Hmm, stock JMP 2203

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Jofipe

Jofipe

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So I snatched up this 1983 JMP 2203..."last year model of the JMP" I havent actually bought it yet, cause the seller was nice enought to let me try it out for a week before purchasing. he wants 1.200usd for it.

Anyway... I always though that pedals pushing a 2203 was a bit meh sounding, thats why I went the modded Marshall route in the first place. However, running an Okko Diablo into this thing just has an amazing quality to it.. It's not as tight and pushy in the lowend as my friedman though more open, and not as well defined as my KK++ but it has a certain rawness and chew that the other two doesnt have... notes just "jump" out of the fretboard. Please tell me i'm an idiot so I don't have to sell off the friedman to get a stock JMP2203
:confused:
 
Jofipe":3m5owles said:
So I snatched up this 1983 JMP 2203..."last year model of the JMP" I havent actually bought it yet, cause the seller was nice enought to let me try it out for a week before purchasing. he wants 1.200usd for it.

Anyway... I always though that pedals pushing a 2203 was a bit meh sounding, thats why I went the modded Marshall route in the first place. However, running an Okko Diablo into this thing just has an amazing quality to it.. It's not as tight and pushy in the lowend as my friedman though more open, and not as well defined as my KK++ but it has a certain rawness and chew that the other two doesnt have... notes just "jump" out of the fretboard. Please tell me i'm an idiot so I don't have to sell off the friedman to get a stock JMP2203
:confused:
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I believe the last jmp's were in early 81, they were 800's by 83 I believe. Do u have some pics or number and someone could tell u for sure. Yeah, the right 2203 and a good pedal can sound pretty nice. I prefer to have the amp crunched up by itself and use the pedal as a boost , that way the Amos's voicing doesn't change but gets more balls.
 
I've got a '79 JMP 212 combo that is stock. I toyed with the idea of modding it but I sounds killer as is. When I'm in the need of more gain I plug into my TOV or VH4S :D

Martin
 
It is definitely an '83 model. It even says 2203 83 on the marshall stickers on the inside. I guess they hard parts left for the JMP's still in 83. Does any one know if they were sold at blowout prices then? I couldn't imagine, cause it was a different time in history when marketing about building good stuff, not cheat the customer.

foto3_zpsf9ca51bc.jpg~original

foto2_zps1502b7e8.jpg~original
 
Stack a Koko boost and an overdrive pedal and stand back. I did that at a local store here and the owner refused to sell the head. It was his... :doh:
 
A stock 2203 is definitely cool, but not all of them are equally great. Sometimes you could go through a dozen of the same model before finding that really special sounding one, it's mainly due to poor tolerances on components/transformers etc.. so they vary a lot.

So if you're lucky enough to find that 'magical' sounding amp... I say keep it :)
 
I prefer the stock with no pedals over any of the modifications I have tried. .... If I do want more gain like stated above - I just use a other amp.
 
I came from playing most of the popular high gain production/boutique/modded marshall amps throughout the 90's and most of the 00's to (except for effects loop) stock JMP's and 800.

Straight in for classic rock crunch, and layered pedals for my "high gain". It's just personal preference. :lol: :LOL:

I loved the BE-100 that Se7en was kind enough to let me play though, would make a great companion to my Marshall's. :thumbsup:
 
Yeah, '83 ;) Last of the kind.

just gave it a go and it does sound great!! I can see that the tubes are in rather new, i think it sports chinese 12ax7's. Also he said the filter caps had been changed recently, but they dont have a brand on them. "plain black with values engraved in gold". Maybe I should just put in F&T's and see what happens.

I'm really starting to think I need to keep this amp, problem is I can't play all these amps, so one needs to go haha.

Boosted the amp has a bit more of a sticky character in the top end than my modded ones, looads of harmonics... low end is a bit spongier/loose, but absolutely super easy and fun to play. Totally 80's heavy metal.
it sounds like this haha:
 


Here's a stock 78' JMP 2203 thru some Blackbacks. I recently sold the amp.
 
MrDan666":15958c6k said:
A stock 2203 is definitely cool, but not all of them are equally great. Sometimes you could go through a dozen of the same model before finding that really special sounding one, it's mainly due to poor tolerances on components/transformers etc.. so they vary a lot.

So if you're lucky enough to find that 'magical' sounding amp... I say keep it :)
Click to expand...

this.. mime was a bit of a dog but with a few tricks these are the cat's meow! lower NFR, on the 8 ohm tap, 2-3 small preamp value changes and bam! with a med to hot pup you hardly need a boost. if you want a boost, these respond great to cheap od's. Not all are magic but most can be made to sound pretty damn magical!
 
charveldan":37yorybh said:


Here's a stock 78' JMP 2203 thru some Blackbacks. I recently sold the amp.
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love that sound. sounds like it almost plays itself!
so greasy sounding....
 
What do you guys recommend to make one of these tip top sounding in stock condition? Anything on the board that needs to be changed? Bias caps maybe..
 
throw a Boss SD-1, or Tube screamer in front. They take OD and boost fine in front.
 
Jofipe":1w1t2rbq said:
What do you guys recommend to make one of these tip top sounding in stock condition? Anything on the board that needs to be changed? Bias caps maybe..
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What has worked for me and sounds bitchin.. like the amp with a bit more bite without changing the overall effect:

V1A - see that 10k cap, bypass it with either a .47, .68, .1 uf sozo or mustard. ( I like .1) You can drop the 10 k resistor to 4.7k as well but i found it buzzy. Def don't just drop it from 10k to 4.7k. You will want a bypass cap either way in my opinion. I just thought it sounded better.

V2A - Bypass the 820 ohm cathode resistor (V2A) w/ a .68uF cap in parallel. Tad more mid crunch. You can also up that 820 ohm resistor to 1 or 1.5 k. Those early CC resistors varied in what they actually measured so maybe some amps had more mojo as the value drifted and thus gain went up.

NFR- 100k in jcm800's/2204 in most cases..I like to drop it to 47k. A little looser less grit/tight buzz. While you are at it, move that NFR wire off the 4 ohm tap and onto the 8 ohm tap.

Depending on whether you like it at lower levels, snip that bright cap. Some amps it works perfectly, other amps, it needs snipping. Not sure why but be it component types used in a particular build or other, sometimes it needs snipping.

There it is. Bam. You'll love it. With the right pickups that is probably all you will need. For a little kick in the ass though, a smidget of boost for leads.

Now if that still isn't enough, try this out. http://www.sonicdeli.com/ThunderTweakWe ... Fuel50.pdf The values seem interesting but they also seem to push the first two stages to the limit! Can't promise it wouldn't be buzzsaw. I've never tried it as i like the formula above best. Amazing how simple and good this formula sounds. Sure the BE's of the world might sound better but this won't cost you 3000$+ , it will cost you 3$ in parts. (nothing against the BE-100, wish i had cash for one!!)
 
MrDan666":19vuzfdu said:
A stock 2203 is definitely cool, but not all of them are equally great. Sometimes you could go through a dozen of the same model before finding that really special sounding one, it's mainly due to poor tolerances on components/transformers etc.. so they vary a lot.

So if you're lucky enough to find that 'magical' sounding amp... I say keep it :)
Click to expand...

The only thing that is consistent with old Marshall amps - is the inconsistency! Gibson took up this trait as well.... :thumbsup:
 
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