Marshall 2204: volume at 6 vs. 2 vs. 1ish

[cardinal]

EDIT: clip with volume at 6 and 1 in this post; clip with volume at 2 is in a post further down

Stock '79 2204, Boss SD-1, Mesa OS412. The clip with low volume has a CAE line driver at +10db after the SD-1; had to compensate for less drive at that volume.

Still trying to coax some Gojira-type metal tones from a 2204.

High volume: master at 6 (pretty loud)


Low volume: master around 1 (volume of a somewhat loud TV?)

 

[fek]

Nice! You can hear what bringing the master up does to fill out the lows and low mids.

 

[cardinal]

Nice! You can hear what bringing the master up does to fill out the lows and low mids.

Thanks! There's a lot more overdrive at that volume too. Master at 6, the SD-1 on its own turns the amp into a monster. At lesser volumes, there's just not as much drive, so I had to double boost to get the saturation up.

But damn 6 is literally knocking things off shelves in my tiny room haha

 

[fek]

Thanks! There's a lot more overdrive at that volume too. Master at 6, the SD-1 on its own turns the amp into a monster. At lesser volumes, there's just not as much drive, so I had to double boost to get the saturation up.

But damn 6 is literally knocking things off shelves in my tiny room haha

I use a PS2 to keep the volume thing in check. Still very loud in my 12X15 room but it's tolerable.

 

[Racerxrated]

Sounds good! But 6?? Any and every Marshall I’ve had (except a Jubilee) starts to oversaturate in a bad way at 5-6 on the master. Not counting my 72 NMV

 

[cardinal]

Sounds good! But 6?? Any and every Marshall I’ve had (except a Jubilee) starts to oversaturate in a bad way at 5-6 on the master. Not counting my 72 NMV

Thanks!

6 is as hard as I'd push this particular amp. After that, it gets rather unpleasant and harsh.

Part of it is the OS412 cab. For whatever reason, that cab wants to be abused in the worst way. It sounds thin and bright to me unless it's being assaulted with gain and midrange and saturation. But when it's feed right, it sounds pretty good to me.

 

[blackba]

Thanks for sharing, this will be a great reference for the 1979 JMP 2203 that just came in for repair. Got to finish up the 1987 Silver jubilee 2550 first. 2021 was the year of the Ampegs, got a bunch in for repair. Maybe this will be the year of the Marshalls, starting off well with 2 so far.

As a 2553 owner, I learned that the output master is best at 6 or above. Interesting to see this checked out on the JMP 2204.

 

[JLR]

My '79 2204 and '83 4104/800 sounds best with the master up at 5-6 with a Fryette PS100. Sounds good as well ran lower but seems like 5-6 is the sweet spot.

 

[cardinal]

My '79 2204 and '83 4104/800 sounds best with the master up at 5-6 with a Fryette PS100. Sounds good as well ran lower but seems like 5-6 is the sweet spot.

Yeah, past 6, the 2204s I've had start sounding harsh and unpleasant. Below 6, they still sound great. A bit brighter and more defined, but around 6 is pretty great.

 

[VESmedic]

Sounds good! But 6?? Any and every Marshall I’ve had (except a Jubilee) starts to oversaturate in a bad way at 5-6 on the master. Not counting my 72 NMV

Agreed, same here. The volume on 6does exactly as I suspected, rolls off the highs and is more creamy, not as percussive etc, which is not what I want personally. But this is good at showing what the differences are when the power amp is pushed…. And in my case, why I don’t crank up high gain amps past about 2-3

 

[cardinal]

Agreed, same here. The volume on 6does exactly as I suspected, rolls off the highs and is more creamy, not as percussive etc, which is not what I want personally. But this is good at showing what the differences are when the power amp is pushed…. And in my case, why I don’t crank up high gain amps past about 2-3

I have a clip from the same "session" with the master on 2. I'd have to give it a closer listen and can post it up. I remember thinking it sounded the worst unfortunately. It was maybe the brightest and harshest of the clips.

 

[cardinal]

@VESmedic and anyone else curious. Here's the clip with the master at 2. I think I was still double boosting, as the master at the level was not adding extra gain.


Maybe my ears are just shot, but it seems very close to the low volume clip. Maybe a bit thicker but also more presence? With master on 2, the amp is "loud".

 

[VESmedic]

Low volume clips by 48,000 miles for me personally. The master that high just makes everything sound veiled and hazy. Not into that type of tone At all.

 

[cardinal]

Low volume clips by 48,000 miles for me personally. The master that high just makes everything sound veiled and hazy. Not into that type of tone At all.

Definitely will help make me more popular around the house too.

 

[glpg80]

OP, didn’t you read the book? Just throw an EQ in the loop.

Seriously though where’s 30W fucker when you need him.

These clips and this topic explain exactly why metal players want output power for headroom so that nothing starts to compress and smear.

 

[cardinal]

OP, didn’t you read the book? Just throw an EQ in the loop.

Seriously though where’s 30W fucker when you need him.

These clips and this topic explain exactly why metal players want output power for headroom so that nothing starts to compress and smear.

Yeah. Supposedly these JMP 2204s are outputting around 40 watts clean (not 50 because of the low plate voltage). Interesting that it can go from rather unobtrusive to about drummer loud without much tonal change at all.

More power would let you go further/louder I assume before the tone starts changing/squishing on you.

 

[glpg80]

Yeah. Supposedly these JMP 2204s are outputting around 40 watts clean (not 50 because of the low plate voltage). Interesting that it can go from rather unobtrusive to about drummer loud without much tonal change at all.

More power would let you go further/louder I assume before the tone starts changing/squishing on you assuming the power transformer and filtering can supply the demand for current without allowing voltage to droop.

Yep I agree with the last statement and added to it ?

 

[thenine]

The master that high just makes everything sound veiled and hazy.

This is exactly how I hear it too. Good description.

 

[psychodave]

Can hear the compression at volume 6.

When I was in a band I would use my 2204 on volume 8. We had two guitars and a bass player. It was loud. My 2204 was modded for gain and sounded great. I used a 4x12 slant with three grill cloths and Celestion 75’s.

 

[Mikeyboyeee]

My new to my 2203 is generally being run between 6-8 thru my PS100 (and currently running the Jam Ray as a boost, altho have several). I do not find it much harsher at 8 VS 6, but I am running 6550s. I'm also the SIR 34 circuit vs stock. I find I need to run the bass somewhat lowish to avoid some mud. 5 band in the loop helps. Mine is very midrangy (awesome for Dokken and 80s hair). I drop 750 a few dB and I'm heavily into percussive thrash territory.

Jackson USA Sl2 and I feel like Scott Ian ?