My JCM 800 sounds like garbage. Any suggestions?

[jdel77]

All JCM 800's I've played vary every so slightly, but all sound within the same ballpark tonality.
As someone who repairs and mods pedals, I agree there are multiple components with tiny % of value drift that as a whole, or sum of parts can equal large variations in tone.
I would make sure all pre and power amp valves/tubes are new and the amp is biased correctly.
There could be dead or dying electrolytic caps or off value resistors completely screwing it up.
Unfortunately you need someone who knows JCM800's like the back of their hand, and will take the time to measure each and every component a step at a time.
That being said, a JCM800 operating as it should is an experience.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I'm surprised Trace sent it back sounding like ass.. in most cases I thought his customer service and work is highly regarded. It is possible that when he received it, the circuit checked out so he worked the best he could with it before sending it back. Or maybe his mod just isn't to your taste. One thing though, was there still a lack of high end when you got the amp back? Somewhat unfortunate that it has been modded because i think it would be great to see some gut shots of this amp. Badronald is right though.. they seem inconsistent from amp to amp. I'm not sure why but I have heard similar things about plexis. Sometimes drift in components, value difference between who put it together on a particular day, or component failure might result in what you are experiencing. I have a 2204 build which is too buzzy , clipping OD pedal sounding to my liking... been trying to dial it out but sometimes the sum of all parts just bends you over and f-cks you. For fun let's play doctor and go for the basics:

- is there a bright cap?
- did someone remove the 470k resistor/ 470 pf cap off the input to the preamp volume pot and put a 68k there instead?
- if it is harsh and buzzy, lose that 100k NFR. A lot of 2203's and 2204's seem to run 100k NFR to 4 ohm tap for the gain but to me it's harsh. (go 47k to 8 ohm tap) Add that to no treble and what do you have? ASS (just like what you mentioned)

I had a stock JCM800 with 6550. Was bloody stiff. It is now my fave amp. Tried the same tweaks in my other build and they didn't work. You need to find some secret sauce that works.

Worse case scenario, discount it and sell it. Someone will buy it. I personally would love to tinker with it! Would be better unmodded though.

I have no idea if there is a bright cap or a 470k resister on the input to the preamp volume pot. I'll see if I can find out. It is not harsh or buzzy, though. The high end seems to get buried by the bass and mids. Even with the treble dimed and the bass and mids below 4.

When I sent it to Trace, I asked him to make the amp like a "stock" 2204 with his "Jose HG" mod. I told him I thought I bought a lemon and that the guy I got it from may have incompetently modded it. He didn't give me any "hey man, your amp is a hopeless piece of sh*t" advice before he modded it or after he sent it back to me. He did try to sell me new Mercury iron for it. When I asked him why, he said it was "hard to get that 80's tone without it". I then asked if there was something wrong the Drake stuff in my amp and he said, "no". I chalked it up to him trying to make a buck. When I got the amp back, however, it sounded like the same amp but with more gain. Still no highs. Not special at all. Since I asked him to make it like "stock" before he modded it, I would assume he did so. That's all I know man. It's pretty frustrating being a tone hound where I live. No amp techs or guitar techs worth mentioning and the only music store with any gear is GC, so everything has to be mail order.

Any way, thanks for the advice.

You do realize that a STOCK JCM800 sounds nothing like a Jose HG mod. What did you want? A STOCK JCM800 or a Modded Jose HG mod? How loud do you play the amp? Most JCM800's sound like ass until you turn them up, they're NOT a bedroom amp.

 

[Anonymous]

Send the amp to Rick Hamel at SIB Effects. Rick is one of the best techs out there, and he won't rip you off. Give him a call before you decide to start pulling the amp apart. The JCM 2204 is an iconic amplifier. It would be a shame to replace those wonderful Drake's with non-OEM iron. If RIck is swamped, call Brian at Super Sound Music. Both Rick and Brian are located in San Diego, CA.

Thanks for the tech recommendation, bro. However, I thought I tried this route by sending it to Voo Doo. Before sending it, I explained what problems I had with it and asked them to go through it and replace/fix anything that was adversely effecting the tone. They changed the caps, if I remember correctly. Still sounds like crap. I guess a different tech could have better luck, but after dropping $600 at Voo Doo, I'm hesitant to pack it up and ship it again. Unfortunately, there aren't any good amp techs where I live (Fresno, CA). At least none that I know of. If I knew it would make the amp usable, I'd do it.

Thanks again.

