

[guitarmike]

I owned a 2007 jvm 410 for 4-5 years and had no issues with it. I used a gmajor in the loop. If I remember correctly the noise issue had more to do with the quality of cables you used, cheap cables induced noise. I never had the gain up over 4, at that point it just got squishy on od 1 and 2.