Chasing a Specific hotrodded jcm800 sound

[Achilles]

Hi guys,
I'm in the hunt for a Specific hotrodded jcm800 tone.

This description is spot on:
"My favorite Marshall tone was from an OD boosted 2204 with KT88 power tubes. Thick, cutting and tight with just enough saturation to make it modern and bouncy but still with plenty of that old school Marshall vibe".

Zakk Wylde's tone is what it comes to mind.
A sound similar to this at 0:47 and afterwards

Is there an amp that can give me this tone but with quality and reliability ?
Something that doesn't require modding or me to buy an old (or reissue for that matter) jcm.
I have a mesa mark v and a recto reborn at the moment and just searching for THAT Marshall sound.

 

[Jack Luminous]

Why not a reissue JCM ? I got that exact tone with my Les Paul and 2203 (not a reissue though) and a run-o-the-mill SD1 with level at 3 o'clock, drive at 9 o'clock and tone right in the middle. No mod needed. I never had any reliability problem with old JCMs either. I have two.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Also don't forget the most important lesson of all... the sound you are chasing/referencing, is also the sound of the mic preamp, board, EQ, and studio that this amp went through. So yes, any good 2204 reissue or original boosted, will give you this tone. Wylde also further juiced his rig with active EMG pickups so consider that too.

 

[Devin]

If that description is spot on, then get a 2204 and boost it


2204 is one of my favorite amps ever!!

 

[Racerxrated]

Honestly, that’s an easy one..like others have said just get a 2204 and have the bias circuit accept 6550s; KT 88 are a pop in replacement for 6550s. Many pedals out there to try for this type of tone.
Another newer Marshall is the Jubilee ri 2555x; you can put ANY octal tube combo in that you want..all KT88, 2 6550/2 KT88, 2EL34/2 KT90, etc. That amp has more saturation than any stock 2203/4 and will get you modern pretty fast with the abundant low end it has..plus it has the most responsive eq on any Marshall made.

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

Also don't forget the most important lesson of all... the sound you are chasing/referencing, is also the sound of the mic preamp, board, EQ, and studio that this amp went through. So yes, any good 2204 reissue or original boosted, will give you this tone. Wylde also further juiced his rig with active EMG pickups so consider that too.

Yeah don't discount the high output pickups. Makes a huge difference

 

[paulyc]

There are actually three other things for Zakk's tone...EVM 12 L speakers, Yamaha SPX90 symphonic chorus, and Aphex Aural Exciter with the Big Bottom circuit. The EMGs are not critical to it at all IMO...

 

[napalmdeath]

Or, try a Splawn Nitro.

 

[Achilles]

Hi there, thanks for all the answers so far!
It's a bit luxury for me to have one amp for one sound. If That sound existed on a channel of a channel switcher, that would be great !
One other thing, I live in Europe, so an amp like splawn for example, it's hard to find.
Is there any channel switcher that could give me that sound for starters (and maybe a modded plexi sound on another channel)?

 

[Devin]

Maybe check out the Marshall JVM Satriani

 

[ClintN667]

ceriatone is a good option too

 

[LP Freak]

Lol..that movie was awesome. Jennifer Aniston....yum

 

[311boogieman]

No offense but the video example was not a very good one. Honestly, there are a lot of amps out there that can sound like that.

Something that doesn't require modding or me to buy an old (or reissue for that matter) jcm.

Check out Splawn Amplification.

 

[skullfxr]

No offense but the video example was not a very good one. Honestly, there are a lot of amps out there that can sound like that.

Something that doesn't require modding or me to buy an old (or reissue for that matter) jcm.

Check out Splawn Amplification.

This. Splawn promod or Splawn Nitro KT88.

 

[ClintN667]

Splawn posted a link to a 2019 Quick Rod for 1650 on facebook. Thats a damn good deal. Personally I would go Nitro. You could get a 50 watt Supersport with EL34 for 1500 new I think

 

[Achilles]

I don't really like the tone I'm hearing from ceriatone amps. I don't fancy Splawn either.
Isn't for example, a Boogie stiletto ii, a bogner Überschall (version ?), a vht and the likes, gonna give me what I need and then some?

 

[Racerxrated]

I don't really like the tone I'm hearing from ceriatone amps. I don't fancy Splawn either.
Isn't for example, a Boogie stiletto ii, a bogner Überschall (version ?), a vht and the likes, gonna give me what I need and then some?

If you’re after a JCM 800 tone, then grab an 800. None of those amps you mentioned have the mids and cut of an 800. The Stiletto might be close but the high end is pretty harsh and hard to dial out. The rest aren’t very close at all. The VHT Deliverance might be something you like, but it doesn’t have Marshall mids. Great amp though, and the closest in the VHT line to what you’re looking for...but...
Still not an 800.

 

[MrDowntown]

Lol..that movie was awesome. Jennifer Aniston....yum

this thread now has my utmost attention!

 

[Jack Luminous]

Sincerely, I don't really get all the questions. A used 800 head can certainly be had for less than 800 bucks in Europe. VHT, Bogner or Mesa won't give you that tone. At all. Not even close. And they would be much more expensive.

 

[311boogieman]

Just pointing out that the OP said he didn't want to mod anything and he didn't want to buy an old JCM.

Not trying to take away from the concept of buying a legacy/legendary 800. Mostly it is an ideal amp for 'most' of the stuff we all listen to and like.

But, Shawn Taylor nails it on his Splawn Quick Rod