Why didn't you register your dissatisfaction with Trace and send the amp back to him and ask him to fix the issues you were hearing? After spending $600 for a mod, it should sound like you wanted it to... I'm sure he would have helped...

Steve

I did call him after I got it back. He said I could send it back to him and he would check it out. From Cali to New York, it's $100, each way, for shipping, which I would have to pay for. At that point, I decided to sit on it. Couldn't see throwing another $200 at it without a guarantee, especially since he had the chance to make it sound killer the first time.

Just to be clear, I didn't start this thread to bag on Trace. He seems like a nice guy and he never told be to go f*ck myself. I got the impression he would have seriously looked into the problem if I had the chance to look at my amp again. I guess I just didn't feel confident that he could rectify the problem. Maybe if I lived in New York, it may have made more sense to me. But from Cali, I felt it wasn't worth the risk again. I know his work is very reputable, which is why I sent it to him in the first place.

You're asking what to do now. For $200 that would have been the thing to do back then, and frankly, I still think it is the right thing to do now. I'm sure Trace would still look at it and likely help.

Steve

 

[EyesOfTheSouth]

Out of curiosity......how loud are you playing the amp?

 

[Heritage Softail]

Send the amp to Rick Hamel at SIB Effects. Rick is one of the best techs out there, and he won't rip you off. Give him a call before you decide to start pulling the amp apart. The JCM 2204 is an iconic amplifier. It would be a shame to replace those wonderful Drake's with non-OEM iron. If RIck is swamped, call Brian at Super Sound Music. Both Rick and Brian are located in San Diego, CA.

Thanks for the tech recommendation, bro. However, I thought I tried this route by sending it to Voo Doo. Before sending it, I explained what problems I had with it and asked them to go through it and replace/fix anything that was adversely effecting the tone. They changed the caps, if I remember correctly. Still sounds like crap. I guess a different tech could have better luck, but after dropping $600 at Voo Doo, I'm hesitant to pack it up and ship it again. Unfortunately, there aren't any good amp techs where I live (Fresno, CA). At least none that I know of. If I knew it would make the amp usable, I'd do it.

Thanks again.

Why didn't you register your dissatisfaction with Trace and send the amp back to him and ask him to fix the issues you were hearing? After spending $600 for a mod, it should sound like you wanted it to... I'm sure he would have helped...

Steve

I did call him after I got it back. He said I could send it back to him and he would check it out. From Cali to New York, it's $100, each way, for shipping, which I would have to pay for. At that point, I decided to sit on it. Couldn't see throwing another $200 at it without a guarantee, especially since he had the chance to make it sound killer the first time.

Just to be clear, I didn't start this thread to bag on Trace. He seems like a nice guy and he never told be to go f*ck myself. I got the impression he would have seriously looked into the problem if I had the chance to look at my amp again. I guess I just didn't feel confident that he could rectify the problem. Maybe if I lived in New York, it may have made more sense to me. But from Cali, I felt it wasn't worth the risk again. I know his work is very reputable, which is why I sent it to him in the first place.

You're asking what to do now. For $200 that would have been the thing to do back then, and frankly, I still think it is the right thing to do now. I'm sure Trace would still look at it and likely help.

Steve

He should sell the 800 and get a Cherry Bomb. All the major Marshall tones in one.

Search over....

 

[fishyfishfish]

Feel your pain! With out saying names, bought my little dream combo
Sounded like wet ass through a fan. I sent it back to the builder told him what was
up , and three months and a heap of cash latter no dice.
Urgh! The only advice I can give is or patient, do a lot of research.

 

[racerevlon]

Send the amp to Rick Hamel at SIB Effects. Rick is one of the best techs out there, and he won't rip you off. Give him a call before you decide to start pulling the amp apart. The JCM 2204 is an iconic amplifier. It would be a shame to replace those wonderful Drake's with non-OEM iron. If RIck is swamped, call Brian at Super Sound Music. Both Rick and Brian are located in San Diego, CA.

Thanks for the tech recommendation, bro. However, I thought I tried this route by sending it to Voo Doo. Before sending it, I explained what problems I had with it and asked them to go through it and replace/fix anything that was adversely effecting the tone. They changed the caps, if I remember correctly. Still sounds like crap. I guess a different tech could have better luck, but after dropping $600 at Voo Doo, I'm hesitant to pack it up and ship it again. Unfortunately, there aren't any good amp techs where I live (Fresno, CA). At least none that I know of. If I knew it would make the amp usable, I'd do it.

