JCM 800 Marshalls opinions

[uglyfuzzface]

I have noticed many people saying that a stock original jcm 800 with a (sd1 or simila)r would be a great choice for 80s metal , i have a few great amps like extc , 5150 etc and have owned a few other gread heads , but for some reason never owned a marshall 800 , i always sort of remember trying them in shops and not getting much gain out of them and they never sounded fat like amps these days , i understand that it was in shops and stuff so could not crank them so maybe im missing out on these heads as they were used alot on many 80s-90s rock classics . So my question is whats so special tone wise and what more does it give you than lets say a marshall dsl or something , i feel kind of thick asking but im curious to know why they are getting such good press latley , i would like to add im talking stock heads not modded .
cheers mark

 

[jerrydyer]

its the big bright percussive tone that makes them great. they do need a pedal for 80's. The boost on the boss dist works good there but the 800 loves the tube screamer and the like.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

the best ones to my ears are the single channel 2203 with 6550's and aBoss SD-1 in front its great sounding amp. Its a one trick pony but sweet simplicity..

 

[70strathead]

I think alot has to do with the trannies in the early 800'.s . 81'-82' the power section is where the mojo is at in these heads, sd-1 or TS808 in front and thats all ya need turn it up. I put EL34's in my 82' as a preference. I also think they sound better/fuller at 8ohms...IMO.

 

[freeballinusa]

the thing is that there were several changes over the years and only a couple sound good-- the "over under" input jack'd single channel one is a winner

 

[skoora]

It's really the last Marshall that will give the sweet yet vicious "kerang" in the mids and treble. Newer Marshalls cut in a mix just fine and they can roar but they just don't have that sweetness in the upper mids and on the top end that older ones do pre '84. Granted you might find a few nice 800's made after '84 as I've played some that sounded pretty good, but if buying sight unseen on a gamble I would gamble on a vert input over horizontal every time (on 100's, not 50's).

For eg. With a DSL or JVM you can spend a lot of time with the EQ knobs trying to get that kerang and it's always a compromise on one end of the spectrum or another. With a good 800 it's inherently just there and the EQ is how much mid cut do you want and how bright do you want it to be but the Marshall DNA is always there in the sound.

All IMO of course as I know a lot of you like the JVM but it's a "good enough" amp for me, not a great one.

 

[steve_k]

84-86 JCM 800 2204 was one of the best out of the box Marshall's IMO. EQ is easy - dime everything, preamp about 1:00 and master to disaster and let it rip. SD-1 or any other Tube Screamer clone will do up front. The first JCM 900's (2500) are nice too. Marshall's answer to the popular modding thing at the time.

Steve

 

[110db]

I have three, a 1981 2204 and two 1983 2203's. I will never sell them.

 

[thegame]

It's really the last Marshall that will give the sweet yet vicious "kerang" in the mids and treble.

Its having both those qualities happening at the same time that will make or break an amp for me. Most amps have one but not the other (sweetness and aggression).

 

[skoora]

84-86 JCM 800 2204 was one of the best out of the box Marshall's IMO. EQ is easy - dime everything, preamp about 1:00 and master to disaster and let it rip. SD-1 or any other Tube Screamer clone will do up front. The first JCM 900's (2500) are nice too. Marshall's answer to the popular modding thing at the time.

Steve

The limited run they did in '86 of the 2204 in a smaller chassis and green headshell is awesome. I owned one in the 90's and have played another in a store a few years back. Just rippin'. Can't say I've played a 900 ever that I liked more than a 800.

 

[uglyfuzzface]

must get to try one , i kind of thought people just liked them cos they were easy to mod .

 

[RockNRun]

I owned a 2205 (channel switcher) for while, was the only jcm800 I ever had in fact, KILLER Marshall tone, BUT, just not quite enuff gain on tap for crazier, shreddy type lead playing, not for me anyway. It was close though, but just didn't have that little extra saturation needed, even when cranked. And when I boosted for that with a pedal (TS type, think it was an 808 RI), it got squealy and borderline obnoxious sounding. I realized then why so many dudes mod stock 800's to 'get it there' (if heavy lead playing/soloing is the main purpose of that amp, because for crunch, rock and metal type rhythms, blues solo's, etc, stock is fine).

 

[Anonymous]

someone tell me about this 2205. what does 2205 mean, and what should i be looking
for?

 

[Anonymous]

nm. the 2203 is what im looking for.

 

[RockNRun]

someone tell me about this 2205. what does 2205 mean, and what should i be looking
for?

Shit, I wish I could remember, but from my little experience, I think you want to shoot for an early '86 2205 or earlier - from late '86 on, they suffered from channel bleed (not that this can't be "dealed with"). Could be wrong though on that exact year, and damn, it could even be the other way around (early models having the channel bleed). Someone else here can correct me of course! Guess I wan't much help, lol. I believe the 2205 also used diode clipping to add some gain.

edit: sorry, saw your correction....yep, aim for a 2203 and the 2205 info won't matter.

 

[MrDan666]

Hey Mark!

Going by the kind of tones that you like, i am thinking the 800 would be a bit brighter than you'd like. The Cali you had, in comparison, was a much darker sounding amp than a stock 800.

800's are very cool amps, but IMO you have to be running them at loud band volumes to really hit the sweet spot!

Cheers,
Dan

 

[River City Studios]

I have an 81' Voodoo Jose HG modded 2204. It nails the "Big Hair 80's" Sykes/Dimartini/Lynch tone. Well, maybe it doesn't "nail" it, but it sounds pretty damn close!

 

[Schaf]

someone tell me about this 2205. what does 2205 mean, and what should i be looking
for?

Shit, I wish I could remember, but from my little experience, I think you want to shoot for an early '86 2205 or earlier - from late '86 on, they suffered from channel bleed (not that this can't be "dealed with"). Could be wrong though on that exact year, and damn, it could even be the other way around (early models having the channel bleed). Someone else here can correct me of course! Guess I wan't much help, lol. I believe the 2205 also used diode clipping to add some gain.

edit: sorry, saw your correction....yep, aim for a 2203 and the 2205 info won't matter.

It's the earlier ones have the channel bleed. i was thinking either 87 or 89 they fixed it. I have a stock 87 2204. It rocks with a TS in front.

 

[Hard&Heavy]

I have three, a 1981 2204 and two 1983 2203's. I will never sell them.

I had 2 1983 2203 heads and sold them both

I used to hit the front end of my 800's with an original marshall guv-nor

 

[petejt]

I also think they sound better/fuller at 8ohms...IMO.

Interesting...how about 16 ohms then? Wouldn't they be a little bit darker (and thus fuller-sounding) at 16? I'm just wondering.