Is a Marshall JVM205H a good amp?

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For 80s hard rock/metal? Nuno, Demartini, EVH, Lynch, etc...?

Is it a good amp in general? Is it too big for starting gigs at smaller venues?

Would you rate it high on Marshall's list of better amps?

Thanks.
 
I had a 215C and never bonded with it. While it has many great features and is a good size (good master volume for plying small and large gigs with), it has a more modern sound. It doesn't have that classic JCM or Plexi tone. I prefer the DSL series for that. The JVM had an odd lower-mid peak to its tone that couldn't be dialed out via controls, tube swaps, or by using different speakers. Definitely try one before buying.
 
It sounds modern to me. I had a 210? 100 watt. Sounded great at home for modern stuff, but did not hang at volume. My other marshAlls and Mesa buried it at practice volume.
 
I tried the 410 I believe. The 4 channel version of the same amp and didn't like it. I thought the dsl was a better all around tone and they are cheaper.
 
I tried a DSL the other day in guitar center. It sounded muddy and muffled (I'm not sure if I'm using the correct terminology). It just didn't have that sharper, razor's edge sound. It sounded round, like I was playing on the neck pickup the whole time even though I was on the bridge. Maybe it was that the volume was down lower? I just don't know why it was like that.

Another reason I didn't care for it was because it was 100watts. I need something a bit smaller.
 
I had a 410 and gigged with a few times. I agree that the DSL series are better sounding amps. The JVMs aren't horrible sounding by any means, but they do have a sterile, almost digital sounding tonal quality, imho.
 
Mr. Willy":wmaysd1k said:
The JVMs aren't horrible sounding by any means, but they do have a sterile, almost digital sounding tonal quality, imho.
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mine sounds nothing like that. quite the opposite actually. i can get pretty much any tone i have ever heard in classic rock history with this thing...but then i have a pretty nice speaker cab with webers and vintage 30's?
i tried one of the new dsl's before i bought this jvm and like the jvm better.

i've never played a 205 though the 410 is the only jvm i've played
 
9ball":3vgz2nq0 said:
Mr. Willy":3vgz2nq0 said:
The JVMs aren't horrible sounding by any means, but they do have a sterile, almost digital sounding tonal quality, imho.
Click to expand...

mine sounds nothing like that. quite the opposite actually. i can get pretty much any tone i have ever heard in classic rock history with this thing...but then i have a pretty nice speaker cab with webers and vintage 30's?
i tried one of the new dsl's before i bought this jvm and like the jvm better.

i've never played a 205 though the 410 is the only jvm i've played
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Different strokes for different folks. I played mine through a Bogner 4x12 w/ v30s on bottom/Greenbacks on top and an Avatar 2x12 w/ Lynchbacks. I didn't dump mine because of the sound, it was just too much amp for me.
 
I've found that Vintage Marshalls are just plain better than any newer production Marshall, and I'm including the vintage DSL 2000 in that opinion as well. The KK and 2555X are very good too, but the new DSL and JVM series just don't measure up IMO. Great features and versatility though..but JMP/JCMs for me.
 
I had a 410 for 3 years, it was versatile, it would do any degree of gain needed from really clean to high, but in the end I stayed with what I already had for years, which was old JMP's and JCM's. Its a good amp, it just never blew my socks off. You could easily gig with it at the right settings, but its a tad too compressed for me at higher gain settings.
It had some supremely stiff competition from the word go, so take it with a grain of salt. ;)
The guy who I sold it to loves it and gets some nice tones out of it. He's had it ever since then (3 years) and never had a problem with it
 
I had the original 4 channel JVM and a few years later, the Satriani version. Both long gone, but I recently found a demo I did of the original JVM I had, going thru the different channels and modes with an Yngwie Strat. Amp sounded fucking great! I wish I still had it.
 
KissMyAmps":10sz9qtv said:
I tried a DSL the other day in guitar center. It sounded muddy and muffled (I'm not sure if I'm using the correct terminology). It just didn't have that sharper, razor's edge sound. It sounded round, like I was playing on the neck pickup the whole time even though I was on the bridge. Maybe it was that the volume was down lower? I just don't know why it was like that.

Another reason I didn't care for it was because it was 100watts. I need something a bit smaller.
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Go back and try the DSL again

This time Get a tube screamer type OD in front and set the gain low and output midway on the pedal

Amp EQ: Treble: 3 Presence: 3 Mids: 7 Bass: 4

On the red channel go for Lead 1 with gain 5-7 (Don't use lead 2= mud city)
On Green channel drive button engaged, gain 7-10

Do this and report back
 
Im playing the 210 100W version. Mine is modded by Fortin, but it freakin slays. Using with a FX8 for midi switching. Insanely versatile and sounds great.
 
I'm very much confused when it comes to the amp world. From what I gather about Marshalls, most Marshall guys are like Harley Davidson owners. If it don't have that signature Harley sound, it ain't a Harley. I've heard people say the silver Jubilee doesn't sound like a Marshall either.

I know I want a Marshall, and my goal is to achieve a tone similar to Nuno, Demartini, EVH, etc. should I look more at the Jubilee or the JVM? Remember that I'm also a beginner at gigging, so I will need something that can handle smaller gigs. I don't really want a combo. I also don't have tons of money to work with.
 
KissMyAmps":3ibxqk1v said:
I'm very much confused when it comes to the amp world. From what I gather about Marshalls, most Marshall guys are like Harley Davidson owners. If it don't have that signature Harley sound, it ain't a Harley. I've heard people say the silver Jubilee doesn't sound like a Marshall either.

I know I want a Marshall, and my goal is to achieve a tone similar to Nuno, Demartini, EVH, etc. should I look more at the Jubilee or the JVM? Remember that I'm also a beginner at gigging, so I will need something that can handle smaller gigs. I don't really want a combo. I also don't have tons of money to work with.
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-then get a DSL-(older with drakes, or a choke mod and it will not only do exactly what you say your wanting, it will do it at a great price)-

-I'm old school and believe the simpler they are, the better they sound-

-the JVM series has a ton of features but the preamp section is the epitome of "thin"...
 
What is the difference between a Marshall JCM2000 and a DSL?

I just searched Marshall DSL50 on google and gosh they're cheap. One hell of a first gigging amp for the price, no?
 
KissMyAmps":2fonry7y said:
What is the difference between a Marshall JCM2000 and a DSL?

I just searched Marshall DSL50 on google and gosh they're cheap. One hell of a first gigging amp for the price, no?
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DSL50 is the model... which is part of the JCM2000 series of amps. Like the 2203 was part of the JCM800 series of amps.

Get a DSL50. Great amp.
 
i think the non jcm 2000's are made in china or somewhere ....i tried one of the new one's for a few days before i took it back for the jvm i have now. it just seemed like it was half made out of plastic lol
 
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