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joepete77
New member
For some reason most all of the dsl 100 heads I have used suck, also hate the Jcm 900 dual reverb heads most of the time, just buzzy sounding like a bad pedal.
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grrr_me_scary
Well-known member
I had two red JCM 800 2203 model amps that were killer sounding for rhythms and leads, sucked for cleans on the second channel, so all I could ever do was turn down the volume knob on my guitar for cleans.
Sold it eventually because the tolex turned from red to pink on both of them which made it the only reason they had to be sold plus I was told the cost to get it retolexed was like $800.
I missed those amps for a long time.
I was new to playing on Marshalls in my early years and I had just gone from a single 50 watt Marshall that had no gain in it and I had to use a distortion box to get any gain then my roadie forgot one night to bring the distortion box to a show for me.
There I was playing the first two songs without any distortion because I didn't have a distortion box (and they were Metallica covers).
Then some guy from the crowd asked me why the hell was I playing without any gain and I said I didn't have my distortion box because the roadie forgot it.
He jumps up on stage and turns the gain knob up then jumps back into the crowd.
I was completely blown away.
In fact, everyone in the band and crowd was blown away.
They turned and looked at my amp and had the stupidest looks on their faces because we were all hearing something we never heard before - A massive wall of sound!!!!
All 4 Marshall cabs were being pushed with incredible high gain!!!
I only had the amps for about a week and I was knew to high gain amps so I didn't know anything about the knobs except for what was in common to my 50 watt Marshall.
Well, I tossed the orange Boss distortion box into the trash later that night and never looked back.
Actually, my roadie dug it out of the trash and took it home, lol.
Sold it eventually because the tolex turned from red to pink on both of them which made it the only reason they had to be sold plus I was told the cost to get it retolexed was like $800.
I missed those amps for a long time.
I was new to playing on Marshalls in my early years and I had just gone from a single 50 watt Marshall that had no gain in it and I had to use a distortion box to get any gain then my roadie forgot one night to bring the distortion box to a show for me.
There I was playing the first two songs without any distortion because I didn't have a distortion box (and they were Metallica covers).
Then some guy from the crowd asked me why the hell was I playing without any gain and I said I didn't have my distortion box because the roadie forgot it.
He jumps up on stage and turns the gain knob up then jumps back into the crowd.
I was completely blown away.
In fact, everyone in the band and crowd was blown away.
They turned and looked at my amp and had the stupidest looks on their faces because we were all hearing something we never heard before - A massive wall of sound!!!!
All 4 Marshall cabs were being pushed with incredible high gain!!!
I only had the amps for about a week and I was knew to high gain amps so I didn't know anything about the knobs except for what was in common to my 50 watt Marshall.
Well, I tossed the orange Boss distortion box into the trash later that night and never looked back.
Actually, my roadie dug it out of the trash and took it home, lol.
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grrr_me_scary
Well-known member
These days I use a JMP1 in a killer stereo rack set-up (Marshall EL34 100/100) along with an AXE FX II, Mesa Mark V or Diezel Herbert (depending upon the mood).
I have 4 JMP1's where one is a Voodoo Amps mod which sounds brutal and I like to switch out the preamp tubes in all of them because I found they all sound different from each other even if you place the same preamp tubes in them along with the same settings.
I don't think I will ever leave a JMP1 out of my rigs even if I went to no power amp (I would use an A/B option into the front of the Mark V or Herbert and fx loop return with the JMP1).
At least the cleans are way better than that early 2203 I had in those starting days of music for me.
The Voodoo Lab JMP1 mod did improve the clean sound as well so it's workable but I use the AXE FX II a lot for my cleans.
I have 4 JMP1's where one is a Voodoo Amps mod which sounds brutal and I like to switch out the preamp tubes in all of them because I found they all sound different from each other even if you place the same preamp tubes in them along with the same settings.
I don't think I will ever leave a JMP1 out of my rigs even if I went to no power amp (I would use an A/B option into the front of the Mark V or Herbert and fx loop return with the JMP1).
At least the cleans are way better than that early 2203 I had in those starting days of music for me.
The Voodoo Lab JMP1 mod did improve the clean sound as well so it's workable but I use the AXE FX II a lot for my cleans.
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paulyc
Well-known member
I also like 75 to 80 Marshall master volume heads with either a TS 808, TS9, SD1, or ZW44 in front of it (with or without an eq of some kind)...
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guitarman967
New member
My 81 JCM 800. That amp made me a believer. I never got the 800 hype until I got this amp. I had repaired a few later year models and they always lacked gain and were harsh no matter what tubes I put in. (current production tubes mind you).
Maybe the earlier ones are really are different. Heard my first year 800 is the same circuit as the 70's JMP's
Maybe the earlier ones are really are different. Heard my first year 800 is the same circuit as the 70's JMP's
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Nilo
New member
2204 for sure. Love those amps. With a Lar/Mar PPIMV it has everything you'll ever need. Great Van Halen Brown sounds right there. Though i have mine modded quite a bit. I have a great tube buffered FX loop, Some added gain, slightly rounded top end and the previously mentioned PPIMV. Best sounding amp I've ever heard and I've tried a LOT!
The 1987 has a wonderful attack and "thump". But is ridiciously loud and attenuators seem to always steal those qualitys away.
The 1987 has a wonderful attack and "thump". But is ridiciously loud and attenuators seem to always steal those qualitys away.
mooncobra
Well-known member
In around 1993 I scored the 2 channel JCM 800 from Black Market Music in LA. I think it is the 2205. Anyhow, I got the head and matching cab for $800 out the door!! It was a really killer Marshall, it sounded so much better than any other stock 2205 I have ever come across. It was a fire breather but it was not modded. I thought it might have been and had it checked out and found out it was totally stock. I think Black Market Music is gone now? They used to also have a store in SF and NYC> I bought three Les Pauls from the San Francisco store for $2400 out the door in 1996. An 80 Standard, 90 Standard and I believe 84 Custom. They were all priced between $850 and $1000 and got a killer 3 guitar deal for paying in cash.