If you bought a Marshall 2203 new in 1984, what brand tubes?

[gybe!]

So I just picked up an '84 2203 half stack (an original classic limited edition with checkerboard cab loaded with greenies) for an awesome price. However, on further inspection it appears to have the original tubes (power and pre), so I am curious what these may be? Any ideas?


And this amp is slated to go to dave Friedman for a kitchen sink mod!

 

[gybe!]

It's el34s btw

 

[steve_k]

My 78 Super Bass had the original GE 6550's in it. Hell, the damn things still work too!

I have an 83 JCM 800 but it was retubed when I picked it up. So, not sure about that one.


Steve

 

[Greazygeo]

most likely they are / were Siemens el34's.

 

[Greazygeo]

most likely they are / were Siemens el34's.

Or GE 6550's

Not new in '84 I don't think. A friend of mine bought a new 2203 JCM 800 in '84 and it came with EL34s. He was going on how big a deal it was to have EL34's in it....I was like, ok cool. Like I knew much of anything back then. Well i did ask how much for his old one "68 Super tremolo....

 

[Code001]

my 1983 2204 had 6550's stock, with the 6550 sticker on the frame.

Same here. Same year, same model, same tubes.

 

[Greazygeo]

I was under the impression that they could have had either, my 1983 2204 had 6550's stock, with the 6550 sticker on the frame.

I know 82 still had 6550's. Another friend of his bought a 2203 that did have 6550's stock. Pretty sure in 84 they switched...course at that time my 69 SL was running 3 6550s and one 6L6.

 

[Greazygeo]

Nice... how did the 6L6 sound I have a bunch of 6CA7's and 6L6's and they are very close in appearance. The 6CA7 has the two holes in the plates, the 6L6 doesnt. The bottles are the exact same size though (I just pulled out a few of each to compare)

I can guarantee that Marshall had no consistency so who really knows Personally, I am leaning toward the Siemens EL34's since they were still being made at the time and the GE were at or near the end of production. I think the Owenboro Ky plant was the last plant making the GE tubes.

At the time I didnt know anything other than I wanted a Marshall head. A guy I knew had this particular head for sale so I bought it. It would work fine then once in awhile blow a fuse for no reason....eventually took it to a tech and found out about the 6l6 Now I'd probably have all kinds of blown up stuff doing something like that.

When I bought the 68 Super trem from my friend I ordered a set of EL34's from Marshall....this would have been '89. They are Siemens (still in the amp too). My '72 50 watt Marshall had 6Ca7's in it (found out later). That was my first amp. It blew up all the time Sounded good when it worked.

I think you are right about the KY plant and the GE's. I still need to get some 6ca7's for my 1959RR one of these days.

 

[gybe!]

Here is the amp in question, it could possibly be an 85. The tubes are silk screened Marshall, thats all I know at this point. I am in love with the cab though, it sounds amazing Now I can work full force on selling my splawn cab as I don`t need it anymore!

And a full family shot, yes, my music room is incredibly messy. Haven`t had much time for organizing since buying the house and tackling yard work and remodeling!

 

[SFW]

I'm not sure about your tubes, but I just wanted to say that you have a very nice looking JCM800.

 

[70strathead]

Nice... how did the 6L6 sound I have a bunch of 6CA7's and 6L6's and they are very close in appearance. The 6CA7 has the two holes in the plates, the 6L6 doesnt. The bottles are the exact same size though (I just pulled out a few of each to compare)

I can guarantee that Marshall had no consistency so who really knows Personally, I am leaning toward the Siemens EL34's since they were still being made at the time and the GE were at or near the end of production. I think the Owenboro Ky plant was the last plant making the GE tubes.

At the time I didnt know anything other than I wanted a Marshall head. A guy I knew had this particular head for sale so I bought it. It would work fine then once in awhile blow a fuse for no reason....eventually took it to a tech and found out about the 6l6 Now I'd probably have all kinds of blown up stuff doing something like that.

When I bought the 68 Super trem from my friend I ordered a set of EL34's from Marshall....this would have been '89. They are Siemens (still in the amp too). My '72 50 watt Marshall had 6Ca7's in it (found out later). That was my first amp. It blew up all the time Sounded good when it worked.

I think you are right about the KY plant and the GE's. I still need to get some 6ca7's for my 1959RR one of these days.

I was using the Siemens EL34's for a long time and really liked them until i started using the variac all the time to the point where they just crapped out on me. I have some old GE 6CA7's that i may experiement on one of my heads when i get around to it. My 82' JCM came with 6550's by the way, but i think they changed to EL34's in 85 or something..i forget.

 

[JLeurck]

I read some time ago that during the JCM800 era, it depended on where you bought the amp. In Europe, the JCM800s were EL34 amps (I can partially verify - I bought a new JCM800 combo in '83 when I was stationed in Germany...Siemens EL34s in it), and the ones imported to the U.S. market by Unicord (the American distributor) were 6550-powered amps. What I can't remember is why. Maybe stateside tube availability?

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Take a pic of the tubes...

+1 If you can get some zoomed in pics of the tubes I can tell you what they are.

 

[mmorse]

I read some time ago that during the JCM800 era, it depended on where you bought the amp. In Europe, the JCM800s were EL34 amps (I can partially verify - I bought a new JCM800 combo in '83 when I was stationed in Germany...Siemens EL34s in it), and the ones imported to the U.S. market by Unicord (the American distributor) were 6550-powered amps. What I can't remember is why. Maybe stateside tube availability?

Too many 34s were arriving DOA so Unicord switched to 6550s as they survived shipping to the States better. Marshall switched back around '85 or '86.

 

[killertone]

Good chance your amp has Tesla EL34's. My Marshalls from around that time had Teslas in them. They are excellent sounding tubes. I still have quads of Siemens from that era as well as Teslas so if you post a pic I can tell you if they are one of those.

 

[gybe!]

It'll be a couple weeks befoe I can post pics, it shipped out to dave Friedman today