Can you get a JCM 800-esque tone with a 5150?

[JakeAC5253]

Just wondering. I am the first person who will say A sounds like A, B sounds like B, but in all honesty is it possible to get in the ballpark?

 

[Ancient Alien]

no

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

Might need an EQ to do so?

 

[Badronald]

Not really. No.

 

[chunktone]

If you want JCM 800 tone, just get a JCM 800.

 

[droptrd]

Got my 5150 less than a couple months ago. Im still messing with it like crazy. But that being said, Id say no. Dont get me wrong, I love my 5150. It has recently sent my Mark III to the shelf. The 5150 doesnt have very many tones in my experiance so far.

 

[Ventura]

If you want JCM 800 tone, just get a JCM 800.

+1

Just like all them cats seeking that sacred "plexi tone"... BUY A PLEXI!!

No offence m'man, but hell, why not get some more modern tones from your 5150 than simply old school shred? I mean, can you imagine what all the plexiheads back in the 70's woulda done had they been able to lay their hands on a 5150?

V.

 

[Bishop5150]

Probably not. I traded in my JCM 800 in 93' to buy my 5150. In the 17 years I've had it it's never sounded like a Jcm 800 but I've never tried to make it sound like that though. The 5150 is good at certain things. Hard Rock and Metal. Thats about it. But that's not a bad thing though. If you play blues or jazz or something like that then yes it would be a bad thing. But for Hard Rock and Metal I think it's a great amp.

 

[JakeAC5253]

I sort of expected replies like that. I am just trying to see if it has a more appropriate crunch tone to compliment the high gain channel. Plus I listen to a lot of Mastodon and they only use straight JCM 800. I can't get one though because a. they are extremely expensive and b. they sound like a Tiny Terror at bedroom volumes

Here is what I am thinking. Run two EQ pedals to help the amp condition the sound more. Run one in front of the amp to cut the 125-250 bands to lighten up the low mids a little, then maybe run a Maxon OD808 into the amp. Run the rhythm channel gain down to pretty much abysmal or light crunch (crunch mode?). Then put another EQ in the FX loop to a wide boost in the 2-6k region. After all this crank the master volume enough to get it breathing.

No go? I don't have one so I can't try it. Anyone with a 5150 and 2 EQs want to try it? I would be very grateful

 

[Spaceboy]

Whhyyyy? The 5150 sounds so much better than the JCM 800.

 

[ke2]

I`ve never tried it, but I read in a magazine that the crunch mode was a nice hot-rodded Marshall type sound. Maybe give that a try?

 

[Greazygeo]

You can get it in the ballpark. Explore the crunch mode of the Rhythm channel its in there.

 

[Roland]

Stock, NO.

This is what I did.

unmodded 5150 Combo

Furman PQ3 in the loop
Groove Tubes 6L6 9's Rating
12DW7 V1
RFT V2
Tung Sol V3
12AXW7A V4 V5
2 G12K100's

I think what I'm running is the closest any one can get with out modding it. I had a JCM 800 here in my studio over night and I A/B'd them to get my 5150 to sound as close as possible. Infact I sold my beloved JCM 800 for my 5150 combo. I was able to hit the JCM2000 DSL tone head on with added articulation. Maybe with more time I could have gotten it dead on, but I say it was close enough being that it's not a JCM 800. IMO, it's the presence and the way it alters the tone that's keeping it from being dead on JCM 800. Maybe with a PQ6 I could get it to sound the same.

I do believe it's very fucking possible to do, I tried, I'm not guessing or blowing hot air out my ass.

 

[droptrd]

I sort of expected replies like that. I am just trying to see if it has a more appropriate crunch tone to compliment the high gain channel. Plus I listen to a lot of Mastodon and they only use straight JCM 800. I can't get one though because a. they are extremely expensive and b. they sound like a Tiny Terror at bedroom volumes

Here is what I am thinking. Run two EQ pedals to help the amp condition the sound more. Run one in front of the amp to cut the 125-250 bands to lighten up the low mids a little, then maybe run a Maxon OD808 into the amp. Run the rhythm channel gain down to pretty much abysmal or light crunch (crunch mode?). Then put another EQ in the FX loop to a wide boost in the 2-6k region. After all this crank the master volume enough to get it breathing.

No go? I don't have one so I can't try it. Anyone with a 5150 and 2 EQs want to try it? I would be very grateful

Try a Mesa Stiletto

 

[sgill72]

try the normal input. bright switch in.

set the gain around 11/12 o'clock. bass at 3 o'clock. mids around 10/11. high around 2. post around 4.5. (gets the power amp kicking alittle) finally...put the resonance around 9 o'clock, and the presence around 9/10 o'clock.

best sound I ever got out of that amp was with those settings. for some reason, the normal input seemed to be warmer and less modern to me.

 

[Tawlks]

try the normal input. bright switch in.

set the gain around 11/12 o'clock. bass at 3 o'clock. mids around 10/11. high around 2. post around 4.5. (gets the power amp kicking alittle) finally...put the resonance around 9 o'clock, and the presence around 9/10 o'clock.

best sound I ever got out of that amp was with those settings. for some reason, the normal input seemed to be warmer and less modern to me.

I wish my 5150 II had 2 inputs.. the cleans are a world above the high gain input cleans IMO.

 

[Ventura]

One thing not mentioned thus far in the thread is that the volume control on yer ax will assist a great deal in getting you at least somewhere into this so-sought-after sonic realm. Roll it back a bit, does wonders.

Or, conversely, crank the piss outta yer 5150 and make awesome sounds with it!!!!

V.

 

[Tawlks]

One thing not mentioned thus far in the thread is that the volume control on yer ax Roll it back a bit, does wonders.

Or, conversely, crank the piss outta yer 5150 and make awesome sounds with it!!!!

V.

Words of wisdom..

 

[Rob R]

6534+

 

[messenger]

I thought the crunch channel with the bright switch engaged was close enough.