Thanks again.

Why didn't you register your dissatisfaction with Trace and send the amp back to him and ask him to fix the issues you were hearing? After spending $600 for a mod, it should sound like you wanted it to... I'm sure he would have helped...

Steve

Trace thinks his work is infallible (horseshit). Send it to FJA.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Send the amp to Rick Hamel at SIB Effects. Rick is one of the best techs out there, and he won't rip you off. Give him a call before you decide to start pulling the amp apart. The JCM 2204 is an iconic amplifier. It would be a shame to replace those wonderful Drake's with non-OEM iron. If RIck is swamped, call Brian at Super Sound Music. Both Rick and Brian are located in San Diego, CA.

Thanks for the tech recommendation, bro. However, I thought I tried this route by sending it to Voo Doo. Before sending it, I explained what problems I had with it and asked them to go through it and replace/fix anything that was adversely effecting the tone. They changed the caps, if I remember correctly. Still sounds like crap. I guess a different tech could have better luck, but after dropping $600 at Voo Doo, I'm hesitant to pack it up and ship it again. Unfortunately, there aren't any good amp techs where I live (Fresno, CA). At least none that I know of. If I knew it would make the amp usable, I'd do it.

Thanks again.

Why didn't you register your dissatisfaction with Trace and send the amp back to him and ask him to fix the issues you were hearing? After spending $600 for a mod, it should sound like you wanted it to... I'm sure he would have helped...

Steve

Trace thinks his work is infallible (horseshit). Send it to FJA.

This thread has potential.

 

[Telephant]

Send the amp to Rick Hamel at SIB Effects. Rick is one of the best techs out there, and he won't rip you off. Give him a call before you decide to start pulling the amp apart. The JCM 2204 is an iconic amplifier. It would be a shame to replace those wonderful Drake's with non-OEM iron. If RIck is swamped, call Brian at Super Sound Music. Both Rick and Brian are located in San Diego, CA.

Thanks for the tech recommendation, bro. However, I thought I tried this route by sending it to Voo Doo. Before sending it, I explained what problems I had with it and asked them to go through it and replace/fix anything that was adversely effecting the tone. They changed the caps, if I remember correctly. Still sounds like crap. I guess a different tech could have better luck, but after dropping $600 at Voo Doo, I'm hesitant to pack it up and ship it again. Unfortunately, there aren't any good amp techs where I live (Fresno, CA). At least none that I know of. If I knew it would make the amp usable, I'd do it.

Thanks again.

Why didn't you register your dissatisfaction with Trace and send the amp back to him and ask him to fix the issues you were hearing? After spending $600 for a mod, it should sound like you wanted it to... I'm sure he would have helped...

Steve

And how did Trace not catch the fact that something was obviously wrong with it in the first place?

 

[Bob Savage]

He did try to sell me new Mercury iron for it. When I asked him why, he said it was "hard to get that 80's tone without it". I then asked if there was something wrong the Drake stuff in my amp and he said, "no". I chalked it up to him trying to make a buck.

This seems a bit unfair. If he was really just out to make the buck he could have said yeah, the Drake's a piece of junk.

 

[Bob Savage]

and posing for pics to put up here.

Pervert.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I would cut your losses and sell it personally.

 

[R45VT]

How much you want for it?

 

[metalmaniac93]

Send it to Dan Gower for a Cali or Killer Kali++ Mod!!!!

 

[Bob Savage]

Send it to Dan Gower for a Cali or Killer Kali++ Mod!!!!

Send it overseas?

 

[bmi]

You are ready for an Axe-Fx then you will buy a Kemper.

 

[offworld92]

There's got to be something wrong with the amp and I can't imagine it's something that cannot be fixed. Did you change out the power and preamp tubes to see if that solves the problem? Barring that, I'd have a qualified tech who knows the 800 inside and out take a looksee to determine what's up.

It stinks that you ended up with an amp with issues but you're doing the right thing by not just selling it like it is, unless you disclose of course.

+1

Did you ever change the tubes? A single bad preamp tube can completely fuck the sound of any amp.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I'm interested...PM me with pics/price.

 

[phil b]

Well, your already in the hole $600 for the mod plus the original cost for the amp. Gotta ask yourself do you really want to spend any more $$$$ on an amp that you dont like or just sell it, cut the loss, and use that $$ to find something that you do like.
I personally would dump it... ymmv

 

[bmi]

Perhaps it's not the amp...any samples?